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 It is a curious fact, and makes life very interesting, that, generally speaking, none of us have any expectation that things are going to happen till the very moment when they do happen.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We wake up some morning with no idea that a great happiness is at hand, and before night it has come, and all the world is changed for us; or we wake bright and cheerful, with never a guess that clouds of sorrow are lowering in our sky, to put all the sunshine out for a while, and before noon all is dark.
ANdeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN INVITATION.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It is a curious fact, and makes life very interesting, that, generally speaking, none of us have any expectation that things are going to happen till the very moment when they do happen.
any
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is a curious fact, and makes life very interesting, that, generally speaking, none of us have any expectation that things are going to happen till the very moment when they do happen.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It is a curious fact, and makes life very interesting, that, generally speaking, none of us have any expectation that things are going to happen till the very moment when they do happen.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading We wake up some morning with no idea that a great happiness is at hand, and before night it has come, and all the world is changed for us; or we wake bright and cheerful, with never a guess that clouds of sorrow are lowering in our sky, to put all the sunshine out for a while, and before noon all is dark.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading We wake up some morning with no idea that a great happiness is at hand, and before night it has come, and all the world is changed for us; or we wake bright and cheerful, with never a guess that clouds of sorrow are lowering in our sky, to put all the sunshine out for a while, and before noon all is dark.
bids
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No instinct bids us to delay or to hasten the opening of the letter or telegram, or the lifting of the latch of the door at which stands the messenger of good or ill.
bright
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We wake up some morning with no idea that a great happiness is at hand, and before night it has come, and all the world is changed for us; or we wake bright and cheerful, with never a guess that clouds of sorrow are lowering in our sky, to put all the sunshine out for a while, and before noon all is dark.
changed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We wake up some morning with no idea that a great happiness is at hand, and before night it has come, and all the world is changed for us; or we wake bright and cheerful, with never a guess that clouds of sorrow are lowering in our sky, to put all the sunshine out for a while, and before noon all is dark.
cheerful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We wake up some morning with no idea that a great happiness is at hand, and before night it has come, and all the world is changed for us; or we wake bright and cheerful, with never a guess that clouds of sorrow are lowering in our sky, to put all the sunshine out for a while, and before noon all is dark.
clouds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We wake up some morning with no idea that a great happiness is at hand, and before night it has come, and all the world is changed for us; or we wake bright and cheerful, with never a guess that clouds of sorrow are lowering in our sky, to put all the sunshine out for a while, and before noon all is dark.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading We wake up some morning with no idea that a great happiness is at hand, and before night it has come, and all the world is changed for us; or we wake bright and cheerful, with never a guess that clouds of sorrow are lowering in our sky, to put all the sunshine out for a while, and before noon all is dark.
curious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is a curious fact, and makes life very interesting, that, generally speaking, none of us have any expectation that things are going to happen till the very moment when they do happen.
dark
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We wake up some morning with no idea that a great happiness is at hand, and before night it has come, and all the world is changed for us; or we wake bright and cheerful, with never a guess that clouds of sorrow are lowering in our sky, to put all the sunshine out for a while, and before noon all is dark.
delay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No instinct bids us to delay or to hasten the opening of the letter or telegram, or the lifting of the latch of the door at which stands the messenger of good or ill.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading It is a curious fact, and makes life very interesting, that, generally speaking, none of us have any expectation that things are going to happen till the very moment when they do happen.
door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No instinct bids us to delay or to hasten the opening of the letter or telegram, or the lifting of the latch of the door at which stands the messenger of good or ill.
eitherdeterminerUS /ˈiːðər/
one or the other of two
From this reading Nothing whispers of either the joy or the grief.
expectation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is a curious fact, and makes life very interesting, that, generally speaking, none of us have any expectation that things are going to happen till the very moment when they do happen.
fact
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is a curious fact, and makes life very interesting, that, generally speaking, none of us have any expectation that things are going to happen till the very moment when they do happen.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading We wake up some morning with no idea that a great happiness is at hand, and before night it has come, and all the world is changed for us; or we wake bright and cheerful, with never a guess that clouds of sorrow are lowering in our sky, to put all the sunshine out for a while, and before noon all is dark.
generally
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is a curious fact, and makes life very interesting, that, generally speaking, none of us have any expectation that things are going to happen till the very moment when they do happen.
going
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is a curious fact, and makes life very interesting, that, generally speaking, none of us have any expectation that things are going to happen till the very moment when they do happen.
