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 To him the rebuff had been a severe one.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading He thought about it for an hour; then he had lunch, and went haphazard, with renewed hope, to interview several other big business men whose names he procured.
almost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But either his manner had lost some of its confidence, or else the telephone girls he almost invariably encountered were less favorably impressed with him than the girl at the Wentworth Company, for in no other instance did he even receive that much encouragement.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He thought about it for an hour; then he had lunch, and went haphazard, with renewed hope, to interview several other big business men whose names he procured.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He thought about it for an hour; then he had lunch, and went haphazard, with renewed hope, to interview several other big business men whose names he procured.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading But either his manner had lost some of its confidence, or else the telephone girls he almost invariably encountered were less favorably impressed with him than the girl at the Wentworth Company, for in no other instance did he even receive that much encouragement.
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jimmy went back despondently to his little boarding-house room.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading To him the rebuff had been a severe one.
big
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He thought about it for an hour; then he had lunch, and went haphazard, with renewed hope, to interview several other big business men whose names he procured.
boarding-house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jimmy went back despondently to his little boarding-house room.
business
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From this reading He thought about it for an hour; then he had lunch, and went haphazard, with renewed hope, to interview several other big business men whose names he procured.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But either his manner had lost some of its confidence, or else the telephone girls he almost invariably encountered were less favorably impressed with him than the girl at the Wentworth Company, for in no other instance did he even receive that much encouragement.
Company
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But either his manner had lost some of its confidence, or else the telephone girls he almost invariably encountered were less favorably impressed with him than the girl at the Wentworth Company, for in no other instance did he even receive that much encouragement.
confidencenounUS /ˈconfidence/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading But either his manner had lost some of its confidence, or else the telephone girls he almost invariably encountered were less favorably impressed with him than the girl at the Wentworth Company, for in no other instance did he even receive that much encouragement.
despondently
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jimmy went back despondently to his little boarding-house room.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading But either his manner had lost some of its confidence, or else the telephone girls he almost invariably encountered were less favorably impressed with him than the girl at the Wentworth Company, for in no other instance did he even receive that much encouragement.
eitherdeterminerUS /ˈiːðər/
one or the other of two
From this reading But either his manner had lost some of its confidence, or else the telephone girls he almost invariably encountered were less favorably impressed with him than the girl at the Wentworth Company, for in no other instance did he even receive that much encouragement.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But either his manner had lost some of its confidence, or else the telephone girls he almost invariably encountered were less favorably impressed with him than the girl at the Wentworth Company, for in no other instance did he even receive that much encouragement.
encountered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But either his manner had lost some of its confidence, or else the telephone girls he almost invariably encountered were less favorably impressed with him than the girl at the Wentworth Company, for in no other instance did he even receive that much encouragement.
encouragement
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But either his manner had lost some of its confidence, or else the telephone girls he almost invariably encountered were less favorably impressed with him than the girl at the Wentworth Company, for in no other instance did he even receive that much encouragement.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But either his manner had lost some of its confidence, or else the telephone girls he almost invariably encountered were less favorably impressed with him than the girl at the Wentworth Company, for in no other instance did he even receive that much encouragement.
favorably
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But either his manner had lost some of its confidence, or else the telephone girls he almost invariably encountered were less favorably impressed with him than the girl at the Wentworth Company, for in no other instance did he even receive that much encouragement.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He thought about it for an hour; then he had lunch, and went haphazard, with renewed hope, to interview several other big business men whose names he procured.
girl
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But either his manner had lost some of its confidence, or else the telephone girls he almost invariably encountered were less favorably impressed with him than the girl at the Wentworth Company, for in no other instance did he even receive that much encouragement.
girls
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But either his manner had lost some of its confidence, or else the telephone girls he almost invariably encountered were less favorably impressed with him than the girl at the Wentworth Company, for in no other instance did he even receive that much encouragement.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading To him the rebuff had been a severe one.
haphazard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He thought about it for an hour; then he had lunch, and went haphazard, with renewed hope, to interview several other big business men whose names he procured.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He thought about it for an hour; then he had lunch, and went haphazard, with renewed hope, to interview several other big business men whose names he procured.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading To him the rebuff had been a severe one.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Jimmy went back despondently to his little boarding-house room.
hope
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He thought about it for an hour; then he had lunch, and went haphazard, with renewed hope, to interview several other big business men whose names he procured.
hour
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He thought about it for an hour; then he had lunch, and went haphazard, with renewed hope, to interview several other big business men whose names he procured.
impressed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But either his manner had lost some of its confidence, or else the telephone girls he almost invariably encountered were less favorably impressed with him than the girl at the Wentworth Company, for in no other instance did he even receive that much encouragement.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But either his manner had lost some of its confidence, or else the telephone girls he almost invariably encountered were less favorably impressed with him than the girl at the Wentworth Company, for in no other instance did he even receive that much encouragement.
instance
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From this reading But either his manner had lost some of its confidence, or else the telephone girls he almost invariably encountered were less favorably impressed with him than the girl at the Wentworth Company, for in no other instance did he even receive that much encouragement.
