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 I have before said that his knowledge, though it had swept over a wide circuit and dipped into curious, unfrequented recesses, was desultory and erratic.
accurate
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From this reading His power of memory in some things seemed prodigious, but when examined it was seldom accurate; it could apprehend, but did not hold together with a binding grasp what metaphysicians call "complex ideas."
acquaintance
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From this reading Increased intimacy with my new acquaintance did not diminish the charm of his society, though it brought to light some startling defects, both in his mental and moral organization.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Increased intimacy with my new acquaintance did not diminish the charm of his society, though it brought to light some startling defects, both in his mental and moral organization.
apprehend
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From this reading His power of memory in some things seemed prodigious, but when examined it was seldom accurate; it could apprehend, but did not hold together with a binding grasp what metaphysicians call "complex ideas."
aspiring
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From this reading It certainly was not that knowledge, sustained and aspiring, which the poet assures us is "the wing on which we mount to heaven."
assures
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From this reading It certainly was not that knowledge, sustained and aspiring, which the poet assures us is "the wing on which we mount to heaven."
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading I have before said that his knowledge, though it had swept over a wide circuit and dipped into curious, unfrequented recesses, was desultory and erratic.
binding
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From this reading His power of memory in some things seemed prodigious, but when examined it was seldom accurate; it could apprehend, but did not hold together with a binding grasp what metaphysicians call "complex ideas."
bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/
the two together, not just one
From this reading Increased intimacy with my new acquaintance did not diminish the charm of his society, though it brought to light some startling defects, both in his mental and moral organization.
broughtnounUS /ˈbrought/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Increased intimacy with my new acquaintance did not diminish the charm of his society, though it brought to light some startling defects, both in his mental and moral organization.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading His power of memory in some things seemed prodigious, but when examined it was seldom accurate; it could apprehend, but did not hold together with a binding grasp what metaphysicians call "complex ideas."
call
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From this reading His power of memory in some things seemed prodigious, but when examined it was seldom accurate; it could apprehend, but did not hold together with a binding grasp what metaphysicians call "complex ideas."
certainly
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From this reading It certainly was not that knowledge, sustained and aspiring, which the poet assures us is "the wing on which we mount to heaven."
charm
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From this reading Increased intimacy with my new acquaintance did not diminish the charm of his society, though it brought to light some startling defects, both in his mental and moral organization.
circuit
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From this reading I have before said that his knowledge, though it had swept over a wide circuit and dipped into curious, unfrequented recesses, was desultory and erratic.
complex
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From this reading His power of memory in some things seemed prodigious, but when examined it was seldom accurate; it could apprehend, but did not hold together with a binding grasp what metaphysicians call "complex ideas."
contradictions
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From this reading So, in his faculties themselves there were singular inequalities, or contradictions.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading His power of memory in some things seemed prodigious, but when examined it was seldom accurate; it could apprehend, but did not hold together with a binding grasp what metaphysicians call "complex ideas."
curious
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From this reading I have before said that his knowledge, though it had swept over a wide circuit and dipped into curious, unfrequented recesses, was desultory and erratic.
defects
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Increased intimacy with my new acquaintance did not diminish the charm of his society, though it brought to light some startling defects, both in his mental and moral organization.
desultory
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From this reading I have before said that his knowledge, though it had swept over a wide circuit and dipped into curious, unfrequented recesses, was desultory and erratic.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Increased intimacy with my new acquaintance did not diminish the charm of his society, though it brought to light some startling defects, both in his mental and moral organization.
diminish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Increased intimacy with my new acquaintance did not diminish the charm of his society, though it brought to light some startling defects, both in his mental and moral organization.
dipped
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From this reading I have before said that his knowledge, though it had swept over a wide circuit and dipped into curious, unfrequented recesses, was desultory and erratic.
erratic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I have before said that his knowledge, though it had swept over a wide circuit and dipped into curious, unfrequented recesses, was desultory and erratic.
examined
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From this reading His power of memory in some things seemed prodigious, but when examined it was seldom accurate; it could apprehend, but did not hold together with a binding grasp what metaphysicians call "complex ideas."
faculties
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From this reading So, in his faculties themselves there were singular inequalities, or contradictions.
graspnounUS /ɡræsp/
a firm hold in a specific situation in this story
From this reading His power of memory in some things seemed prodigious, but when examined it was seldom accurate; it could apprehend, but did not hold together with a binding grasp what metaphysicians call "complex ideas."
