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A Bell's Biography
A Bell's Biography

Chapter I

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Context Illustration Reading 1/22 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Hearken to our neighbor with the iron tongue.
While I sit musing over my sheet of foolscap, he emphatically tells the hour, in tones loud enough for all the town to hear, though doubtless intended only as a gentle hint to myself, that I may begin his biography before the evening shall be further wasted.
Unquestionably, a personage in such an elevated position, and making so great a noise in the world, has a fair claim to the services of a biographer.
He is the representative and most illustrious member of that innumerable class, whose characteristic feature is the tongue, and whose sole business, to clamor for the public good.
If any of his noisy brethren, in our tongue-governed democracy, be envious of the superiority which I have assigned him, they have my free consent to hang themselves as high as he.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

A Bell's Biography

Chapter I

Reading 1/22 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Hearken to our neighbor with the iron tongue.
Line 2
While I sit musing over my sheet of foolscap, he emphatically tells the hour, in tones loud enough for all the town to hear, though doubtless intended only as a gentle hint to myself, that I may begin his biography before the evening shall be further wasted.
Line 3
Unquestionably, a personage in such an elevated position, and making so great a noise in the world, has a fair claim to the services of a biographer.
Line 4
He is the representative and most illustrious member of that innumerable class, whose characteristic feature is the tongue, and whose sole business, to clamor for the public good.
Line 5
If any of his noisy brethren, in our tongue-governed democracy, be envious of the superiority which I have assigned him, they have my free consent to hang themselves as high as he.

Learner Dictionary

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

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “While I sit musing over my sheet of foolscap, he emphatically tells the hour, in tones loud enough for all the town to hear, though doubtless intended only as a gentle hint to myself, that I may begin his biography before the evening shall be further wasted.”

Fair noun US /fair/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Unquestionably, a personage in such an elevated position, and making so great a noise in the world, has a fair claim to the services of a biographer.”

Free adjective US /friː/

acting without enough restraint or discipline

From this reading “If any of his noisy brethren, in our tongue-governed democracy, be envious of the superiority which I have assigned him, they have my free consent to hang themselves as high as he.”

Good noun US /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He is the representative and most illustrious member of that innumerable class, whose characteristic feature is the tongue, and whose sole business, to clamor for the public good.”

Great noun US /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Unquestionably, a personage in such an elevated position, and making so great a noise in the world, has a fair claim to the services of a biographer.”

Has auxiliary verb US /hæz/

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

From this reading “Unquestionably, a personage in such an elevated position, and making so great a noise in the world, has a fair claim to the services of a biographer.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “If any of his noisy brethren, in our tongue-governed democracy, be envious of the superiority which I have assigned him, they have my free consent to hang themselves as high as he.”

Hear noun US /hear/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “While I sit musing over my sheet of foolscap, he emphatically tells the hour, in tones loud enough for all the town to hear, though doubtless intended only as a gentle hint to myself, that I may begin his biography before the evening shall be further wasted.”

Hearken verb US /ˈhɑːrkən/

listen carefully with focused attention to a sound

From this reading “Hearken to our neighbor with the iron tongue.”

May modal verb US /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading “While I sit musing over my sheet of foolscap, he emphatically tells the hour, in tones loud enough for all the town to hear, though doubtless intended only as a gentle hint to myself, that I may begin his biography before the evening shall be further wasted.”

Myself pronoun US /ˌmaɪˈself/

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading “While I sit musing over my sheet of foolscap, he emphatically tells the hour, in tones loud enough for all the town to hear, though doubtless intended only as a gentle hint to myself, that I may begin his biography before the evening shall be further wasted.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “While I sit musing over my sheet of foolscap, he emphatically tells the hour, in tones loud enough for all the town to hear, though doubtless intended only as a gentle hint to myself, that I may begin his biography before the evening shall be further wasted.”

Shall modal verb US /ʃæl/

used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest

From this reading “While I sit musing over my sheet of foolscap, he emphatically tells the hour, in tones loud enough for all the town to hear, though doubtless intended only as a gentle hint to myself, that I may begin his biography before the evening shall be further wasted.”

Themselves pronoun US /ðemˈselvz/

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading “If any of his noisy brethren, in our tongue-governed democracy, be envious of the superiority which I have assigned him, they have my free consent to hang themselves as high as he.”

Though conjunction US /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “While I sit musing over my sheet of foolscap, he emphatically tells the hour, in tones loud enough for all the town to hear, though doubtless intended only as a gentle hint to myself, that I may begin his biography before the evening shall be further wasted.”

