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His Sombre Rivals
His Sombre Rivals

Chapter I

Cover illustration for His Sombre Rivals
Context Illustration Reading 1/25 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Graham's disposition to make his aunt a visit was not at all chilled by the discovery that she had so fair a neighbor.
He was conscious of little more than an impulse to form the acquaintance of one who might give a peculiar charm and piquancy to his May-day vacation, and enrich him with an experience that had been wholly wanting in his secluded and studious life.
With a smile he permitted the fancy--for he was in a mood for all sorts of fancies on this evening--that if this girl could teach him to interpret Emerson's words, he would make no crabbed resistance.
And yet the remote possibility of such an event gave him a sense of security, and prompted him all the more to yield himself for the first time to whatever impressions a young and pretty woman might be able to make upon him.
His very disposition toward experiment and analysis inclined him to experiment with himself.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

His Sombre Rivals

Chapter I

Reading 1/25 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Graham's disposition to make his aunt a visit was not at all chilled by the discovery that she had so fair a neighbor.
Line 2
He was conscious of little more than an impulse to form the acquaintance of one who might give a peculiar charm and piquancy to his May-day vacation, and enrich him with an experience that had been wholly wanting in his secluded and studious life.
Line 3
With a smile he permitted the fancy--for he was in a mood for all sorts of fancies on this evening--that if this girl could teach him to interpret Emerson's words, he would make no crabbed resistance.
Line 4
And yet the remote possibility of such an event gave him a sense of security, and prompted him all the more to yield himself for the first time to whatever impressions a young and pretty woman might be able to make upon him.
Line 5
His very disposition toward experiment and analysis inclined him to experiment with himself.

Learner Dictionary

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

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “He was conscious of little more than an impulse to form the acquaintance of one who might give a peculiar charm and piquancy to his May-day vacation, and enrich him with an experience that had been wholly wanting in his secluded and studious life.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading “With a smile he permitted the fancy--for he was in a mood for all sorts of fancies on this evening--that if this girl could teach him to interpret Emerson's words, he would make no crabbed resistance.”

Disposition noun US /ˌdɪspəˈzɪʃən/

the way something is arranged or positioned

From this reading “Graham's disposition to make his aunt a visit was not at all chilled by the discovery that she had so fair a neighbor.”

Fair noun US /fair/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Graham's disposition to make his aunt a visit was not at all chilled by the discovery that she had so fair a neighbor.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “And yet the remote possibility of such an event gave him a sense of security, and prompted him all the more to yield himself for the first time to whatever impressions a young and pretty woman might be able to make upon him.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading “And yet the remote possibility of such an event gave him a sense of security, and prompted him all the more to yield himself for the first time to whatever impressions a young and pretty woman might be able to make upon him.”

Impulse noun US /ˈɪmpʌls/

a sudden strong desire to act

From this reading “He was conscious of little more than an impulse to form the acquaintance of one who might give a peculiar charm and piquancy to his May-day vacation, and enrich him with an experience that had been wholly wanting in his secluded and studious life.”

Life noun US /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He was conscious of little more than an impulse to form the acquaintance of one who might give a peculiar charm and piquancy to his May-day vacation, and enrich him with an experience that had been wholly wanting in his secluded and studious life.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He was conscious of little more than an impulse to form the acquaintance of one who might give a peculiar charm and piquancy to his May-day vacation, and enrich him with an experience that had been wholly wanting in his secluded and studious life.”

Make noun US /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Graham's disposition to make his aunt a visit was not at all chilled by the discovery that she had so fair a neighbor.”

Might modal verb US /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading “He was conscious of little more than an impulse to form the acquaintance of one who might give a peculiar charm and piquancy to his May-day vacation, and enrich him with an experience that had been wholly wanting in his secluded and studious life.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “He was conscious of little more than an impulse to form the acquaintance of one who might give a peculiar charm and piquancy to his May-day vacation, and enrich him with an experience that had been wholly wanting in his secluded and studious life.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “And yet the remote possibility of such an event gave him a sense of security, and prompted him all the more to yield himself for the first time to whatever impressions a young and pretty woman might be able to make upon him.”

Toward preposition US /təˈwɔːrd/

in the direction of

From this reading “His very disposition toward experiment and analysis inclined him to experiment with himself.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “And yet the remote possibility of such an event gave him a sense of security, and prompted him all the more to yield himself for the first time to whatever impressions a young and pretty woman might be able to make upon him.”

