adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Panshin’s father, a retired cavalry officer and a notorious gambler, was a man with insinuating eyes, a battered countenance, and a nervous twitch about the mouth.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Panshin’s father, a retired cavalry officer and a notorious gambler, was a man with insinuating eyes, a battered countenance, and a nervous twitch about the mouth.
affairsnounUS /əˈferz/
matters of personal concern
From this reading He served in Petersburg on special commissions in the department of internal affairs.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He had come to the town of O---- to carry out some temporary government commissions, and was in attendance on the Governor-General Zonnenberg, to whom he happened to be distantly related.
aristocraticadjectiveUS /ərˌɪstəˈkrætɪk/
belonging to or characteristic of the nobility or aristocracy
From this reading He spent his whole life hanging about the aristocratic world; frequented the English clubs of both capitals, and had the reputation of a smart, not very trustworthy, but jolly good-natured fellow.
attendancenounUS /əˈtendəns/
the act of being present (at a meeting or event etc.)
From this reading He had come to the town of O---- to carry out some temporary government commissions, and was in attendance on the Governor-General Zonnenberg, to whom he happened to be distantly related.
batteredadjectiveUS /ˈbætərd/
damaged by blows or hard usage
From this reading Panshin’s father, a retired cavalry officer and a notorious gambler, was a man with insinuating eyes, a battered countenance, and a nervous twitch about the mouth.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He had come to the town of O---- to carry out some temporary government commissions, and was in attendance on the Governor-General Zonnenberg, to whom he happened to be distantly related.
bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/
the two together, not just one
From this reading He spent his whole life hanging about the aristocratic world; frequented the English clubs of both capitals, and had the reputation of a smart, not very trustworthy, but jolly good-natured fellow.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He spent his whole life hanging about the aristocratic world; frequented the English clubs of both capitals, and had the reputation of a smart, not very trustworthy, but jolly good-natured fellow.
capitalsnounUS /ˈkæpətəlz/
plural of “capital” — assets available for use in the production of further assets
From this reading He spent his whole life hanging about the aristocratic world; frequented the English clubs of both capitals, and had the reputation of a smart, not very trustworthy, but jolly good-natured fellow.
carryverbUS /ˈkæri/
move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading He had come to the town of O---- to carry out some temporary government commissions, and was in attendance on the Governor-General Zonnenberg, to whom he happened to be distantly related.
cavalrynounUS /ˈkævəlri/
troops trained to fight on horseback
From this reading Panshin’s father, a retired cavalry officer and a notorious gambler, was a man with insinuating eyes, a battered countenance, and a nervous twitch about the mouth.
clubsnounUS /klʌbz/
plural of “club” — a team of professional baseball players who play and travel together
From this reading He spent his whole life hanging about the aristocratic world; frequented the English clubs of both capitals, and had the reputation of a smart, not very trustworthy, but jolly good-natured fellow.
comeverbUS /kʌm/
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading He had come to the town of O---- to carry out some temporary government commissions, and was in attendance on the Governor-General Zonnenberg, to whom he happened to be distantly related.
commissionsnounUS /kəˈmɪʃənz/
plural of “commission” — a special group delegated to consider some matter
From this reading He served in Petersburg on special commissions in the department of internal affairs.
countenancenounUS /ˈkaʊntənəns/
the appearance conveyed by a person's face
From this reading Panshin’s father, a retired cavalry officer and a notorious gambler, was a man with insinuating eyes, a battered countenance, and a nervous twitch about the mouth.
departmentnounUS /dɪˈpɑːrtmənt/
a specialized division of a large organization
From this reading He served in Petersburg on special commissions in the department of internal affairs.
distantlyadverb
from or at a distance
From this reading He had come to the town of O---- to carry out some temporary government commissions, and was in attendance on the Governor-General Zonnenberg, to whom he happened to be distantly related.
