Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading I seize, then, the present opportunity, not as the best, but as the only one I can he sure of commanding, to express that affectionate admiration with which you have inspired me in common with all your contemporaries, and which a French writer has not ungracefully termed "the happiest prerogative of genius."
add
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From this reading SIR,--It has long been my ambition to add some humble tribute to the offerings laid upon the shrine of your genius.
admiration
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From this reading I seize, then, the present opportunity, not as the best, but as the only one I can he sure of commanding, to express that affectionate admiration with which you have inspired me in common with all your contemporaries, and which a French writer has not ungracefully termed "the happiest prerogative of genius."
affectionate
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From this reading I seize, then, the present opportunity, not as the best, but as the only one I can he sure of commanding, to express that affectionate admiration with which you have inspired me in common with all your contemporaries, and which a French writer has not ungracefully termed "the happiest prerogative of genius."
all
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From this reading I seize, then, the present opportunity, not as the best, but as the only one I can he sure of commanding, to express that affectionate admiration with which you have inspired me in common with all your contemporaries, and which a French writer has not ungracefully termed "the happiest prerogative of genius."
amauxiliary verbUS /æm/
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading But 'defluat amnis',--the time runs on; and I am tired of waiting for the ford which the tides refuse.
ambition
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From this reading SIR,--It has long been my ambition to add some humble tribute to the offerings laid upon the shrine of your genius.
amnis
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From this reading But 'defluat amnis',--the time runs on; and I am tired of waiting for the ford which the tides refuse.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading At each succeeding book that I have given to the world, I have paused to consider if it were worthy to be inscribed with your great name, and at each I have played the procrastinator, and hoped for that morrow of better desert which never came.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading I seize, then, the present opportunity, not as the best, but as the only one I can he sure of commanding, to express that affectionate admiration with which you have inspired me in common with all your contemporaries, and which a French writer has not ungracefully termed "the happiest prerogative of genius."
AtprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At each succeeding book that I have given to the world, I have paused to consider if it were worthy to be inscribed with your great name, and at each I have played the procrastinator, and hoped for that morrow of better desert which never came.
BART
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From this reading TO SIR WALTER SCOTT, BART., ETC.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading At each succeeding book that I have given to the world, I have paused to consider if it were worthy to be inscribed with your great name, and at each I have played the procrastinator, and hoped for that morrow of better desert which never came.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading SIR,--It has long been my ambition to add some humble tribute to the offerings laid upon the shrine of your genius.
best
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From this reading I seize, then, the present opportunity, not as the best, but as the only one I can he sure of commanding, to express that affectionate admiration with which you have inspired me in common with all your contemporaries, and which a French writer has not ungracefully termed "the happiest prerogative of genius."
better
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From this reading At each succeeding book that I have given to the world, I have paused to consider if it were worthy to be inscribed with your great name, and at each I have played the procrastinator, and hoped for that morrow of better desert which never came.
book
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From this reading At each succeeding book that I have given to the world, I have paused to consider if it were worthy to be inscribed with your great name, and at each I have played the procrastinator, and hoped for that morrow of better desert which never came.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But 'defluat amnis',--the time runs on; and I am tired of waiting for the ford which the tides refuse.
came
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From this reading At each succeeding book that I have given to the world, I have paused to consider if it were worthy to be inscribed with your great name, and at each I have played the procrastinator, and hoped for that morrow of better desert which never came.
canmodal verbUS /kæn/
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading I seize, then, the present opportunity, not as the best, but as the only one I can he sure of commanding, to express that affectionate admiration with which you have inspired me in common with all your contemporaries, and which a French writer has not ungracefully termed "the happiest prerogative of genius."
commanding
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From this reading I seize, then, the present opportunity, not as the best, but as the only one I can he sure of commanding, to express that affectionate admiration with which you have inspired me in common with all your contemporaries, and which a French writer has not ungracefully termed "the happiest prerogative of genius."
common
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I seize, then, the present opportunity, not as the best, but as the only one I can he sure of commanding, to express that affectionate admiration with which you have inspired me in common with all your contemporaries, and which a French writer has not ungracefully termed "the happiest prerogative of genius."
