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 Nor could you wonder had you witnessed a recent experience of mine when, in the armor of blissful and stupendous ignorance, I gaily narrated the gist of it to a Fellow of the Royal Geological Society on the occasion of my last trip to London.
air
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The erudite gentleman in whom I confided congealed before I was half through!—it is all that saved him from exploding—and my dreams of an Honorary Fellowship, gold medals, and a niche in the Hall of Fame faded into the thin, cold air of his arctic atmosphere.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The erudite gentleman in whom I confided congealed before I was half through!—it is all that saved him from exploding—and my dreams of an Honorary Fellowship, gold medals, and a niche in the Hall of Fame faded into the thin, cold air of his arctic atmosphere.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The erudite gentleman in whom I confided congealed before I was half through!—it is all that saved him from exploding—and my dreams of an Honorary Fellowship, gold medals, and a niche in the Hall of Fame faded into the thin, cold air of his arctic atmosphere.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Nor could you wonder had you witnessed a recent experience of mine when, in the armor of blissful and stupendous ignorance, I gaily narrated the gist of it to a Fellow of the Royal Geological Society on the occasion of my last trip to London.
arctic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The erudite gentleman in whom I confided congealed before I was half through!—it is all that saved him from exploding—and my dreams of an Honorary Fellowship, gold medals, and a niche in the Hall of Fame faded into the thin, cold air of his arctic atmosphere.
armor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nor could you wonder had you witnessed a recent experience of mine when, in the armor of blissful and stupendous ignorance, I gaily narrated the gist of it to a Fellow of the Royal Geological Society on the occasion of my last trip to London.
atmosphere
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The erudite gentleman in whom I confided congealed before I was half through!—it is all that saved him from exploding—and my dreams of an Honorary Fellowship, gold medals, and a niche in the Hall of Fame faded into the thin, cold air of his arctic atmosphere.
bear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the first place please bear in mind that I do not expect you to believe this story.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading You would surely have thought that I had been detected in no less a heinous crime than the purloining of the Crown Jewels from the Tower, or putting poison in the coffee of His Majesty the King.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The erudite gentleman in whom I confided congealed before I was half through!—it is all that saved him from exploding—and my dreams of an Honorary Fellowship, gold medals, and a niche in the Hall of Fame faded into the thin, cold air of his arctic atmosphere.
believenounUS /ˈbelieve/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading In the first place please bear in mind that I do not expect you to believe this story.
blissful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nor could you wonder had you witnessed a recent experience of mine when, in the armor of blissful and stupendous ignorance, I gaily narrated the gist of it to a Fellow of the Royal Geological Society on the occasion of my last trip to London.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But I believe the story, and so would you, and so would the learned Fellow of the Royal Geological Society, had you and he heard it from the lips of the man who told it to me.
coffee
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You would surely have thought that I had been detected in no less a heinous crime than the purloining of the Crown Jewels from the Tower, or putting poison in the coffee of His Majesty the King.
cold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The erudite gentleman in whom I confided congealed before I was half through!—it is all that saved him from exploding—and my dreams of an Honorary Fellowship, gold medals, and a niche in the Hall of Fame faded into the thin, cold air of his arctic atmosphere.
confided
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The erudite gentleman in whom I confided congealed before I was half through!—it is all that saved him from exploding—and my dreams of an Honorary Fellowship, gold medals, and a niche in the Hall of Fame faded into the thin, cold air of his arctic atmosphere.
congealed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The erudite gentleman in whom I confided congealed before I was half through!—it is all that saved him from exploding—and my dreams of an Honorary Fellowship, gold medals, and a niche in the Hall of Fame faded into the thin, cold air of his arctic atmosphere.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Nor could you wonder had you witnessed a recent experience of mine when, in the armor of blissful and stupendous ignorance, I gaily narrated the gist of it to a Fellow of the Royal Geological Society on the occasion of my last trip to London.
crime
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You would surely have thought that I had been detected in no less a heinous crime than the purloining of the Crown Jewels from the Tower, or putting poison in the coffee of His Majesty the King.
