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 And now those who have avoided the gray unpainted shame of these unimportant people of the Ridge may here take up again for a moment the trailing clouds of glory that shimmer over John Barclay's office in the big City.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading A blight may threaten the wheat in Argentine, and John Barclay knows every cloud that sails the sky above that wheat, and when the cloud bursts into rain he sighs, for it means something to him, though heaven only knows what, and we and heaven do not care.
adorned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Forty years before, when John was playing in the dust of the road leading up from the Sycamore, no king in all the world knew so much of the day's doings as John knows now, sitting there at the polished mahogany table with the green blotting paper upon it, under the green vase adorned with the red rose.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading And now those who have avoided the gray unpainted shame of these unimportant people of the Ridge may here take up again for a moment the trailing clouds of glory that shimmer over John Barclay's office in the big City.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here sits John Barclay, a little gray-haired, gray-clad, lynx-eyed man, in a big light room at the corner of a tower high over the City in the Corn Exchange Building, the brain from which a million nerves radiate that run all over the world and move thousands of men.
AndconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And now those who have avoided the gray unpainted shame of these unimportant people of the Ridge may here take up again for a moment the trailing clouds of glory that shimmer over John Barclay's office in the big City.
Argentine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A blight may threaten the wheat in Argentine, and John Barclay knows every cloud that sails the sky above that wheat, and when the cloud bursts into rain he sighs, for it means something to him, though heaven only knows what, and we and heaven do not care.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Forty years before, when John was playing in the dust of the road leading up from the Sycamore, no king in all the world knew so much of the day's doings as John knows now, sitting there at the polished mahogany table with the green blotting paper upon it, under the green vase adorned with the red rose.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Here sits John Barclay, a little gray-haired, gray-clad, lynx-eyed man, in a big light room at the corner of a tower high over the City in the Corn Exchange Building, the brain from which a million nerves radiate that run all over the world and move thousands of men.
avoided
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And now those who have avoided the gray unpainted shame of these unimportant people of the Ridge may here take up again for a moment the trailing clouds of glory that shimmer over John Barclay's office in the big City.
Barclay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here sits John Barclay, a little gray-haired, gray-clad, lynx-eyed man, in a big light room at the corner of a tower high over the City in the Corn Exchange Building, the brain from which a million nerves radiate that run all over the world and move thousands of men.
Barclay's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And now those who have avoided the gray unpainted shame of these unimportant people of the Ridge may here take up again for a moment the trailing clouds of glory that shimmer over John Barclay's office in the big City.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Forty years before, when John was playing in the dust of the road leading up from the Sycamore, no king in all the world knew so much of the day's doings as John knows now, sitting there at the polished mahogany table with the green blotting paper upon it, under the green vase adorned with the red rose.
big
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And now those who have avoided the gray unpainted shame of these unimportant people of the Ridge may here take up again for a moment the trailing clouds of glory that shimmer over John Barclay's office in the big City.
blight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A blight may threaten the wheat in Argentine, and John Barclay knows every cloud that sails the sky above that wheat, and when the cloud bursts into rain he sighs, for it means something to him, though heaven only knows what, and we and heaven do not care.
blotting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Forty years before, when John was playing in the dust of the road leading up from the Sycamore, no king in all the world knew so much of the day's doings as John knows now, sitting there at the polished mahogany table with the green blotting paper upon it, under the green vase adorned with the red rose.
brain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here sits John Barclay, a little gray-haired, gray-clad, lynx-eyed man, in a big light room at the corner of a tower high over the City in the Corn Exchange Building, the brain from which a million nerves radiate that run all over the world and move thousands of men.
brass
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For here there is the sounding brass and tinkling cymbal of great worldly power.
