Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
acquaintance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I soon found that we had made acquaintance, and improved it, for several years, on the walls of various Exhibition Galleries.
action
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From this reading The first time I went up there, I could not conceive why the faces seemed familiar to me; why they appeared to have beset me, for years, in every possible variety of action and costume; and how it came to pass that they started up before me, in Rome, in the broad day, like so many saddled and bridled nightmares.
always
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From this reading It is always to be found there; and its den is on the great flight of steps that lead from the Piazza di Spágna, to the church of Trínita del Monte.
AmongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading Among what may be called the Cubs or minor Lions of Rome, there was one that amused me mightily.
amused
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From this reading Among what may be called the Cubs or minor Lions of Rome, there was one that amused me mightily.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It is always to be found there; and its den is on the great flight of steps that lead from the Piazza di Spágna, to the church of Trínita del Monte.
appeared
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From this reading The first time I went up there, I could not conceive why the faces seemed familiar to me; why they appeared to have beset me, for years, in every possible variety of action and costume; and how it came to pass that they started up before me, in Rome, in the broad day, like so many saddled and bridled nightmares.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading In plainer words, these steps are the great place of resort for the artists’ ‘Models,’ and there they are constantly waiting to be hired.
artists
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From this reading In plainer words, these steps are the great place of resort for the artists’ ‘Models,’ and there they are constantly waiting to be hired.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Among what may be called the Cubs or minor Lions of Rome, there was one that amused me mightily.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The first time I went up there, I could not conceive why the faces seemed familiar to me; why they appeared to have beset me, for years, in every possible variety of action and costume; and how it came to pass that they started up before me, in Rome, in the broad day, like so many saddled and bridled nightmares.
beset
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From this reading The first time I went up there, I could not conceive why the faces seemed familiar to me; why they appeared to have beset me, for years, in every possible variety of action and costume; and how it came to pass that they started up before me, in Rome, in the broad day, like so many saddled and bridled nightmares.
bridled
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From this reading The first time I went up there, I could not conceive why the faces seemed familiar to me; why they appeared to have beset me, for years, in every possible variety of action and costume; and how it came to pass that they started up before me, in Rome, in the broad day, like so many saddled and bridled nightmares.
broad
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From this reading The first time I went up there, I could not conceive why the faces seemed familiar to me; why they appeared to have beset me, for years, in every possible variety of action and costume; and how it came to pass that they started up before me, in Rome, in the broad day, like so many saddled and bridled nightmares.
called
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From this reading Among what may be called the Cubs or minor Lions of Rome, there was one that amused me mightily.
came
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From this reading The first time I went up there, I could not conceive why the faces seemed familiar to me; why they appeared to have beset me, for years, in every possible variety of action and costume; and how it came to pass that they started up before me, in Rome, in the broad day, like so many saddled and bridled nightmares.
church
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From this reading It is always to be found there; and its den is on the great flight of steps that lead from the Piazza di Spágna, to the church of Trínita del Monte.
conceive
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From this reading The first time I went up there, I could not conceive why the faces seemed familiar to me; why they appeared to have beset me, for years, in every possible variety of action and costume; and how it came to pass that they started up before me, in Rome, in the broad day, like so many saddled and bridled nightmares.
constantly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In plainer words, these steps are the great place of resort for the artists’ ‘Models,’ and there they are constantly waiting to be hired.
costume
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From this reading The first time I went up there, I could not conceive why the faces seemed familiar to me; why they appeared to have beset me, for years, in every possible variety of action and costume; and how it came to pass that they started up before me, in Rome, in the broad day, like so many saddled and bridled nightmares.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The first time I went up there, I could not conceive why the faces seemed familiar to me; why they appeared to have beset me, for years, in every possible variety of action and costume; and how it came to pass that they started up before me, in Rome, in the broad day, like so many saddled and bridled nightmares.
Cubs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Among what may be called the Cubs or minor Lions of Rome, there was one that amused me mightily.