Crown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You would surely have thought that I had been detected in no less a heinous crime than the purloining of the Crown Jewels from the Tower, or putting poison in the coffee of His Majesty the King.
detected
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You would surely have thought that I had been detected in no less a heinous crime than the purloining of the Crown Jewels from the Tower, or putting poison in the coffee of His Majesty the King.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading In the first place please bear in mind that I do not expect you to believe this story.
dreams
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The erudite gentleman in whom I confided congealed before I was half through!—it is all that saved him from exploding—and my dreams of an Honorary Fellowship, gold medals, and a niche in the Hall of Fame faded into the thin, cold air of his arctic atmosphere.
erudite
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The erudite gentleman in whom I confided congealed before I was half through!—it is all that saved him from exploding—and my dreams of an Honorary Fellowship, gold medals, and a niche in the Hall of Fame faded into the thin, cold air of his arctic atmosphere.
expectverbUS /ɪkˈspekt/
to think that something will happen
From this reading In the first place please bear in mind that I do not expect you to believe this story.
experience
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nor could you wonder had you witnessed a recent experience of mine when, in the armor of blissful and stupendous ignorance, I gaily narrated the gist of it to a Fellow of the Royal Geological Society on the occasion of my last trip to London.
exploding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The erudite gentleman in whom I confided congealed before I was half through!—it is all that saved him from exploding—and my dreams of an Honorary Fellowship, gold medals, and a niche in the Hall of Fame faded into the thin, cold air of his arctic atmosphere.
faded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The erudite gentleman in whom I confided congealed before I was half through!—it is all that saved him from exploding—and my dreams of an Honorary Fellowship, gold medals, and a niche in the Hall of Fame faded into the thin, cold air of his arctic atmosphere.
Fame
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The erudite gentleman in whom I confided congealed before I was half through!—it is all that saved him from exploding—and my dreams of an Honorary Fellowship, gold medals, and a niche in the Hall of Fame faded into the thin, cold air of his arctic atmosphere.
Fellow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nor could you wonder had you witnessed a recent experience of mine when, in the armor of blissful and stupendous ignorance, I gaily narrated the gist of it to a Fellow of the Royal Geological Society on the occasion of my last trip to London.
Fellowship
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The erudite gentleman in whom I confided congealed before I was half through!—it is all that saved him from exploding—and my dreams of an Honorary Fellowship, gold medals, and a niche in the Hall of Fame faded into the thin, cold air of his arctic atmosphere.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In the first place please bear in mind that I do not expect you to believe this story.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading You would surely have thought that I had been detected in no less a heinous crime than the purloining of the Crown Jewels from the Tower, or putting poison in the coffee of His Majesty the King.
gaily
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nor could you wonder had you witnessed a recent experience of mine when, in the armor of blissful and stupendous ignorance, I gaily narrated the gist of it to a Fellow of the Royal Geological Society on the occasion of my last trip to London.
gentlemannounUS /ˈgentleman/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The erudite gentleman in whom I confided congealed before I was half through!—it is all that saved him from exploding—and my dreams of an Honorary Fellowship, gold medals, and a niche in the Hall of Fame faded into the thin, cold air of his arctic atmosphere.
Geological
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nor could you wonder had you witnessed a recent experience of mine when, in the armor of blissful and stupendous ignorance, I gaily narrated the gist of it to a Fellow of the Royal Geological Society on the occasion of my last trip to London.
gist
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nor could you wonder had you witnessed a recent experience of mine when, in the armor of blissful and stupendous ignorance, I gaily narrated the gist of it to a Fellow of the Royal Geological Society on the occasion of my last trip to London.
gold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The erudite gentleman in whom I confided congealed before I was half through!—it is all that saved him from exploding—and my dreams of an Honorary Fellowship, gold medals, and a niche in the Hall of Fame faded into the thin, cold air of his arctic atmosphere.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Nor could you wonder had you witnessed a recent experience of mine when, in the armor of blissful and stupendous ignorance, I gaily narrated the gist of it to a Fellow of the Royal Geological Society on the occasion of my last trip to London.
halfnounUS /half/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The erudite gentleman in whom I confided congealed before I was half through!—it is all that saved him from exploding—and my dreams of an Honorary Fellowship, gold medals, and a niche in the Hall of Fame faded into the thin, cold air of his arctic atmosphere.