Tongue noun US /tongue/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Hearken to our neighbor with the iron tongue.”

While conjunction US /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading “While I sit musing over my sheet of foolscap, he emphatically tells the hour, in tones loud enough for all the town to hear, though doubtless intended only as a gentle hint to myself, that I may begin his biography before the evening shall be further wasted.”

Whose determiner US /huːz/

belonging to which person

From this reading “He is the representative and most illustrious member of that innumerable class, whose characteristic feature is the tongue, and whose sole business, to clamor for the public good.”

All words in this reading · 99

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 While I sit musing over my sheet of foolscap, he emphatically tells the hour, in tones loud enough for all the town to hear, though doubtless intended only as a gentle hint to myself, that I may begin his biography before the evening shall be further wasted.

all

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

From this reading While I sit musing over my sheet of foolscap, he emphatically tells the hour, in tones loud enough for all the town to hear, though doubtless intended only as a gentle hint to myself, that I may begin his biography before the evening shall be further wasted.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading Unquestionably, a personage in such an elevated position, and making so great a noise in the world, has a fair claim to the services of a biographer.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Unquestionably, a personage in such an elevated position, and making so great a noise in the world, has a fair claim to the services of a biographer.

any

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

From this reading If any of his noisy brethren, in our tongue-governed democracy, be envious of the superiority which I have assigned him, they have my free consent to hang themselves as high as he.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading While I sit musing over my sheet of foolscap, he emphatically tells the hour, in tones loud enough for all the town to hear, though doubtless intended only as a gentle hint to myself, that I may begin his biography before the evening shall be further wasted.

assigned

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

From this reading If any of his noisy brethren, in our tongue-governed democracy, be envious of the superiority which I have assigned him, they have my free consent to hang themselves as high as he.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading While I sit musing over my sheet of foolscap, he emphatically tells the hour, in tones loud enough for all the town to hear, though doubtless intended only as a gentle hint to myself, that I may begin his biography before the evening shall be further wasted.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading While I sit musing over my sheet of foolscap, he emphatically tells the hour, in tones loud enough for all the town to hear, though doubtless intended only as a gentle hint to myself, that I may begin his biography before the evening shall be further wasted.

begin

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

From this reading While I sit musing over my sheet of foolscap, he emphatically tells the hour, in tones loud enough for all the town to hear, though doubtless intended only as a gentle hint to myself, that I may begin his biography before the evening shall be further wasted.

biographer

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

From this reading Unquestionably, a personage in such an elevated position, and making so great a noise in the world, has a fair claim to the services of a biographer.

biography

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

From this reading While I sit musing over my sheet of foolscap, he emphatically tells the hour, in tones loud enough for all the town to hear, though doubtless intended only as a gentle hint to myself, that I may begin his biography before the evening shall be further wasted.

brethren

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

From this reading If any of his noisy brethren, in our tongue-governed democracy, be envious of the superiority which I have assigned him, they have my free consent to hang themselves as high as he.

business

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

From this reading He is the representative and most illustrious member of that innumerable class, whose characteristic feature is the tongue, and whose sole business, to clamor for the public good.

characteristic

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

From this reading He is the representative and most illustrious member of that innumerable class, whose characteristic feature is the tongue, and whose sole business, to clamor for the public good.

claim

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

From this reading Unquestionably, a personage in such an elevated position, and making so great a noise in the world, has a fair claim to the services of a biographer.

clamor

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

From this reading He is the representative and most illustrious member of that innumerable class, whose characteristic feature is the tongue, and whose sole business, to clamor for the public good.

class

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

From this reading He is the representative and most illustrious member of that innumerable class, whose characteristic feature is the tongue, and whose sole business, to clamor for the public good.

consent

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

From this reading If any of his noisy brethren, in our tongue-governed democracy, be envious of the superiority which I have assigned him, they have my free consent to hang themselves as high as he.

democracy

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

From this reading If any of his noisy brethren, in our tongue-governed democracy, be envious of the superiority which I have assigned him, they have my free consent to hang themselves as high as he.

doubtless

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

From this reading While I sit musing over my sheet of foolscap, he emphatically tells the hour, in tones loud enough for all the town to hear, though doubtless intended only as a gentle hint to myself, that I may begin his biography before the evening shall be further wasted.

elevated

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

From this reading Unquestionably, a personage in such an elevated position, and making so great a noise in the world, has a fair claim to the services of a biographer.

