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Doctor Grimshawe's Secret — a Romance
Doctor Grimshawe's Secret — a Romance

Chapter XXIV

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Context Illustration Reading 1/3 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
_Note 1._ The Doctor’s propensity for cobwebs is amplified in the following note for an earlier and somewhat milder version of the character: “According to him, all science was to be renewed and established on a sure ground by no other means than cobwebs.
The cobweb was the magic clue by which mankind was to be rescued from all its errors, and guided safely back to the right.
And so he cherished spiders above all things, and kept them spinning, spinning away; the only textile factory that existed at that epoch in New England.
He distinguished the production of each of his ugly friends, and assigned peculiar qualities to each; and he had been for years engaged in writing a work on this new discovery, in reference to which he had already compiled a great deal of folio manuscript, and had unguessed at resources still to come.
With this suggestive subject he interwove all imaginable learning, collected from his own library, rich in works that few others had read, and from that of his beloved University, crabbed with Greek, rich with Latin, drawing into itself, like a whirlpool, all that men had thought hitherto, and combining them anew in such a way that it had all the charm of a racy originality.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Doctor Grimshawe's Secret — a Romance

Chapter XXIV

Reading 1/3 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
_Note 1._ The Doctor’s propensity for cobwebs is amplified in the following note for an earlier and somewhat milder version of the character: “According to him, all science was to be renewed and established on a sure ground by no other means than cobwebs.
Line 2
The cobweb was the magic clue by which mankind was to be rescued from all its errors, and guided safely back to the right.
Line 3
And so he cherished spiders above all things, and kept them spinning, spinning away; the only textile factory that existed at that epoch in New England.
Line 4
He distinguished the production of each of his ugly friends, and assigned peculiar qualities to each; and he had been for years engaged in writing a work on this new discovery, in reference to which he had already compiled a great deal of folio manuscript, and had unguessed at resources still to come.
Line 5
With this suggestive subject he interwove all imaginable learning, collected from his own library, rich in works that few others had read, and from that of his beloved University, crabbed with Greek, rich with Latin, drawing into itself, like a whirlpool, all that men had thought hitherto, and combining them anew in such a way that it had all the charm of a racy originality.

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

Above preposition US /əˈbʌv/

higher than, or over, something

From this reading “And so he cherished spiders above all things, and kept them spinning, spinning away; the only textile factory that existed at that epoch in New England.”

Already noun US /already/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He distinguished the production of each of his ugly friends, and assigned peculiar qualities to each; and he had been for years engaged in writing a work on this new discovery, in reference to which he had already compiled a great deal of folio manuscript, and had unguessed at resources still to come.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “He distinguished the production of each of his ugly friends, and assigned peculiar qualities to each; and he had been for years engaged in writing a work on this new discovery, in reference to which he had already compiled a great deal of folio manuscript, and had unguessed at resources still to come.”

Come noun US /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He distinguished the production of each of his ugly friends, and assigned peculiar qualities to each; and he had been for years engaged in writing a work on this new discovery, in reference to which he had already compiled a great deal of folio manuscript, and had unguessed at resources still to come.”

Great noun US /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He distinguished the production of each of his ugly friends, and assigned peculiar qualities to each; and he had been for years engaged in writing a work on this new discovery, in reference to which he had already compiled a great deal of folio manuscript, and had unguessed at resources still to come.”

Itself pronoun US /ˌɪtˈself/

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading “With this suggestive subject he interwove all imaginable learning, collected from his own library, rich in works that few others had read, and from that of his beloved University, crabbed with Greek, rich with Latin, drawing into itself, like a whirlpool, all that men had thought hitherto, and combining them anew in such a way that it had all the charm of a racy originality.”

Manuscript noun US /ˈmæn.jə.skrɪpt/

A book, document, or piece of music written by hand rather than typed or printed.

From this reading “He distinguished the production of each of his ugly friends, and assigned peculiar qualities to each; and he had been for years engaged in writing a work on this new discovery, in reference to which he had already compiled a great deal of folio manuscript, and had unguessed at resources still to come.”

Right noun US /right/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The cobweb was the magic clue by which mankind was to be rescued from all its errors, and guided safely back to the right.”

Spinning noun US /ˈspɪnɪŋ/

the act of making thread from fibers

From this reading “And so he cherished spiders above all things, and kept them spinning, spinning away; the only textile factory that existed at that epoch in New England.”

