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 IN THE EMPORIUM “So last January, with the beginning of a snowstorm in the air about me—and if it settled on me it would betray me!—weary, cold, painful, inexpressibly wretched, and still but half convinced of my invisible quality, I began this new life to which I am committed.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading IN THE EMPORIUM “So last January, with the beginning of a snowstorm in the air about me—and if it settled on me it would betray me!—weary, cold, painful, inexpressibly wretched, and still but half convinced of my invisible quality, I began this new life to which I am committed.
accost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nevertheless, I was half-minded to accost some passer-by and throw myself upon his mercy.
advances
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But I knew too clearly the terror and brutal cruelty my advances would evoke.
air
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN THE EMPORIUM “So last January, with the beginning of a snowstorm in the air about me—and if it settled on me it would betray me!—weary, cold, painful, inexpressibly wretched, and still but half convinced of my invisible quality, I began this new life to which I am committed.
amauxiliary verbUS /æm/
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading IN THE EMPORIUM “So last January, with the beginning of a snowstorm in the air about me—and if it settled on me it would betray me!—weary, cold, painful, inexpressibly wretched, and still but half convinced of my invisible quality, I began this new life to which I am committed.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading IN THE EMPORIUM “So last January, with the beginning of a snowstorm in the air about me—and if it settled on me it would betray me!—weary, cold, painful, inexpressibly wretched, and still but half convinced of my invisible quality, I began this new life to which I am committed.
appliances
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had no refuge, no appliances, no human being in the world in whom I could confide.
away
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To have told my secret would have given me away—made a mere show and rarity of me.
begannounUS /began/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading IN THE EMPORIUM “So last January, with the beginning of a snowstorm in the air about me—and if it settled on me it would betray me!—weary, cold, painful, inexpressibly wretched, and still but half convinced of my invisible quality, I began this new life to which I am committed.
beginningnounUS /ˈbeginning/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading IN THE EMPORIUM “So last January, with the beginning of a snowstorm in the air about me—and if it settled on me it would betray me!—weary, cold, painful, inexpressibly wretched, and still but half convinced of my invisible quality, I began this new life to which I am committed.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading I had no refuge, no appliances, no human being in the world in whom I could confide.
betray
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN THE EMPORIUM “So last January, with the beginning of a snowstorm in the air about me—and if it settled on me it would betray me!—weary, cold, painful, inexpressibly wretched, and still but half convinced of my invisible quality, I began this new life to which I am committed.
brutal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But I knew too clearly the terror and brutal cruelty my advances would evoke.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading IN THE EMPORIUM “So last January, with the beginning of a snowstorm in the air about me—and if it settled on me it would betray me!—weary, cold, painful, inexpressibly wretched, and still but half convinced of my invisible quality, I began this new life to which I am committed.
clearly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But I knew too clearly the terror and brutal cruelty my advances would evoke.
cold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN THE EMPORIUM “So last January, with the beginning of a snowstorm in the air about me—and if it settled on me it would betray me!—weary, cold, painful, inexpressibly wretched, and still but half convinced of my invisible quality, I began this new life to which I am committed.
committed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN THE EMPORIUM “So last January, with the beginning of a snowstorm in the air about me—and if it settled on me it would betray me!—weary, cold, painful, inexpressibly wretched, and still but half convinced of my invisible quality, I began this new life to which I am committed.
confide
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had no refuge, no appliances, no human being in the world in whom I could confide.
convinced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN THE EMPORIUM “So last January, with the beginning of a snowstorm in the air about me—and if it settled on me it would betray me!—weary, cold, painful, inexpressibly wretched, and still but half convinced of my invisible quality, I began this new life to which I am committed.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading I had no refuge, no appliances, no human being in the world in whom I could confide.
cruelty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But I knew too clearly the terror and brutal cruelty my advances would evoke.
EMPORIUMnounUS /ˌemˈpɔːriəm/
a large retail store organized into departments offering a variety of merchandise; commonly part of a retail chain
From this reading IN THE EMPORIUM “So last January, with the beginning of a snowstorm in the air about me—and if it settled on me it would betray me!—weary, cold, painful, inexpressibly wretched, and still but half convinced of my invisible quality, I began this new life to which I am committed.
evoke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But I knew too clearly the terror and brutal cruelty my advances would evoke.
given
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To have told my secret would have given me away—made a mere show and rarity of me.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I had no refuge, no appliances, no human being in the world in whom I could confide.
halfnounUS /half/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading IN THE EMPORIUM “So last January, with the beginning of a snowstorm in the air about me—and if it settled on me it would betray me!—weary, cold, painful, inexpressibly wretched, and still but half convinced of my invisible quality, I began this new life to which I am committed.
