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 However he might have acted had the aggressor been a man, he was powerless when attacked by a woman, and he was aware that he had followed the only course which had in it anything of dignity and self-respect.
absurd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To stand and bandy words and epithets of abuse would have been worse than useless, to treat the tobacconist like a gentleman and to hold him responsible for his wife's language would have been more than absurd.
abuse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What he most desired for the moment was to withdraw himself from the storm of Akulina's abuse, seeing that he had no means of checking the torrent, nor of exacting satisfaction for the insults received.
acted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading However he might have acted had the aggressor been a man, he was powerless when attacked by a woman, and he was aware that he had followed the only course which had in it anything of dignity and self-respect.
aggressor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading However he might have acted had the aggressor been a man, he was powerless when attacked by a woman, and he was aware that he had followed the only course which had in it anything of dignity and self-respect.
Akulina's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What he most desired for the moment was to withdraw himself from the storm of Akulina's abuse, seeing that he had no means of checking the torrent, nor of exacting satisfaction for the insults received.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading However he might have acted had the aggressor been a man, he was powerless when attacked by a woman, and he was aware that he had followed the only course which had in it anything of dignity and self-respect.
anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/
any thing at all
From this reading However he might have acted had the aggressor been a man, he was powerless when attacked by a woman, and he was aware that he had followed the only course which had in it anything of dignity and self-respect.
attacked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading However he might have acted had the aggressor been a man, he was powerless when attacked by a woman, and he was aware that he had followed the only course which had in it anything of dignity and self-respect.
aware
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading However he might have acted had the aggressor been a man, he was powerless when attacked by a woman, and he was aware that he had followed the only course which had in it anything of dignity and self-respect.
bandy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To stand and bandy words and epithets of abuse would have been worse than useless, to treat the tobacconist like a gentleman and to hold him responsible for his wife's language would have been more than absurd.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading However he might have acted had the aggressor been a man, he was powerless when attacked by a woman, and he was aware that he had followed the only course which had in it anything of dignity and self-respect.
brokennounUS /broken/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The Count had no precise object in view when he hurriedly left the shop with the parcel containing the broken doll.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading However he might have acted had the aggressor been a man, he was powerless when attacked by a woman, and he was aware that he had followed the only course which had in it anything of dignity and self-respect.
checking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What he most desired for the moment was to withdraw himself from the storm of Akulina's abuse, seeing that he had no means of checking the torrent, nor of exacting satisfaction for the insults received.
containing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Count had no precise object in view when he hurriedly left the shop with the parcel containing the broken doll.
Count
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Count had no precise object in view when he hurriedly left the shop with the parcel containing the broken doll.
coursenounUS /course/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading However he might have acted had the aggressor been a man, he was powerless when attacked by a woman, and he was aware that he had followed the only course which had in it anything of dignity and self-respect.
desired
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What he most desired for the moment was to withdraw himself from the storm of Akulina's abuse, seeing that he had no means of checking the torrent, nor of exacting satisfaction for the insults received.
dignity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading However he might have acted had the aggressor been a man, he was powerless when attacked by a woman, and he was aware that he had followed the only course which had in it anything of dignity and self-respect.
doll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Count had no precise object in view when he hurriedly left the shop with the parcel containing the broken doll.
epithets
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To stand and bandy words and epithets of abuse would have been worse than useless, to treat the tobacconist like a gentleman and to hold him responsible for his wife's language would have been more than absurd.
exacting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What he most desired for the moment was to withdraw himself from the storm of Akulina's abuse, seeing that he had no means of checking the torrent, nor of exacting satisfaction for the insults received.
followed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading However he might have acted had the aggressor been a man, he was powerless when attacked by a woman, and he was aware that he had followed the only course which had in it anything of dignity and self-respect.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading What he most desired for the moment was to withdraw himself from the storm of Akulina's abuse, seeing that he had no means of checking the torrent, nor of exacting satisfaction for the insults received.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading What he most desired for the moment was to withdraw himself from the storm of Akulina's abuse, seeing that he had no means of checking the torrent, nor of exacting satisfaction for the insults received.
