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AdeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A THUNDERBOLT.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading Sometimes a thunderbolt, as men call it, will shoot from a clear sky; and sometimes into the midst of a peaceful family, or a yet quieter individuality, without warning of gathered storm above, or lightest tremble of earthquake beneath, will fall a terrible fact, and from the moment everything is changed.
altered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But its spiritual weather is altered.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Sometimes a thunderbolt, as men call it, will shoot from a clear sky; and sometimes into the midst of a peaceful family, or a yet quieter individuality, without warning of gathered storm above, or lightest tremble of earthquake beneath, will fall a terrible fact, and from the moment everything is changed.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Sometimes a thunderbolt, as men call it, will shoot from a clear sky; and sometimes into the midst of a peaceful family, or a yet quieter individuality, without warning of gathered storm above, or lightest tremble of earthquake beneath, will fall a terrible fact, and from the moment everything is changed.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading That family or that life is no more what it was--probably never more can be what it was.
beneathprepositionUS /bɪˈniːθ/
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading Sometimes a thunderbolt, as men call it, will shoot from a clear sky; and sometimes into the midst of a peaceful family, or a yet quieter individuality, without warning of gathered storm above, or lightest tremble of earthquake beneath, will fall a terrible fact, and from the moment everything is changed.
Better
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Better it ought to be, worse it may be--which, depends upon itself.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But its spiritual weather is altered.
call
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes a thunderbolt, as men call it, will shoot from a clear sky; and sometimes into the midst of a peaceful family, or a yet quieter individuality, without warning of gathered storm above, or lightest tremble of earthquake beneath, will fall a terrible fact, and from the moment everything is changed.
canmodal verbUS /kæn/
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading That family or that life is no more what it was--probably never more can be what it was.
changed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes a thunderbolt, as men call it, will shoot from a clear sky; and sometimes into the midst of a peaceful family, or a yet quieter individuality, without warning of gathered storm above, or lightest tremble of earthquake beneath, will fall a terrible fact, and from the moment everything is changed.
clear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes a thunderbolt, as men call it, will shoot from a clear sky; and sometimes into the midst of a peaceful family, or a yet quieter individuality, without warning of gathered storm above, or lightest tremble of earthquake beneath, will fall a terrible fact, and from the moment everything is changed.
depends
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Better it ought to be, worse it may be--which, depends upon itself.
earthquake
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes a thunderbolt, as men call it, will shoot from a clear sky; and sometimes into the midst of a peaceful family, or a yet quieter individuality, without warning of gathered storm above, or lightest tremble of earthquake beneath, will fall a terrible fact, and from the moment everything is changed.
everythingpronounUS /ˈevriθɪŋ/
all things; all of a situation
From this reading Sometimes a thunderbolt, as men call it, will shoot from a clear sky; and sometimes into the midst of a peaceful family, or a yet quieter individuality, without warning of gathered storm above, or lightest tremble of earthquake beneath, will fall a terrible fact, and from the moment everything is changed.
fact
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes a thunderbolt, as men call it, will shoot from a clear sky; and sometimes into the midst of a peaceful family, or a yet quieter individuality, without warning of gathered storm above, or lightest tremble of earthquake beneath, will fall a terrible fact, and from the moment everything is changed.
fall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes a thunderbolt, as men call it, will shoot from a clear sky; and sometimes into the midst of a peaceful family, or a yet quieter individuality, without warning of gathered storm above, or lightest tremble of earthquake beneath, will fall a terrible fact, and from the moment everything is changed.
family
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes a thunderbolt, as men call it, will shoot from a clear sky; and sometimes into the midst of a peaceful family, or a yet quieter individuality, without warning of gathered storm above, or lightest tremble of earthquake beneath, will fall a terrible fact, and from the moment everything is changed.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Sometimes a thunderbolt, as men call it, will shoot from a clear sky; and sometimes into the midst of a peaceful family, or a yet quieter individuality, without warning of gathered storm above, or lightest tremble of earthquake beneath, will fall a terrible fact, and from the moment everything is changed.
