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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 It was always a matter of wonder to Vandover that he was able to recall so little of his past life.
able
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was always a matter of wonder to Vandover that he was able to recall so little of his past life.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading A certain one of these wilful fillips of memory would always bring before him a particular scene during the migration of his family from Boston to their new home in San Francisco, at a time when Vandover was about eight years old.
absolutely
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From this reading What he at first imagined to be the story of his life, on closer inspection turned out to be but a few disconnected incidents that his memory had preserved with the greatest capriciousness, absolutely independent of their importance.
accuracy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of these incidents might be a great sorrow, a tragedy, a death in his family; and another, recalled with the same vividness, the same accuracy of detail, might be a matter of the least moment.
always
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was always a matter of wonder to Vandover that he was able to recall so little of his past life.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading One of these incidents might be a great sorrow, a tragedy, a death in his family; and another, recalled with the same vividness, the same accuracy of detail, might be a matter of the least moment.
anothernounUS /ˈanother/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading One of these incidents might be a great sorrow, a tragedy, a death in his family; and another, recalled with the same vividness, the same accuracy of detail, might be a matter of the least moment.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading What he at first imagined to be the story of his life, on closer inspection turned out to be but a few disconnected incidents that his memory had preserved with the greatest capriciousness, absolutely independent of their importance.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading What he at first imagined to be the story of his life, on closer inspection turned out to be but a few disconnected incidents that his memory had preserved with the greatest capriciousness, absolutely independent of their importance.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading A certain one of these wilful fillips of memory would always bring before him a particular scene during the migration of his family from Boston to their new home in San Francisco, at a time when Vandover was about eight years old.
Boston
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A certain one of these wilful fillips of memory would always bring before him a particular scene during the migration of his family from Boston to their new home in San Francisco, at a time when Vandover was about eight years old.
bring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A certain one of these wilful fillips of memory would always bring before him a particular scene during the migration of his family from Boston to their new home in San Francisco, at a time when Vandover was about eight years old.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading What he at first imagined to be the story of his life, on closer inspection turned out to be but a few disconnected incidents that his memory had preserved with the greatest capriciousness, absolutely independent of their importance.
capriciousness
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From this reading What he at first imagined to be the story of his life, on closer inspection turned out to be but a few disconnected incidents that his memory had preserved with the greatest capriciousness, absolutely independent of their importance.
certain
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From this reading A certain one of these wilful fillips of memory would always bring before him a particular scene during the migration of his family from Boston to their new home in San Francisco, at a time when Vandover was about eight years old.
closer
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From this reading What he at first imagined to be the story of his life, on closer inspection turned out to be but a few disconnected incidents that his memory had preserved with the greatest capriciousness, absolutely independent of their importance.
connectedly
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From this reading With the exception of the most recent events he could remember nothing connectedly.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading With the exception of the most recent events he could remember nothing connectedly.
death
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of these incidents might be a great sorrow, a tragedy, a death in his family; and another, recalled with the same vividness, the same accuracy of detail, might be a matter of the least moment.
detail
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of these incidents might be a great sorrow, a tragedy, a death in his family; and another, recalled with the same vividness, the same accuracy of detail, might be a matter of the least moment.
disconnected
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What he at first imagined to be the story of his life, on closer inspection turned out to be but a few disconnected incidents that his memory had preserved with the greatest capriciousness, absolutely independent of their importance.
duringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading A certain one of these wilful fillips of memory would always bring before him a particular scene during the migration of his family from Boston to their new home in San Francisco, at a time when Vandover was about eight years old.
eight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A certain one of these wilful fillips of memory would always bring before him a particular scene during the migration of his family from Boston to their new home in San Francisco, at a time when Vandover was about eight years old.
events
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With the exception of the most recent events he could remember nothing connectedly.
exception
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From this reading With the exception of the most recent events he could remember nothing connectedly.
family
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of these incidents might be a great sorrow, a tragedy, a death in his family; and another, recalled with the same vividness, the same accuracy of detail, might be a matter of the least moment.
few
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What he at first imagined to be the story of his life, on closer inspection turned out to be but a few disconnected incidents that his memory had preserved with the greatest capriciousness, absolutely independent of their importance.
fillips
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A certain one of these wilful fillips of memory would always bring before him a particular scene during the migration of his family from Boston to their new home in San Francisco, at a time when Vandover was about eight years old.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading What he at first imagined to be the story of his life, on closer inspection turned out to be but a few disconnected incidents that his memory had preserved with the greatest capriciousness, absolutely independent of their importance.