consider
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From this reading At each succeeding book that I have given to the world, I have paused to consider if it were worthy to be inscribed with your great name, and at each I have played the procrastinator, and hoped for that morrow of better desert which never came.
contemporaries
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From this reading I seize, then, the present opportunity, not as the best, but as the only one I can he sure of commanding, to express that affectionate admiration with which you have inspired me in common with all your contemporaries, and which a French writer has not ungracefully termed "the happiest prerogative of genius."
defluat
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From this reading But 'defluat amnis',--the time runs on; and I am tired of waiting for the ford which the tides refuse.
desert
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At each succeeding book that I have given to the world, I have paused to consider if it were worthy to be inscribed with your great name, and at each I have played the procrastinator, and hoped for that morrow of better desert which never came.
eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading At each succeeding book that I have given to the world, I have paused to consider if it were worthy to be inscribed with your great name, and at each I have played the procrastinator, and hoped for that morrow of better desert which never came.
ETC
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From this reading TO SIR WALTER SCOTT, BART., ETC.
expressverbUS /ɪkˈspres/
to show or communicate a feeling or idea
From this reading I seize, then, the present opportunity, not as the best, but as the only one I can he sure of commanding, to express that affectionate admiration with which you have inspired me in common with all your contemporaries, and which a French writer has not ungracefully termed "the happiest prerogative of genius."
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading At each succeeding book that I have given to the world, I have paused to consider if it were worthy to be inscribed with your great name, and at each I have played the procrastinator, and hoped for that morrow of better desert which never came.
ford
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From this reading But 'defluat amnis',--the time runs on; and I am tired of waiting for the ford which the tides refuse.
French
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From this reading I seize, then, the present opportunity, not as the best, but as the only one I can he sure of commanding, to express that affectionate admiration with which you have inspired me in common with all your contemporaries, and which a French writer has not ungracefully termed "the happiest prerogative of genius."
genius
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SIR,--It has long been my ambition to add some humble tribute to the offerings laid upon the shrine of your genius.
given
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From this reading At each succeeding book that I have given to the world, I have paused to consider if it were worthy to be inscribed with your great name, and at each I have played the procrastinator, and hoped for that morrow of better desert which never came.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading At each succeeding book that I have given to the world, I have paused to consider if it were worthy to be inscribed with your great name, and at each I have played the procrastinator, and hoped for that morrow of better desert which never came.
happiest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I seize, then, the present opportunity, not as the best, but as the only one I can he sure of commanding, to express that affectionate admiration with which you have inspired me in common with all your contemporaries, and which a French writer has not ungracefully termed "the happiest prerogative of genius."
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading SIR,--It has long been my ambition to add some humble tribute to the offerings laid upon the shrine of your genius.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading At each succeeding book that I have given to the world, I have paused to consider if it were worthy to be inscribed with your great name, and at each I have played the procrastinator, and hoped for that morrow of better desert which never came.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading I seize, then, the present opportunity, not as the best, but as the only one I can he sure of commanding, to express that affectionate admiration with which you have inspired me in common with all your contemporaries, and which a French writer has not ungracefully termed "the happiest prerogative of genius."
hoped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At each succeeding book that I have given to the world, I have paused to consider if it were worthy to be inscribed with your great name, and at each I have played the procrastinator, and hoped for that morrow of better desert which never came.
humble
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SIR,--It has long been my ambition to add some humble tribute to the offerings laid upon the shrine of your genius.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading At each succeeding book that I have given to the world, I have paused to consider if it were worthy to be inscribed with your great name, and at each I have played the procrastinator, and hoped for that morrow of better desert which never came.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading At each succeeding book that I have given to the world, I have paused to consider if it were worthy to be inscribed with your great name, and at each I have played the procrastinator, and hoped for that morrow of better desert which never came.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I seize, then, the present opportunity, not as the best, but as the only one I can he sure of commanding, to express that affectionate admiration with which you have inspired me in common with all your contemporaries, and which a French writer has not ungracefully termed "the happiest prerogative of genius."
inscribed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At each succeeding book that I have given to the world, I have paused to consider if it were worthy to be inscribed with your great name, and at each I have played the procrastinator, and hoped for that morrow of better desert which never came.
inspired
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I seize, then, the present opportunity, not as the best, but as the only one I can he sure of commanding, to express that affectionate admiration with which you have inspired me in common with all your contemporaries, and which a French writer has not ungracefully termed "the happiest prerogative of genius."