half-minded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nevertheless, I was half-minded to accost some passer-by and throw myself upon his mercy.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading To have told my secret would have given me away—made a mere show and rarity of me.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Nevertheless, I was half-minded to accost some passer-by and throw myself upon his mercy.
human
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had no refuge, no appliances, no human being in the world in whom I could confide.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading IN THE EMPORIUM “So last January, with the beginning of a snowstorm in the air about me—and if it settled on me it would betray me!—weary, cold, painful, inexpressibly wretched, and still but half convinced of my invisible quality, I began this new life to which I am committed.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading IN THE EMPORIUM “So last January, with the beginning of a snowstorm in the air about me—and if it settled on me it would betray me!—weary, cold, painful, inexpressibly wretched, and still but half convinced of my invisible quality, I began this new life to which I am committed.
INprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading IN THE EMPORIUM “So last January, with the beginning of a snowstorm in the air about me—and if it settled on me it would betray me!—weary, cold, painful, inexpressibly wretched, and still but half convinced of my invisible quality, I began this new life to which I am committed.
inexpressibly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN THE EMPORIUM “So last January, with the beginning of a snowstorm in the air about me—and if it settled on me it would betray me!—weary, cold, painful, inexpressibly wretched, and still but half convinced of my invisible quality, I began this new life to which I am committed.
invisible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN THE EMPORIUM “So last January, with the beginning of a snowstorm in the air about me—and if it settled on me it would betray me!—weary, cold, painful, inexpressibly wretched, and still but half convinced of my invisible quality, I began this new life to which I am committed.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading IN THE EMPORIUM “So last January, with the beginning of a snowstorm in the air about me—and if it settled on me it would betray me!—weary, cold, painful, inexpressibly wretched, and still but half convinced of my invisible quality, I began this new life to which I am committed.
January
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN THE EMPORIUM “So last January, with the beginning of a snowstorm in the air about me—and if it settled on me it would betray me!—weary, cold, painful, inexpressibly wretched, and still but half convinced of my invisible quality, I began this new life to which I am committed.
knew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But I knew too clearly the terror and brutal cruelty my advances would evoke.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading IN THE EMPORIUM “So last January, with the beginning of a snowstorm in the air about me—and if it settled on me it would betray me!—weary, cold, painful, inexpressibly wretched, and still but half convinced of my invisible quality, I began this new life to which I am committed.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading IN THE EMPORIUM “So last January, with the beginning of a snowstorm in the air about me—and if it settled on me it would betray me!—weary, cold, painful, inexpressibly wretched, and still but half convinced of my invisible quality, I began this new life to which I am committed.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To have told my secret would have given me away—made a mere show and rarity of me.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading IN THE EMPORIUM “So last January, with the beginning of a snowstorm in the air about me—and if it settled on me it would betray me!—weary, cold, painful, inexpressibly wretched, and still but half convinced of my invisible quality, I began this new life to which I am committed.
mercy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nevertheless, I was half-minded to accost some passer-by and throw myself upon his mercy.
mere
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To have told my secret would have given me away—made a mere show and rarity of me.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading IN THE EMPORIUM “So last January, with the beginning of a snowstorm in the air about me—and if it settled on me it would betray me!—weary, cold, painful, inexpressibly wretched, and still but half convinced of my invisible quality, I began this new life to which I am committed.
myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading Nevertheless, I was half-minded to accost some passer-by and throw myself upon his mercy.
NeverthelessadverbUS /ˌnevərðəˈles/
in spite of what has just been said
From this reading Nevertheless, I was half-minded to accost some passer-by and throw myself upon his mercy.
new
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN THE EMPORIUM “So last January, with the beginning of a snowstorm in the air about me—and if it settled on me it would betray me!—weary, cold, painful, inexpressibly wretched, and still but half convinced of my invisible quality, I began this new life to which I am committed.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading I had no refuge, no appliances, no human being in the world in whom I could confide.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading IN THE EMPORIUM “So last January, with the beginning of a snowstorm in the air about me—and if it settled on me it would betray me!—weary, cold, painful, inexpressibly wretched, and still but half convinced of my invisible quality, I began this new life to which I am committed.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading IN THE EMPORIUM “So last January, with the beginning of a snowstorm in the air about me—and if it settled on me it would betray me!—weary, cold, painful, inexpressibly wretched, and still but half convinced of my invisible quality, I began this new life to which I am committed.
