adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The author who takes up lecturing without the ability to give histrionic support to the literary reputation which he brings to the crude test of his reader’s eyes and ears, invokes a peril and a misery unknown to the lecturer who has made his first public from the platform.
abilitynounUS /əˈbɪlətiː/
the quality of being able to perform; a quality that permits or facilitates achievement or accomplishment
From this reading The author who takes up lecturing without the ability to give histrionic support to the literary reputation which he brings to the crude test of his reader’s eyes and ears, invokes a peril and a misery unknown to the lecturer who has made his first public from the platform.
actor-half
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not purely perdition for him, or, rather, it was perdition for only one-half of him, the author-half; for the actor-half it was paradise.
alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading But I suppose, with the wearing nerves of middle life, he hated more and more the personal swarming of interest upon him, and all the inevitable clatter of the thing.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The author who takes up lecturing without the ability to give histrionic support to the literary reputation which he brings to the crude test of his reader’s eyes and ears, invokes a peril and a misery unknown to the lecturer who has made his first public from the platform.
authornounUS /ˈɔːθər/
writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)
From this reading The author who takes up lecturing without the ability to give histrionic support to the literary reputation which he brings to the crude test of his reader’s eyes and ears, invokes a peril and a misery unknown to the lecturer who has made his first public from the platform.
author-half
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was not purely perdition for him, or, rather, it was perdition for only one-half of him, the author-half; for the actor-half it was paradise.
bankruptcynounUS /ˈbæŋkrəpsi/
a state of complete lack of some abstract property
From this reading It was this perdition which he re-entered when he undertook that round-the-world lecturing tour for the payment of the debts left to him by the bankruptcy of his firm in the publishing business.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Clemens was victorious on the platform from the beginning, and it would be folly to pretend that he did not exult in his triumphs there.
beginningnounUS /bɪˈɡɪnɪŋ/
the event consisting of the start of something
From this reading Clemens was victorious on the platform from the beginning, and it would be folly to pretend that he did not exult in his triumphs there.
bringsverbUS /brɪŋz/
third-person singular of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading The author who takes up lecturing without the ability to give histrionic support to the literary reputation which he brings to the crude test of his reader’s eyes and ears, invokes a peril and a misery unknown to the lecturer who has made his first public from the platform.
businessnounUS /ˈbɪznəs/
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading It was this perdition which he re-entered when he undertook that round-the-world lecturing tour for the payment of the debts left to him by the bankruptcy of his firm in the publishing business.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But I suppose, with the wearing nerves of middle life, he hated more and more the personal swarming of interest upon him, and all the inevitable clatter of the thing.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It was this perdition which he re-entered when he undertook that round-the-world lecturing tour for the payment of the debts left to him by the bankruptcy of his firm in the publishing business.
clatternounUS /ˈklætər/
a rattling noise (often produced by rapid movement)
From this reading But I suppose, with the wearing nerves of middle life, he hated more and more the personal swarming of interest upon him, and all the inevitable clatter of the thing.
ClemensnounUS /ˈklemənz/
United States writer and humorist best known for his novels about Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn (1835-1910)
From this reading Clemens was victorious on the platform from the beginning, and it would be folly to pretend that he did not exult in his triumphs there.
crudeadjectiveUS /kruːd/
not carefully or expertly made
From this reading The author who takes up lecturing without the ability to give histrionic support to the literary reputation which he brings to the crude test of his reader’s eyes and ears, invokes a peril and a misery unknown to the lecturer who has made his first public from the platform.
debtsnounUS /dets/
plural of “debt” — the state of owing something (especially money)
From this reading It was this perdition which he re-entered when he undertook that round-the-world lecturing tour for the payment of the debts left to him by the bankruptcy of his firm in the publishing business.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Clemens was victorious on the platform from the beginning, and it would be folly to pretend that he did not exult in his triumphs there.
earsnounUS /ɪrz/
plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading The author who takes up lecturing without the ability to give histrionic support to the literary reputation which he brings to the crude test of his reader’s eyes and ears, invokes a peril and a misery unknown to the lecturer who has made his first public from the platform.
exultverbUS /ɪɡˈzʌlt/
feel extreme happiness or elation
From this reading Clemens was victorious on the platform from the beginning, and it would be folly to pretend that he did not exult in his triumphs there.
eyesnounUS /aɪz/
opinion or judgment
From this reading The author who takes up lecturing without the ability to give histrionic support to the literary reputation which he brings to the crude test of his reader’s eyes and ears, invokes a peril and a misery unknown to the lecturer who has made his first public from the platform.
