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 It was in vain that I endeavoured by hard work and a strict attention to the laird's affairs to direct my mind into some more healthy channel.
accepted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet, with all my conjectures and all my observations, I could never come to any conclusion which could for a moment be accepted as an explanation of the facts.
affairs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was in vain that I endeavoured by hard work and a strict attention to the laird's affairs to direct my mind into some more healthy channel.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet, with all my conjectures and all my observations, I could never come to any conclusion which could for a moment be accepted as an explanation of the facts.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading I trust that my readers will not set me down as an inquisitive busybody when I say that as the days and weeks went by I found my attention and my thoughts more and more attracted to General Heatherstone and the mystery which surrounded him.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I trust that my readers will not set me down as an inquisitive busybody when I say that as the days and weeks went by I found my attention and my thoughts more and more attracted to General Heatherstone and the mystery which surrounded him.
any
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet, with all my conjectures and all my observations, I could never come to any conclusion which could for a moment be accepted as an explanation of the facts.
anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/
any thing at all
From this reading Do what I would, on land or on the water, I would still find myself puzzling over this one question, until it obtained such a hold upon me that I felt it was useless for me to attempt to apply myself to anything until I had come to some satisfactory solution of it.
apply
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Do what I would, on land or on the water, I would still find myself puzzling over this one question, until it obtained such a hold upon me that I felt it was useless for me to attempt to apply myself to anything until I had come to some satisfactory solution of it.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading I trust that my readers will not set me down as an inquisitive busybody when I say that as the days and weeks went by I found my attention and my thoughts more and more attracted to General Heatherstone and the mystery which surrounded him.
attempt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Do what I would, on land or on the water, I would still find myself puzzling over this one question, until it obtained such a hold upon me that I felt it was useless for me to attempt to apply myself to anything until I had come to some satisfactory solution of it.
attention
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I trust that my readers will not set me down as an inquisitive busybody when I say that as the days and weeks went by I found my attention and my thoughts more and more attracted to General Heatherstone and the mystery which surrounded him.
attracted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I trust that my readers will not set me down as an inquisitive busybody when I say that as the days and weeks went by I found my attention and my thoughts more and more attracted to General Heatherstone and the mystery which surrounded him.
barrier
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I could never pass the dark line of five-foot fencing, and the great iron gate, with its massive lock, without pausing and racking my brain as to what the secret might be which was shut in by that inscrutable barrier.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading I could never pass the dark line of five-foot fencing, and the great iron gate, with its massive lock, without pausing and racking my brain as to what the secret might be which was shut in by that inscrutable barrier.
brain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I could never pass the dark line of five-foot fencing, and the great iron gate, with its massive lock, without pausing and racking my brain as to what the secret might be which was shut in by that inscrutable barrier.
busybody
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I trust that my readers will not set me down as an inquisitive busybody when I say that as the days and weeks went by I found my attention and my thoughts more and more attracted to General Heatherstone and the mystery which surrounded him.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading I trust that my readers will not set me down as an inquisitive busybody when I say that as the days and weeks went by I found my attention and my thoughts more and more attracted to General Heatherstone and the mystery which surrounded him.
channel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was in vain that I endeavoured by hard work and a strict attention to the laird's affairs to direct my mind into some more healthy channel.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Do what I would, on land or on the water, I would still find myself puzzling over this one question, until it obtained such a hold upon me that I felt it was useless for me to attempt to apply myself to anything until I had come to some satisfactory solution of it.
conclusion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet, with all my conjectures and all my observations, I could never come to any conclusion which could for a moment be accepted as an explanation of the facts.
conjectures
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet, with all my conjectures and all my observations, I could never come to any conclusion which could for a moment be accepted as an explanation of the facts.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading I could never pass the dark line of five-foot fencing, and the great iron gate, with its massive lock, without pausing and racking my brain as to what the secret might be which was shut in by that inscrutable barrier.
dark
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I could never pass the dark line of five-foot fencing, and the great iron gate, with its massive lock, without pausing and racking my brain as to what the secret might be which was shut in by that inscrutable barrier.
days
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I trust that my readers will not set me down as an inquisitive busybody when I say that as the days and weeks went by I found my attention and my thoughts more and more attracted to General Heatherstone and the mystery which surrounded him.
direct
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was in vain that I endeavoured by hard work and a strict attention to the laird's affairs to direct my mind into some more healthy channel.
Doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Do what I would, on land or on the water, I would still find myself puzzling over this one question, until it obtained such a hold upon me that I felt it was useless for me to attempt to apply myself to anything until I had come to some satisfactory solution of it.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I trust that my readers will not set me down as an inquisitive busybody when I say that as the days and weeks went by I found my attention and my thoughts more and more attracted to General Heatherstone and the mystery which surrounded him.
endeavoured
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was in vain that I endeavoured by hard work and a strict attention to the laird's affairs to direct my mind into some more healthy channel.
explanation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet, with all my conjectures and all my observations, I could never come to any conclusion which could for a moment be accepted as an explanation of the facts.
facts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet, with all my conjectures and all my observations, I could never come to any conclusion which could for a moment be accepted as an explanation of the facts.
felt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Do what I would, on land or on the water, I would still find myself puzzling over this one question, until it obtained such a hold upon me that I felt it was useless for me to attempt to apply myself to anything until I had come to some satisfactory solution of it.
fencing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I could never pass the dark line of five-foot fencing, and the great iron gate, with its massive lock, without pausing and racking my brain as to what the secret might be which was shut in by that inscrutable barrier.
find
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Do what I would, on land or on the water, I would still find myself puzzling over this one question, until it obtained such a hold upon me that I felt it was useless for me to attempt to apply myself to anything until I had come to some satisfactory solution of it.
five-foot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I could never pass the dark line of five-foot fencing, and the great iron gate, with its massive lock, without pausing and racking my brain as to what the secret might be which was shut in by that inscrutable barrier.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Do what I would, on land or on the water, I would still find myself puzzling over this one question, until it obtained such a hold upon me that I felt it was useless for me to attempt to apply myself to anything until I had come to some satisfactory solution of it.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I trust that my readers will not set me down as an inquisitive busybody when I say that as the days and weeks went by I found my attention and my thoughts more and more attracted to General Heatherstone and the mystery which surrounded him.
gate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I could never pass the dark line of five-foot fencing, and the great iron gate, with its massive lock, without pausing and racking my brain as to what the secret might be which was shut in by that inscrutable barrier.
General
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I trust that my readers will not set me down as an inquisitive busybody when I say that as the days and weeks went by I found my attention and my thoughts more and more attracted to General Heatherstone and the mystery which surrounded him.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I could never pass the dark line of five-foot fencing, and the great iron gate, with its massive lock, without pausing and racking my brain as to what the secret might be which was shut in by that inscrutable barrier.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Do what I would, on land or on the water, I would still find myself puzzling over this one question, until it obtained such a hold upon me that I felt it was useless for me to attempt to apply myself to anything until I had come to some satisfactory solution of it.
hard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was in vain that I endeavoured by hard work and a strict attention to the laird's affairs to direct my mind into some more healthy channel.
healthy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was in vain that I endeavoured by hard work and a strict attention to the laird's affairs to direct my mind into some more healthy channel.
Heatherstone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I trust that my readers will not set me down as an inquisitive busybody when I say that as the days and weeks went by I found my attention and my thoughts more and more attracted to General Heatherstone and the mystery which surrounded him.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I trust that my readers will not set me down as an inquisitive busybody when I say that as the days and weeks went by I found my attention and my thoughts more and more attracted to General Heatherstone and the mystery which surrounded him.
hold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Do what I would, on land or on the water, I would still find myself puzzling over this one question, until it obtained such a hold upon me that I felt it was useless for me to attempt to apply myself to anything until I had come to some satisfactory solution of it.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I trust that my readers will not set me down as an inquisitive busybody when I say that as the days and weeks went by I found my attention and my thoughts more and more attracted to General Heatherstone and the mystery which surrounded him.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was in vain that I endeavoured by hard work and a strict attention to the laird's affairs to direct my mind into some more healthy channel.
