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 MAKE UP MY MIND TO FIND CAPTAIN SHANNON The striking of that fusee was a critical moment in my life, for before the thing had hissed itself into a black and crackling cinder I had decided to follow up the clue which had been so strangely thrown in my way.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading But, much as I love my craft, and generous and large-hearted as I have always found literary men--at all events, large-brained literary men--to be, I cannot profess much admiration for the fussy folk who seem to imagine that God made our world and the infinite worlds around it, life and death, and the human heart, with its joys and sorrows and hope of immortality, for no other reason than that they should have something to write about.
admiration
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From this reading But, much as I love my craft, and generous and large-hearted as I have always found literary men--at all events, large-brained literary men--to be, I cannot profess much admiration for the fussy folk who seem to imagine that God made our world and the infinite worlds around it, life and death, and the human heart, with its joys and sorrows and hope of immortality, for no other reason than that they should have something to write about.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, much as I love my craft, and generous and large-hearted as I have always found literary men--at all events, large-brained literary men--to be, I cannot profess much admiration for the fussy folk who seem to imagine that God made our world and the infinite worlds around it, life and death, and the human heart, with its joys and sorrows and hope of immortality, for no other reason than that they should have something to write about.
always
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, much as I love my craft, and generous and large-hearted as I have always found literary men--at all events, large-brained literary men--to be, I cannot profess much admiration for the fussy folk who seem to imagine that God made our world and the infinite worlds around it, life and death, and the human heart, with its joys and sorrows and hope of immortality, for no other reason than that they should have something to write about.
amauxiliary verbUS /æm/
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading I am by profession what George Borrow would have called “one of the writing fellows.”
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I MAKE UP MY MIND TO FIND CAPTAIN SHANNON The striking of that fusee was a critical moment in my life, for before the thing had hissed itself into a black and crackling cinder I had decided to follow up the clue which had been so strangely thrown in my way.
any
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Instead of recognising that it is only life and the unintelligible mystery of life which make literature of any consequence, they seem to fancy that literature is the chief concern and end of man’s being.
aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading But, much as I love my craft, and generous and large-hearted as I have always found literary men--at all events, large-brained literary men--to be, I cannot profess much admiration for the fussy folk who seem to imagine that God made our world and the infinite worlds around it, life and death, and the human heart, with its joys and sorrows and hope of immortality, for no other reason than that they should have something to write about.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading But, much as I love my craft, and generous and large-hearted as I have always found literary men--at all events, large-brained literary men--to be, I cannot profess much admiration for the fussy folk who seem to imagine that God made our world and the infinite worlds around it, life and death, and the human heart, with its joys and sorrows and hope of immortality, for no other reason than that they should have something to write about.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading But, much as I love my craft, and generous and large-hearted as I have always found literary men--at all events, large-brained literary men--to be, I cannot profess much admiration for the fussy folk who seem to imagine that God made our world and the infinite worlds around it, life and death, and the human heart, with its joys and sorrows and hope of immortality, for no other reason than that they should have something to write about.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading But, much as I love my craft, and generous and large-hearted as I have always found literary men--at all events, large-brained literary men--to be, I cannot profess much admiration for the fussy folk who seem to imagine that God made our world and the infinite worlds around it, life and death, and the human heart, with its joys and sorrows and hope of immortality, for no other reason than that they should have something to write about.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading I MAKE UP MY MIND TO FIND CAPTAIN SHANNON The striking of that fusee was a critical moment in my life, for before the thing had hissed itself into a black and crackling cinder I had decided to follow up the clue which had been so strangely thrown in my way.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading I MAKE UP MY MIND TO FIND CAPTAIN SHANNON The striking of that fusee was a critical moment in my life, for before the thing had hissed itself into a black and crackling cinder I had decided to follow up the clue which had been so strangely thrown in my way.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Instead of recognising that it is only life and the unintelligible mystery of life which make literature of any consequence, they seem to fancy that literature is the chief concern and end of man’s being.
black
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I MAKE UP MY MIND TO FIND CAPTAIN SHANNON The striking of that fusee was a critical moment in my life, for before the thing had hissed itself into a black and crackling cinder I had decided to follow up the clue which had been so strangely thrown in my way.
Borrow
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From this reading I am by profession what George Borrow would have called “one of the writing fellows.”