Building
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here sits John Barclay, a little gray-haired, gray-clad, lynx-eyed man, in a big light room at the corner of a tower high over the City in the Corn Exchange Building, the brain from which a million nerves radiate that run all over the world and move thousands of men.
bursts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A blight may threaten the wheat in Argentine, and John Barclay knows every cloud that sails the sky above that wheat, and when the cloud bursts into rain he sighs, for it means something to him, though heaven only knows what, and we and heaven do not care.
care
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A blight may threaten the wheat in Argentine, and John Barclay knows every cloud that sails the sky above that wheat, and when the cloud bursts into rain he sighs, for it means something to him, though heaven only knows what, and we and heaven do not care.
City
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And now those who have avoided the gray unpainted shame of these unimportant people of the Ridge may here take up again for a moment the trailing clouds of glory that shimmer over John Barclay's office in the big City.
cloud
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A blight may threaten the wheat in Argentine, and John Barclay knows every cloud that sails the sky above that wheat, and when the cloud bursts into rain he sighs, for it means something to him, though heaven only knows what, and we and heaven do not care.
clouds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And now those who have avoided the gray unpainted shame of these unimportant people of the Ridge may here take up again for a moment the trailing clouds of glory that shimmer over John Barclay's office in the big City.
Corn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here sits John Barclay, a little gray-haired, gray-clad, lynx-eyed man, in a big light room at the corner of a tower high over the City in the Corn Exchange Building, the brain from which a million nerves radiate that run all over the world and move thousands of men.
corner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here sits John Barclay, a little gray-haired, gray-clad, lynx-eyed man, in a big light room at the corner of a tower high over the City in the Corn Exchange Building, the brain from which a million nerves radiate that run all over the world and move thousands of men.
cymbal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For here there is the sounding brass and tinkling cymbal of great worldly power.
day's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Forty years before, when John was playing in the dust of the road leading up from the Sycamore, no king in all the world knew so much of the day's doings as John knows now, sitting there at the polished mahogany table with the green blotting paper upon it, under the green vase adorned with the red rose.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading A blight may threaten the wheat in Argentine, and John Barclay knows every cloud that sails the sky above that wheat, and when the cloud bursts into rain he sighs, for it means something to him, though heaven only knows what, and we and heaven do not care.
doings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Forty years before, when John was playing in the dust of the road leading up from the Sycamore, no king in all the world knew so much of the day's doings as John knows now, sitting there at the polished mahogany table with the green blotting paper upon it, under the green vase adorned with the red rose.
dust
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Forty years before, when John was playing in the dust of the road leading up from the Sycamore, no king in all the world knew so much of the day's doings as John knows now, sitting there at the polished mahogany table with the green blotting paper upon it, under the green vase adorned with the red rose.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading A blight may threaten the wheat in Argentine, and John Barclay knows every cloud that sails the sky above that wheat, and when the cloud bursts into rain he sighs, for it means something to him, though heaven only knows what, and we and heaven do not care.
Exchange
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here sits John Barclay, a little gray-haired, gray-clad, lynx-eyed man, in a big light room at the corner of a tower high over the City in the Corn Exchange Building, the brain from which a million nerves radiate that run all over the world and move thousands of men.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading And now those who have avoided the gray unpainted shame of these unimportant people of the Ridge may here take up again for a moment the trailing clouds of glory that shimmer over John Barclay's office in the big City.
Forty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Forty years before, when John was playing in the dust of the road leading up from the Sycamore, no king in all the world knew so much of the day's doings as John knows now, sitting there at the polished mahogany table with the green blotting paper upon it, under the green vase adorned with the red rose.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Here sits John Barclay, a little gray-haired, gray-clad, lynx-eyed man, in a big light room at the corner of a tower high over the City in the Corn Exchange Building, the brain from which a million nerves radiate that run all over the world and move thousands of men.
glory
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And now those who have avoided the gray unpainted shame of these unimportant people of the Ridge may here take up again for a moment the trailing clouds of glory that shimmer over John Barclay's office in the big City.