INTERVIEW
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE INTERVIEW.
invariably
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But either his manner had lost some of its confidence, or else the telephone girls he almost invariably encountered were less favorably impressed with him than the girl at the Wentworth Company, for in no other instance did he even receive that much encouragement.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He thought about it for an hour; then he had lunch, and went haphazard, with renewed hope, to interview several other big business men whose names he procured.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading But either his manner had lost some of its confidence, or else the telephone girls he almost invariably encountered were less favorably impressed with him than the girl at the Wentworth Company, for in no other instance did he even receive that much encouragement.
Jimmy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jimmy went back despondently to his little boarding-house room.
less
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But either his manner had lost some of its confidence, or else the telephone girls he almost invariably encountered were less favorably impressed with him than the girl at the Wentworth Company, for in no other instance did he even receive that much encouragement.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Jimmy went back despondently to his little boarding-house room.
lost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But either his manner had lost some of its confidence, or else the telephone girls he almost invariably encountered were less favorably impressed with him than the girl at the Wentworth Company, for in no other instance did he even receive that much encouragement.
lunch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He thought about it for an hour; then he had lunch, and went haphazard, with renewed hope, to interview several other big business men whose names he procured.
manner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But either his manner had lost some of its confidence, or else the telephone girls he almost invariably encountered were less favorably impressed with him than the girl at the Wentworth Company, for in no other instance did he even receive that much encouragement.
men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He thought about it for an hour; then he had lunch, and went haphazard, with renewed hope, to interview several other big business men whose names he procured.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But either his manner had lost some of its confidence, or else the telephone girls he almost invariably encountered were less favorably impressed with him than the girl at the Wentworth Company, for in no other instance did he even receive that much encouragement.
names
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He thought about it for an hour; then he had lunch, and went haphazard, with renewed hope, to interview several other big business men whose names he procured.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading But either his manner had lost some of its confidence, or else the telephone girls he almost invariably encountered were less favorably impressed with him than the girl at the Wentworth Company, for in no other instance did he even receive that much encouragement.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading But either his manner had lost some of its confidence, or else the telephone girls he almost invariably encountered were less favorably impressed with him than the girl at the Wentworth Company, for in no other instance did he even receive that much encouragement.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading To him the rebuff had been a severe one.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading But either his manner had lost some of its confidence, or else the telephone girls he almost invariably encountered were less favorably impressed with him than the girl at the Wentworth Company, for in no other instance did he even receive that much encouragement.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He thought about it for an hour; then he had lunch, and went haphazard, with renewed hope, to interview several other big business men whose names he procured.
procured
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He thought about it for an hour; then he had lunch, and went haphazard, with renewed hope, to interview several other big business men whose names he procured.
rebuffnounUS /rɪˈbʌf/
an unkind refusal of a friendly offer or request
From this reading To him the rebuff had been a severe one.
receive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But either his manner had lost some of its confidence, or else the telephone girls he almost invariably encountered were less favorably impressed with him than the girl at the Wentworth Company, for in no other instance did he even receive that much encouragement.
renewed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He thought about it for an hour; then he had lunch, and went haphazard, with renewed hope, to interview several other big business men whose names he procured.
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jimmy went back despondently to his little boarding-house room.
several
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He thought about it for an hour; then he had lunch, and went haphazard, with renewed hope, to interview several other big business men whose names he procured.
severe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To him the rebuff had been a severe one.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But either his manner had lost some of its confidence, or else the telephone girls he almost invariably encountered were less favorably impressed with him than the girl at the Wentworth Company, for in no other instance did he even receive that much encouragement.
telephone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But either his manner had lost some of its confidence, or else the telephone girls he almost invariably encountered were less favorably impressed with him than the girl at the Wentworth Company, for in no other instance did he even receive that much encouragement.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading But either his manner had lost some of its confidence, or else the telephone girls he almost invariably encountered were less favorably impressed with him than the girl at the Wentworth Company, for in no other instance did he even receive that much encouragement.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But either his manner had lost some of its confidence, or else the telephone girls he almost invariably encountered were less favorably impressed with him than the girl at the Wentworth Company, for in no other instance did he even receive that much encouragement.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE INTERVIEW.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He thought about it for an hour; then he had lunch, and went haphazard, with renewed hope, to interview several other big business men whose names he procured.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He thought about it for an hour; then he had lunch, and went haphazard, with renewed hope, to interview several other big business men whose names he procured.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Jimmy went back despondently to his little boarding-house room.
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Jimmy went back despondently to his little boarding-house room.
Wentworth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But either his manner had lost some of its confidence, or else the telephone girls he almost invariably encountered were less favorably impressed with him than the girl at the Wentworth Company, for in no other instance did he even receive that much encouragement.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading But either his manner had lost some of its confidence, or else the telephone girls he almost invariably encountered were less favorably impressed with him than the girl at the Wentworth Company, for in no other instance did he even receive that much encouragement.
whosedeterminerUS /huːz/
belonging to which person
From this reading He thought about it for an hour; then he had lunch, and went haphazard, with renewed hope, to interview several other big business men whose names he procured.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading He thought about it for an hour; then he had lunch, and went haphazard, with renewed hope, to interview several other big business men whose names he procured.
