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 Sometimes he had thought of improving his income by exchanging his little collection of bonds for a “small rental property,” if he could find “a good buy”; and he had spent many of his spare hours rambling over the enormously spreading city and its purlieus, looking for the ideal “buy.”
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He was out in his taxicab again the next morning, and by noon he had secured what he wanted.
All
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All the years during which his wife had pressed him toward his present shift he had sworn to himself, as well as to her, that he would never yield; and yet when he did yield he had no plans to make, because he found them already prepared and worked out in detail in his mind; as if he had long contemplated the “step” he believed himself incapable of taking.
alreadynounUS /already/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading All the years during which his wife had pressed him toward his present shift he had sworn to himself, as well as to her, that he would never yield; and yet when he did yield he had no plans to make, because he found them already prepared and worked out in detail in his mind; as if he had long contemplated the “step” he believed himself incapable of taking.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He was out in his taxicab again the next morning, and by noon he had secured what he wanted.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading All the years during which his wife had pressed him toward his present shift he had sworn to himself, as well as to her, that he would never yield; and yet when he did yield he had no plans to make, because he found them already prepared and worked out in detail in his mind; as if he had long contemplated the “step” he believed himself incapable of taking.
becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/
for the reason that
From this reading All the years during which his wife had pressed him toward his present shift he had sworn to himself, as well as to her, that he would never yield; and yet when he did yield he had no plans to make, because he found them already prepared and worked out in detail in his mind; as if he had long contemplated the “step” he believed himself incapable of taking.
believed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All the years during which his wife had pressed him toward his present shift he had sworn to himself, as well as to her, that he would never yield; and yet when he did yield he had no plans to make, because he found them already prepared and worked out in detail in his mind; as if he had long contemplated the “step” he believed himself incapable of taking.
bonds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes he had thought of improving his income by exchanging his little collection of bonds for a “small rental property,” if he could find “a good buy”; and he had spent many of his spare hours rambling over the enormously spreading city and its purlieus, looking for the ideal “buy.”
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It remained unattainable, so far as he was concerned; but he found other things.
buy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes he had thought of improving his income by exchanging his little collection of bonds for a “small rental property,” if he could find “a good buy”; and he had spent many of his spare hours rambling over the enormously spreading city and its purlieus, looking for the ideal “buy.”
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He was out in his taxicab again the next morning, and by noon he had secured what he wanted.
city
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes he had thought of improving his income by exchanging his little collection of bonds for a “small rental property,” if he could find “a good buy”; and he had spent many of his spare hours rambling over the enormously spreading city and its purlieus, looking for the ideal “buy.”
collection
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes he had thought of improving his income by exchanging his little collection of bonds for a “small rental property,” if he could find “a good buy”; and he had spent many of his spare hours rambling over the enormously spreading city and its purlieus, looking for the ideal “buy.”
concerned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It remained unattainable, so far as he was concerned; but he found other things.
contemplated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All the years during which his wife had pressed him toward his present shift he had sworn to himself, as well as to her, that he would never yield; and yet when he did yield he had no plans to make, because he found them already prepared and worked out in detail in his mind; as if he had long contemplated the “step” he believed himself incapable of taking.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Sometimes he had thought of improving his income by exchanging his little collection of bonds for a “small rental property,” if he could find “a good buy”; and he had spent many of his spare hours rambling over the enormously spreading city and its purlieus, looking for the ideal “buy.”
curiously
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was curiously significant that he worked so quickly.
detail
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All the years during which his wife had pressed him toward his present shift he had sworn to himself, as well as to her, that he would never yield; and yet when he did yield he had no plans to make, because he found them already prepared and worked out in detail in his mind; as if he had long contemplated the “step” he believed himself incapable of taking.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading All the years during which his wife had pressed him toward his present shift he had sworn to himself, as well as to her, that he would never yield; and yet when he did yield he had no plans to make, because he found them already prepared and worked out in detail in his mind; as if he had long contemplated the “step” he believed himself incapable of taking.
duringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading All the years during which his wife had pressed him toward his present shift he had sworn to himself, as well as to her, that he would never yield; and yet when he did yield he had no plans to make, because he found them already prepared and worked out in detail in his mind; as if he had long contemplated the “step” he believed himself incapable of taking.
enormously
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes he had thought of improving his income by exchanging his little collection of bonds for a “small rental property,” if he could find “a good buy”; and he had spent many of his spare hours rambling over the enormously spreading city and its purlieus, looking for the ideal “buy.”
exchanging
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes he had thought of improving his income by exchanging his little collection of bonds for a “small rental property,” if he could find “a good buy”; and he had spent many of his spare hours rambling over the enormously spreading city and its purlieus, looking for the ideal “buy.”
far
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It remained unattainable, so far as he was concerned; but he found other things.
find
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes he had thought of improving his income by exchanging his little collection of bonds for a “small rental property,” if he could find “a good buy”; and he had spent many of his spare hours rambling over the enormously spreading city and its purlieus, looking for the ideal “buy.”
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Sometimes he had thought of improving his income by exchanging his little collection of bonds for a “small rental property,” if he could find “a good buy”; and he had spent many of his spare hours rambling over the enormously spreading city and its purlieus, looking for the ideal “buy.”
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading All the years during which his wife had pressed him toward his present shift he had sworn to himself, as well as to her, that he would never yield; and yet when he did yield he had no plans to make, because he found them already prepared and worked out in detail in his mind; as if he had long contemplated the “step” he believed himself incapable of taking.
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Sometimes he had thought of improving his income by exchanging his little collection of bonds for a “small rental property,” if he could find “a good buy”; and he had spent many of his spare hours rambling over the enormously spreading city and its purlieus, looking for the ideal “buy.”
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He was out in his taxicab again the next morning, and by noon he had secured what he wanted.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was out in his taxicab again the next morning, and by noon he had secured what he wanted.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading All the years during which his wife had pressed him toward his present shift he had sworn to himself, as well as to her, that he would never yield; and yet when he did yield he had no plans to make, because he found them already prepared and worked out in detail in his mind; as if he had long contemplated the “step” he believed himself incapable of taking.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading All the years during which his wife had pressed him toward his present shift he had sworn to himself, as well as to her, that he would never yield; and yet when he did yield he had no plans to make, because he found them already prepared and worked out in detail in his mind; as if he had long contemplated the “step” he believed himself incapable of taking.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading All the years during which his wife had pressed him toward his present shift he had sworn to himself, as well as to her, that he would never yield; and yet when he did yield he had no plans to make, because he found them already prepared and worked out in detail in his mind; as if he had long contemplated the “step” he believed himself incapable of taking.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He was out in his taxicab again the next morning, and by noon he had secured what he wanted.
hours
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes he had thought of improving his income by exchanging his little collection of bonds for a “small rental property,” if he could find “a good buy”; and he had spent many of his spare hours rambling over the enormously spreading city and its purlieus, looking for the ideal “buy.”
ideal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes he had thought of improving his income by exchanging his little collection of bonds for a “small rental property,” if he could find “a good buy”; and he had spent many of his spare hours rambling over the enormously spreading city and its purlieus, looking for the ideal “buy.”
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading All the years during which his wife had pressed him toward his present shift he had sworn to himself, as well as to her, that he would never yield; and yet when he did yield he had no plans to make, because he found them already prepared and worked out in detail in his mind; as if he had long contemplated the “step” he believed himself incapable of taking.
improving
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes he had thought of improving his income by exchanging his little collection of bonds for a “small rental property,” if he could find “a good buy”; and he had spent many of his spare hours rambling over the enormously spreading city and its purlieus, looking for the ideal “buy.”
