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Pharos, The Egyptian: A Romance
Pharos, The Egyptian: A Romance

Chapter V

Cover illustration for Pharos, The Egyptian: A Romance
Context Illustration Reading 1/62 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
When I came to myself again it was already morning.
In a small square behind the studio the sparrows were discussing the prospects of breakfast, though as yet that earliest of all birds, the milkman, had not begun to make his presence known in the streets.
Of all the hours of the day there is not one, to my thinking, so lonely and so full of dreariness as that which immediately precedes and ushers in the dawn; while, of all the experiences of our human life, there is, perhaps, not one more unpleasant than to awake from sleep at such an hour to find that one has passed the entire night in one's clothes and seated in a most comfortable armchair.
That was my lot on this occasion.
On opening my eyes I looked around me with a puzzled air.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Pharos, The Egyptian: A Romance

Chapter V

Reading 1/62 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
When I came to myself again it was already morning.
Line 2
In a small square behind the studio the sparrows were discussing the prospects of breakfast, though as yet that earliest of all birds, the milkman, had not begun to make his presence known in the streets.
Line 3
Of all the hours of the day there is not one, to my thinking, so lonely and so full of dreariness as that which immediately precedes and ushers in the dawn; while, of all the experiences of our human life, there is, perhaps, not one more unpleasant than to awake from sleep at such an hour to find that one has passed the entire night in one's clothes and seated in a most comfortable armchair.
Line 4
That was my lot on this occasion.
Line 5
On opening my eyes I looked around me with a puzzled air.

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

Again noun US /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “When I came to myself again it was already morning.”

Already noun US /already/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “When I came to myself again it was already morning.”

Around preposition US /ərˈaʊnd/

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading “On opening my eyes I looked around me with a puzzled air.”

Behind preposition US /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading “In a small square behind the studio the sparrows were discussing the prospects of breakfast, though as yet that earliest of all birds, the milkman, had not begun to make his presence known in the streets.”

Has auxiliary verb US /hæz/

the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading “Of all the hours of the day there is not one, to my thinking, so lonely and so full of dreariness as that which immediately precedes and ushers in the dawn; while, of all the experiences of our human life, there is, perhaps, not one more unpleasant than to awake from sleep at such an hour to find that one has passed the entire night in one's clothes and seated in a most comfortable armchair.”

Life noun US /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Of all the hours of the day there is not one, to my thinking, so lonely and so full of dreariness as that which immediately precedes and ushers in the dawn; while, of all the experiences of our human life, there is, perhaps, not one more unpleasant than to awake from sleep at such an hour to find that one has passed the entire night in one's clothes and seated in a most comfortable armchair.”

Looked noun US /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “On opening my eyes I looked around me with a puzzled air.”

Make noun US /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “In a small square behind the studio the sparrows were discussing the prospects of breakfast, though as yet that earliest of all birds, the milkman, had not begun to make his presence known in the streets.”

Morning noun US /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “When I came to myself again it was already morning.”

Myself pronoun US /ˌmaɪˈself/

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading “When I came to myself again it was already morning.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “Of all the hours of the day there is not one, to my thinking, so lonely and so full of dreariness as that which immediately precedes and ushers in the dawn; while, of all the experiences of our human life, there is, perhaps, not one more unpleasant than to awake from sleep at such an hour to find that one has passed the entire night in one's clothes and seated in a most comfortable armchair.”

Passed noun US /passed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Of all the hours of the day there is not one, to my thinking, so lonely and so full of dreariness as that which immediately precedes and ushers in the dawn; while, of all the experiences of our human life, there is, perhaps, not one more unpleasant than to awake from sleep at such an hour to find that one has passed the entire night in one's clothes and seated in a most comfortable armchair.”

Perhaps noun US /perhaps/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Of all the hours of the day there is not one, to my thinking, so lonely and so full of dreariness as that which immediately precedes and ushers in the dawn; while, of all the experiences of our human life, there is, perhaps, not one more unpleasant than to awake from sleep at such an hour to find that one has passed the entire night in one's clothes and seated in a most comfortable armchair.”