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first time I went up there, I could not conceive why the faces seemed familiar to me; why they appeared to have beset me, for years, in every possible variety of action and costume; and how it came to pass that they started up before me, in Rome, in the broad day, like so many saddled and bridled nightmares.
del
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From this reading It is always to be found there; and its den is on the great flight of steps that lead from the Piazza di Spágna, to the church of Trínita del Monte.
den
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From this reading It is always to be found there; and its den is on the great flight of steps that lead from the Piazza di Spágna, to the church of Trínita del Monte.
di
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From this reading It is always to be found there; and its den is on the great flight of steps that lead from the Piazza di Spágna, to the church of Trínita del Monte.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading The first time I went up there, I could not conceive why the faces seemed familiar to me; why they appeared to have beset me, for years, in every possible variety of action and costume; and how it came to pass that they started up before me, in Rome, in the broad day, like so many saddled and bridled nightmares.
Exhibition
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From this reading I soon found that we had made acquaintance, and improved it, for several years, on the walls of various Exhibition Galleries.
faces
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first time I went up there, I could not conceive why the faces seemed familiar to me; why they appeared to have beset me, for years, in every possible variety of action and costume; and how it came to pass that they started up before me, in Rome, in the broad day, like so many saddled and bridled nightmares.
familiar
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first time I went up there, I could not conceive why the faces seemed familiar to me; why they appeared to have beset me, for years, in every possible variety of action and costume; and how it came to pass that they started up before me, in Rome, in the broad day, like so many saddled and bridled nightmares.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The first time I went up there, I could not conceive why the faces seemed familiar to me; why they appeared to have beset me, for years, in every possible variety of action and costume; and how it came to pass that they started up before me, in Rome, in the broad day, like so many saddled and bridled nightmares.
flight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is always to be found there; and its den is on the great flight of steps that lead from the Piazza di Spágna, to the church of Trínita del Monte.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading In plainer words, these steps are the great place of resort for the artists’ ‘Models,’ and there they are constantly waiting to be hired.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It is always to be found there; and its den is on the great flight of steps that lead from the Piazza di Spágna, to the church of Trínita del Monte.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It is always to be found there; and its den is on the great flight of steps that lead from the Piazza di Spágna, to the church of Trínita del Monte.
Galleries
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I soon found that we had made acquaintance, and improved it, for several years, on the walls of various Exhibition Galleries.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It is always to be found there; and its den is on the great flight of steps that lead from the Piazza di Spágna, to the church of Trínita del Monte.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I soon found that we had made acquaintance, and improved it, for several years, on the walls of various Exhibition Galleries.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The first time I went up there, I could not conceive why the faces seemed familiar to me; why they appeared to have beset me, for years, in every possible variety of action and costume; and how it came to pass that they started up before me, in Rome, in the broad day, like so many saddled and bridled nightmares.
hired
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In plainer words, these steps are the great place of resort for the artists’ ‘Models,’ and there they are constantly waiting to be hired.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first time I went up there, I could not conceive why the faces seemed familiar to me; why they appeared to have beset me, for years, in every possible variety of action and costume; and how it came to pass that they started up before me, in Rome, in the broad day, like so many saddled and bridled nightmares.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading The first time I went up there, I could not conceive why the faces seemed familiar to me; why they appeared to have beset me, for years, in every possible variety of action and costume; and how it came to pass that they started up before me, in Rome, in the broad day, like so many saddled and bridled nightmares.
improved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I soon found that we had made acquaintance, and improved it, for several years, on the walls of various Exhibition Galleries.
InprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In plainer words, these steps are the great place of resort for the artists’ ‘Models,’ and there they are constantly waiting to be hired.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It is always to be found there; and its den is on the great flight of steps that lead from the Piazza di Spágna, to the church of Trínita del Monte.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It is always to be found there; and its den is on the great flight of steps that lead from the Piazza di Spágna, to the church of Trínita del Monte.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading It is always to be found there; and its den is on the great flight of steps that lead from the Piazza di Spágna, to the church of Trínita del Monte.
lead
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is always to be found there; and its den is on the great flight of steps that lead from the Piazza di Spágna, to the church of Trínita del Monte.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first time I went up there, I could not conceive why the faces seemed familiar to me; why they appeared to have beset me, for years, in every possible variety of action and costume; and how it came to pass that they started up before me, in Rome, in the broad day, like so many saddled and bridled nightmares.
Lions
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Among what may be called the Cubs or minor Lions of Rome, there was one that amused me mightily.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I soon found that we had made acquaintance, and improved it, for several years, on the walls of various Exhibition Galleries.
many
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first time I went up there, I could not conceive why the faces seemed familiar to me; why they appeared to have beset me, for years, in every possible variety of action and costume; and how it came to pass that they started up before me, in Rome, in the broad day, like so many saddled and bridled nightmares.
maymodal verbUS /meɪ/
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading Among what may be called the Cubs or minor Lions of Rome, there was one that amused me mightily.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Among what may be called the Cubs or minor Lions of Rome, there was one that amused me mightily.
mightily
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Among what may be called the Cubs or minor Lions of Rome, there was one that amused me mightily.
minor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Among what may be called the Cubs or minor Lions of Rome, there was one that amused me mightily.
Models
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In plainer words, these steps are the great place of resort for the artists’ ‘Models,’ and there they are constantly waiting to be hired.
Monte
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is always to be found there; and its den is on the great flight of steps that lead from the Piazza di Spágna, to the church of Trínita del Monte.
nightmares
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first time I went up there, I could not conceive why the faces seemed familiar to me; why they appeared to have beset me, for years, in every possible variety of action and costume; and how it came to pass that they started up before me, in Rome, in the broad day, like so many saddled and bridled nightmares.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The first time I went up there, I could not conceive why the faces seemed familiar to me; why they appeared to have beset me, for years, in every possible variety of action and costume; and how it came to pass that they started up before me, in Rome, in the broad day, like so many saddled and bridled nightmares.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Among what may be called the Cubs or minor Lions of Rome, there was one that amused me mightily.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It is always to be found there; and its den is on the great flight of steps that lead from the Piazza di Spágna, to the church of Trínita del Monte.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Among what may be called the Cubs or minor Lions of Rome, there was one that amused me mightily.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Among what may be called the Cubs or minor Lions of Rome, there was one that amused me mightily.
pass
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first time I went up there, I could not conceive why the faces seemed familiar to me; why they appeared to have beset me, for years, in every possible variety of action and costume; and how it came to pass that they started up before me, in Rome, in the broad day, like so many saddled and bridled nightmares.
Piazza
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is always to be found there; and its den is on the great flight of steps that lead from the Piazza di Spágna, to the church of Trínita del Monte.
place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In plainer words, these steps are the great place of resort for the artists’ ‘Models,’ and there they are constantly waiting to be hired.
plainer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In plainer words, these steps are the great place of resort for the artists’ ‘Models,’ and there they are constantly waiting to be hired.
possible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first time I went up there, I could not conceive why the faces seemed familiar to me; why they appeared to have beset me, for years, in every possible variety of action and costume; and how it came to pass that they started up before me, in Rome, in the broad day, like so many saddled and bridled nightmares.
resort
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In plainer words, these steps are the great place of resort for the artists’ ‘Models,’ and there they are constantly waiting to be hired.
Rome
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Among what may be called the Cubs or minor Lions of Rome, there was one that amused me mightily.
saddled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first time I went up there, I could not conceive why the faces seemed familiar to me; why they appeared to have beset me, for years, in every possible variety of action and costume; and how it came to pass that they started up before me, in Rome, in the broad day, like so many saddled and bridled nightmares.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The first time I went up there, I could not conceive why the faces seemed familiar to me; why they appeared to have beset me, for years, in every possible variety of action and costume; and how it came to pass that they started up before me, in Rome, in the broad day, like so many saddled and bridled nightmares.
several
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I soon found that we had made acquaintance, and improved it, for several years, on the walls of various Exhibition Galleries.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The first time I went up there, I could not conceive why the faces seemed familiar to me; why they appeared to have beset me, for years, in every possible variety of action and costume; and how it came to pass that they started up before me, in Rome, in the broad day, like so many saddled and bridled nightmares.
soon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I soon found that we had made acquaintance, and improved it, for several years, on the walls of various Exhibition Galleries.