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He was out in his taxicab again the next morning, and by noon he had secured what he wanted.
incapable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All the years during which his wife had pressed him toward his present shift he had sworn to himself, as well as to her, that he would never yield; and yet when he did yield he had no plans to make, because he found them already prepared and worked out in detail in his mind; as if he had long contemplated the “step” he believed himself incapable of taking.
income
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes he had thought of improving his income by exchanging his little collection of bonds for a “small rental property,” if he could find “a good buy”; and he had spent many of his spare hours rambling over the enormously spreading city and its purlieus, looking for the ideal “buy.”
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was curiously significant that he worked so quickly.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Sometimes he had thought of improving his income by exchanging his little collection of bonds for a “small rental property,” if he could find “a good buy”; and he had spent many of his spare hours rambling over the enormously spreading city and its purlieus, looking for the ideal “buy.”
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Sometimes he had thought of improving his income by exchanging his little collection of bonds for a “small rental property,” if he could find “a good buy”; and he had spent many of his spare hours rambling over the enormously spreading city and its purlieus, looking for the ideal “buy.”
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading All the years during which his wife had pressed him toward his present shift he had sworn to himself, as well as to her, that he would never yield; and yet when he did yield he had no plans to make, because he found them already prepared and worked out in detail in his mind; as if he had long contemplated the “step” he believed himself incapable of taking.
looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes he had thought of improving his income by exchanging his little collection of bonds for a “small rental property,” if he could find “a good buy”; and he had spent many of his spare hours rambling over the enormously spreading city and its purlieus, looking for the ideal “buy.”
makenounUS /make/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading All the years during which his wife had pressed him toward his present shift he had sworn to himself, as well as to her, that he would never yield; and yet when he did yield he had no plans to make, because he found them already prepared and worked out in detail in his mind; as if he had long contemplated the “step” he believed himself incapable of taking.
many
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes he had thought of improving his income by exchanging his little collection of bonds for a “small rental property,” if he could find “a good buy”; and he had spent many of his spare hours rambling over the enormously spreading city and its purlieus, looking for the ideal “buy.”
mindnounUS /mind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading All the years during which his wife had pressed him toward his present shift he had sworn to himself, as well as to her, that he would never yield; and yet when he did yield he had no plans to make, because he found them already prepared and worked out in detail in his mind; as if he had long contemplated the “step” he believed himself incapable of taking.
morningnounUS /morning/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He was out in his taxicab again the next morning, and by noon he had secured what he wanted.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading All the years during which his wife had pressed him toward his present shift he had sworn to himself, as well as to her, that he would never yield; and yet when he did yield he had no plans to make, because he found them already prepared and worked out in detail in his mind; as if he had long contemplated the “step” he believed himself incapable of taking.
nextnounUS /next/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He was out in his taxicab again the next morning, and by noon he had secured what he wanted.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading All the years during which his wife had pressed him toward his present shift he had sworn to himself, as well as to her, that he would never yield; and yet when he did yield he had no plans to make, because he found them already prepared and worked out in detail in his mind; as if he had long contemplated the “step” he believed himself incapable of taking.
noon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was out in his taxicab again the next morning, and by noon he had secured what he wanted.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading All the years during which his wife had pressed him toward his present shift he had sworn to himself, as well as to her, that he would never yield; and yet when he did yield he had no plans to make, because he found them already prepared and worked out in detail in his mind; as if he had long contemplated the “step” he believed himself incapable of taking.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It remained unattainable, so far as he was concerned; but he found other things.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was out in his taxicab again the next morning, and by noon he had secured what he wanted.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Sometimes he had thought of improving his income by exchanging his little collection of bonds for a “small rental property,” if he could find “a good buy”; and he had spent many of his spare hours rambling over the enormously spreading city and its purlieus, looking for the ideal “buy.”
plans
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All the years during which his wife had pressed him toward his present shift he had sworn to himself, as well as to her, that he would never yield; and yet when he did yield he had no plans to make, because he found them already prepared and worked out in detail in his mind; as if he had long contemplated the “step” he believed himself incapable of taking.