Whatever determiner US /ˌwʌˈtevər/

any or all of a kind, it does not matter which

From this reading “And yet the remote possibility of such an event gave him a sense of security, and prompted him all the more to yield himself for the first time to whatever impressions a young and pretty woman might be able to make upon him.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading “With a smile he permitted the fancy--for he was in a mood for all sorts of fancies on this evening--that if this girl could teach him to interpret Emerson's words, he would make no crabbed resistance.”

Yet conjunction US /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading “And yet the remote possibility of such an event gave him a sense of security, and prompted him all the more to yield himself for the first time to whatever impressions a young and pretty woman might be able to make upon him.”

All words in this reading · 100

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 Graham's disposition to make his aunt a visit was not at all chilled by the discovery that she had so fair a neighbor.

able

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

From this reading And yet the remote possibility of such an event gave him a sense of security, and prompted him all the more to yield himself for the first time to whatever impressions a young and pretty woman might be able to make upon him.

acquaintance

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

From this reading He was conscious of little more than an impulse to form the acquaintance of one who might give a peculiar charm and piquancy to his May-day vacation, and enrich him with an experience that had been wholly wanting in his secluded and studious life.

all

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

From this reading Graham's disposition to make his aunt a visit was not at all chilled by the discovery that she had so fair a neighbor.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading He was conscious of little more than an impulse to form the acquaintance of one who might give a peculiar charm and piquancy to his May-day vacation, and enrich him with an experience that had been wholly wanting in his secluded and studious life.

analysis

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

From this reading His very disposition toward experiment and analysis inclined him to experiment with himself.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading He was conscious of little more than an impulse to form the acquaintance of one who might give a peculiar charm and piquancy to his May-day vacation, and enrich him with an experience that had been wholly wanting in his secluded and studious life.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Graham's disposition to make his aunt a visit was not at all chilled by the discovery that she had so fair a neighbor.

aunt

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

From this reading Graham's disposition to make his aunt a visit was not at all chilled by the discovery that she had so fair a neighbor.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading And yet the remote possibility of such an event gave him a sense of security, and prompted him all the more to yield himself for the first time to whatever impressions a young and pretty woman might be able to make upon him.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading He was conscious of little more than an impulse to form the acquaintance of one who might give a peculiar charm and piquancy to his May-day vacation, and enrich him with an experience that had been wholly wanting in his secluded and studious life.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Graham's disposition to make his aunt a visit was not at all chilled by the discovery that she had so fair a neighbor.

charm

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

From this reading He was conscious of little more than an impulse to form the acquaintance of one who might give a peculiar charm and piquancy to his May-day vacation, and enrich him with an experience that had been wholly wanting in his secluded and studious life.

chilled

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

From this reading Graham's disposition to make his aunt a visit was not at all chilled by the discovery that she had so fair a neighbor.

conscious

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

From this reading He was conscious of little more than an impulse to form the acquaintance of one who might give a peculiar charm and piquancy to his May-day vacation, and enrich him with an experience that had been wholly wanting in his secluded and studious life.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading With a smile he permitted the fancy--for he was in a mood for all sorts of fancies on this evening--that if this girl could teach him to interpret Emerson's words, he would make no crabbed resistance.

crabbed

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

From this reading With a smile he permitted the fancy--for he was in a mood for all sorts of fancies on this evening--that if this girl could teach him to interpret Emerson's words, he would make no crabbed resistance.

discovery

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

From this reading Graham's disposition to make his aunt a visit was not at all chilled by the discovery that she had so fair a neighbor.

dispositionnounUS /ˌdɪspəˈzɪʃən/

the way something is arranged or positioned

From this reading Graham's disposition to make his aunt a visit was not at all chilled by the discovery that she had so fair a neighbor.

Emerson's

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

From this reading With a smile he permitted the fancy--for he was in a mood for all sorts of fancies on this evening--that if this girl could teach him to interpret Emerson's words, he would make no crabbed resistance.

enrich

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

From this reading He was conscious of little more than an impulse to form the acquaintance of one who might give a peculiar charm and piquancy to his May-day vacation, and enrich him with an experience that had been wholly wanting in his secluded and studious life.

evening

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

From this reading With a smile he permitted the fancy--for he was in a mood for all sorts of fancies on this evening--that if this girl could teach him to interpret Emerson's words, he would make no crabbed resistance.

event

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

From this reading And yet the remote possibility of such an event gave him a sense of security, and prompted him all the more to yield himself for the first time to whatever impressions a young and pretty woman might be able to make upon him.

