adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “Comte Octave, dressed in long trousers and a gray flannel morning coat, rose from his seat by a huge writing-table, came to the fireplace, and signed to me to sit down, while he went forward to take my uncle’s hands, which he pressed.
acquaintancenounUS /əˈkweɪntəns/
personal knowledge or information about someone or something
From this reading “‘Though I am in the parish of Saint-Paul,’ said he, ‘I could scarcely have failed to hear of the Cure of the White Friars, and I am happy to make his acquaintance.’
amauxiliary verbUS /æm/
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading “‘Though I am in the parish of Saint-Paul,’ said he, ‘I could scarcely have failed to hear of the Cure of the White Friars, and I am happy to make his acquaintance.’
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “Comte Octave, dressed in long trousers and a gray flannel morning coat, rose from his seat by a huge writing-table, came to the fireplace, and signed to me to sit down, while he went forward to take my uncle’s hands, which he pressed.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading While I believe that I am offering a good gift to your Excellency, I hope at the same time to give my nephew a second father.’
believeverbUS /bɪˈliːv/
accept as true; take to be true
From this reading While I believe that I am offering a good gift to your Excellency, I hope at the same time to give my nephew a second father.’
broughtverbUS /brɔːt/
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading ‘I have brought to you my only remaining relation.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading “Comte Octave, dressed in long trousers and a gray flannel morning coat, rose from his seat by a huge writing-table, came to the fireplace, and signed to me to sit down, while he went forward to take my uncle’s hands, which he pressed.
cameverbUS /keɪm/
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading “Comte Octave, dressed in long trousers and a gray flannel morning coat, rose from his seat by a huge writing-table, came to the fireplace, and signed to me to sit down, while he went forward to take my uncle’s hands, which he pressed.
coatnounUS /koʊt/
an outer garment that has sleeves and covers the body from shoulder down; worn outdoors
From this reading “Comte Octave, dressed in long trousers and a gray flannel morning coat, rose from his seat by a huge writing-table, came to the fireplace, and signed to me to sit down, while he went forward to take my uncle’s hands, which he pressed.
Comtenoun
French philosopher remembered as the founder of positivism; he also established sociology as a systematic field of study
From this reading “Comte Octave, dressed in long trousers and a gray flannel morning coat, rose from his seat by a huge writing-table, came to the fireplace, and signed to me to sit down, while he went forward to take my uncle’s hands, which he pressed.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “‘Though I am in the parish of Saint-Paul,’ said he, ‘I could scarcely have failed to hear of the Cure of the White Friars, and I am happy to make his acquaintance.’
CureverbUS /kjʊr/
provide a cure for, make healthy again
From this reading “‘Though I am in the parish of Saint-Paul,’ said he, ‘I could scarcely have failed to hear of the Cure of the White Friars, and I am happy to make his acquaintance.’
downadjectiveUS /daʊn/
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading “Comte Octave, dressed in long trousers and a gray flannel morning coat, rose from his seat by a huge writing-table, came to the fireplace, and signed to me to sit down, while he went forward to take my uncle’s hands, which he pressed.
dressedadjectiveUS /drest/
dressed or clothed especially in fine attire; often used in combination
From this reading “Comte Octave, dressed in long trousers and a gray flannel morning coat, rose from his seat by a huge writing-table, came to the fireplace, and signed to me to sit down, while he went forward to take my uncle’s hands, which he pressed.
ExcellencynounUS /ˈekˈslensi/
a title used to address dignitaries (such as ambassadors or governors); usually preceded by “Your” or “His” or “Her”
From this reading “‘Your Excellency is most kind,’ replied my uncle.
failedverbUS /feɪld/
past form of “fail” — fail to do something; leave something undone
From this reading “‘Though I am in the parish of Saint-Paul,’ said he, ‘I could scarcely have failed to hear of the Cure of the White Friars, and I am happy to make his acquaintance.’
fathernounUS /ˈfɑːðər/
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading While I believe that I am offering a good gift to your Excellency, I hope at the same time to give my nephew a second father.’
fireplacenounUS /ˈfaɪərpleɪs/
an open recess in a wall at the base of a chimney where a fire can be built
From this reading “Comte Octave, dressed in long trousers and a gray flannel morning coat, rose from his seat by a huge writing-table, came to the fireplace, and signed to me to sit down, while he went forward to take my uncle’s hands, which he pressed.