Thinking noun US /thinking/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Of all the hours of the day there is not one, to my thinking, so lonely and so full of dreariness as that which immediately precedes and ushers in the dawn; while, of all the experiences of our human life, there is, perhaps, not one more unpleasant than to awake from sleep at such an hour to find that one has passed the entire night in one's clothes and seated in a most comfortable armchair.”

Though conjunction US /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “In a small square behind the studio the sparrows were discussing the prospects of breakfast, though as yet that earliest of all birds, the milkman, had not begun to make his presence known in the streets.”

While conjunction US /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading “Of all the hours of the day there is not one, to my thinking, so lonely and so full of dreariness as that which immediately precedes and ushers in the dawn; while, of all the experiences of our human life, there is, perhaps, not one more unpleasant than to awake from sleep at such an hour to find that one has passed the entire night in one's clothes and seated in a most comfortable armchair.”

Yet conjunction US /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading “In a small square behind the studio the sparrows were discussing the prospects of breakfast, though as yet that earliest of all birds, the milkman, had not begun to make his presence known in the streets.”

All words in this reading · 95

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 In a small square behind the studio the sparrows were discussing the prospects of breakfast, though as yet that earliest of all birds, the milkman, had not begun to make his presence known in the streets.

againnounUS /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading When I came to myself again it was already morning.

air

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading On opening my eyes I looked around me with a puzzled air.

all

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In a small square behind the studio the sparrows were discussing the prospects of breakfast, though as yet that earliest of all birds, the milkman, had not begun to make his presence known in the streets.

alreadynounUS /already/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading When I came to myself again it was already morning.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading Of all the hours of the day there is not one, to my thinking, so lonely and so full of dreariness as that which immediately precedes and ushers in the dawn; while, of all the experiences of our human life, there is, perhaps, not one more unpleasant than to awake from sleep at such an hour to find that one has passed the entire night in one's clothes and seated in a most comfortable armchair.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading Of all the hours of the day there is not one, to my thinking, so lonely and so full of dreariness as that which immediately precedes and ushers in the dawn; while, of all the experiences of our human life, there is, perhaps, not one more unpleasant than to awake from sleep at such an hour to find that one has passed the entire night in one's clothes and seated in a most comfortable armchair.

armchair

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Of all the hours of the day there is not one, to my thinking, so lonely and so full of dreariness as that which immediately precedes and ushers in the dawn; while, of all the experiences of our human life, there is, perhaps, not one more unpleasant than to awake from sleep at such an hour to find that one has passed the entire night in one's clothes and seated in a most comfortable armchair.

aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading On opening my eyes I looked around me with a puzzled air.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading In a small square behind the studio the sparrows were discussing the prospects of breakfast, though as yet that earliest of all birds, the milkman, had not begun to make his presence known in the streets.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Of all the hours of the day there is not one, to my thinking, so lonely and so full of dreariness as that which immediately precedes and ushers in the dawn; while, of all the experiences of our human life, there is, perhaps, not one more unpleasant than to awake from sleep at such an hour to find that one has passed the entire night in one's clothes and seated in a most comfortable armchair.

awake

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Of all the hours of the day there is not one, to my thinking, so lonely and so full of dreariness as that which immediately precedes and ushers in the dawn; while, of all the experiences of our human life, there is, perhaps, not one more unpleasant than to awake from sleep at such an hour to find that one has passed the entire night in one's clothes and seated in a most comfortable armchair.

begun

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In a small square behind the studio the sparrows were discussing the prospects of breakfast, though as yet that earliest of all birds, the milkman, had not begun to make his presence known in the streets.

behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading In a small square behind the studio the sparrows were discussing the prospects of breakfast, though as yet that earliest of all birds, the milkman, had not begun to make his presence known in the streets.

birds

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In a small square behind the studio the sparrows were discussing the prospects of breakfast, though as yet that earliest of all birds, the milkman, had not begun to make his presence known in the streets.

breakfast

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In a small square behind the studio the sparrows were discussing the prospects of breakfast, though as yet that earliest of all birds, the milkman, had not begun to make his presence known in the streets.

came

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading When I came to myself again it was already morning.

clothes

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Of all the hours of the day there is not one, to my thinking, so lonely and so full of dreariness as that which immediately precedes and ushers in the dawn; while, of all the experiences of our human life, there is, perhaps, not one more unpleasant than to awake from sleep at such an hour to find that one has passed the entire night in one's clothes and seated in a most comfortable armchair.