Still noun US /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He distinguished the production of each of his ugly friends, and assigned peculiar qualities to each; and he had been for years engaged in writing a work on this new discovery, in reference to which he had already compiled a great deal of folio manuscript, and had unguessed at resources still to come.”

Sure noun US /sure/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “_Note 1._ The Doctor’s propensity for cobwebs is amplified in the following note for an earlier and somewhat milder version of the character: “According to him, all science was to be renewed and established on a sure ground by no other means than cobwebs.”

Thought noun US /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “With this suggestive subject he interwove all imaginable learning, collected from his own library, rich in works that few others had read, and from that of his beloved University, crabbed with Greek, rich with Latin, drawing into itself, like a whirlpool, all that men had thought hitherto, and combining them anew in such a way that it had all the charm of a racy originality.”

All words in this reading · 132

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

1

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading _Note 1._ The Doctor’s propensity for cobwebs is amplified in the following note for an earlier and somewhat milder version of the character: “According to him, all science was to be renewed and established on a sure ground by no other means than cobwebs.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading _Note 1._ The Doctor’s propensity for cobwebs is amplified in the following note for an earlier and somewhat milder version of the character: “According to him, all science was to be renewed and established on a sure ground by no other means than cobwebs.

aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/

higher than, or over, something

From this reading And so he cherished spiders above all things, and kept them spinning, spinning away; the only textile factory that existed at that epoch in New England.

According

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading _Note 1._ The Doctor’s propensity for cobwebs is amplified in the following note for an earlier and somewhat milder version of the character: “According to him, all science was to be renewed and established on a sure ground by no other means than cobwebs.

all

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading _Note 1._ The Doctor’s propensity for cobwebs is amplified in the following note for an earlier and somewhat milder version of the character: “According to him, all science was to be renewed and established on a sure ground by no other means than cobwebs.

alreadynounUS /already/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He distinguished the production of each of his ugly friends, and assigned peculiar qualities to each; and he had been for years engaged in writing a work on this new discovery, in reference to which he had already compiled a great deal of folio manuscript, and had unguessed at resources still to come.

amplified

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading _Note 1._ The Doctor’s propensity for cobwebs is amplified in the following note for an earlier and somewhat milder version of the character: “According to him, all science was to be renewed and established on a sure ground by no other means than cobwebs.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading _Note 1._ The Doctor’s propensity for cobwebs is amplified in the following note for an earlier and somewhat milder version of the character: “According to him, all science was to be renewed and established on a sure ground by no other means than cobwebs.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading _Note 1._ The Doctor’s propensity for cobwebs is amplified in the following note for an earlier and somewhat milder version of the character: “According to him, all science was to be renewed and established on a sure ground by no other means than cobwebs.

anew

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading With this suggestive subject he interwove all imaginable learning, collected from his own library, rich in works that few others had read, and from that of his beloved University, crabbed with Greek, rich with Latin, drawing into itself, like a whirlpool, all that men had thought hitherto, and combining them anew in such a way that it had all the charm of a racy originality.

assigned

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He distinguished the production of each of his ugly friends, and assigned peculiar qualities to each; and he had been for years engaged in writing a work on this new discovery, in reference to which he had already compiled a great deal of folio manuscript, and had unguessed at resources still to come.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading And so he cherished spiders above all things, and kept them spinning, spinning away; the only textile factory that existed at that epoch in New England.

away

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading And so he cherished spiders above all things, and kept them spinning, spinning away; the only textile factory that existed at that epoch in New England.

back

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The cobweb was the magic clue by which mankind was to be rescued from all its errors, and guided safely back to the right.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading _Note 1._ The Doctor’s propensity for cobwebs is amplified in the following note for an earlier and somewhat milder version of the character: “According to him, all science was to be renewed and established on a sure ground by no other means than cobwebs.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading He distinguished the production of each of his ugly friends, and assigned peculiar qualities to each; and he had been for years engaged in writing a work on this new discovery, in reference to which he had already compiled a great deal of folio manuscript, and had unguessed at resources still to come.