experience

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

From this reading He was conscious of little more than an impulse to form the acquaintance of one who might give a peculiar charm and piquancy to his May-day vacation, and enrich him with an experience that had been wholly wanting in his secluded and studious life.

experiment

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

From this reading His very disposition toward experiment and analysis inclined him to experiment with himself.

fairnounUS /fair/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Graham's disposition to make his aunt a visit was not at all chilled by the discovery that she had so fair a neighbor.

fancies

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

From this reading With a smile he permitted the fancy--for he was in a mood for all sorts of fancies on this evening--that if this girl could teach him to interpret Emerson's words, he would make no crabbed resistance.

fancy

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

From this reading With a smile he permitted the fancy--for he was in a mood for all sorts of fancies on this evening--that if this girl could teach him to interpret Emerson's words, he would make no crabbed resistance.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading And yet the remote possibility of such an event gave him a sense of security, and prompted him all the more to yield himself for the first time to whatever impressions a young and pretty woman might be able to make upon him.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading With a smile he permitted the fancy--for he was in a mood for all sorts of fancies on this evening--that if this girl could teach him to interpret Emerson's words, he would make no crabbed resistance.

form

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

From this reading He was conscious of little more than an impulse to form the acquaintance of one who might give a peculiar charm and piquancy to his May-day vacation, and enrich him with an experience that had been wholly wanting in his secluded and studious life.

gave

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

From this reading And yet the remote possibility of such an event gave him a sense of security, and prompted him all the more to yield himself for the first time to whatever impressions a young and pretty woman might be able to make upon him.

girl

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

From this reading With a smile he permitted the fancy--for he was in a mood for all sorts of fancies on this evening--that if this girl could teach him to interpret Emerson's words, he would make no crabbed resistance.

give

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

From this reading He was conscious of little more than an impulse to form the acquaintance of one who might give a peculiar charm and piquancy to his May-day vacation, and enrich him with an experience that had been wholly wanting in his secluded and studious life.

Graham's

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

From this reading Graham's disposition to make his aunt a visit was not at all chilled by the discovery that she had so fair a neighbor.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Graham's disposition to make his aunt a visit was not at all chilled by the discovery that she had so fair a neighbor.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He was conscious of little more than an impulse to form the acquaintance of one who might give a peculiar charm and piquancy to his May-day vacation, and enrich him with an experience that had been wholly wanting in his secluded and studious life.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading He was conscious of little more than an impulse to form the acquaintance of one who might give a peculiar charm and piquancy to his May-day vacation, and enrich him with an experience that had been wholly wanting in his secluded and studious life.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading And yet the remote possibility of such an event gave him a sense of security, and prompted him all the more to yield himself for the first time to whatever impressions a young and pretty woman might be able to make upon him.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Graham's disposition to make his aunt a visit was not at all chilled by the discovery that she had so fair a neighbor.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading With a smile he permitted the fancy--for he was in a mood for all sorts of fancies on this evening--that if this girl could teach him to interpret Emerson's words, he would make no crabbed resistance.

impressions

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

From this reading And yet the remote possibility of such an event gave him a sense of security, and prompted him all the more to yield himself for the first time to whatever impressions a young and pretty woman might be able to make upon him.

impulsenounUS /ˈɪmpʌls/

a sudden strong desire to act

From this reading He was conscious of little more than an impulse to form the acquaintance of one who might give a peculiar charm and piquancy to his May-day vacation, and enrich him with an experience that had been wholly wanting in his secluded and studious life.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading He was conscious of little more than an impulse to form the acquaintance of one who might give a peculiar charm and piquancy to his May-day vacation, and enrich him with an experience that had been wholly wanting in his secluded and studious life.

inclined

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

From this reading His very disposition toward experiment and analysis inclined him to experiment with himself.

interpret

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

From this reading With a smile he permitted the fancy--for he was in a mood for all sorts of fancies on this evening--that if this girl could teach him to interpret Emerson's words, he would make no crabbed resistance.

lifenounUS /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He was conscious of little more than an impulse to form the acquaintance of one who might give a peculiar charm and piquancy to his May-day vacation, and enrich him with an experience that had been wholly wanting in his secluded and studious life.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He was conscious of little more than an impulse to form the acquaintance of one who might give a peculiar charm and piquancy to his May-day vacation, and enrich him with an experience that had been wholly wanting in his secluded and studious life.

makenounUS /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Graham's disposition to make his aunt a visit was not at all chilled by the discovery that she had so fair a neighbor.