comfortable

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Of all the hours of the day there is not one, to my thinking, so lonely and so full of dreariness as that which immediately precedes and ushers in the dawn; while, of all the experiences of our human life, there is, perhaps, not one more unpleasant than to awake from sleep at such an hour to find that one has passed the entire night in one's clothes and seated in a most comfortable armchair.

dawn

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Of all the hours of the day there is not one, to my thinking, so lonely and so full of dreariness as that which immediately precedes and ushers in the dawn; while, of all the experiences of our human life, there is, perhaps, not one more unpleasant than to awake from sleep at such an hour to find that one has passed the entire night in one's clothes and seated in a most comfortable armchair.

day

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Of all the hours of the day there is not one, to my thinking, so lonely and so full of dreariness as that which immediately precedes and ushers in the dawn; while, of all the experiences of our human life, there is, perhaps, not one more unpleasant than to awake from sleep at such an hour to find that one has passed the entire night in one's clothes and seated in a most comfortable armchair.

discussing

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In a small square behind the studio the sparrows were discussing the prospects of breakfast, though as yet that earliest of all birds, the milkman, had not begun to make his presence known in the streets.

dreariness

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Of all the hours of the day there is not one, to my thinking, so lonely and so full of dreariness as that which immediately precedes and ushers in the dawn; while, of all the experiences of our human life, there is, perhaps, not one more unpleasant than to awake from sleep at such an hour to find that one has passed the entire night in one's clothes and seated in a most comfortable armchair.

earliest

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In a small square behind the studio the sparrows were discussing the prospects of breakfast, though as yet that earliest of all birds, the milkman, had not begun to make his presence known in the streets.

entire

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Of all the hours of the day there is not one, to my thinking, so lonely and so full of dreariness as that which immediately precedes and ushers in the dawn; while, of all the experiences of our human life, there is, perhaps, not one more unpleasant than to awake from sleep at such an hour to find that one has passed the entire night in one's clothes and seated in a most comfortable armchair.

experiences

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Of all the hours of the day there is not one, to my thinking, so lonely and so full of dreariness as that which immediately precedes and ushers in the dawn; while, of all the experiences of our human life, there is, perhaps, not one more unpleasant than to awake from sleep at such an hour to find that one has passed the entire night in one's clothes and seated in a most comfortable armchair.

eyes

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading On opening my eyes I looked around me with a puzzled air.

find

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Of all the hours of the day there is not one, to my thinking, so lonely and so full of dreariness as that which immediately precedes and ushers in the dawn; while, of all the experiences of our human life, there is, perhaps, not one more unpleasant than to awake from sleep at such an hour to find that one has passed the entire night in one's clothes and seated in a most comfortable armchair.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Of all the hours of the day there is not one, to my thinking, so lonely and so full of dreariness as that which immediately precedes and ushers in the dawn; while, of all the experiences of our human life, there is, perhaps, not one more unpleasant than to awake from sleep at such an hour to find that one has passed the entire night in one's clothes and seated in a most comfortable armchair.

full

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Of all the hours of the day there is not one, to my thinking, so lonely and so full of dreariness as that which immediately precedes and ushers in the dawn; while, of all the experiences of our human life, there is, perhaps, not one more unpleasant than to awake from sleep at such an hour to find that one has passed the entire night in one's clothes and seated in a most comfortable armchair.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading In a small square behind the studio the sparrows were discussing the prospects of breakfast, though as yet that earliest of all birds, the milkman, had not begun to make his presence known in the streets.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading Of all the hours of the day there is not one, to my thinking, so lonely and so full of dreariness as that which immediately precedes and ushers in the dawn; while, of all the experiences of our human life, there is, perhaps, not one more unpleasant than to awake from sleep at such an hour to find that one has passed the entire night in one's clothes and seated in a most comfortable armchair.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading In a small square behind the studio the sparrows were discussing the prospects of breakfast, though as yet that earliest of all birds, the milkman, had not begun to make his presence known in the streets.

hour

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Of all the hours of the day there is not one, to my thinking, so lonely and so full of dreariness as that which immediately precedes and ushers in the dawn; while, of all the experiences of our human life, there is, perhaps, not one more unpleasant than to awake from sleep at such an hour to find that one has passed the entire night in one's clothes and seated in a most comfortable armchair.

