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 have spent a great part of my life in action; and though the later part of it has been quieter and more peaceful than the earlier, and though I have enjoyed opportunities of study which I never had before, I am still anything but a bookish man, and I am not at all confident about such essential matters as grammar and spelling.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading I have spent a great part of my life in action; and though the later part of it has been quieter and more peaceful than the earlier, and though I have enjoyed opportunities of study which I never had before, I am still anything but a bookish man, and I am not at all confident about such essential matters as grammar and spelling.
action
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I have spent a great part of my life in action; and though the later part of it has been quieter and more peaceful than the earlier, and though I have enjoyed opportunities of study which I never had before, I am still anything but a bookish man, and I am not at all confident about such essential matters as grammar and spelling.
adventure
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I am sure of that, for in a life of strange adventure I have encountered nothing so strange.
alive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I have told my wife quite plainly that in my opinion I am as little fitted by nature for the task she has laid upon my shoulders as any man alive.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I have spent a great part of my life in action; and though the later part of it has been quieter and more peaceful than the earlier, and though I have enjoyed opportunities of study which I never had before, I am still anything but a bookish man, and I am not at all confident about such essential matters as grammar and spelling.
amauxiliary verbUS /æm/
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading I have told my wife quite plainly that in my opinion I am as little fitted by nature for the task she has laid upon my shoulders as any man alive.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I have spent a great part of my life in action; and though the later part of it has been quieter and more peaceful than the earlier, and though I have enjoyed opportunities of study which I never had before, I am still anything but a bookish man, and I am not at all confident about such essential matters as grammar and spelling.
any
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I have told my wife quite plainly that in my opinion I am as little fitted by nature for the task she has laid upon my shoulders as any man alive.
anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/
any thing at all
From this reading I have spent a great part of my life in action; and though the later part of it has been quieter and more peaceful than the earlier, and though I have enjoyed opportunities of study which I never had before, I am still anything but a bookish man, and I am not at all confident about such essential matters as grammar and spelling.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading I have told my wife quite plainly that in my opinion I am as little fitted by nature for the task she has laid upon my shoulders as any man alive.
ask
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, for my own part, the utmost I can do is to tell the thing as it happened as nearly as I can, and if I cannot command those graces of style which would come naturally to a practised pen, I can only ask that the reader will dispense with them.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading I have spent a great part of my life in action; and though the later part of it has been quieter and more peaceful than the earlier, and though I have enjoyed opportunities of study which I never had before, I am still anything but a bookish man, and I am not at all confident about such essential matters as grammar and spelling.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The history I am called upon to tell is one which, if it were put into the hands of a professed man of letters, might be made unusually interesting.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading I have spent a great part of my life in action; and though the later part of it has been quieter and more peaceful than the earlier, and though I have enjoyed opportunities of study which I never had before, I am still anything but a bookish man, and I am not at all confident about such essential matters as grammar and spelling.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading I have spent a great part of my life in action; and though the later part of it has been quieter and more peaceful than the earlier, and though I have enjoyed opportunities of study which I never had before, I am still anything but a bookish man, and I am not at all confident about such essential matters as grammar and spelling.
bookish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I have spent a great part of my life in action; and though the later part of it has been quieter and more peaceful than the earlier, and though I have enjoyed opportunities of study which I never had before, I am still anything but a bookish man, and I am not at all confident about such essential matters as grammar and spelling.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I have spent a great part of my life in action; and though the later part of it has been quieter and more peaceful than the earlier, and though I have enjoyed opportunities of study which I never had before, I am still anything but a bookish man, and I am not at all confident about such essential matters as grammar and spelling.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading I have told my wife quite plainly that in my opinion I am as little fitted by nature for the task she has laid upon my shoulders as any man alive.
called
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The history I am called upon to tell is one which, if it were put into the hands of a professed man of letters, might be made unusually interesting.
canmodal verbUS /kæn/
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading But, for my own part, the utmost I can do is to tell the thing as it happened as nearly as I can, and if I cannot command those graces of style which would come naturally to a practised pen, I can only ask that the reader will dispense with them.
