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 It had seemed to him a good idea to interrogate Mrs. Vivian; but there are a great many good ideas that are never put into execution.
air
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From this reading As he approached her with a smile and a salutation, and, with the air of asking leave to take a liberty, seated himself in the empty chair beside her, he felt a humorous relish of her own probable dismay which relaxed the investigating impulse.
alarms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If Mrs. Vivian should be annoyed, should be fluttered, Bernard would feel very sorry for her; there was nothing in the world that he respected more than the moral consciousness of a little Boston woman whose view of life was serious and whose imagination was subject to alarms.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading As he approached her with a smile and a salutation, and, with the air of asking leave to take a liberty, seated himself in the empty chair beside her, he felt a humorous relish of her own probable dismay which relaxed the investigating impulse.
annoyed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If Mrs. Vivian should be annoyed, should be fluttered, Bernard would feel very sorry for her; there was nothing in the world that he respected more than the moral consciousness of a little Boston woman whose view of life was serious and whose imagination was subject to alarms.
approached
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As he approached her with a smile and a salutation, and, with the air of asking leave to take a liberty, seated himself in the empty chair beside her, he felt a humorous relish of her own probable dismay which relaxed the investigating impulse.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It had seemed to him a good idea to interrogate Mrs. Vivian; but there are a great many good ideas that are never put into execution.
AsconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As he approached her with a smile and a salutation, and, with the air of asking leave to take a liberty, seated himself in the empty chair beside her, he felt a humorous relish of her own probable dismay which relaxed the investigating impulse.
asking
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From this reading As he approached her with a smile and a salutation, and, with the air of asking leave to take a liberty, seated himself in the empty chair beside her, he felt a humorous relish of her own probable dismay which relaxed the investigating impulse.
Baden
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From this reading His impulse was now simply to prove to her that he was the most unobjectionable fellow in the world--a proposition which resolved itself into several ingenious observations upon the weather, the music, the charms and the drawbacks of Baden, the merits of the volume that she held in her lap.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading If Mrs. Vivian should be annoyed, should be fluttered, Bernard would feel very sorry for her; there was nothing in the world that he respected more than the moral consciousness of a little Boston woman whose view of life was serious and whose imagination was subject to alarms.
Bernard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If Mrs. Vivian should be annoyed, should be fluttered, Bernard would feel very sorry for her; there was nothing in the world that he respected more than the moral consciousness of a little Boston woman whose view of life was serious and whose imagination was subject to alarms.
besideprepositionUS /bɪˈsaɪd/
next to; at the side of
From this reading As he approached her with a smile and a salutation, and, with the air of asking leave to take a liberty, seated himself in the empty chair beside her, he felt a humorous relish of her own probable dismay which relaxed the investigating impulse.
Boston
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If Mrs. Vivian should be annoyed, should be fluttered, Bernard would feel very sorry for her; there was nothing in the world that he respected more than the moral consciousness of a little Boston woman whose view of life was serious and whose imagination was subject to alarms.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It had seemed to him a good idea to interrogate Mrs. Vivian; but there are a great many good ideas that are never put into execution.
chair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As he approached her with a smile and a salutation, and, with the air of asking leave to take a liberty, seated himself in the empty chair beside her, he felt a humorous relish of her own probable dismay which relaxed the investigating impulse.
charms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His impulse was now simply to prove to her that he was the most unobjectionable fellow in the world--a proposition which resolved itself into several ingenious observations upon the weather, the music, the charms and the drawbacks of Baden, the merits of the volume that she held in her lap.
consciousness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If Mrs. Vivian should be annoyed, should be fluttered, Bernard would feel very sorry for her; there was nothing in the world that he respected more than the moral consciousness of a little Boston woman whose view of life was serious and whose imagination was subject to alarms.
delicacy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He held it to be a temple of delicacy, where one should walk on tiptoe, and he wished to exhibit to Mrs. Vivian the possible lightness of his own step.