hours

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Of all the hours of the day there is not one, to my thinking, so lonely and so full of dreariness as that which immediately precedes and ushers in the dawn; while, of all the experiences of our human life, there is, perhaps, not one more unpleasant than to awake from sleep at such an hour to find that one has passed the entire night in one's clothes and seated in a most comfortable armchair.

human

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Of all the hours of the day there is not one, to my thinking, so lonely and so full of dreariness as that which immediately precedes and ushers in the dawn; while, of all the experiences of our human life, there is, perhaps, not one more unpleasant than to awake from sleep at such an hour to find that one has passed the entire night in one's clothes and seated in a most comfortable armchair.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading When I came to myself again it was already morning.

immediately

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Of all the hours of the day there is not one, to my thinking, so lonely and so full of dreariness as that which immediately precedes and ushers in the dawn; while, of all the experiences of our human life, there is, perhaps, not one more unpleasant than to awake from sleep at such an hour to find that one has passed the entire night in one's clothes and seated in a most comfortable armchair.

InprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading In a small square behind the studio the sparrows were discussing the prospects of breakfast, though as yet that earliest of all birds, the milkman, had not begun to make his presence known in the streets.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading Of all the hours of the day there is not one, to my thinking, so lonely and so full of dreariness as that which immediately precedes and ushers in the dawn; while, of all the experiences of our human life, there is, perhaps, not one more unpleasant than to awake from sleep at such an hour to find that one has passed the entire night in one's clothes and seated in a most comfortable armchair.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading When I came to myself again it was already morning.

known

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In a small square behind the studio the sparrows were discussing the prospects of breakfast, though as yet that earliest of all birds, the milkman, had not begun to make his presence known in the streets.

lifenounUS /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Of all the hours of the day there is not one, to my thinking, so lonely and so full of dreariness as that which immediately precedes and ushers in the dawn; while, of all the experiences of our human life, there is, perhaps, not one more unpleasant than to awake from sleep at such an hour to find that one has passed the entire night in one's clothes and seated in a most comfortable armchair.

lonely

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Of all the hours of the day there is not one, to my thinking, so lonely and so full of dreariness as that which immediately precedes and ushers in the dawn; while, of all the experiences of our human life, there is, perhaps, not one more unpleasant than to awake from sleep at such an hour to find that one has passed the entire night in one's clothes and seated in a most comfortable armchair.

lookednounUS /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading On opening my eyes I looked around me with a puzzled air.

lot

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading That was my lot on this occasion.

makenounUS /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading In a small square behind the studio the sparrows were discussing the prospects of breakfast, though as yet that earliest of all birds, the milkman, had not begun to make his presence known in the streets.

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading On opening my eyes I looked around me with a puzzled air.

milkman

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In a small square behind the studio the sparrows were discussing the prospects of breakfast, though as yet that earliest of all birds, the milkman, had not begun to make his presence known in the streets.

more

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Of all the hours of the day there is not one, to my thinking, so lonely and so full of dreariness as that which immediately precedes and ushers in the dawn; while, of all the experiences of our human life, there is, perhaps, not one more unpleasant than to awake from sleep at such an hour to find that one has passed the entire night in one's clothes and seated in a most comfortable armchair.

morningnounUS /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading When I came to myself again it was already morning.

most

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Of all the hours of the day there is not one, to my thinking, so lonely and so full of dreariness as that which immediately precedes and ushers in the dawn; while, of all the experiences of our human life, there is, perhaps, not one more unpleasant than to awake from sleep at such an hour to find that one has passed the entire night in one's clothes and seated in a most comfortable armchair.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading Of all the hours of the day there is not one, to my thinking, so lonely and so full of dreariness as that which immediately precedes and ushers in the dawn; while, of all the experiences of our human life, there is, perhaps, not one more unpleasant than to awake from sleep at such an hour to find that one has passed the entire night in one's clothes and seated in a most comfortable armchair.

myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading When I came to myself again it was already morning.