cannot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, for my own part, the utmost I can do is to tell the thing as it happened as nearly as I can, and if I cannot command those graces of style which would come naturally to a practised pen, I can only ask that the reader will dispense with them.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But, for my own part, the utmost I can do is to tell the thing as it happened as nearly as I can, and if I cannot command those graces of style which would come naturally to a practised pen, I can only ask that the reader will dispense with them.
command
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, for my own part, the utmost I can do is to tell the thing as it happened as nearly as I can, and if I cannot command those graces of style which would come naturally to a practised pen, I can only ask that the reader will dispense with them.
confident
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I have spent a great part of my life in action; and though the later part of it has been quieter and more peaceful than the earlier, and though I have enjoyed opportunities of study which I never had before, I am still anything but a bookish man, and I am not at all confident about such essential matters as grammar and spelling.
dispense
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, for my own part, the utmost I can do is to tell the thing as it happened as nearly as I can, and if I cannot command those graces of style which would come naturally to a practised pen, I can only ask that the reader will dispense with them.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading But, for my own part, the utmost I can do is to tell the thing as it happened as nearly as I can, and if I cannot command those graces of style which would come naturally to a practised pen, I can only ask that the reader will dispense with them.
earlier
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I have spent a great part of my life in action; and though the later part of it has been quieter and more peaceful than the earlier, and though I have enjoyed opportunities of study which I never had before, I am still anything but a bookish man, and I am not at all confident about such essential matters as grammar and spelling.
encountered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I am sure of that, for in a life of strange adventure I have encountered nothing so strange.
enjoyed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I have spent a great part of my life in action; and though the later part of it has been quieter and more peaceful than the earlier, and though I have enjoyed opportunities of study which I never had before, I am still anything but a bookish man, and I am not at all confident about such essential matters as grammar and spelling.
essential
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I have spent a great part of my life in action; and though the later part of it has been quieter and more peaceful than the earlier, and though I have enjoyed opportunities of study which I never had before, I am still anything but a bookish man, and I am not at all confident about such essential matters as grammar and spelling.
fittedadjectiveUS /ˈfɪtɪd/
prepared and equipped for a particular purpose
From this reading I have told my wife quite plainly that in my opinion I am as little fitted by nature for the task she has laid upon my shoulders as any man alive.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading I have told my wife quite plainly that in my opinion I am as little fitted by nature for the task she has laid upon my shoulders as any man alive.
graces
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, for my own part, the utmost I can do is to tell the thing as it happened as nearly as I can, and if I cannot command those graces of style which would come naturally to a practised pen, I can only ask that the reader will dispense with them.
grammar
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I have spent a great part of my life in action; and though the later part of it has been quieter and more peaceful than the earlier, and though I have enjoyed opportunities of study which I never had before, I am still anything but a bookish man, and I am not at all confident about such essential matters as grammar and spelling.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I have spent a great part of my life in action; and though the later part of it has been quieter and more peaceful than the earlier, and though I have enjoyed opportunities of study which I never had before, I am still anything but a bookish man, and I am not at all confident about such essential matters as grammar and spelling.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I have spent a great part of my life in action; and though the later part of it has been quieter and more peaceful than the earlier, and though I have enjoyed opportunities of study which I never had before, I am still anything but a bookish man, and I am not at all confident about such essential matters as grammar and spelling.
handsplural nounUS /hændz/
members of a ship’s crew
From this reading The history I am called upon to tell is one which, if it were put into the hands of a professed man of letters, might be made unusually interesting.
happened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, for my own part, the utmost I can do is to tell the thing as it happened as nearly as I can, and if I cannot command those graces of style which would come naturally to a practised pen, I can only ask that the reader will dispense with them.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I have told my wife quite plainly that in my opinion I am as little fitted by nature for the task she has laid upon my shoulders as any man alive.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading I have told my wife quite plainly that in my opinion I am as little fitted by nature for the task she has laid upon my shoulders as any man alive.