beloved

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading With this suggestive subject he interwove all imaginable learning, collected from his own library, rich in works that few others had read, and from that of his beloved University, crabbed with Greek, rich with Latin, drawing into itself, like a whirlpool, all that men had thought hitherto, and combining them anew in such a way that it had all the charm of a racy originality.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading _Note 1._ The Doctor’s propensity for cobwebs is amplified in the following note for an earlier and somewhat milder version of the character: “According to him, all science was to be renewed and established on a sure ground by no other means than cobwebs.

character

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading _Note 1._ The Doctor’s propensity for cobwebs is amplified in the following note for an earlier and somewhat milder version of the character: “According to him, all science was to be renewed and established on a sure ground by no other means than cobwebs.

charm

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading With this suggestive subject he interwove all imaginable learning, collected from his own library, rich in works that few others had read, and from that of his beloved University, crabbed with Greek, rich with Latin, drawing into itself, like a whirlpool, all that men had thought hitherto, and combining them anew in such a way that it had all the charm of a racy originality.

cherished

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading And so he cherished spiders above all things, and kept them spinning, spinning away; the only textile factory that existed at that epoch in New England.

clue

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The cobweb was the magic clue by which mankind was to be rescued from all its errors, and guided safely back to the right.

cobweb

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The cobweb was the magic clue by which mankind was to be rescued from all its errors, and guided safely back to the right.

cobwebs

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading _Note 1._ The Doctor’s propensity for cobwebs is amplified in the following note for an earlier and somewhat milder version of the character: “According to him, all science was to be renewed and established on a sure ground by no other means than cobwebs.

collected

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading With this suggestive subject he interwove all imaginable learning, collected from his own library, rich in works that few others had read, and from that of his beloved University, crabbed with Greek, rich with Latin, drawing into itself, like a whirlpool, all that men had thought hitherto, and combining them anew in such a way that it had all the charm of a racy originality.

combining

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading With this suggestive subject he interwove all imaginable learning, collected from his own library, rich in works that few others had read, and from that of his beloved University, crabbed with Greek, rich with Latin, drawing into itself, like a whirlpool, all that men had thought hitherto, and combining them anew in such a way that it had all the charm of a racy originality.

comenounUS /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He distinguished the production of each of his ugly friends, and assigned peculiar qualities to each; and he had been for years engaged in writing a work on this new discovery, in reference to which he had already compiled a great deal of folio manuscript, and had unguessed at resources still to come.

compiled

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He distinguished the production of each of his ugly friends, and assigned peculiar qualities to each; and he had been for years engaged in writing a work on this new discovery, in reference to which he had already compiled a great deal of folio manuscript, and had unguessed at resources still to come.

crabbed

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading With this suggestive subject he interwove all imaginable learning, collected from his own library, rich in works that few others had read, and from that of his beloved University, crabbed with Greek, rich with Latin, drawing into itself, like a whirlpool, all that men had thought hitherto, and combining them anew in such a way that it had all the charm of a racy originality.

deal

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He distinguished the production of each of his ugly friends, and assigned peculiar qualities to each; and he had been for years engaged in writing a work on this new discovery, in reference to which he had already compiled a great deal of folio manuscript, and had unguessed at resources still to come.

discovery

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He distinguished the production of each of his ugly friends, and assigned peculiar qualities to each; and he had been for years engaged in writing a work on this new discovery, in reference to which he had already compiled a great deal of folio manuscript, and had unguessed at resources still to come.

distinguished

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He distinguished the production of each of his ugly friends, and assigned peculiar qualities to each; and he had been for years engaged in writing a work on this new discovery, in reference to which he had already compiled a great deal of folio manuscript, and had unguessed at resources still to come.

Doctor's

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading _Note 1._ The Doctor’s propensity for cobwebs is amplified in the following note for an earlier and somewhat milder version of the character: “According to him, all science was to be renewed and established on a sure ground by no other means than cobwebs.

drawing

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading With this suggestive subject he interwove all imaginable learning, collected from his own library, rich in works that few others had read, and from that of his beloved University, crabbed with Greek, rich with Latin, drawing into itself, like a whirlpool, all that men had thought hitherto, and combining them anew in such a way that it had all the charm of a racy originality.

eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading He distinguished the production of each of his ugly friends, and assigned peculiar qualities to each; and he had been for years engaged in writing a work on this new discovery, in reference to which he had already compiled a great deal of folio manuscript, and had unguessed at resources still to come.

earlier

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading _Note 1._ The Doctor’s propensity for cobwebs is amplified in the following note for an earlier and somewhat milder version of the character: “According to him, all science was to be renewed and established on a sure ground by no other means than cobwebs.

engaged

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He distinguished the production of each of his ugly friends, and assigned peculiar qualities to each; and he had been for years engaged in writing a work on this new discovery, in reference to which he had already compiled a great deal of folio manuscript, and had unguessed at resources still to come.

