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 I doubt, indeed, whether I should not abandon the struggle altogether—leave this sad world of ordinary life for which I am so ill-fitted, abandon the name of Cummins for some professional pseudonym, complete my self-effacement, and—a thing of tricks and tatters, of posing and pretence—go upon the stage.
abandon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I doubt, indeed, whether I should not abandon the struggle altogether—leave this sad world of ordinary life for which I am so ill-fitted, abandon the name of Cummins for some professional pseudonym, complete my self-effacement, and—a thing of tricks and tatters, of posing and pretence—go upon the stage.
altogether
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I doubt, indeed, whether I should not abandon the struggle altogether—leave this sad world of ordinary life for which I am so ill-fitted, abandon the name of Cummins for some professional pseudonym, complete my self-effacement, and—a thing of tricks and tatters, of posing and pretence—go upon the stage.
amauxiliary verbUS /æm/
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading I doubt, indeed, whether I should not abandon the struggle altogether—leave this sad world of ordinary life for which I am so ill-fitted, abandon the name of Cummins for some professional pseudonym, complete my self-effacement, and—a thing of tricks and tatters, of posing and pretence—go upon the stage.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I doubt, indeed, whether I should not abandon the struggle altogether—leave this sad world of ordinary life for which I am so ill-fitted, abandon the name of Cummins for some professional pseudonym, complete my self-effacement, and—a thing of tricks and tatters, of posing and pretence—go upon the stage.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading For in the ordinary life, I will confess, no one now seems to regard me as both sane and sober.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading That will be the end of it.
bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/
the two together, not just one
From this reading For in the ordinary life, I will confess, no one now seems to regard me as both sane and sober.
completenounUS /complete/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I doubt, indeed, whether I should not abandon the struggle altogether—leave this sad world of ordinary life for which I am so ill-fitted, abandon the name of Cummins for some professional pseudonym, complete my self-effacement, and—a thing of tricks and tatters, of posing and pretence—go upon the stage.
confess
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For in the ordinary life, I will confess, no one now seems to regard me as both sane and sober.
convinced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only upon the stage, I feel convinced, will people take me seriously.
Cummins
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From this reading I doubt, indeed, whether I should not abandon the struggle altogether—leave this sad world of ordinary life for which I am so ill-fitted, abandon the name of Cummins for some professional pseudonym, complete my self-effacement, and—a thing of tricks and tatters, of posing and pretence—go upon the stage.
doubt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I doubt, indeed, whether I should not abandon the struggle altogether—leave this sad world of ordinary life for which I am so ill-fitted, abandon the name of Cummins for some professional pseudonym, complete my self-effacement, and—a thing of tricks and tatters, of posing and pretence—go upon the stage.
end
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That will be the end of it.
feel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only upon the stage, I feel convinced, will people take me seriously.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading I doubt, indeed, whether I should not abandon the struggle altogether—leave this sad world of ordinary life for which I am so ill-fitted, abandon the name of Cummins for some professional pseudonym, complete my self-effacement, and—a thing of tricks and tatters, of posing and pretence—go upon the stage.
go
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I doubt, indeed, whether I should not abandon the struggle altogether—leave this sad world of ordinary life for which I am so ill-fitted, abandon the name of Cummins for some professional pseudonym, complete my self-effacement, and—a thing of tricks and tatters, of posing and pretence—go upon the stage.
hold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seems my only resort—“to hold the mirror up to Nature.”
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I doubt, indeed, whether I should not abandon the struggle altogether—leave this sad world of ordinary life for which I am so ill-fitted, abandon the name of Cummins for some professional pseudonym, complete my self-effacement, and—a thing of tricks and tatters, of posing and pretence—go upon the stage.
ill-fitted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I doubt, indeed, whether I should not abandon the struggle altogether—leave this sad world of ordinary life for which I am so ill-fitted, abandon the name of Cummins for some professional pseudonym, complete my self-effacement, and—a thing of tricks and tatters, of posing and pretence—go upon the stage.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading For in the ordinary life, I will confess, no one now seems to regard me as both sane and sober.
indeed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I doubt, indeed, whether I should not abandon the struggle altogether—leave this sad world of ordinary life for which I am so ill-fitted, abandon the name of Cummins for some professional pseudonym, complete my self-effacement, and—a thing of tricks and tatters, of posing and pretence—go upon the stage.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It seems my only resort—“to hold the mirror up to Nature.”
leave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I doubt, indeed, whether I should not abandon the struggle altogether—leave this sad world of ordinary life for which I am so ill-fitted, abandon the name of Cummins for some professional pseudonym, complete my self-effacement, and—a thing of tricks and tatters, of posing and pretence—go upon the stage.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I doubt, indeed, whether I should not abandon the struggle altogether—leave this sad world of ordinary life for which I am so ill-fitted, abandon the name of Cummins for some professional pseudonym, complete my self-effacement, and—a thing of tricks and tatters, of posing and pretence—go upon the stage.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading For in the ordinary life, I will confess, no one now seems to regard me as both sane and sober.
mirror
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seems my only resort—“to hold the mirror up to Nature.”
