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andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading M. Guy de Maupassant, with his keen mordant irony and his hard vivid style, strips life of the few poor rags that still cover her, and shows us foul sore and festering wound.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading ‘In France, though nothing so deliberately tedious as _Robert Elsmere_ has been produced, things are not much better.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading ‘In France, though nothing so deliberately tedious as _Robert Elsmere_ has been produced, things are not much better.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He writes lurid little tragedies in which everybody is ridiculous; bitter comedies at which one cannot laugh for very tears.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading M. Zola, true to the lofty principle that he lays down in one of his pronunciamientos on literature, “L’homme de génie n’a jamais d’esprit,” is determined to show that, if he has not got genius, he can at least be dull.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading ‘In France, though nothing so deliberately tedious as _Robert Elsmere_ has been produced, things are not much better.
better
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘In France, though nothing so deliberately tedious as _Robert Elsmere_ has been produced, things are not much better.
bitter
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From this reading He writes lurid little tragedies in which everybody is ridiculous; bitter comedies at which one cannot laugh for very tears.
canmodal verbUS /kæn/
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading M. Zola, true to the lofty principle that he lays down in one of his pronunciamientos on literature, “L’homme de génie n’a jamais d’esprit,” is determined to show that, if he has not got genius, he can at least be dull.
cannot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He writes lurid little tragedies in which everybody is ridiculous; bitter comedies at which one cannot laugh for very tears.
comedies
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From this reading He writes lurid little tragedies in which everybody is ridiculous; bitter comedies at which one cannot laugh for very tears.
cover
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From this reading M. Guy de Maupassant, with his keen mordant irony and his hard vivid style, strips life of the few poor rags that still cover her, and shows us foul sore and festering wound.
d'esprit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading M. Zola, true to the lofty principle that he lays down in one of his pronunciamientos on literature, “L’homme de génie n’a jamais d’esprit,” is determined to show that, if he has not got genius, he can at least be dull.
de
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From this reading M. Guy de Maupassant, with his keen mordant irony and his hard vivid style, strips life of the few poor rags that still cover her, and shows us foul sore and festering wound.
deliberately
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘In France, though nothing so deliberately tedious as _Robert Elsmere_ has been produced, things are not much better.
determinedadjectiveUS /dɪˈtɜrmɪnd/
having firmly decided to do something
From this reading M. Zola, true to the lofty principle that he lays down in one of his pronunciamientos on literature, “L’homme de génie n’a jamais d’esprit,” is determined to show that, if he has not got genius, he can at least be dull.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading M. Zola, true to the lofty principle that he lays down in one of his pronunciamientos on literature, “L’homme de génie n’a jamais d’esprit,” is determined to show that, if he has not got genius, he can at least be dull.
dull
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading M. Zola, true to the lofty principle that he lays down in one of his pronunciamientos on literature, “L’homme de génie n’a jamais d’esprit,” is determined to show that, if he has not got genius, he can at least be dull.
Elsmere
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘In France, though nothing so deliberately tedious as _Robert Elsmere_ has been produced, things are not much better.
everybodypronounUS /ˈevribɑːdi/
every person
From this reading He writes lurid little tragedies in which everybody is ridiculous; bitter comedies at which one cannot laugh for very tears.
festering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading M. Guy de Maupassant, with his keen mordant irony and his hard vivid style, strips life of the few poor rags that still cover her, and shows us foul sore and festering wound.
few
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading M. Guy de Maupassant, with his keen mordant irony and his hard vivid style, strips life of the few poor rags that still cover her, and shows us foul sore and festering wound.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He writes lurid little tragedies in which everybody is ridiculous; bitter comedies at which one cannot laugh for very tears.
foul
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading M. Guy de Maupassant, with his keen mordant irony and his hard vivid style, strips life of the few poor rags that still cover her, and shows us foul sore and festering wound.
France
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘In France, though nothing so deliberately tedious as _Robert Elsmere_ has been produced, things are not much better.
genius
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading M. Zola, true to the lofty principle that he lays down in one of his pronunciamientos on literature, “L’homme de génie n’a jamais d’esprit,” is determined to show that, if he has not got genius, he can at least be dull.
got
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading M. Zola, true to the lofty principle that he lays down in one of his pronunciamientos on literature, “L’homme de génie n’a jamais d’esprit,” is determined to show that, if he has not got genius, he can at least be dull.