inquisitive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I trust that my readers will not set me down as an inquisitive busybody when I say that as the days and weeks went by I found my attention and my thoughts more and more attracted to General Heatherstone and the mystery which surrounded him.
inscrutable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I could never pass the dark line of five-foot fencing, and the great iron gate, with its massive lock, without pausing and racking my brain as to what the secret might be which was shut in by that inscrutable barrier.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading It was in vain that I endeavoured by hard work and a strict attention to the laird's affairs to direct my mind into some more healthy channel.
iron
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I could never pass the dark line of five-foot fencing, and the great iron gate, with its massive lock, without pausing and racking my brain as to what the secret might be which was shut in by that inscrutable barrier.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was in vain that I endeavoured by hard work and a strict attention to the laird's affairs to direct my mind into some more healthy channel.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading I could never pass the dark line of five-foot fencing, and the great iron gate, with its massive lock, without pausing and racking my brain as to what the secret might be which was shut in by that inscrutable barrier.
laird's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was in vain that I endeavoured by hard work and a strict attention to the laird's affairs to direct my mind into some more healthy channel.
land
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Do what I would, on land or on the water, I would still find myself puzzling over this one question, until it obtained such a hold upon me that I felt it was useless for me to attempt to apply myself to anything until I had come to some satisfactory solution of it.
line
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I could never pass the dark line of five-foot fencing, and the great iron gate, with its massive lock, without pausing and racking my brain as to what the secret might be which was shut in by that inscrutable barrier.
lock
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I could never pass the dark line of five-foot fencing, and the great iron gate, with its massive lock, without pausing and racking my brain as to what the secret might be which was shut in by that inscrutable barrier.
massive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I could never pass the dark line of five-foot fencing, and the great iron gate, with its massive lock, without pausing and racking my brain as to what the secret might be which was shut in by that inscrutable barrier.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I trust that my readers will not set me down as an inquisitive busybody when I say that as the days and weeks went by I found my attention and my thoughts more and more attracted to General Heatherstone and the mystery which surrounded him.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading I could never pass the dark line of five-foot fencing, and the great iron gate, with its massive lock, without pausing and racking my brain as to what the secret might be which was shut in by that inscrutable barrier.
mindnounUS /mind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was in vain that I endeavoured by hard work and a strict attention to the laird's affairs to direct my mind into some more healthy channel.
moment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet, with all my conjectures and all my observations, I could never come to any conclusion which could for a moment be accepted as an explanation of the facts.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I trust that my readers will not set me down as an inquisitive busybody when I say that as the days and weeks went by I found my attention and my thoughts more and more attracted to General Heatherstone and the mystery which surrounded him.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I trust that my readers will not set me down as an inquisitive busybody when I say that as the days and weeks went by I found my attention and my thoughts more and more attracted to General Heatherstone and the mystery which surrounded him.
myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading Do what I would, on land or on the water, I would still find myself puzzling over this one question, until it obtained such a hold upon me that I felt it was useless for me to attempt to apply myself to anything until I had come to some satisfactory solution of it.
mystery
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I trust that my readers will not set me down as an inquisitive busybody when I say that as the days and weeks went by I found my attention and my thoughts more and more attracted to General Heatherstone and the mystery which surrounded him.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I could never pass the dark line of five-foot fencing, and the great iron gate, with its massive lock, without pausing and racking my brain as to what the secret might be which was shut in by that inscrutable barrier.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading I trust that my readers will not set me down as an inquisitive busybody when I say that as the days and weeks went by I found my attention and my thoughts more and more attracted to General Heatherstone and the mystery which surrounded him.
observations
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet, with all my conjectures and all my observations, I could never come to any conclusion which could for a moment be accepted as an explanation of the facts.