history
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The history I am called upon to tell is one which, if it were put into the hands of a professed man of letters, might be made unusually interesting.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I have told my wife quite plainly that in my opinion I am as little fitted by nature for the task she has laid upon my shoulders as any man alive.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The history I am called upon to tell is one which, if it were put into the hands of a professed man of letters, might be made unusually interesting.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I have told my wife quite plainly that in my opinion I am as little fitted by nature for the task she has laid upon my shoulders as any man alive.
interesting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The history I am called upon to tell is one which, if it were put into the hands of a professed man of letters, might be made unusually interesting.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The history I am called upon to tell is one which, if it were put into the hands of a professed man of letters, might be made unusually interesting.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The history I am called upon to tell is one which, if it were put into the hands of a professed man of letters, might be made unusually interesting.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading I have spent a great part of my life in action; and though the later part of it has been quieter and more peaceful than the earlier, and though I have enjoyed opportunities of study which I never had before, I am still anything but a bookish man, and I am not at all confident about such essential matters as grammar and spelling.
laid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I have told my wife quite plainly that in my opinion I am as little fitted by nature for the task she has laid upon my shoulders as any man alive.
later
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I have spent a great part of my life in action; and though the later part of it has been quieter and more peaceful than the earlier, and though I have enjoyed opportunities of study which I never had before, I am still anything but a bookish man, and I am not at all confident about such essential matters as grammar and spelling.
letters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The history I am called upon to tell is one which, if it were put into the hands of a professed man of letters, might be made unusually interesting.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I have spent a great part of my life in action; and though the later part of it has been quieter and more peaceful than the earlier, and though I have enjoyed opportunities of study which I never had before, I am still anything but a bookish man, and I am not at all confident about such essential matters as grammar and spelling.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I have told my wife quite plainly that in my opinion I am as little fitted by nature for the task she has laid upon my shoulders as any man alive.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The history I am called upon to tell is one which, if it were put into the hands of a professed man of letters, might be made unusually interesting.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I have told my wife quite plainly that in my opinion I am as little fitted by nature for the task she has laid upon my shoulders as any man alive.
matters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I have spent a great part of my life in action; and though the later part of it has been quieter and more peaceful than the earlier, and though I have enjoyed opportunities of study which I never had before, I am still anything but a bookish man, and I am not at all confident about such essential matters as grammar and spelling.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading The history I am called upon to tell is one which, if it were put into the hands of a professed man of letters, might be made unusually interesting.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I have spent a great part of my life in action; and though the later part of it has been quieter and more peaceful than the earlier, and though I have enjoyed opportunities of study which I never had before, I am still anything but a bookish man, and I am not at all confident about such essential matters as grammar and spelling.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I have told my wife quite plainly that in my opinion I am as little fitted by nature for the task she has laid upon my shoulders as any man alive.
naturally
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, for my own part, the utmost I can do is to tell the thing as it happened as nearly as I can, and if I cannot command those graces of style which would come naturally to a practised pen, I can only ask that the reader will dispense with them.
nature
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I have told my wife quite plainly that in my opinion I am as little fitted by nature for the task she has laid upon my shoulders as any man alive.
nearly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, for my own part, the utmost I can do is to tell the thing as it happened as nearly as I can, and if I cannot command those graces of style which would come naturally to a practised pen, I can only ask that the reader will dispense with them.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I have spent a great part of my life in action; and though the later part of it has been quieter and more peaceful than the earlier, and though I have enjoyed opportunities of study which I never had before, I am still anything but a bookish man, and I am not at all confident about such essential matters as grammar and spelling.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading I have spent a great part of my life in action; and though the later part of it has been quieter and more peaceful than the earlier, and though I have enjoyed opportunities of study which I never had before, I am still anything but a bookish man, and I am not at all confident about such essential matters as grammar and spelling.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading I am sure of that, for in a life of strange adventure I have encountered nothing so strange.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I have spent a great part of my life in action; and though the later part of it has been quieter and more peaceful than the earlier, and though I have enjoyed opportunities of study which I never had before, I am still anything but a bookish man, and I am not at all confident about such essential matters as grammar and spelling.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The history I am called upon to tell is one which, if it were put into the hands of a professed man of letters, might be made unusually interesting.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, for my own part, the utmost I can do is to tell the thing as it happened as nearly as I can, and if I cannot command those graces of style which would come naturally to a practised pen, I can only ask that the reader will dispense with them.