firmadjectiveUS /fɜːrm/
marked by firm determination or resolution; not shakable
From this reading It was this perdition which he re-entered when he undertook that round-the-world lecturing tour for the payment of the debts left to him by the bankruptcy of his firm in the publishing business.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading The author who takes up lecturing without the ability to give histrionic support to the literary reputation which he brings to the crude test of his reader’s eyes and ears, invokes a peril and a misery unknown to the lecturer who has made his first public from the platform.
follynounUS /ˈfɑːli/
the trait of acting stupidly or rashly
From this reading Clemens was victorious on the platform from the beginning, and it would be folly to pretend that he did not exult in his triumphs there.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was this perdition which he re-entered when he undertook that round-the-world lecturing tour for the payment of the debts left to him by the bankruptcy of his firm in the publishing business.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The author who takes up lecturing without the ability to give histrionic support to the literary reputation which he brings to the crude test of his reader’s eyes and ears, invokes a peril and a misery unknown to the lecturer who has made his first public from the platform.
giveverbUS /ɡɪv/
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading The author who takes up lecturing without the ability to give histrionic support to the literary reputation which he brings to the crude test of his reader’s eyes and ears, invokes a peril and a misery unknown to the lecturer who has made his first public from the platform.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The author who takes up lecturing without the ability to give histrionic support to the literary reputation which he brings to the crude test of his reader’s eyes and ears, invokes a peril and a misery unknown to the lecturer who has made his first public from the platform.
hatedadjectiveUS /ˈheɪtəd/
treated with dislike or contempt
From this reading But I suppose, with the wearing nerves of middle life, he hated more and more the personal swarming of interest upon him, and all the inevitable clatter of the thing.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was this perdition which he re-entered when he undertook that round-the-world lecturing tour for the payment of the debts left to him by the bankruptcy of his firm in the publishing business.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It was this perdition which he re-entered when he undertook that round-the-world lecturing tour for the payment of the debts left to him by the bankruptcy of his firm in the publishing business.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It was this perdition which he re-entered when he undertook that round-the-world lecturing tour for the payment of the debts left to him by the bankruptcy of his firm in the publishing business.
histrionicadjectiveUS /ˌhɪstriˈɑːnɪk/
characteristic of acting or a stage performance; often affected
From this reading The author who takes up lecturing without the ability to give histrionic support to the literary reputation which he brings to the crude test of his reader’s eyes and ears, invokes a peril and a misery unknown to the lecturer who has made his first public from the platform.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading But I suppose, with the wearing nerves of middle life, he hated more and more the personal swarming of interest upon him, and all the inevitable clatter of the thing.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was this perdition which he re-entered when he undertook that round-the-world lecturing tour for the payment of the debts left to him by the bankruptcy of his firm in the publishing business.
inevitableadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈnevətəbəl/
incapable of being avoided or prevented
From this reading But I suppose, with the wearing nerves of middle life, he hated more and more the personal swarming of interest upon him, and all the inevitable clatter of the thing.
interestnounUS /ˈɪntrəst/
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading But I suppose, with the wearing nerves of middle life, he hated more and more the personal swarming of interest upon him, and all the inevitable clatter of the thing.
invokesverbUS /ˌɪnˈvoʊks/
third-person singular of “invoke” — summon into action or bring into existence, often as if by magic
From this reading The author who takes up lecturing without the ability to give histrionic support to the literary reputation which he brings to the crude test of his reader’s eyes and ears, invokes a peril and a misery unknown to the lecturer who has made his first public from the platform.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was this perdition which he re-entered when he undertook that round-the-world lecturing tour for the payment of the debts left to him by the bankruptcy of his firm in the publishing business.
lecturernounUS /ˈlektʃərər/
a public lecturer at certain universities
From this reading The author who takes up lecturing without the ability to give histrionic support to the literary reputation which he brings to the crude test of his reader’s eyes and ears, invokes a peril and a misery unknown to the lecturer who has made his first public from the platform.
lecturingnounUS /ˈlektʃərɪŋ/
teaching by giving a discourse on some subject (typically to a class)
From this reading It was this perdition which he re-entered when he undertook that round-the-world lecturing tour for the payment of the debts left to him by the bankruptcy of his firm in the publishing business.
leftnounUS /left/
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading It was this perdition which he re-entered when he undertook that round-the-world lecturing tour for the payment of the debts left to him by the bankruptcy of his firm in the publishing business.
lifenounUS /laɪf/
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading But I suppose, with the wearing nerves of middle life, he hated more and more the personal swarming of interest upon him, and all the inevitable clatter of the thing.
literaryadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəreri/
of or relating to or characteristic of literature
From this reading The author who takes up lecturing without the ability to give histrionic support to the literary reputation which he brings to the crude test of his reader’s eyes and ears, invokes a peril and a misery unknown to the lecturer who has made his first public from the platform.
madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading The author who takes up lecturing without the ability to give histrionic support to the literary reputation which he brings to the crude test of his reader’s eyes and ears, invokes a peril and a misery unknown to the lecturer who has made his first public from the platform.
middlenounUS /ˈmɪdəl/
an area that is approximately central within some larger region
From this reading But I suppose, with the wearing nerves of middle life, he hated more and more the personal swarming of interest upon him, and all the inevitable clatter of the thing.
miserynounUS /ˈmɪzəri/
a state of ill-being due to affliction or misfortune
From this reading The author who takes up lecturing without the ability to give histrionic support to the literary reputation which he brings to the crude test of his reader’s eyes and ears, invokes a peril and a misery unknown to the lecturer who has made his first public from the platform.
moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading But I suppose, with the wearing nerves of middle life, he hated more and more the personal swarming of interest upon him, and all the inevitable clatter of the thing.
nervesnounUS /nɜːrvz/
an uneasy psychological state
From this reading But I suppose, with the wearing nerves of middle life, he hated more and more the personal swarming of interest upon him, and all the inevitable clatter of the thing.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was not purely perdition for him, or, rather, it was perdition for only one-half of him, the author-half; for the actor-half it was paradise.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was this perdition which he re-entered when he undertook that round-the-world lecturing tour for the payment of the debts left to him by the bankruptcy of his firm in the publishing business.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Clemens was victorious on the platform from the beginning, and it would be folly to pretend that he did not exult in his triumphs there.
one-halfnoun
one of two equal parts of a divisible whole
From this reading It was not purely perdition for him, or, rather, it was perdition for only one-half of him, the author-half; for the actor-half it was paradise.
onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/
and nothing more
From this reading It was not purely perdition for him, or, rather, it was perdition for only one-half of him, the author-half; for the actor-half it was paradise.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading It was not purely perdition for him, or, rather, it was perdition for only one-half of him, the author-half; for the actor-half it was paradise.
paradisenounUS /ˈperədaɪs/
any place of complete bliss and delight and peace
From this reading It was not purely perdition for him, or, rather, it was perdition for only one-half of him, the author-half; for the actor-half it was paradise.
paymentnounUS /ˈpeɪmənt/
a sum of money paid or a claim discharged
From this reading It was this perdition which he re-entered when he undertook that round-the-world lecturing tour for the payment of the debts left to him by the bankruptcy of his firm in the publishing business.
perditionnoun
(Christianity) the abode of Satan and the forces of evil; where sinners suffer eternal punishment
From this reading It was this perdition which he re-entered when he undertook that round-the-world lecturing tour for the payment of the debts left to him by the bankruptcy of his firm in the publishing business.
perilnounUS /ˈperəl/
a source of danger; a possibility of incurring loss or misfortune
From this reading The author who takes up lecturing without the ability to give histrionic support to the literary reputation which he brings to the crude test of his reader’s eyes and ears, invokes a peril and a misery unknown to the lecturer who has made his first public from the platform.
personaladjectiveUS /ˈpɜːrsɪnəl/
concerning or affecting a particular person or his or her private life and personality
From this reading But I suppose, with the wearing nerves of middle life, he hated more and more the personal swarming of interest upon him, and all the inevitable clatter of the thing.
platformnounUS /ˈplætfɔːrm/
a raised horizontal surface
From this reading The author who takes up lecturing without the ability to give histrionic support to the literary reputation which he brings to the crude test of his reader’s eyes and ears, invokes a peril and a misery unknown to the lecturer who has made his first public from the platform.
pretendverbUS /priˈtend/
make believe with the intent to deceive
From this reading Clemens was victorious on the platform from the beginning, and it would be folly to pretend that he did not exult in his triumphs there.
publicnounUS /ˈpʌblɪk/
people in general considered as a whole
From this reading The author who takes up lecturing without the ability to give histrionic support to the literary reputation which he brings to the crude test of his reader’s eyes and ears, invokes a peril and a misery unknown to the lecturer who has made his first public from the platform.
publishingnounUS /ˈpʌblɪʃɪŋ/
the business of issuing printed matter for sale or distribution
From this reading It was this perdition which he re-entered when he undertook that round-the-world lecturing tour for the payment of the debts left to him by the bankruptcy of his firm in the publishing business.
purelyadverbUS /ˈpjʊrli/
restricted to something
From this reading It was not purely perdition for him, or, rather, it was perdition for only one-half of him, the author-half; for the actor-half it was paradise.