Guy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading M. Guy de Maupassant, with his keen mordant irony and his hard vivid style, strips life of the few poor rags that still cover her, and shows us foul sore and festering wound.
génie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading M. Zola, true to the lofty principle that he lays down in one of his pronunciamientos on literature, “L’homme de génie n’a jamais d’esprit,” is determined to show that, if he has not got genius, he can at least be dull.
hard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading M. Guy de Maupassant, with his keen mordant irony and his hard vivid style, strips life of the few poor rags that still cover her, and shows us foul sore and festering wound.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading ‘In France, though nothing so deliberately tedious as _Robert Elsmere_ has been produced, things are not much better.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He writes lurid little tragedies in which everybody is ridiculous; bitter comedies at which one cannot laugh for very tears.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading M. Guy de Maupassant, with his keen mordant irony and his hard vivid style, strips life of the few poor rags that still cover her, and shows us foul sore and festering wound.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading M. Guy de Maupassant, with his keen mordant irony and his hard vivid style, strips life of the few poor rags that still cover her, and shows us foul sore and festering wound.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And how well he succeeds!
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading M. Zola, true to the lofty principle that he lays down in one of his pronunciamientos on literature, “L’homme de génie n’a jamais d’esprit,” is determined to show that, if he has not got genius, he can at least be dull.
InprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading ‘In France, though nothing so deliberately tedious as _Robert Elsmere_ has been produced, things are not much better.
irony
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading M. Guy de Maupassant, with his keen mordant irony and his hard vivid style, strips life of the few poor rags that still cover her, and shows us foul sore and festering wound.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He writes lurid little tragedies in which everybody is ridiculous; bitter comedies at which one cannot laugh for very tears.
jamais
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading M. Zola, true to the lofty principle that he lays down in one of his pronunciamientos on literature, “L’homme de génie n’a jamais d’esprit,” is determined to show that, if he has not got genius, he can at least be dull.
keen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading M. Guy de Maupassant, with his keen mordant irony and his hard vivid style, strips life of the few poor rags that still cover her, and shows us foul sore and festering wound.
L'homme
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading M. Zola, true to the lofty principle that he lays down in one of his pronunciamientos on literature, “L’homme de génie n’a jamais d’esprit,” is determined to show that, if he has not got genius, he can at least be dull.
laugh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He writes lurid little tragedies in which everybody is ridiculous; bitter comedies at which one cannot laugh for very tears.
lays
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading M. Zola, true to the lofty principle that he lays down in one of his pronunciamientos on literature, “L’homme de génie n’a jamais d’esprit,” is determined to show that, if he has not got genius, he can at least be dull.
leastnounUS /least/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading M. Zola, true to the lofty principle that he lays down in one of his pronunciamientos on literature, “L’homme de génie n’a jamais d’esprit,” is determined to show that, if he has not got genius, he can at least be dull.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading M. Guy de Maupassant, with his keen mordant irony and his hard vivid style, strips life of the few poor rags that still cover her, and shows us foul sore and festering wound.
literature
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading M. Zola, true to the lofty principle that he lays down in one of his pronunciamientos on literature, “L’homme de génie n’a jamais d’esprit,” is determined to show that, if he has not got genius, he can at least be dull.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He writes lurid little tragedies in which everybody is ridiculous; bitter comedies at which one cannot laugh for very tears.
lofty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading M. Zola, true to the lofty principle that he lays down in one of his pronunciamientos on literature, “L’homme de génie n’a jamais d’esprit,” is determined to show that, if he has not got genius, he can at least be dull.
lurid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He writes lurid little tragedies in which everybody is ridiculous; bitter comedies at which one cannot laugh for very tears.
M
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading M. Guy de Maupassant, with his keen mordant irony and his hard vivid style, strips life of the few poor rags that still cover her, and shows us foul sore and festering wound.
Maupassant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading M. Guy de Maupassant, with his keen mordant irony and his hard vivid style, strips life of the few poor rags that still cover her, and shows us foul sore and festering wound.
mordant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading M. Guy de Maupassant, with his keen mordant irony and his hard vivid style, strips life of the few poor rags that still cover her, and shows us foul sore and festering wound.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘In France, though nothing so deliberately tedious as _Robert Elsmere_ has been produced, things are not much better.
n'a
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading M. Zola, true to the lofty principle that he lays down in one of his pronunciamientos on literature, “L’homme de génie n’a jamais d’esprit,” is determined to show that, if he has not got genius, he can at least be dull.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading ‘In France, though nothing so deliberately tedious as _Robert Elsmere_ has been produced, things are not much better.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading ‘In France, though nothing so deliberately tedious as _Robert Elsmere_ has been produced, things are not much better.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading M. Guy de Maupassant, with his keen mordant irony and his hard vivid style, strips life of the few poor rags that still cover her, and shows us foul sore and festering wound.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading M. Zola, true to the lofty principle that he lays down in one of his pronunciamientos on literature, “L’homme de génie n’a jamais d’esprit,” is determined to show that, if he has not got genius, he can at least be dull.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He writes lurid little tragedies in which everybody is ridiculous; bitter comedies at which one cannot laugh for very tears.