gray
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And now those who have avoided the gray unpainted shame of these unimportant people of the Ridge may here take up again for a moment the trailing clouds of glory that shimmer over John Barclay's office in the big City.
gray-clad
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here sits John Barclay, a little gray-haired, gray-clad, lynx-eyed man, in a big light room at the corner of a tower high over the City in the Corn Exchange Building, the brain from which a million nerves radiate that run all over the world and move thousands of men.
gray-haired
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here sits John Barclay, a little gray-haired, gray-clad, lynx-eyed man, in a big light room at the corner of a tower high over the City in the Corn Exchange Building, the brain from which a million nerves radiate that run all over the world and move thousands of men.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For here there is the sounding brass and tinkling cymbal of great worldly power.
green
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Forty years before, when John was playing in the dust of the road leading up from the Sycamore, no king in all the world knew so much of the day's doings as John knows now, sitting there at the polished mahogany table with the green blotting paper upon it, under the green vase adorned with the red rose.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading And now those who have avoided the gray unpainted shame of these unimportant people of the Ridge may here take up again for a moment the trailing clouds of glory that shimmer over John Barclay's office in the big City.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A blight may threaten the wheat in Argentine, and John Barclay knows every cloud that sails the sky above that wheat, and when the cloud bursts into rain he sighs, for it means something to him, though heaven only knows what, and we and heaven do not care.
heaven
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A blight may threaten the wheat in Argentine, and John Barclay knows every cloud that sails the sky above that wheat, and when the cloud bursts into rain he sighs, for it means something to him, though heaven only knows what, and we and heaven do not care.
herenounUS /here/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading And now those who have avoided the gray unpainted shame of these unimportant people of the Ridge may here take up again for a moment the trailing clouds of glory that shimmer over John Barclay's office in the big City.
high
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here sits John Barclay, a little gray-haired, gray-clad, lynx-eyed man, in a big light room at the corner of a tower high over the City in the Corn Exchange Building, the brain from which a million nerves radiate that run all over the world and move thousands of men.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading A blight may threaten the wheat in Argentine, and John Barclay knows every cloud that sails the sky above that wheat, and when the cloud bursts into rain he sighs, for it means something to him, though heaven only knows what, and we and heaven do not care.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading And now those who have avoided the gray unpainted shame of these unimportant people of the Ridge may here take up again for a moment the trailing clouds of glory that shimmer over John Barclay's office in the big City.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading A blight may threaten the wheat in Argentine, and John Barclay knows every cloud that sails the sky above that wheat, and when the cloud bursts into rain he sighs, for it means something to him, though heaven only knows what, and we and heaven do not care.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading For here there is the sounding brass and tinkling cymbal of great worldly power.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Forty years before, when John was playing in the dust of the road leading up from the Sycamore, no king in all the world knew so much of the day's doings as John knows now, sitting there at the polished mahogany table with the green blotting paper upon it, under the green vase adorned with the red rose.
John
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And now those who have avoided the gray unpainted shame of these unimportant people of the Ridge may here take up again for a moment the trailing clouds of glory that shimmer over John Barclay's office in the big City.
king
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Forty years before, when John was playing in the dust of the road leading up from the Sycamore, no king in all the world knew so much of the day's doings as John knows now, sitting there at the polished mahogany table with the green blotting paper upon it, under the green vase adorned with the red rose.
knew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Forty years before, when John was playing in the dust of the road leading up from the Sycamore, no king in all the world knew so much of the day's doings as John knows now, sitting there at the polished mahogany table with the green blotting paper upon it, under the green vase adorned with the red rose.
knows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Forty years before, when John was playing in the dust of the road leading up from the Sycamore, no king in all the world knew so much of the day's doings as John knows now, sitting there at the polished mahogany table with the green blotting paper upon it, under the green vase adorned with the red rose.
leading
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Forty years before, when John was playing in the dust of the road leading up from the Sycamore, no king in all the world knew so much of the day's doings as John knows now, sitting there at the polished mahogany table with the green blotting paper upon it, under the green vase adorned with the red rose.