England

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading And so he cherished spiders above all things, and kept them spinning, spinning away; the only textile factory that existed at that epoch in New England.

epoch

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading And so he cherished spiders above all things, and kept them spinning, spinning away; the only textile factory that existed at that epoch in New England.

errors

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The cobweb was the magic clue by which mankind was to be rescued from all its errors, and guided safely back to the right.

established

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading _Note 1._ The Doctor’s propensity for cobwebs is amplified in the following note for an earlier and somewhat milder version of the character: “According to him, all science was to be renewed and established on a sure ground by no other means than cobwebs.

existed

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading And so he cherished spiders above all things, and kept them spinning, spinning away; the only textile factory that existed at that epoch in New England.

factory

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading And so he cherished spiders above all things, and kept them spinning, spinning away; the only textile factory that existed at that epoch in New England.

few

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading With this suggestive subject he interwove all imaginable learning, collected from his own library, rich in works that few others had read, and from that of his beloved University, crabbed with Greek, rich with Latin, drawing into itself, like a whirlpool, all that men had thought hitherto, and combining them anew in such a way that it had all the charm of a racy originality.

folio

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He distinguished the production of each of his ugly friends, and assigned peculiar qualities to each; and he had been for years engaged in writing a work on this new discovery, in reference to which he had already compiled a great deal of folio manuscript, and had unguessed at resources still to come.

following

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading _Note 1._ The Doctor’s propensity for cobwebs is amplified in the following note for an earlier and somewhat milder version of the character: “According to him, all science was to be renewed and established on a sure ground by no other means than cobwebs.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading _Note 1._ The Doctor’s propensity for cobwebs is amplified in the following note for an earlier and somewhat milder version of the character: “According to him, all science was to be renewed and established on a sure ground by no other means than cobwebs.

friends

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He distinguished the production of each of his ugly friends, and assigned peculiar qualities to each; and he had been for years engaged in writing a work on this new discovery, in reference to which he had already compiled a great deal of folio manuscript, and had unguessed at resources still to come.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The cobweb was the magic clue by which mankind was to be rescued from all its errors, and guided safely back to the right.

greatnounUS /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He distinguished the production of each of his ugly friends, and assigned peculiar qualities to each; and he had been for years engaged in writing a work on this new discovery, in reference to which he had already compiled a great deal of folio manuscript, and had unguessed at resources still to come.

Greek

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading With this suggestive subject he interwove all imaginable learning, collected from his own library, rich in works that few others had read, and from that of his beloved University, crabbed with Greek, rich with Latin, drawing into itself, like a whirlpool, all that men had thought hitherto, and combining them anew in such a way that it had all the charm of a racy originality.

ground

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading _Note 1._ The Doctor’s propensity for cobwebs is amplified in the following note for an earlier and somewhat milder version of the character: “According to him, all science was to be renewed and established on a sure ground by no other means than cobwebs.

guided

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The cobweb was the magic clue by which mankind was to be rescued from all its errors, and guided safely back to the right.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading He distinguished the production of each of his ugly friends, and assigned peculiar qualities to each; and he had been for years engaged in writing a work on this new discovery, in reference to which he had already compiled a great deal of folio manuscript, and had unguessed at resources still to come.

hepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading And so he cherished spiders above all things, and kept them spinning, spinning away; the only textile factory that existed at that epoch in New England.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading _Note 1._ The Doctor’s propensity for cobwebs is amplified in the following note for an earlier and somewhat milder version of the character: “According to him, all science was to be renewed and established on a sure ground by no other means than cobwebs.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading He distinguished the production of each of his ugly friends, and assigned peculiar qualities to each; and he had been for years engaged in writing a work on this new discovery, in reference to which he had already compiled a great deal of folio manuscript, and had unguessed at resources still to come.