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading No instinct bids us to delay or to hasten the opening of the letter or telegram, or the lifting of the latch of the door at which stands the messenger of good or ill.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading We wake up some morning with no idea that a great happiness is at hand, and before night it has come, and all the world is changed for us; or we wake bright and cheerful, with never a guess that clouds of sorrow are lowering in our sky, to put all the sunshine out for a while, and before noon all is dark.
grief
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nothing whispers of either the joy or the grief.
guess
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We wake up some morning with no idea that a great happiness is at hand, and before night it has come, and all the world is changed for us; or we wake bright and cheerful, with never a guess that clouds of sorrow are lowering in our sky, to put all the sunshine out for a while, and before noon all is dark.
hand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We wake up some morning with no idea that a great happiness is at hand, and before night it has come, and all the world is changed for us; or we wake bright and cheerful, with never a guess that clouds of sorrow are lowering in our sky, to put all the sunshine out for a while, and before noon all is dark.
happen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is a curious fact, and makes life very interesting, that, generally speaking, none of us have any expectation that things are going to happen till the very moment when they do happen.
happiness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We wake up some morning with no idea that a great happiness is at hand, and before night it has come, and all the world is changed for us; or we wake bright and cheerful, with never a guess that clouds of sorrow are lowering in our sky, to put all the sunshine out for a while, and before noon all is dark.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading We wake up some morning with no idea that a great happiness is at hand, and before night it has come, and all the world is changed for us; or we wake bright and cheerful, with never a guess that clouds of sorrow are lowering in our sky, to put all the sunshine out for a while, and before noon all is dark.
hasten
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No instinct bids us to delay or to hasten the opening of the letter or telegram, or the lifting of the latch of the door at which stands the messenger of good or ill.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It is a curious fact, and makes life very interesting, that, generally speaking, none of us have any expectation that things are going to happen till the very moment when they do happen.
idea
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We wake up some morning with no idea that a great happiness is at hand, and before night it has come, and all the world is changed for us; or we wake bright and cheerful, with never a guess that clouds of sorrow are lowering in our sky, to put all the sunshine out for a while, and before noon all is dark.
ill
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No instinct bids us to delay or to hasten the opening of the letter or telegram, or the lifting of the latch of the door at which stands the messenger of good or ill.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading We wake up some morning with no idea that a great happiness is at hand, and before night it has come, and all the world is changed for us; or we wake bright and cheerful, with never a guess that clouds of sorrow are lowering in our sky, to put all the sunshine out for a while, and before noon all is dark.
instinct
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No instinct bids us to delay or to hasten the opening of the letter or telegram, or the lifting of the latch of the door at which stands the messenger of good or ill.
interesting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is a curious fact, and makes life very interesting, that, generally speaking, none of us have any expectation that things are going to happen till the very moment when they do happen.
INVITATION
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN INVITATION.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It is a curious fact, and makes life very interesting, that, generally speaking, none of us have any expectation that things are going to happen till the very moment when they do happen.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It is a curious fact, and makes life very interesting, that, generally speaking, none of us have any expectation that things are going to happen till the very moment when they do happen.
joy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nothing whispers of either the joy or the grief.
latch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No instinct bids us to delay or to hasten the opening of the letter or telegram, or the lifting of the latch of the door at which stands the messenger of good or ill.
letter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No instinct bids us to delay or to hasten the opening of the letter or telegram, or the lifting of the latch of the door at which stands the messenger of good or ill.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It is a curious fact, and makes life very interesting, that, generally speaking, none of us have any expectation that things are going to happen till the very moment when they do happen.