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But, much as I love my craft, and generous and large-hearted as I have always found literary men--at all events, large-brained literary men--to be, I cannot profess much admiration for the fussy folk who seem to imagine that God made our world and the infinite worlds around it, life and death, and the human heart, with its joys and sorrows and hope of immortality, for no other reason than that they should have something to write about.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading I am by profession what George Borrow would have called “one of the writing fellows.”
called
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From this reading I am by profession what George Borrow would have called “one of the writing fellows.”
cannot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, much as I love my craft, and generous and large-hearted as I have always found literary men--at all events, large-brained literary men--to be, I cannot profess much admiration for the fussy folk who seem to imagine that God made our world and the infinite worlds around it, life and death, and the human heart, with its joys and sorrows and hope of immortality, for no other reason than that they should have something to write about.
CAPTAINnounUS /ˈcaptain/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading I MAKE UP MY MIND TO FIND CAPTAIN SHANNON The striking of that fusee was a critical moment in my life, for before the thing had hissed itself into a black and crackling cinder I had decided to follow up the clue which had been so strangely thrown in my way.
change
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My principal reason for so deciding was that I wanted a rest--the rest of a change of occupation, not the rest of inaction.
chief
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Instead of recognising that it is only life and the unintelligible mystery of life which make literature of any consequence, they seem to fancy that literature is the chief concern and end of man’s being.
cinder
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I MAKE UP MY MIND TO FIND CAPTAIN SHANNON The striking of that fusee was a critical moment in my life, for before the thing had hissed itself into a black and crackling cinder I had decided to follow up the clue which had been so strangely thrown in my way.
clue
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I MAKE UP MY MIND TO FIND CAPTAIN SHANNON The striking of that fusee was a critical moment in my life, for before the thing had hissed itself into a black and crackling cinder I had decided to follow up the clue which had been so strangely thrown in my way.
concern
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Instead of recognising that it is only life and the unintelligible mystery of life which make literature of any consequence, they seem to fancy that literature is the chief concern and end of man’s being.
consequence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Instead of recognising that it is only life and the unintelligible mystery of life which make literature of any consequence, they seem to fancy that literature is the chief concern and end of man’s being.
crackling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I MAKE UP MY MIND TO FIND CAPTAIN SHANNON The striking of that fusee was a critical moment in my life, for before the thing had hissed itself into a black and crackling cinder I had decided to follow up the clue which had been so strangely thrown in my way.
craftnounUS /kræft/
a boat or ship in this chapter’s sailing situation
From this reading But, much as I love my craft, and generous and large-hearted as I have always found literary men--at all events, large-brained literary men--to be, I cannot profess much admiration for the fussy folk who seem to imagine that God made our world and the infinite worlds around it, life and death, and the human heart, with its joys and sorrows and hope of immortality, for no other reason than that they should have something to write about.
critical
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I MAKE UP MY MIND TO FIND CAPTAIN SHANNON The striking of that fusee was a critical moment in my life, for before the thing had hissed itself into a black and crackling cinder I had decided to follow up the clue which had been so strangely thrown in my way.
death
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, much as I love my craft, and generous and large-hearted as I have always found literary men--at all events, large-brained literary men--to be, I cannot profess much admiration for the fussy folk who seem to imagine that God made our world and the infinite worlds around it, life and death, and the human heart, with its joys and sorrows and hope of immortality, for no other reason than that they should have something to write about.
decided
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I MAKE UP MY MIND TO FIND CAPTAIN SHANNON The striking of that fusee was a critical moment in my life, for before the thing had hissed itself into a black and crackling cinder I had decided to follow up the clue which had been so strangely thrown in my way.
deciding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My principal reason for so deciding was that I wanted a rest--the rest of a change of occupation, not the rest of inaction.
end
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Instead of recognising that it is only life and the unintelligible mystery of life which make literature of any consequence, they seem to fancy that literature is the chief concern and end of man’s being.
events
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, much as I love my craft, and generous and large-hearted as I have always found literary men--at all events, large-brained literary men--to be, I cannot profess much admiration for the fussy folk who seem to imagine that God made our world and the infinite worlds around it, life and death, and the human heart, with its joys and sorrows and hope of immortality, for no other reason than that they should have something to write about.
fancy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Instead of recognising that it is only life and the unintelligible mystery of life which make literature of any consequence, they seem to fancy that literature is the chief concern and end of man’s being.
fellows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I am by profession what George Borrow would have called “one of the writing fellows.”