EnglishnounUS /ˈɪŋɡlɪʃ/
an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the United States and most of the commonwealth countries
From this reading He spent his whole life hanging about the aristocratic world; frequented the English clubs of both capitals, and had the reputation of a smart, not very trustworthy, but jolly good-natured fellow.
eyesnounUS /aɪz/
opinion or judgment
From this reading Panshin’s father, a retired cavalry officer and a notorious gambler, was a man with insinuating eyes, a battered countenance, and a nervous twitch about the mouth.
fathernounUS /ˈfɑːðər/
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading Panshin’s father, a retired cavalry officer and a notorious gambler, was a man with insinuating eyes, a battered countenance, and a nervous twitch about the mouth.
fellownounUS /ˈfeloʊ/
a boy or man
From this reading He spent his whole life hanging about the aristocratic world; frequented the English clubs of both capitals, and had the reputation of a smart, not very trustworthy, but jolly good-natured fellow.
frequentedverbUS /ˈfriːkwəntɪd/
past form of “frequent” — do one's shopping at; do business with; be a customer or client of
From this reading He spent his whole life hanging about the aristocratic world; frequented the English clubs of both capitals, and had the reputation of a smart, not very trustworthy, but jolly good-natured fellow.
gamblernounUS /ˈɡæmblər/
a person who wagers money on the outcome of games or sporting events
From this reading Panshin’s father, a retired cavalry officer and a notorious gambler, was a man with insinuating eyes, a battered countenance, and a nervous twitch about the mouth.
good-naturedadjective
having an easygoing and cheerful disposition
From this reading He spent his whole life hanging about the aristocratic world; frequented the English clubs of both capitals, and had the reputation of a smart, not very trustworthy, but jolly good-natured fellow.
governmentnounUS /ˈɡʌvərmənt/
the organization that is the governing authority of a political unit
From this reading He had come to the town of O---- to carry out some temporary government commissions, and was in attendance on the Governor-General Zonnenberg, to whom he happened to be distantly related.
Governor-General
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had come to the town of O---- to carry out some temporary government commissions, and was in attendance on the Governor-General Zonnenberg, to whom he happened to be distantly related.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had come to the town of O---- to carry out some temporary government commissions, and was in attendance on the Governor-General Zonnenberg, to whom he happened to be distantly related.
hangingnounUS /ˈhæŋɪŋ/
decoration that is hung (as a tapestry) on a wall or over a window
From this reading He spent his whole life hanging about the aristocratic world; frequented the English clubs of both capitals, and had the reputation of a smart, not very trustworthy, but jolly good-natured fellow.
happenedverbUS /ˈhæpənd/
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading He had come to the town of O---- to carry out some temporary government commissions, and was in attendance on the Governor-General Zonnenberg, to whom he happened to be distantly related.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The name of the young man whom we have just introduced to the reader was Vladimir Nikolaitch Panshin.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He served in Petersburg on special commissions in the department of internal affairs.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He spent his whole life hanging about the aristocratic world; frequented the English clubs of both capitals, and had the reputation of a smart, not very trustworthy, but jolly good-natured fellow.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He served in Petersburg on special commissions in the department of internal affairs.
insinuatingadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈsɪnjuːeɪtɪŋ/
calculated to please or gain favor
From this reading Panshin’s father, a retired cavalry officer and a notorious gambler, was a man with insinuating eyes, a battered countenance, and a nervous twitch about the mouth.
internaladjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈtɜːrnəl/
happening or arising or located within some limits or especially surface
From this reading He served in Petersburg on special commissions in the department of internal affairs.
introducedverbUS /ˌɪntrəˈduːst/
past form of “introduce” — cause to come to know personally
From this reading The name of the young man whom we have just introduced to the reader was Vladimir Nikolaitch Panshin.
jollyadjectiveUS /ˈdʒɑːli/
full of or showing high-spirited merriment
From this reading He spent his whole life hanging about the aristocratic world; frequented the English clubs of both capitals, and had the reputation of a smart, not very trustworthy, but jolly good-natured fellow.
