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 was affirmed at an early stage of this narrative that he was a young man of a contemplative and speculative turn, and he had perhaps never been more true to his character than during an hour or two that evening as he sat by himself on the terrace of the Conversation-house, surrounded by the crowd of its frequenters, but lost in his meditations.
absorbing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were people coming and going whom he knew, but he said nothing to any one--he preferred to be alone; he found his own company quite absorbing.
affirmed
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From this reading It was affirmed at an early stage of this narrative that he was a young man of a contemplative and speculative turn, and he had perhaps never been more true to his character than during an hour or two that evening as he sat by himself on the terrace of the Conversation-house, surrounded by the crowd of its frequenters, but lost in his meditations.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading The place was full of movement and sound, but he had tilted back his chair against the great green box of an orange-tree, and in this easy attitude, vaguely and agreeably conscious of the music, he directed his gaze to the star-sprinkled vault of the night.
agreeably
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The place was full of movement and sound, but he had tilted back his chair against the great green box of an orange-tree, and in this easy attitude, vaguely and agreeably conscious of the music, he directed his gaze to the star-sprinkled vault of the night.
alonenounUS /alone/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There were people coming and going whom he knew, but he said nothing to any one--he preferred to be alone; he found his own company quite absorbing.
amused
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He felt very happy, very much amused, very curiously preoccupied.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was affirmed at an early stage of this narrative that he was a young man of a contemplative and speculative turn, and he had perhaps never been more true to his character than during an hour or two that evening as he sat by himself on the terrace of the Conversation-house, surrounded by the crowd of its frequenters, but lost in his meditations.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was affirmed at an early stage of this narrative that he was a young man of a contemplative and speculative turn, and he had perhaps never been more true to his character than during an hour or two that evening as he sat by himself on the terrace of the Conversation-house, surrounded by the crowd of its frequenters, but lost in his meditations.
any
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From this reading There were people coming and going whom he knew, but he said nothing to any one--he preferred to be alone; he found his own company quite absorbing.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It was affirmed at an early stage of this narrative that he was a young man of a contemplative and speculative turn, and he had perhaps never been more true to his character than during an hour or two that evening as he sat by himself on the terrace of the Conversation-house, surrounded by the crowd of its frequenters, but lost in his meditations.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It was affirmed at an early stage of this narrative that he was a young man of a contemplative and speculative turn, and he had perhaps never been more true to his character than during an hour or two that evening as he sat by himself on the terrace of the Conversation-house, surrounded by the crowd of its frequenters, but lost in his meditations.
attitude
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The place was full of movement and sound, but he had tilted back his chair against the great green box of an orange-tree, and in this easy attitude, vaguely and agreeably conscious of the music, he directed his gaze to the star-sprinkled vault of the night.
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The place was full of movement and sound, but he had tilted back his chair against the great green box of an orange-tree, and in this easy attitude, vaguely and agreeably conscious of the music, he directed his gaze to the star-sprinkled vault of the night.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading There were people coming and going whom he knew, but he said nothing to any one--he preferred to be alone; he found his own company quite absorbing.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It was affirmed at an early stage of this narrative that he was a young man of a contemplative and speculative turn, and he had perhaps never been more true to his character than during an hour or two that evening as he sat by himself on the terrace of the Conversation-house, surrounded by the crowd of its frequenters, but lost in his meditations.
box
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The place was full of movement and sound, but he had tilted back his chair against the great green box of an orange-tree, and in this easy attitude, vaguely and agreeably conscious of the music, he directed his gaze to the star-sprinkled vault of the night.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It was affirmed at an early stage of this narrative that he was a young man of a contemplative and speculative turn, and he had perhaps never been more true to his character than during an hour or two that evening as he sat by himself on the terrace of the Conversation-house, surrounded by the crowd of its frequenters, but lost in his meditations.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It was affirmed at an early stage of this narrative that he was a young man of a contemplative and speculative turn, and he had perhaps never been more true to his character than during an hour or two that evening as he sat by himself on the terrace of the Conversation-house, surrounded by the crowd of its frequenters, but lost in his meditations.
chair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The place was full of movement and sound, but he had tilted back his chair against the great green box of an orange-tree, and in this easy attitude, vaguely and agreeably conscious of the music, he directed his gaze to the star-sprinkled vault of the night.