FIND
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I MAKE UP MY MIND TO FIND CAPTAIN SHANNON The striking of that fusee was a critical moment in my life, for before the thing had hissed itself into a black and crackling cinder I had decided to follow up the clue which had been so strangely thrown in my way.
folk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, much as I love my craft, and generous and large-hearted as I have always found literary men--at all events, large-brained literary men--to be, I cannot profess much admiration for the fussy folk who seem to imagine that God made our world and the infinite worlds around it, life and death, and the human heart, with its joys and sorrows and hope of immortality, for no other reason than that they should have something to write about.
follow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I MAKE UP MY MIND TO FIND CAPTAIN SHANNON The striking of that fusee was a critical moment in my life, for before the thing had hissed itself into a black and crackling cinder I had decided to follow up the clue which had been so strangely thrown in my way.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading I MAKE UP MY MIND TO FIND CAPTAIN SHANNON The striking of that fusee was a critical moment in my life, for before the thing had hissed itself into a black and crackling cinder I had decided to follow up the clue which had been so strangely thrown in my way.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But, much as I love my craft, and generous and large-hearted as I have always found literary men--at all events, large-brained literary men--to be, I cannot profess much admiration for the fussy folk who seem to imagine that God made our world and the infinite worlds around it, life and death, and the human heart, with its joys and sorrows and hope of immortality, for no other reason than that they should have something to write about.
fusee
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I MAKE UP MY MIND TO FIND CAPTAIN SHANNON The striking of that fusee was a critical moment in my life, for before the thing had hissed itself into a black and crackling cinder I had decided to follow up the clue which had been so strangely thrown in my way.
fussy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, much as I love my craft, and generous and large-hearted as I have always found literary men--at all events, large-brained literary men--to be, I cannot profess much admiration for the fussy folk who seem to imagine that God made our world and the infinite worlds around it, life and death, and the human heart, with its joys and sorrows and hope of immortality, for no other reason than that they should have something to write about.
generous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, much as I love my craft, and generous and large-hearted as I have always found literary men--at all events, large-brained literary men--to be, I cannot profess much admiration for the fussy folk who seem to imagine that God made our world and the infinite worlds around it, life and death, and the human heart, with its joys and sorrows and hope of immortality, for no other reason than that they should have something to write about.
George
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I am by profession what George Borrow would have called “one of the writing fellows.”
God
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, much as I love my craft, and generous and large-hearted as I have always found literary men--at all events, large-brained literary men--to be, I cannot profess much admiration for the fussy folk who seem to imagine that God made our world and the infinite worlds around it, life and death, and the human heart, with its joys and sorrows and hope of immortality, for no other reason than that they should have something to write about.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I MAKE UP MY MIND TO FIND CAPTAIN SHANNON The striking of that fusee was a critical moment in my life, for before the thing had hissed itself into a black and crackling cinder I had decided to follow up the clue which had been so strangely thrown in my way.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading I am by profession what George Borrow would have called “one of the writing fellows.”
heart
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, much as I love my craft, and generous and large-hearted as I have always found literary men--at all events, large-brained literary men--to be, I cannot profess much admiration for the fussy folk who seem to imagine that God made our world and the infinite worlds around it, life and death, and the human heart, with its joys and sorrows and hope of immortality, for no other reason than that they should have something to write about.
hissed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I MAKE UP MY MIND TO FIND CAPTAIN SHANNON The striking of that fusee was a critical moment in my life, for before the thing had hissed itself into a black and crackling cinder I had decided to follow up the clue which had been so strangely thrown in my way.
hope
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, much as I love my craft, and generous and large-hearted as I have always found literary men--at all events, large-brained literary men--to be, I cannot profess much admiration for the fussy folk who seem to imagine that God made our world and the infinite worlds around it, life and death, and the human heart, with its joys and sorrows and hope of immortality, for no other reason than that they should have something to write about.
