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adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading These are stoutly bound in purple muslin, with a stamp, of Persian design apparently, on the centre of each cover.
accessible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On an accessible book-shelf in my library, stand side by side four volumes whose contents I once knew by heart, and which, after the lapse of twenty years, are yet tolerably distinct in my memory.
acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/
from one side of something to the other
From this reading They are stained and worn, and the backs have faded to a brownish hue, from exposure to the light, and a leaf in one of the volumes has been torn across; but the paper and the sewing and the clear bold type are still as serviceable as ever.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading On an accessible book-shelf in my library, stand side by side four volumes whose contents I once knew by heart, and which, after the lapse of twenty years, are yet tolerably distinct in my memory.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading On an accessible book-shelf in my library, stand side by side four volumes whose contents I once knew by heart, and which, after the lapse of twenty years, are yet tolerably distinct in my memory.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading On an accessible book-shelf in my library, stand side by side four volumes whose contents I once knew by heart, and which, after the lapse of twenty years, are yet tolerably distinct in my memory.
apparently
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These are stoutly bound in purple muslin, with a stamp, of Persian design apparently, on the centre of each cover.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading On an accessible book-shelf in my library, stand side by side four volumes whose contents I once knew by heart, and which, after the lapse of twenty years, are yet tolerably distinct in my memory.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading They are stained and worn, and the backs have faded to a brownish hue, from exposure to the light, and a leaf in one of the volumes has been torn across; but the paper and the sewing and the clear bold type are still as serviceable as ever.
backs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They are stained and worn, and the backs have faded to a brownish hue, from exposure to the light, and a leaf in one of the volumes has been torn across; but the paper and the sewing and the clear bold type are still as serviceable as ever.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading They are stained and worn, and the backs have faded to a brownish hue, from exposure to the light, and a leaf in one of the volumes has been torn across; but the paper and the sewing and the clear bold type are still as serviceable as ever.
bold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They are stained and worn, and the backs have faded to a brownish hue, from exposure to the light, and a leaf in one of the volumes has been torn across; but the paper and the sewing and the clear bold type are still as serviceable as ever.
book-shelf
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On an accessible book-shelf in my library, stand side by side four volumes whose contents I once knew by heart, and which, after the lapse of twenty years, are yet tolerably distinct in my memory.
booksnounUS /bʊks/
Bound written or printed works.
From this reading The books seem to have been made to last,--to stand a great deal of reading.
bound
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These are stoutly bound in purple muslin, with a stamp, of Persian design apparently, on the centre of each cover.
brownish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They are stained and worn, and the backs have faded to a brownish hue, from exposure to the light, and a leaf in one of the volumes has been torn across; but the paper and the sewing and the clear bold type are still as serviceable as ever.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading They are stained and worn, and the backs have faded to a brownish hue, from exposure to the light, and a leaf in one of the volumes has been torn across; but the paper and the sewing and the clear bold type are still as serviceable as ever.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading On an accessible book-shelf in my library, stand side by side four volumes whose contents I once knew by heart, and which, after the lapse of twenty years, are yet tolerably distinct in my memory.
centre
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These are stoutly bound in purple muslin, with a stamp, of Persian design apparently, on the centre of each cover.
clear
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From this reading They are stained and worn, and the backs have faded to a brownish hue, from exposure to the light, and a leaf in one of the volumes has been torn across; but the paper and the sewing and the clear bold type are still as serviceable as ever.
contents
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On an accessible book-shelf in my library, stand side by side four volumes whose contents I once knew by heart, and which, after the lapse of twenty years, are yet tolerably distinct in my memory.
cover
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These are stoutly bound in purple muslin, with a stamp, of Persian design apparently, on the centre of each cover.
deal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The books seem to have been made to last,--to stand a great deal of reading.
design
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From this reading These are stoutly bound in purple muslin, with a stamp, of Persian design apparently, on the centre of each cover.
distinct
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On an accessible book-shelf in my library, stand side by side four volumes whose contents I once knew by heart, and which, after the lapse of twenty years, are yet tolerably distinct in my memory.
eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading These are stoutly bound in purple muslin, with a stamp, of Persian design apparently, on the centre of each cover.
evernounUS /ever/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They are stained and worn, and the backs have faded to a brownish hue, from exposure to the light, and a leaf in one of the volumes has been torn across; but the paper and the sewing and the clear bold type are still as serviceable as ever.