light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here sits John Barclay, a little gray-haired, gray-clad, lynx-eyed man, in a big light room at the corner of a tower high over the City in the Corn Exchange Building, the brain from which a million nerves radiate that run all over the world and move thousands of men.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Here sits John Barclay, a little gray-haired, gray-clad, lynx-eyed man, in a big light room at the corner of a tower high over the City in the Corn Exchange Building, the brain from which a million nerves radiate that run all over the world and move thousands of men.
lynx-eyed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here sits John Barclay, a little gray-haired, gray-clad, lynx-eyed man, in a big light room at the corner of a tower high over the City in the Corn Exchange Building, the brain from which a million nerves radiate that run all over the world and move thousands of men.
mahogany
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Forty years before, when John was playing in the dust of the road leading up from the Sycamore, no king in all the world knew so much of the day's doings as John knows now, sitting there at the polished mahogany table with the green blotting paper upon it, under the green vase adorned with the red rose.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here sits John Barclay, a little gray-haired, gray-clad, lynx-eyed man, in a big light room at the corner of a tower high over the City in the Corn Exchange Building, the brain from which a million nerves radiate that run all over the world and move thousands of men.
maymodal verbUS /meɪ/
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading And now those who have avoided the gray unpainted shame of these unimportant people of the Ridge may here take up again for a moment the trailing clouds of glory that shimmer over John Barclay's office in the big City.
means
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A blight may threaten the wheat in Argentine, and John Barclay knows every cloud that sails the sky above that wheat, and when the cloud bursts into rain he sighs, for it means something to him, though heaven only knows what, and we and heaven do not care.
men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here sits John Barclay, a little gray-haired, gray-clad, lynx-eyed man, in a big light room at the corner of a tower high over the City in the Corn Exchange Building, the brain from which a million nerves radiate that run all over the world and move thousands of men.
million
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here sits John Barclay, a little gray-haired, gray-clad, lynx-eyed man, in a big light room at the corner of a tower high over the City in the Corn Exchange Building, the brain from which a million nerves radiate that run all over the world and move thousands of men.
moment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And now those who have avoided the gray unpainted shame of these unimportant people of the Ridge may here take up again for a moment the trailing clouds of glory that shimmer over John Barclay's office in the big City.
move
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here sits John Barclay, a little gray-haired, gray-clad, lynx-eyed man, in a big light room at the corner of a tower high over the City in the Corn Exchange Building, the brain from which a million nerves radiate that run all over the world and move thousands of men.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Forty years before, when John was playing in the dust of the road leading up from the Sycamore, no king in all the world knew so much of the day's doings as John knows now, sitting there at the polished mahogany table with the green blotting paper upon it, under the green vase adorned with the red rose.
nerves
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here sits John Barclay, a little gray-haired, gray-clad, lynx-eyed man, in a big light room at the corner of a tower high over the City in the Corn Exchange Building, the brain from which a million nerves radiate that run all over the world and move thousands of men.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading Forty years before, when John was playing in the dust of the road leading up from the Sycamore, no king in all the world knew so much of the day's doings as John knows now, sitting there at the polished mahogany table with the green blotting paper upon it, under the green vase adorned with the red rose.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading A blight may threaten the wheat in Argentine, and John Barclay knows every cloud that sails the sky above that wheat, and when the cloud bursts into rain he sighs, for it means something to him, though heaven only knows what, and we and heaven do not care.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And now those who have avoided the gray unpainted shame of these unimportant people of the Ridge may here take up again for a moment the trailing clouds of glory that shimmer over John Barclay's office in the big City.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading And now those who have avoided the gray unpainted shame of these unimportant people of the Ridge may here take up again for a moment the trailing clouds of glory that shimmer over John Barclay's office in the big City.
