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Lady Baltimore
Lady Baltimore

Chapter I

Cover illustration for Lady Baltimore
Context Illustration Reading 1/38 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
To S. Weir Mitchell With the Affection and Memories of All My Life You know the great text in Burns, I am sure, where he wishes he could see himself as others see him.
Well, here lies the hitch in many a work of art: if its maker--poet, painter, or novelist--could but have become its audience too, for a single day, before he launched it irrevocably upon the uncertain ocean of publicity, how much better his boat would often sail!
How many little touches to the rigging he would give, how many little drops of oil to the engines here and there, the need of which he had never suspected, but for that trial trip!
That’s where the ship-builders and dramatists have the advantage over us others: they can dock their productions and tinker at them.
Even to the musician comes this useful chance, and Schumann can reform the proclamation which opens his B-flat Symphony.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Lady Baltimore

Chapter I

Reading 1/38 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
To S. Weir Mitchell With the Affection and Memories of All My Life You know the great text in Burns, I am sure, where he wishes he could see himself as others see him.
Line 2
Well, here lies the hitch in many a work of art: if its maker--poet, painter, or novelist--could but have become its audience too, for a single day, before he launched it irrevocably upon the uncertain ocean of publicity, how much better his boat would often sail!
Line 3
How many little touches to the rigging he would give, how many little drops of oil to the engines here and there, the need of which he had never suspected, but for that trial trip!
Line 4
That’s where the ship-builders and dramatists have the advantage over us others: they can dock their productions and tinker at them.
Line 5
Even to the musician comes this useful chance, and Schumann can reform the proclamation which opens his B-flat Symphony.

Learner Dictionary

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

Art auxiliary verb US /ɑːrt/

an old form of “are”, used with “thou”

From this reading “Well, here lies the hitch in many a work of art: if its maker--poet, painter, or novelist--could but have become its audience too, for a single day, before he launched it irrevocably upon the uncertain ocean of publicity, how much better his boat would often sail!”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “Well, here lies the hitch in many a work of art: if its maker--poet, painter, or novelist--could but have become its audience too, for a single day, before he launched it irrevocably upon the uncertain ocean of publicity, how much better his boat would often sail!”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “To S. Weir Mitchell With the Affection and Memories of All My Life You know the great text in Burns, I am sure, where he wishes he could see himself as others see him.”

Even noun US /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Even to the musician comes this useful chance, and Schumann can reform the proclamation which opens his B-flat Symphony.”

Great noun US /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “To S. Weir Mitchell With the Affection and Memories of All My Life You know the great text in Burns, I am sure, where he wishes he could see himself as others see him.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “Well, here lies the hitch in many a work of art: if its maker--poet, painter, or novelist--could but have become its audience too, for a single day, before he launched it irrevocably upon the uncertain ocean of publicity, how much better his boat would often sail!”

Here noun US /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Well, here lies the hitch in many a work of art: if its maker--poet, painter, or novelist--could but have become its audience too, for a single day, before he launched it irrevocably upon the uncertain ocean of publicity, how much better his boat would often sail!”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading “To S. Weir Mitchell With the Affection and Memories of All My Life You know the great text in Burns, I am sure, where he wishes he could see himself as others see him.”

Know noun US /know/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “To S. Weir Mitchell With the Affection and Memories of All My Life You know the great text in Burns, I am sure, where he wishes he could see himself as others see him.”

Life noun US /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “To S. Weir Mitchell With the Affection and Memories of All My Life You know the great text in Burns, I am sure, where he wishes he could see himself as others see him.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “How many little touches to the rigging he would give, how many little drops of oil to the engines here and there, the need of which he had never suspected, but for that trial trip!”

Memories noun US /ˈmɛm.ə.riz/

Recollections of past events.

From this reading “To S. Weir Mitchell With the Affection and Memories of All My Life You know the great text in Burns, I am sure, where he wishes he could see himself as others see him.”

Need noun US /need/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “How many little touches to the rigging he would give, how many little drops of oil to the engines here and there, the need of which he had never suspected, but for that trial trip!”

Never noun US /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “How many little touches to the rigging he would give, how many little drops of oil to the engines here and there, the need of which he had never suspected, but for that trial trip!”