flannelnounUS /ˈflænəl/
a soft light woolen fabric; used for clothing
From this reading “Comte Octave, dressed in long trousers and a gray flannel morning coat, rose from his seat by a huge writing-table, came to the fireplace, and signed to me to sit down, while he went forward to take my uncle’s hands, which he pressed.
forwardadverbUS /ˈfɔːrwərd/
at or to or toward the front
From this reading “Comte Octave, dressed in long trousers and a gray flannel morning coat, rose from his seat by a huge writing-table, came to the fireplace, and signed to me to sit down, while he went forward to take my uncle’s hands, which he pressed.
FriarsnounUS /ˈfraɪərz/
plural of “friar” — a male member of a religious order that originally relied solely on alms
From this reading “‘Though I am in the parish of Saint-Paul,’ said he, ‘I could scarcely have failed to hear of the Cure of the White Friars, and I am happy to make his acquaintance.’
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading “Comte Octave, dressed in long trousers and a gray flannel morning coat, rose from his seat by a huge writing-table, came to the fireplace, and signed to me to sit down, while he went forward to take my uncle’s hands, which he pressed.
giftnounUS /ɡɪft/
something acquired without compensation
From this reading While I believe that I am offering a good gift to your Excellency, I hope at the same time to give my nephew a second father.’
giveverbUS /ɡɪv/
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading While I believe that I am offering a good gift to your Excellency, I hope at the same time to give my nephew a second father.’
goodadjectiveUS /ɡʊd/
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading While I believe that I am offering a good gift to your Excellency, I hope at the same time to give my nephew a second father.’
graynounUS /ɡreɪ/
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading “Comte Octave, dressed in long trousers and a gray flannel morning coat, rose from his seat by a huge writing-table, came to the fireplace, and signed to me to sit down, while he went forward to take my uncle’s hands, which he pressed.
handsnounUS /hændz/
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading “Comte Octave, dressed in long trousers and a gray flannel morning coat, rose from his seat by a huge writing-table, came to the fireplace, and signed to me to sit down, while he went forward to take my uncle’s hands, which he pressed.
happyadjectiveUS /ˈhæpi/
enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure
From this reading “‘Though I am in the parish of Saint-Paul,’ said he, ‘I could scarcely have failed to hear of the Cure of the White Friars, and I am happy to make his acquaintance.’
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “‘Though I am in the parish of Saint-Paul,’ said he, ‘I could scarcely have failed to hear of the Cure of the White Friars, and I am happy to make his acquaintance.’
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Comte Octave, dressed in long trousers and a gray flannel morning coat, rose from his seat by a huge writing-table, came to the fireplace, and signed to me to sit down, while he went forward to take my uncle’s hands, which he pressed.
hearverbUS /hiːr/
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading “‘Though I am in the parish of Saint-Paul,’ said he, ‘I could scarcely have failed to hear of the Cure of the White Friars, and I am happy to make his acquaintance.’
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading “Comte Octave, dressed in long trousers and a gray flannel morning coat, rose from his seat by a huge writing-table, came to the fireplace, and signed to me to sit down, while he went forward to take my uncle’s hands, which he pressed.
hopenounUS /hoʊp/
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading While I believe that I am offering a good gift to your Excellency, I hope at the same time to give my nephew a second father.’
hugeadjectiveUS /hjuːdʒ/
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading “Comte Octave, dressed in long trousers and a gray flannel morning coat, rose from his seat by a huge writing-table, came to the fireplace, and signed to me to sit down, while he went forward to take my uncle’s hands, which he pressed.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “‘Though I am in the parish of Saint-Paul,’ said he, ‘I could scarcely have failed to hear of the Cure of the White Friars, and I am happy to make his acquaintance.’