character
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was affirmed at an early stage of this narrative that he was a young man of a contemplative and speculative turn, and he had perhaps never been more true to his character than during an hour or two that evening as he sat by himself on the terrace of the Conversation-house, surrounded by the crowd of its frequenters, but lost in his meditations.
coming
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were people coming and going whom he knew, but he said nothing to any one--he preferred to be alone; he found his own company quite absorbing.
company
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were people coming and going whom he knew, but he said nothing to any one--he preferred to be alone; he found his own company quite absorbing.
conscious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The place was full of movement and sound, but he had tilted back his chair against the great green box of an orange-tree, and in this easy attitude, vaguely and agreeably conscious of the music, he directed his gaze to the star-sprinkled vault of the night.
contemplative
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was affirmed at an early stage of this narrative that he was a young man of a contemplative and speculative turn, and he had perhaps never been more true to his character than during an hour or two that evening as he sat by himself on the terrace of the Conversation-house, surrounded by the crowd of its frequenters, but lost in his meditations.
Conversation-house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was affirmed at an early stage of this narrative that he was a young man of a contemplative and speculative turn, and he had perhaps never been more true to his character than during an hour or two that evening as he sat by himself on the terrace of the Conversation-house, surrounded by the crowd of its frequenters, but lost in his meditations.
crowd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was affirmed at an early stage of this narrative that he was a young man of a contemplative and speculative turn, and he had perhaps never been more true to his character than during an hour or two that evening as he sat by himself on the terrace of the Conversation-house, surrounded by the crowd of its frequenters, but lost in his meditations.
curiously
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He felt very happy, very much amused, very curiously preoccupied.
directed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The place was full of movement and sound, but he had tilted back his chair against the great green box of an orange-tree, and in this easy attitude, vaguely and agreeably conscious of the music, he directed his gaze to the star-sprinkled vault of the night.
duringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading It was affirmed at an early stage of this narrative that he was a young man of a contemplative and speculative turn, and he had perhaps never been more true to his character than during an hour or two that evening as he sat by himself on the terrace of the Conversation-house, surrounded by the crowd of its frequenters, but lost in his meditations.
early
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was affirmed at an early stage of this narrative that he was a young man of a contemplative and speculative turn, and he had perhaps never been more true to his character than during an hour or two that evening as he sat by himself on the terrace of the Conversation-house, surrounded by the crowd of its frequenters, but lost in his meditations.
easy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The place was full of movement and sound, but he had tilted back his chair against the great green box of an orange-tree, and in this easy attitude, vaguely and agreeably conscious of the music, he directed his gaze to the star-sprinkled vault of the night.
evening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was affirmed at an early stage of this narrative that he was a young man of a contemplative and speculative turn, and he had perhaps never been more true to his character than during an hour or two that evening as he sat by himself on the terrace of the Conversation-house, surrounded by the crowd of its frequenters, but lost in his meditations.
feelingnounUS /ˈfeeling/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The feeling was a singular one.
felt
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From this reading He felt very happy, very much amused, very curiously preoccupied.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There were people coming and going whom he knew, but he said nothing to any one--he preferred to be alone; he found his own company quite absorbing.
frequenters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was affirmed at an early stage of this narrative that he was a young man of a contemplative and speculative turn, and he had perhaps never been more true to his character than during an hour or two that evening as he sat by himself on the terrace of the Conversation-house, surrounded by the crowd of its frequenters, but lost in his meditations.
full
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The place was full of movement and sound, but he had tilted back his chair against the great green box of an orange-tree, and in this easy attitude, vaguely and agreeably conscious of the music, he directed his gaze to the star-sprinkled vault of the night.
gaze
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The place was full of movement and sound, but he had tilted back his chair against the great green box of an orange-tree, and in this easy attitude, vaguely and agreeably conscious of the music, he directed his gaze to the star-sprinkled vault of the night.
going
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were people coming and going whom he knew, but he said nothing to any one--he preferred to be alone; he found his own company quite absorbing.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The place was full of movement and sound, but he had tilted back his chair against the great green box of an orange-tree, and in this easy attitude, vaguely and agreeably conscious of the music, he directed his gaze to the star-sprinkled vault of the night.
