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 “THE LAST STRAW” As Mahala went intently and industriously about her work, she was doing a great deal of thinking.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading “THE LAST STRAW” As Mahala went intently and industriously about her work, she was doing a great deal of thinking.
affection
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She looked at Jemima and found that she was loving her and clinging to her, giving to her at least a degree of the gratitude and the affection that should have gone to her mother.
afforded
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From this reading Out of the wreck, she was left with her mother’s servant, whose roof now afforded shelter.
all
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From this reading She was forced to the conviction that she had no real friends in the whole of the town who would pursue her with friendship, who would thrust themselves upon her and make an effort to force her to feel that all of the years of her life when she had tried to be reasonably considerate of the people with whom she came in contact, had not been wasted.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading She was forced to the conviction that she had no real friends in the whole of the town who would pursue her with friendship, who would thrust themselves upon her and make an effort to force her to feel that all of the years of her life when she had tried to be reasonably considerate of the people with whom she came in contact, had not been wasted.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “THE LAST STRAW” As Mahala went intently and industriously about her work, she was doing a great deal of thinking.
AsconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading “THE LAST STRAW” As Mahala went intently and industriously about her work, she was doing a great deal of thinking.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading She looked at Jemima and found that she was loving her and clinging to her, giving to her at least a degree of the gratitude and the affection that should have gone to her mother.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading She was forced to the conviction that she had no real friends in the whole of the town who would pursue her with friendship, who would thrust themselves upon her and make an effort to force her to feel that all of the years of her life when she had tried to be reasonably considerate of the people with whom she came in contact, had not been wasted.
become
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From this reading There were times when she tried to think in a sort of dull daze what would have become of them had not that shelter been forthcoming.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading She was forced to the conviction that she had no real friends in the whole of the town who would pursue her with friendship, who would thrust themselves upon her and make an effort to force her to feel that all of the years of her life when she had tried to be reasonably considerate of the people with whom she came in contact, had not been wasted.
came
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From this reading She was forced to the conviction that she had no real friends in the whole of the town who would pursue her with friendship, who would thrust themselves upon her and make an effort to force her to feel that all of the years of her life when she had tried to be reasonably considerate of the people with whom she came in contact, had not been wasted.
clinging
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From this reading She looked at Jemima and found that she was loving her and clinging to her, giving to her at least a degree of the gratitude and the affection that should have gone to her mother.
considerate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was forced to the conviction that she had no real friends in the whole of the town who would pursue her with friendship, who would thrust themselves upon her and make an effort to force her to feel that all of the years of her life when she had tried to be reasonably considerate of the people with whom she came in contact, had not been wasted.
contact
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From this reading She was forced to the conviction that she had no real friends in the whole of the town who would pursue her with friendship, who would thrust themselves upon her and make an effort to force her to feel that all of the years of her life when she had tried to be reasonably considerate of the people with whom she came in contact, had not been wasted.
conviction
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From this reading She was forced to the conviction that she had no real friends in the whole of the town who would pursue her with friendship, who would thrust themselves upon her and make an effort to force her to feel that all of the years of her life when she had tried to be reasonably considerate of the people with whom she came in contact, had not been wasted.
daze
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From this reading There were times when she tried to think in a sort of dull daze what would have become of them had not that shelter been forthcoming.
deal
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From this reading “THE LAST STRAW” As Mahala went intently and industriously about her work, she was doing a great deal of thinking.
degree
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She looked at Jemima and found that she was loving her and clinging to her, giving to her at least a degree of the gratitude and the affection that should have gone to her mother.
doing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “THE LAST STRAW” As Mahala went intently and industriously about her work, she was doing a great deal of thinking.
dull
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were times when she tried to think in a sort of dull daze what would have become of them had not that shelter been forthcoming.
effort
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was forced to the conviction that she had no real friends in the whole of the town who would pursue her with friendship, who would thrust themselves upon her and make an effort to force her to feel that all of the years of her life when she had tried to be reasonably considerate of the people with whom she came in contact, had not been wasted.