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “Comte Octave, dressed in long trousers and a gray flannel morning coat, rose from his seat by a huge writing-table, came to the fireplace, and signed to me to sit down, while he went forward to take my uncle’s hands, which he pressed.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “‘Your Excellency is most kind,’ replied my uncle.
kindadjectiveUS /kaɪnd/
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading “‘Your Excellency is most kind,’ replied my uncle.
longadjectiveUS /lɔːŋ/
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading “Comte Octave, dressed in long trousers and a gray flannel morning coat, rose from his seat by a huge writing-table, came to the fireplace, and signed to me to sit down, while he went forward to take my uncle’s hands, which he pressed.
makeverbUS /meɪk/
engage in
From this reading “‘Though I am in the parish of Saint-Paul,’ said he, ‘I could scarcely have failed to hear of the Cure of the White Friars, and I am happy to make his acquaintance.’
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “Comte Octave, dressed in long trousers and a gray flannel morning coat, rose from his seat by a huge writing-table, came to the fireplace, and signed to me to sit down, while he went forward to take my uncle’s hands, which he pressed.
morningnounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading “Comte Octave, dressed in long trousers and a gray flannel morning coat, rose from his seat by a huge writing-table, came to the fireplace, and signed to me to sit down, while he went forward to take my uncle’s hands, which he pressed.
mostadverbUS /moʊst/
used to form the superlative
From this reading “‘Your Excellency is most kind,’ replied my uncle.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “Comte Octave, dressed in long trousers and a gray flannel morning coat, rose from his seat by a huge writing-table, came to the fireplace, and signed to me to sit down, while he went forward to take my uncle’s hands, which he pressed.
nephewnounUS /ˈnefjuː/
a son of your brother or sister
From this reading While I believe that I am offering a good gift to your Excellency, I hope at the same time to give my nephew a second father.’
OctavenounUS /ˈɑːktɪv/
a feast day and the seven days following it
From this reading “Comte Octave, dressed in long trousers and a gray flannel morning coat, rose from his seat by a huge writing-table, came to the fireplace, and signed to me to sit down, while he went forward to take my uncle’s hands, which he pressed.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “‘Though I am in the parish of Saint-Paul,’ said he, ‘I could scarcely have failed to hear of the Cure of the White Friars, and I am happy to make his acquaintance.’
offeringnounUS /ˈɔːfərɪŋ/
something offered (as a proposal or bid)
From this reading While I believe that I am offering a good gift to your Excellency, I hope at the same time to give my nephew a second father.’
onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/
and nothing more
From this reading ‘I have brought to you my only remaining relation.
parishnounUS /ˈpærɪʃ/
a local church community
From this reading “‘Though I am in the parish of Saint-Paul,’ said he, ‘I could scarcely have failed to hear of the Cure of the White Friars, and I am happy to make his acquaintance.’
pressedadjectiveUS /prest/
compacted by ironing
From this reading “Comte Octave, dressed in long trousers and a gray flannel morning coat, rose from his seat by a huge writing-table, came to the fireplace, and signed to me to sit down, while he went forward to take my uncle’s hands, which he pressed.
relationnounUS /riˈleɪʃən/
an abstraction belonging to or characteristic of two entities or parts together
From this reading ‘I have brought to you my only remaining relation.
remainingadjectiveUS /rɪˈmeɪnɪŋ/
not used up
From this reading ‘I have brought to you my only remaining relation.
repliedverbUS /rɪˈplaɪd/
inflected form of “reply” — react verbally
From this reading “‘Your Excellency is most kind,’ replied my uncle.
rosenounUS /roʊz/
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading “Comte Octave, dressed in long trousers and a gray flannel morning coat, rose from his seat by a huge writing-table, came to the fireplace, and signed to me to sit down, while he went forward to take my uncle’s hands, which he pressed.
saidadjectiveUS /sed/
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “‘Though I am in the parish of Saint-Paul,’ said he, ‘I could scarcely have failed to hear of the Cure of the White Friars, and I am happy to make his acquaintance.’
Saint-Paul
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “‘Though I am in the parish of Saint-Paul,’ said he, ‘I could scarcely have failed to hear of the Cure of the White Friars, and I am happy to make his acquaintance.’
sameadjectiveUS /seɪm/
Identical; not different.
