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 had fancied him saturnine of spirit, slovenly of dress, and lounging of habit, upon no authority that I could allege, and I was wholly unprepared for the neat, small figure of a man, very precise of manner and scrupulous of aspect, who said, “How do you do, sir?
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading I hope I see you well, sir,” when his daughter presented us to each other, the morning after the eventful day described, and he shook my hand with his very small, dry hand.
allege
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had fancied him saturnine of spirit, slovenly of dress, and lounging of habit, upon no authority that I could allege, and I was wholly unprepared for the neat, small figure of a man, very precise of manner and scrupulous of aspect, who said, “How do you do, sir?
always
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet it was in this shape that I had always thought of him, perhaps through an obscure association with his fellow-villager, Deering.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Yet it was in this shape that I had always thought of him, perhaps through an obscure association with his fellow-villager, Deering.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I do not know why I should have prefigured Miss Gage’s father as tall and lank.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading I do not know why I should have prefigured Miss Gage’s father as tall and lank.
aspect
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had fancied him saturnine of spirit, slovenly of dress, and lounging of habit, upon no authority that I could allege, and I was wholly unprepared for the neat, small figure of a man, very precise of manner and scrupulous of aspect, who said, “How do you do, sir?
association
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet it was in this shape that I had always thought of him, perhaps through an obscure association with his fellow-villager, Deering.
authority
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had fancied him saturnine of spirit, slovenly of dress, and lounging of habit, upon no authority that I could allege, and I was wholly unprepared for the neat, small figure of a man, very precise of manner and scrupulous of aspect, who said, “How do you do, sir?
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading She was not herself so very tall, though she was rather tall than short, and though she was rather of the Diana or girlish type of goddess, she was by no means lank.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading I had fancied him saturnine of spirit, slovenly of dress, and lounging of habit, upon no authority that I could allege, and I was wholly unprepared for the neat, small figure of a man, very precise of manner and scrupulous of aspect, who said, “How do you do, sir?
daughter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I hope I see you well, sir,” when his daughter presented us to each other, the morning after the eventful day described, and he shook my hand with his very small, dry hand.
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I hope I see you well, sir,” when his daughter presented us to each other, the morning after the eventful day described, and he shook my hand with his very small, dry hand.
Deering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet it was in this shape that I had always thought of him, perhaps through an obscure association with his fellow-villager, Deering.
described
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I hope I see you well, sir,” when his daughter presented us to each other, the morning after the eventful day described, and he shook my hand with his very small, dry hand.
Diana
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was not herself so very tall, though she was rather tall than short, and though she was rather of the Diana or girlish type of goddess, she was by no means lank.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading I do not know why I should have prefigured Miss Gage’s father as tall and lank.
dress
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had fancied him saturnine of spirit, slovenly of dress, and lounging of habit, upon no authority that I could allege, and I was wholly unprepared for the neat, small figure of a man, very precise of manner and scrupulous of aspect, who said, “How do you do, sir?
dry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I hope I see you well, sir,” when his daughter presented us to each other, the morning after the eventful day described, and he shook my hand with his very small, dry hand.
eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading I hope I see you well, sir,” when his daughter presented us to each other, the morning after the eventful day described, and he shook my hand with his very small, dry hand.
eventful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I hope I see you well, sir,” when his daughter presented us to each other, the morning after the eventful day described, and he shook my hand with his very small, dry hand.
fancied
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had fancied him saturnine of spirit, slovenly of dress, and lounging of habit, upon no authority that I could allege, and I was wholly unprepared for the neat, small figure of a man, very precise of manner and scrupulous of aspect, who said, “How do you do, sir?
father
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I do not know why I should have prefigured Miss Gage’s father as tall and lank.
fellow-villager
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet it was in this shape that I had always thought of him, perhaps through an obscure association with his fellow-villager, Deering.
figure
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had fancied him saturnine of spirit, slovenly of dress, and lounging of habit, upon no authority that I could allege, and I was wholly unprepared for the neat, small figure of a man, very precise of manner and scrupulous of aspect, who said, “How do you do, sir?
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading I had fancied him saturnine of spirit, slovenly of dress, and lounging of habit, upon no authority that I could allege, and I was wholly unprepared for the neat, small figure of a man, very precise of manner and scrupulous of aspect, who said, “How do you do, sir?
Gage's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I do not know why I should have prefigured Miss Gage’s father as tall and lank.
girlish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was not herself so very tall, though she was rather tall than short, and though she was rather of the Diana or girlish type of goddess, she was by no means lank.
goddess
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was not herself so very tall, though she was rather tall than short, and though she was rather of the Diana or girlish type of goddess, she was by no means lank.
habit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had fancied him saturnine of spirit, slovenly of dress, and lounging of habit, upon no authority that I could allege, and I was wholly unprepared for the neat, small figure of a man, very precise of manner and scrupulous of aspect, who said, “How do you do, sir?