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading SIR,--It has long been my ambition to add some humble tribute to the offerings laid upon the shrine of your genius.
laid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SIR,--It has long been my ambition to add some humble tribute to the offerings laid upon the shrine of your genius.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading SIR,--It has long been my ambition to add some humble tribute to the offerings laid upon the shrine of your genius.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I seize, then, the present opportunity, not as the best, but as the only one I can he sure of commanding, to express that affectionate admiration with which you have inspired me in common with all your contemporaries, and which a French writer has not ungracefully termed "the happiest prerogative of genius."
morrow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At each succeeding book that I have given to the world, I have paused to consider if it were worthy to be inscribed with your great name, and at each I have played the procrastinator, and hoped for that morrow of better desert which never came.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading SIR,--It has long been my ambition to add some humble tribute to the offerings laid upon the shrine of your genius.
namenounUS /name/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading At each succeeding book that I have given to the world, I have paused to consider if it were worthy to be inscribed with your great name, and at each I have played the procrastinator, and hoped for that morrow of better desert which never came.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading At each succeeding book that I have given to the world, I have paused to consider if it were worthy to be inscribed with your great name, and at each I have played the procrastinator, and hoped for that morrow of better desert which never came.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading I seize, then, the present opportunity, not as the best, but as the only one I can he sure of commanding, to express that affectionate admiration with which you have inspired me in common with all your contemporaries, and which a French writer has not ungracefully termed "the happiest prerogative of genius."
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading SIR,--It has long been my ambition to add some humble tribute to the offerings laid upon the shrine of your genius.
offerings
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From this reading SIR,--It has long been my ambition to add some humble tribute to the offerings laid upon the shrine of your genius.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading But 'defluat amnis',--the time runs on; and I am tired of waiting for the ford which the tides refuse.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading I seize, then, the present opportunity, not as the best, but as the only one I can he sure of commanding, to express that affectionate admiration with which you have inspired me in common with all your contemporaries, and which a French writer has not ungracefully termed "the happiest prerogative of genius."
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I seize, then, the present opportunity, not as the best, but as the only one I can he sure of commanding, to express that affectionate admiration with which you have inspired me in common with all your contemporaries, and which a French writer has not ungracefully termed "the happiest prerogative of genius."
opportunity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I seize, then, the present opportunity, not as the best, but as the only one I can he sure of commanding, to express that affectionate admiration with which you have inspired me in common with all your contemporaries, and which a French writer has not ungracefully termed "the happiest prerogative of genius."
paused
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From this reading At each succeeding book that I have given to the world, I have paused to consider if it were worthy to be inscribed with your great name, and at each I have played the procrastinator, and hoped for that morrow of better desert which never came.
played
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From this reading At each succeeding book that I have given to the world, I have paused to consider if it were worthy to be inscribed with your great name, and at each I have played the procrastinator, and hoped for that morrow of better desert which never came.
prerogative
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I seize, then, the present opportunity, not as the best, but as the only one I can he sure of commanding, to express that affectionate admiration with which you have inspired me in common with all your contemporaries, and which a French writer has not ungracefully termed "the happiest prerogative of genius."
present
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I seize, then, the present opportunity, not as the best, but as the only one I can he sure of commanding, to express that affectionate admiration with which you have inspired me in common with all your contemporaries, and which a French writer has not ungracefully termed "the happiest prerogative of genius."
procrastinator
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From this reading At each succeeding book that I have given to the world, I have paused to consider if it were worthy to be inscribed with your great name, and at each I have played the procrastinator, and hoped for that morrow of better desert which never came.
refuse
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From this reading But 'defluat amnis',--the time runs on; and I am tired of waiting for the ford which the tides refuse.
runs
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From this reading But 'defluat amnis',--the time runs on; and I am tired of waiting for the ford which the tides refuse.
SCOTT
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading TO SIR WALTER SCOTT, BART., ETC.
seize
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I seize, then, the present opportunity, not as the best, but as the only one I can he sure of commanding, to express that affectionate admiration with which you have inspired me in common with all your contemporaries, and which a French writer has not ungracefully termed "the happiest prerogative of genius."
shrine
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From this reading SIR,--It has long been my ambition to add some humble tribute to the offerings laid upon the shrine of your genius.