green
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The place was full of movement and sound, but he had tilted back his chair against the great green box of an orange-tree, and in this easy attitude, vaguely and agreeably conscious of the music, he directed his gaze to the star-sprinkled vault of the night.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was affirmed at an early stage of this narrative that he was a young man of a contemplative and speculative turn, and he had perhaps never been more true to his character than during an hour or two that evening as he sat by himself on the terrace of the Conversation-house, surrounded by the crowd of its frequenters, but lost in his meditations.
happy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He felt very happy, very much amused, very curiously preoccupied.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was affirmed at an early stage of this narrative that he was a young man of a contemplative and speculative turn, and he had perhaps never been more true to his character than during an hour or two that evening as he sat by himself on the terrace of the Conversation-house, surrounded by the crowd of its frequenters, but lost in his meditations.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading It was affirmed at an early stage of this narrative that he was a young man of a contemplative and speculative turn, and he had perhaps never been more true to his character than during an hour or two that evening as he sat by himself on the terrace of the Conversation-house, surrounded by the crowd of its frequenters, but lost in his meditations.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It was affirmed at an early stage of this narrative that he was a young man of a contemplative and speculative turn, and he had perhaps never been more true to his character than during an hour or two that evening as he sat by himself on the terrace of the Conversation-house, surrounded by the crowd of its frequenters, but lost in his meditations.
hour
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was affirmed at an early stage of this narrative that he was a young man of a contemplative and speculative turn, and he had perhaps never been more true to his character than during an hour or two that evening as he sat by himself on the terrace of the Conversation-house, surrounded by the crowd of its frequenters, but lost in his meditations.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was affirmed at an early stage of this narrative that he was a young man of a contemplative and speculative turn, and he had perhaps never been more true to his character than during an hour or two that evening as he sat by himself on the terrace of the Conversation-house, surrounded by the crowd of its frequenters, but lost in his meditations.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was affirmed at an early stage of this narrative that he was a young man of a contemplative and speculative turn, and he had perhaps never been more true to his character than during an hour or two that evening as he sat by himself on the terrace of the Conversation-house, surrounded by the crowd of its frequenters, but lost in his meditations.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading It was affirmed at an early stage of this narrative that he was a young man of a contemplative and speculative turn, and he had perhaps never been more true to his character than during an hour or two that evening as he sat by himself on the terrace of the Conversation-house, surrounded by the crowd of its frequenters, but lost in his meditations.
knew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were people coming and going whom he knew, but he said nothing to any one--he preferred to be alone; he found his own company quite absorbing.
lost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was affirmed at an early stage of this narrative that he was a young man of a contemplative and speculative turn, and he had perhaps never been more true to his character than during an hour or two that evening as he sat by himself on the terrace of the Conversation-house, surrounded by the crowd of its frequenters, but lost in his meditations.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was affirmed at an early stage of this narrative that he was a young man of a contemplative and speculative turn, and he had perhaps never been more true to his character than during an hour or two that evening as he sat by himself on the terrace of the Conversation-house, surrounded by the crowd of its frequenters, but lost in his meditations.
meditations
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was affirmed at an early stage of this narrative that he was a young man of a contemplative and speculative turn, and he had perhaps never been more true to his character than during an hour or two that evening as he sat by himself on the terrace of the Conversation-house, surrounded by the crowd of its frequenters, but lost in his meditations.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was affirmed at an early stage of this narrative that he was a young man of a contemplative and speculative turn, and he had perhaps never been more true to his character than during an hour or two that evening as he sat by himself on the terrace of the Conversation-house, surrounded by the crowd of its frequenters, but lost in his meditations.
movement
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The place was full of movement and sound, but he had tilted back his chair against the great green box of an orange-tree, and in this easy attitude, vaguely and agreeably conscious of the music, he directed his gaze to the star-sprinkled vault of the night.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He felt very happy, very much amused, very curiously preoccupied.
music
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The place was full of movement and sound, but he had tilted back his chair against the great green box of an orange-tree, and in this easy attitude, vaguely and agreeably conscious of the music, he directed his gaze to the star-sprinkled vault of the night.
narrative
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was affirmed at an early stage of this narrative that he was a young man of a contemplative and speculative turn, and he had perhaps never been more true to his character than during an hour or two that evening as he sat by himself on the terrace of the Conversation-house, surrounded by the crowd of its frequenters, but lost in his meditations.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was affirmed at an early stage of this narrative that he was a young man of a contemplative and speculative turn, and he had perhaps never been more true to his character than during an hour or two that evening as he sat by himself on the terrace of the Conversation-house, surrounded by the crowd of its frequenters, but lost in his meditations.