Spágna
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is always to be found there; and its den is on the great flight of steps that lead from the Piazza di Spágna, to the church of Trínita del Monte.
started
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first time I went up there, I could not conceive why the faces seemed familiar to me; why they appeared to have beset me, for years, in every possible variety of action and costume; and how it came to pass that they started up before me, in Rome, in the broad day, like so many saddled and bridled nightmares.
steps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is always to be found there; and its den is on the great flight of steps that lead from the Piazza di Spágna, to the church of Trínita del Monte.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Among what may be called the Cubs or minor Lions of Rome, there was one that amused me mightily.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Among what may be called the Cubs or minor Lions of Rome, there was one that amused me mightily.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Among what may be called the Cubs or minor Lions of Rome, there was one that amused me mightily.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading In plainer words, these steps are the great place of resort for the artists’ ‘Models,’ and there they are constantly waiting to be hired.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading In plainer words, these steps are the great place of resort for the artists’ ‘Models,’ and there they are constantly waiting to be hired.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The first time I went up there, I could not conceive why the faces seemed familiar to me; why they appeared to have beset me, for years, in every possible variety of action and costume; and how it came to pass that they started up before me, in Rome, in the broad day, like so many saddled and bridled nightmares.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It is always to be found there; and its den is on the great flight of steps that lead from the Piazza di Spágna, to the church of Trínita del Monte.
Trínita
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is always to be found there; and its den is on the great flight of steps that lead from the Piazza di Spágna, to the church of Trínita del Monte.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first time I went up there, I could not conceive why the faces seemed familiar to me; why they appeared to have beset me, for years, in every possible variety of action and costume; and how it came to pass that they started up before me, in Rome, in the broad day, like so many saddled and bridled nightmares.
variety
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first time I went up there, I could not conceive why the faces seemed familiar to me; why they appeared to have beset me, for years, in every possible variety of action and costume; and how it came to pass that they started up before me, in Rome, in the broad day, like so many saddled and bridled nightmares.
various
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I soon found that we had made acquaintance, and improved it, for several years, on the walls of various Exhibition Galleries.
waiting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In plainer words, these steps are the great place of resort for the artists’ ‘Models,’ and there they are constantly waiting to be hired.
walls
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I soon found that we had made acquaintance, and improved it, for several years, on the walls of various Exhibition Galleries.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Among what may be called the Cubs or minor Lions of Rome, there was one that amused me mightily.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading I soon found that we had made acquaintance, and improved it, for several years, on the walls of various Exhibition Galleries.
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The first time I went up there, I could not conceive why the faces seemed familiar to me; why they appeared to have beset me, for years, in every possible variety of action and costume; and how it came to pass that they started up before me, in Rome, in the broad day, like so many saddled and bridled nightmares.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Among what may be called the Cubs or minor Lions of Rome, there was one that amused me mightily.
why
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first time I went up there, I could not conceive why the faces seemed familiar to me; why they appeared to have beset me, for years, in every possible variety of action and costume; and how it came to pass that they started up before me, in Rome, in the broad day, like so many saddled and bridled nightmares.
words
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In plainer words, these steps are the great place of resort for the artists’ ‘Models,’ and there they are constantly waiting to be hired.
years
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The first time I went up there, I could not conceive why the faces seemed familiar to me; why they appeared to have beset me, for years, in every possible variety of action and costume; and how it came to pass that they started up before me, in Rome, in the broad day, like so many saddled and bridled nightmares.