Oil noun US /ɔɪl/

A viscous liquid derived from petroleum or plants, stored in large earthen jars.

From this reading “How many little touches to the rigging he would give, how many little drops of oil to the engines here and there, the need of which he had never suspected, but for that trial trip!”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “That’s where the ship-builders and dramatists have the advantage over us others: they can dock their productions and tinker at them.”

Sail noun US /sail/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Well, here lies the hitch in many a work of art: if its maker--poet, painter, or novelist--could but have become its audience too, for a single day, before he launched it irrevocably upon the uncertain ocean of publicity, how much better his boat would often sail!”

Sure noun US /sure/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “To S. Weir Mitchell With the Affection and Memories of All My Life You know the great text in Burns, I am sure, where he wishes he could see himself as others see him.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “Well, here lies the hitch in many a work of art: if its maker--poet, painter, or novelist--could but have become its audience too, for a single day, before he launched it irrevocably upon the uncertain ocean of publicity, how much better his boat would often sail!”

Well noun US /well/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Well, here lies the hitch in many a work of art: if its maker--poet, painter, or novelist--could but have become its audience too, for a single day, before he launched it irrevocably upon the uncertain ocean of publicity, how much better his boat would often sail!”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “Well, here lies the hitch in many a work of art: if its maker--poet, painter, or novelist--could but have become its audience too, for a single day, before he launched it irrevocably upon the uncertain ocean of publicity, how much better his boat would often sail!”

All words in this reading · 112

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 Well, here lies the hitch in many a work of art: if its maker--poet, painter, or novelist--could but have become its audience too, for a single day, before he launched it irrevocably upon the uncertain ocean of publicity, how much better his boat would often sail!

advantage

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

From this reading That’s where the ship-builders and dramatists have the advantage over us others: they can dock their productions and tinker at them.

Affection

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

From this reading To S. Weir Mitchell With the Affection and Memories of All My Life You know the great text in Burns, I am sure, where he wishes he could see himself as others see him.

All

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

From this reading To S. Weir Mitchell With the Affection and Memories of All My Life You know the great text in Burns, I am sure, where he wishes he could see himself as others see him.

amauxiliary verbUS /æm/

the form of “be” used with “I”

From this reading To S. Weir Mitchell With the Affection and Memories of All My Life You know the great text in Burns, I am sure, where he wishes he could see himself as others see him.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading To S. Weir Mitchell With the Affection and Memories of All My Life You know the great text in Burns, I am sure, where he wishes he could see himself as others see him.

artauxiliary verbUS /ɑːrt/

an old form of “are”, used with “thou”

From this reading Well, here lies the hitch in many a work of art: if its maker--poet, painter, or novelist--could but have become its audience too, for a single day, before he launched it irrevocably upon the uncertain ocean of publicity, how much better his boat would often sail!

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading To S. Weir Mitchell With the Affection and Memories of All My Life You know the great text in Burns, I am sure, where he wishes he could see himself as others see him.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading That’s where the ship-builders and dramatists have the advantage over us others: they can dock their productions and tinker at them.

audience

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

From this reading Well, here lies the hitch in many a work of art: if its maker--poet, painter, or novelist--could but have become its audience too, for a single day, before he launched it irrevocably upon the uncertain ocean of publicity, how much better his boat would often sail!

B-flat

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

From this reading Even to the musician comes this useful chance, and Schumann can reform the proclamation which opens his B-flat Symphony.

become

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

From this reading Well, here lies the hitch in many a work of art: if its maker--poet, painter, or novelist--could but have become its audience too, for a single day, before he launched it irrevocably upon the uncertain ocean of publicity, how much better his boat would often sail!

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Well, here lies the hitch in many a work of art: if its maker--poet, painter, or novelist--could but have become its audience too, for a single day, before he launched it irrevocably upon the uncertain ocean of publicity, how much better his boat would often sail!

better

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

From this reading Well, here lies the hitch in many a work of art: if its maker--poet, painter, or novelist--could but have become its audience too, for a single day, before he launched it irrevocably upon the uncertain ocean of publicity, how much better his boat would often sail!

boat

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

From this reading Well, here lies the hitch in many a work of art: if its maker--poet, painter, or novelist--could but have become its audience too, for a single day, before he launched it irrevocably upon the uncertain ocean of publicity, how much better his boat would often sail!

