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 Our ghost used to heave deep sighs in a particular corner of the parlor, and sometimes rustled paper, as if he were turning over a sermon in the long upper entry,—where nevertheless he was invisible, in spite of the bright moonshine that fell through the eastern window.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Once, while Hillard and other friends sat talking with us in the twilight, there came a rustling noise as of a minister’s silk gown, sweeping through the very midst of the company, so closely as almost to brush against the chairs.
alluding
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From this reading Houses of any antiquity in New England are so invariably possessed with spirits that the matter seems hardly worth alluding to.
almost
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From this reading Once, while Hillard and other friends sat talking with us in the twilight, there came a rustling noise as of a minister’s silk gown, sweeping through the very midst of the company, so closely as almost to brush against the chairs.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Our ghost used to heave deep sighs in a particular corner of the parlor, and sometimes rustled paper, as if he were turning over a sermon in the long upper entry,—where nevertheless he was invisible, in spite of the bright moonshine that fell through the eastern window.
antiquity
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From this reading Houses of any antiquity in New England are so invariably possessed with spirits that the matter seems hardly worth alluding to.
any
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From this reading Houses of any antiquity in New England are so invariably possessed with spirits that the matter seems hardly worth alluding to.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Houses of any antiquity in New England are so invariably possessed with spirits that the matter seems hardly worth alluding to.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Our ghost used to heave deep sighs in a particular corner of the parlor, and sometimes rustled paper, as if he were turning over a sermon in the long upper entry,—where nevertheless he was invisible, in spite of the bright moonshine that fell through the eastern window.
bright
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From this reading Our ghost used to heave deep sighs in a particular corner of the parlor, and sometimes rustled paper, as if he were turning over a sermon in the long upper entry,—where nevertheless he was invisible, in spite of the bright moonshine that fell through the eastern window.
brush
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From this reading Once, while Hillard and other friends sat talking with us in the twilight, there came a rustling noise as of a minister’s silk gown, sweeping through the very midst of the company, so closely as almost to brush against the chairs.
came
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From this reading Once, while Hillard and other friends sat talking with us in the twilight, there came a rustling noise as of a minister’s silk gown, sweeping through the very midst of the company, so closely as almost to brush against the chairs.
chairs
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From this reading Once, while Hillard and other friends sat talking with us in the twilight, there came a rustling noise as of a minister’s silk gown, sweeping through the very midst of the company, so closely as almost to brush against the chairs.
chest
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From this reading Not improbably he wished me to edit and publish a selection from a chest full of manuscript discourses that stood in the garret.
closely
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From this reading Once, while Hillard and other friends sat talking with us in the twilight, there came a rustling noise as of a minister’s silk gown, sweeping through the very midst of the company, so closely as almost to brush against the chairs.
company
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From this reading Once, while Hillard and other friends sat talking with us in the twilight, there came a rustling noise as of a minister’s silk gown, sweeping through the very midst of the company, so closely as almost to brush against the chairs.
corner
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From this reading Our ghost used to heave deep sighs in a particular corner of the parlor, and sometimes rustled paper, as if he were turning over a sermon in the long upper entry,—where nevertheless he was invisible, in spite of the bright moonshine that fell through the eastern window.
deep
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From this reading Our ghost used to heave deep sighs in a particular corner of the parlor, and sometimes rustled paper, as if he were turning over a sermon in the long upper entry,—where nevertheless he was invisible, in spite of the bright moonshine that fell through the eastern window.
discourses
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From this reading Not improbably he wished me to edit and publish a selection from a chest full of manuscript discourses that stood in the garret.
eastern
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From this reading Our ghost used to heave deep sighs in a particular corner of the parlor, and sometimes rustled paper, as if he were turning over a sermon in the long upper entry,—where nevertheless he was invisible, in spite of the bright moonshine that fell through the eastern window.
edit
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From this reading Not improbably he wished me to edit and publish a selection from a chest full of manuscript discourses that stood in the garret.
