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 A score of times I had thought with shrinking how I should reveal my secret to Mademoiselle--what I should say, and how she would take it; but in my mind it had been always a voluntary act, this disclosure, it had been always I who unmasked myself and she who listened--alone; and in this voluntariness and this privacy there had been something which took from the shame of anticipation.
act
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A score of times I had thought with shrinking how I should reveal my secret to Mademoiselle--what I should say, and how she would take it; but in my mind it had been always a voluntary act, this disclosure, it had been always I who unmasked myself and she who listened--alone; and in this voluntariness and this privacy there had been something which took from the shame of anticipation.
alonenounUS /alone/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A score of times I had thought with shrinking how I should reveal my secret to Mademoiselle--what I should say, and how she would take it; but in my mind it had been always a voluntary act, this disclosure, it had been always I who unmasked myself and she who listened--alone; and in this voluntariness and this privacy there had been something which took from the shame of anticipation.
always
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A score of times I had thought with shrinking how I should reveal my secret to Mademoiselle--what I should say, and how she would take it; but in my mind it had been always a voluntary act, this disclosure, it had been always I who unmasked myself and she who listened--alone; and in this voluntariness and this privacy there had been something which took from the shame of anticipation.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It had come, and I saw no way of escape.
anticipation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A score of times I had thought with shrinking how I should reveal my secret to Mademoiselle--what I should say, and how she would take it; but in my mind it had been always a voluntary act, this disclosure, it had been always I who unmasked myself and she who listened--alone; and in this voluntariness and this privacy there had been something which took from the shame of anticipation.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading A score of times I had thought with shrinking how I should reveal my secret to Mademoiselle--what I should say, and how she would take it; but in my mind it had been always a voluntary act, this disclosure, it had been always I who unmasked myself and she who listened--alone; and in this voluntariness and this privacy there had been something which took from the shame of anticipation.
betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading The sergeant was between us and I could not strike him.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading A score of times I had thought with shrinking how I should reveal my secret to Mademoiselle--what I should say, and how she would take it; but in my mind it had been always a voluntary act, this disclosure, it had been always I who unmasked myself and she who listened--alone; and in this voluntariness and this privacy there had been something which took from the shame of anticipation.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It had come, and I saw no way of escape.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The sergeant was between us and I could not strike him.
disclosure
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A score of times I had thought with shrinking how I should reveal my secret to Mademoiselle--what I should say, and how she would take it; but in my mind it had been always a voluntary act, this disclosure, it had been always I who unmasked myself and she who listened--alone; and in this voluntariness and this privacy there had been something which took from the shame of anticipation.
escape
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had come, and I saw no way of escape.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading And I found no words.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A score of times I had thought with shrinking how I should reveal my secret to Mademoiselle--what I should say, and how she would take it; but in my mind it had been always a voluntary act, this disclosure, it had been always I who unmasked myself and she who listened--alone; and in this voluntariness and this privacy there had been something which took from the shame of anticipation.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It had come, and I saw no way of escape.
herenounUS /here/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But here--here was no voluntary act on my part, no privacy, nothing but shame.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The sergeant was between us and I could not strike him.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A score of times I had thought with shrinking how I should reveal my secret to Mademoiselle--what I should say, and how she would take it; but in my mind it had been always a voluntary act, this disclosure, it had been always I who unmasked myself and she who listened--alone; and in this voluntariness and this privacy there had been something which took from the shame of anticipation.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading It had come, and I saw no way of escape.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A score of times I had thought with shrinking how I should reveal my secret to Mademoiselle--what I should say, and how she would take it; but in my mind it had been always a voluntary act, this disclosure, it had been always I who unmasked myself and she who listened--alone; and in this voluntariness and this privacy there had been something which took from the shame of anticipation.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It had come, and I saw no way of escape.
listened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A score of times I had thought with shrinking how I should reveal my secret to Mademoiselle--what I should say, and how she would take it; but in my mind it had been always a voluntary act, this disclosure, it had been always I who unmasked myself and she who listened--alone; and in this voluntariness and this privacy there had been something which took from the shame of anticipation.