gathered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes a thunderbolt, as men call it, will shoot from a clear sky; and sometimes into the midst of a peaceful family, or a yet quieter individuality, without warning of gathered storm above, or lightest tremble of earthquake beneath, will fall a terrible fact, and from the moment everything is changed.
individuality
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes a thunderbolt, as men call it, will shoot from a clear sky; and sometimes into the midst of a peaceful family, or a yet quieter individuality, without warning of gathered storm above, or lightest tremble of earthquake beneath, will fall a terrible fact, and from the moment everything is changed.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Sometimes a thunderbolt, as men call it, will shoot from a clear sky; and sometimes into the midst of a peaceful family, or a yet quieter individuality, without warning of gathered storm above, or lightest tremble of earthquake beneath, will fall a terrible fact, and from the moment everything is changed.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Sometimes a thunderbolt, as men call it, will shoot from a clear sky; and sometimes into the midst of a peaceful family, or a yet quieter individuality, without warning of gathered storm above, or lightest tremble of earthquake beneath, will fall a terrible fact, and from the moment everything is changed.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Sometimes a thunderbolt, as men call it, will shoot from a clear sky; and sometimes into the midst of a peaceful family, or a yet quieter individuality, without warning of gathered storm above, or lightest tremble of earthquake beneath, will fall a terrible fact, and from the moment everything is changed.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading But its spiritual weather is altered.
itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading Better it ought to be, worse it may be--which, depends upon itself.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading That family or that life is no more what it was--probably never more can be what it was.
lightest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes a thunderbolt, as men call it, will shoot from a clear sky; and sometimes into the midst of a peaceful family, or a yet quieter individuality, without warning of gathered storm above, or lightest tremble of earthquake beneath, will fall a terrible fact, and from the moment everything is changed.
maymodal verbUS /meɪ/
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading Better it ought to be, worse it may be--which, depends upon itself.
men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes a thunderbolt, as men call it, will shoot from a clear sky; and sometimes into the midst of a peaceful family, or a yet quieter individuality, without warning of gathered storm above, or lightest tremble of earthquake beneath, will fall a terrible fact, and from the moment everything is changed.
midst
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes a thunderbolt, as men call it, will shoot from a clear sky; and sometimes into the midst of a peaceful family, or a yet quieter individuality, without warning of gathered storm above, or lightest tremble of earthquake beneath, will fall a terrible fact, and from the moment everything is changed.
moment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes a thunderbolt, as men call it, will shoot from a clear sky; and sometimes into the midst of a peaceful family, or a yet quieter individuality, without warning of gathered storm above, or lightest tremble of earthquake beneath, will fall a terrible fact, and from the moment everything is changed.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That family or that life is no more what it was--probably never more can be what it was.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading That family or that life is no more what it was--probably never more can be what it was.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading That family or that life is no more what it was--probably never more can be what it was.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Sometimes a thunderbolt, as men call it, will shoot from a clear sky; and sometimes into the midst of a peaceful family, or a yet quieter individuality, without warning of gathered storm above, or lightest tremble of earthquake beneath, will fall a terrible fact, and from the moment everything is changed.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Sometimes a thunderbolt, as men call it, will shoot from a clear sky; and sometimes into the midst of a peaceful family, or a yet quieter individuality, without warning of gathered storm above, or lightest tremble of earthquake beneath, will fall a terrible fact, and from the moment everything is changed.
oughtmodal verbUS /ɔːt/
used with “to” to say what is right or advisable
From this reading Better it ought to be, worse it may be--which, depends upon itself.
peaceful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes a thunderbolt, as men call it, will shoot from a clear sky; and sometimes into the midst of a peaceful family, or a yet quieter individuality, without warning of gathered storm above, or lightest tremble of earthquake beneath, will fall a terrible fact, and from the moment everything is changed.