May-day

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

From this reading He was conscious of little more than an impulse to form the acquaintance of one who might give a peculiar charm and piquancy to his May-day vacation, and enrich him with an experience that had been wholly wanting in his secluded and studious life.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading He was conscious of little more than an impulse to form the acquaintance of one who might give a peculiar charm and piquancy to his May-day vacation, and enrich him with an experience that had been wholly wanting in his secluded and studious life.

mood

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

From this reading With a smile he permitted the fancy--for he was in a mood for all sorts of fancies on this evening--that if this girl could teach him to interpret Emerson's words, he would make no crabbed resistance.

more

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

From this reading He was conscious of little more than an impulse to form the acquaintance of one who might give a peculiar charm and piquancy to his May-day vacation, and enrich him with an experience that had been wholly wanting in his secluded and studious life.

neighbor

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

From this reading Graham's disposition to make his aunt a visit was not at all chilled by the discovery that she had so fair a neighbor.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading With a smile he permitted the fancy--for he was in a mood for all sorts of fancies on this evening--that if this girl could teach him to interpret Emerson's words, he would make no crabbed resistance.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Graham's disposition to make his aunt a visit was not at all chilled by the discovery that she had so fair a neighbor.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading He was conscious of little more than an impulse to form the acquaintance of one who might give a peculiar charm and piquancy to his May-day vacation, and enrich him with an experience that had been wholly wanting in his secluded and studious life.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading With a smile he permitted the fancy--for he was in a mood for all sorts of fancies on this evening--that if this girl could teach him to interpret Emerson's words, he would make no crabbed resistance.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading He was conscious of little more than an impulse to form the acquaintance of one who might give a peculiar charm and piquancy to his May-day vacation, and enrich him with an experience that had been wholly wanting in his secluded and studious life.

peculiar

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

From this reading He was conscious of little more than an impulse to form the acquaintance of one who might give a peculiar charm and piquancy to his May-day vacation, and enrich him with an experience that had been wholly wanting in his secluded and studious life.

permitted

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

From this reading With a smile he permitted the fancy--for he was in a mood for all sorts of fancies on this evening--that if this girl could teach him to interpret Emerson's words, he would make no crabbed resistance.

piquancy

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

From this reading He was conscious of little more than an impulse to form the acquaintance of one who might give a peculiar charm and piquancy to his May-day vacation, and enrich him with an experience that had been wholly wanting in his secluded and studious life.

possibility

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

From this reading And yet the remote possibility of such an event gave him a sense of security, and prompted him all the more to yield himself for the first time to whatever impressions a young and pretty woman might be able to make upon him.

pretty

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

From this reading And yet the remote possibility of such an event gave him a sense of security, and prompted him all the more to yield himself for the first time to whatever impressions a young and pretty woman might be able to make upon him.

prompted

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

From this reading And yet the remote possibility of such an event gave him a sense of security, and prompted him all the more to yield himself for the first time to whatever impressions a young and pretty woman might be able to make upon him.

remote

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

From this reading And yet the remote possibility of such an event gave him a sense of security, and prompted him all the more to yield himself for the first time to whatever impressions a young and pretty woman might be able to make upon him.

resistance

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

From this reading With a smile he permitted the fancy--for he was in a mood for all sorts of fancies on this evening--that if this girl could teach him to interpret Emerson's words, he would make no crabbed resistance.

secluded

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

From this reading He was conscious of little more than an impulse to form the acquaintance of one who might give a peculiar charm and piquancy to his May-day vacation, and enrich him with an experience that had been wholly wanting in his secluded and studious life.

security

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

From this reading And yet the remote possibility of such an event gave him a sense of security, and prompted him all the more to yield himself for the first time to whatever impressions a young and pretty woman might be able to make upon him.

sense

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

From this reading And yet the remote possibility of such an event gave him a sense of security, and prompted him all the more to yield himself for the first time to whatever impressions a young and pretty woman might be able to make upon him.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Graham's disposition to make his aunt a visit was not at all chilled by the discovery that she had so fair a neighbor.

smile

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

From this reading With a smile he permitted the fancy--for he was in a mood for all sorts of fancies on this evening--that if this girl could teach him to interpret Emerson's words, he would make no crabbed resistance.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Graham's disposition to make his aunt a visit was not at all chilled by the discovery that she had so fair a neighbor.

sorts

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

From this reading With a smile he permitted the fancy--for he was in a mood for all sorts of fancies on this evening--that if this girl could teach him to interpret Emerson's words, he would make no crabbed resistance.