prepared
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All the years during which his wife had pressed him toward his present shift he had sworn to himself, as well as to her, that he would never yield; and yet when he did yield he had no plans to make, because he found them already prepared and worked out in detail in his mind; as if he had long contemplated the “step” he believed himself incapable of taking.
present
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All the years during which his wife had pressed him toward his present shift he had sworn to himself, as well as to her, that he would never yield; and yet when he did yield he had no plans to make, because he found them already prepared and worked out in detail in his mind; as if he had long contemplated the “step” he believed himself incapable of taking.
pressed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All the years during which his wife had pressed him toward his present shift he had sworn to himself, as well as to her, that he would never yield; and yet when he did yield he had no plans to make, because he found them already prepared and worked out in detail in his mind; as if he had long contemplated the “step” he believed himself incapable of taking.
property
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes he had thought of improving his income by exchanging his little collection of bonds for a “small rental property,” if he could find “a good buy”; and he had spent many of his spare hours rambling over the enormously spreading city and its purlieus, looking for the ideal “buy.”
purlieus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes he had thought of improving his income by exchanging his little collection of bonds for a “small rental property,” if he could find “a good buy”; and he had spent many of his spare hours rambling over the enormously spreading city and its purlieus, looking for the ideal “buy.”
quickly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was curiously significant that he worked so quickly.
rambling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes he had thought of improving his income by exchanging his little collection of bonds for a “small rental property,” if he could find “a good buy”; and he had spent many of his spare hours rambling over the enormously spreading city and its purlieus, looking for the ideal “buy.”
remainednounUS /ˈremained/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading It remained unattainable, so far as he was concerned; but he found other things.
rental
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes he had thought of improving his income by exchanging his little collection of bonds for a “small rental property,” if he could find “a good buy”; and he had spent many of his spare hours rambling over the enormously spreading city and its purlieus, looking for the ideal “buy.”
secured
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was out in his taxicab again the next morning, and by noon he had secured what he wanted.
shift
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All the years during which his wife had pressed him toward his present shift he had sworn to himself, as well as to her, that he would never yield; and yet when he did yield he had no plans to make, because he found them already prepared and worked out in detail in his mind; as if he had long contemplated the “step” he believed himself incapable of taking.
significant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was curiously significant that he worked so quickly.
small
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes he had thought of improving his income by exchanging his little collection of bonds for a “small rental property,” if he could find “a good buy”; and he had spent many of his spare hours rambling over the enormously spreading city and its purlieus, looking for the ideal “buy.”
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It was curiously significant that he worked so quickly.
Sometimes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes he had thought of improving his income by exchanging his little collection of bonds for a “small rental property,” if he could find “a good buy”; and he had spent many of his spare hours rambling over the enormously spreading city and its purlieus, looking for the ideal “buy.”
spare
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes he had thought of improving his income by exchanging his little collection of bonds for a “small rental property,” if he could find “a good buy”; and he had spent many of his spare hours rambling over the enormously spreading city and its purlieus, looking for the ideal “buy.”
spent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes he had thought of improving his income by exchanging his little collection of bonds for a “small rental property,” if he could find “a good buy”; and he had spent many of his spare hours rambling over the enormously spreading city and its purlieus, looking for the ideal “buy.”
spreading
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sometimes he had thought of improving his income by exchanging his little collection of bonds for a “small rental property,” if he could find “a good buy”; and he had spent many of his spare hours rambling over the enormously spreading city and its purlieus, looking for the ideal “buy.”
stepnounUS /step/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading All the years during which his wife had pressed him toward his present shift he had sworn to himself, as well as to her, that he would never yield; and yet when he did yield he had no plans to make, because he found them already prepared and worked out in detail in his mind; as if he had long contemplated the “step” he believed himself incapable of taking.
sworn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All the years during which his wife had pressed him toward his present shift he had sworn to himself, as well as to her, that he would never yield; and yet when he did yield he had no plans to make, because he found them already prepared and worked out in detail in his mind; as if he had long contemplated the “step” he believed himself incapable of taking.