human
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, much as I love my craft, and generous and large-hearted as I have always found literary men--at all events, large-brained literary men--to be, I cannot profess much admiration for the fussy folk who seem to imagine that God made our world and the infinite worlds around it, life and death, and the human heart, with its joys and sorrows and hope of immortality, for no other reason than that they should have something to write about.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I MAKE UP MY MIND TO FIND CAPTAIN SHANNON The striking of that fusee was a critical moment in my life, for before the thing had hissed itself into a black and crackling cinder I had decided to follow up the clue which had been so strangely thrown in my way.
imaginenounUS /ˈimagine/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading But, much as I love my craft, and generous and large-hearted as I have always found literary men--at all events, large-brained literary men--to be, I cannot profess much admiration for the fussy folk who seem to imagine that God made our world and the infinite worlds around it, life and death, and the human heart, with its joys and sorrows and hope of immortality, for no other reason than that they should have something to write about.
immortality
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, much as I love my craft, and generous and large-hearted as I have always found literary men--at all events, large-brained literary men--to be, I cannot profess much admiration for the fussy folk who seem to imagine that God made our world and the infinite worlds around it, life and death, and the human heart, with its joys and sorrows and hope of immortality, for no other reason than that they should have something to write about.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I MAKE UP MY MIND TO FIND CAPTAIN SHANNON The striking of that fusee was a critical moment in my life, for before the thing had hissed itself into a black and crackling cinder I had decided to follow up the clue which had been so strangely thrown in my way.
inaction
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My principal reason for so deciding was that I wanted a rest--the rest of a change of occupation, not the rest of inaction.
infinite
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, much as I love my craft, and generous and large-hearted as I have always found literary men--at all events, large-brained literary men--to be, I cannot profess much admiration for the fussy folk who seem to imagine that God made our world and the infinite worlds around it, life and death, and the human heart, with its joys and sorrows and hope of immortality, for no other reason than that they should have something to write about.
Instead
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Instead of recognising that it is only life and the unintelligible mystery of life which make literature of any consequence, they seem to fancy that literature is the chief concern and end of man’s being.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading I MAKE UP MY MIND TO FIND CAPTAIN SHANNON The striking of that fusee was a critical moment in my life, for before the thing had hissed itself into a black and crackling cinder I had decided to follow up the clue which had been so strangely thrown in my way.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Instead of recognising that it is only life and the unintelligible mystery of life which make literature of any consequence, they seem to fancy that literature is the chief concern and end of man’s being.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But, much as I love my craft, and generous and large-hearted as I have always found literary men--at all events, large-brained literary men--to be, I cannot profess much admiration for the fussy folk who seem to imagine that God made our world and the infinite worlds around it, life and death, and the human heart, with its joys and sorrows and hope of immortality, for no other reason than that they should have something to write about.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading But, much as I love my craft, and generous and large-hearted as I have always found literary men--at all events, large-brained literary men--to be, I cannot profess much admiration for the fussy folk who seem to imagine that God made our world and the infinite worlds around it, life and death, and the human heart, with its joys and sorrows and hope of immortality, for no other reason than that they should have something to write about.
itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading I MAKE UP MY MIND TO FIND CAPTAIN SHANNON The striking of that fusee was a critical moment in my life, for before the thing had hissed itself into a black and crackling cinder I had decided to follow up the clue which had been so strangely thrown in my way.
joys
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, much as I love my craft, and generous and large-hearted as I have always found literary men--at all events, large-brained literary men--to be, I cannot profess much admiration for the fussy folk who seem to imagine that God made our world and the infinite worlds around it, life and death, and the human heart, with its joys and sorrows and hope of immortality, for no other reason than that they should have something to write about.
large-brained
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, much as I love my craft, and generous and large-hearted as I have always found literary men--at all events, large-brained literary men--to be, I cannot profess much admiration for the fussy folk who seem to imagine that God made our world and the infinite worlds around it, life and death, and the human heart, with its joys and sorrows and hope of immortality, for no other reason than that they should have something to write about.
large-hearted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, much as I love my craft, and generous and large-hearted as I have always found literary men--at all events, large-brained literary men--to be, I cannot profess much admiration for the fussy folk who seem to imagine that God made our world and the infinite worlds around it, life and death, and the human heart, with its joys and sorrows and hope of immortality, for no other reason than that they should have something to write about.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I MAKE UP MY MIND TO FIND CAPTAIN SHANNON The striking of that fusee was a critical moment in my life, for before the thing had hissed itself into a black and crackling cinder I had decided to follow up the clue which had been so strangely thrown in my way.