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I doubt, indeed, whether I should not abandon the struggle altogether—leave this sad world of ordinary life for which I am so ill-fitted, abandon the name of Cummins for some professional pseudonym, complete my self-effacement, and—a thing of tricks and tatters, of posing and pretence—go upon the stage.
namenounUS /name/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I doubt, indeed, whether I should not abandon the struggle altogether—leave this sad world of ordinary life for which I am so ill-fitted, abandon the name of Cummins for some professional pseudonym, complete my self-effacement, and—a thing of tricks and tatters, of posing and pretence—go upon the stage.
Nature
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seems my only resort—“to hold the mirror up to Nature.”
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading For in the ordinary life, I will confess, no one now seems to regard me as both sane and sober.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading I doubt, indeed, whether I should not abandon the struggle altogether—leave this sad world of ordinary life for which I am so ill-fitted, abandon the name of Cummins for some professional pseudonym, complete my self-effacement, and—a thing of tricks and tatters, of posing and pretence—go upon the stage.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For in the ordinary life, I will confess, no one now seems to regard me as both sane and sober.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I doubt, indeed, whether I should not abandon the struggle altogether—leave this sad world of ordinary life for which I am so ill-fitted, abandon the name of Cummins for some professional pseudonym, complete my self-effacement, and—a thing of tricks and tatters, of posing and pretence—go upon the stage.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading For in the ordinary life, I will confess, no one now seems to regard me as both sane and sober.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seems my only resort—“to hold the mirror up to Nature.”
ordinary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I doubt, indeed, whether I should not abandon the struggle altogether—leave this sad world of ordinary life for which I am so ill-fitted, abandon the name of Cummins for some professional pseudonym, complete my self-effacement, and—a thing of tricks and tatters, of posing and pretence—go upon the stage.
people
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only upon the stage, I feel convinced, will people take me seriously.
posing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I doubt, indeed, whether I should not abandon the struggle altogether—leave this sad world of ordinary life for which I am so ill-fitted, abandon the name of Cummins for some professional pseudonym, complete my self-effacement, and—a thing of tricks and tatters, of posing and pretence—go upon the stage.
pretence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I doubt, indeed, whether I should not abandon the struggle altogether—leave this sad world of ordinary life for which I am so ill-fitted, abandon the name of Cummins for some professional pseudonym, complete my self-effacement, and—a thing of tricks and tatters, of posing and pretence—go upon the stage.
professional
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I doubt, indeed, whether I should not abandon the struggle altogether—leave this sad world of ordinary life for which I am so ill-fitted, abandon the name of Cummins for some professional pseudonym, complete my self-effacement, and—a thing of tricks and tatters, of posing and pretence—go upon the stage.
pseudonym
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I doubt, indeed, whether I should not abandon the struggle altogether—leave this sad world of ordinary life for which I am so ill-fitted, abandon the name of Cummins for some professional pseudonym, complete my self-effacement, and—a thing of tricks and tatters, of posing and pretence—go upon the stage.
regard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For in the ordinary life, I will confess, no one now seems to regard me as both sane and sober.
resort
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seems my only resort—“to hold the mirror up to Nature.”
sad
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I doubt, indeed, whether I should not abandon the struggle altogether—leave this sad world of ordinary life for which I am so ill-fitted, abandon the name of Cummins for some professional pseudonym, complete my self-effacement, and—a thing of tricks and tatters, of posing and pretence—go upon the stage.
sane
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For in the ordinary life, I will confess, no one now seems to regard me as both sane and sober.
seems
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seems my only resort—“to hold the mirror up to Nature.”
self-effacement
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I doubt, indeed, whether I should not abandon the struggle altogether—leave this sad world of ordinary life for which I am so ill-fitted, abandon the name of Cummins for some professional pseudonym, complete my self-effacement, and—a thing of tricks and tatters, of posing and pretence—go upon the stage.
