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 This good fellow continued to exhibit so deep an affection for the life of the monastery that Basil was at length moved to ask him whether, if he had the choice, he would veritably become a monk.
ABBOT'S
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From this reading THE ABBOT'S TOWER On the morrow he rose earlier, talking the while with his servant Deodatus.
affection
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From this reading This good fellow continued to exhibit so deep an affection for the life of the monastery that Basil was at length moved to ask him whether, if he had the choice, he would veritably become a monk.
ally
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From this reading He could approve the wisdom of those who renounced the flesh, to be rewarded with tranquillity on earth and eternal happiness hereafter; but his will did not ally itself with his intellect.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading This good fellow continued to exhibit so deep an affection for the life of the monastery that Basil was at length moved to ask him whether, if he had the choice, he would veritably become a monk.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Deodatus looked at his master with eyes of pathetic earnestness, tried in vain to speak, and burst into tears.
approve
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From this reading He could approve the wisdom of those who renounced the flesh, to be rewarded with tranquillity on earth and eternal happiness hereafter; but his will did not ally itself with his intellect.
ask
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From this reading This good fellow continued to exhibit so deep an affection for the life of the monastery that Basil was at length moved to ask him whether, if he had the choice, he would veritably become a monk.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading This good fellow continued to exhibit so deep an affection for the life of the monastery that Basil was at length moved to ask him whether, if he had the choice, he would veritably become a monk.
Basil
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From this reading This good fellow continued to exhibit so deep an affection for the life of the monastery that Basil was at length moved to ask him whether, if he had the choice, he would veritably become a monk.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He could approve the wisdom of those who renounced the flesh, to be rewarded with tranquillity on earth and eternal happiness hereafter; but his will did not ally itself with his intellect.
become
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From this reading This good fellow continued to exhibit so deep an affection for the life of the monastery that Basil was at length moved to ask him whether, if he had the choice, he would veritably become a monk.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Instructed by a vocation so manifest, Basil began to read more clearly in his own heart, where, in spite of the sorrows he had borne and of the troublous uncertainties that lay before him, he found no such readiness to quit the world.
begannounUS /began/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Instructed by a vocation so manifest, Basil began to read more clearly in his own heart, where, in spite of the sorrows he had borne and of the troublous uncertainties that lay before him, he found no such readiness to quit the world.
borne
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From this reading Instructed by a vocation so manifest, Basil began to read more clearly in his own heart, where, in spite of the sorrows he had borne and of the troublous uncertainties that lay before him, he found no such readiness to quit the world.
burst
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From this reading Deodatus looked at his master with eyes of pathetic earnestness, tried in vain to speak, and burst into tears.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He could approve the wisdom of those who renounced the flesh, to be rewarded with tranquillity on earth and eternal happiness hereafter; but his will did not ally itself with his intellect.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Instructed by a vocation so manifest, Basil began to read more clearly in his own heart, where, in spite of the sorrows he had borne and of the troublous uncertainties that lay before him, he found no such readiness to quit the world.
choice
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From this reading This good fellow continued to exhibit so deep an affection for the life of the monastery that Basil was at length moved to ask him whether, if he had the choice, he would veritably become a monk.
clearly
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From this reading Instructed by a vocation so manifest, Basil began to read more clearly in his own heart, where, in spite of the sorrows he had borne and of the troublous uncertainties that lay before him, he found no such readiness to quit the world.
continuednounUS /ˈcontinued/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading This good fellow continued to exhibit so deep an affection for the life of the monastery that Basil was at length moved to ask him whether, if he had the choice, he would veritably become a monk.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He could approve the wisdom of those who renounced the flesh, to be rewarded with tranquillity on earth and eternal happiness hereafter; but his will did not ally itself with his intellect.
deep
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From this reading This good fellow continued to exhibit so deep an affection for the life of the monastery that Basil was at length moved to ask him whether, if he had the choice, he would veritably become a monk.
