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 As I walked, my mind was busy fitting what I saw with appropriate words; when I sat by the roadside, I would either read, or a pencil and a penny version-book would be in my hand, to note down the features of the scene or commemorate some halting stanzas.
All
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I All through my boyhood and youth, I was known and pointed out for the pattern of an idler; and yet I was always busy on my own private end, which was to learn to write.
always
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I All through my boyhood and youth, I was known and pointed out for the pattern of an idler; and yet I was always busy on my own private end, which was to learn to write.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading I All through my boyhood and youth, I was known and pointed out for the pattern of an idler; and yet I was always busy on my own private end, which was to learn to write.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I All through my boyhood and youth, I was known and pointed out for the pattern of an idler; and yet I was always busy on my own private end, which was to learn to write.
appropriate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As I walked, my mind was busy fitting what I saw with appropriate words; when I sat by the roadside, I would either read, or a pencil and a penny version-book would be in my hand, to note down the features of the scene or commemorate some halting stanzas.
AsconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As I walked, my mind was busy fitting what I saw with appropriate words; when I sat by the roadside, I would either read, or a pencil and a penny version-book would be in my hand, to note down the features of the scene or commemorate some halting stanzas.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading As I walked, my mind was busy fitting what I saw with appropriate words; when I sat by the roadside, I would either read, or a pencil and a penny version-book would be in my hand, to note down the features of the scene or commemorate some halting stanzas.
booksnounUS /bʊks/
Bound written or printed works.
From this reading I kept always two books in my pocket, one to read, one to write in.
boyhood
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I All through my boyhood and youth, I was known and pointed out for the pattern of an idler; and yet I was always busy on my own private end, which was to learn to write.
busy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I All through my boyhood and youth, I was known and pointed out for the pattern of an idler; and yet I was always busy on my own private end, which was to learn to write.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading As I walked, my mind was busy fitting what I saw with appropriate words; when I sat by the roadside, I would either read, or a pencil and a penny version-book would be in my hand, to note down the features of the scene or commemorate some halting stanzas.
commemorate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As I walked, my mind was busy fitting what I saw with appropriate words; when I sat by the roadside, I would either read, or a pencil and a penny version-book would be in my hand, to note down the features of the scene or commemorate some halting stanzas.
consciously
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From this reading And what I thus wrote was for no ulterior use, it was written consciously for practice.
down
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From this reading As I walked, my mind was busy fitting what I saw with appropriate words; when I sat by the roadside, I would either read, or a pencil and a penny version-book would be in my hand, to note down the features of the scene or commemorate some halting stanzas.
eitherdeterminerUS /ˈiːðər/
one or the other of two
From this reading As I walked, my mind was busy fitting what I saw with appropriate words; when I sat by the roadside, I would either read, or a pencil and a penny version-book would be in my hand, to note down the features of the scene or commemorate some halting stanzas.
end
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I All through my boyhood and youth, I was known and pointed out for the pattern of an idler; and yet I was always busy on my own private end, which was to learn to write.
features
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As I walked, my mind was busy fitting what I saw with appropriate words; when I sat by the roadside, I would either read, or a pencil and a penny version-book would be in my hand, to note down the features of the scene or commemorate some halting stanzas.
fitting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As I walked, my mind was busy fitting what I saw with appropriate words; when I sat by the roadside, I would either read, or a pencil and a penny version-book would be in my hand, to note down the features of the scene or commemorate some halting stanzas.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading I All through my boyhood and youth, I was known and pointed out for the pattern of an idler; and yet I was always busy on my own private end, which was to learn to write.
halting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As I walked, my mind was busy fitting what I saw with appropriate words; when I sat by the roadside, I would either read, or a pencil and a penny version-book would be in my hand, to note down the features of the scene or commemorate some halting stanzas.
hand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As I walked, my mind was busy fitting what I saw with appropriate words; when I sat by the roadside, I would either read, or a pencil and a penny version-book would be in my hand, to note down the features of the scene or commemorate some halting stanzas.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I All through my boyhood and youth, I was known and pointed out for the pattern of an idler; and yet I was always busy on my own private end, which was to learn to write.
idler
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I All through my boyhood and youth, I was known and pointed out for the pattern of an idler; and yet I was always busy on my own private end, which was to learn to write.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I kept always two books in my pocket, one to read, one to write in.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading And what I thus wrote was for no ulterior use, it was written consciously for practice.
kept
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I kept always two books in my pocket, one to read, one to write in.
known
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I All through my boyhood and youth, I was known and pointed out for the pattern of an idler; and yet I was always busy on my own private end, which was to learn to write.
learn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I All through my boyhood and youth, I was known and pointed out for the pattern of an idler; and yet I was always busy on my own private end, which was to learn to write.
lived
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thus I lived with words.
mindnounUS /mind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading As I walked, my mind was busy fitting what I saw with appropriate words; when I sat by the roadside, I would either read, or a pencil and a penny version-book would be in my hand, to note down the features of the scene or commemorate some halting stanzas.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I All through my boyhood and youth, I was known and pointed out for the pattern of an idler; and yet I was always busy on my own private end, which was to learn to write.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading And what I thus wrote was for no ulterior use, it was written consciously for practice.
note
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As I walked, my mind was busy fitting what I saw with appropriate words; when I sat by the roadside, I would either read, or a pencil and a penny version-book would be in my hand, to note down the features of the scene or commemorate some halting stanzas.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I All through my boyhood and youth, I was known and pointed out for the pattern of an idler; and yet I was always busy on my own private end, which was to learn to write.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading I All through my boyhood and youth, I was known and pointed out for the pattern of an idler; and yet I was always busy on my own private end, which was to learn to write.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading I kept always two books in my pocket, one to read, one to write in.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading As I walked, my mind was busy fitting what I saw with appropriate words; when I sat by the roadside, I would either read, or a pencil and a penny version-book would be in my hand, to note down the features of the scene or commemorate some halting stanzas.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I All through my boyhood and youth, I was known and pointed out for the pattern of an idler; and yet I was always busy on my own private end, which was to learn to write.