opinion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I have told my wife quite plainly that in my opinion I am as little fitted by nature for the task she has laid upon my shoulders as any man alive.
opportunities
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I have spent a great part of my life in action; and though the later part of it has been quieter and more peaceful than the earlier, and though I have enjoyed opportunities of study which I never had before, I am still anything but a bookish man, and I am not at all confident about such essential matters as grammar and spelling.
own
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, for my own part, the utmost I can do is to tell the thing as it happened as nearly as I can, and if I cannot command those graces of style which would come naturally to a practised pen, I can only ask that the reader will dispense with them.
partnounUS /part/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I have spent a great part of my life in action; and though the later part of it has been quieter and more peaceful than the earlier, and though I have enjoyed opportunities of study which I never had before, I am still anything but a bookish man, and I am not at all confident about such essential matters as grammar and spelling.
peaceful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I have spent a great part of my life in action; and though the later part of it has been quieter and more peaceful than the earlier, and though I have enjoyed opportunities of study which I never had before, I am still anything but a bookish man, and I am not at all confident about such essential matters as grammar and spelling.
pen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, for my own part, the utmost I can do is to tell the thing as it happened as nearly as I can, and if I cannot command those graces of style which would come naturally to a practised pen, I can only ask that the reader will dispense with them.
plainlynounUS /ˈplainly/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading I have told my wife quite plainly that in my opinion I am as little fitted by nature for the task she has laid upon my shoulders as any man alive.
practised
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, for my own part, the utmost I can do is to tell the thing as it happened as nearly as I can, and if I cannot command those graces of style which would come naturally to a practised pen, I can only ask that the reader will dispense with them.
professed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The history I am called upon to tell is one which, if it were put into the hands of a professed man of letters, might be made unusually interesting.
put
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The history I am called upon to tell is one which, if it were put into the hands of a professed man of letters, might be made unusually interesting.
quieter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I have spent a great part of my life in action; and though the later part of it has been quieter and more peaceful than the earlier, and though I have enjoyed opportunities of study which I never had before, I am still anything but a bookish man, and I am not at all confident about such essential matters as grammar and spelling.
quitenounUS /quite/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I have told my wife quite plainly that in my opinion I am as little fitted by nature for the task she has laid upon my shoulders as any man alive.
reader
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, for my own part, the utmost I can do is to tell the thing as it happened as nearly as I can, and if I cannot command those graces of style which would come naturally to a practised pen, I can only ask that the reader will dispense with them.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading I have told my wife quite plainly that in my opinion I am as little fitted by nature for the task she has laid upon my shoulders as any man alive.
shoulders
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I have told my wife quite plainly that in my opinion I am as little fitted by nature for the task she has laid upon my shoulders as any man alive.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading I am sure of that, for in a life of strange adventure I have encountered nothing so strange.
spelling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I have spent a great part of my life in action; and though the later part of it has been quieter and more peaceful than the earlier, and though I have enjoyed opportunities of study which I never had before, I am still anything but a bookish man, and I am not at all confident about such essential matters as grammar and spelling.
spent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I have spent a great part of my life in action; and though the later part of it has been quieter and more peaceful than the earlier, and though I have enjoyed opportunities of study which I never had before, I am still anything but a bookish man, and I am not at all confident about such essential matters as grammar and spelling.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I have spent a great part of my life in action; and though the later part of it has been quieter and more peaceful than the earlier, and though I have enjoyed opportunities of study which I never had before, I am still anything but a bookish man, and I am not at all confident about such essential matters as grammar and spelling.
strange
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I am sure of that, for in a life of strange adventure I have encountered nothing so strange.