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I have before said that his knowledge, though it had swept over a wide circuit and dipped into curious, unfrequented recesses, was desultory and erratic.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading I have before said that his knowledge, though it had swept over a wide circuit and dipped into curious, unfrequented recesses, was desultory and erratic.
heaven
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From this reading It certainly was not that knowledge, sustained and aspiring, which the poet assures us is "the wing on which we mount to heaven."
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Increased intimacy with my new acquaintance did not diminish the charm of his society, though it brought to light some startling defects, both in his mental and moral organization.
hold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His power of memory in some things seemed prodigious, but when examined it was seldom accurate; it could apprehend, but did not hold together with a binding grasp what metaphysicians call "complex ideas."
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I have before said that his knowledge, though it had swept over a wide circuit and dipped into curious, unfrequented recesses, was desultory and erratic.
ideas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His power of memory in some things seemed prodigious, but when examined it was seldom accurate; it could apprehend, but did not hold together with a binding grasp what metaphysicians call "complex ideas."
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Increased intimacy with my new acquaintance did not diminish the charm of his society, though it brought to light some startling defects, both in his mental and moral organization.
Increased
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Increased intimacy with my new acquaintance did not diminish the charm of his society, though it brought to light some startling defects, both in his mental and moral organization.
inequalities
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From this reading So, in his faculties themselves there were singular inequalities, or contradictions.
intimacy
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From this reading Increased intimacy with my new acquaintance did not diminish the charm of his society, though it brought to light some startling defects, both in his mental and moral organization.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading I have before said that his knowledge, though it had swept over a wide circuit and dipped into curious, unfrequented recesses, was desultory and erratic.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It certainly was not that knowledge, sustained and aspiring, which the poet assures us is "the wing on which we mount to heaven."
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Increased intimacy with my new acquaintance did not diminish the charm of his society, though it brought to light some startling defects, both in his mental and moral organization.
knowledge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I have before said that his knowledge, though it had swept over a wide circuit and dipped into curious, unfrequented recesses, was desultory and erratic.
light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Increased intimacy with my new acquaintance did not diminish the charm of his society, though it brought to light some startling defects, both in his mental and moral organization.
memorynounUS /ˈmem.ər.i/
The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.
From this reading His power of memory in some things seemed prodigious, but when examined it was seldom accurate; it could apprehend, but did not hold together with a binding grasp what metaphysicians call "complex ideas."
mental
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Increased intimacy with my new acquaintance did not diminish the charm of his society, though it brought to light some startling defects, both in his mental and moral organization.
metaphysicians
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His power of memory in some things seemed prodigious, but when examined it was seldom accurate; it could apprehend, but did not hold together with a binding grasp what metaphysicians call "complex ideas."
moral
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Increased intimacy with my new acquaintance did not diminish the charm of his society, though it brought to light some startling defects, both in his mental and moral organization.
mount
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It certainly was not that knowledge, sustained and aspiring, which the poet assures us is "the wing on which we mount to heaven."
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Increased intimacy with my new acquaintance did not diminish the charm of his society, though it brought to light some startling defects, both in his mental and moral organization.
new
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Increased intimacy with my new acquaintance did not diminish the charm of his society, though it brought to light some startling defects, both in his mental and moral organization.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Increased intimacy with my new acquaintance did not diminish the charm of his society, though it brought to light some startling defects, both in his mental and moral organization.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Increased intimacy with my new acquaintance did not diminish the charm of his society, though it brought to light some startling defects, both in his mental and moral organization.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It certainly was not that knowledge, sustained and aspiring, which the poet assures us is "the wing on which we mount to heaven."