dismay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As he approached her with a smile and a salutation, and, with the air of asking leave to take a liberty, seated himself in the empty chair beside her, he felt a humorous relish of her own probable dismay which relaxed the investigating impulse.
drawbacks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His impulse was now simply to prove to her that he was the most unobjectionable fellow in the world--a proposition which resolved itself into several ingenious observations upon the weather, the music, the charms and the drawbacks of Baden, the merits of the volume that she held in her lap.
empty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As he approached her with a smile and a salutation, and, with the air of asking leave to take a liberty, seated himself in the empty chair beside her, he felt a humorous relish of her own probable dismay which relaxed the investigating impulse.
execution
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had seemed to him a good idea to interrogate Mrs. Vivian; but there are a great many good ideas that are never put into execution.
exhibit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He held it to be a temple of delicacy, where one should walk on tiptoe, and he wished to exhibit to Mrs. Vivian the possible lightness of his own step.
feel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If Mrs. Vivian should be annoyed, should be fluttered, Bernard would feel very sorry for her; there was nothing in the world that he respected more than the moral consciousness of a little Boston woman whose view of life was serious and whose imagination was subject to alarms.
fellow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His impulse was now simply to prove to her that he was the most unobjectionable fellow in the world--a proposition which resolved itself into several ingenious observations upon the weather, the music, the charms and the drawbacks of Baden, the merits of the volume that she held in her lap.
felt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As he approached her with a smile and a salutation, and, with the air of asking leave to take a liberty, seated himself in the empty chair beside her, he felt a humorous relish of her own probable dismay which relaxed the investigating impulse.
fluttered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If Mrs. Vivian should be annoyed, should be fluttered, Bernard would feel very sorry for her; there was nothing in the world that he respected more than the moral consciousness of a little Boston woman whose view of life was serious and whose imagination was subject to alarms.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading If Mrs. Vivian should be annoyed, should be fluttered, Bernard would feel very sorry for her; there was nothing in the world that he respected more than the moral consciousness of a little Boston woman whose view of life was serious and whose imagination was subject to alarms.
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It had seemed to him a good idea to interrogate Mrs. Vivian; but there are a great many good ideas that are never put into execution.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It had seemed to him a good idea to interrogate Mrs. Vivian; but there are a great many good ideas that are never put into execution.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It had seemed to him a good idea to interrogate Mrs. Vivian; but there are a great many good ideas that are never put into execution.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As he approached her with a smile and a salutation, and, with the air of asking leave to take a liberty, seated himself in the empty chair beside her, he felt a humorous relish of her own probable dismay which relaxed the investigating impulse.
held
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His impulse was now simply to prove to her that he was the most unobjectionable fellow in the world--a proposition which resolved itself into several ingenious observations upon the weather, the music, the charms and the drawbacks of Baden, the merits of the volume that she held in her lap.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading As he approached her with a smile and a salutation, and, with the air of asking leave to take a liberty, seated himself in the empty chair beside her, he felt a humorous relish of her own probable dismay which relaxed the investigating impulse.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It had seemed to him a good idea to interrogate Mrs. Vivian; but there are a great many good ideas that are never put into execution.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading As he approached her with a smile and a salutation, and, with the air of asking leave to take a liberty, seated himself in the empty chair beside her, he felt a humorous relish of her own probable dismay which relaxed the investigating impulse.
HisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His impulse was now simply to prove to her that he was the most unobjectionable fellow in the world--a proposition which resolved itself into several ingenious observations upon the weather, the music, the charms and the drawbacks of Baden, the merits of the volume that she held in her lap.
humorous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As he approached her with a smile and a salutation, and, with the air of asking leave to take a liberty, seated himself in the empty chair beside her, he felt a humorous relish of her own probable dismay which relaxed the investigating impulse.
idea
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had seemed to him a good idea to interrogate Mrs. Vivian; but there are a great many good ideas that are never put into execution.
ideas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had seemed to him a good idea to interrogate Mrs. Vivian; but there are a great many good ideas that are never put into execution.
IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If Mrs. Vivian should be annoyed, should be fluttered, Bernard would feel very sorry for her; there was nothing in the world that he respected more than the moral consciousness of a little Boston woman whose view of life was serious and whose imagination was subject to alarms.
imagination
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If Mrs. Vivian should be annoyed, should be fluttered, Bernard would feel very sorry for her; there was nothing in the world that he respected more than the moral consciousness of a little Boston woman whose view of life was serious and whose imagination was subject to alarms.
impulsenounUS /ˈɪmpʌls/
a sudden strong desire to act
From this reading As he approached her with a smile and a salutation, and, with the air of asking leave to take a liberty, seated himself in the empty chair beside her, he felt a humorous relish of her own probable dismay which relaxed the investigating impulse.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading As he approached her with a smile and a salutation, and, with the air of asking leave to take a liberty, seated himself in the empty chair beside her, he felt a humorous relish of her own probable dismay which relaxed the investigating impulse.
ingeniousadjectiveUS /ɪnˈdʒiː.ni.əs/
Clever, original, and remarkably inventive in design and execution.
From this reading His impulse was now simply to prove to her that he was the most unobjectionable fellow in the world--a proposition which resolved itself into several ingenious observations upon the weather, the music, the charms and the drawbacks of Baden, the merits of the volume that she held in her lap.
interrogate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had seemed to him a good idea to interrogate Mrs. Vivian; but there are a great many good ideas that are never put into execution.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading It had seemed to him a good idea to interrogate Mrs. Vivian; but there are a great many good ideas that are never put into execution.
investigating
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As he approached her with a smile and a salutation, and, with the air of asking leave to take a liberty, seated himself in the empty chair beside her, he felt a humorous relish of her own probable dismay which relaxed the investigating impulse.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It had seemed to him a good idea to interrogate Mrs. Vivian; but there are a great many good ideas that are never put into execution.
itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading His impulse was now simply to prove to her that he was the most unobjectionable fellow in the world--a proposition which resolved itself into several ingenious observations upon the weather, the music, the charms and the drawbacks of Baden, the merits of the volume that she held in her lap.
lap
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His impulse was now simply to prove to her that he was the most unobjectionable fellow in the world--a proposition which resolved itself into several ingenious observations upon the weather, the music, the charms and the drawbacks of Baden, the merits of the volume that she held in her lap.
leave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As he approached her with a smile and a salutation, and, with the air of asking leave to take a liberty, seated himself in the empty chair beside her, he felt a humorous relish of her own probable dismay which relaxed the investigating impulse.
libertynounUS /ˈlɪb.ər.ti/
The state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions on one's way of life.
From this reading As he approached her with a smile and a salutation, and, with the air of asking leave to take a liberty, seated himself in the empty chair beside her, he felt a humorous relish of her own probable dismay which relaxed the investigating impulse.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading If Mrs. Vivian should be annoyed, should be fluttered, Bernard would feel very sorry for her; there was nothing in the world that he respected more than the moral consciousness of a little Boston woman whose view of life was serious and whose imagination was subject to alarms.
lightness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He held it to be a temple of delicacy, where one should walk on tiptoe, and he wished to exhibit to Mrs. Vivian the possible lightness of his own step.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading If Mrs. Vivian should be annoyed, should be fluttered, Bernard would feel very sorry for her; there was nothing in the world that he respected more than the moral consciousness of a little Boston woman whose view of life was serious and whose imagination was subject to alarms.
many
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had seemed to him a good idea to interrogate Mrs. Vivian; but there are a great many good ideas that are never put into execution.
merits
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His impulse was now simply to prove to her that he was the most unobjectionable fellow in the world--a proposition which resolved itself into several ingenious observations upon the weather, the music, the charms and the drawbacks of Baden, the merits of the volume that she held in her lap.