night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The place was full of movement and sound, but he had tilted back his chair against the great green box of an orange-tree, and in this easy attitude, vaguely and agreeably conscious of the music, he directed his gaze to the star-sprinkled vault of the night.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading There were people coming and going whom he knew, but he said nothing to any one--he preferred to be alone; he found his own company quite absorbing.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was affirmed at an early stage of this narrative that he was a young man of a contemplative and speculative turn, and he had perhaps never been more true to his character than during an hour or two that evening as he sat by himself on the terrace of the Conversation-house, surrounded by the crowd of its frequenters, but lost in his meditations.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It was affirmed at an early stage of this narrative that he was a young man of a contemplative and speculative turn, and he had perhaps never been more true to his character than during an hour or two that evening as he sat by himself on the terrace of the Conversation-house, surrounded by the crowd of its frequenters, but lost in his meditations.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading There were people coming and going whom he knew, but he said nothing to any one--he preferred to be alone; he found his own company quite absorbing.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading It was affirmed at an early stage of this narrative that he was a young man of a contemplative and speculative turn, and he had perhaps never been more true to his character than during an hour or two that evening as he sat by himself on the terrace of the Conversation-house, surrounded by the crowd of its frequenters, but lost in his meditations.
orange-tree
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The place was full of movement and sound, but he had tilted back his chair against the great green box of an orange-tree, and in this easy attitude, vaguely and agreeably conscious of the music, he directed his gaze to the star-sprinkled vault of the night.
own
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were people coming and going whom he knew, but he said nothing to any one--he preferred to be alone; he found his own company quite absorbing.
people
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were people coming and going whom he knew, but he said nothing to any one--he preferred to be alone; he found his own company quite absorbing.
perhaps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was affirmed at an early stage of this narrative that he was a young man of a contemplative and speculative turn, and he had perhaps never been more true to his character than during an hour or two that evening as he sat by himself on the terrace of the Conversation-house, surrounded by the crowd of its frequenters, but lost in his meditations.
place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The place was full of movement and sound, but he had tilted back his chair against the great green box of an orange-tree, and in this easy attitude, vaguely and agreeably conscious of the music, he directed his gaze to the star-sprinkled vault of the night.
preferred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were people coming and going whom he knew, but he said nothing to any one--he preferred to be alone; he found his own company quite absorbing.
preoccupied
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He felt very happy, very much amused, very curiously preoccupied.
quitenounUS /quite/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There were people coming and going whom he knew, but he said nothing to any one--he preferred to be alone; he found his own company quite absorbing.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were people coming and going whom he knew, but he said nothing to any one--he preferred to be alone; he found his own company quite absorbing.
sat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was affirmed at an early stage of this narrative that he was a young man of a contemplative and speculative turn, and he had perhaps never been more true to his character than during an hour or two that evening as he sat by himself on the terrace of the Conversation-house, surrounded by the crowd of its frequenters, but lost in his meditations.
singular
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From this reading The feeling was a singular one.
sound
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The place was full of movement and sound, but he had tilted back his chair against the great green box of an orange-tree, and in this easy attitude, vaguely and agreeably conscious of the music, he directed his gaze to the star-sprinkled vault of the night.
speculative
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was affirmed at an early stage of this narrative that he was a young man of a contemplative and speculative turn, and he had perhaps never been more true to his character than during an hour or two that evening as he sat by himself on the terrace of the Conversation-house, surrounded by the crowd of its frequenters, but lost in his meditations.
stage
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was affirmed at an early stage of this narrative that he was a young man of a contemplative and speculative turn, and he had perhaps never been more true to his character than during an hour or two that evening as he sat by himself on the terrace of the Conversation-house, surrounded by the crowd of its frequenters, but lost in his meditations.
star-sprinkled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The place was full of movement and sound, but he had tilted back his chair against the great green box of an orange-tree, and in this easy attitude, vaguely and agreeably conscious of the music, he directed his gaze to the star-sprinkled vault of the night.