literary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, much as I love my craft, and generous and large-hearted as I have always found literary men--at all events, large-brained literary men--to be, I cannot profess much admiration for the fussy folk who seem to imagine that God made our world and the infinite worlds around it, life and death, and the human heart, with its joys and sorrows and hope of immortality, for no other reason than that they should have something to write about.
literature
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Instead of recognising that it is only life and the unintelligible mystery of life which make literature of any consequence, they seem to fancy that literature is the chief concern and end of man’s being.
love
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, much as I love my craft, and generous and large-hearted as I have always found literary men--at all events, large-brained literary men--to be, I cannot profess much admiration for the fussy folk who seem to imagine that God made our world and the infinite worlds around it, life and death, and the human heart, with its joys and sorrows and hope of immortality, for no other reason than that they should have something to write about.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, much as I love my craft, and generous and large-hearted as I have always found literary men--at all events, large-brained literary men--to be, I cannot profess much admiration for the fussy folk who seem to imagine that God made our world and the infinite worlds around it, life and death, and the human heart, with its joys and sorrows and hope of immortality, for no other reason than that they should have something to write about.
MAKEnounUS /make/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I MAKE UP MY MIND TO FIND CAPTAIN SHANNON The striking of that fusee was a critical moment in my life, for before the thing had hissed itself into a black and crackling cinder I had decided to follow up the clue which had been so strangely thrown in my way.
man's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Instead of recognising that it is only life and the unintelligible mystery of life which make literature of any consequence, they seem to fancy that literature is the chief concern and end of man’s being.
men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, much as I love my craft, and generous and large-hearted as I have always found literary men--at all events, large-brained literary men--to be, I cannot profess much admiration for the fussy folk who seem to imagine that God made our world and the infinite worlds around it, life and death, and the human heart, with its joys and sorrows and hope of immortality, for no other reason than that they should have something to write about.
MINDnounUS /mind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I MAKE UP MY MIND TO FIND CAPTAIN SHANNON The striking of that fusee was a critical moment in my life, for before the thing had hissed itself into a black and crackling cinder I had decided to follow up the clue which had been so strangely thrown in my way.
moment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I MAKE UP MY MIND TO FIND CAPTAIN SHANNON The striking of that fusee was a critical moment in my life, for before the thing had hissed itself into a black and crackling cinder I had decided to follow up the clue which had been so strangely thrown in my way.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, much as I love my craft, and generous and large-hearted as I have always found literary men--at all events, large-brained literary men--to be, I cannot profess much admiration for the fussy folk who seem to imagine that God made our world and the infinite worlds around it, life and death, and the human heart, with its joys and sorrows and hope of immortality, for no other reason than that they should have something to write about.
MYdeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I MAKE UP MY MIND TO FIND CAPTAIN SHANNON The striking of that fusee was a critical moment in my life, for before the thing had hissed itself into a black and crackling cinder I had decided to follow up the clue which had been so strangely thrown in my way.
mystery
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Instead of recognising that it is only life and the unintelligible mystery of life which make literature of any consequence, they seem to fancy that literature is the chief concern and end of man’s being.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading But, much as I love my craft, and generous and large-hearted as I have always found literary men--at all events, large-brained literary men--to be, I cannot profess much admiration for the fussy folk who seem to imagine that God made our world and the infinite worlds around it, life and death, and the human heart, with its joys and sorrows and hope of immortality, for no other reason than that they should have something to write about.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading My principal reason for so deciding was that I wanted a rest--the rest of a change of occupation, not the rest of inaction.
occupation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My principal reason for so deciding was that I wanted a rest--the rest of a change of occupation, not the rest of inaction.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I MAKE UP MY MIND TO FIND CAPTAIN SHANNON The striking of that fusee was a critical moment in my life, for before the thing had hissed itself into a black and crackling cinder I had decided to follow up the clue which had been so strangely thrown in my way.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading I am by profession what George Borrow would have called “one of the writing fellows.”