night

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Of all the hours of the day there is not one, to my thinking, so lonely and so full of dreariness as that which immediately precedes and ushers in the dawn; while, of all the experiences of our human life, there is, perhaps, not one more unpleasant than to awake from sleep at such an hour to find that one has passed the entire night in one's clothes and seated in a most comfortable armchair.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading In a small square behind the studio the sparrows were discussing the prospects of breakfast, though as yet that earliest of all birds, the milkman, had not begun to make his presence known in the streets.

occasion

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading That was my lot on this occasion.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading In a small square behind the studio the sparrows were discussing the prospects of breakfast, though as yet that earliest of all birds, the milkman, had not begun to make his presence known in the streets.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading That was my lot on this occasion.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Of all the hours of the day there is not one, to my thinking, so lonely and so full of dreariness as that which immediately precedes and ushers in the dawn; while, of all the experiences of our human life, there is, perhaps, not one more unpleasant than to awake from sleep at such an hour to find that one has passed the entire night in one's clothes and seated in a most comfortable armchair.

one's

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Of all the hours of the day there is not one, to my thinking, so lonely and so full of dreariness as that which immediately precedes and ushers in the dawn; while, of all the experiences of our human life, there is, perhaps, not one more unpleasant than to awake from sleep at such an hour to find that one has passed the entire night in one's clothes and seated in a most comfortable armchair.

opening

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading On opening my eyes I looked around me with a puzzled air.

ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading Of all the hours of the day there is not one, to my thinking, so lonely and so full of dreariness as that which immediately precedes and ushers in the dawn; while, of all the experiences of our human life, there is, perhaps, not one more unpleasant than to awake from sleep at such an hour to find that one has passed the entire night in one's clothes and seated in a most comfortable armchair.

passednounUS /passed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Of all the hours of the day there is not one, to my thinking, so lonely and so full of dreariness as that which immediately precedes and ushers in the dawn; while, of all the experiences of our human life, there is, perhaps, not one more unpleasant than to awake from sleep at such an hour to find that one has passed the entire night in one's clothes and seated in a most comfortable armchair.

perhaps

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Of all the hours of the day there is not one, to my thinking, so lonely and so full of dreariness as that which immediately precedes and ushers in the dawn; while, of all the experiences of our human life, there is, perhaps, not one more unpleasant than to awake from sleep at such an hour to find that one has passed the entire night in one's clothes and seated in a most comfortable armchair.

precedes

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Of all the hours of the day there is not one, to my thinking, so lonely and so full of dreariness as that which immediately precedes and ushers in the dawn; while, of all the experiences of our human life, there is, perhaps, not one more unpleasant than to awake from sleep at such an hour to find that one has passed the entire night in one's clothes and seated in a most comfortable armchair.

presence

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In a small square behind the studio the sparrows were discussing the prospects of breakfast, though as yet that earliest of all birds, the milkman, had not begun to make his presence known in the streets.

prospects

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In a small square behind the studio the sparrows were discussing the prospects of breakfast, though as yet that earliest of all birds, the milkman, had not begun to make his presence known in the streets.

puzzled

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading On opening my eyes I looked around me with a puzzled air.

seated

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Of all the hours of the day there is not one, to my thinking, so lonely and so full of dreariness as that which immediately precedes and ushers in the dawn; while, of all the experiences of our human life, there is, perhaps, not one more unpleasant than to awake from sleep at such an hour to find that one has passed the entire night in one's clothes and seated in a most comfortable armchair.

sleep

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Of all the hours of the day there is not one, to my thinking, so lonely and so full of dreariness as that which immediately precedes and ushers in the dawn; while, of all the experiences of our human life, there is, perhaps, not one more unpleasant than to awake from sleep at such an hour to find that one has passed the entire night in one's clothes and seated in a most comfortable armchair.

small

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In a small square behind the studio the sparrows were discussing the prospects of breakfast, though as yet that earliest of all birds, the milkman, had not begun to make his presence known in the streets.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Of all the hours of the day there is not one, to my thinking, so lonely and so full of dreariness as that which immediately precedes and ushers in the dawn; while, of all the experiences of our human life, there is, perhaps, not one more unpleasant than to awake from sleep at such an hour to find that one has passed the entire night in one's clothes and seated in a most comfortable armchair.