feel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was forced to the conviction that she had no real friends in the whole of the town who would pursue her with friendship, who would thrust themselves upon her and make an effort to force her to feel that all of the years of her life when she had tried to be reasonably considerate of the people with whom she came in contact, had not been wasted.
force
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was forced to the conviction that she had no real friends in the whole of the town who would pursue her with friendship, who would thrust themselves upon her and make an effort to force her to feel that all of the years of her life when she had tried to be reasonably considerate of the people with whom she came in contact, had not been wasted.
forced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was forced to the conviction that she had no real friends in the whole of the town who would pursue her with friendship, who would thrust themselves upon her and make an effort to force her to feel that all of the years of her life when she had tried to be reasonably considerate of the people with whom she came in contact, had not been wasted.
forthcoming
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From this reading There were times when she tried to think in a sort of dull daze what would have become of them had not that shelter been forthcoming.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She looked at Jemima and found that she was loving her and clinging to her, giving to her at least a degree of the gratitude and the affection that should have gone to her mother.
friends
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was forced to the conviction that she had no real friends in the whole of the town who would pursue her with friendship, who would thrust themselves upon her and make an effort to force her to feel that all of the years of her life when she had tried to be reasonably considerate of the people with whom she came in contact, had not been wasted.
friendship
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was forced to the conviction that she had no real friends in the whole of the town who would pursue her with friendship, who would thrust themselves upon her and make an effort to force her to feel that all of the years of her life when she had tried to be reasonably considerate of the people with whom she came in contact, had not been wasted.
giving
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From this reading She looked at Jemima and found that she was loving her and clinging to her, giving to her at least a degree of the gratitude and the affection that should have gone to her mother.
gone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She looked at Jemima and found that she was loving her and clinging to her, giving to her at least a degree of the gratitude and the affection that should have gone to her mother.
gratitude
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She looked at Jemima and found that she was loving her and clinging to her, giving to her at least a degree of the gratitude and the affection that should have gone to her mother.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “THE LAST STRAW” As Mahala went intently and industriously about her work, she was doing a great deal of thinking.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She was forced to the conviction that she had no real friends in the whole of the town who would pursue her with friendship, who would thrust themselves upon her and make an effort to force her to feel that all of the years of her life when she had tried to be reasonably considerate of the people with whom she came in contact, had not been wasted.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading There were times when she tried to think in a sort of dull daze what would have become of them had not that shelter been forthcoming.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading “THE LAST STRAW” As Mahala went intently and industriously about her work, she was doing a great deal of thinking.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She was forced to the conviction that she had no real friends in the whole of the town who would pursue her with friendship, who would thrust themselves upon her and make an effort to force her to feel that all of the years of her life when she had tried to be reasonably considerate of the people with whom she came in contact, had not been wasted.
industriously
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “THE LAST STRAW” As Mahala went intently and industriously about her work, she was doing a great deal of thinking.
intently
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “THE LAST STRAW” As Mahala went intently and industriously about her work, she was doing a great deal of thinking.
Jemima
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She looked at Jemima and found that she was loving her and clinging to her, giving to her at least a degree of the gratitude and the affection that should have gone to her mother.
LASTnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “THE LAST STRAW” As Mahala went intently and industriously about her work, she was doing a great deal of thinking.
leastnounUS /least/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She looked at Jemima and found that she was loving her and clinging to her, giving to her at least a degree of the gratitude and the affection that should have gone to her mother.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Out of the wreck, she was left with her mother’s servant, whose roof now afforded shelter.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She was forced to the conviction that she had no real friends in the whole of the town who would pursue her with friendship, who would thrust themselves upon her and make an effort to force her to feel that all of the years of her life when she had tried to be reasonably considerate of the people with whom she came in contact, had not been wasted.
lookednounUS /looked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She looked at Jemima and found that she was loving her and clinging to her, giving to her at least a degree of the gratitude and the affection that should have gone to her mother.
loving
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She looked at Jemima and found that she was loving her and clinging to her, giving to her at least a degree of the gratitude and the affection that should have gone to her mother.
