Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
11
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From this reading § 11 So you see Frank Shirley was a difficult man to get at—as much so as if he had been an emperor or an anchorite.
adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading § 11 So you see Frank Shirley was a difficult man to get at—as much so as if he had been an emperor or an anchorite.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading But here was a man who was different; a man whom one could not get at without humiliating efforts; a man of mystery, about whom one could imagine things!
affinity
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From this reading I asked Sylvia, who thought there might be something in this; but much more in a deeper fact, which is known to poets and tellers of love-tales, but has not been sufficiently heeded by scientists—that intuitive, commanding and sometimes terrifying revelation of sexual affinity, which we smile at and discredit under the name of “love at first sight.”
alike
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were so many men, and they were all so much alike, and they were all so easy!
all
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From this reading There were so many men, and they were all so much alike, and they were all so easy!
aloofness
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From this reading I have been interested in the psychology of sex, and I wondered how much this aloofness had to do with what happened to Sylvia.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading § 11 So you see Frank Shirley was a difficult man to get at—as much so as if he had been an emperor or an anchorite.
anchorite
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From this reading § 11 So you see Frank Shirley was a difficult man to get at—as much so as if he had been an emperor or an anchorite.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I have been interested in the psychology of sex, and I wondered how much this aloofness had to do with what happened to Sylvia.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading § 11 So you see Frank Shirley was a difficult man to get at—as much so as if he had been an emperor or an anchorite.
askednounUS /asked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I asked Sylvia, who thought there might be something in this; but much more in a deeper fact, which is known to poets and tellers of love-tales, but has not been sufficiently heeded by scientists—that intuitive, commanding and sometimes terrifying revelation of sexual affinity, which we smile at and discredit under the name of “love at first sight.”
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading § 11 So you see Frank Shirley was a difficult man to get at—as much so as if he had been an emperor or an anchorite.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading I asked Sylvia, who thought there might be something in this; but much more in a deeper fact, which is known to poets and tellers of love-tales, but has not been sufficiently heeded by scientists—that intuitive, commanding and sometimes terrifying revelation of sexual affinity, which we smile at and discredit under the name of “love at first sight.”
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading § 11 So you see Frank Shirley was a difficult man to get at—as much so as if he had been an emperor or an anchorite.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But here was a man who was different; a man whom one could not get at without humiliating efforts; a man of mystery, about whom one could imagine things!
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading I asked Sylvia, who thought there might be something in this; but much more in a deeper fact, which is known to poets and tellers of love-tales, but has not been sufficiently heeded by scientists—that intuitive, commanding and sometimes terrifying revelation of sexual affinity, which we smile at and discredit under the name of “love at first sight.”
commanding
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From this reading I asked Sylvia, who thought there might be something in this; but much more in a deeper fact, which is known to poets and tellers of love-tales, but has not been sufficiently heeded by scientists—that intuitive, commanding and sometimes terrifying revelation of sexual affinity, which we smile at and discredit under the name of “love at first sight.”
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading But here was a man who was different; a man whom one could not get at without humiliating efforts; a man of mystery, about whom one could imagine things!
deeper
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From this reading I asked Sylvia, who thought there might be something in this; but much more in a deeper fact, which is known to poets and tellers of love-tales, but has not been sufficiently heeded by scientists—that intuitive, commanding and sometimes terrifying revelation of sexual affinity, which we smile at and discredit under the name of “love at first sight.”
differentnounUS /ˈdifferent/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading But here was a man who was different; a man whom one could not get at without humiliating efforts; a man of mystery, about whom one could imagine things!
difficult
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading § 11 So you see Frank Shirley was a difficult man to get at—as much so as if he had been an emperor or an anchorite.
discredit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I asked Sylvia, who thought there might be something in this; but much more in a deeper fact, which is known to poets and tellers of love-tales, but has not been sufficiently heeded by scientists—that intuitive, commanding and sometimes terrifying revelation of sexual affinity, which we smile at and discredit under the name of “love at first sight.”
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading I have been interested in the psychology of sex, and I wondered how much this aloofness had to do with what happened to Sylvia.
easy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were so many men, and they were all so much alike, and they were all so easy!
efforts
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From this reading But here was a man who was different; a man whom one could not get at without humiliating efforts; a man of mystery, about whom one could imagine things!
emperor
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From this reading § 11 So you see Frank Shirley was a difficult man to get at—as much so as if he had been an emperor or an anchorite.
fact
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From this reading I asked Sylvia, who thought there might be something in this; but much more in a deeper fact, which is known to poets and tellers of love-tales, but has not been sufficiently heeded by scientists—that intuitive, commanding and sometimes terrifying revelation of sexual affinity, which we smile at and discredit under the name of “love at first sight.”