Burns

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

From this reading To S. Weir Mitchell With the Affection and Memories of All My Life You know the great text in Burns, I am sure, where he wishes he could see himself as others see him.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Well, here lies the hitch in many a work of art: if its maker--poet, painter, or novelist--could but have become its audience too, for a single day, before he launched it irrevocably upon the uncertain ocean of publicity, how much better his boat would often sail!

canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading That’s where the ship-builders and dramatists have the advantage over us others: they can dock their productions and tinker at them.

chance

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

From this reading Even to the musician comes this useful chance, and Schumann can reform the proclamation which opens his B-flat Symphony.

comes

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

From this reading Even to the musician comes this useful chance, and Schumann can reform the proclamation which opens his B-flat Symphony.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading To S. Weir Mitchell With the Affection and Memories of All My Life You know the great text in Burns, I am sure, where he wishes he could see himself as others see him.

day

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

From this reading Well, here lies the hitch in many a work of art: if its maker--poet, painter, or novelist--could but have become its audience too, for a single day, before he launched it irrevocably upon the uncertain ocean of publicity, how much better his boat would often sail!

dock

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

From this reading That’s where the ship-builders and dramatists have the advantage over us others: they can dock their productions and tinker at them.

dramatists

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

From this reading That’s where the ship-builders and dramatists have the advantage over us others: they can dock their productions and tinker at them.

drops

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

From this reading How many little touches to the rigging he would give, how many little drops of oil to the engines here and there, the need of which he had never suspected, but for that trial trip!

engines

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

From this reading How many little touches to the rigging he would give, how many little drops of oil to the engines here and there, the need of which he had never suspected, but for that trial trip!

EvennounUS /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Even to the musician comes this useful chance, and Schumann can reform the proclamation which opens his B-flat Symphony.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Well, here lies the hitch in many a work of art: if its maker--poet, painter, or novelist--could but have become its audience too, for a single day, before he launched it irrevocably upon the uncertain ocean of publicity, how much better his boat would often sail!

give

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

From this reading How many little touches to the rigging he would give, how many little drops of oil to the engines here and there, the need of which he had never suspected, but for that trial trip!

greatnounUS /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading To S. Weir Mitchell With the Affection and Memories of All My Life You know the great text in Burns, I am sure, where he wishes he could see himself as others see him.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading How many little touches to the rigging he would give, how many little drops of oil to the engines here and there, the need of which he had never suspected, but for that trial trip!

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Well, here lies the hitch in many a work of art: if its maker--poet, painter, or novelist--could but have become its audience too, for a single day, before he launched it irrevocably upon the uncertain ocean of publicity, how much better his boat would often sail!

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading To S. Weir Mitchell With the Affection and Memories of All My Life You know the great text in Burns, I am sure, where he wishes he could see himself as others see him.

herenounUS /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Well, here lies the hitch in many a work of art: if its maker--poet, painter, or novelist--could but have become its audience too, for a single day, before he launched it irrevocably upon the uncertain ocean of publicity, how much better his boat would often sail!

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading To S. Weir Mitchell With the Affection and Memories of All My Life You know the great text in Burns, I am sure, where he wishes he could see himself as others see him.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading To S. Weir Mitchell With the Affection and Memories of All My Life You know the great text in Burns, I am sure, where he wishes he could see himself as others see him.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Well, here lies the hitch in many a work of art: if its maker--poet, painter, or novelist--could but have become its audience too, for a single day, before he launched it irrevocably upon the uncertain ocean of publicity, how much better his boat would often sail!

hitch

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

From this reading Well, here lies the hitch in many a work of art: if its maker--poet, painter, or novelist--could but have become its audience too, for a single day, before he launched it irrevocably upon the uncertain ocean of publicity, how much better his boat would often sail!

how

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

From this reading Well, here lies the hitch in many a work of art: if its maker--poet, painter, or novelist--could but have become its audience too, for a single day, before he launched it irrevocably upon the uncertain ocean of publicity, how much better his boat would often sail!