probably
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That family or that life is no more what it was--probably never more can be what it was.
quieter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes a thunderbolt, as men call it, will shoot from a clear sky; and sometimes into the midst of a peaceful family, or a yet quieter individuality, without warning of gathered storm above, or lightest tremble of earthquake beneath, will fall a terrible fact, and from the moment everything is changed.
shoot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes a thunderbolt, as men call it, will shoot from a clear sky; and sometimes into the midst of a peaceful family, or a yet quieter individuality, without warning of gathered storm above, or lightest tremble of earthquake beneath, will fall a terrible fact, and from the moment everything is changed.
sky
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes a thunderbolt, as men call it, will shoot from a clear sky; and sometimes into the midst of a peaceful family, or a yet quieter individuality, without warning of gathered storm above, or lightest tremble of earthquake beneath, will fall a terrible fact, and from the moment everything is changed.
Sometimes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes a thunderbolt, as men call it, will shoot from a clear sky; and sometimes into the midst of a peaceful family, or a yet quieter individuality, without warning of gathered storm above, or lightest tremble of earthquake beneath, will fall a terrible fact, and from the moment everything is changed.
spiritual
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But its spiritual weather is altered.
storm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes a thunderbolt, as men call it, will shoot from a clear sky; and sometimes into the midst of a peaceful family, or a yet quieter individuality, without warning of gathered storm above, or lightest tremble of earthquake beneath, will fall a terrible fact, and from the moment everything is changed.
terriblenounUS /ˈterrible/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Sometimes a thunderbolt, as men call it, will shoot from a clear sky; and sometimes into the midst of a peaceful family, or a yet quieter individuality, without warning of gathered storm above, or lightest tremble of earthquake beneath, will fall a terrible fact, and from the moment everything is changed.
ThatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That family or that life is no more what it was--probably never more can be what it was.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Sometimes a thunderbolt, as men call it, will shoot from a clear sky; and sometimes into the midst of a peaceful family, or a yet quieter individuality, without warning of gathered storm above, or lightest tremble of earthquake beneath, will fall a terrible fact, and from the moment everything is changed.
THUNDERBOLT
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A THUNDERBOLT.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Better it ought to be, worse it may be--which, depends upon itself.
tremble
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes a thunderbolt, as men call it, will shoot from a clear sky; and sometimes into the midst of a peaceful family, or a yet quieter individuality, without warning of gathered storm above, or lightest tremble of earthquake beneath, will fall a terrible fact, and from the moment everything is changed.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Better it ought to be, worse it may be--which, depends upon itself.
warning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes a thunderbolt, as men call it, will shoot from a clear sky; and sometimes into the midst of a peaceful family, or a yet quieter individuality, without warning of gathered storm above, or lightest tremble of earthquake beneath, will fall a terrible fact, and from the moment everything is changed.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading That family or that life is no more what it was--probably never more can be what it was.
weather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But its spiritual weather is altered.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading That family or that life is no more what it was--probably never more can be what it was.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Better it ought to be, worse it may be--which, depends upon itself.
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading Sometimes a thunderbolt, as men call it, will shoot from a clear sky; and sometimes into the midst of a peaceful family, or a yet quieter individuality, without warning of gathered storm above, or lightest tremble of earthquake beneath, will fall a terrible fact, and from the moment everything is changed.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Sometimes a thunderbolt, as men call it, will shoot from a clear sky; and sometimes into the midst of a peaceful family, or a yet quieter individuality, without warning of gathered storm above, or lightest tremble of earthquake beneath, will fall a terrible fact, and from the moment everything is changed.
worse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Better it ought to be, worse it may be--which, depends upon itself.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading Sometimes a thunderbolt, as men call it, will shoot from a clear sky; and sometimes into the midst of a peaceful family, or a yet quieter individuality, without warning of gathered storm above, or lightest tremble of earthquake beneath, will fall a terrible fact, and from the moment everything is changed.