SIR
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading TO SIR WALTER SCOTT, BART., ETC.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SIR,--It has long been my ambition to add some humble tribute to the offerings laid upon the shrine of your genius.
succeeding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At each succeeding book that I have given to the world, I have paused to consider if it were worthy to be inscribed with your great name, and at each I have played the procrastinator, and hoped for that morrow of better desert which never came.
surenounUS /sure/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I seize, then, the present opportunity, not as the best, but as the only one I can he sure of commanding, to express that affectionate admiration with which you have inspired me in common with all your contemporaries, and which a French writer has not ungracefully termed "the happiest prerogative of genius."
termed
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From this reading I seize, then, the present opportunity, not as the best, but as the only one I can he sure of commanding, to express that affectionate admiration with which you have inspired me in common with all your contemporaries, and which a French writer has not ungracefully termed "the happiest prerogative of genius."
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading At each succeeding book that I have given to the world, I have paused to consider if it were worthy to be inscribed with your great name, and at each I have played the procrastinator, and hoped for that morrow of better desert which never came.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading SIR,--It has long been my ambition to add some humble tribute to the offerings laid upon the shrine of your genius.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I seize, then, the present opportunity, not as the best, but as the only one I can he sure of commanding, to express that affectionate admiration with which you have inspired me in common with all your contemporaries, and which a French writer has not ungracefully termed "the happiest prerogative of genius."
tides
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But 'defluat amnis',--the time runs on; and I am tired of waiting for the ford which the tides refuse.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But 'defluat amnis',--the time runs on; and I am tired of waiting for the ford which the tides refuse.
tired
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From this reading But 'defluat amnis',--the time runs on; and I am tired of waiting for the ford which the tides refuse.
TOparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading TO SIR WALTER SCOTT, BART., ETC.
tribute
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From this reading SIR,--It has long been my ambition to add some humble tribute to the offerings laid upon the shrine of your genius.
ungracefully
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I seize, then, the present opportunity, not as the best, but as the only one I can he sure of commanding, to express that affectionate admiration with which you have inspired me in common with all your contemporaries, and which a French writer has not ungracefully termed "the happiest prerogative of genius."
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading SIR,--It has long been my ambition to add some humble tribute to the offerings laid upon the shrine of your genius.
waiting
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From this reading But 'defluat amnis',--the time runs on; and I am tired of waiting for the ford which the tides refuse.
WALTER
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading TO SIR WALTER SCOTT, BART., ETC.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading At each succeeding book that I have given to the world, I have paused to consider if it were worthy to be inscribed with your great name, and at each I have played the procrastinator, and hoped for that morrow of better desert which never came.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading At each succeeding book that I have given to the world, I have paused to consider if it were worthy to be inscribed with your great name, and at each I have played the procrastinator, and hoped for that morrow of better desert which never came.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading At each succeeding book that I have given to the world, I have paused to consider if it were worthy to be inscribed with your great name, and at each I have played the procrastinator, and hoped for that morrow of better desert which never came.
world
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At each succeeding book that I have given to the world, I have paused to consider if it were worthy to be inscribed with your great name, and at each I have played the procrastinator, and hoped for that morrow of better desert which never came.
worthyadjectiveUS /ˈwɜːr.ði/
Having or showing the qualities or abilities that merit recognition in character or magic.
From this reading At each succeeding book that I have given to the world, I have paused to consider if it were worthy to be inscribed with your great name, and at each I have played the procrastinator, and hoped for that morrow of better desert which never came.
writer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I seize, then, the present opportunity, not as the best, but as the only one I can he sure of commanding, to express that affectionate admiration with which you have inspired me in common with all your contemporaries, and which a French writer has not ungracefully termed "the happiest prerogative of genius."
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading I seize, then, the present opportunity, not as the best, but as the only one I can he sure of commanding, to express that affectionate admiration with which you have inspired me in common with all your contemporaries, and which a French writer has not ungracefully termed "the happiest prerogative of genius."
yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading SIR,--It has long been my ambition to add some humble tribute to the offerings laid upon the shrine of your genius.