sparrows

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In a small square behind the studio the sparrows were discussing the prospects of breakfast, though as yet that earliest of all birds, the milkman, had not begun to make his presence known in the streets.

square

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In a small square behind the studio the sparrows were discussing the prospects of breakfast, though as yet that earliest of all birds, the milkman, had not begun to make his presence known in the streets.

streets

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In a small square behind the studio the sparrows were discussing the prospects of breakfast, though as yet that earliest of all birds, the milkman, had not begun to make his presence known in the streets.

studio

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In a small square behind the studio the sparrows were discussing the prospects of breakfast, though as yet that earliest of all birds, the milkman, had not begun to make his presence known in the streets.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading Of all the hours of the day there is not one, to my thinking, so lonely and so full of dreariness as that which immediately precedes and ushers in the dawn; while, of all the experiences of our human life, there is, perhaps, not one more unpleasant than to awake from sleep at such an hour to find that one has passed the entire night in one's clothes and seated in a most comfortable armchair.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading Of all the hours of the day there is not one, to my thinking, so lonely and so full of dreariness as that which immediately precedes and ushers in the dawn; while, of all the experiences of our human life, there is, perhaps, not one more unpleasant than to awake from sleep at such an hour to find that one has passed the entire night in one's clothes and seated in a most comfortable armchair.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading In a small square behind the studio the sparrows were discussing the prospects of breakfast, though as yet that earliest of all birds, the milkman, had not begun to make his presence known in the streets.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading In a small square behind the studio the sparrows were discussing the prospects of breakfast, though as yet that earliest of all birds, the milkman, had not begun to make his presence known in the streets.

there

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Of all the hours of the day there is not one, to my thinking, so lonely and so full of dreariness as that which immediately precedes and ushers in the dawn; while, of all the experiences of our human life, there is, perhaps, not one more unpleasant than to awake from sleep at such an hour to find that one has passed the entire night in one's clothes and seated in a most comfortable armchair.

thinkingnounUS /thinking/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Of all the hours of the day there is not one, to my thinking, so lonely and so full of dreariness as that which immediately precedes and ushers in the dawn; while, of all the experiences of our human life, there is, perhaps, not one more unpleasant than to awake from sleep at such an hour to find that one has passed the entire night in one's clothes and seated in a most comfortable armchair.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading That was my lot on this occasion.

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading In a small square behind the studio the sparrows were discussing the prospects of breakfast, though as yet that earliest of all birds, the milkman, had not begun to make his presence known in the streets.

toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading When I came to myself again it was already morning.

unpleasant

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Of all the hours of the day there is not one, to my thinking, so lonely and so full of dreariness as that which immediately precedes and ushers in the dawn; while, of all the experiences of our human life, there is, perhaps, not one more unpleasant than to awake from sleep at such an hour to find that one has passed the entire night in one's clothes and seated in a most comfortable armchair.

ushers

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Of all the hours of the day there is not one, to my thinking, so lonely and so full of dreariness as that which immediately precedes and ushers in the dawn; while, of all the experiences of our human life, there is, perhaps, not one more unpleasant than to awake from sleep at such an hour to find that one has passed the entire night in one's clothes and seated in a most comfortable armchair.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading When I came to myself again it was already morning.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading In a small square behind the studio the sparrows were discussing the prospects of breakfast, though as yet that earliest of all birds, the milkman, had not begun to make his presence known in the streets.

WhenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading When I came to myself again it was already morning.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading Of all the hours of the day there is not one, to my thinking, so lonely and so full of dreariness as that which immediately precedes and ushers in the dawn; while, of all the experiences of our human life, there is, perhaps, not one more unpleasant than to awake from sleep at such an hour to find that one has passed the entire night in one's clothes and seated in a most comfortable armchair.

whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading Of all the hours of the day there is not one, to my thinking, so lonely and so full of dreariness as that which immediately precedes and ushers in the dawn; while, of all the experiences of our human life, there is, perhaps, not one more unpleasant than to awake from sleep at such an hour to find that one has passed the entire night in one's clothes and seated in a most comfortable armchair.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading On opening my eyes I looked around me with a puzzled air.

yetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading In a small square behind the studio the sparrows were discussing the prospects of breakfast, though as yet that earliest of all birds, the milkman, had not begun to make his presence known in the streets.