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 Then I became a little nervous, for if this old woman talked to me much longer I was afraid, in spite of the fact that I was an elderly man when she was a girl, that she would become convinced that I could not be the son of the man who had once been her husband, but must be that man himself.
afraid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then I became a little nervous, for if this old woman talked to me much longer I was afraid, in spite of the fact that I was an elderly man when she was a girl, that she would become convinced that I could not be the son of the man who had once been her husband, but must be that man himself.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading So I hastily excused myself on the plea of business, and after having given her some money I left her."
amauxiliary verbUS /æm/
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading "'I am that woman,' she exclaimed, 'I am that woman!
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Then I became a little nervous, for if this old woman talked to me much longer I was afraid, in spite of the fact that I was an elderly man when she was a girl, that she would become convinced that I could not be the son of the man who had once been her husband, but must be that man himself.
AndconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And did he mourn my loss?'
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Then I became a little nervous, for if this old woman talked to me much longer I was afraid, in spite of the fact that I was an elderly man when she was a girl, that she would become convinced that I could not be the son of the man who had once been her husband, but must be that man himself.
became
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then I became a little nervous, for if this old woman talked to me much longer I was afraid, in spite of the fact that I was an elderly man when she was a girl, that she would become convinced that I could not be the son of the man who had once been her husband, but must be that man himself.
become
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then I became a little nervous, for if this old woman talked to me much longer I was afraid, in spite of the fact that I was an elderly man when she was a girl, that she would become convinced that I could not be the son of the man who had once been her husband, but must be that man himself.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Then I became a little nervous, for if this old woman talked to me much longer I was afraid, in spite of the fact that I was an elderly man when she was a girl, that she would become convinced that I could not be the son of the man who had once been her husband, but must be that man himself.
business
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So I hastily excused myself on the plea of business, and after having given her some money I left her."
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Then I became a little nervous, for if this old woman talked to me much longer I was afraid, in spite of the fact that I was an elderly man when she was a girl, that she would become convinced that I could not be the son of the man who had once been her husband, but must be that man himself.
convinced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then I became a little nervous, for if this old woman talked to me much longer I was afraid, in spite of the fact that I was an elderly man when she was a girl, that she would become convinced that I could not be the son of the man who had once been her husband, but must be that man himself.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Then I became a little nervous, for if this old woman talked to me much longer I was afraid, in spite of the fact that I was an elderly man when she was a girl, that she would become convinced that I could not be the son of the man who had once been her husband, but must be that man himself.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading And did he mourn my loss?'
elderly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then I became a little nervous, for if this old woman talked to me much longer I was afraid, in spite of the fact that I was an elderly man when she was a girl, that she would become convinced that I could not be the son of the man who had once been her husband, but must be that man himself.
exclaimed
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From this reading "'I am that woman,' she exclaimed, 'I am that woman!
excused
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From this reading So I hastily excused myself on the plea of business, and after having given her some money I left her."
fact
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then I became a little nervous, for if this old woman talked to me much longer I was afraid, in spite of the fact that I was an elderly man when she was a girl, that she would become convinced that I could not be the son of the man who had once been her husband, but must be that man himself.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Then I became a little nervous, for if this old woman talked to me much longer I was afraid, in spite of the fact that I was an elderly man when she was a girl, that she would become convinced that I could not be the son of the man who had once been her husband, but must be that man himself.
girl
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then I became a little nervous, for if this old woman talked to me much longer I was afraid, in spite of the fact that I was an elderly man when she was a girl, that she would become convinced that I could not be the son of the man who had once been her husband, but must be that man himself.
given
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From this reading So I hastily excused myself on the plea of business, and after having given her some money I left her."
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Then I became a little nervous, for if this old woman talked to me much longer I was afraid, in spite of the fact that I was an elderly man when she was a girl, that she would become convinced that I could not be the son of the man who had once been her husband, but must be that man himself.
hastily
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So I hastily excused myself on the plea of business, and after having given her some money I left her."
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading So I hastily excused myself on the plea of business, and after having given her some money I left her."
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading And did he mourn my loss?'
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Then I became a little nervous, for if this old woman talked to me much longer I was afraid, in spite of the fact that I was an elderly man when she was a girl, that she would become convinced that I could not be the son of the man who had once been her husband, but must be that man himself.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Then I became a little nervous, for if this old woman talked to me much longer I was afraid, in spite of the fact that I was an elderly man when she was a girl, that she would become convinced that I could not be the son of the man who had once been her husband, but must be that man himself.
husband
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then I became a little nervous, for if this old woman talked to me much longer I was afraid, in spite of the fact that I was an elderly man when she was a girl, that she would become convinced that I could not be the son of the man who had once been her husband, but must be that man himself.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "'I am that woman,' she exclaimed, 'I am that woman!
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Then I became a little nervous, for if this old woman talked to me much longer I was afraid, in spite of the fact that I was an elderly man when she was a girl, that she would become convinced that I could not be the son of the man who had once been her husband, but must be that man himself.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Then I became a little nervous, for if this old woman talked to me much longer I was afraid, in spite of the fact that I was an elderly man when she was a girl, that she would become convinced that I could not be the son of the man who had once been her husband, but must be that man himself.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading So I hastily excused myself on the plea of business, and after having given her some money I left her."