office
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And now those who have avoided the gray unpainted shame of these unimportant people of the Ridge may here take up again for a moment the trailing clouds of glory that shimmer over John Barclay's office in the big City.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A blight may threaten the wheat in Argentine, and John Barclay knows every cloud that sails the sky above that wheat, and when the cloud bursts into rain he sighs, for it means something to him, though heaven only knows what, and we and heaven do not care.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading And now those who have avoided the gray unpainted shame of these unimportant people of the Ridge may here take up again for a moment the trailing clouds of glory that shimmer over John Barclay's office in the big City.
paper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Forty years before, when John was playing in the dust of the road leading up from the Sycamore, no king in all the world knew so much of the day's doings as John knows now, sitting there at the polished mahogany table with the green blotting paper upon it, under the green vase adorned with the red rose.
people
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And now those who have avoided the gray unpainted shame of these unimportant people of the Ridge may here take up again for a moment the trailing clouds of glory that shimmer over John Barclay's office in the big City.
playing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Forty years before, when John was playing in the dust of the road leading up from the Sycamore, no king in all the world knew so much of the day's doings as John knows now, sitting there at the polished mahogany table with the green blotting paper upon it, under the green vase adorned with the red rose.
polished
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Forty years before, when John was playing in the dust of the road leading up from the Sycamore, no king in all the world knew so much of the day's doings as John knows now, sitting there at the polished mahogany table with the green blotting paper upon it, under the green vase adorned with the red rose.
power
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For here there is the sounding brass and tinkling cymbal of great worldly power.
radiate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here sits John Barclay, a little gray-haired, gray-clad, lynx-eyed man, in a big light room at the corner of a tower high over the City in the Corn Exchange Building, the brain from which a million nerves radiate that run all over the world and move thousands of men.
rain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A blight may threaten the wheat in Argentine, and John Barclay knows every cloud that sails the sky above that wheat, and when the cloud bursts into rain he sighs, for it means something to him, though heaven only knows what, and we and heaven do not care.
red
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Forty years before, when John was playing in the dust of the road leading up from the Sycamore, no king in all the world knew so much of the day's doings as John knows now, sitting there at the polished mahogany table with the green blotting paper upon it, under the green vase adorned with the red rose.
Ridge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And now those who have avoided the gray unpainted shame of these unimportant people of the Ridge may here take up again for a moment the trailing clouds of glory that shimmer over John Barclay's office in the big City.
road
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Forty years before, when John was playing in the dust of the road leading up from the Sycamore, no king in all the world knew so much of the day's doings as John knows now, sitting there at the polished mahogany table with the green blotting paper upon it, under the green vase adorned with the red rose.
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here sits John Barclay, a little gray-haired, gray-clad, lynx-eyed man, in a big light room at the corner of a tower high over the City in the Corn Exchange Building, the brain from which a million nerves radiate that run all over the world and move thousands of men.
rose
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Forty years before, when John was playing in the dust of the road leading up from the Sycamore, no king in all the world knew so much of the day's doings as John knows now, sitting there at the polished mahogany table with the green blotting paper upon it, under the green vase adorned with the red rose.
run
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here sits John Barclay, a little gray-haired, gray-clad, lynx-eyed man, in a big light room at the corner of a tower high over the City in the Corn Exchange Building, the brain from which a million nerves radiate that run all over the world and move thousands of men.
sails
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A blight may threaten the wheat in Argentine, and John Barclay knows every cloud that sails the sky above that wheat, and when the cloud bursts into rain he sighs, for it means something to him, though heaven only knows what, and we and heaven do not care.
shame
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And now those who have avoided the gray unpainted shame of these unimportant people of the Ridge may here take up again for a moment the trailing clouds of glory that shimmer over John Barclay's office in the big City.
shimmer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And now those who have avoided the gray unpainted shame of these unimportant people of the Ridge may here take up again for a moment the trailing clouds of glory that shimmer over John Barclay's office in the big City.