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading To S. Weir Mitchell With the Affection and Memories of All My Life You know the great text in Burns, I am sure, where he wishes he could see himself as others see him.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading Well, here lies the hitch in many a work of art: if its maker--poet, painter, or novelist--could but have become its audience too, for a single day, before he launched it irrevocably upon the uncertain ocean of publicity, how much better his boat would often sail!

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading To S. Weir Mitchell With the Affection and Memories of All My Life You know the great text in Burns, I am sure, where he wishes he could see himself as others see him.

irrevocably

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

From this reading Well, here lies the hitch in many a work of art: if its maker--poet, painter, or novelist--could but have become its audience too, for a single day, before he launched it irrevocably upon the uncertain ocean of publicity, how much better his boat would often sail!

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Well, here lies the hitch in many a work of art: if its maker--poet, painter, or novelist--could but have become its audience too, for a single day, before he launched it irrevocably upon the uncertain ocean of publicity, how much better his boat would often sail!

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Well, here lies the hitch in many a work of art: if its maker--poet, painter, or novelist--could but have become its audience too, for a single day, before he launched it irrevocably upon the uncertain ocean of publicity, how much better his boat would often sail!

knownounUS /know/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading To S. Weir Mitchell With the Affection and Memories of All My Life You know the great text in Burns, I am sure, where he wishes he could see himself as others see him.

launched

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

From this reading Well, here lies the hitch in many a work of art: if its maker--poet, painter, or novelist--could but have become its audience too, for a single day, before he launched it irrevocably upon the uncertain ocean of publicity, how much better his boat would often sail!

lies

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

From this reading Well, here lies the hitch in many a work of art: if its maker--poet, painter, or novelist--could but have become its audience too, for a single day, before he launched it irrevocably upon the uncertain ocean of publicity, how much better his boat would often sail!

LifenounUS /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading To S. Weir Mitchell With the Affection and Memories of All My Life You know the great text in Burns, I am sure, where he wishes he could see himself as others see him.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading How many little touches to the rigging he would give, how many little drops of oil to the engines here and there, the need of which he had never suspected, but for that trial trip!

maker

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

From this reading Well, here lies the hitch in many a work of art: if its maker--poet, painter, or novelist--could but have become its audience too, for a single day, before he launched it irrevocably upon the uncertain ocean of publicity, how much better his boat would often sail!

many

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

From this reading Well, here lies the hitch in many a work of art: if its maker--poet, painter, or novelist--could but have become its audience too, for a single day, before he launched it irrevocably upon the uncertain ocean of publicity, how much better his boat would often sail!

MemoriesnounUS /ˈmɛm.ə.riz/

Recollections of past events.

From this reading To S. Weir Mitchell With the Affection and Memories of All My Life You know the great text in Burns, I am sure, where he wishes he could see himself as others see him.

Mitchell

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

From this reading To S. Weir Mitchell With the Affection and Memories of All My Life You know the great text in Burns, I am sure, where he wishes he could see himself as others see him.

much

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

From this reading Well, here lies the hitch in many a work of art: if its maker--poet, painter, or novelist--could but have become its audience too, for a single day, before he launched it irrevocably upon the uncertain ocean of publicity, how much better his boat would often sail!

musician

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

From this reading Even to the musician comes this useful chance, and Schumann can reform the proclamation which opens his B-flat Symphony.

MydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading To S. Weir Mitchell With the Affection and Memories of All My Life You know the great text in Burns, I am sure, where he wishes he could see himself as others see him.

neednounUS /need/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading How many little touches to the rigging he would give, how many little drops of oil to the engines here and there, the need of which he had never suspected, but for that trial trip!

nevernounUS /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading How many little touches to the rigging he would give, how many little drops of oil to the engines here and there, the need of which he had never suspected, but for that trial trip!

novelist

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

From this reading Well, here lies the hitch in many a work of art: if its maker--poet, painter, or novelist--could but have become its audience too, for a single day, before he launched it irrevocably upon the uncertain ocean of publicity, how much better his boat would often sail!

ocean

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

From this reading Well, here lies the hitch in many a work of art: if its maker--poet, painter, or novelist--could but have become its audience too, for a single day, before he launched it irrevocably upon the uncertain ocean of publicity, how much better his boat would often sail!