poornounUS /poor/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading M. Guy de Maupassant, with his keen mordant irony and his hard vivid style, strips life of the few poor rags that still cover her, and shows us foul sore and festering wound.
principle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading M. Zola, true to the lofty principle that he lays down in one of his pronunciamientos on literature, “L’homme de génie n’a jamais d’esprit,” is determined to show that, if he has not got genius, he can at least be dull.
produced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘In France, though nothing so deliberately tedious as _Robert Elsmere_ has been produced, things are not much better.
pronunciamientos
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading M. Zola, true to the lofty principle that he lays down in one of his pronunciamientos on literature, “L’homme de génie n’a jamais d’esprit,” is determined to show that, if he has not got genius, he can at least be dull.
rags
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading M. Guy de Maupassant, with his keen mordant irony and his hard vivid style, strips life of the few poor rags that still cover her, and shows us foul sore and festering wound.
ridiculous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He writes lurid little tragedies in which everybody is ridiculous; bitter comedies at which one cannot laugh for very tears.
Robert
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘In France, though nothing so deliberately tedious as _Robert Elsmere_ has been produced, things are not much better.
show
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading M. Zola, true to the lofty principle that he lays down in one of his pronunciamientos on literature, “L’homme de génie n’a jamais d’esprit,” is determined to show that, if he has not got genius, he can at least be dull.
shows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading M. Guy de Maupassant, with his keen mordant irony and his hard vivid style, strips life of the few poor rags that still cover her, and shows us foul sore and festering wound.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading ‘In France, though nothing so deliberately tedious as _Robert Elsmere_ has been produced, things are not much better.
sore
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading M. Guy de Maupassant, with his keen mordant irony and his hard vivid style, strips life of the few poor rags that still cover her, and shows us foul sore and festering wound.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading M. Guy de Maupassant, with his keen mordant irony and his hard vivid style, strips life of the few poor rags that still cover her, and shows us foul sore and festering wound.
strips
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading M. Guy de Maupassant, with his keen mordant irony and his hard vivid style, strips life of the few poor rags that still cover her, and shows us foul sore and festering wound.
style
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading M. Guy de Maupassant, with his keen mordant irony and his hard vivid style, strips life of the few poor rags that still cover her, and shows us foul sore and festering wound.
succeeds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And how well he succeeds!
tears
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He writes lurid little tragedies in which everybody is ridiculous; bitter comedies at which one cannot laugh for very tears.
tedious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘In France, though nothing so deliberately tedious as _Robert Elsmere_ has been produced, things are not much better.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading M. Guy de Maupassant, with his keen mordant irony and his hard vivid style, strips life of the few poor rags that still cover her, and shows us foul sore and festering wound.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading M. Guy de Maupassant, with his keen mordant irony and his hard vivid style, strips life of the few poor rags that still cover her, and shows us foul sore and festering wound.
things
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘In France, though nothing so deliberately tedious as _Robert Elsmere_ has been produced, things are not much better.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading ‘In France, though nothing so deliberately tedious as _Robert Elsmere_ has been produced, things are not much better.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading M. Zola, true to the lofty principle that he lays down in one of his pronunciamientos on literature, “L’homme de génie n’a jamais d’esprit,” is determined to show that, if he has not got genius, he can at least be dull.
tragedies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He writes lurid little tragedies in which everybody is ridiculous; bitter comedies at which one cannot laugh for very tears.
true
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading M. Zola, true to the lofty principle that he lays down in one of his pronunciamientos on literature, “L’homme de génie n’a jamais d’esprit,” is determined to show that, if he has not got genius, he can at least be dull.
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading M. Guy de Maupassant, with his keen mordant irony and his hard vivid style, strips life of the few poor rags that still cover her, and shows us foul sore and festering wound.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He writes lurid little tragedies in which everybody is ridiculous; bitter comedies at which one cannot laugh for very tears.
vivid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading M. Guy de Maupassant, with his keen mordant irony and his hard vivid style, strips life of the few poor rags that still cover her, and shows us foul sore and festering wound.
well
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And how well he succeeds!
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He writes lurid little tragedies in which everybody is ridiculous; bitter comedies at which one cannot laugh for very tears.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading M. Guy de Maupassant, with his keen mordant irony and his hard vivid style, strips life of the few poor rags that still cover her, and shows us foul sore and festering wound.
wound
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading M. Guy de Maupassant, with his keen mordant irony and his hard vivid style, strips life of the few poor rags that still cover her, and shows us foul sore and festering wound.
writes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He writes lurid little tragedies in which everybody is ridiculous; bitter comedies at which one cannot laugh for very tears.
Zola
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading M. Zola, true to the lofty principle that he lays down in one of his pronunciamientos on literature, “L’homme de génie n’a jamais d’esprit,” is determined to show that, if he has not got genius, he can at least be dull.