own
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I All through my boyhood and youth, I was known and pointed out for the pattern of an idler; and yet I was always busy on my own private end, which was to learn to write.
pattern
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I All through my boyhood and youth, I was known and pointed out for the pattern of an idler; and yet I was always busy on my own private end, which was to learn to write.
pencil
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As I walked, my mind was busy fitting what I saw with appropriate words; when I sat by the roadside, I would either read, or a pencil and a penny version-book would be in my hand, to note down the features of the scene or commemorate some halting stanzas.
penny
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As I walked, my mind was busy fitting what I saw with appropriate words; when I sat by the roadside, I would either read, or a pencil and a penny version-book would be in my hand, to note down the features of the scene or commemorate some halting stanzas.
pocket
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I kept always two books in my pocket, one to read, one to write in.
pointed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I All through my boyhood and youth, I was known and pointed out for the pattern of an idler; and yet I was always busy on my own private end, which was to learn to write.
practice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And what I thus wrote was for no ulterior use, it was written consciously for practice.
private
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I All through my boyhood and youth, I was known and pointed out for the pattern of an idler; and yet I was always busy on my own private end, which was to learn to write.
read
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I kept always two books in my pocket, one to read, one to write in.
roadside
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As I walked, my mind was busy fitting what I saw with appropriate words; when I sat by the roadside, I would either read, or a pencil and a penny version-book would be in my hand, to note down the features of the scene or commemorate some halting stanzas.
sat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As I walked, my mind was busy fitting what I saw with appropriate words; when I sat by the roadside, I would either read, or a pencil and a penny version-book would be in my hand, to note down the features of the scene or commemorate some halting stanzas.
saw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As I walked, my mind was busy fitting what I saw with appropriate words; when I sat by the roadside, I would either read, or a pencil and a penny version-book would be in my hand, to note down the features of the scene or commemorate some halting stanzas.
scene
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As I walked, my mind was busy fitting what I saw with appropriate words; when I sat by the roadside, I would either read, or a pencil and a penny version-book would be in my hand, to note down the features of the scene or commemorate some halting stanzas.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As I walked, my mind was busy fitting what I saw with appropriate words; when I sat by the roadside, I would either read, or a pencil and a penny version-book would be in my hand, to note down the features of the scene or commemorate some halting stanzas.
stanzas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As I walked, my mind was busy fitting what I saw with appropriate words; when I sat by the roadside, I would either read, or a pencil and a penny version-book would be in my hand, to note down the features of the scene or commemorate some halting stanzas.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I All through my boyhood and youth, I was known and pointed out for the pattern of an idler; and yet I was always busy on my own private end, which was to learn to write.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading I All through my boyhood and youth, I was known and pointed out for the pattern of an idler; and yet I was always busy on my own private end, which was to learn to write.
Thus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thus I lived with words.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I All through my boyhood and youth, I was known and pointed out for the pattern of an idler; and yet I was always busy on my own private end, which was to learn to write.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I kept always two books in my pocket, one to read, one to write in.
ulterior
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And what I thus wrote was for no ulterior use, it was written consciously for practice.
use
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And what I thus wrote was for no ulterior use, it was written consciously for practice.
version-book
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As I walked, my mind was busy fitting what I saw with appropriate words; when I sat by the roadside, I would either read, or a pencil and a penny version-book would be in my hand, to note down the features of the scene or commemorate some halting stanzas.
walked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As I walked, my mind was busy fitting what I saw with appropriate words; when I sat by the roadside, I would either read, or a pencil and a penny version-book would be in my hand, to note down the features of the scene or commemorate some halting stanzas.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I All through my boyhood and youth, I was known and pointed out for the pattern of an idler; and yet I was always busy on my own private end, which was to learn to write.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading As I walked, my mind was busy fitting what I saw with appropriate words; when I sat by the roadside, I would either read, or a pencil and a penny version-book would be in my hand, to note down the features of the scene or commemorate some halting stanzas.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading As I walked, my mind was busy fitting what I saw with appropriate words; when I sat by the roadside, I would either read, or a pencil and a penny version-book would be in my hand, to note down the features of the scene or commemorate some halting stanzas.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading I All through my boyhood and youth, I was known and pointed out for the pattern of an idler; and yet I was always busy on my own private end, which was to learn to write.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading As I walked, my mind was busy fitting what I saw with appropriate words; when I sat by the roadside, I would either read, or a pencil and a penny version-book would be in my hand, to note down the features of the scene or commemorate some halting stanzas.
words
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As I walked, my mind was busy fitting what I saw with appropriate words; when I sat by the roadside, I would either read, or a pencil and a penny version-book would be in my hand, to note down the features of the scene or commemorate some halting stanzas.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading As I walked, my mind was busy fitting what I saw with appropriate words; when I sat by the roadside, I would either read, or a pencil and a penny version-book would be in my hand, to note down the features of the scene or commemorate some halting stanzas.
write
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I All through my boyhood and youth, I was known and pointed out for the pattern of an idler; and yet I was always busy on my own private end, which was to learn to write.
written
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And what I thus wrote was for no ulterior use, it was written consciously for practice.
wrote
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And what I thus wrote was for no ulterior use, it was written consciously for practice.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading I All through my boyhood and youth, I was known and pointed out for the pattern of an idler; and yet I was always busy on my own private end, which was to learn to write.
youth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I All through my boyhood and youth, I was known and pointed out for the pattern of an idler; and yet I was always busy on my own private end, which was to learn to write.