sighs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A blight may threaten the wheat in Argentine, and John Barclay knows every cloud that sails the sky above that wheat, and when the cloud bursts into rain he sighs, for it means something to him, though heaven only knows what, and we and heaven do not care.
sits
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here sits John Barclay, a little gray-haired, gray-clad, lynx-eyed man, in a big light room at the corner of a tower high over the City in the Corn Exchange Building, the brain from which a million nerves radiate that run all over the world and move thousands of men.
sitting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Forty years before, when John was playing in the dust of the road leading up from the Sycamore, no king in all the world knew so much of the day's doings as John knows now, sitting there at the polished mahogany table with the green blotting paper upon it, under the green vase adorned with the red rose.
sky
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A blight may threaten the wheat in Argentine, and John Barclay knows every cloud that sails the sky above that wheat, and when the cloud bursts into rain he sighs, for it means something to him, though heaven only knows what, and we and heaven do not care.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Forty years before, when John was playing in the dust of the road leading up from the Sycamore, no king in all the world knew so much of the day's doings as John knows now, sitting there at the polished mahogany table with the green blotting paper upon it, under the green vase adorned with the red rose.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading A blight may threaten the wheat in Argentine, and John Barclay knows every cloud that sails the sky above that wheat, and when the cloud bursts into rain he sighs, for it means something to him, though heaven only knows what, and we and heaven do not care.
sounding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For here there is the sounding brass and tinkling cymbal of great worldly power.
Sycamore
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Forty years before, when John was playing in the dust of the road leading up from the Sycamore, no king in all the world knew so much of the day's doings as John knows now, sitting there at the polished mahogany table with the green blotting paper upon it, under the green vase adorned with the red rose.
table
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Forty years before, when John was playing in the dust of the road leading up from the Sycamore, no king in all the world knew so much of the day's doings as John knows now, sitting there at the polished mahogany table with the green blotting paper upon it, under the green vase adorned with the red rose.
takenounUS /take/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading And now those who have avoided the gray unpainted shame of these unimportant people of the Ridge may here take up again for a moment the trailing clouds of glory that shimmer over John Barclay's office in the big City.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading And now those who have avoided the gray unpainted shame of these unimportant people of the Ridge may here take up again for a moment the trailing clouds of glory that shimmer over John Barclay's office in the big City.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading And now those who have avoided the gray unpainted shame of these unimportant people of the Ridge may here take up again for a moment the trailing clouds of glory that shimmer over John Barclay's office in the big City.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For here there is the sounding brass and tinkling cymbal of great worldly power.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading And now those who have avoided the gray unpainted shame of these unimportant people of the Ridge may here take up again for a moment the trailing clouds of glory that shimmer over John Barclay's office in the big City.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading And now those who have avoided the gray unpainted shame of these unimportant people of the Ridge may here take up again for a moment the trailing clouds of glory that shimmer over John Barclay's office in the big City.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading A blight may threaten the wheat in Argentine, and John Barclay knows every cloud that sails the sky above that wheat, and when the cloud bursts into rain he sighs, for it means something to him, though heaven only knows what, and we and heaven do not care.
thousands
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here sits John Barclay, a little gray-haired, gray-clad, lynx-eyed man, in a big light room at the corner of a tower high over the City in the Corn Exchange Building, the brain from which a million nerves radiate that run all over the world and move thousands of men.
threaten
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A blight may threaten the wheat in Argentine, and John Barclay knows every cloud that sails the sky above that wheat, and when the cloud bursts into rain he sighs, for it means something to him, though heaven only knows what, and we and heaven do not care.
tinkling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For here there is the sounding brass and tinkling cymbal of great worldly power.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A blight may threaten the wheat in Argentine, and John Barclay knows every cloud that sails the sky above that wheat, and when the cloud bursts into rain he sighs, for it means something to him, though heaven only knows what, and we and heaven do not care.