Hall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The erudite gentleman in whom I confided congealed before I was half through!—it is all that saved him from exploding—and my dreams of an Honorary Fellowship, gold medals, and a niche in the Hall of Fame faded into the thin, cold air of his arctic atmosphere.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading You would surely have thought that I had been detected in no less a heinous crime than the purloining of the Crown Jewels from the Tower, or putting poison in the coffee of His Majesty the King.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But I believe the story, and so would you, and so would the learned Fellow of the Royal Geological Society, had you and he heard it from the lips of the man who told it to me.
heard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But I believe the story, and so would you, and so would the learned Fellow of the Royal Geological Society, had you and he heard it from the lips of the man who told it to me.
heinous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You would surely have thought that I had been detected in no less a heinous crime than the purloining of the Crown Jewels from the Tower, or putting poison in the coffee of His Majesty the King.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The erudite gentleman in whom I confided congealed before I was half through!—it is all that saved him from exploding—and my dreams of an Honorary Fellowship, gold medals, and a niche in the Hall of Fame faded into the thin, cold air of his arctic atmosphere.
HisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading You would surely have thought that I had been detected in no less a heinous crime than the purloining of the Crown Jewels from the Tower, or putting poison in the coffee of His Majesty the King.
Honorary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The erudite gentleman in whom I confided congealed before I was half through!—it is all that saved him from exploding—and my dreams of an Honorary Fellowship, gold medals, and a niche in the Hall of Fame faded into the thin, cold air of his arctic atmosphere.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading In the first place please bear in mind that I do not expect you to believe this story.
ignorance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nor could you wonder had you witnessed a recent experience of mine when, in the armor of blissful and stupendous ignorance, I gaily narrated the gist of it to a Fellow of the Royal Geological Society on the occasion of my last trip to London.
InprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the first place please bear in mind that I do not expect you to believe this story.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The erudite gentleman in whom I confided congealed before I was half through!—it is all that saved him from exploding—and my dreams of an Honorary Fellowship, gold medals, and a niche in the Hall of Fame faded into the thin, cold air of his arctic atmosphere.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The erudite gentleman in whom I confided congealed before I was half through!—it is all that saved him from exploding—and my dreams of an Honorary Fellowship, gold medals, and a niche in the Hall of Fame faded into the thin, cold air of his arctic atmosphere.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Nor could you wonder had you witnessed a recent experience of mine when, in the armor of blissful and stupendous ignorance, I gaily narrated the gist of it to a Fellow of the Royal Geological Society on the occasion of my last trip to London.
Jewels
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You would surely have thought that I had been detected in no less a heinous crime than the purloining of the Crown Jewels from the Tower, or putting poison in the coffee of His Majesty the King.
King
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You would surely have thought that I had been detected in no less a heinous crime than the purloining of the Crown Jewels from the Tower, or putting poison in the coffee of His Majesty the King.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Nor could you wonder had you witnessed a recent experience of mine when, in the armor of blissful and stupendous ignorance, I gaily narrated the gist of it to a Fellow of the Royal Geological Society on the occasion of my last trip to London.
learned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But I believe the story, and so would you, and so would the learned Fellow of the Royal Geological Society, had you and he heard it from the lips of the man who told it to me.
less
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You would surely have thought that I had been detected in no less a heinous crime than the purloining of the Crown Jewels from the Tower, or putting poison in the coffee of His Majesty the King.
lips
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But I believe the story, and so would you, and so would the learned Fellow of the Royal Geological Society, had you and he heard it from the lips of the man who told it to me.
London
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nor could you wonder had you witnessed a recent experience of mine when, in the armor of blissful and stupendous ignorance, I gaily narrated the gist of it to a Fellow of the Royal Geological Society on the occasion of my last trip to London.