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I asked Sylvia, who thought there might be something in this; but much more in a deeper fact, which is known to poets and tellers of love-tales, but has not been sufficiently heeded by scientists—that intuitive, commanding and sometimes terrifying revelation of sexual affinity, which we smile at and discredit under the name of “love at first sight.”
Frank
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From this reading § 11 So you see Frank Shirley was a difficult man to get at—as much so as if he had been an emperor or an anchorite.
get
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From this reading § 11 So you see Frank Shirley was a difficult man to get at—as much so as if he had been an emperor or an anchorite.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading § 11 So you see Frank Shirley was a difficult man to get at—as much so as if he had been an emperor or an anchorite.
happened
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From this reading I have been interested in the psychology of sex, and I wondered how much this aloofness had to do with what happened to Sylvia.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I asked Sylvia, who thought there might be something in this; but much more in a deeper fact, which is known to poets and tellers of love-tales, but has not been sufficiently heeded by scientists—that intuitive, commanding and sometimes terrifying revelation of sexual affinity, which we smile at and discredit under the name of “love at first sight.”
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading I have been interested in the psychology of sex, and I wondered how much this aloofness had to do with what happened to Sylvia.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading § 11 So you see Frank Shirley was a difficult man to get at—as much so as if he had been an emperor or an anchorite.
heeded
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From this reading I asked Sylvia, who thought there might be something in this; but much more in a deeper fact, which is known to poets and tellers of love-tales, but has not been sufficiently heeded by scientists—that intuitive, commanding and sometimes terrifying revelation of sexual affinity, which we smile at and discredit under the name of “love at first sight.”
herenounUS /here/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But here was a man who was different; a man whom one could not get at without humiliating efforts; a man of mystery, about whom one could imagine things!
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I have been interested in the psychology of sex, and I wondered how much this aloofness had to do with what happened to Sylvia.
humiliating
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From this reading But here was a man who was different; a man whom one could not get at without humiliating efforts; a man of mystery, about whom one could imagine things!
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I have been interested in the psychology of sex, and I wondered how much this aloofness had to do with what happened to Sylvia.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading § 11 So you see Frank Shirley was a difficult man to get at—as much so as if he had been an emperor or an anchorite.
imaginenounUS /ˈimagine/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading But here was a man who was different; a man whom one could not get at without humiliating efforts; a man of mystery, about whom one could imagine things!
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I have been interested in the psychology of sex, and I wondered how much this aloofness had to do with what happened to Sylvia.
interested
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I have been interested in the psychology of sex, and I wondered how much this aloofness had to do with what happened to Sylvia.
intuitive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I asked Sylvia, who thought there might be something in this; but much more in a deeper fact, which is known to poets and tellers of love-tales, but has not been sufficiently heeded by scientists—that intuitive, commanding and sometimes terrifying revelation of sexual affinity, which we smile at and discredit under the name of “love at first sight.”
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I asked Sylvia, who thought there might be something in this; but much more in a deeper fact, which is known to poets and tellers of love-tales, but has not been sufficiently heeded by scientists—that intuitive, commanding and sometimes terrifying revelation of sexual affinity, which we smile at and discredit under the name of “love at first sight.”
known
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I asked Sylvia, who thought there might be something in this; but much more in a deeper fact, which is known to poets and tellers of love-tales, but has not been sufficiently heeded by scientists—that intuitive, commanding and sometimes terrifying revelation of sexual affinity, which we smile at and discredit under the name of “love at first sight.”
love
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I asked Sylvia, who thought there might be something in this; but much more in a deeper fact, which is known to poets and tellers of love-tales, but has not been sufficiently heeded by scientists—that intuitive, commanding and sometimes terrifying revelation of sexual affinity, which we smile at and discredit under the name of “love at first sight.”
love-tales
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From this reading I asked Sylvia, who thought there might be something in this; but much more in a deeper fact, which is known to poets and tellers of love-tales, but has not been sufficiently heeded by scientists—that intuitive, commanding and sometimes terrifying revelation of sexual affinity, which we smile at and discredit under the name of “love at first sight.”