justadverbUS /dʒʌst/
and nothing more
From this reading The name of the young man whom we have just introduced to the reader was Vladimir Nikolaitch Panshin.
lifenounUS /laɪf/
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading He spent his whole life hanging about the aristocratic world; frequented the English clubs of both capitals, and had the reputation of a smart, not very trustworthy, but jolly good-natured fellow.
mannounUS /mæn/
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading The name of the young man whom we have just introduced to the reader was Vladimir Nikolaitch Panshin.
mouthnounUS /maʊθ/
the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge
From this reading Panshin’s father, a retired cavalry officer and a notorious gambler, was a man with insinuating eyes, a battered countenance, and a nervous twitch about the mouth.
nameverbUS /neɪm/
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading The name of the young man whom we have just introduced to the reader was Vladimir Nikolaitch Panshin.
nervousadjectiveUS /ˈnɜːrvəs/
easily agitated
From this reading Panshin’s father, a retired cavalry officer and a notorious gambler, was a man with insinuating eyes, a battered countenance, and a nervous twitch about the mouth.
Nikolaitch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The name of the young man whom we have just introduced to the reader was Vladimir Nikolaitch Panshin.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He spent his whole life hanging about the aristocratic world; frequented the English clubs of both capitals, and had the reputation of a smart, not very trustworthy, but jolly good-natured fellow.
notoriousadjectiveUS /noʊˈtɔːriəs/
known widely and usually unfavorably
From this reading Panshin’s father, a retired cavalry officer and a notorious gambler, was a man with insinuating eyes, a battered countenance, and a nervous twitch about the mouth.
OnounUS /oʊ/
a nonmetallic bivalent element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless nonflammable diatomic gas; constitutes 21 percent of the atmosphere by volume; the most abundant element in the earth's crust
From this reading He had come to the town of O---- to carry out some temporary government commissions, and was in attendance on the Governor-General Zonnenberg, to whom he happened to be distantly related.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The name of the young man whom we have just introduced to the reader was Vladimir Nikolaitch Panshin.
officernounUS /ˈɔːfəsər/
any person in the armed services who holds a position of authority or command
From this reading Panshin’s father, a retired cavalry officer and a notorious gambler, was a man with insinuating eyes, a battered countenance, and a nervous twitch about the mouth.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He served in Petersburg on special commissions in the department of internal affairs.
outadjectiveUS /aʊt/
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading He had come to the town of O---- to carry out some temporary government commissions, and was in attendance on the Governor-General Zonnenberg, to whom he happened to be distantly related.
Panshin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The name of the young man whom we have just introduced to the reader was Vladimir Nikolaitch Panshin.
Panshin's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Panshin’s father, a retired cavalry officer and a notorious gambler, was a man with insinuating eyes, a battered countenance, and a nervous twitch about the mouth.
PetersburgnounUS /ˈpiːtərzbərɡ/
a town in southeastern Virginia (south of Richmond); scene of heavy fighting during the American Civil War
From this reading He served in Petersburg on special commissions in the department of internal affairs.
readernounUS /ˈriːdər/
a person who enjoys reading
From this reading The name of the young man whom we have just introduced to the reader was Vladimir Nikolaitch Panshin.
relatedadjectiveUS /rɪˈleɪtɪd/
being connected either logically or causally or by shared characteristics
From this reading He had come to the town of O---- to carry out some temporary government commissions, and was in attendance on the Governor-General Zonnenberg, to whom he happened to be distantly related.
reputationnounUS /ˌrepjəˈteɪʃən/
the state of being held in high esteem and honor
From this reading He spent his whole life hanging about the aristocratic world; frequented the English clubs of both capitals, and had the reputation of a smart, not very trustworthy, but jolly good-natured fellow.