moral
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If Mrs. Vivian should be annoyed, should be fluttered, Bernard would feel very sorry for her; there was nothing in the world that he respected more than the moral consciousness of a little Boston woman whose view of life was serious and whose imagination was subject to alarms.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If Mrs. Vivian should be annoyed, should be fluttered, Bernard would feel very sorry for her; there was nothing in the world that he respected more than the moral consciousness of a little Boston woman whose view of life was serious and whose imagination was subject to alarms.
most
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His impulse was now simply to prove to her that he was the most unobjectionable fellow in the world--a proposition which resolved itself into several ingenious observations upon the weather, the music, the charms and the drawbacks of Baden, the merits of the volume that she held in her lap.
Mrs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had seemed to him a good idea to interrogate Mrs. Vivian; but there are a great many good ideas that are never put into execution.
music
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His impulse was now simply to prove to her that he was the most unobjectionable fellow in the world--a proposition which resolved itself into several ingenious observations upon the weather, the music, the charms and the drawbacks of Baden, the merits of the volume that she held in her lap.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It had seemed to him a good idea to interrogate Mrs. Vivian; but there are a great many good ideas that are never put into execution.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading If Mrs. Vivian should be annoyed, should be fluttered, Bernard would feel very sorry for her; there was nothing in the world that he respected more than the moral consciousness of a little Boston woman whose view of life was serious and whose imagination was subject to alarms.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His impulse was now simply to prove to her that he was the most unobjectionable fellow in the world--a proposition which resolved itself into several ingenious observations upon the weather, the music, the charms and the drawbacks of Baden, the merits of the volume that she held in her lap.
observations
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His impulse was now simply to prove to her that he was the most unobjectionable fellow in the world--a proposition which resolved itself into several ingenious observations upon the weather, the music, the charms and the drawbacks of Baden, the merits of the volume that she held in her lap.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading As he approached her with a smile and a salutation, and, with the air of asking leave to take a liberty, seated himself in the empty chair beside her, he felt a humorous relish of her own probable dismay which relaxed the investigating impulse.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He held it to be a temple of delicacy, where one should walk on tiptoe, and he wished to exhibit to Mrs. Vivian the possible lightness of his own step.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He held it to be a temple of delicacy, where one should walk on tiptoe, and he wished to exhibit to Mrs. Vivian the possible lightness of his own step.
own
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As he approached her with a smile and a salutation, and, with the air of asking leave to take a liberty, seated himself in the empty chair beside her, he felt a humorous relish of her own probable dismay which relaxed the investigating impulse.
possible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He held it to be a temple of delicacy, where one should walk on tiptoe, and he wished to exhibit to Mrs. Vivian the possible lightness of his own step.
probable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As he approached her with a smile and a salutation, and, with the air of asking leave to take a liberty, seated himself in the empty chair beside her, he felt a humorous relish of her own probable dismay which relaxed the investigating impulse.
proposition
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His impulse was now simply to prove to her that he was the most unobjectionable fellow in the world--a proposition which resolved itself into several ingenious observations upon the weather, the music, the charms and the drawbacks of Baden, the merits of the volume that she held in her lap.
prove
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His impulse was now simply to prove to her that he was the most unobjectionable fellow in the world--a proposition which resolved itself into several ingenious observations upon the weather, the music, the charms and the drawbacks of Baden, the merits of the volume that she held in her lap.
put
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had seemed to him a good idea to interrogate Mrs. Vivian; but there are a great many good ideas that are never put into execution.
relaxed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As he approached her with a smile and a salutation, and, with the air of asking leave to take a liberty, seated himself in the empty chair beside her, he felt a humorous relish of her own probable dismay which relaxed the investigating impulse.
relish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As he approached her with a smile and a salutation, and, with the air of asking leave to take a liberty, seated himself in the empty chair beside her, he felt a humorous relish of her own probable dismay which relaxed the investigating impulse.