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading To S. Weir Mitchell With the Affection and Memories of All My Life You know the great text in Burns, I am sure, where he wishes he could see himself as others see him.

often

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

From this reading Well, here lies the hitch in many a work of art: if its maker--poet, painter, or novelist--could but have become its audience too, for a single day, before he launched it irrevocably upon the uncertain ocean of publicity, how much better his boat would often sail!

oilnounUS /ɔɪl/

A viscous liquid derived from petroleum or plants, stored in large earthen jars.

From this reading How many little touches to the rigging he would give, how many little drops of oil to the engines here and there, the need of which he had never suspected, but for that trial trip!

opens

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

From this reading Even to the musician comes this useful chance, and Schumann can reform the proclamation which opens his B-flat Symphony.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Well, here lies the hitch in many a work of art: if its maker--poet, painter, or novelist--could but have become its audience too, for a single day, before he launched it irrevocably upon the uncertain ocean of publicity, how much better his boat would often sail!

others

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

From this reading To S. Weir Mitchell With the Affection and Memories of All My Life You know the great text in Burns, I am sure, where he wishes he could see himself as others see him.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading That’s where the ship-builders and dramatists have the advantage over us others: they can dock their productions and tinker at them.

painter

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

From this reading Well, here lies the hitch in many a work of art: if its maker--poet, painter, or novelist--could but have become its audience too, for a single day, before he launched it irrevocably upon the uncertain ocean of publicity, how much better his boat would often sail!

poet

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

From this reading Well, here lies the hitch in many a work of art: if its maker--poet, painter, or novelist--could but have become its audience too, for a single day, before he launched it irrevocably upon the uncertain ocean of publicity, how much better his boat would often sail!

proclamation

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

From this reading Even to the musician comes this useful chance, and Schumann can reform the proclamation which opens his B-flat Symphony.

productions

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

From this reading That’s where the ship-builders and dramatists have the advantage over us others: they can dock their productions and tinker at them.

publicity

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

From this reading Well, here lies the hitch in many a work of art: if its maker--poet, painter, or novelist--could but have become its audience too, for a single day, before he launched it irrevocably upon the uncertain ocean of publicity, how much better his boat would often sail!

reform

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

From this reading Even to the musician comes this useful chance, and Schumann can reform the proclamation which opens his B-flat Symphony.

rigging

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

From this reading How many little touches to the rigging he would give, how many little drops of oil to the engines here and there, the need of which he had never suspected, but for that trial trip!

S

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

From this reading To S. Weir Mitchell With the Affection and Memories of All My Life You know the great text in Burns, I am sure, where he wishes he could see himself as others see him.

sailnounUS /sail/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Well, here lies the hitch in many a work of art: if its maker--poet, painter, or novelist--could but have become its audience too, for a single day, before he launched it irrevocably upon the uncertain ocean of publicity, how much better his boat would often sail!

Schumann

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

From this reading Even to the musician comes this useful chance, and Schumann can reform the proclamation which opens his B-flat Symphony.

see

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

From this reading To S. Weir Mitchell With the Affection and Memories of All My Life You know the great text in Burns, I am sure, where he wishes he could see himself as others see him.

ship-builders

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

From this reading That’s where the ship-builders and dramatists have the advantage over us others: they can dock their productions and tinker at them.

single

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

From this reading Well, here lies the hitch in many a work of art: if its maker--poet, painter, or novelist--could but have become its audience too, for a single day, before he launched it irrevocably upon the uncertain ocean of publicity, how much better his boat would often sail!

surenounUS /sure/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading To S. Weir Mitchell With the Affection and Memories of All My Life You know the great text in Burns, I am sure, where he wishes he could see himself as others see him.

suspected

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From this reading How many little touches to the rigging he would give, how many little drops of oil to the engines here and there, the need of which he had never suspected, but for that trial trip!

Symphony

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From this reading Even to the musician comes this useful chance, and Schumann can reform the proclamation which opens his B-flat Symphony.

text

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From this reading To S. Weir Mitchell With the Affection and Memories of All My Life You know the great text in Burns, I am sure, where he wishes he could see himself as others see him.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading How many little touches to the rigging he would give, how many little drops of oil to the engines here and there, the need of which he had never suspected, but for that trial trip!