lifting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No instinct bids us to delay or to hasten the opening of the letter or telegram, or the lifting of the latch of the door at which stands the messenger of good or ill.
lowering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We wake up some morning with no idea that a great happiness is at hand, and before night it has come, and all the world is changed for us; or we wake bright and cheerful, with never a guess that clouds of sorrow are lowering in our sky, to put all the sunshine out for a while, and before noon all is dark.
makes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is a curious fact, and makes life very interesting, that, generally speaking, none of us have any expectation that things are going to happen till the very moment when they do happen.
messenger
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No instinct bids us to delay or to hasten the opening of the letter or telegram, or the lifting of the latch of the door at which stands the messenger of good or ill.
moment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is a curious fact, and makes life very interesting, that, generally speaking, none of us have any expectation that things are going to happen till the very moment when they do happen.
morningnounUS /morning/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading We wake up some morning with no idea that a great happiness is at hand, and before night it has come, and all the world is changed for us; or we wake bright and cheerful, with never a guess that clouds of sorrow are lowering in our sky, to put all the sunshine out for a while, and before noon all is dark.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading We wake up some morning with no idea that a great happiness is at hand, and before night it has come, and all the world is changed for us; or we wake bright and cheerful, with never a guess that clouds of sorrow are lowering in our sky, to put all the sunshine out for a while, and before noon all is dark.
night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We wake up some morning with no idea that a great happiness is at hand, and before night it has come, and all the world is changed for us; or we wake bright and cheerful, with never a guess that clouds of sorrow are lowering in our sky, to put all the sunshine out for a while, and before noon all is dark.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading We wake up some morning with no idea that a great happiness is at hand, and before night it has come, and all the world is changed for us; or we wake bright and cheerful, with never a guess that clouds of sorrow are lowering in our sky, to put all the sunshine out for a while, and before noon all is dark.
nonepronounUS /nʌn/
not one, and not any
From this reading It is a curious fact, and makes life very interesting, that, generally speaking, none of us have any expectation that things are going to happen till the very moment when they do happen.
noon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We wake up some morning with no idea that a great happiness is at hand, and before night it has come, and all the world is changed for us; or we wake bright and cheerful, with never a guess that clouds of sorrow are lowering in our sky, to put all the sunshine out for a while, and before noon all is dark.
NothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Nothing whispers of either the joy or the grief.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It is a curious fact, and makes life very interesting, that, generally speaking, none of us have any expectation that things are going to happen till the very moment when they do happen.
opening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No instinct bids us to delay or to hasten the opening of the letter or telegram, or the lifting of the latch of the door at which stands the messenger of good or ill.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading We wake up some morning with no idea that a great happiness is at hand, and before night it has come, and all the world is changed for us; or we wake bright and cheerful, with never a guess that clouds of sorrow are lowering in our sky, to put all the sunshine out for a while, and before noon all is dark.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading We wake up some morning with no idea that a great happiness is at hand, and before night it has come, and all the world is changed for us; or we wake bright and cheerful, with never a guess that clouds of sorrow are lowering in our sky, to put all the sunshine out for a while, and before noon all is dark.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We wake up some morning with no idea that a great happiness is at hand, and before night it has come, and all the world is changed for us; or we wake bright and cheerful, with never a guess that clouds of sorrow are lowering in our sky, to put all the sunshine out for a while, and before noon all is dark.
put
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We wake up some morning with no idea that a great happiness is at hand, and before night it has come, and all the world is changed for us; or we wake bright and cheerful, with never a guess that clouds of sorrow are lowering in our sky, to put all the sunshine out for a while, and before noon all is dark.
sky
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We wake up some morning with no idea that a great happiness is at hand, and before night it has come, and all the world is changed for us; or we wake bright and cheerful, with never a guess that clouds of sorrow are lowering in our sky, to put all the sunshine out for a while, and before noon all is dark.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We wake up some morning with no idea that a great happiness is at hand, and before night it has come, and all the world is changed for us; or we wake bright and cheerful, with never a guess that clouds of sorrow are lowering in our sky, to put all the sunshine out for a while, and before noon all is dark.