painful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN THE EMPORIUM “So last January, with the beginning of a snowstorm in the air about me—and if it settled on me it would betray me!—weary, cold, painful, inexpressibly wretched, and still but half convinced of my invisible quality, I began this new life to which I am committed.
passer-by
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nevertheless, I was half-minded to accost some passer-by and throw myself upon his mercy.
quality
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN THE EMPORIUM “So last January, with the beginning of a snowstorm in the air about me—and if it settled on me it would betray me!—weary, cold, painful, inexpressibly wretched, and still but half convinced of my invisible quality, I began this new life to which I am committed.
rarity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To have told my secret would have given me away—made a mere show and rarity of me.
refuge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had no refuge, no appliances, no human being in the world in whom I could confide.
secretnounUS /ˈsiː.krət/
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading To have told my secret would have given me away—made a mere show and rarity of me.
settled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN THE EMPORIUM “So last January, with the beginning of a snowstorm in the air about me—and if it settled on me it would betray me!—weary, cold, painful, inexpressibly wretched, and still but half convinced of my invisible quality, I began this new life to which I am committed.
show
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To have told my secret would have given me away—made a mere show and rarity of me.
snowstorm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN THE EMPORIUM “So last January, with the beginning of a snowstorm in the air about me—and if it settled on me it would betray me!—weary, cold, painful, inexpressibly wretched, and still but half convinced of my invisible quality, I began this new life to which I am committed.
SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading IN THE EMPORIUM “So last January, with the beginning of a snowstorm in the air about me—and if it settled on me it would betray me!—weary, cold, painful, inexpressibly wretched, and still but half convinced of my invisible quality, I began this new life to which I am committed.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nevertheless, I was half-minded to accost some passer-by and throw myself upon his mercy.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading IN THE EMPORIUM “So last January, with the beginning of a snowstorm in the air about me—and if it settled on me it would betray me!—weary, cold, painful, inexpressibly wretched, and still but half convinced of my invisible quality, I began this new life to which I am committed.
terror
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But I knew too clearly the terror and brutal cruelty my advances would evoke.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading IN THE EMPORIUM “So last January, with the beginning of a snowstorm in the air about me—and if it settled on me it would betray me!—weary, cold, painful, inexpressibly wretched, and still but half convinced of my invisible quality, I began this new life to which I am committed.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading IN THE EMPORIUM “So last January, with the beginning of a snowstorm in the air about me—and if it settled on me it would betray me!—weary, cold, painful, inexpressibly wretched, and still but half convinced of my invisible quality, I began this new life to which I am committed.
throw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nevertheless, I was half-minded to accost some passer-by and throw myself upon his mercy.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading IN THE EMPORIUM “So last January, with the beginning of a snowstorm in the air about me—and if it settled on me it would betray me!—weary, cold, painful, inexpressibly wretched, and still but half convinced of my invisible quality, I began this new life to which I am committed.
toldnounUS /told/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading To have told my secret would have given me away—made a mere show and rarity of me.
too
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But I knew too clearly the terror and brutal cruelty my advances would evoke.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Nevertheless, I was half-minded to accost some passer-by and throw myself upon his mercy.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Nevertheless, I was half-minded to accost some passer-by and throw myself upon his mercy.
weary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN THE EMPORIUM “So last January, with the beginning of a snowstorm in the air about me—and if it settled on me it would betray me!—weary, cold, painful, inexpressibly wretched, and still but half convinced of my invisible quality, I began this new life to which I am committed.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading IN THE EMPORIUM “So last January, with the beginning of a snowstorm in the air about me—and if it settled on me it would betray me!—weary, cold, painful, inexpressibly wretched, and still but half convinced of my invisible quality, I began this new life to which I am committed.
whompronounUS /huːm/
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I had no refuge, no appliances, no human being in the world in whom I could confide.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading IN THE EMPORIUM “So last January, with the beginning of a snowstorm in the air about me—and if it settled on me it would betray me!—weary, cold, painful, inexpressibly wretched, and still but half convinced of my invisible quality, I began this new life to which I am committed.
world
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had no refuge, no appliances, no human being in the world in whom I could confide.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading IN THE EMPORIUM “So last January, with the beginning of a snowstorm in the air about me—and if it settled on me it would betray me!—weary, cold, painful, inexpressibly wretched, and still but half convinced of my invisible quality, I began this new life to which I am committed.
wretched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IN THE EMPORIUM “So last January, with the beginning of a snowstorm in the air about me—and if it settled on me it would betray me!—weary, cold, painful, inexpressibly wretched, and still but half convinced of my invisible quality, I began this new life to which I am committed.