England
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Houses of any antiquity in New England are so invariably possessed with spirits that the matter seems hardly worth alluding to.
entry
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From this reading Our ghost used to heave deep sighs in a particular corner of the parlor, and sometimes rustled paper, as if he were turning over a sermon in the long upper entry,—where nevertheless he was invisible, in spite of the bright moonshine that fell through the eastern window.
fell
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From this reading Our ghost used to heave deep sighs in a particular corner of the parlor, and sometimes rustled paper, as if he were turning over a sermon in the long upper entry,—where nevertheless he was invisible, in spite of the bright moonshine that fell through the eastern window.
friends
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From this reading Once, while Hillard and other friends sat talking with us in the twilight, there came a rustling noise as of a minister’s silk gown, sweeping through the very midst of the company, so closely as almost to brush against the chairs.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Not improbably he wished me to edit and publish a selection from a chest full of manuscript discourses that stood in the garret.
full
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From this reading Not improbably he wished me to edit and publish a selection from a chest full of manuscript discourses that stood in the garret.
garret
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From this reading Not improbably he wished me to edit and publish a selection from a chest full of manuscript discourses that stood in the garret.
ghost
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From this reading Our ghost used to heave deep sighs in a particular corner of the parlor, and sometimes rustled paper, as if he were turning over a sermon in the long upper entry,—where nevertheless he was invisible, in spite of the bright moonshine that fell through the eastern window.
gown
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From this reading Once, while Hillard and other friends sat talking with us in the twilight, there came a rustling noise as of a minister’s silk gown, sweeping through the very midst of the company, so closely as almost to brush against the chairs.
hardly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Houses of any antiquity in New England are so invariably possessed with spirits that the matter seems hardly worth alluding to.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Our ghost used to heave deep sighs in a particular corner of the parlor, and sometimes rustled paper, as if he were turning over a sermon in the long upper entry,—where nevertheless he was invisible, in spite of the bright moonshine that fell through the eastern window.
heave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Our ghost used to heave deep sighs in a particular corner of the parlor, and sometimes rustled paper, as if he were turning over a sermon in the long upper entry,—where nevertheless he was invisible, in spite of the bright moonshine that fell through the eastern window.
Hillard
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From this reading Once, while Hillard and other friends sat talking with us in the twilight, there came a rustling noise as of a minister’s silk gown, sweeping through the very midst of the company, so closely as almost to brush against the chairs.
Houses
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From this reading Houses of any antiquity in New England are so invariably possessed with spirits that the matter seems hardly worth alluding to.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Our ghost used to heave deep sighs in a particular corner of the parlor, and sometimes rustled paper, as if he were turning over a sermon in the long upper entry,—where nevertheless he was invisible, in spite of the bright moonshine that fell through the eastern window.
improbably
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not improbably he wished me to edit and publish a selection from a chest full of manuscript discourses that stood in the garret.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Houses of any antiquity in New England are so invariably possessed with spirits that the matter seems hardly worth alluding to.
invariably
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Houses of any antiquity in New England are so invariably possessed with spirits that the matter seems hardly worth alluding to.
invisible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Our ghost used to heave deep sighs in a particular corner of the parlor, and sometimes rustled paper, as if he were turning over a sermon in the long upper entry,—where nevertheless he was invisible, in spite of the bright moonshine that fell through the eastern window.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Our ghost used to heave deep sighs in a particular corner of the parlor, and sometimes rustled paper, as if he were turning over a sermon in the long upper entry,—where nevertheless he was invisible, in spite of the bright moonshine that fell through the eastern window.
manuscriptnounUS /ˈmæn.jə.skrɪpt/
A book, document, or piece of music written by hand rather than typed or printed.
From this reading Not improbably he wished me to edit and publish a selection from a chest full of manuscript discourses that stood in the garret.
matter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Houses of any antiquity in New England are so invariably possessed with spirits that the matter seems hardly worth alluding to.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Not improbably he wished me to edit and publish a selection from a chest full of manuscript discourses that stood in the garret.
midst
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once, while Hillard and other friends sat talking with us in the twilight, there came a rustling noise as of a minister’s silk gown, sweeping through the very midst of the company, so closely as almost to brush against the chairs.
minister's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once, while Hillard and other friends sat talking with us in the twilight, there came a rustling noise as of a minister’s silk gown, sweeping through the very midst of the company, so closely as almost to brush against the chairs.
moonshine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Our ghost used to heave deep sighs in a particular corner of the parlor, and sometimes rustled paper, as if he were turning over a sermon in the long upper entry,—where nevertheless he was invisible, in spite of the bright moonshine that fell through the eastern window.
neverthelessadverbUS /ˌnevərðəˈles/
in spite of what has just been said
From this reading Our ghost used to heave deep sighs in a particular corner of the parlor, and sometimes rustled paper, as if he were turning over a sermon in the long upper entry,—where nevertheless he was invisible, in spite of the bright moonshine that fell through the eastern window.