surrounded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was affirmed at an early stage of this narrative that he was a young man of a contemplative and speculative turn, and he had perhaps never been more true to his character than during an hour or two that evening as he sat by himself on the terrace of the Conversation-house, surrounded by the crowd of its frequenters, but lost in his meditations.
terrace
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was affirmed at an early stage of this narrative that he was a young man of a contemplative and speculative turn, and he had perhaps never been more true to his character than during an hour or two that evening as he sat by himself on the terrace of the Conversation-house, surrounded by the crowd of its frequenters, but lost in his meditations.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading It was affirmed at an early stage of this narrative that he was a young man of a contemplative and speculative turn, and he had perhaps never been more true to his character than during an hour or two that evening as he sat by himself on the terrace of the Conversation-house, surrounded by the crowd of its frequenters, but lost in his meditations.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was affirmed at an early stage of this narrative that he was a young man of a contemplative and speculative turn, and he had perhaps never been more true to his character than during an hour or two that evening as he sat by himself on the terrace of the Conversation-house, surrounded by the crowd of its frequenters, but lost in his meditations.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was affirmed at an early stage of this narrative that he was a young man of a contemplative and speculative turn, and he had perhaps never been more true to his character than during an hour or two that evening as he sat by himself on the terrace of the Conversation-house, surrounded by the crowd of its frequenters, but lost in his meditations.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were people coming and going whom he knew, but he said nothing to any one--he preferred to be alone; he found his own company quite absorbing.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading It was affirmed at an early stage of this narrative that he was a young man of a contemplative and speculative turn, and he had perhaps never been more true to his character than during an hour or two that evening as he sat by himself on the terrace of the Conversation-house, surrounded by the crowd of its frequenters, but lost in his meditations.
tilted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The place was full of movement and sound, but he had tilted back his chair against the great green box of an orange-tree, and in this easy attitude, vaguely and agreeably conscious of the music, he directed his gaze to the star-sprinkled vault of the night.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was affirmed at an early stage of this narrative that he was a young man of a contemplative and speculative turn, and he had perhaps never been more true to his character than during an hour or two that evening as he sat by himself on the terrace of the Conversation-house, surrounded by the crowd of its frequenters, but lost in his meditations.
true
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was affirmed at an early stage of this narrative that he was a young man of a contemplative and speculative turn, and he had perhaps never been more true to his character than during an hour or two that evening as he sat by himself on the terrace of the Conversation-house, surrounded by the crowd of its frequenters, but lost in his meditations.
turn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was affirmed at an early stage of this narrative that he was a young man of a contemplative and speculative turn, and he had perhaps never been more true to his character than during an hour or two that evening as he sat by himself on the terrace of the Conversation-house, surrounded by the crowd of its frequenters, but lost in his meditations.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was affirmed at an early stage of this narrative that he was a young man of a contemplative and speculative turn, and he had perhaps never been more true to his character than during an hour or two that evening as he sat by himself on the terrace of the Conversation-house, surrounded by the crowd of its frequenters, but lost in his meditations.
vaguely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The place was full of movement and sound, but he had tilted back his chair against the great green box of an orange-tree, and in this easy attitude, vaguely and agreeably conscious of the music, he directed his gaze to the star-sprinkled vault of the night.
vaultnounUS /vɔːlt/
a stone room, often below a church, used for burial
From this reading The place was full of movement and sound, but he had tilted back his chair against the great green box of an orange-tree, and in this easy attitude, vaguely and agreeably conscious of the music, he directed his gaze to the star-sprinkled vault of the night.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He felt very happy, very much amused, very curiously preoccupied.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was affirmed at an early stage of this narrative that he was a young man of a contemplative and speculative turn, and he had perhaps never been more true to his character than during an hour or two that evening as he sat by himself on the terrace of the Conversation-house, surrounded by the crowd of its frequenters, but lost in his meditations.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were people coming and going whom he knew, but he said nothing to any one--he preferred to be alone; he found his own company quite absorbing.
whompronounUS /huːm/
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading There were people coming and going whom he knew, but he said nothing to any one--he preferred to be alone; he found his own company quite absorbing.
young
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was affirmed at an early stage of this narrative that he was a young man of a contemplative and speculative turn, and he had perhaps never been more true to his character than during an hour or two that evening as he sat by himself on the terrace of the Conversation-house, surrounded by the crowd of its frequenters, but lost in his meditations.