gentlemannounUS /ˈgentleman/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading To stand and bandy words and epithets of abuse would have been worse than useless, to treat the tobacconist like a gentleman and to hold him responsible for his wife's language would have been more than absurd.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The Count had no precise object in view when he hurriedly left the shop with the parcel containing the broken doll.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading However he might have acted had the aggressor been a man, he was powerless when attacked by a woman, and he was aware that he had followed the only course which had in it anything of dignity and self-respect.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The Count had no precise object in view when he hurriedly left the shop with the parcel containing the broken doll.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading To stand and bandy words and epithets of abuse would have been worse than useless, to treat the tobacconist like a gentleman and to hold him responsible for his wife's language would have been more than absurd.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading What he most desired for the moment was to withdraw himself from the storm of Akulina's abuse, seeing that he had no means of checking the torrent, nor of exacting satisfaction for the insults received.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading To stand and bandy words and epithets of abuse would have been worse than useless, to treat the tobacconist like a gentleman and to hold him responsible for his wife's language would have been more than absurd.
hold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To stand and bandy words and epithets of abuse would have been worse than useless, to treat the tobacconist like a gentleman and to hold him responsible for his wife's language would have been more than absurd.
HoweveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading However he might have acted had the aggressor been a man, he was powerless when attacked by a woman, and he was aware that he had followed the only course which had in it anything of dignity and self-respect.
hurriedly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Count had no precise object in view when he hurriedly left the shop with the parcel containing the broken doll.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The Count had no precise object in view when he hurriedly left the shop with the parcel containing the broken doll.
insults
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What he most desired for the moment was to withdraw himself from the storm of Akulina's abuse, seeing that he had no means of checking the torrent, nor of exacting satisfaction for the insults received.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading However he might have acted had the aggressor been a man, he was powerless when attacked by a woman, and he was aware that he had followed the only course which had in it anything of dignity and self-respect.
language
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To stand and bandy words and epithets of abuse would have been worse than useless, to treat the tobacconist like a gentleman and to hold him responsible for his wife's language would have been more than absurd.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The Count had no precise object in view when he hurriedly left the shop with the parcel containing the broken doll.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To stand and bandy words and epithets of abuse would have been worse than useless, to treat the tobacconist like a gentleman and to hold him responsible for his wife's language would have been more than absurd.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading However he might have acted had the aggressor been a man, he was powerless when attacked by a woman, and he was aware that he had followed the only course which had in it anything of dignity and self-respect.
means
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What he most desired for the moment was to withdraw himself from the storm of Akulina's abuse, seeing that he had no means of checking the torrent, nor of exacting satisfaction for the insults received.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading However he might have acted had the aggressor been a man, he was powerless when attacked by a woman, and he was aware that he had followed the only course which had in it anything of dignity and self-respect.
moment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What he most desired for the moment was to withdraw himself from the storm of Akulina's abuse, seeing that he had no means of checking the torrent, nor of exacting satisfaction for the insults received.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To stand and bandy words and epithets of abuse would have been worse than useless, to treat the tobacconist like a gentleman and to hold him responsible for his wife's language would have been more than absurd.
most
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What he most desired for the moment was to withdraw himself from the storm of Akulina's abuse, seeing that he had no means of checking the torrent, nor of exacting satisfaction for the insults received.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading The Count had no precise object in view when he hurriedly left the shop with the parcel containing the broken doll.
norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading What he most desired for the moment was to withdraw himself from the storm of Akulina's abuse, seeing that he had no means of checking the torrent, nor of exacting satisfaction for the insults received.
object
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Count had no precise object in view when he hurriedly left the shop with the parcel containing the broken doll.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading What he most desired for the moment was to withdraw himself from the storm of Akulina's abuse, seeing that he had no means of checking the torrent, nor of exacting satisfaction for the insults received.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading So the Count took the remains of the puppet and went on his way.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading However he might have acted had the aggressor been a man, he was powerless when attacked by a woman, and he was aware that he had followed the only course which had in it anything of dignity and self-respect.
parcel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Count had no precise object in view when he hurriedly left the shop with the parcel containing the broken doll.
powerless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading However he might have acted had the aggressor been a man, he was powerless when attacked by a woman, and he was aware that he had followed the only course which had in it anything of dignity and self-respect.
precise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Count had no precise object in view when he hurriedly left the shop with the parcel containing the broken doll.
puppet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So the Count took the remains of the puppet and went on his way.
received
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What he most desired for the moment was to withdraw himself from the storm of Akulina's abuse, seeing that he had no means of checking the torrent, nor of exacting satisfaction for the insults received.
remains
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So the Count took the remains of the puppet and went on his way.