Majesty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You would surely have thought that I had been detected in no less a heinous crime than the purloining of the Crown Jewels from the Tower, or putting poison in the coffee of His Majesty the King.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But I believe the story, and so would you, and so would the learned Fellow of the Royal Geological Society, had you and he heard it from the lips of the man who told it to me.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading But I believe the story, and so would you, and so would the learned Fellow of the Royal Geological Society, had you and he heard it from the lips of the man who told it to me.
medals
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The erudite gentleman in whom I confided congealed before I was half through!—it is all that saved him from exploding—and my dreams of an Honorary Fellowship, gold medals, and a niche in the Hall of Fame faded into the thin, cold air of his arctic atmosphere.
mindnounUS /mind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In the first place please bear in mind that I do not expect you to believe this story.
minepronounUS /maɪn/
the one or ones belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Nor could you wonder had you witnessed a recent experience of mine when, in the armor of blissful and stupendous ignorance, I gaily narrated the gist of it to a Fellow of the Royal Geological Society on the occasion of my last trip to London.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Nor could you wonder had you witnessed a recent experience of mine when, in the armor of blissful and stupendous ignorance, I gaily narrated the gist of it to a Fellow of the Royal Geological Society on the occasion of my last trip to London.
narrated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nor could you wonder had you witnessed a recent experience of mine when, in the armor of blissful and stupendous ignorance, I gaily narrated the gist of it to a Fellow of the Royal Geological Society on the occasion of my last trip to London.
niche
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The erudite gentleman in whom I confided congealed before I was half through!—it is all that saved him from exploding—and my dreams of an Honorary Fellowship, gold medals, and a niche in the Hall of Fame faded into the thin, cold air of his arctic atmosphere.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading You would surely have thought that I had been detected in no less a heinous crime than the purloining of the Crown Jewels from the Tower, or putting poison in the coffee of His Majesty the King.
NorconjunctionUS /nɔːr/
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading Nor could you wonder had you witnessed a recent experience of mine when, in the armor of blissful and stupendous ignorance, I gaily narrated the gist of it to a Fellow of the Royal Geological Society on the occasion of my last trip to London.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading In the first place please bear in mind that I do not expect you to believe this story.
occasion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nor could you wonder had you witnessed a recent experience of mine when, in the armor of blissful and stupendous ignorance, I gaily narrated the gist of it to a Fellow of the Royal Geological Society on the occasion of my last trip to London.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Nor could you wonder had you witnessed a recent experience of mine when, in the armor of blissful and stupendous ignorance, I gaily narrated the gist of it to a Fellow of the Royal Geological Society on the occasion of my last trip to London.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Nor could you wonder had you witnessed a recent experience of mine when, in the armor of blissful and stupendous ignorance, I gaily narrated the gist of it to a Fellow of the Royal Geological Society on the occasion of my last trip to London.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading You would surely have thought that I had been detected in no less a heinous crime than the purloining of the Crown Jewels from the Tower, or putting poison in the coffee of His Majesty the King.
place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the first place please bear in mind that I do not expect you to believe this story.
please
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the first place please bear in mind that I do not expect you to believe this story.
poison
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You would surely have thought that I had been detected in no less a heinous crime than the purloining of the Crown Jewels from the Tower, or putting poison in the coffee of His Majesty the King.
purloining
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You would surely have thought that I had been detected in no less a heinous crime than the purloining of the Crown Jewels from the Tower, or putting poison in the coffee of His Majesty the King.
putting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You would surely have thought that I had been detected in no less a heinous crime than the purloining of the Crown Jewels from the Tower, or putting poison in the coffee of His Majesty the King.
recent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nor could you wonder had you witnessed a recent experience of mine when, in the armor of blissful and stupendous ignorance, I gaily narrated the gist of it to a Fellow of the Royal Geological Society on the occasion of my last trip to London.
Royal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nor could you wonder had you witnessed a recent experience of mine when, in the armor of blissful and stupendous ignorance, I gaily narrated the gist of it to a Fellow of the Royal Geological Society on the occasion of my last trip to London.
savednounUS /saved/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The erudite gentleman in whom I confided congealed before I was half through!—it is all that saved him from exploding—and my dreams of an Honorary Fellowship, gold medals, and a niche in the Hall of Fame faded into the thin, cold air of his arctic atmosphere.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading But I believe the story, and so would you, and so would the learned Fellow of the Royal Geological Society, had you and he heard it from the lips of the man who told it to me.