obtained
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Do what I would, on land or on the water, I would still find myself puzzling over this one question, until it obtained such a hold upon me that I felt it was useless for me to attempt to apply myself to anything until I had come to some satisfactory solution of it.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Do what I would, on land or on the water, I would still find myself puzzling over this one question, until it obtained such a hold upon me that I felt it was useless for me to attempt to apply myself to anything until I had come to some satisfactory solution of it.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Do what I would, on land or on the water, I would still find myself puzzling over this one question, until it obtained such a hold upon me that I felt it was useless for me to attempt to apply myself to anything until I had come to some satisfactory solution of it.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Do what I would, on land or on the water, I would still find myself puzzling over this one question, until it obtained such a hold upon me that I felt it was useless for me to attempt to apply myself to anything until I had come to some satisfactory solution of it.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Do what I would, on land or on the water, I would still find myself puzzling over this one question, until it obtained such a hold upon me that I felt it was useless for me to attempt to apply myself to anything until I had come to some satisfactory solution of it.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Do what I would, on land or on the water, I would still find myself puzzling over this one question, until it obtained such a hold upon me that I felt it was useless for me to attempt to apply myself to anything until I had come to some satisfactory solution of it.
pass
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I could never pass the dark line of five-foot fencing, and the great iron gate, with its massive lock, without pausing and racking my brain as to what the secret might be which was shut in by that inscrutable barrier.
pausing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I could never pass the dark line of five-foot fencing, and the great iron gate, with its massive lock, without pausing and racking my brain as to what the secret might be which was shut in by that inscrutable barrier.
puzzling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Do what I would, on land or on the water, I would still find myself puzzling over this one question, until it obtained such a hold upon me that I felt it was useless for me to attempt to apply myself to anything until I had come to some satisfactory solution of it.
questionnounUS /ˈquestion/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Do what I would, on land or on the water, I would still find myself puzzling over this one question, until it obtained such a hold upon me that I felt it was useless for me to attempt to apply myself to anything until I had come to some satisfactory solution of it.
racking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I could never pass the dark line of five-foot fencing, and the great iron gate, with its massive lock, without pausing and racking my brain as to what the secret might be which was shut in by that inscrutable barrier.
readers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I trust that my readers will not set me down as an inquisitive busybody when I say that as the days and weeks went by I found my attention and my thoughts more and more attracted to General Heatherstone and the mystery which surrounded him.
satisfactory
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Do what I would, on land or on the water, I would still find myself puzzling over this one question, until it obtained such a hold upon me that I felt it was useless for me to attempt to apply myself to anything until I had come to some satisfactory solution of it.
say
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I trust that my readers will not set me down as an inquisitive busybody when I say that as the days and weeks went by I found my attention and my thoughts more and more attracted to General Heatherstone and the mystery which surrounded him.
secretnounUS /ˈsiː.krət/
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading I could never pass the dark line of five-foot fencing, and the great iron gate, with its massive lock, without pausing and racking my brain as to what the secret might be which was shut in by that inscrutable barrier.
set
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I trust that my readers will not set me down as an inquisitive busybody when I say that as the days and weeks went by I found my attention and my thoughts more and more attracted to General Heatherstone and the mystery which surrounded him.
shut
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I could never pass the dark line of five-foot fencing, and the great iron gate, with its massive lock, without pausing and racking my brain as to what the secret might be which was shut in by that inscrutable barrier.
solution
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Do what I would, on land or on the water, I would still find myself puzzling over this one question, until it obtained such a hold upon me that I felt it was useless for me to attempt to apply myself to anything until I had come to some satisfactory solution of it.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was in vain that I endeavoured by hard work and a strict attention to the laird's affairs to direct my mind into some more healthy channel.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Do what I would, on land or on the water, I would still find myself puzzling over this one question, until it obtained such a hold upon me that I felt it was useless for me to attempt to apply myself to anything until I had come to some satisfactory solution of it.
strict
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was in vain that I endeavoured by hard work and a strict attention to the laird's affairs to direct my mind into some more healthy channel.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Do what I would, on land or on the water, I would still find myself puzzling over this one question, until it obtained such a hold upon me that I felt it was useless for me to attempt to apply myself to anything until I had come to some satisfactory solution of it.