resolved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His impulse was now simply to prove to her that he was the most unobjectionable fellow in the world--a proposition which resolved itself into several ingenious observations upon the weather, the music, the charms and the drawbacks of Baden, the merits of the volume that she held in her lap.
respected
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If Mrs. Vivian should be annoyed, should be fluttered, Bernard would feel very sorry for her; there was nothing in the world that he respected more than the moral consciousness of a little Boston woman whose view of life was serious and whose imagination was subject to alarms.
salutation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As he approached her with a smile and a salutation, and, with the air of asking leave to take a liberty, seated himself in the empty chair beside her, he felt a humorous relish of her own probable dismay which relaxed the investigating impulse.
seated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As he approached her with a smile and a salutation, and, with the air of asking leave to take a liberty, seated himself in the empty chair beside her, he felt a humorous relish of her own probable dismay which relaxed the investigating impulse.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It had seemed to him a good idea to interrogate Mrs. Vivian; but there are a great many good ideas that are never put into execution.
serious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If Mrs. Vivian should be annoyed, should be fluttered, Bernard would feel very sorry for her; there was nothing in the world that he respected more than the moral consciousness of a little Boston woman whose view of life was serious and whose imagination was subject to alarms.
several
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His impulse was now simply to prove to her that he was the most unobjectionable fellow in the world--a proposition which resolved itself into several ingenious observations upon the weather, the music, the charms and the drawbacks of Baden, the merits of the volume that she held in her lap.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading His impulse was now simply to prove to her that he was the most unobjectionable fellow in the world--a proposition which resolved itself into several ingenious observations upon the weather, the music, the charms and the drawbacks of Baden, the merits of the volume that she held in her lap.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading If Mrs. Vivian should be annoyed, should be fluttered, Bernard would feel very sorry for her; there was nothing in the world that he respected more than the moral consciousness of a little Boston woman whose view of life was serious and whose imagination was subject to alarms.
simply
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His impulse was now simply to prove to her that he was the most unobjectionable fellow in the world--a proposition which resolved itself into several ingenious observations upon the weather, the music, the charms and the drawbacks of Baden, the merits of the volume that she held in her lap.
smile
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As he approached her with a smile and a salutation, and, with the air of asking leave to take a liberty, seated himself in the empty chair beside her, he felt a humorous relish of her own probable dismay which relaxed the investigating impulse.
sorry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If Mrs. Vivian should be annoyed, should be fluttered, Bernard would feel very sorry for her; there was nothing in the world that he respected more than the moral consciousness of a little Boston woman whose view of life was serious and whose imagination was subject to alarms.
stepnounUS /step/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He held it to be a temple of delicacy, where one should walk on tiptoe, and he wished to exhibit to Mrs. Vivian the possible lightness of his own step.
subject
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If Mrs. Vivian should be annoyed, should be fluttered, Bernard would feel very sorry for her; there was nothing in the world that he respected more than the moral consciousness of a little Boston woman whose view of life was serious and whose imagination was subject to alarms.
takenounUS /take/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading As he approached her with a smile and a salutation, and, with the air of asking leave to take a liberty, seated himself in the empty chair beside her, he felt a humorous relish of her own probable dismay which relaxed the investigating impulse.
temple
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He held it to be a temple of delicacy, where one should walk on tiptoe, and he wished to exhibit to Mrs. Vivian the possible lightness of his own step.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading If Mrs. Vivian should be annoyed, should be fluttered, Bernard would feel very sorry for her; there was nothing in the world that he respected more than the moral consciousness of a little Boston woman whose view of life was serious and whose imagination was subject to alarms.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It had seemed to him a good idea to interrogate Mrs. Vivian; but there are a great many good ideas that are never put into execution.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading As he approached her with a smile and a salutation, and, with the air of asking leave to take a liberty, seated himself in the empty chair beside her, he felt a humorous relish of her own probable dismay which relaxed the investigating impulse.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had seemed to him a good idea to interrogate Mrs. Vivian; but there are a great many good ideas that are never put into execution.