exposure
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They are stained and worn, and the backs have faded to a brownish hue, from exposure to the light, and a leaf in one of the volumes has been torn across; but the paper and the sewing and the clear bold type are still as serviceable as ever.
faded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They are stained and worn, and the backs have faded to a brownish hue, from exposure to the light, and a leaf in one of the volumes has been torn across; but the paper and the sewing and the clear bold type are still as serviceable as ever.
four
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On an accessible book-shelf in my library, stand side by side four volumes whose contents I once knew by heart, and which, after the lapse of twenty years, are yet tolerably distinct in my memory.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading They are stained and worn, and the backs have faded to a brownish hue, from exposure to the light, and a leaf in one of the volumes has been torn across; but the paper and the sewing and the clear bold type are still as serviceable as ever.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The books seem to have been made to last,--to stand a great deal of reading.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading They are stained and worn, and the backs have faded to a brownish hue, from exposure to the light, and a leaf in one of the volumes has been torn across; but the paper and the sewing and the clear bold type are still as serviceable as ever.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading They are stained and worn, and the backs have faded to a brownish hue, from exposure to the light, and a leaf in one of the volumes has been torn across; but the paper and the sewing and the clear bold type are still as serviceable as ever.
heart
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On an accessible book-shelf in my library, stand side by side four volumes whose contents I once knew by heart, and which, after the lapse of twenty years, are yet tolerably distinct in my memory.
hue
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From this reading They are stained and worn, and the backs have faded to a brownish hue, from exposure to the light, and a leaf in one of the volumes has been torn across; but the paper and the sewing and the clear bold type are still as serviceable as ever.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading On an accessible book-shelf in my library, stand side by side four volumes whose contents I once knew by heart, and which, after the lapse of twenty years, are yet tolerably distinct in my memory.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading On an accessible book-shelf in my library, stand side by side four volumes whose contents I once knew by heart, and which, after the lapse of twenty years, are yet tolerably distinct in my memory.
knew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On an accessible book-shelf in my library, stand side by side four volumes whose contents I once knew by heart, and which, after the lapse of twenty years, are yet tolerably distinct in my memory.
lapse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On an accessible book-shelf in my library, stand side by side four volumes whose contents I once knew by heart, and which, after the lapse of twenty years, are yet tolerably distinct in my memory.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The books seem to have been made to last,--to stand a great deal of reading.
leaf
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They are stained and worn, and the backs have faded to a brownish hue, from exposure to the light, and a leaf in one of the volumes has been torn across; but the paper and the sewing and the clear bold type are still as serviceable as ever.
library
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On an accessible book-shelf in my library, stand side by side four volumes whose contents I once knew by heart, and which, after the lapse of twenty years, are yet tolerably distinct in my memory.
light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They are stained and worn, and the backs have faded to a brownish hue, from exposure to the light, and a leaf in one of the volumes has been torn across; but the paper and the sewing and the clear bold type are still as serviceable as ever.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The books seem to have been made to last,--to stand a great deal of reading.
memorynounUS /ˈmem.ər.i/
The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.
From this reading On an accessible book-shelf in my library, stand side by side four volumes whose contents I once knew by heart, and which, after the lapse of twenty years, are yet tolerably distinct in my memory.
muslin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These are stoutly bound in purple muslin, with a stamp, of Persian design apparently, on the centre of each cover.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading On an accessible book-shelf in my library, stand side by side four volumes whose contents I once knew by heart, and which, after the lapse of twenty years, are yet tolerably distinct in my memory.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading On an accessible book-shelf in my library, stand side by side four volumes whose contents I once knew by heart, and which, after the lapse of twenty years, are yet tolerably distinct in my memory.
OnprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On an accessible book-shelf in my library, stand side by side four volumes whose contents I once knew by heart, and which, after the lapse of twenty years, are yet tolerably distinct in my memory.
once
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On an accessible book-shelf in my library, stand side by side four volumes whose contents I once knew by heart, and which, after the lapse of twenty years, are yet tolerably distinct in my memory.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading They are stained and worn, and the backs have faded to a brownish hue, from exposure to the light, and a leaf in one of the volumes has been torn across; but the paper and the sewing and the clear bold type are still as serviceable as ever.
paper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They are stained and worn, and the backs have faded to a brownish hue, from exposure to the light, and a leaf in one of the volumes has been torn across; but the paper and the sewing and the clear bold type are still as serviceable as ever.