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading So, in his faculties themselves there were singular inequalities, or contradictions.
organization
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Increased intimacy with my new acquaintance did not diminish the charm of his society, though it brought to light some startling defects, both in his mental and moral organization.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading I have before said that his knowledge, though it had swept over a wide circuit and dipped into curious, unfrequented recesses, was desultory and erratic.
poet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It certainly was not that knowledge, sustained and aspiring, which the poet assures us is "the wing on which we mount to heaven."
power
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His power of memory in some things seemed prodigious, but when examined it was seldom accurate; it could apprehend, but did not hold together with a binding grasp what metaphysicians call "complex ideas."
prodigious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His power of memory in some things seemed prodigious, but when examined it was seldom accurate; it could apprehend, but did not hold together with a binding grasp what metaphysicians call "complex ideas."
recesses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I have before said that his knowledge, though it had swept over a wide circuit and dipped into curious, unfrequented recesses, was desultory and erratic.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I have before said that his knowledge, though it had swept over a wide circuit and dipped into curious, unfrequented recesses, was desultory and erratic.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading His power of memory in some things seemed prodigious, but when examined it was seldom accurate; it could apprehend, but did not hold together with a binding grasp what metaphysicians call "complex ideas."
seldom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His power of memory in some things seemed prodigious, but when examined it was seldom accurate; it could apprehend, but did not hold together with a binding grasp what metaphysicians call "complex ideas."
singular
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From this reading So, in his faculties themselves there were singular inequalities, or contradictions.
SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So, in his faculties themselves there were singular inequalities, or contradictions.
society
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Increased intimacy with my new acquaintance did not diminish the charm of his society, though it brought to light some startling defects, both in his mental and moral organization.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Increased intimacy with my new acquaintance did not diminish the charm of his society, though it brought to light some startling defects, both in his mental and moral organization.
startling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Increased intimacy with my new acquaintance did not diminish the charm of his society, though it brought to light some startling defects, both in his mental and moral organization.
sustained
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It certainly was not that knowledge, sustained and aspiring, which the poet assures us is "the wing on which we mount to heaven."
swept
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I have before said that his knowledge, though it had swept over a wide circuit and dipped into curious, unfrequented recesses, was desultory and erratic.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I have before said that his knowledge, though it had swept over a wide circuit and dipped into curious, unfrequented recesses, was desultory and erratic.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Increased intimacy with my new acquaintance did not diminish the charm of his society, though it brought to light some startling defects, both in his mental and moral organization.
themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading So, in his faculties themselves there were singular inequalities, or contradictions.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So, in his faculties themselves there were singular inequalities, or contradictions.
things
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His power of memory in some things seemed prodigious, but when examined it was seldom accurate; it could apprehend, but did not hold together with a binding grasp what metaphysicians call "complex ideas."
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Increased intimacy with my new acquaintance did not diminish the charm of his society, though it brought to light some startling defects, both in his mental and moral organization.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Increased intimacy with my new acquaintance did not diminish the charm of his society, though it brought to light some startling defects, both in his mental and moral organization.
together
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His power of memory in some things seemed prodigious, but when examined it was seldom accurate; it could apprehend, but did not hold together with a binding grasp what metaphysicians call "complex ideas."
unfrequented
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I have before said that his knowledge, though it had swept over a wide circuit and dipped into curious, unfrequented recesses, was desultory and erratic.
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It certainly was not that knowledge, sustained and aspiring, which the poet assures us is "the wing on which we mount to heaven."
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I have before said that his knowledge, though it had swept over a wide circuit and dipped into curious, unfrequented recesses, was desultory and erratic.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading It certainly was not that knowledge, sustained and aspiring, which the poet assures us is "the wing on which we mount to heaven."
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading So, in his faculties themselves there were singular inequalities, or contradictions.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading His power of memory in some things seemed prodigious, but when examined it was seldom accurate; it could apprehend, but did not hold together with a binding grasp what metaphysicians call "complex ideas."
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading His power of memory in some things seemed prodigious, but when examined it was seldom accurate; it could apprehend, but did not hold together with a binding grasp what metaphysicians call "complex ideas."
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It certainly was not that knowledge, sustained and aspiring, which the poet assures us is "the wing on which we mount to heaven."
wide
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I have before said that his knowledge, though it had swept over a wide circuit and dipped into curious, unfrequented recesses, was desultory and erratic.
wing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It certainly was not that knowledge, sustained and aspiring, which the poet assures us is "the wing on which we mount to heaven."
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Increased intimacy with my new acquaintance did not diminish the charm of his society, though it brought to light some startling defects, both in his mental and moral organization.