New
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Houses of any antiquity in New England are so invariably possessed with spirits that the matter seems hardly worth alluding to.
noise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once, while Hillard and other friends sat talking with us in the twilight, there came a rustling noise as of a minister’s silk gown, sweeping through the very midst of the company, so closely as almost to brush against the chairs.
NotadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Not improbably he wished me to edit and publish a selection from a chest full of manuscript discourses that stood in the garret.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Still there was nothing visible.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Houses of any antiquity in New England are so invariably possessed with spirits that the matter seems hardly worth alluding to.
Once
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once, while Hillard and other friends sat talking with us in the twilight, there came a rustling noise as of a minister’s silk gown, sweeping through the very midst of the company, so closely as almost to brush against the chairs.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once, while Hillard and other friends sat talking with us in the twilight, there came a rustling noise as of a minister’s silk gown, sweeping through the very midst of the company, so closely as almost to brush against the chairs.
OurdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Our ghost used to heave deep sighs in a particular corner of the parlor, and sometimes rustled paper, as if he were turning over a sermon in the long upper entry,—where nevertheless he was invisible, in spite of the bright moonshine that fell through the eastern window.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Our ghost used to heave deep sighs in a particular corner of the parlor, and sometimes rustled paper, as if he were turning over a sermon in the long upper entry,—where nevertheless he was invisible, in spite of the bright moonshine that fell through the eastern window.
paper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Our ghost used to heave deep sighs in a particular corner of the parlor, and sometimes rustled paper, as if he were turning over a sermon in the long upper entry,—where nevertheless he was invisible, in spite of the bright moonshine that fell through the eastern window.
parlornounUS /ˈpɑːrlər/
an old-fashioned sitting room
From this reading Our ghost used to heave deep sighs in a particular corner of the parlor, and sometimes rustled paper, as if he were turning over a sermon in the long upper entry,—where nevertheless he was invisible, in spite of the bright moonshine that fell through the eastern window.
particular
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Our ghost used to heave deep sighs in a particular corner of the parlor, and sometimes rustled paper, as if he were turning over a sermon in the long upper entry,—where nevertheless he was invisible, in spite of the bright moonshine that fell through the eastern window.
possessed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Houses of any antiquity in New England are so invariably possessed with spirits that the matter seems hardly worth alluding to.
publish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not improbably he wished me to edit and publish a selection from a chest full of manuscript discourses that stood in the garret.
rustled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Our ghost used to heave deep sighs in a particular corner of the parlor, and sometimes rustled paper, as if he were turning over a sermon in the long upper entry,—where nevertheless he was invisible, in spite of the bright moonshine that fell through the eastern window.
rustling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once, while Hillard and other friends sat talking with us in the twilight, there came a rustling noise as of a minister’s silk gown, sweeping through the very midst of the company, so closely as almost to brush against the chairs.
sat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once, while Hillard and other friends sat talking with us in the twilight, there came a rustling noise as of a minister’s silk gown, sweeping through the very midst of the company, so closely as almost to brush against the chairs.
seems
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From this reading Houses of any antiquity in New England are so invariably possessed with spirits that the matter seems hardly worth alluding to.
selection
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not improbably he wished me to edit and publish a selection from a chest full of manuscript discourses that stood in the garret.
sermon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Our ghost used to heave deep sighs in a particular corner of the parlor, and sometimes rustled paper, as if he were turning over a sermon in the long upper entry,—where nevertheless he was invisible, in spite of the bright moonshine that fell through the eastern window.
sighs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Our ghost used to heave deep sighs in a particular corner of the parlor, and sometimes rustled paper, as if he were turning over a sermon in the long upper entry,—where nevertheless he was invisible, in spite of the bright moonshine that fell through the eastern window.
silk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once, while Hillard and other friends sat talking with us in the twilight, there came a rustling noise as of a minister’s silk gown, sweeping through the very midst of the company, so closely as almost to brush against the chairs.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Houses of any antiquity in New England are so invariably possessed with spirits that the matter seems hardly worth alluding to.
sometimes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Our ghost used to heave deep sighs in a particular corner of the parlor, and sometimes rustled paper, as if he were turning over a sermon in the long upper entry,—where nevertheless he was invisible, in spite of the bright moonshine that fell through the eastern window.
spirits
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Houses of any antiquity in New England are so invariably possessed with spirits that the matter seems hardly worth alluding to.
spite
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Our ghost used to heave deep sighs in a particular corner of the parlor, and sometimes rustled paper, as if he were turning over a sermon in the long upper entry,—where nevertheless he was invisible, in spite of the bright moonshine that fell through the eastern window.
StillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Still there was nothing visible.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Not improbably he wished me to edit and publish a selection from a chest full of manuscript discourses that stood in the garret.
sweeping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once, while Hillard and other friends sat talking with us in the twilight, there came a rustling noise as of a minister’s silk gown, sweeping through the very midst of the company, so closely as almost to brush against the chairs.
talking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once, while Hillard and other friends sat talking with us in the twilight, there came a rustling noise as of a minister’s silk gown, sweeping through the very midst of the company, so closely as almost to brush against the chairs.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Houses of any antiquity in New England are so invariably possessed with spirits that the matter seems hardly worth alluding to.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Houses of any antiquity in New England are so invariably possessed with spirits that the matter seems hardly worth alluding to.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once, while Hillard and other friends sat talking with us in the twilight, there came a rustling noise as of a minister’s silk gown, sweeping through the very midst of the company, so closely as almost to brush against the chairs.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Our ghost used to heave deep sighs in a particular corner of the parlor, and sometimes rustled paper, as if he were turning over a sermon in the long upper entry,—where nevertheless he was invisible, in spite of the bright moonshine that fell through the eastern window.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Houses of any antiquity in New England are so invariably possessed with spirits that the matter seems hardly worth alluding to.
turning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Our ghost used to heave deep sighs in a particular corner of the parlor, and sometimes rustled paper, as if he were turning over a sermon in the long upper entry,—where nevertheless he was invisible, in spite of the bright moonshine that fell through the eastern window.
twilightnounUS /ˈtwaɪlaɪt/
the dim light before night or sunrise
From this reading Once, while Hillard and other friends sat talking with us in the twilight, there came a rustling noise as of a minister’s silk gown, sweeping through the very midst of the company, so closely as almost to brush against the chairs.
upper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Our ghost used to heave deep sighs in a particular corner of the parlor, and sometimes rustled paper, as if he were turning over a sermon in the long upper entry,—where nevertheless he was invisible, in spite of the bright moonshine that fell through the eastern window.
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Once, while Hillard and other friends sat talking with us in the twilight, there came a rustling noise as of a minister’s silk gown, sweeping through the very midst of the company, so closely as almost to brush against the chairs.
used
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Our ghost used to heave deep sighs in a particular corner of the parlor, and sometimes rustled paper, as if he were turning over a sermon in the long upper entry,—where nevertheless he was invisible, in spite of the bright moonshine that fell through the eastern window.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once, while Hillard and other friends sat talking with us in the twilight, there came a rustling noise as of a minister’s silk gown, sweeping through the very midst of the company, so closely as almost to brush against the chairs.
visible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Still there was nothing visible.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Our ghost used to heave deep sighs in a particular corner of the parlor, and sometimes rustled paper, as if he were turning over a sermon in the long upper entry,—where nevertheless he was invisible, in spite of the bright moonshine that fell through the eastern window.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Our ghost used to heave deep sighs in a particular corner of the parlor, and sometimes rustled paper, as if he were turning over a sermon in the long upper entry,—where nevertheless he was invisible, in spite of the bright moonshine that fell through the eastern window.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading Our ghost used to heave deep sighs in a particular corner of the parlor, and sometimes rustled paper, as if he were turning over a sermon in the long upper entry,—where nevertheless he was invisible, in spite of the bright moonshine that fell through the eastern window.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Once, while Hillard and other friends sat talking with us in the twilight, there came a rustling noise as of a minister’s silk gown, sweeping through the very midst of the company, so closely as almost to brush against the chairs.
window
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Our ghost used to heave deep sighs in a particular corner of the parlor, and sometimes rustled paper, as if he were turning over a sermon in the long upper entry,—where nevertheless he was invisible, in spite of the bright moonshine that fell through the eastern window.
wished
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not improbably he wished me to edit and publish a selection from a chest full of manuscript discourses that stood in the garret.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Houses of any antiquity in New England are so invariably possessed with spirits that the matter seems hardly worth alluding to.
worth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Houses of any antiquity in New England are so invariably possessed with spirits that the matter seems hardly worth alluding to.