studious

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

From this reading He was conscious of little more than an impulse to form the acquaintance of one who might give a peculiar charm and piquancy to his May-day vacation, and enrich him with an experience that had been wholly wanting in his secluded and studious life.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading And yet the remote possibility of such an event gave him a sense of security, and prompted him all the more to yield himself for the first time to whatever impressions a young and pretty woman might be able to make upon him.

teach

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

From this reading With a smile he permitted the fancy--for he was in a mood for all sorts of fancies on this evening--that if this girl could teach him to interpret Emerson's words, he would make no crabbed resistance.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading He was conscious of little more than an impulse to form the acquaintance of one who might give a peculiar charm and piquancy to his May-day vacation, and enrich him with an experience that had been wholly wanting in his secluded and studious life.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Graham's disposition to make his aunt a visit was not at all chilled by the discovery that she had so fair a neighbor.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Graham's disposition to make his aunt a visit was not at all chilled by the discovery that she had so fair a neighbor.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading With a smile he permitted the fancy--for he was in a mood for all sorts of fancies on this evening--that if this girl could teach him to interpret Emerson's words, he would make no crabbed resistance.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading And yet the remote possibility of such an event gave him a sense of security, and prompted him all the more to yield himself for the first time to whatever impressions a young and pretty woman might be able to make upon him.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Graham's disposition to make his aunt a visit was not at all chilled by the discovery that she had so fair a neighbor.

towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/

in the direction of

From this reading His very disposition toward experiment and analysis inclined him to experiment with himself.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading And yet the remote possibility of such an event gave him a sense of security, and prompted him all the more to yield himself for the first time to whatever impressions a young and pretty woman might be able to make upon him.

vacation

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

From this reading He was conscious of little more than an impulse to form the acquaintance of one who might give a peculiar charm and piquancy to his May-day vacation, and enrich him with an experience that had been wholly wanting in his secluded and studious life.

very

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

From this reading His very disposition toward experiment and analysis inclined him to experiment with himself.

visit

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

From this reading Graham's disposition to make his aunt a visit was not at all chilled by the discovery that she had so fair a neighbor.

wanting

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

From this reading He was conscious of little more than an impulse to form the acquaintance of one who might give a peculiar charm and piquancy to his May-day vacation, and enrich him with an experience that had been wholly wanting in his secluded and studious life.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Graham's disposition to make his aunt a visit was not at all chilled by the discovery that she had so fair a neighbor.

whateverdeterminerUS /ˌwʌˈtevər/

any or all of a kind, it does not matter which

From this reading And yet the remote possibility of such an event gave him a sense of security, and prompted him all the more to yield himself for the first time to whatever impressions a young and pretty woman might be able to make upon him.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading He was conscious of little more than an impulse to form the acquaintance of one who might give a peculiar charm and piquancy to his May-day vacation, and enrich him with an experience that had been wholly wanting in his secluded and studious life.

wholly

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From this reading He was conscious of little more than an impulse to form the acquaintance of one who might give a peculiar charm and piquancy to his May-day vacation, and enrich him with an experience that had been wholly wanting in his secluded and studious life.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading He was conscious of little more than an impulse to form the acquaintance of one who might give a peculiar charm and piquancy to his May-day vacation, and enrich him with an experience that had been wholly wanting in his secluded and studious life.

woman

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From this reading And yet the remote possibility of such an event gave him a sense of security, and prompted him all the more to yield himself for the first time to whatever impressions a young and pretty woman might be able to make upon him.

words

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From this reading With a smile he permitted the fancy--for he was in a mood for all sorts of fancies on this evening--that if this girl could teach him to interpret Emerson's words, he would make no crabbed resistance.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading With a smile he permitted the fancy--for he was in a mood for all sorts of fancies on this evening--that if this girl could teach him to interpret Emerson's words, he would make no crabbed resistance.

yetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading And yet the remote possibility of such an event gave him a sense of security, and prompted him all the more to yield himself for the first time to whatever impressions a young and pretty woman might be able to make upon him.

yield

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

From this reading And yet the remote possibility of such an event gave him a sense of security, and prompted him all the more to yield himself for the first time to whatever impressions a young and pretty woman might be able to make upon him.

young

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

From this reading And yet the remote possibility of such an event gave him a sense of security, and prompted him all the more to yield himself for the first time to whatever impressions a young and pretty woman might be able to make upon him.