Deodatus
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From this reading THE ABBOT'S TOWER On the morrow he rose earlier, talking the while with his servant Deodatus.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading He could approve the wisdom of those who renounced the flesh, to be rewarded with tranquillity on earth and eternal happiness hereafter; but his will did not ally itself with his intellect.
earlier
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From this reading THE ABBOT'S TOWER On the morrow he rose earlier, talking the while with his servant Deodatus.
earnestness
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From this reading Deodatus looked at his master with eyes of pathetic earnestness, tried in vain to speak, and burst into tears.
earth
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From this reading He could approve the wisdom of those who renounced the flesh, to be rewarded with tranquillity on earth and eternal happiness hereafter; but his will did not ally itself with his intellect.
eternal
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From this reading He could approve the wisdom of those who renounced the flesh, to be rewarded with tranquillity on earth and eternal happiness hereafter; but his will did not ally itself with his intellect.
exhibit
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From this reading This good fellow continued to exhibit so deep an affection for the life of the monastery that Basil was at length moved to ask him whether, if he had the choice, he would veritably become a monk.
eyes
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From this reading Deodatus looked at his master with eyes of pathetic earnestness, tried in vain to speak, and burst into tears.
fellow
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From this reading This good fellow continued to exhibit so deep an affection for the life of the monastery that Basil was at length moved to ask him whether, if he had the choice, he would veritably become a monk.
flesh
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From this reading He could approve the wisdom of those who renounced the flesh, to be rewarded with tranquillity on earth and eternal happiness hereafter; but his will did not ally itself with his intellect.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading This good fellow continued to exhibit so deep an affection for the life of the monastery that Basil was at length moved to ask him whether, if he had the choice, he would veritably become a monk.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Instructed by a vocation so manifest, Basil began to read more clearly in his own heart, where, in spite of the sorrows he had borne and of the troublous uncertainties that lay before him, he found no such readiness to quit the world.
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading This good fellow continued to exhibit so deep an affection for the life of the monastery that Basil was at length moved to ask him whether, if he had the choice, he would veritably become a monk.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading This good fellow continued to exhibit so deep an affection for the life of the monastery that Basil was at length moved to ask him whether, if he had the choice, he would veritably become a monk.
happiness
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From this reading He could approve the wisdom of those who renounced the flesh, to be rewarded with tranquillity on earth and eternal happiness hereafter; but his will did not ally itself with his intellect.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE ABBOT'S TOWER On the morrow he rose earlier, talking the while with his servant Deodatus.
heart
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From this reading Instructed by a vocation so manifest, Basil began to read more clearly in his own heart, where, in spite of the sorrows he had borne and of the troublous uncertainties that lay before him, he found no such readiness to quit the world.
hereafter
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From this reading He could approve the wisdom of those who renounced the flesh, to be rewarded with tranquillity on earth and eternal happiness hereafter; but his will did not ally itself with his intellect.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading This good fellow continued to exhibit so deep an affection for the life of the monastery that Basil was at length moved to ask him whether, if he had the choice, he would veritably become a monk.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading THE ABBOT'S TOWER On the morrow he rose earlier, talking the while with his servant Deodatus.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading This good fellow continued to exhibit so deep an affection for the life of the monastery that Basil was at length moved to ask him whether, if he had the choice, he would veritably become a monk.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Deodatus looked at his master with eyes of pathetic earnestness, tried in vain to speak, and burst into tears.
Instructed
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From this reading Instructed by a vocation so manifest, Basil began to read more clearly in his own heart, where, in spite of the sorrows he had borne and of the troublous uncertainties that lay before him, he found no such readiness to quit the world.
intellect
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From this reading He could approve the wisdom of those who renounced the flesh, to be rewarded with tranquillity on earth and eternal happiness hereafter; but his will did not ally itself with his intellect.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Deodatus looked at his master with eyes of pathetic earnestness, tried in vain to speak, and burst into tears.
itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading He could approve the wisdom of those who renounced the flesh, to be rewarded with tranquillity on earth and eternal happiness hereafter; but his will did not ally itself with his intellect.
lay
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From this reading Instructed by a vocation so manifest, Basil began to read more clearly in his own heart, where, in spite of the sorrows he had borne and of the troublous uncertainties that lay before him, he found no such readiness to quit the world.
lengthnounUS /leŋθ/
a period of time or extent
From this reading This good fellow continued to exhibit so deep an affection for the life of the monastery that Basil was at length moved to ask him whether, if he had the choice, he would veritably become a monk.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading This good fellow continued to exhibit so deep an affection for the life of the monastery that Basil was at length moved to ask him whether, if he had the choice, he would veritably become a monk.