hitherto

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading With this suggestive subject he interwove all imaginable learning, collected from his own library, rich in works that few others had read, and from that of his beloved University, crabbed with Greek, rich with Latin, drawing into itself, like a whirlpool, all that men had thought hitherto, and combining them anew in such a way that it had all the charm of a racy originality.

imaginable

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading With this suggestive subject he interwove all imaginable learning, collected from his own library, rich in works that few others had read, and from that of his beloved University, crabbed with Greek, rich with Latin, drawing into itself, like a whirlpool, all that men had thought hitherto, and combining them anew in such a way that it had all the charm of a racy originality.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading _Note 1._ The Doctor’s propensity for cobwebs is amplified in the following note for an earlier and somewhat milder version of the character: “According to him, all science was to be renewed and established on a sure ground by no other means than cobwebs.

interwove

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading With this suggestive subject he interwove all imaginable learning, collected from his own library, rich in works that few others had read, and from that of his beloved University, crabbed with Greek, rich with Latin, drawing into itself, like a whirlpool, all that men had thought hitherto, and combining them anew in such a way that it had all the charm of a racy originality.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading With this suggestive subject he interwove all imaginable learning, collected from his own library, rich in works that few others had read, and from that of his beloved University, crabbed with Greek, rich with Latin, drawing into itself, like a whirlpool, all that men had thought hitherto, and combining them anew in such a way that it had all the charm of a racy originality.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading _Note 1._ The Doctor’s propensity for cobwebs is amplified in the following note for an earlier and somewhat milder version of the character: “According to him, all science was to be renewed and established on a sure ground by no other means than cobwebs.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading With this suggestive subject he interwove all imaginable learning, collected from his own library, rich in works that few others had read, and from that of his beloved University, crabbed with Greek, rich with Latin, drawing into itself, like a whirlpool, all that men had thought hitherto, and combining them anew in such a way that it had all the charm of a racy originality.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading The cobweb was the magic clue by which mankind was to be rescued from all its errors, and guided safely back to the right.

itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading With this suggestive subject he interwove all imaginable learning, collected from his own library, rich in works that few others had read, and from that of his beloved University, crabbed with Greek, rich with Latin, drawing into itself, like a whirlpool, all that men had thought hitherto, and combining them anew in such a way that it had all the charm of a racy originality.

kept

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading And so he cherished spiders above all things, and kept them spinning, spinning away; the only textile factory that existed at that epoch in New England.

Latin

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading With this suggestive subject he interwove all imaginable learning, collected from his own library, rich in works that few others had read, and from that of his beloved University, crabbed with Greek, rich with Latin, drawing into itself, like a whirlpool, all that men had thought hitherto, and combining them anew in such a way that it had all the charm of a racy originality.

learning

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading With this suggestive subject he interwove all imaginable learning, collected from his own library, rich in works that few others had read, and from that of his beloved University, crabbed with Greek, rich with Latin, drawing into itself, like a whirlpool, all that men had thought hitherto, and combining them anew in such a way that it had all the charm of a racy originality.

library

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading With this suggestive subject he interwove all imaginable learning, collected from his own library, rich in works that few others had read, and from that of his beloved University, crabbed with Greek, rich with Latin, drawing into itself, like a whirlpool, all that men had thought hitherto, and combining them anew in such a way that it had all the charm of a racy originality.

like

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading With this suggestive subject he interwove all imaginable learning, collected from his own library, rich in works that few others had read, and from that of his beloved University, crabbed with Greek, rich with Latin, drawing into itself, like a whirlpool, all that men had thought hitherto, and combining them anew in such a way that it had all the charm of a racy originality.

magic

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The cobweb was the magic clue by which mankind was to be rescued from all its errors, and guided safely back to the right.

mankind

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The cobweb was the magic clue by which mankind was to be rescued from all its errors, and guided safely back to the right.

manuscriptnounUS /ˈmæn.jə.skrɪpt/

A book, document, or piece of music written by hand rather than typed or printed.