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Then I became a little nervous, for if this old woman talked to me much longer I was afraid, in spite of the fact that I was an elderly man when she was a girl, that she would become convinced that I could not be the son of the man who had once been her husband, but must be that man himself.
longer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then I became a little nervous, for if this old woman talked to me much longer I was afraid, in spite of the fact that I was an elderly man when she was a girl, that she would become convinced that I could not be the son of the man who had once been her husband, but must be that man himself.
loss
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And did he mourn my loss?'
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then I became a little nervous, for if this old woman talked to me much longer I was afraid, in spite of the fact that I was an elderly man when she was a girl, that she would become convinced that I could not be the son of the man who had once been her husband, but must be that man himself.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Then I became a little nervous, for if this old woman talked to me much longer I was afraid, in spite of the fact that I was an elderly man when she was a girl, that she would become convinced that I could not be the son of the man who had once been her husband, but must be that man himself.
money
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So I hastily excused myself on the plea of business, and after having given her some money I left her."
mourn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And did he mourn my loss?'
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "'Not much, I think, not much.'
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading Then I became a little nervous, for if this old woman talked to me much longer I was afraid, in spite of the fact that I was an elderly man when she was a girl, that she would become convinced that I could not be the son of the man who had once been her husband, but must be that man himself.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading And did he mourn my loss?'
myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading So I hastily excused myself on the plea of business, and after having given her some money I left her."
nervous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then I became a little nervous, for if this old woman talked to me much longer I was afraid, in spite of the fact that I was an elderly man when she was a girl, that she would become convinced that I could not be the son of the man who had once been her husband, but must be that man himself.
NotadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "'Not much, I think, not much.'
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Then I became a little nervous, for if this old woman talked to me much longer I was afraid, in spite of the fact that I was an elderly man when she was a girl, that she would become convinced that I could not be the son of the man who had once been her husband, but must be that man himself.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then I became a little nervous, for if this old woman talked to me much longer I was afraid, in spite of the fact that I was an elderly man when she was a girl, that she would become convinced that I could not be the son of the man who had once been her husband, but must be that man himself.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading So I hastily excused myself on the plea of business, and after having given her some money I left her."
once
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then I became a little nervous, for if this old woman talked to me much longer I was afraid, in spite of the fact that I was an elderly man when she was a girl, that she would become convinced that I could not be the son of the man who had once been her husband, but must be that man himself.
plea
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So I hastily excused myself on the plea of business, and after having given her some money I left her."
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "'I am that woman,' she exclaimed, 'I am that woman!
SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So I hastily excused myself on the plea of business, and after having given her some money I left her."
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So I hastily excused myself on the plea of business, and after having given her some money I left her."
son
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then I became a little nervous, for if this old woman talked to me much longer I was afraid, in spite of the fact that I was an elderly man when she was a girl, that she would become convinced that I could not be the son of the man who had once been her husband, but must be that man himself.
spite
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then I became a little nervous, for if this old woman talked to me much longer I was afraid, in spite of the fact that I was an elderly man when she was a girl, that she would become convinced that I could not be the son of the man who had once been her husband, but must be that man himself.
talked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then I became a little nervous, for if this old woman talked to me much longer I was afraid, in spite of the fact that I was an elderly man when she was a girl, that she would become convinced that I could not be the son of the man who had once been her husband, but must be that man himself.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "'I am that woman,' she exclaimed, 'I am that woman!
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Then I became a little nervous, for if this old woman talked to me much longer I was afraid, in spite of the fact that I was an elderly man when she was a girl, that she would become convinced that I could not be the son of the man who had once been her husband, but must be that man himself.
Then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then I became a little nervous, for if this old woman talked to me much longer I was afraid, in spite of the fact that I was an elderly man when she was a girl, that she would become convinced that I could not be the son of the man who had once been her husband, but must be that man himself.
thinknounUS /think/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "'Not much, I think, not much.'
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Then I became a little nervous, for if this old woman talked to me much longer I was afraid, in spite of the fact that I was an elderly man when she was a girl, that she would become convinced that I could not be the son of the man who had once been her husband, but must be that man himself.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Then I became a little nervous, for if this old woman talked to me much longer I was afraid, in spite of the fact that I was an elderly man when she was a girl, that she would become convinced that I could not be the son of the man who had once been her husband, but must be that man himself.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Then I became a little nervous, for if this old woman talked to me much longer I was afraid, in spite of the fact that I was an elderly man when she was a girl, that she would become convinced that I could not be the son of the man who had once been her husband, but must be that man himself.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading Then I became a little nervous, for if this old woman talked to me much longer I was afraid, in spite of the fact that I was an elderly man when she was a girl, that she would become convinced that I could not be the son of the man who had once been her husband, but must be that man himself.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading Then I became a little nervous, for if this old woman talked to me much longer I was afraid, in spite of the fact that I was an elderly man when she was a girl, that she would become convinced that I could not be the son of the man who had once been her husband, but must be that man himself.
woman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "'I am that woman,' she exclaimed, 'I am that woman!
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Then I became a little nervous, for if this old woman talked to me much longer I was afraid, in spite of the fact that I was an elderly man when she was a girl, that she would become convinced that I could not be the son of the man who had once been her husband, but must be that man himself.