That's

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

From this reading That’s where the ship-builders and dramatists have the advantage over us others: they can dock their productions and tinker at them.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading To S. Weir Mitchell With the Affection and Memories of All My Life You know the great text in Burns, I am sure, where he wishes he could see himself as others see him.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading That’s where the ship-builders and dramatists have the advantage over us others: they can dock their productions and tinker at them.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading That’s where the ship-builders and dramatists have the advantage over us others: they can dock their productions and tinker at them.

there

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

From this reading How many little touches to the rigging he would give, how many little drops of oil to the engines here and there, the need of which he had never suspected, but for that trial trip!

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading That’s where the ship-builders and dramatists have the advantage over us others: they can dock their productions and tinker at them.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading Even to the musician comes this useful chance, and Schumann can reform the proclamation which opens his B-flat Symphony.

tinker

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

From this reading That’s where the ship-builders and dramatists have the advantage over us others: they can dock their productions and tinker at them.

ToparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading To S. Weir Mitchell With the Affection and Memories of All My Life You know the great text in Burns, I am sure, where he wishes he could see himself as others see him.

too

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

From this reading Well, here lies the hitch in many a work of art: if its maker--poet, painter, or novelist--could but have become its audience too, for a single day, before he launched it irrevocably upon the uncertain ocean of publicity, how much better his boat would often sail!

touches

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

From this reading How many little touches to the rigging he would give, how many little drops of oil to the engines here and there, the need of which he had never suspected, but for that trial trip!

trial

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

From this reading How many little touches to the rigging he would give, how many little drops of oil to the engines here and there, the need of which he had never suspected, but for that trial trip!

trip

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From this reading How many little touches to the rigging he would give, how many little drops of oil to the engines here and there, the need of which he had never suspected, but for that trial trip!

uncertain

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

From this reading Well, here lies the hitch in many a work of art: if its maker--poet, painter, or novelist--could but have become its audience too, for a single day, before he launched it irrevocably upon the uncertain ocean of publicity, how much better his boat would often sail!

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Well, here lies the hitch in many a work of art: if its maker--poet, painter, or novelist--could but have become its audience too, for a single day, before he launched it irrevocably upon the uncertain ocean of publicity, how much better his boat would often sail!

uspronounUS /ʌs/

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading That’s where the ship-builders and dramatists have the advantage over us others: they can dock their productions and tinker at them.

useful

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

From this reading Even to the musician comes this useful chance, and Schumann can reform the proclamation which opens his B-flat Symphony.

Weir

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

From this reading To S. Weir Mitchell With the Affection and Memories of All My Life You know the great text in Burns, I am sure, where he wishes he could see himself as others see him.

Well

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

From this reading Well, here lies the hitch in many a work of art: if its maker--poet, painter, or novelist--could but have become its audience too, for a single day, before he launched it irrevocably upon the uncertain ocean of publicity, how much better his boat would often sail!

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading To S. Weir Mitchell With the Affection and Memories of All My Life You know the great text in Burns, I am sure, where he wishes he could see himself as others see him.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading How many little touches to the rigging he would give, how many little drops of oil to the engines here and there, the need of which he had never suspected, but for that trial trip!

wishes

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

From this reading To S. Weir Mitchell With the Affection and Memories of All My Life You know the great text in Burns, I am sure, where he wishes he could see himself as others see him.

WithprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading To S. Weir Mitchell With the Affection and Memories of All My Life You know the great text in Burns, I am sure, where he wishes he could see himself as others see him.

work

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

From this reading Well, here lies the hitch in many a work of art: if its maker--poet, painter, or novelist--could but have become its audience too, for a single day, before he launched it irrevocably upon the uncertain ocean of publicity, how much better his boat would often sail!

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading Well, here lies the hitch in many a work of art: if its maker--poet, painter, or novelist--could but have become its audience too, for a single day, before he launched it irrevocably upon the uncertain ocean of publicity, how much better his boat would often sail!

YoupronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading To S. Weir Mitchell With the Affection and Memories of All My Life You know the great text in Burns, I am sure, where he wishes he could see himself as others see him.