surrounded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I trust that my readers will not set me down as an inquisitive busybody when I say that as the days and weeks went by I found my attention and my thoughts more and more attracted to General Heatherstone and the mystery which surrounded him.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I trust that my readers will not set me down as an inquisitive busybody when I say that as the days and weeks went by I found my attention and my thoughts more and more attracted to General Heatherstone and the mystery which surrounded him.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I trust that my readers will not set me down as an inquisitive busybody when I say that as the days and weeks went by I found my attention and my thoughts more and more attracted to General Heatherstone and the mystery which surrounded him.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Do what I would, on land or on the water, I would still find myself puzzling over this one question, until it obtained such a hold upon me that I felt it was useless for me to attempt to apply myself to anything until I had come to some satisfactory solution of it.
thoughts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I trust that my readers will not set me down as an inquisitive busybody when I say that as the days and weeks went by I found my attention and my thoughts more and more attracted to General Heatherstone and the mystery which surrounded him.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I trust that my readers will not set me down as an inquisitive busybody when I say that as the days and weeks went by I found my attention and my thoughts more and more attracted to General Heatherstone and the mystery which surrounded him.
trust
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I trust that my readers will not set me down as an inquisitive busybody when I say that as the days and weeks went by I found my attention and my thoughts more and more attracted to General Heatherstone and the mystery which surrounded him.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading Do what I would, on land or on the water, I would still find myself puzzling over this one question, until it obtained such a hold upon me that I felt it was useless for me to attempt to apply myself to anything until I had come to some satisfactory solution of it.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Do what I would, on land or on the water, I would still find myself puzzling over this one question, until it obtained such a hold upon me that I felt it was useless for me to attempt to apply myself to anything until I had come to some satisfactory solution of it.
useless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Do what I would, on land or on the water, I would still find myself puzzling over this one question, until it obtained such a hold upon me that I felt it was useless for me to attempt to apply myself to anything until I had come to some satisfactory solution of it.
vain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was in vain that I endeavoured by hard work and a strict attention to the laird's affairs to direct my mind into some more healthy channel.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was in vain that I endeavoured by hard work and a strict attention to the laird's affairs to direct my mind into some more healthy channel.
water
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Do what I would, on land or on the water, I would still find myself puzzling over this one question, until it obtained such a hold upon me that I felt it was useless for me to attempt to apply myself to anything until I had come to some satisfactory solution of it.
weeks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I trust that my readers will not set me down as an inquisitive busybody when I say that as the days and weeks went by I found my attention and my thoughts more and more attracted to General Heatherstone and the mystery which surrounded him.
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I trust that my readers will not set me down as an inquisitive busybody when I say that as the days and weeks went by I found my attention and my thoughts more and more attracted to General Heatherstone and the mystery which surrounded him.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Do what I would, on land or on the water, I would still find myself puzzling over this one question, until it obtained such a hold upon me that I felt it was useless for me to attempt to apply myself to anything until I had come to some satisfactory solution of it.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading I trust that my readers will not set me down as an inquisitive busybody when I say that as the days and weeks went by I found my attention and my thoughts more and more attracted to General Heatherstone and the mystery which surrounded him.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading I trust that my readers will not set me down as an inquisitive busybody when I say that as the days and weeks went by I found my attention and my thoughts more and more attracted to General Heatherstone and the mystery which surrounded him.
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading I trust that my readers will not set me down as an inquisitive busybody when I say that as the days and weeks went by I found my attention and my thoughts more and more attracted to General Heatherstone and the mystery which surrounded him.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading I could never pass the dark line of five-foot fencing, and the great iron gate, with its massive lock, without pausing and racking my brain as to what the secret might be which was shut in by that inscrutable barrier.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading I could never pass the dark line of five-foot fencing, and the great iron gate, with its massive lock, without pausing and racking my brain as to what the secret might be which was shut in by that inscrutable barrier.
work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was in vain that I endeavoured by hard work and a strict attention to the laird's affairs to direct my mind into some more healthy channel.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Do what I would, on land or on the water, I would still find myself puzzling over this one question, until it obtained such a hold upon me that I felt it was useless for me to attempt to apply myself to anything until I had come to some satisfactory solution of it.
YetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading Yet, with all my conjectures and all my observations, I could never come to any conclusion which could for a moment be accepted as an explanation of the facts.