Mahala
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “THE LAST STRAW” As Mahala went intently and industriously about her work, she was doing a great deal of thinking.
makenounUS /make/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She was forced to the conviction that she had no real friends in the whole of the town who would pursue her with friendship, who would thrust themselves upon her and make an effort to force her to feel that all of the years of her life when she had tried to be reasonably considerate of the people with whom she came in contact, had not been wasted.
mother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She looked at Jemima and found that she was loving her and clinging to her, giving to her at least a degree of the gratitude and the affection that should have gone to her mother.
mother's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Out of the wreck, she was left with her mother’s servant, whose roof now afforded shelter.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading She was forced to the conviction that she had no real friends in the whole of the town who would pursue her with friendship, who would thrust themselves upon her and make an effort to force her to feel that all of the years of her life when she had tried to be reasonably considerate of the people with whom she came in contact, had not been wasted.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She was forced to the conviction that she had no real friends in the whole of the town who would pursue her with friendship, who would thrust themselves upon her and make an effort to force her to feel that all of the years of her life when she had tried to be reasonably considerate of the people with whom she came in contact, had not been wasted.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Out of the wreck, she was left with her mother’s servant, whose roof now afforded shelter.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “THE LAST STRAW” As Mahala went intently and industriously about her work, she was doing a great deal of thinking.
Out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Out of the wreck, she was left with her mother’s servant, whose roof now afforded shelter.
people
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was forced to the conviction that she had no real friends in the whole of the town who would pursue her with friendship, who would thrust themselves upon her and make an effort to force her to feel that all of the years of her life when she had tried to be reasonably considerate of the people with whom she came in contact, had not been wasted.
pursue
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was forced to the conviction that she had no real friends in the whole of the town who would pursue her with friendship, who would thrust themselves upon her and make an effort to force her to feel that all of the years of her life when she had tried to be reasonably considerate of the people with whom she came in contact, had not been wasted.
real
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was forced to the conviction that she had no real friends in the whole of the town who would pursue her with friendship, who would thrust themselves upon her and make an effort to force her to feel that all of the years of her life when she had tried to be reasonably considerate of the people with whom she came in contact, had not been wasted.
reasonably
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was forced to the conviction that she had no real friends in the whole of the town who would pursue her with friendship, who would thrust themselves upon her and make an effort to force her to feel that all of the years of her life when she had tried to be reasonably considerate of the people with whom she came in contact, had not been wasted.
roof
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Out of the wreck, she was left with her mother’s servant, whose roof now afforded shelter.
servant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Out of the wreck, she was left with her mother’s servant, whose roof now afforded shelter.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “THE LAST STRAW” As Mahala went intently and industriously about her work, she was doing a great deal of thinking.
shelter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Out of the wreck, she was left with her mother’s servant, whose roof now afforded shelter.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading She looked at Jemima and found that she was loving her and clinging to her, giving to her at least a degree of the gratitude and the affection that should have gone to her mother.
sort
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were times when she tried to think in a sort of dull daze what would have become of them had not that shelter been forthcoming.
STRAW
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “THE LAST STRAW” As Mahala went intently and industriously about her work, she was doing a great deal of thinking.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She was forced to the conviction that she had no real friends in the whole of the town who would pursue her with friendship, who would thrust themselves upon her and make an effort to force her to feel that all of the years of her life when she had tried to be reasonably considerate of the people with whom she came in contact, had not been wasted.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “THE LAST STRAW” As Mahala went intently and industriously about her work, she was doing a great deal of thinking.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading There were times when she tried to think in a sort of dull daze what would have become of them had not that shelter been forthcoming.
themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading She was forced to the conviction that she had no real friends in the whole of the town who would pursue her with friendship, who would thrust themselves upon her and make an effort to force her to feel that all of the years of her life when she had tried to be reasonably considerate of the people with whom she came in contact, had not been wasted.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were times when she tried to think in a sort of dull daze what would have become of them had not that shelter been forthcoming.
thinknounUS /think/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There were times when she tried to think in a sort of dull daze what would have become of them had not that shelter been forthcoming.
thinkingnounUS /thinking/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “THE LAST STRAW” As Mahala went intently and industriously about her work, she was doing a great deal of thinking.