Francisco
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A certain one of these wilful fillips of memory would always bring before him a particular scene during the migration of his family from Boston to their new home in San Francisco, at a time when Vandover was about eight years old.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A certain one of these wilful fillips of memory would always bring before him a particular scene during the migration of his family from Boston to their new home in San Francisco, at a time when Vandover was about eight years old.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading One of these incidents might be a great sorrow, a tragedy, a death in his family; and another, recalled with the same vividness, the same accuracy of detail, might be a matter of the least moment.
greatest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What he at first imagined to be the story of his life, on closer inspection turned out to be but a few disconnected incidents that his memory had preserved with the greatest capriciousness, absolutely independent of their importance.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading What he at first imagined to be the story of his life, on closer inspection turned out to be but a few disconnected incidents that his memory had preserved with the greatest capriciousness, absolutely independent of their importance.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was always a matter of wonder to Vandover that he was able to recall so little of his past life.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading A certain one of these wilful fillips of memory would always bring before him a particular scene during the migration of his family from Boston to their new home in San Francisco, at a time when Vandover was about eight years old.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It was always a matter of wonder to Vandover that he was able to recall so little of his past life.
home
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A certain one of these wilful fillips of memory would always bring before him a particular scene during the migration of his family from Boston to their new home in San Francisco, at a time when Vandover was about eight years old.
imagined
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What he at first imagined to be the story of his life, on closer inspection turned out to be but a few disconnected incidents that his memory had preserved with the greatest capriciousness, absolutely independent of their importance.
importance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What he at first imagined to be the story of his life, on closer inspection turned out to be but a few disconnected incidents that his memory had preserved with the greatest capriciousness, absolutely independent of their importance.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading One of these incidents might be a great sorrow, a tragedy, a death in his family; and another, recalled with the same vividness, the same accuracy of detail, might be a matter of the least moment.
incidents
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What he at first imagined to be the story of his life, on closer inspection turned out to be but a few disconnected incidents that his memory had preserved with the greatest capriciousness, absolutely independent of their importance.
independent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What he at first imagined to be the story of his life, on closer inspection turned out to be but a few disconnected incidents that his memory had preserved with the greatest capriciousness, absolutely independent of their importance.
inspection
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What he at first imagined to be the story of his life, on closer inspection turned out to be but a few disconnected incidents that his memory had preserved with the greatest capriciousness, absolutely independent of their importance.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was always a matter of wonder to Vandover that he was able to recall so little of his past life.
leastnounUS /least/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading One of these incidents might be a great sorrow, a tragedy, a death in his family; and another, recalled with the same vividness, the same accuracy of detail, might be a matter of the least moment.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was always a matter of wonder to Vandover that he was able to recall so little of his past life.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was always a matter of wonder to Vandover that he was able to recall so little of his past life.
matter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was always a matter of wonder to Vandover that he was able to recall so little of his past life.
memorynounUS /ˈmem.ər.i/
The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.
From this reading What he at first imagined to be the story of his life, on closer inspection turned out to be but a few disconnected incidents that his memory had preserved with the greatest capriciousness, absolutely independent of their importance.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading One of these incidents might be a great sorrow, a tragedy, a death in his family; and another, recalled with the same vividness, the same accuracy of detail, might be a matter of the least moment.
migration
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A certain one of these wilful fillips of memory would always bring before him a particular scene during the migration of his family from Boston to their new home in San Francisco, at a time when Vandover was about eight years old.
moment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of these incidents might be a great sorrow, a tragedy, a death in his family; and another, recalled with the same vividness, the same accuracy of detail, might be a matter of the least moment.
most
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With the exception of the most recent events he could remember nothing connectedly.
new
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A certain one of these wilful fillips of memory would always bring before him a particular scene during the migration of his family from Boston to their new home in San Francisco, at a time when Vandover was about eight years old.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading With the exception of the most recent events he could remember nothing connectedly.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was always a matter of wonder to Vandover that he was able to recall so little of his past life.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A certain one of these wilful fillips of memory would always bring before him a particular scene during the migration of his family from Boston to their new home in San Francisco, at a time when Vandover was about eight years old.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading What he at first imagined to be the story of his life, on closer inspection turned out to be but a few disconnected incidents that his memory had preserved with the greatest capriciousness, absolutely independent of their importance.
OnepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One of these incidents might be a great sorrow, a tragedy, a death in his family; and another, recalled with the same vividness, the same accuracy of detail, might be a matter of the least moment.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What he at first imagined to be the story of his life, on closer inspection turned out to be but a few disconnected incidents that his memory had preserved with the greatest capriciousness, absolutely independent of their importance.
particular
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A certain one of these wilful fillips of memory would always bring before him a particular scene during the migration of his family from Boston to their new home in San Francisco, at a time when Vandover was about eight years old.
past
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was always a matter of wonder to Vandover that he was able to recall so little of his past life.
preserved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What he at first imagined to be the story of his life, on closer inspection turned out to be but a few disconnected incidents that his memory had preserved with the greatest capriciousness, absolutely independent of their importance.
recall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was always a matter of wonder to Vandover that he was able to recall so little of his past life.
recalled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of these incidents might be a great sorrow, a tragedy, a death in his family; and another, recalled with the same vividness, the same accuracy of detail, might be a matter of the least moment.
recent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With the exception of the most recent events he could remember nothing connectedly.
rememberverbUS /rɪˈmɛm.bər/
To recall to mind.
From this reading With the exception of the most recent events he could remember nothing connectedly.
samenounUS /same/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading One of these incidents might be a great sorrow, a tragedy, a death in his family; and another, recalled with the same vividness, the same accuracy of detail, might be a matter of the least moment.
San
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A certain one of these wilful fillips of memory would always bring before him a particular scene during the migration of his family from Boston to their new home in San Francisco, at a time when Vandover was about eight years old.
scene
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A certain one of these wilful fillips of memory would always bring before him a particular scene during the migration of his family from Boston to their new home in San Francisco, at a time when Vandover was about eight years old.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It was always a matter of wonder to Vandover that he was able to recall so little of his past life.
sorrow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of these incidents might be a great sorrow, a tragedy, a death in his family; and another, recalled with the same vividness, the same accuracy of detail, might be a matter of the least moment.
story
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What he at first imagined to be the story of his life, on closer inspection turned out to be but a few disconnected incidents that his memory had preserved with the greatest capriciousness, absolutely independent of their importance.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was always a matter of wonder to Vandover that he was able to recall so little of his past life.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading With the exception of the most recent events he could remember nothing connectedly.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading What he at first imagined to be the story of his life, on closer inspection turned out to be but a few disconnected incidents that his memory had preserved with the greatest capriciousness, absolutely independent of their importance.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading One of these incidents might be a great sorrow, a tragedy, a death in his family; and another, recalled with the same vividness, the same accuracy of detail, might be a matter of the least moment.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A certain one of these wilful fillips of memory would always bring before him a particular scene during the migration of his family from Boston to their new home in San Francisco, at a time when Vandover was about eight years old.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was always a matter of wonder to Vandover that he was able to recall so little of his past life.
tragedy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of these incidents might be a great sorrow, a tragedy, a death in his family; and another, recalled with the same vividness, the same accuracy of detail, might be a matter of the least moment.
turned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What he at first imagined to be the story of his life, on closer inspection turned out to be but a few disconnected incidents that his memory had preserved with the greatest capriciousness, absolutely independent of their importance.
Vandover
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was always a matter of wonder to Vandover that he was able to recall so little of his past life.
vividness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of these incidents might be a great sorrow, a tragedy, a death in his family; and another, recalled with the same vividness, the same accuracy of detail, might be a matter of the least moment.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was always a matter of wonder to Vandover that he was able to recall so little of his past life.
WhatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What he at first imagined to be the story of his life, on closer inspection turned out to be but a few disconnected incidents that his memory had preserved with the greatest capriciousness, absolutely independent of their importance.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading A certain one of these wilful fillips of memory would always bring before him a particular scene during the migration of his family from Boston to their new home in San Francisco, at a time when Vandover was about eight years old.
wilful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A certain one of these wilful fillips of memory would always bring before him a particular scene during the migration of his family from Boston to their new home in San Francisco, at a time when Vandover was about eight years old.
WithprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading With the exception of the most recent events he could remember nothing connectedly.
wonder
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was always a matter of wonder to Vandover that he was able to recall so little of his past life.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading A certain one of these wilful fillips of memory would always bring before him a particular scene during the migration of his family from Boston to their new home in San Francisco, at a time when Vandover was about eight years old.
years
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A certain one of these wilful fillips of memory would always bring before him a particular scene during the migration of his family from Boston to their new home in San Francisco, at a time when Vandover was about eight years old.