From this reading He distinguished the production of each of his ugly friends, and assigned peculiar qualities to each; and he had been for years engaged in writing a work on this new discovery, in reference to which he had already compiled a great deal of folio manuscript, and had unguessed at resources still to come.

means

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading _Note 1._ The Doctor’s propensity for cobwebs is amplified in the following note for an earlier and somewhat milder version of the character: “According to him, all science was to be renewed and established on a sure ground by no other means than cobwebs.

men

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading With this suggestive subject he interwove all imaginable learning, collected from his own library, rich in works that few others had read, and from that of his beloved University, crabbed with Greek, rich with Latin, drawing into itself, like a whirlpool, all that men had thought hitherto, and combining them anew in such a way that it had all the charm of a racy originality.

milder

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading _Note 1._ The Doctor’s propensity for cobwebs is amplified in the following note for an earlier and somewhat milder version of the character: “According to him, all science was to be renewed and established on a sure ground by no other means than cobwebs.

New

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading And so he cherished spiders above all things, and kept them spinning, spinning away; the only textile factory that existed at that epoch in New England.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading _Note 1._ The Doctor’s propensity for cobwebs is amplified in the following note for an earlier and somewhat milder version of the character: “According to him, all science was to be renewed and established on a sure ground by no other means than cobwebs.

Note

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading _Note 1._ The Doctor’s propensity for cobwebs is amplified in the following note for an earlier and somewhat milder version of the character: “According to him, all science was to be renewed and established on a sure ground by no other means than cobwebs.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading _Note 1._ The Doctor’s propensity for cobwebs is amplified in the following note for an earlier and somewhat milder version of the character: “According to him, all science was to be renewed and established on a sure ground by no other means than cobwebs.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading _Note 1._ The Doctor’s propensity for cobwebs is amplified in the following note for an earlier and somewhat milder version of the character: “According to him, all science was to be renewed and established on a sure ground by no other means than cobwebs.

only

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading And so he cherished spiders above all things, and kept them spinning, spinning away; the only textile factory that existed at that epoch in New England.

originality

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading With this suggestive subject he interwove all imaginable learning, collected from his own library, rich in works that few others had read, and from that of his beloved University, crabbed with Greek, rich with Latin, drawing into itself, like a whirlpool, all that men had thought hitherto, and combining them anew in such a way that it had all the charm of a racy originality.

other

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading _Note 1._ The Doctor’s propensity for cobwebs is amplified in the following note for an earlier and somewhat milder version of the character: “According to him, all science was to be renewed and established on a sure ground by no other means than cobwebs.

others

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading With this suggestive subject he interwove all imaginable learning, collected from his own library, rich in works that few others had read, and from that of his beloved University, crabbed with Greek, rich with Latin, drawing into itself, like a whirlpool, all that men had thought hitherto, and combining them anew in such a way that it had all the charm of a racy originality.

own

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading With this suggestive subject he interwove all imaginable learning, collected from his own library, rich in works that few others had read, and from that of his beloved University, crabbed with Greek, rich with Latin, drawing into itself, like a whirlpool, all that men had thought hitherto, and combining them anew in such a way that it had all the charm of a racy originality.

peculiar

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He distinguished the production of each of his ugly friends, and assigned peculiar qualities to each; and he had been for years engaged in writing a work on this new discovery, in reference to which he had already compiled a great deal of folio manuscript, and had unguessed at resources still to come.

production

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He distinguished the production of each of his ugly friends, and assigned peculiar qualities to each; and he had been for years engaged in writing a work on this new discovery, in reference to which he had already compiled a great deal of folio manuscript, and had unguessed at resources still to come.

propensity

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading _Note 1._ The Doctor’s propensity for cobwebs is amplified in the following note for an earlier and somewhat milder version of the character: “According to him, all science was to be renewed and established on a sure ground by no other means than cobwebs.

qualities

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He distinguished the production of each of his ugly friends, and assigned peculiar qualities to each; and he had been for years engaged in writing a work on this new discovery, in reference to which he had already compiled a great deal of folio manuscript, and had unguessed at resources still to come.

racy

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading With this suggestive subject he interwove all imaginable learning, collected from his own library, rich in works that few others had read, and from that of his beloved University, crabbed with Greek, rich with Latin, drawing into itself, like a whirlpool, all that men had thought hitherto, and combining them anew in such a way that it had all the charm of a racy originality.

read

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading With this suggestive subject he interwove all imaginable learning, collected from his own library, rich in works that few others had read, and from that of his beloved University, crabbed with Greek, rich with Latin, drawing into itself, like a whirlpool, all that men had thought hitherto, and combining them anew in such a way that it had all the charm of a racy originality.