Persian
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These are stoutly bound in purple muslin, with a stamp, of Persian design apparently, on the centre of each cover.
purple
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These are stoutly bound in purple muslin, with a stamp, of Persian design apparently, on the centre of each cover.
reading
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The books seem to have been made to last,--to stand a great deal of reading.
seem
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The books seem to have been made to last,--to stand a great deal of reading.
serviceable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They are stained and worn, and the backs have faded to a brownish hue, from exposure to the light, and a leaf in one of the volumes has been torn across; but the paper and the sewing and the clear bold type are still as serviceable as ever.
sewing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They are stained and worn, and the backs have faded to a brownish hue, from exposure to the light, and a leaf in one of the volumes has been torn across; but the paper and the sewing and the clear bold type are still as serviceable as ever.
side
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On an accessible book-shelf in my library, stand side by side four volumes whose contents I once knew by heart, and which, after the lapse of twenty years, are yet tolerably distinct in my memory.
stained
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They are stained and worn, and the backs have faded to a brownish hue, from exposure to the light, and a leaf in one of the volumes has been torn across; but the paper and the sewing and the clear bold type are still as serviceable as ever.
stamp
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These are stoutly bound in purple muslin, with a stamp, of Persian design apparently, on the centre of each cover.
stand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On an accessible book-shelf in my library, stand side by side four volumes whose contents I once knew by heart, and which, after the lapse of twenty years, are yet tolerably distinct in my memory.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They are stained and worn, and the backs have faded to a brownish hue, from exposure to the light, and a leaf in one of the volumes has been torn across; but the paper and the sewing and the clear bold type are still as serviceable as ever.
stoutly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These are stoutly bound in purple muslin, with a stamp, of Persian design apparently, on the centre of each cover.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading On an accessible book-shelf in my library, stand side by side four volumes whose contents I once knew by heart, and which, after the lapse of twenty years, are yet tolerably distinct in my memory.
THEODORE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THEODORE WINTHROP'S WRITINGS.
ThesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading These are stoutly bound in purple muslin, with a stamp, of Persian design apparently, on the centre of each cover.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They are stained and worn, and the backs have faded to a brownish hue, from exposure to the light, and a leaf in one of the volumes has been torn across; but the paper and the sewing and the clear bold type are still as serviceable as ever.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They are stained and worn, and the backs have faded to a brownish hue, from exposure to the light, and a leaf in one of the volumes has been torn across; but the paper and the sewing and the clear bold type are still as serviceable as ever.
tolerably
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On an accessible book-shelf in my library, stand side by side four volumes whose contents I once knew by heart, and which, after the lapse of twenty years, are yet tolerably distinct in my memory.
torn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They are stained and worn, and the backs have faded to a brownish hue, from exposure to the light, and a leaf in one of the volumes has been torn across; but the paper and the sewing and the clear bold type are still as serviceable as ever.
twenty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On an accessible book-shelf in my library, stand side by side four volumes whose contents I once knew by heart, and which, after the lapse of twenty years, are yet tolerably distinct in my memory.
type
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They are stained and worn, and the backs have faded to a brownish hue, from exposure to the light, and a leaf in one of the volumes has been torn across; but the paper and the sewing and the clear bold type are still as serviceable as ever.
volumes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On an accessible book-shelf in my library, stand side by side four volumes whose contents I once knew by heart, and which, after the lapse of twenty years, are yet tolerably distinct in my memory.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading On an accessible book-shelf in my library, stand side by side four volumes whose contents I once knew by heart, and which, after the lapse of twenty years, are yet tolerably distinct in my memory.
whosedeterminerUS /huːz/
belonging to which person
From this reading On an accessible book-shelf in my library, stand side by side four volumes whose contents I once knew by heart, and which, after the lapse of twenty years, are yet tolerably distinct in my memory.
WINTHROP'S
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THEODORE WINTHROP'S WRITINGS.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading These are stoutly bound in purple muslin, with a stamp, of Persian design apparently, on the centre of each cover.
wornverbUS /wɔːrn/
Damaged or thinned by continuous use.
From this reading They are stained and worn, and the backs have faded to a brownish hue, from exposure to the light, and a leaf in one of the volumes has been torn across; but the paper and the sewing and the clear bold type are still as serviceable as ever.
WRITINGS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THEODORE WINTHROP'S WRITINGS.
years
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On an accessible book-shelf in my library, stand side by side four volumes whose contents I once knew by heart, and which, after the lapse of twenty years, are yet tolerably distinct in my memory.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading On an accessible book-shelf in my library, stand side by side four volumes whose contents I once knew by heart, and which, after the lapse of twenty years, are yet tolerably distinct in my memory.