responsibleadjectiveUS /rɪˈspɑnsəbəl/
having a duty to protect or manage something
From this reading To stand and bandy words and epithets of abuse would have been worse than useless, to treat the tobacconist like a gentleman and to hold him responsible for his wife's language would have been more than absurd.
satisfaction
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What he most desired for the moment was to withdraw himself from the storm of Akulina's abuse, seeing that he had no means of checking the torrent, nor of exacting satisfaction for the insults received.
seeing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What he most desired for the moment was to withdraw himself from the storm of Akulina's abuse, seeing that he had no means of checking the torrent, nor of exacting satisfaction for the insults received.
self-respect
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading However he might have acted had the aggressor been a man, he was powerless when attacked by a woman, and he was aware that he had followed the only course which had in it anything of dignity and self-respect.
shop
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Count had no precise object in view when he hurriedly left the shop with the parcel containing the broken doll.
SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So the Count took the remains of the puppet and went on his way.
stand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To stand and bandy words and epithets of abuse would have been worse than useless, to treat the tobacconist like a gentleman and to hold him responsible for his wife's language would have been more than absurd.
storm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What he most desired for the moment was to withdraw himself from the storm of Akulina's abuse, seeing that he had no means of checking the torrent, nor of exacting satisfaction for the insults received.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading To stand and bandy words and epithets of abuse would have been worse than useless, to treat the tobacconist like a gentleman and to hold him responsible for his wife's language would have been more than absurd.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading What he most desired for the moment was to withdraw himself from the storm of Akulina's abuse, seeing that he had no means of checking the torrent, nor of exacting satisfaction for the insults received.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Count had no precise object in view when he hurriedly left the shop with the parcel containing the broken doll.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading What he most desired for the moment was to withdraw himself from the storm of Akulina's abuse, seeing that he had no means of checking the torrent, nor of exacting satisfaction for the insults received.
tobacconist
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To stand and bandy words and epithets of abuse would have been worse than useless, to treat the tobacconist like a gentleman and to hold him responsible for his wife's language would have been more than absurd.
tooknounUS /took/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading So the Count took the remains of the puppet and went on his way.
torrent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What he most desired for the moment was to withdraw himself from the storm of Akulina's abuse, seeing that he had no means of checking the torrent, nor of exacting satisfaction for the insults received.
treat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To stand and bandy words and epithets of abuse would have been worse than useless, to treat the tobacconist like a gentleman and to hold him responsible for his wife's language would have been more than absurd.
useless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To stand and bandy words and epithets of abuse would have been worse than useless, to treat the tobacconist like a gentleman and to hold him responsible for his wife's language would have been more than absurd.
view
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Count had no precise object in view when he hurriedly left the shop with the parcel containing the broken doll.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading What he most desired for the moment was to withdraw himself from the storm of Akulina's abuse, seeing that he had no means of checking the torrent, nor of exacting satisfaction for the insults received.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So the Count took the remains of the puppet and went on his way.
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading So the Count took the remains of the puppet and went on his way.
WhatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What he most desired for the moment was to withdraw himself from the storm of Akulina's abuse, seeing that he had no means of checking the torrent, nor of exacting satisfaction for the insults received.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading The Count had no precise object in view when he hurriedly left the shop with the parcel containing the broken doll.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading However he might have acted had the aggressor been a man, he was powerless when attacked by a woman, and he was aware that he had followed the only course which had in it anything of dignity and self-respect.
wife's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To stand and bandy words and epithets of abuse would have been worse than useless, to treat the tobacconist like a gentleman and to hold him responsible for his wife's language would have been more than absurd.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The Count had no precise object in view when he hurriedly left the shop with the parcel containing the broken doll.
withdraw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What he most desired for the moment was to withdraw himself from the storm of Akulina's abuse, seeing that he had no means of checking the torrent, nor of exacting satisfaction for the insults received.
woman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading However he might have acted had the aggressor been a man, he was powerless when attacked by a woman, and he was aware that he had followed the only course which had in it anything of dignity and self-respect.
words
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To stand and bandy words and epithets of abuse would have been worse than useless, to treat the tobacconist like a gentleman and to hold him responsible for his wife's language would have been more than absurd.
worse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To stand and bandy words and epithets of abuse would have been worse than useless, to treat the tobacconist like a gentleman and to hold him responsible for his wife's language would have been more than absurd.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading To stand and bandy words and epithets of abuse would have been worse than useless, to treat the tobacconist like a gentleman and to hold him responsible for his wife's language would have been more than absurd.