reference

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He distinguished the production of each of his ugly friends, and assigned peculiar qualities to each; and he had been for years engaged in writing a work on this new discovery, in reference to which he had already compiled a great deal of folio manuscript, and had unguessed at resources still to come.

renewed

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading _Note 1._ The Doctor’s propensity for cobwebs is amplified in the following note for an earlier and somewhat milder version of the character: “According to him, all science was to be renewed and established on a sure ground by no other means than cobwebs.

rescued

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From this reading The cobweb was the magic clue by which mankind was to be rescued from all its errors, and guided safely back to the right.

resources

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He distinguished the production of each of his ugly friends, and assigned peculiar qualities to each; and he had been for years engaged in writing a work on this new discovery, in reference to which he had already compiled a great deal of folio manuscript, and had unguessed at resources still to come.

rich

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading With this suggestive subject he interwove all imaginable learning, collected from his own library, rich in works that few others had read, and from that of his beloved University, crabbed with Greek, rich with Latin, drawing into itself, like a whirlpool, all that men had thought hitherto, and combining them anew in such a way that it had all the charm of a racy originality.

rightnounUS /right/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The cobweb was the magic clue by which mankind was to be rescued from all its errors, and guided safely back to the right.

safely

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The cobweb was the magic clue by which mankind was to be rescued from all its errors, and guided safely back to the right.

science

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading _Note 1._ The Doctor’s propensity for cobwebs is amplified in the following note for an earlier and somewhat milder version of the character: “According to him, all science was to be renewed and established on a sure ground by no other means than cobwebs.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading And so he cherished spiders above all things, and kept them spinning, spinning away; the only textile factory that existed at that epoch in New England.

somewhat

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading _Note 1._ The Doctor’s propensity for cobwebs is amplified in the following note for an earlier and somewhat milder version of the character: “According to him, all science was to be renewed and established on a sure ground by no other means than cobwebs.

spiders

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading And so he cherished spiders above all things, and kept them spinning, spinning away; the only textile factory that existed at that epoch in New England.

spinningnounUS /ˈspɪnɪŋ/

the act of making thread from fibers

From this reading And so he cherished spiders above all things, and kept them spinning, spinning away; the only textile factory that existed at that epoch in New England.

stillnounUS /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He distinguished the production of each of his ugly friends, and assigned peculiar qualities to each; and he had been for years engaged in writing a work on this new discovery, in reference to which he had already compiled a great deal of folio manuscript, and had unguessed at resources still to come.

subject

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading With this suggestive subject he interwove all imaginable learning, collected from his own library, rich in works that few others had read, and from that of his beloved University, crabbed with Greek, rich with Latin, drawing into itself, like a whirlpool, all that men had thought hitherto, and combining them anew in such a way that it had all the charm of a racy originality.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading With this suggestive subject he interwove all imaginable learning, collected from his own library, rich in works that few others had read, and from that of his beloved University, crabbed with Greek, rich with Latin, drawing into itself, like a whirlpool, all that men had thought hitherto, and combining them anew in such a way that it had all the charm of a racy originality.

suggestive

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading With this suggestive subject he interwove all imaginable learning, collected from his own library, rich in works that few others had read, and from that of his beloved University, crabbed with Greek, rich with Latin, drawing into itself, like a whirlpool, all that men had thought hitherto, and combining them anew in such a way that it had all the charm of a racy originality.

surenounUS /sure/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading _Note 1._ The Doctor’s propensity for cobwebs is amplified in the following note for an earlier and somewhat milder version of the character: “According to him, all science was to be renewed and established on a sure ground by no other means than cobwebs.

textile

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading And so he cherished spiders above all things, and kept them spinning, spinning away; the only textile factory that existed at that epoch in New England.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading _Note 1._ The Doctor’s propensity for cobwebs is amplified in the following note for an earlier and somewhat milder version of the character: “According to him, all science was to be renewed and established on a sure ground by no other means than cobwebs.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading And so he cherished spiders above all things, and kept them spinning, spinning away; the only textile factory that existed at that epoch in New England.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading _Note 1._ The Doctor’s propensity for cobwebs is amplified in the following note for an earlier and somewhat milder version of the character: “According to him, all science was to be renewed and established on a sure ground by no other means than cobwebs.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading And so he cherished spiders above all things, and kept them spinning, spinning away; the only textile factory that existed at that epoch in New England.