tower
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here sits John Barclay, a little gray-haired, gray-clad, lynx-eyed man, in a big light room at the corner of a tower high over the City in the Corn Exchange Building, the brain from which a million nerves radiate that run all over the world and move thousands of men.
trailing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And now those who have avoided the gray unpainted shame of these unimportant people of the Ridge may here take up again for a moment the trailing clouds of glory that shimmer over John Barclay's office in the big City.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Forty years before, when John was playing in the dust of the road leading up from the Sycamore, no king in all the world knew so much of the day's doings as John knows now, sitting there at the polished mahogany table with the green blotting paper upon it, under the green vase adorned with the red rose.
unimportant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And now those who have avoided the gray unpainted shame of these unimportant people of the Ridge may here take up again for a moment the trailing clouds of glory that shimmer over John Barclay's office in the big City.
unpainted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And now those who have avoided the gray unpainted shame of these unimportant people of the Ridge may here take up again for a moment the trailing clouds of glory that shimmer over John Barclay's office in the big City.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And now those who have avoided the gray unpainted shame of these unimportant people of the Ridge may here take up again for a moment the trailing clouds of glory that shimmer over John Barclay's office in the big City.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Forty years before, when John was playing in the dust of the road leading up from the Sycamore, no king in all the world knew so much of the day's doings as John knows now, sitting there at the polished mahogany table with the green blotting paper upon it, under the green vase adorned with the red rose.
vase
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Forty years before, when John was playing in the dust of the road leading up from the Sycamore, no king in all the world knew so much of the day's doings as John knows now, sitting there at the polished mahogany table with the green blotting paper upon it, under the green vase adorned with the red rose.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Forty years before, when John was playing in the dust of the road leading up from the Sycamore, no king in all the world knew so much of the day's doings as John knows now, sitting there at the polished mahogany table with the green blotting paper upon it, under the green vase adorned with the red rose.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading A blight may threaten the wheat in Argentine, and John Barclay knows every cloud that sails the sky above that wheat, and when the cloud bursts into rain he sighs, for it means something to him, though heaven only knows what, and we and heaven do not care.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading A blight may threaten the wheat in Argentine, and John Barclay knows every cloud that sails the sky above that wheat, and when the cloud bursts into rain he sighs, for it means something to him, though heaven only knows what, and we and heaven do not care.
wheat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A blight may threaten the wheat in Argentine, and John Barclay knows every cloud that sails the sky above that wheat, and when the cloud bursts into rain he sighs, for it means something to him, though heaven only knows what, and we and heaven do not care.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading Forty years before, when John was playing in the dust of the road leading up from the Sycamore, no king in all the world knew so much of the day's doings as John knows now, sitting there at the polished mahogany table with the green blotting paper upon it, under the green vase adorned with the red rose.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Here sits John Barclay, a little gray-haired, gray-clad, lynx-eyed man, in a big light room at the corner of a tower high over the City in the Corn Exchange Building, the brain from which a million nerves radiate that run all over the world and move thousands of men.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading And now those who have avoided the gray unpainted shame of these unimportant people of the Ridge may here take up again for a moment the trailing clouds of glory that shimmer over John Barclay's office in the big City.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Forty years before, when John was playing in the dust of the road leading up from the Sycamore, no king in all the world knew so much of the day's doings as John knows now, sitting there at the polished mahogany table with the green blotting paper upon it, under the green vase adorned with the red rose.
world
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here sits John Barclay, a little gray-haired, gray-clad, lynx-eyed man, in a big light room at the corner of a tower high over the City in the Corn Exchange Building, the brain from which a million nerves radiate that run all over the world and move thousands of men.
worldly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For here there is the sounding brass and tinkling cymbal of great worldly power.
years
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Forty years before, when John was playing in the dust of the road leading up from the Sycamore, no king in all the world knew so much of the day's doings as John knows now, sitting there at the polished mahogany table with the green blotting paper upon it, under the green vase adorned with the red rose.