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Yet it was in this shape that I had always thought of him, perhaps through an obscure association with his fellow-villager, Deering.
hand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I hope I see you well, sir,” when his daughter presented us to each other, the morning after the eventful day described, and he shook my hand with his very small, dry hand.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading I do not know why I should have prefigured Miss Gage’s father as tall and lank.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading I hope I see you well, sir,” when his daughter presented us to each other, the morning after the eventful day described, and he shook my hand with his very small, dry hand.
herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading She was not herself so very tall, though she was rather tall than short, and though she was rather of the Diana or girlish type of goddess, she was by no means lank.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Yet it was in this shape that I had always thought of him, perhaps through an obscure association with his fellow-villager, Deering.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Yet it was in this shape that I had always thought of him, perhaps through an obscure association with his fellow-villager, Deering.
hope
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I hope I see you well, sir,” when his daughter presented us to each other, the morning after the eventful day described, and he shook my hand with his very small, dry hand.
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had fancied him saturnine of spirit, slovenly of dress, and lounging of habit, upon no authority that I could allege, and I was wholly unprepared for the neat, small figure of a man, very precise of manner and scrupulous of aspect, who said, “How do you do, sir?
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I do not know why I should have prefigured Miss Gage’s father as tall and lank.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Yet it was in this shape that I had always thought of him, perhaps through an obscure association with his fellow-villager, Deering.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Yet it was in this shape that I had always thought of him, perhaps through an obscure association with his fellow-villager, Deering.
knownounUS /know/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I do not know why I should have prefigured Miss Gage’s father as tall and lank.
lank
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I do not know why I should have prefigured Miss Gage’s father as tall and lank.
lounging
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had fancied him saturnine of spirit, slovenly of dress, and lounging of habit, upon no authority that I could allege, and I was wholly unprepared for the neat, small figure of a man, very precise of manner and scrupulous of aspect, who said, “How do you do, sir?
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had fancied him saturnine of spirit, slovenly of dress, and lounging of habit, upon no authority that I could allege, and I was wholly unprepared for the neat, small figure of a man, very precise of manner and scrupulous of aspect, who said, “How do you do, sir?
manner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had fancied him saturnine of spirit, slovenly of dress, and lounging of habit, upon no authority that I could allege, and I was wholly unprepared for the neat, small figure of a man, very precise of manner and scrupulous of aspect, who said, “How do you do, sir?
means
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was not herself so very tall, though she was rather tall than short, and though she was rather of the Diana or girlish type of goddess, she was by no means lank.
Miss
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I do not know why I should have prefigured Miss Gage’s father as tall and lank.
morningnounUS /morning/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I hope I see you well, sir,” when his daughter presented us to each other, the morning after the eventful day described, and he shook my hand with his very small, dry hand.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I hope I see you well, sir,” when his daughter presented us to each other, the morning after the eventful day described, and he shook my hand with his very small, dry hand.
neat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had fancied him saturnine of spirit, slovenly of dress, and lounging of habit, upon no authority that I could allege, and I was wholly unprepared for the neat, small figure of a man, very precise of manner and scrupulous of aspect, who said, “How do you do, sir?
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading She was not herself so very tall, though she was rather tall than short, and though she was rather of the Diana or girlish type of goddess, she was by no means lank.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading I do not know why I should have prefigured Miss Gage’s father as tall and lank.
obscure
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet it was in this shape that I had always thought of him, perhaps through an obscure association with his fellow-villager, Deering.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She was not herself so very tall, though she was rather tall than short, and though she was rather of the Diana or girlish type of goddess, she was by no means lank.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading She was not herself so very tall, though she was rather tall than short, and though she was rather of the Diana or girlish type of goddess, she was by no means lank.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I hope I see you well, sir,” when his daughter presented us to each other, the morning after the eventful day described, and he shook my hand with his very small, dry hand.
perhaps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet it was in this shape that I had always thought of him, perhaps through an obscure association with his fellow-villager, Deering.
precise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had fancied him saturnine of spirit, slovenly of dress, and lounging of habit, upon no authority that I could allege, and I was wholly unprepared for the neat, small figure of a man, very precise of manner and scrupulous of aspect, who said, “How do you do, sir?
prefigured
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I do not know why I should have prefigured Miss Gage’s father as tall and lank.
presented
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I hope I see you well, sir,” when his daughter presented us to each other, the morning after the eventful day described, and he shook my hand with his very small, dry hand.
rather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was not herself so very tall, though she was rather tall than short, and though she was rather of the Diana or girlish type of goddess, she was by no means lank.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had fancied him saturnine of spirit, slovenly of dress, and lounging of habit, upon no authority that I could allege, and I was wholly unprepared for the neat, small figure of a man, very precise of manner and scrupulous of aspect, who said, “How do you do, sir?
saturnine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had fancied him saturnine of spirit, slovenly of dress, and lounging of habit, upon no authority that I could allege, and I was wholly unprepared for the neat, small figure of a man, very precise of manner and scrupulous of aspect, who said, “How do you do, sir?
scrupulous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had fancied him saturnine of spirit, slovenly of dress, and lounging of habit, upon no authority that I could allege, and I was wholly unprepared for the neat, small figure of a man, very precise of manner and scrupulous of aspect, who said, “How do you do, sir?
see
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I hope I see you well, sir,” when his daughter presented us to each other, the morning after the eventful day described, and he shook my hand with his very small, dry hand.
shape
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet it was in this shape that I had always thought of him, perhaps through an obscure association with his fellow-villager, Deering.
ShepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was not herself so very tall, though she was rather tall than short, and though she was rather of the Diana or girlish type of goddess, she was by no means lank.
shook
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I hope I see you well, sir,” when his daughter presented us to each other, the morning after the eventful day described, and he shook my hand with his very small, dry hand.
shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔrt/
brief or direct in expression
From this reading She was not herself so very tall, though she was rather tall than short, and though she was rather of the Diana or girlish type of goddess, she was by no means lank.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading I do not know why I should have prefigured Miss Gage’s father as tall and lank.
sir
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had fancied him saturnine of spirit, slovenly of dress, and lounging of habit, upon no authority that I could allege, and I was wholly unprepared for the neat, small figure of a man, very precise of manner and scrupulous of aspect, who said, “How do you do, sir?
slovenly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had fancied him saturnine of spirit, slovenly of dress, and lounging of habit, upon no authority that I could allege, and I was wholly unprepared for the neat, small figure of a man, very precise of manner and scrupulous of aspect, who said, “How do you do, sir?
small
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had fancied him saturnine of spirit, slovenly of dress, and lounging of habit, upon no authority that I could allege, and I was wholly unprepared for the neat, small figure of a man, very precise of manner and scrupulous of aspect, who said, “How do you do, sir?
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading She was not herself so very tall, though she was rather tall than short, and though she was rather of the Diana or girlish type of goddess, she was by no means lank.
spirit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had fancied him saturnine of spirit, slovenly of dress, and lounging of habit, upon no authority that I could allege, and I was wholly unprepared for the neat, small figure of a man, very precise of manner and scrupulous of aspect, who said, “How do you do, sir?
tall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I do not know why I should have prefigured Miss Gage’s father as tall and lank.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading She was not herself so very tall, though she was rather tall than short, and though she was rather of the Diana or girlish type of goddess, she was by no means lank.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Yet it was in this shape that I had always thought of him, perhaps through an obscure association with his fellow-villager, Deering.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading She was not herself so very tall, though she was rather tall than short, and though she was rather of the Diana or girlish type of goddess, she was by no means lank.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Yet it was in this shape that I had always thought of him, perhaps through an obscure association with his fellow-villager, Deering.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading She was not herself so very tall, though she was rather tall than short, and though she was rather of the Diana or girlish type of goddess, she was by no means lank.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Yet it was in this shape that I had always thought of him, perhaps through an obscure association with his fellow-villager, Deering.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Yet it was in this shape that I had always thought of him, perhaps through an obscure association with his fellow-villager, Deering.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I hope I see you well, sir,” when his daughter presented us to each other, the morning after the eventful day described, and he shook my hand with his very small, dry hand.
type
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was not herself so very tall, though she was rather tall than short, and though she was rather of the Diana or girlish type of goddess, she was by no means lank.
unprepared
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had fancied him saturnine of spirit, slovenly of dress, and lounging of habit, upon no authority that I could allege, and I was wholly unprepared for the neat, small figure of a man, very precise of manner and scrupulous of aspect, who said, “How do you do, sir?
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading I had fancied him saturnine of spirit, slovenly of dress, and lounging of habit, upon no authority that I could allege, and I was wholly unprepared for the neat, small figure of a man, very precise of manner and scrupulous of aspect, who said, “How do you do, sir?
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I hope I see you well, sir,” when his daughter presented us to each other, the morning after the eventful day described, and he shook my hand with his very small, dry hand.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was not herself so very tall, though she was rather tall than short, and though she was rather of the Diana or girlish type of goddess, she was by no means lank.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She was not herself so very tall, though she was rather tall than short, and though she was rather of the Diana or girlish type of goddess, she was by no means lank.
well
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I hope I see you well, sir,” when his daughter presented us to each other, the morning after the eventful day described, and he shook my hand with his very small, dry hand.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading I hope I see you well, sir,” when his daughter presented us to each other, the morning after the eventful day described, and he shook my hand with his very small, dry hand.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading I had fancied him saturnine of spirit, slovenly of dress, and lounging of habit, upon no authority that I could allege, and I was wholly unprepared for the neat, small figure of a man, very precise of manner and scrupulous of aspect, who said, “How do you do, sir?
wholly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I had fancied him saturnine of spirit, slovenly of dress, and lounging of habit, upon no authority that I could allege, and I was wholly unprepared for the neat, small figure of a man, very precise of manner and scrupulous of aspect, who said, “How do you do, sir?
why
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I do not know why I should have prefigured Miss Gage’s father as tall and lank.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Yet it was in this shape that I had always thought of him, perhaps through an obscure association with his fellow-villager, Deering.
YetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading Yet it was in this shape that I had always thought of him, perhaps through an obscure association with his fellow-villager, Deering.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading I had fancied him saturnine of spirit, slovenly of dress, and lounging of habit, upon no authority that I could allege, and I was wholly unprepared for the neat, small figure of a man, very precise of manner and scrupulous of aspect, who said, “How do you do, sir?