lookednounUS /looked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Deodatus looked at his master with eyes of pathetic earnestness, tried in vain to speak, and burst into tears.
manifest
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From this reading Instructed by a vocation so manifest, Basil began to read more clearly in his own heart, where, in spite of the sorrows he had borne and of the troublous uncertainties that lay before him, he found no such readiness to quit the world.
master
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From this reading Deodatus looked at his master with eyes of pathetic earnestness, tried in vain to speak, and burst into tears.
monastery
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From this reading This good fellow continued to exhibit so deep an affection for the life of the monastery that Basil was at length moved to ask him whether, if he had the choice, he would veritably become a monk.
monk
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From this reading This good fellow continued to exhibit so deep an affection for the life of the monastery that Basil was at length moved to ask him whether, if he had the choice, he would veritably become a monk.
more
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From this reading Instructed by a vocation so manifest, Basil began to read more clearly in his own heart, where, in spite of the sorrows he had borne and of the troublous uncertainties that lay before him, he found no such readiness to quit the world.
morrow
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From this reading THE ABBOT'S TOWER On the morrow he rose earlier, talking the while with his servant Deodatus.
moved
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From this reading This good fellow continued to exhibit so deep an affection for the life of the monastery that Basil was at length moved to ask him whether, if he had the choice, he would veritably become a monk.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading Instructed by a vocation so manifest, Basil began to read more clearly in his own heart, where, in spite of the sorrows he had borne and of the troublous uncertainties that lay before him, he found no such readiness to quit the world.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He could approve the wisdom of those who renounced the flesh, to be rewarded with tranquillity on earth and eternal happiness hereafter; but his will did not ally itself with his intellect.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading This good fellow continued to exhibit so deep an affection for the life of the monastery that Basil was at length moved to ask him whether, if he had the choice, he would veritably become a monk.
OnprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading THE ABBOT'S TOWER On the morrow he rose earlier, talking the while with his servant Deodatus.
own
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From this reading Instructed by a vocation so manifest, Basil began to read more clearly in his own heart, where, in spite of the sorrows he had borne and of the troublous uncertainties that lay before him, he found no such readiness to quit the world.
pathetic
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From this reading Deodatus looked at his master with eyes of pathetic earnestness, tried in vain to speak, and burst into tears.
quit
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From this reading Instructed by a vocation so manifest, Basil began to read more clearly in his own heart, where, in spite of the sorrows he had borne and of the troublous uncertainties that lay before him, he found no such readiness to quit the world.
read
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From this reading Instructed by a vocation so manifest, Basil began to read more clearly in his own heart, where, in spite of the sorrows he had borne and of the troublous uncertainties that lay before him, he found no such readiness to quit the world.
readiness
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From this reading Instructed by a vocation so manifest, Basil began to read more clearly in his own heart, where, in spite of the sorrows he had borne and of the troublous uncertainties that lay before him, he found no such readiness to quit the world.
renounced
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From this reading He could approve the wisdom of those who renounced the flesh, to be rewarded with tranquillity on earth and eternal happiness hereafter; but his will did not ally itself with his intellect.
rewarded
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From this reading He could approve the wisdom of those who renounced the flesh, to be rewarded with tranquillity on earth and eternal happiness hereafter; but his will did not ally itself with his intellect.
rose
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From this reading THE ABBOT'S TOWER On the morrow he rose earlier, talking the while with his servant Deodatus.
servant
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From this reading THE ABBOT'S TOWER On the morrow he rose earlier, talking the while with his servant Deodatus.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading This good fellow continued to exhibit so deep an affection for the life of the monastery that Basil was at length moved to ask him whether, if he had the choice, he would veritably become a monk.
sorrows
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From this reading Instructed by a vocation so manifest, Basil began to read more clearly in his own heart, where, in spite of the sorrows he had borne and of the troublous uncertainties that lay before him, he found no such readiness to quit the world.
speak
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Deodatus looked at his master with eyes of pathetic earnestness, tried in vain to speak, and burst into tears.