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading § 11 So you see Frank Shirley was a difficult man to get at—as much so as if he had been an emperor or an anchorite.
many
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were so many men, and they were all so much alike, and they were all so easy!
men
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From this reading There were so many men, and they were all so much alike, and they were all so easy!
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading I asked Sylvia, who thought there might be something in this; but much more in a deeper fact, which is known to poets and tellers of love-tales, but has not been sufficiently heeded by scientists—that intuitive, commanding and sometimes terrifying revelation of sexual affinity, which we smile at and discredit under the name of “love at first sight.”
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I asked Sylvia, who thought there might be something in this; but much more in a deeper fact, which is known to poets and tellers of love-tales, but has not been sufficiently heeded by scientists—that intuitive, commanding and sometimes terrifying revelation of sexual affinity, which we smile at and discredit under the name of “love at first sight.”
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading § 11 So you see Frank Shirley was a difficult man to get at—as much so as if he had been an emperor or an anchorite.
mystery
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But here was a man who was different; a man whom one could not get at without humiliating efforts; a man of mystery, about whom one could imagine things!
namenounUS /name/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I asked Sylvia, who thought there might be something in this; but much more in a deeper fact, which is known to poets and tellers of love-tales, but has not been sufficiently heeded by scientists—that intuitive, commanding and sometimes terrifying revelation of sexual affinity, which we smile at and discredit under the name of “love at first sight.”
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But here was a man who was different; a man whom one could not get at without humiliating efforts; a man of mystery, about whom one could imagine things!
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I have been interested in the psychology of sex, and I wondered how much this aloofness had to do with what happened to Sylvia.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading But here was a man who was different; a man whom one could not get at without humiliating efforts; a man of mystery, about whom one could imagine things!
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading § 11 So you see Frank Shirley was a difficult man to get at—as much so as if he had been an emperor or an anchorite.
poets
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I asked Sylvia, who thought there might be something in this; but much more in a deeper fact, which is known to poets and tellers of love-tales, but has not been sufficiently heeded by scientists—that intuitive, commanding and sometimes terrifying revelation of sexual affinity, which we smile at and discredit under the name of “love at first sight.”
psychology
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I have been interested in the psychology of sex, and I wondered how much this aloofness had to do with what happened to Sylvia.
revelation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I asked Sylvia, who thought there might be something in this; but much more in a deeper fact, which is known to poets and tellers of love-tales, but has not been sufficiently heeded by scientists—that intuitive, commanding and sometimes terrifying revelation of sexual affinity, which we smile at and discredit under the name of “love at first sight.”
scientists
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I asked Sylvia, who thought there might be something in this; but much more in a deeper fact, which is known to poets and tellers of love-tales, but has not been sufficiently heeded by scientists—that intuitive, commanding and sometimes terrifying revelation of sexual affinity, which we smile at and discredit under the name of “love at first sight.”
see
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading § 11 So you see Frank Shirley was a difficult man to get at—as much so as if he had been an emperor or an anchorite.
sex
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I have been interested in the psychology of sex, and I wondered how much this aloofness had to do with what happened to Sylvia.
sexual
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I asked Sylvia, who thought there might be something in this; but much more in a deeper fact, which is known to poets and tellers of love-tales, but has not been sufficiently heeded by scientists—that intuitive, commanding and sometimes terrifying revelation of sexual affinity, which we smile at and discredit under the name of “love at first sight.”
Shirley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading § 11 So you see Frank Shirley was a difficult man to get at—as much so as if he had been an emperor or an anchorite.
sight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I asked Sylvia, who thought there might be something in this; but much more in a deeper fact, which is known to poets and tellers of love-tales, but has not been sufficiently heeded by scientists—that intuitive, commanding and sometimes terrifying revelation of sexual affinity, which we smile at and discredit under the name of “love at first sight.”
smile
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I asked Sylvia, who thought there might be something in this; but much more in a deeper fact, which is known to poets and tellers of love-tales, but has not been sufficiently heeded by scientists—that intuitive, commanding and sometimes terrifying revelation of sexual affinity, which we smile at and discredit under the name of “love at first sight.”
SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading § 11 So you see Frank Shirley was a difficult man to get at—as much so as if he had been an emperor or an anchorite.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading I asked Sylvia, who thought there might be something in this; but much more in a deeper fact, which is known to poets and tellers of love-tales, but has not been sufficiently heeded by scientists—that intuitive, commanding and sometimes terrifying revelation of sexual affinity, which we smile at and discredit under the name of “love at first sight.”
sometimes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I asked Sylvia, who thought there might be something in this; but much more in a deeper fact, which is known to poets and tellers of love-tales, but has not been sufficiently heeded by scientists—that intuitive, commanding and sometimes terrifying revelation of sexual affinity, which we smile at and discredit under the name of “love at first sight.”
sufficiently
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I asked Sylvia, who thought there might be something in this; but much more in a deeper fact, which is known to poets and tellers of love-tales, but has not been sufficiently heeded by scientists—that intuitive, commanding and sometimes terrifying revelation of sexual affinity, which we smile at and discredit under the name of “love at first sight.”
Sylvia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I have been interested in the psychology of sex, and I wondered how much this aloofness had to do with what happened to Sylvia.
tellers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I asked Sylvia, who thought there might be something in this; but much more in a deeper fact, which is known to poets and tellers of love-tales, but has not been sufficiently heeded by scientists—that intuitive, commanding and sometimes terrifying revelation of sexual affinity, which we smile at and discredit under the name of “love at first sight.”
terrifying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I asked Sylvia, who thought there might be something in this; but much more in a deeper fact, which is known to poets and tellers of love-tales, but has not been sufficiently heeded by scientists—that intuitive, commanding and sometimes terrifying revelation of sexual affinity, which we smile at and discredit under the name of “love at first sight.”
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I asked Sylvia, who thought there might be something in this; but much more in a deeper fact, which is known to poets and tellers of love-tales, but has not been sufficiently heeded by scientists—that intuitive, commanding and sometimes terrifying revelation of sexual affinity, which we smile at and discredit under the name of “love at first sight.”
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I have been interested in the psychology of sex, and I wondered how much this aloofness had to do with what happened to Sylvia.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were so many men, and they were all so much alike, and they were all so easy!
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading There were so many men, and they were all so much alike, and they were all so easy!
things
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But here was a man who was different; a man whom one could not get at without humiliating efforts; a man of mystery, about whom one could imagine things!
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading I have been interested in the psychology of sex, and I wondered how much this aloofness had to do with what happened to Sylvia.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I asked Sylvia, who thought there might be something in this; but much more in a deeper fact, which is known to poets and tellers of love-tales, but has not been sufficiently heeded by scientists—that intuitive, commanding and sometimes terrifying revelation of sexual affinity, which we smile at and discredit under the name of “love at first sight.”
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading § 11 So you see Frank Shirley was a difficult man to get at—as much so as if he had been an emperor or an anchorite.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading I asked Sylvia, who thought there might be something in this; but much more in a deeper fact, which is known to poets and tellers of love-tales, but has not been sufficiently heeded by scientists—that intuitive, commanding and sometimes terrifying revelation of sexual affinity, which we smile at and discredit under the name of “love at first sight.”
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading § 11 So you see Frank Shirley was a difficult man to get at—as much so as if he had been an emperor or an anchorite.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading I asked Sylvia, who thought there might be something in this; but much more in a deeper fact, which is known to poets and tellers of love-tales, but has not been sufficiently heeded by scientists—that intuitive, commanding and sometimes terrifying revelation of sexual affinity, which we smile at and discredit under the name of “love at first sight.”
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were so many men, and they were all so much alike, and they were all so easy!
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading I have been interested in the psychology of sex, and I wondered how much this aloofness had to do with what happened to Sylvia.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading I asked Sylvia, who thought there might be something in this; but much more in a deeper fact, which is known to poets and tellers of love-tales, but has not been sufficiently heeded by scientists—that intuitive, commanding and sometimes terrifying revelation of sexual affinity, which we smile at and discredit under the name of “love at first sight.”
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading But here was a man who was different; a man whom one could not get at without humiliating efforts; a man of mystery, about whom one could imagine things!
whompronounUS /huːm/
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading But here was a man who was different; a man whom one could not get at without humiliating efforts; a man of mystery, about whom one could imagine things!
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading I have been interested in the psychology of sex, and I wondered how much this aloofness had to do with what happened to Sylvia.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading But here was a man who was different; a man whom one could not get at without humiliating efforts; a man of mystery, about whom one could imagine things!
wonderednounUS /wondered/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I have been interested in the psychology of sex, and I wondered how much this aloofness had to do with what happened to Sylvia.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading § 11 So you see Frank Shirley was a difficult man to get at—as much so as if he had been an emperor or an anchorite.