emphatically

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

From this reading While I sit musing over my sheet of foolscap, he emphatically tells the hour, in tones loud enough for all the town to hear, though doubtless intended only as a gentle hint to myself, that I may begin his biography before the evening shall be further wasted.

enough

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

From this reading While I sit musing over my sheet of foolscap, he emphatically tells the hour, in tones loud enough for all the town to hear, though doubtless intended only as a gentle hint to myself, that I may begin his biography before the evening shall be further wasted.

envious

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

From this reading If any of his noisy brethren, in our tongue-governed democracy, be envious of the superiority which I have assigned him, they have my free consent to hang themselves as high as he.

evening

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

From this reading While I sit musing over my sheet of foolscap, he emphatically tells the hour, in tones loud enough for all the town to hear, though doubtless intended only as a gentle hint to myself, that I may begin his biography before the evening shall be further wasted.

fairnounUS /fair/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Unquestionably, a personage in such an elevated position, and making so great a noise in the world, has a fair claim to the services of a biographer.

feature

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

From this reading He is the representative and most illustrious member of that innumerable class, whose characteristic feature is the tongue, and whose sole business, to clamor for the public good.

foolscap

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

From this reading While I sit musing over my sheet of foolscap, he emphatically tells the hour, in tones loud enough for all the town to hear, though doubtless intended only as a gentle hint to myself, that I may begin his biography before the evening shall be further wasted.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading While I sit musing over my sheet of foolscap, he emphatically tells the hour, in tones loud enough for all the town to hear, though doubtless intended only as a gentle hint to myself, that I may begin his biography before the evening shall be further wasted.

freeadjectiveUS /friː/

acting without enough restraint or discipline

From this reading If any of his noisy brethren, in our tongue-governed democracy, be envious of the superiority which I have assigned him, they have my free consent to hang themselves as high as he.

further

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

From this reading While I sit musing over my sheet of foolscap, he emphatically tells the hour, in tones loud enough for all the town to hear, though doubtless intended only as a gentle hint to myself, that I may begin his biography before the evening shall be further wasted.

gentle

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

From this reading While I sit musing over my sheet of foolscap, he emphatically tells the hour, in tones loud enough for all the town to hear, though doubtless intended only as a gentle hint to myself, that I may begin his biography before the evening shall be further wasted.

goodnounUS /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He is the representative and most illustrious member of that innumerable class, whose characteristic feature is the tongue, and whose sole business, to clamor for the public good.

greatnounUS /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Unquestionably, a personage in such an elevated position, and making so great a noise in the world, has a fair claim to the services of a biographer.

hang

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

From this reading If any of his noisy brethren, in our tongue-governed democracy, be envious of the superiority which I have assigned him, they have my free consent to hang themselves as high as he.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading Unquestionably, a personage in such an elevated position, and making so great a noise in the world, has a fair claim to the services of a biographer.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading If any of his noisy brethren, in our tongue-governed democracy, be envious of the superiority which I have assigned him, they have my free consent to hang themselves as high as he.

hepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading While I sit musing over my sheet of foolscap, he emphatically tells the hour, in tones loud enough for all the town to hear, though doubtless intended only as a gentle hint to myself, that I may begin his biography before the evening shall be further wasted.

hearnounUS /hear/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading While I sit musing over my sheet of foolscap, he emphatically tells the hour, in tones loud enough for all the town to hear, though doubtless intended only as a gentle hint to myself, that I may begin his biography before the evening shall be further wasted.

HearkenverbUS /ˈhɑːrkən/

listen carefully with focused attention to a sound

From this reading Hearken to our neighbor with the iron tongue.

high

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

From this reading If any of his noisy brethren, in our tongue-governed democracy, be envious of the superiority which I have assigned him, they have my free consent to hang themselves as high as he.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading If any of his noisy brethren, in our tongue-governed democracy, be envious of the superiority which I have assigned him, they have my free consent to hang themselves as high as he.

hint

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

From this reading While I sit musing over my sheet of foolscap, he emphatically tells the hour, in tones loud enough for all the town to hear, though doubtless intended only as a gentle hint to myself, that I may begin his biography before the evening shall be further wasted.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading While I sit musing over my sheet of foolscap, he emphatically tells the hour, in tones loud enough for all the town to hear, though doubtless intended only as a gentle hint to myself, that I may begin his biography before the evening shall be further wasted.

hour

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

From this reading While I sit musing over my sheet of foolscap, he emphatically tells the hour, in tones loud enough for all the town to hear, though doubtless intended only as a gentle hint to myself, that I may begin his biography before the evening shall be further wasted.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading While I sit musing over my sheet of foolscap, he emphatically tells the hour, in tones loud enough for all the town to hear, though doubtless intended only as a gentle hint to myself, that I may begin his biography before the evening shall be further wasted.

IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading If any of his noisy brethren, in our tongue-governed democracy, be envious of the superiority which I have assigned him, they have my free consent to hang themselves as high as he.

illustrious

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

From this reading He is the representative and most illustrious member of that innumerable class, whose characteristic feature is the tongue, and whose sole business, to clamor for the public good.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading While I sit musing over my sheet of foolscap, he emphatically tells the hour, in tones loud enough for all the town to hear, though doubtless intended only as a gentle hint to myself, that I may begin his biography before the evening shall be further wasted.

innumerable

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

From this reading He is the representative and most illustrious member of that innumerable class, whose characteristic feature is the tongue, and whose sole business, to clamor for the public good.

intended

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

From this reading While I sit musing over my sheet of foolscap, he emphatically tells the hour, in tones loud enough for all the town to hear, though doubtless intended only as a gentle hint to myself, that I may begin his biography before the evening shall be further wasted.

iron

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

From this reading Hearken to our neighbor with the iron tongue.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading He is the representative and most illustrious member of that innumerable class, whose characteristic feature is the tongue, and whose sole business, to clamor for the public good.

loud

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

From this reading While I sit musing over my sheet of foolscap, he emphatically tells the hour, in tones loud enough for all the town to hear, though doubtless intended only as a gentle hint to myself, that I may begin his biography before the evening shall be further wasted.

making

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

From this reading Unquestionably, a personage in such an elevated position, and making so great a noise in the world, has a fair claim to the services of a biographer.

maymodal verbUS /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading While I sit musing over my sheet of foolscap, he emphatically tells the hour, in tones loud enough for all the town to hear, though doubtless intended only as a gentle hint to myself, that I may begin his biography before the evening shall be further wasted.

member

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

From this reading He is the representative and most illustrious member of that innumerable class, whose characteristic feature is the tongue, and whose sole business, to clamor for the public good.

most

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

From this reading He is the representative and most illustrious member of that innumerable class, whose characteristic feature is the tongue, and whose sole business, to clamor for the public good.

musing

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

From this reading While I sit musing over my sheet of foolscap, he emphatically tells the hour, in tones loud enough for all the town to hear, though doubtless intended only as a gentle hint to myself, that I may begin his biography before the evening shall be further wasted.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading While I sit musing over my sheet of foolscap, he emphatically tells the hour, in tones loud enough for all the town to hear, though doubtless intended only as a gentle hint to myself, that I may begin his biography before the evening shall be further wasted.

myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading While I sit musing over my sheet of foolscap, he emphatically tells the hour, in tones loud enough for all the town to hear, though doubtless intended only as a gentle hint to myself, that I may begin his biography before the evening shall be further wasted.

neighbor

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

From this reading Hearken to our neighbor with the iron tongue.

noise

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

From this reading Unquestionably, a personage in such an elevated position, and making so great a noise in the world, has a fair claim to the services of a biographer.

noisy

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

From this reading If any of his noisy brethren, in our tongue-governed democracy, be envious of the superiority which I have assigned him, they have my free consent to hang themselves as high as he.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading While I sit musing over my sheet of foolscap, he emphatically tells the hour, in tones loud enough for all the town to hear, though doubtless intended only as a gentle hint to myself, that I may begin his biography before the evening shall be further wasted.

only

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

From this reading While I sit musing over my sheet of foolscap, he emphatically tells the hour, in tones loud enough for all the town to hear, though doubtless intended only as a gentle hint to myself, that I may begin his biography before the evening shall be further wasted.

ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading Hearken to our neighbor with the iron tongue.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading While I sit musing over my sheet of foolscap, he emphatically tells the hour, in tones loud enough for all the town to hear, though doubtless intended only as a gentle hint to myself, that I may begin his biography before the evening shall be further wasted.

personage

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

From this reading Unquestionably, a personage in such an elevated position, and making so great a noise in the world, has a fair claim to the services of a biographer.

position

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

From this reading Unquestionably, a personage in such an elevated position, and making so great a noise in the world, has a fair claim to the services of a biographer.

public

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

From this reading He is the representative and most illustrious member of that innumerable class, whose characteristic feature is the tongue, and whose sole business, to clamor for the public good.

representative

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

From this reading He is the representative and most illustrious member of that innumerable class, whose characteristic feature is the tongue, and whose sole business, to clamor for the public good.

services

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

From this reading Unquestionably, a personage in such an elevated position, and making so great a noise in the world, has a fair claim to the services of a biographer.

shallmodal verbUS /ʃæl/

used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest

From this reading While I sit musing over my sheet of foolscap, he emphatically tells the hour, in tones loud enough for all the town to hear, though doubtless intended only as a gentle hint to myself, that I may begin his biography before the evening shall be further wasted.

sheet

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

From this reading While I sit musing over my sheet of foolscap, he emphatically tells the hour, in tones loud enough for all the town to hear, though doubtless intended only as a gentle hint to myself, that I may begin his biography before the evening shall be further wasted.

sit

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

From this reading While I sit musing over my sheet of foolscap, he emphatically tells the hour, in tones loud enough for all the town to hear, though doubtless intended only as a gentle hint to myself, that I may begin his biography before the evening shall be further wasted.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Unquestionably, a personage in such an elevated position, and making so great a noise in the world, has a fair claim to the services of a biographer.

sole

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

From this reading He is the representative and most illustrious member of that innumerable class, whose characteristic feature is the tongue, and whose sole business, to clamor for the public good.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading Unquestionably, a personage in such an elevated position, and making so great a noise in the world, has a fair claim to the services of a biographer.

superiority

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

From this reading If any of his noisy brethren, in our tongue-governed democracy, be envious of the superiority which I have assigned him, they have my free consent to hang themselves as high as he.

tells

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

From this reading While I sit musing over my sheet of foolscap, he emphatically tells the hour, in tones loud enough for all the town to hear, though doubtless intended only as a gentle hint to myself, that I may begin his biography before the evening shall be further wasted.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading While I sit musing over my sheet of foolscap, he emphatically tells the hour, in tones loud enough for all the town to hear, though doubtless intended only as a gentle hint to myself, that I may begin his biography before the evening shall be further wasted.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Hearken to our neighbor with the iron tongue.

themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading If any of his noisy brethren, in our tongue-governed democracy, be envious of the superiority which I have assigned him, they have my free consent to hang themselves as high as he.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading If any of his noisy brethren, in our tongue-governed democracy, be envious of the superiority which I have assigned him, they have my free consent to hang themselves as high as he.

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading While I sit musing over my sheet of foolscap, he emphatically tells the hour, in tones loud enough for all the town to hear, though doubtless intended only as a gentle hint to myself, that I may begin his biography before the evening shall be further wasted.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Hearken to our neighbor with the iron tongue.

tones

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From this reading While I sit musing over my sheet of foolscap, he emphatically tells the hour, in tones loud enough for all the town to hear, though doubtless intended only as a gentle hint to myself, that I may begin his biography before the evening shall be further wasted.

tonguenounUS /tongue/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Hearken to our neighbor with the iron tongue.

tongue-governed

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From this reading If any of his noisy brethren, in our tongue-governed democracy, be envious of the superiority which I have assigned him, they have my free consent to hang themselves as high as he.

town

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From this reading While I sit musing over my sheet of foolscap, he emphatically tells the hour, in tones loud enough for all the town to hear, though doubtless intended only as a gentle hint to myself, that I may begin his biography before the evening shall be further wasted.

Unquestionably

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From this reading Unquestionably, a personage in such an elevated position, and making so great a noise in the world, has a fair claim to the services of a biographer.

wasted

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From this reading While I sit musing over my sheet of foolscap, he emphatically tells the hour, in tones loud enough for all the town to hear, though doubtless intended only as a gentle hint to myself, that I may begin his biography before the evening shall be further wasted.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading If any of his noisy brethren, in our tongue-governed democracy, be envious of the superiority which I have assigned him, they have my free consent to hang themselves as high as he.

WhileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading While I sit musing over my sheet of foolscap, he emphatically tells the hour, in tones loud enough for all the town to hear, though doubtless intended only as a gentle hint to myself, that I may begin his biography before the evening shall be further wasted.

whosedeterminerUS /huːz/

belonging to which person

From this reading He is the representative and most illustrious member of that innumerable class, whose characteristic feature is the tongue, and whose sole business, to clamor for the public good.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Hearken to our neighbor with the iron tongue.

world

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From this reading Unquestionably, a personage in such an elevated position, and making so great a noise in the world, has a fair claim to the services of a biographer.