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Instead of recognising that it is only life and the unintelligible mystery of life which make literature of any consequence, they seem to fancy that literature is the chief concern and end of man’s being.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, much as I love my craft, and generous and large-hearted as I have always found literary men--at all events, large-brained literary men--to be, I cannot profess much admiration for the fussy folk who seem to imagine that God made our world and the infinite worlds around it, life and death, and the human heart, with its joys and sorrows and hope of immortality, for no other reason than that they should have something to write about.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading But, much as I love my craft, and generous and large-hearted as I have always found literary men--at all events, large-brained literary men--to be, I cannot profess much admiration for the fussy folk who seem to imagine that God made our world and the infinite worlds around it, life and death, and the human heart, with its joys and sorrows and hope of immortality, for no other reason than that they should have something to write about.
principal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My principal reason for so deciding was that I wanted a rest--the rest of a change of occupation, not the rest of inaction.
profess
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, much as I love my craft, and generous and large-hearted as I have always found literary men--at all events, large-brained literary men--to be, I cannot profess much admiration for the fussy folk who seem to imagine that God made our world and the infinite worlds around it, life and death, and the human heart, with its joys and sorrows and hope of immortality, for no other reason than that they should have something to write about.
profession
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I am by profession what George Borrow would have called “one of the writing fellows.”
reason
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My principal reason for so deciding was that I wanted a rest--the rest of a change of occupation, not the rest of inaction.
recognising
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Instead of recognising that it is only life and the unintelligible mystery of life which make literature of any consequence, they seem to fancy that literature is the chief concern and end of man’s being.
restnounUS /rest/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading My principal reason for so deciding was that I wanted a rest--the rest of a change of occupation, not the rest of inaction.
seem
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, much as I love my craft, and generous and large-hearted as I have always found literary men--at all events, large-brained literary men--to be, I cannot profess much admiration for the fussy folk who seem to imagine that God made our world and the infinite worlds around it, life and death, and the human heart, with its joys and sorrows and hope of immortality, for no other reason than that they should have something to write about.
SHANNON
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I MAKE UP MY MIND TO FIND CAPTAIN SHANNON The striking of that fusee was a critical moment in my life, for before the thing had hissed itself into a black and crackling cinder I had decided to follow up the clue which had been so strangely thrown in my way.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading But, much as I love my craft, and generous and large-hearted as I have always found literary men--at all events, large-brained literary men--to be, I cannot profess much admiration for the fussy folk who seem to imagine that God made our world and the infinite worlds around it, life and death, and the human heart, with its joys and sorrows and hope of immortality, for no other reason than that they should have something to write about.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading I MAKE UP MY MIND TO FIND CAPTAIN SHANNON The striking of that fusee was a critical moment in my life, for before the thing had hissed itself into a black and crackling cinder I had decided to follow up the clue which had been so strangely thrown in my way.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading But, much as I love my craft, and generous and large-hearted as I have always found literary men--at all events, large-brained literary men--to be, I cannot profess much admiration for the fussy folk who seem to imagine that God made our world and the infinite worlds around it, life and death, and the human heart, with its joys and sorrows and hope of immortality, for no other reason than that they should have something to write about.
sorrows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, much as I love my craft, and generous and large-hearted as I have always found literary men--at all events, large-brained literary men--to be, I cannot profess much admiration for the fussy folk who seem to imagine that God made our world and the infinite worlds around it, life and death, and the human heart, with its joys and sorrows and hope of immortality, for no other reason than that they should have something to write about.
strangelynounUS /ˈstrangely/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading I MAKE UP MY MIND TO FIND CAPTAIN SHANNON The striking of that fusee was a critical moment in my life, for before the thing had hissed itself into a black and crackling cinder I had decided to follow up the clue which had been so strangely thrown in my way.
striking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I MAKE UP MY MIND TO FIND CAPTAIN SHANNON The striking of that fusee was a critical moment in my life, for before the thing had hissed itself into a black and crackling cinder I had decided to follow up the clue which had been so strangely thrown in my way.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading But, much as I love my craft, and generous and large-hearted as I have always found literary men--at all events, large-brained literary men--to be, I cannot profess much admiration for the fussy folk who seem to imagine that God made our world and the infinite worlds around it, life and death, and the human heart, with its joys and sorrows and hope of immortality, for no other reason than that they should have something to write about.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I MAKE UP MY MIND TO FIND CAPTAIN SHANNON The striking of that fusee was a critical moment in my life, for before the thing had hissed itself into a black and crackling cinder I had decided to follow up the clue which had been so strangely thrown in my way.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I MAKE UP MY MIND TO FIND CAPTAIN SHANNON The striking of that fusee was a critical moment in my life, for before the thing had hissed itself into a black and crackling cinder I had decided to follow up the clue which had been so strangely thrown in my way.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But, much as I love my craft, and generous and large-hearted as I have always found literary men--at all events, large-brained literary men--to be, I cannot profess much admiration for the fussy folk who seem to imagine that God made our world and the infinite worlds around it, life and death, and the human heart, with its joys and sorrows and hope of immortality, for no other reason than that they should have something to write about.