tiptoe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He held it to be a temple of delicacy, where one should walk on tiptoe, and he wished to exhibit to Mrs. Vivian the possible lightness of his own step.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It had seemed to him a good idea to interrogate Mrs. Vivian; but there are a great many good ideas that are never put into execution.
unobjectionable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His impulse was now simply to prove to her that he was the most unobjectionable fellow in the world--a proposition which resolved itself into several ingenious observations upon the weather, the music, the charms and the drawbacks of Baden, the merits of the volume that she held in her lap.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading His impulse was now simply to prove to her that he was the most unobjectionable fellow in the world--a proposition which resolved itself into several ingenious observations upon the weather, the music, the charms and the drawbacks of Baden, the merits of the volume that she held in her lap.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If Mrs. Vivian should be annoyed, should be fluttered, Bernard would feel very sorry for her; there was nothing in the world that he respected more than the moral consciousness of a little Boston woman whose view of life was serious and whose imagination was subject to alarms.
view
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If Mrs. Vivian should be annoyed, should be fluttered, Bernard would feel very sorry for her; there was nothing in the world that he respected more than the moral consciousness of a little Boston woman whose view of life was serious and whose imagination was subject to alarms.
Vivian
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had seemed to him a good idea to interrogate Mrs. Vivian; but there are a great many good ideas that are never put into execution.
volume
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His impulse was now simply to prove to her that he was the most unobjectionable fellow in the world--a proposition which resolved itself into several ingenious observations upon the weather, the music, the charms and the drawbacks of Baden, the merits of the volume that she held in her lap.
walk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He held it to be a temple of delicacy, where one should walk on tiptoe, and he wished to exhibit to Mrs. Vivian the possible lightness of his own step.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading His impulse was now simply to prove to her that he was the most unobjectionable fellow in the world--a proposition which resolved itself into several ingenious observations upon the weather, the music, the charms and the drawbacks of Baden, the merits of the volume that she held in her lap.
weather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His impulse was now simply to prove to her that he was the most unobjectionable fellow in the world--a proposition which resolved itself into several ingenious observations upon the weather, the music, the charms and the drawbacks of Baden, the merits of the volume that she held in her lap.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading He held it to be a temple of delicacy, where one should walk on tiptoe, and he wished to exhibit to Mrs. Vivian the possible lightness of his own step.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading As he approached her with a smile and a salutation, and, with the air of asking leave to take a liberty, seated himself in the empty chair beside her, he felt a humorous relish of her own probable dismay which relaxed the investigating impulse.
whosedeterminerUS /huːz/
belonging to which person
From this reading If Mrs. Vivian should be annoyed, should be fluttered, Bernard would feel very sorry for her; there was nothing in the world that he respected more than the moral consciousness of a little Boston woman whose view of life was serious and whose imagination was subject to alarms.
wished
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He held it to be a temple of delicacy, where one should walk on tiptoe, and he wished to exhibit to Mrs. Vivian the possible lightness of his own step.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading As he approached her with a smile and a salutation, and, with the air of asking leave to take a liberty, seated himself in the empty chair beside her, he felt a humorous relish of her own probable dismay which relaxed the investigating impulse.
woman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If Mrs. Vivian should be annoyed, should be fluttered, Bernard would feel very sorry for her; there was nothing in the world that he respected more than the moral consciousness of a little Boston woman whose view of life was serious and whose imagination was subject to alarms.
world
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His impulse was now simply to prove to her that he was the most unobjectionable fellow in the world--a proposition which resolved itself into several ingenious observations upon the weather, the music, the charms and the drawbacks of Baden, the merits of the volume that she held in her lap.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading If Mrs. Vivian should be annoyed, should be fluttered, Bernard would feel very sorry for her; there was nothing in the world that he respected more than the moral consciousness of a little Boston woman whose view of life was serious and whose imagination was subject to alarms.