From this reading While I believe that I am offering a good gift to your Excellency, I hope at the same time to give my nephew a second father.’
scarcelyadverbUS /ˈskersli/
only a very short time before
From this reading “‘Though I am in the parish of Saint-Paul,’ said he, ‘I could scarcely have failed to hear of the Cure of the White Friars, and I am happy to make his acquaintance.’
seatnounUS /siːt/
a space reserved for sitting (as in a theater or on a train or airplane)
From this reading “Comte Octave, dressed in long trousers and a gray flannel morning coat, rose from his seat by a huge writing-table, came to the fireplace, and signed to me to sit down, while he went forward to take my uncle’s hands, which he pressed.
secondnounUS /ˈsekənd/
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading While I believe that I am offering a good gift to your Excellency, I hope at the same time to give my nephew a second father.’
signedadjectiveUS /saɪnd/
having a handwritten signature
From this reading “Comte Octave, dressed in long trousers and a gray flannel morning coat, rose from his seat by a huge writing-table, came to the fireplace, and signed to me to sit down, while he went forward to take my uncle’s hands, which he pressed.
sitverbUS /sɪt/
be seated
From this reading “Comte Octave, dressed in long trousers and a gray flannel morning coat, rose from his seat by a huge writing-table, came to the fireplace, and signed to me to sit down, while he went forward to take my uncle’s hands, which he pressed.
takeverbUS /teɪk/
carry out
From this reading “Comte Octave, dressed in long trousers and a gray flannel morning coat, rose from his seat by a huge writing-table, came to the fireplace, and signed to me to sit down, while he went forward to take my uncle’s hands, which he pressed.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading While I believe that I am offering a good gift to your Excellency, I hope at the same time to give my nephew a second father.’
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “Comte Octave, dressed in long trousers and a gray flannel morning coat, rose from his seat by a huge writing-table, came to the fireplace, and signed to me to sit down, while he went forward to take my uncle’s hands, which he pressed.
ThoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading “‘Though I am in the parish of Saint-Paul,’ said he, ‘I could scarcely have failed to hear of the Cure of the White Friars, and I am happy to make his acquaintance.’
timenounUS /taɪm/
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading While I believe that I am offering a good gift to your Excellency, I hope at the same time to give my nephew a second father.’
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “Comte Octave, dressed in long trousers and a gray flannel morning coat, rose from his seat by a huge writing-table, came to the fireplace, and signed to me to sit down, while he went forward to take my uncle’s hands, which he pressed.
trousersnounUS /ˈtraʊzərz/
(usually in the plural) a garment extending from the waist to the knee or ankle, covering each leg separately
From this reading “Comte Octave, dressed in long trousers and a gray flannel morning coat, rose from his seat by a huge writing-table, came to the fireplace, and signed to me to sit down, while he went forward to take my uncle’s hands, which he pressed.
unclenounUS /ˈʌŋkəl/
the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt
From this reading “‘Your Excellency is most kind,’ replied my uncle.
uncle'snounUS /ˈʌŋkəlz/
possessive form of “uncle” — the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt
From this reading “Comte Octave, dressed in long trousers and a gray flannel morning coat, rose from his seat by a huge writing-table, came to the fireplace, and signed to me to sit down, while he went forward to take my uncle’s hands, which he pressed.
wentverbUS /went/
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading “Comte Octave, dressed in long trousers and a gray flannel morning coat, rose from his seat by a huge writing-table, came to the fireplace, and signed to me to sit down, while he went forward to take my uncle’s hands, which he pressed.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading “Comte Octave, dressed in long trousers and a gray flannel morning coat, rose from his seat by a huge writing-table, came to the fireplace, and signed to me to sit down, while he went forward to take my uncle’s hands, which he pressed.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading “Comte Octave, dressed in long trousers and a gray flannel morning coat, rose from his seat by a huge writing-table, came to the fireplace, and signed to me to sit down, while he went forward to take my uncle’s hands, which he pressed.
WhitenounUS /waɪt/
a Caucasian
From this reading “‘Though I am in the parish of Saint-Paul,’ said he, ‘I could scarcely have failed to hear of the Cure of the White Friars, and I am happy to make his acquaintance.’
writing-table
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Comte Octave, dressed in long trousers and a gray flannel morning coat, rose from his seat by a huge writing-table, came to the fireplace, and signed to me to sit down, while he went forward to take my uncle’s hands, which he pressed.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading ‘I have brought to you my only remaining relation.
YourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “‘Your Excellency is most kind,’ replied my uncle.