study
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I have spent a great part of my life in action; and though the later part of it has been quieter and more peaceful than the earlier, and though I have enjoyed opportunities of study which I never had before, I am still anything but a bookish man, and I am not at all confident about such essential matters as grammar and spelling.
style
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, for my own part, the utmost I can do is to tell the thing as it happened as nearly as I can, and if I cannot command those graces of style which would come naturally to a practised pen, I can only ask that the reader will dispense with them.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading I have spent a great part of my life in action; and though the later part of it has been quieter and more peaceful than the earlier, and though I have enjoyed opportunities of study which I never had before, I am still anything but a bookish man, and I am not at all confident about such essential matters as grammar and spelling.
surenounUS /sure/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I am sure of that, for in a life of strange adventure I have encountered nothing so strange.
task
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I have told my wife quite plainly that in my opinion I am as little fitted by nature for the task she has laid upon my shoulders as any man alive.
tellnounUS /tell/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The history I am called upon to tell is one which, if it were put into the hands of a professed man of letters, might be made unusually interesting.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading I have spent a great part of my life in action; and though the later part of it has been quieter and more peaceful than the earlier, and though I have enjoyed opportunities of study which I never had before, I am still anything but a bookish man, and I am not at all confident about such essential matters as grammar and spelling.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I have told my wife quite plainly that in my opinion I am as little fitted by nature for the task she has laid upon my shoulders as any man alive.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I have told my wife quite plainly that in my opinion I am as little fitted by nature for the task she has laid upon my shoulders as any man alive.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading But, for my own part, the utmost I can do is to tell the thing as it happened as nearly as I can, and if I cannot command those graces of style which would come naturally to a practised pen, I can only ask that the reader will dispense with them.
thingnounUS /thing/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But, for my own part, the utmost I can do is to tell the thing as it happened as nearly as I can, and if I cannot command those graces of style which would come naturally to a practised pen, I can only ask that the reader will dispense with them.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading But, for my own part, the utmost I can do is to tell the thing as it happened as nearly as I can, and if I cannot command those graces of style which would come naturally to a practised pen, I can only ask that the reader will dispense with them.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading I have spent a great part of my life in action; and though the later part of it has been quieter and more peaceful than the earlier, and though I have enjoyed opportunities of study which I never had before, I am still anything but a bookish man, and I am not at all confident about such essential matters as grammar and spelling.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The history I am called upon to tell is one which, if it were put into the hands of a professed man of letters, might be made unusually interesting.
toldnounUS /told/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I have told my wife quite plainly that in my opinion I am as little fitted by nature for the task she has laid upon my shoulders as any man alive.
unusually
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The history I am called upon to tell is one which, if it were put into the hands of a professed man of letters, might be made unusually interesting.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading I have told my wife quite plainly that in my opinion I am as little fitted by nature for the task she has laid upon my shoulders as any man alive.
utmost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, for my own part, the utmost I can do is to tell the thing as it happened as nearly as I can, and if I cannot command those graces of style which would come naturally to a practised pen, I can only ask that the reader will dispense with them.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The history I am called upon to tell is one which, if it were put into the hands of a professed man of letters, might be made unusually interesting.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading I have spent a great part of my life in action; and though the later part of it has been quieter and more peaceful than the earlier, and though I have enjoyed opportunities of study which I never had before, I am still anything but a bookish man, and I am not at all confident about such essential matters as grammar and spelling.
wife
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I have told my wife quite plainly that in my opinion I am as little fitted by nature for the task she has laid upon my shoulders as any man alive.
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading But, for my own part, the utmost I can do is to tell the thing as it happened as nearly as I can, and if I cannot command those graces of style which would come naturally to a practised pen, I can only ask that the reader will dispense with them.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading But, for my own part, the utmost I can do is to tell the thing as it happened as nearly as I can, and if I cannot command those graces of style which would come naturally to a practised pen, I can only ask that the reader will dispense with them.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading But, for my own part, the utmost I can do is to tell the thing as it happened as nearly as I can, and if I cannot command those graces of style which would come naturally to a practised pen, I can only ask that the reader will dispense with them.