spite
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From this reading Instructed by a vocation so manifest, Basil began to read more clearly in his own heart, where, in spite of the sorrows he had borne and of the troublous uncertainties that lay before him, he found no such readiness to quit the world.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Instructed by a vocation so manifest, Basil began to read more clearly in his own heart, where, in spite of the sorrows he had borne and of the troublous uncertainties that lay before him, he found no such readiness to quit the world.
talking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE ABBOT'S TOWER On the morrow he rose earlier, talking the while with his servant Deodatus.
tears
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From this reading Deodatus looked at his master with eyes of pathetic earnestness, tried in vain to speak, and burst into tears.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading This good fellow continued to exhibit so deep an affection for the life of the monastery that Basil was at length moved to ask him whether, if he had the choice, he would veritably become a monk.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE ABBOT'S TOWER On the morrow he rose earlier, talking the while with his servant Deodatus.
ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This good fellow continued to exhibit so deep an affection for the life of the monastery that Basil was at length moved to ask him whether, if he had the choice, he would veritably become a monk.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading He could approve the wisdom of those who renounced the flesh, to be rewarded with tranquillity on earth and eternal happiness hereafter; but his will did not ally itself with his intellect.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading This good fellow continued to exhibit so deep an affection for the life of the monastery that Basil was at length moved to ask him whether, if he had the choice, he would veritably become a monk.
TOWER
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From this reading THE ABBOT'S TOWER On the morrow he rose earlier, talking the while with his servant Deodatus.
tranquillity
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From this reading He could approve the wisdom of those who renounced the flesh, to be rewarded with tranquillity on earth and eternal happiness hereafter; but his will did not ally itself with his intellect.
tried
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From this reading Deodatus looked at his master with eyes of pathetic earnestness, tried in vain to speak, and burst into tears.
troublous
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From this reading Instructed by a vocation so manifest, Basil began to read more clearly in his own heart, where, in spite of the sorrows he had borne and of the troublous uncertainties that lay before him, he found no such readiness to quit the world.
uncertainties
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From this reading Instructed by a vocation so manifest, Basil began to read more clearly in his own heart, where, in spite of the sorrows he had borne and of the troublous uncertainties that lay before him, he found no such readiness to quit the world.
vain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Deodatus looked at his master with eyes of pathetic earnestness, tried in vain to speak, and burst into tears.
veritably
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From this reading This good fellow continued to exhibit so deep an affection for the life of the monastery that Basil was at length moved to ask him whether, if he had the choice, he would veritably become a monk.
vocation
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From this reading Instructed by a vocation so manifest, Basil began to read more clearly in his own heart, where, in spite of the sorrows he had borne and of the troublous uncertainties that lay before him, he found no such readiness to quit the world.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This good fellow continued to exhibit so deep an affection for the life of the monastery that Basil was at length moved to ask him whether, if he had the choice, he would veritably become a monk.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading Instructed by a vocation so manifest, Basil began to read more clearly in his own heart, where, in spite of the sorrows he had borne and of the troublous uncertainties that lay before him, he found no such readiness to quit the world.
whetherconjunctionUS /ˈweðər/
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading This good fellow continued to exhibit so deep an affection for the life of the monastery that Basil was at length moved to ask him whether, if he had the choice, he would veritably become a monk.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading THE ABBOT'S TOWER On the morrow he rose earlier, talking the while with his servant Deodatus.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading He could approve the wisdom of those who renounced the flesh, to be rewarded with tranquillity on earth and eternal happiness hereafter; but his will did not ally itself with his intellect.
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading He could approve the wisdom of those who renounced the flesh, to be rewarded with tranquillity on earth and eternal happiness hereafter; but his will did not ally itself with his intellect.
wisdom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could approve the wisdom of those who renounced the flesh, to be rewarded with tranquillity on earth and eternal happiness hereafter; but his will did not ally itself with his intellect.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading THE ABBOT'S TOWER On the morrow he rose earlier, talking the while with his servant Deodatus.
world
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From this reading Instructed by a vocation so manifest, Basil began to read more clearly in his own heart, where, in spite of the sorrows he had borne and of the troublous uncertainties that lay before him, he found no such readiness to quit the world.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading This good fellow continued to exhibit so deep an affection for the life of the monastery that Basil was at length moved to ask him whether, if he had the choice, he would veritably become a monk.