seriously
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Only upon the stage, I feel convinced, will people take me seriously.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading I doubt, indeed, whether I should not abandon the struggle altogether—leave this sad world of ordinary life for which I am so ill-fitted, abandon the name of Cummins for some professional pseudonym, complete my self-effacement, and—a thing of tricks and tatters, of posing and pretence—go upon the stage.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading I doubt, indeed, whether I should not abandon the struggle altogether—leave this sad world of ordinary life for which I am so ill-fitted, abandon the name of Cummins for some professional pseudonym, complete my self-effacement, and—a thing of tricks and tatters, of posing and pretence—go upon the stage.
soberadjectiveUS /ˈsoʊbər/
not affected by alcohol
From this reading For in the ordinary life, I will confess, no one now seems to regard me as both sane and sober.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I doubt, indeed, whether I should not abandon the struggle altogether—leave this sad world of ordinary life for which I am so ill-fitted, abandon the name of Cummins for some professional pseudonym, complete my self-effacement, and—a thing of tricks and tatters, of posing and pretence—go upon the stage.
stage
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I doubt, indeed, whether I should not abandon the struggle altogether—leave this sad world of ordinary life for which I am so ill-fitted, abandon the name of Cummins for some professional pseudonym, complete my self-effacement, and—a thing of tricks and tatters, of posing and pretence—go upon the stage.
struggle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I doubt, indeed, whether I should not abandon the struggle altogether—leave this sad world of ordinary life for which I am so ill-fitted, abandon the name of Cummins for some professional pseudonym, complete my self-effacement, and—a thing of tricks and tatters, of posing and pretence—go upon the stage.
takenounUS /take/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Only upon the stage, I feel convinced, will people take me seriously.
tatters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I doubt, indeed, whether I should not abandon the struggle altogether—leave this sad world of ordinary life for which I am so ill-fitted, abandon the name of Cummins for some professional pseudonym, complete my self-effacement, and—a thing of tricks and tatters, of posing and pretence—go upon the stage.
ThatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That will be the end of it.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I doubt, indeed, whether I should not abandon the struggle altogether—leave this sad world of ordinary life for which I am so ill-fitted, abandon the name of Cummins for some professional pseudonym, complete my self-effacement, and—a thing of tricks and tatters, of posing and pretence—go upon the stage.
thingnounUS /thing/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I doubt, indeed, whether I should not abandon the struggle altogether—leave this sad world of ordinary life for which I am so ill-fitted, abandon the name of Cummins for some professional pseudonym, complete my self-effacement, and—a thing of tricks and tatters, of posing and pretence—go upon the stage.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading I doubt, indeed, whether I should not abandon the struggle altogether—leave this sad world of ordinary life for which I am so ill-fitted, abandon the name of Cummins for some professional pseudonym, complete my self-effacement, and—a thing of tricks and tatters, of posing and pretence—go upon the stage.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It seems my only resort—“to hold the mirror up to Nature.”
tricks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I doubt, indeed, whether I should not abandon the struggle altogether—leave this sad world of ordinary life for which I am so ill-fitted, abandon the name of Cummins for some professional pseudonym, complete my self-effacement, and—a thing of tricks and tatters, of posing and pretence—go upon the stage.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seems my only resort—“to hold the mirror up to Nature.”
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading I doubt, indeed, whether I should not abandon the struggle altogether—leave this sad world of ordinary life for which I am so ill-fitted, abandon the name of Cummins for some professional pseudonym, complete my self-effacement, and—a thing of tricks and tatters, of posing and pretence—go upon the stage.
whetherconjunctionUS /ˈweðər/
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading I doubt, indeed, whether I should not abandon the struggle altogether—leave this sad world of ordinary life for which I am so ill-fitted, abandon the name of Cummins for some professional pseudonym, complete my self-effacement, and—a thing of tricks and tatters, of posing and pretence—go upon the stage.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading I doubt, indeed, whether I should not abandon the struggle altogether—leave this sad world of ordinary life for which I am so ill-fitted, abandon the name of Cummins for some professional pseudonym, complete my self-effacement, and—a thing of tricks and tatters, of posing and pretence—go upon the stage.
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading For in the ordinary life, I will confess, no one now seems to regard me as both sane and sober.
world
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I doubt, indeed, whether I should not abandon the struggle altogether—leave this sad world of ordinary life for which I am so ill-fitted, abandon the name of Cummins for some professional pseudonym, complete my self-effacement, and—a thing of tricks and tatters, of posing and pretence—go upon the stage.