retiredadjectiveUS /rɪˈtaɪrd/
no longer active in your work or profession
From this reading Panshin’s father, a retired cavalry officer and a notorious gambler, was a man with insinuating eyes, a battered countenance, and a nervous twitch about the mouth.
servedverbUS /sɜːrvd/
past form of “serve” — serve a purpose, role, or function
From this reading He served in Petersburg on special commissions in the department of internal affairs.
smartadjectiveUS /smɑːrt/
showing mental alertness and calculation and resourcefulness
From this reading He spent his whole life hanging about the aristocratic world; frequented the English clubs of both capitals, and had the reputation of a smart, not very trustworthy, but jolly good-natured fellow.
someadjectiveUS /sʌm/
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading He had come to the town of O---- to carry out some temporary government commissions, and was in attendance on the Governor-General Zonnenberg, to whom he happened to be distantly related.
specialadjectiveUS /ˈspeʃəl/
unique or specific to a person or thing or category
From this reading He served in Petersburg on special commissions in the department of internal affairs.
spentadjectiveUS /spent/
depleted of energy, force, or strength
From this reading He spent his whole life hanging about the aristocratic world; frequented the English clubs of both capitals, and had the reputation of a smart, not very trustworthy, but jolly good-natured fellow.
temporaryadjectiveUS /ˈtempəreri/
not permanent; not lasting
From this reading He had come to the town of O---- to carry out some temporary government commissions, and was in attendance on the Governor-General Zonnenberg, to whom he happened to be distantly related.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The name of the young man whom we have just introduced to the reader was Vladimir Nikolaitch Panshin.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The name of the young man whom we have just introduced to the reader was Vladimir Nikolaitch Panshin.
townnounUS /taʊn/
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading He had come to the town of O---- to carry out some temporary government commissions, and was in attendance on the Governor-General Zonnenberg, to whom he happened to be distantly related.
trustworthyadjectiveUS /ˈtrʌstwɜːrði/
worthy of trust or belief
From this reading He spent his whole life hanging about the aristocratic world; frequented the English clubs of both capitals, and had the reputation of a smart, not very trustworthy, but jolly good-natured fellow.
twitchverbUS /twɪtʃ/
make an uncontrolled, short, jerky motion
From this reading Panshin’s father, a retired cavalry officer and a notorious gambler, was a man with insinuating eyes, a battered countenance, and a nervous twitch about the mouth.
veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/
precisely as stated
From this reading He spent his whole life hanging about the aristocratic world; frequented the English clubs of both capitals, and had the reputation of a smart, not very trustworthy, but jolly good-natured fellow.
Vladimir
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The name of the young man whom we have just introduced to the reader was Vladimir Nikolaitch Panshin.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The name of the young man whom we have just introduced to the reader was Vladimir Nikolaitch Panshin.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading The name of the young man whom we have just introduced to the reader was Vladimir Nikolaitch Panshin.
wholeadjectiveUS /hoʊl/
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading He spent his whole life hanging about the aristocratic world; frequented the English clubs of both capitals, and had the reputation of a smart, not very trustworthy, but jolly good-natured fellow.
whompronounUS /huːm/
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The name of the young man whom we have just introduced to the reader was Vladimir Nikolaitch Panshin.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Panshin’s father, a retired cavalry officer and a notorious gambler, was a man with insinuating eyes, a battered countenance, and a nervous twitch about the mouth.
worldnounUS /wɜːrld/
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading He spent his whole life hanging about the aristocratic world; frequented the English clubs of both capitals, and had the reputation of a smart, not very trustworthy, but jolly good-natured fellow.
youngadjectiveUS /jʌŋ/
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading The name of the young man whom we have just introduced to the reader was Vladimir Nikolaitch Panshin.
Zonnenberg
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had come to the town of O---- to carry out some temporary government commissions, and was in attendance on the Governor-General Zonnenberg, to whom he happened to be distantly related.