Mademoiselle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A score of times I had thought with shrinking how I should reveal my secret to Mademoiselle--what I should say, and how she would take it; but in my mind it had been always a voluntary act, this disclosure, it had been always I who unmasked myself and she who listened--alone; and in this voluntariness and this privacy there had been something which took from the shame of anticipation.
mindnounUS /mind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A score of times I had thought with shrinking how I should reveal my secret to Mademoiselle--what I should say, and how she would take it; but in my mind it had been always a voluntary act, this disclosure, it had been always I who unmasked myself and she who listened--alone; and in this voluntariness and this privacy there had been something which took from the shame of anticipation.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading A score of times I had thought with shrinking how I should reveal my secret to Mademoiselle--what I should say, and how she would take it; but in my mind it had been always a voluntary act, this disclosure, it had been always I who unmasked myself and she who listened--alone; and in this voluntariness and this privacy there had been something which took from the shame of anticipation.
myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading A score of times I had thought with shrinking how I should reveal my secret to Mademoiselle--what I should say, and how she would take it; but in my mind it had been always a voluntary act, this disclosure, it had been always I who unmasked myself and she who listened--alone; and in this voluntariness and this privacy there had been something which took from the shame of anticipation.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading It had come, and I saw no way of escape.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The sergeant was between us and I could not strike him.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading But here--here was no voluntary act on my part, no privacy, nothing but shame.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It had come, and I saw no way of escape.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading But here--here was no voluntary act on my part, no privacy, nothing but shame.
partnounUS /part/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But here--here was no voluntary act on my part, no privacy, nothing but shame.
privacy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A score of times I had thought with shrinking how I should reveal my secret to Mademoiselle--what I should say, and how she would take it; but in my mind it had been always a voluntary act, this disclosure, it had been always I who unmasked myself and she who listened--alone; and in this voluntariness and this privacy there had been something which took from the shame of anticipation.
reveal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A score of times I had thought with shrinking how I should reveal my secret to Mademoiselle--what I should say, and how she would take it; but in my mind it had been always a voluntary act, this disclosure, it had been always I who unmasked myself and she who listened--alone; and in this voluntariness and this privacy there had been something which took from the shame of anticipation.
saw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had come, and I saw no way of escape.
say
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A score of times I had thought with shrinking how I should reveal my secret to Mademoiselle--what I should say, and how she would take it; but in my mind it had been always a voluntary act, this disclosure, it had been always I who unmasked myself and she who listened--alone; and in this voluntariness and this privacy there had been something which took from the shame of anticipation.
scorenounUS /score/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A score of times I had thought with shrinking how I should reveal my secret to Mademoiselle--what I should say, and how she would take it; but in my mind it had been always a voluntary act, this disclosure, it had been always I who unmasked myself and she who listened--alone; and in this voluntariness and this privacy there had been something which took from the shame of anticipation.
secretnounUS /ˈsiː.krət/
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading A score of times I had thought with shrinking how I should reveal my secret to Mademoiselle--what I should say, and how she would take it; but in my mind it had been always a voluntary act, this disclosure, it had been always I who unmasked myself and she who listened--alone; and in this voluntariness and this privacy there had been something which took from the shame of anticipation.
sergeant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sergeant was between us and I could not strike him.
shame
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A score of times I had thought with shrinking how I should reveal my secret to Mademoiselle--what I should say, and how she would take it; but in my mind it had been always a voluntary act, this disclosure, it had been always I who unmasked myself and she who listened--alone; and in this voluntariness and this privacy there had been something which took from the shame of anticipation.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A score of times I had thought with shrinking how I should reveal my secret to Mademoiselle--what I should say, and how she would take it; but in my mind it had been always a voluntary act, this disclosure, it had been always I who unmasked myself and she who listened--alone; and in this voluntariness and this privacy there had been something which took from the shame of anticipation.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading A score of times I had thought with shrinking how I should reveal my secret to Mademoiselle--what I should say, and how she would take it; but in my mind it had been always a voluntary act, this disclosure, it had been always I who unmasked myself and she who listened--alone; and in this voluntariness and this privacy there had been something which took from the shame of anticipation.
shrinking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A score of times I had thought with shrinking how I should reveal my secret to Mademoiselle--what I should say, and how she would take it; but in my mind it had been always a voluntary act, this disclosure, it had been always I who unmasked myself and she who listened--alone; and in this voluntariness and this privacy there had been something which took from the shame of anticipation.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading A score of times I had thought with shrinking how I should reveal my secret to Mademoiselle--what I should say, and how she would take it; but in my mind it had been always a voluntary act, this disclosure, it had been always I who unmasked myself and she who listened--alone; and in this voluntariness and this privacy there had been something which took from the shame of anticipation.
strike
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sergeant was between us and I could not strike him.