thrust
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was forced to the conviction that she had no real friends in the whole of the town who would pursue her with friendship, who would thrust themselves upon her and make an effort to force her to feel that all of the years of her life when she had tried to be reasonably considerate of the people with whom she came in contact, had not been wasted.
times
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were times when she tried to think in a sort of dull daze what would have become of them had not that shelter been forthcoming.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She was forced to the conviction that she had no real friends in the whole of the town who would pursue her with friendship, who would thrust themselves upon her and make an effort to force her to feel that all of the years of her life when she had tried to be reasonably considerate of the people with whom she came in contact, had not been wasted.
town
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was forced to the conviction that she had no real friends in the whole of the town who would pursue her with friendship, who would thrust themselves upon her and make an effort to force her to feel that all of the years of her life when she had tried to be reasonably considerate of the people with whom she came in contact, had not been wasted.
tried
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was forced to the conviction that she had no real friends in the whole of the town who would pursue her with friendship, who would thrust themselves upon her and make an effort to force her to feel that all of the years of her life when she had tried to be reasonably considerate of the people with whom she came in contact, had not been wasted.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading She was forced to the conviction that she had no real friends in the whole of the town who would pursue her with friendship, who would thrust themselves upon her and make an effort to force her to feel that all of the years of her life when she had tried to be reasonably considerate of the people with whom she came in contact, had not been wasted.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “THE LAST STRAW” As Mahala went intently and industriously about her work, she was doing a great deal of thinking.
wasted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was forced to the conviction that she had no real friends in the whole of the town who would pursue her with friendship, who would thrust themselves upon her and make an effort to force her to feel that all of the years of her life when she had tried to be reasonably considerate of the people with whom she came in contact, had not been wasted.
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “THE LAST STRAW” As Mahala went intently and industriously about her work, she was doing a great deal of thinking.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were times when she tried to think in a sort of dull daze what would have become of them had not that shelter been forthcoming.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading There were times when she tried to think in a sort of dull daze what would have become of them had not that shelter been forthcoming.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading She was forced to the conviction that she had no real friends in the whole of the town who would pursue her with friendship, who would thrust themselves upon her and make an effort to force her to feel that all of the years of her life when she had tried to be reasonably considerate of the people with whom she came in contact, had not been wasted.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading She was forced to the conviction that she had no real friends in the whole of the town who would pursue her with friendship, who would thrust themselves upon her and make an effort to force her to feel that all of the years of her life when she had tried to be reasonably considerate of the people with whom she came in contact, had not been wasted.
whole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was forced to the conviction that she had no real friends in the whole of the town who would pursue her with friendship, who would thrust themselves upon her and make an effort to force her to feel that all of the years of her life when she had tried to be reasonably considerate of the people with whom she came in contact, had not been wasted.
whompronounUS /huːm/
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading She was forced to the conviction that she had no real friends in the whole of the town who would pursue her with friendship, who would thrust themselves upon her and make an effort to force her to feel that all of the years of her life when she had tried to be reasonably considerate of the people with whom she came in contact, had not been wasted.
whosedeterminerUS /huːz/
belonging to which person
From this reading Out of the wreck, she was left with her mother’s servant, whose roof now afforded shelter.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading She was forced to the conviction that she had no real friends in the whole of the town who would pursue her with friendship, who would thrust themselves upon her and make an effort to force her to feel that all of the years of her life when she had tried to be reasonably considerate of the people with whom she came in contact, had not been wasted.
work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “THE LAST STRAW” As Mahala went intently and industriously about her work, she was doing a great deal of thinking.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading She was forced to the conviction that she had no real friends in the whole of the town who would pursue her with friendship, who would thrust themselves upon her and make an effort to force her to feel that all of the years of her life when she had tried to be reasonably considerate of the people with whom she came in contact, had not been wasted.
wreck
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Out of the wreck, she was left with her mother’s servant, whose roof now afforded shelter.
years
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was forced to the conviction that she had no real friends in the whole of the town who would pursue her with friendship, who would thrust themselves upon her and make an effort to force her to feel that all of the years of her life when she had tried to be reasonably considerate of the people with whom she came in contact, had not been wasted.