thingnounUS /thing/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I MAKE UP MY MIND TO FIND CAPTAIN SHANNON The striking of that fusee was a critical moment in my life, for before the thing had hissed itself into a black and crackling cinder I had decided to follow up the clue which had been so strangely thrown in my way.
thrown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I MAKE UP MY MIND TO FIND CAPTAIN SHANNON The striking of that fusee was a critical moment in my life, for before the thing had hissed itself into a black and crackling cinder I had decided to follow up the clue which had been so strangely thrown in my way.
TOparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I MAKE UP MY MIND TO FIND CAPTAIN SHANNON The striking of that fusee was a critical moment in my life, for before the thing had hissed itself into a black and crackling cinder I had decided to follow up the clue which had been so strangely thrown in my way.
unintelligible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Instead of recognising that it is only life and the unintelligible mystery of life which make literature of any consequence, they seem to fancy that literature is the chief concern and end of man’s being.
UP
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I MAKE UP MY MIND TO FIND CAPTAIN SHANNON The striking of that fusee was a critical moment in my life, for before the thing had hissed itself into a black and crackling cinder I had decided to follow up the clue which had been so strangely thrown in my way.
wanted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My principal reason for so deciding was that I wanted a rest--the rest of a change of occupation, not the rest of inaction.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I MAKE UP MY MIND TO FIND CAPTAIN SHANNON The striking of that fusee was a critical moment in my life, for before the thing had hissed itself into a black and crackling cinder I had decided to follow up the clue which had been so strangely thrown in my way.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I MAKE UP MY MIND TO FIND CAPTAIN SHANNON The striking of that fusee was a critical moment in my life, for before the thing had hissed itself into a black and crackling cinder I had decided to follow up the clue which had been so strangely thrown in my way.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading I am by profession what George Borrow would have called “one of the writing fellows.”
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading I MAKE UP MY MIND TO FIND CAPTAIN SHANNON The striking of that fusee was a critical moment in my life, for before the thing had hissed itself into a black and crackling cinder I had decided to follow up the clue which had been so strangely thrown in my way.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading But, much as I love my craft, and generous and large-hearted as I have always found literary men--at all events, large-brained literary men--to be, I cannot profess much admiration for the fussy folk who seem to imagine that God made our world and the infinite worlds around it, life and death, and the human heart, with its joys and sorrows and hope of immortality, for no other reason than that they should have something to write about.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading But, much as I love my craft, and generous and large-hearted as I have always found literary men--at all events, large-brained literary men--to be, I cannot profess much admiration for the fussy folk who seem to imagine that God made our world and the infinite worlds around it, life and death, and the human heart, with its joys and sorrows and hope of immortality, for no other reason than that they should have something to write about.
world
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, much as I love my craft, and generous and large-hearted as I have always found literary men--at all events, large-brained literary men--to be, I cannot profess much admiration for the fussy folk who seem to imagine that God made our world and the infinite worlds around it, life and death, and the human heart, with its joys and sorrows and hope of immortality, for no other reason than that they should have something to write about.
worlds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, much as I love my craft, and generous and large-hearted as I have always found literary men--at all events, large-brained literary men--to be, I cannot profess much admiration for the fussy folk who seem to imagine that God made our world and the infinite worlds around it, life and death, and the human heart, with its joys and sorrows and hope of immortality, for no other reason than that they should have something to write about.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading I am by profession what George Borrow would have called “one of the writing fellows.”
write
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, much as I love my craft, and generous and large-hearted as I have always found literary men--at all events, large-brained literary men--to be, I cannot profess much admiration for the fussy folk who seem to imagine that God made our world and the infinite worlds around it, life and death, and the human heart, with its joys and sorrows and hope of immortality, for no other reason than that they should have something to write about.
writing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I am by profession what George Borrow would have called “one of the writing fellows.”