takenounUS /take/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A score of times I had thought with shrinking how I should reveal my secret to Mademoiselle--what I should say, and how she would take it; but in my mind it had been always a voluntary act, this disclosure, it had been always I who unmasked myself and she who listened--alone; and in this voluntariness and this privacy there had been something which took from the shame of anticipation.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The sergeant was between us and I could not strike him.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A score of times I had thought with shrinking how I should reveal my secret to Mademoiselle--what I should say, and how she would take it; but in my mind it had been always a voluntary act, this disclosure, it had been always I who unmasked myself and she who listened--alone; and in this voluntariness and this privacy there had been something which took from the shame of anticipation.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading A score of times I had thought with shrinking how I should reveal my secret to Mademoiselle--what I should say, and how she would take it; but in my mind it had been always a voluntary act, this disclosure, it had been always I who unmasked myself and she who listened--alone; and in this voluntariness and this privacy there had been something which took from the shame of anticipation.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A score of times I had thought with shrinking how I should reveal my secret to Mademoiselle--what I should say, and how she would take it; but in my mind it had been always a voluntary act, this disclosure, it had been always I who unmasked myself and she who listened--alone; and in this voluntariness and this privacy there had been something which took from the shame of anticipation.
times
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A score of times I had thought with shrinking how I should reveal my secret to Mademoiselle--what I should say, and how she would take it; but in my mind it had been always a voluntary act, this disclosure, it had been always I who unmasked myself and she who listened--alone; and in this voluntariness and this privacy there had been something which took from the shame of anticipation.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A score of times I had thought with shrinking how I should reveal my secret to Mademoiselle--what I should say, and how she would take it; but in my mind it had been always a voluntary act, this disclosure, it had been always I who unmasked myself and she who listened--alone; and in this voluntariness and this privacy there had been something which took from the shame of anticipation.
tooknounUS /took/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A score of times I had thought with shrinking how I should reveal my secret to Mademoiselle--what I should say, and how she would take it; but in my mind it had been always a voluntary act, this disclosure, it had been always I who unmasked myself and she who listened--alone; and in this voluntariness and this privacy there had been something which took from the shame of anticipation.
unmasked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A score of times I had thought with shrinking how I should reveal my secret to Mademoiselle--what I should say, and how she would take it; but in my mind it had been always a voluntary act, this disclosure, it had been always I who unmasked myself and she who listened--alone; and in this voluntariness and this privacy there had been something which took from the shame of anticipation.
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The sergeant was between us and I could not strike him.
voluntariness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A score of times I had thought with shrinking how I should reveal my secret to Mademoiselle--what I should say, and how she would take it; but in my mind it had been always a voluntary act, this disclosure, it had been always I who unmasked myself and she who listened--alone; and in this voluntariness and this privacy there had been something which took from the shame of anticipation.
voluntary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A score of times I had thought with shrinking how I should reveal my secret to Mademoiselle--what I should say, and how she would take it; but in my mind it had been always a voluntary act, this disclosure, it had been always I who unmasked myself and she who listened--alone; and in this voluntariness and this privacy there had been something which took from the shame of anticipation.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The sergeant was between us and I could not strike him.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had come, and I saw no way of escape.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading A score of times I had thought with shrinking how I should reveal my secret to Mademoiselle--what I should say, and how she would take it; but in my mind it had been always a voluntary act, this disclosure, it had been always I who unmasked myself and she who listened--alone; and in this voluntariness and this privacy there had been something which took from the shame of anticipation.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading A score of times I had thought with shrinking how I should reveal my secret to Mademoiselle--what I should say, and how she would take it; but in my mind it had been always a voluntary act, this disclosure, it had been always I who unmasked myself and she who listened--alone; and in this voluntariness and this privacy there had been something which took from the shame of anticipation.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading A score of times I had thought with shrinking how I should reveal my secret to Mademoiselle--what I should say, and how she would take it; but in my mind it had been always a voluntary act, this disclosure, it had been always I who unmasked myself and she who listened--alone; and in this voluntariness and this privacy there had been something which took from the shame of anticipation.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading A score of times I had thought with shrinking how I should reveal my secret to Mademoiselle--what I should say, and how she would take it; but in my mind it had been always a voluntary act, this disclosure, it had been always I who unmasked myself and she who listened--alone; and in this voluntariness and this privacy there had been something which took from the shame of anticipation.
words
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And I found no words.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading A score of times I had thought with shrinking how I should reveal my secret to Mademoiselle--what I should say, and how she would take it; but in my mind it had been always a voluntary act, this disclosure, it had been always I who unmasked myself and she who listened--alone; and in this voluntariness and this privacy there had been something which took from the shame of anticipation.