sorrow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We wake up some morning with no idea that a great happiness is at hand, and before night it has come, and all the world is changed for us; or we wake bright and cheerful, with never a guess that clouds of sorrow are lowering in our sky, to put all the sunshine out for a while, and before noon all is dark.
speaking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is a curious fact, and makes life very interesting, that, generally speaking, none of us have any expectation that things are going to happen till the very moment when they do happen.
stands
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No instinct bids us to delay or to hasten the opening of the letter or telegram, or the lifting of the latch of the door at which stands the messenger of good or ill.
sunshine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We wake up some morning with no idea that a great happiness is at hand, and before night it has come, and all the world is changed for us; or we wake bright and cheerful, with never a guess that clouds of sorrow are lowering in our sky, to put all the sunshine out for a while, and before noon all is dark.
telegram
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No instinct bids us to delay or to hasten the opening of the letter or telegram, or the lifting of the latch of the door at which stands the messenger of good or ill.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It is a curious fact, and makes life very interesting, that, generally speaking, none of us have any expectation that things are going to happen till the very moment when they do happen.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It is a curious fact, and makes life very interesting, that, generally speaking, none of us have any expectation that things are going to happen till the very moment when they do happen.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It is a curious fact, and makes life very interesting, that, generally speaking, none of us have any expectation that things are going to happen till the very moment when they do happen.
things
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is a curious fact, and makes life very interesting, that, generally speaking, none of us have any expectation that things are going to happen till the very moment when they do happen.
tillprepositionUS /tɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading It is a curious fact, and makes life very interesting, that, generally speaking, none of us have any expectation that things are going to happen till the very moment when they do happen.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It is a curious fact, and makes life very interesting, that, generally speaking, none of us have any expectation that things are going to happen till the very moment when they do happen.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We wake up some morning with no idea that a great happiness is at hand, and before night it has come, and all the world is changed for us; or we wake bright and cheerful, with never a guess that clouds of sorrow are lowering in our sky, to put all the sunshine out for a while, and before noon all is dark.
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It is a curious fact, and makes life very interesting, that, generally speaking, none of us have any expectation that things are going to happen till the very moment when they do happen.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is a curious fact, and makes life very interesting, that, generally speaking, none of us have any expectation that things are going to happen till the very moment when they do happen.
wake
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We wake up some morning with no idea that a great happiness is at hand, and before night it has come, and all the world is changed for us; or we wake bright and cheerful, with never a guess that clouds of sorrow are lowering in our sky, to put all the sunshine out for a while, and before noon all is dark.
WepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We wake up some morning with no idea that a great happiness is at hand, and before night it has come, and all the world is changed for us; or we wake bright and cheerful, with never a guess that clouds of sorrow are lowering in our sky, to put all the sunshine out for a while, and before noon all is dark.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading It is a curious fact, and makes life very interesting, that, generally speaking, none of us have any expectation that things are going to happen till the very moment when they do happen.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading No instinct bids us to delay or to hasten the opening of the letter or telegram, or the lifting of the latch of the door at which stands the messenger of good or ill.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading We wake up some morning with no idea that a great happiness is at hand, and before night it has come, and all the world is changed for us; or we wake bright and cheerful, with never a guess that clouds of sorrow are lowering in our sky, to put all the sunshine out for a while, and before noon all is dark.
whispers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nothing whispers of either the joy or the grief.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading We wake up some morning with no idea that a great happiness is at hand, and before night it has come, and all the world is changed for us; or we wake bright and cheerful, with never a guess that clouds of sorrow are lowering in our sky, to put all the sunshine out for a while, and before noon all is dark.
world
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We wake up some morning with no idea that a great happiness is at hand, and before night it has come, and all the world is changed for us; or we wake bright and cheerful, with never a guess that clouds of sorrow are lowering in our sky, to put all the sunshine out for a while, and before noon all is dark.