taking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All the years during which his wife had pressed him toward his present shift he had sworn to himself, as well as to her, that he would never yield; and yet when he did yield he had no plans to make, because he found them already prepared and worked out in detail in his mind; as if he had long contemplated the “step” he believed himself incapable of taking.
taxicab
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was out in his taxicab again the next morning, and by noon he had secured what he wanted.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was curiously significant that he worked so quickly.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He was out in his taxicab again the next morning, and by noon he had secured what he wanted.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading All the years during which his wife had pressed him toward his present shift he had sworn to himself, as well as to her, that he would never yield; and yet when he did yield he had no plans to make, because he found them already prepared and worked out in detail in his mind; as if he had long contemplated the “step” he believed himself incapable of taking.
things
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It remained unattainable, so far as he was concerned; but he found other things.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Sometimes he had thought of improving his income by exchanging his little collection of bonds for a “small rental property,” if he could find “a good buy”; and he had spent many of his spare hours rambling over the enormously spreading city and its purlieus, looking for the ideal “buy.”
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading All the years during which his wife had pressed him toward his present shift he had sworn to himself, as well as to her, that he would never yield; and yet when he did yield he had no plans to make, because he found them already prepared and worked out in detail in his mind; as if he had long contemplated the “step” he believed himself incapable of taking.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading All the years during which his wife had pressed him toward his present shift he had sworn to himself, as well as to her, that he would never yield; and yet when he did yield he had no plans to make, because he found them already prepared and worked out in detail in his mind; as if he had long contemplated the “step” he believed himself incapable of taking.
unattainable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It remained unattainable, so far as he was concerned; but he found other things.
wanted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was out in his taxicab again the next morning, and by noon he had secured what he wanted.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was out in his taxicab again the next morning, and by noon he had secured what he wanted.
well
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All the years during which his wife had pressed him toward his present shift he had sworn to himself, as well as to her, that he would never yield; and yet when he did yield he had no plans to make, because he found them already prepared and worked out in detail in his mind; as if he had long contemplated the “step” he believed himself incapable of taking.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading He was out in his taxicab again the next morning, and by noon he had secured what he wanted.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading All the years during which his wife had pressed him toward his present shift he had sworn to himself, as well as to her, that he would never yield; and yet when he did yield he had no plans to make, because he found them already prepared and worked out in detail in his mind; as if he had long contemplated the “step” he believed himself incapable of taking.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading All the years during which his wife had pressed him toward his present shift he had sworn to himself, as well as to her, that he would never yield; and yet when he did yield he had no plans to make, because he found them already prepared and worked out in detail in his mind; as if he had long contemplated the “step” he believed himself incapable of taking.
wife
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All the years during which his wife had pressed him toward his present shift he had sworn to himself, as well as to her, that he would never yield; and yet when he did yield he had no plans to make, because he found them already prepared and worked out in detail in his mind; as if he had long contemplated the “step” he believed himself incapable of taking.
worked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was curiously significant that he worked so quickly.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading All the years during which his wife had pressed him toward his present shift he had sworn to himself, as well as to her, that he would never yield; and yet when he did yield he had no plans to make, because he found them already prepared and worked out in detail in his mind; as if he had long contemplated the “step” he believed himself incapable of taking.
years
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All the years during which his wife had pressed him toward his present shift he had sworn to himself, as well as to her, that he would never yield; and yet when he did yield he had no plans to make, because he found them already prepared and worked out in detail in his mind; as if he had long contemplated the “step” he believed himself incapable of taking.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading All the years during which his wife had pressed him toward his present shift he had sworn to himself, as well as to her, that he would never yield; and yet when he did yield he had no plans to make, because he found them already prepared and worked out in detail in his mind; as if he had long contemplated the “step” he believed himself incapable of taking.
yield
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All the years during which his wife had pressed him toward his present shift he had sworn to himself, as well as to her, that he would never yield; and yet when he did yield he had no plans to make, because he found them already prepared and worked out in detail in his mind; as if he had long contemplated the “step” he believed himself incapable of taking.