Society
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nor could you wonder had you witnessed a recent experience of mine when, in the armor of blissful and stupendous ignorance, I gaily narrated the gist of it to a Fellow of the Royal Geological Society on the occasion of my last trip to London.
story
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In the first place please bear in mind that I do not expect you to believe this story.
stupendous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nor could you wonder had you witnessed a recent experience of mine when, in the armor of blissful and stupendous ignorance, I gaily narrated the gist of it to a Fellow of the Royal Geological Society on the occasion of my last trip to London.
surely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You would surely have thought that I had been detected in no less a heinous crime than the purloining of the Crown Jewels from the Tower, or putting poison in the coffee of His Majesty the King.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading You would surely have thought that I had been detected in no less a heinous crime than the purloining of the Crown Jewels from the Tower, or putting poison in the coffee of His Majesty the King.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading In the first place please bear in mind that I do not expect you to believe this story.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In the first place please bear in mind that I do not expect you to believe this story.
thinadjectiveUS /θɪn/
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading The erudite gentleman in whom I confided congealed before I was half through!—it is all that saved him from exploding—and my dreams of an Honorary Fellowship, gold medals, and a niche in the Hall of Fame faded into the thin, cold air of his arctic atmosphere.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading In the first place please bear in mind that I do not expect you to believe this story.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading You would surely have thought that I had been detected in no less a heinous crime than the purloining of the Crown Jewels from the Tower, or putting poison in the coffee of His Majesty the King.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The erudite gentleman in whom I confided congealed before I was half through!—it is all that saved him from exploding—and my dreams of an Honorary Fellowship, gold medals, and a niche in the Hall of Fame faded into the thin, cold air of his arctic atmosphere.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading In the first place please bear in mind that I do not expect you to believe this story.
toldnounUS /told/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But I believe the story, and so would you, and so would the learned Fellow of the Royal Geological Society, had you and he heard it from the lips of the man who told it to me.
Tower
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You would surely have thought that I had been detected in no less a heinous crime than the purloining of the Crown Jewels from the Tower, or putting poison in the coffee of His Majesty the King.
trip
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nor could you wonder had you witnessed a recent experience of mine when, in the armor of blissful and stupendous ignorance, I gaily narrated the gist of it to a Fellow of the Royal Geological Society on the occasion of my last trip to London.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The erudite gentleman in whom I confided congealed before I was half through!—it is all that saved him from exploding—and my dreams of an Honorary Fellowship, gold medals, and a niche in the Hall of Fame faded into the thin, cold air of his arctic atmosphere.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading Nor could you wonder had you witnessed a recent experience of mine when, in the armor of blissful and stupendous ignorance, I gaily narrated the gist of it to a Fellow of the Royal Geological Society on the occasion of my last trip to London.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading But I believe the story, and so would you, and so would the learned Fellow of the Royal Geological Society, had you and he heard it from the lips of the man who told it to me.
whompronounUS /huːm/
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The erudite gentleman in whom I confided congealed before I was half through!—it is all that saved him from exploding—and my dreams of an Honorary Fellowship, gold medals, and a niche in the Hall of Fame faded into the thin, cold air of his arctic atmosphere.
witnessed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nor could you wonder had you witnessed a recent experience of mine when, in the armor of blissful and stupendous ignorance, I gaily narrated the gist of it to a Fellow of the Royal Geological Society on the occasion of my last trip to London.
wonder
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nor could you wonder had you witnessed a recent experience of mine when, in the armor of blissful and stupendous ignorance, I gaily narrated the gist of it to a Fellow of the Royal Geological Society on the occasion of my last trip to London.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading You would surely have thought that I had been detected in no less a heinous crime than the purloining of the Crown Jewels from the Tower, or putting poison in the coffee of His Majesty the King.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading In the first place please bear in mind that I do not expect you to believe this story.