things

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading And so he cherished spiders above all things, and kept them spinning, spinning away; the only textile factory that existed at that epoch in New England.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading He distinguished the production of each of his ugly friends, and assigned peculiar qualities to each; and he had been for years engaged in writing a work on this new discovery, in reference to which he had already compiled a great deal of folio manuscript, and had unguessed at resources still to come.

thoughtnounUS /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading With this suggestive subject he interwove all imaginable learning, collected from his own library, rich in works that few others had read, and from that of his beloved University, crabbed with Greek, rich with Latin, drawing into itself, like a whirlpool, all that men had thought hitherto, and combining them anew in such a way that it had all the charm of a racy originality.

toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading _Note 1._ The Doctor’s propensity for cobwebs is amplified in the following note for an earlier and somewhat milder version of the character: “According to him, all science was to be renewed and established on a sure ground by no other means than cobwebs.

ugly

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He distinguished the production of each of his ugly friends, and assigned peculiar qualities to each; and he had been for years engaged in writing a work on this new discovery, in reference to which he had already compiled a great deal of folio manuscript, and had unguessed at resources still to come.

unguessed

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He distinguished the production of each of his ugly friends, and assigned peculiar qualities to each; and he had been for years engaged in writing a work on this new discovery, in reference to which he had already compiled a great deal of folio manuscript, and had unguessed at resources still to come.

University

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading With this suggestive subject he interwove all imaginable learning, collected from his own library, rich in works that few others had read, and from that of his beloved University, crabbed with Greek, rich with Latin, drawing into itself, like a whirlpool, all that men had thought hitherto, and combining them anew in such a way that it had all the charm of a racy originality.

version

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading _Note 1._ The Doctor’s propensity for cobwebs is amplified in the following note for an earlier and somewhat milder version of the character: “According to him, all science was to be renewed and established on a sure ground by no other means than cobwebs.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading _Note 1._ The Doctor’s propensity for cobwebs is amplified in the following note for an earlier and somewhat milder version of the character: “According to him, all science was to be renewed and established on a sure ground by no other means than cobwebs.

way

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading With this suggestive subject he interwove all imaginable learning, collected from his own library, rich in works that few others had read, and from that of his beloved University, crabbed with Greek, rich with Latin, drawing into itself, like a whirlpool, all that men had thought hitherto, and combining them anew in such a way that it had all the charm of a racy originality.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading The cobweb was the magic clue by which mankind was to be rescued from all its errors, and guided safely back to the right.

whirlpool

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading With this suggestive subject he interwove all imaginable learning, collected from his own library, rich in works that few others had read, and from that of his beloved University, crabbed with Greek, rich with Latin, drawing into itself, like a whirlpool, all that men had thought hitherto, and combining them anew in such a way that it had all the charm of a racy originality.

WithprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading With this suggestive subject he interwove all imaginable learning, collected from his own library, rich in works that few others had read, and from that of his beloved University, crabbed with Greek, rich with Latin, drawing into itself, like a whirlpool, all that men had thought hitherto, and combining them anew in such a way that it had all the charm of a racy originality.

work

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He distinguished the production of each of his ugly friends, and assigned peculiar qualities to each; and he had been for years engaged in writing a work on this new discovery, in reference to which he had already compiled a great deal of folio manuscript, and had unguessed at resources still to come.

works

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading With this suggestive subject he interwove all imaginable learning, collected from his own library, rich in works that few others had read, and from that of his beloved University, crabbed with Greek, rich with Latin, drawing into itself, like a whirlpool, all that men had thought hitherto, and combining them anew in such a way that it had all the charm of a racy originality.

writing

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He distinguished the production of each of his ugly friends, and assigned peculiar qualities to each; and he had been for years engaged in writing a work on this new discovery, in reference to which he had already compiled a great deal of folio manuscript, and had unguessed at resources still to come.

years

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He distinguished the production of each of his ugly friends, and assigned peculiar qualities to each; and he had been for years engaged in writing a work on this new discovery, in reference to which he had already compiled a great deal of folio manuscript, and had unguessed at resources still to come.