ratheradverbUS /ˈræðər/
on the contrary
From this reading It was not purely perdition for him, or, rather, it was perdition for only one-half of him, the author-half; for the actor-half it was paradise.
re-enteredverbUS /ˌriːˈentərd/
past form of “re-enter” — enter again
From this reading It was this perdition which he re-entered when he undertook that round-the-world lecturing tour for the payment of the debts left to him by the bankruptcy of his firm in the publishing business.
reader'snounUS /ˈriːdərz/
possessive form of “reader” — a person who enjoys reading
From this reading The author who takes up lecturing without the ability to give histrionic support to the literary reputation which he brings to the crude test of his reader’s eyes and ears, invokes a peril and a misery unknown to the lecturer who has made his first public from the platform.
reputationnounUS /ˌrepjəˈteɪʃən/
the state of being held in high esteem and honor
From this reading The author who takes up lecturing without the ability to give histrionic support to the literary reputation which he brings to the crude test of his reader’s eyes and ears, invokes a peril and a misery unknown to the lecturer who has made his first public from the platform.
round-the-world
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was this perdition which he re-entered when he undertook that round-the-world lecturing tour for the payment of the debts left to him by the bankruptcy of his firm in the publishing business.
supportnounUS /səˈpɔːrt/
the activity of providing for or maintaining by supplying with money or necessities
From this reading The author who takes up lecturing without the ability to give histrionic support to the literary reputation which he brings to the crude test of his reader’s eyes and ears, invokes a peril and a misery unknown to the lecturer who has made his first public from the platform.
supposeverbUS /səˈpoʊz/
express a supposition
From this reading But I suppose, with the wearing nerves of middle life, he hated more and more the personal swarming of interest upon him, and all the inevitable clatter of the thing.
swarmingverbUS /ˈswɔːrmɪŋ/
-ing form of “swarm” — be teeming, be abuzz
From this reading But I suppose, with the wearing nerves of middle life, he hated more and more the personal swarming of interest upon him, and all the inevitable clatter of the thing.
takesnounUS /teɪks/
plural of “take” — the income or profit arising from such transactions as the sale of land or other property
From this reading The author who takes up lecturing without the ability to give histrionic support to the literary reputation which he brings to the crude test of his reader’s eyes and ears, invokes a peril and a misery unknown to the lecturer who has made his first public from the platform.
testnounUS /test/
trying something to find out about it
From this reading The author who takes up lecturing without the ability to give histrionic support to the literary reputation which he brings to the crude test of his reader’s eyes and ears, invokes a peril and a misery unknown to the lecturer who has made his first public from the platform.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was this perdition which he re-entered when he undertook that round-the-world lecturing tour for the payment of the debts left to him by the bankruptcy of his firm in the publishing business.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was this perdition which he re-entered when he undertook that round-the-world lecturing tour for the payment of the debts left to him by the bankruptcy of his firm in the publishing business.
thereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading Clemens was victorious on the platform from the beginning, and it would be folly to pretend that he did not exult in his triumphs there.
thingnounUS /θɪŋ/
a special situation
From this reading But I suppose, with the wearing nerves of middle life, he hated more and more the personal swarming of interest upon him, and all the inevitable clatter of the thing.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading It was this perdition which he re-entered when he undertook that round-the-world lecturing tour for the payment of the debts left to him by the bankruptcy of his firm in the publishing business.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was this perdition which he re-entered when he undertook that round-the-world lecturing tour for the payment of the debts left to him by the bankruptcy of his firm in the publishing business.
tournounUS /tʊr/
a journey or route all the way around a particular place or area
From this reading It was this perdition which he re-entered when he undertook that round-the-world lecturing tour for the payment of the debts left to him by the bankruptcy of his firm in the publishing business.
triumphsnounUS /ˈtraɪəmfs/
plural of “triumph” — a successful ending of a struggle or contest
From this reading Clemens was victorious on the platform from the beginning, and it would be folly to pretend that he did not exult in his triumphs there.
undertookverbUS /ˌʌndərˈtʊk/
inflected form of “undertake” — enter upon an activity or enterprise
From this reading It was this perdition which he re-entered when he undertook that round-the-world lecturing tour for the payment of the debts left to him by the bankruptcy of his firm in the publishing business.
unknownadjectiveUS /ənˈnoʊn/
not known
From this reading The author who takes up lecturing without the ability to give histrionic support to the literary reputation which he brings to the crude test of his reader’s eyes and ears, invokes a peril and a misery unknown to the lecturer who has made his first public from the platform.
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The author who takes up lecturing without the ability to give histrionic support to the literary reputation which he brings to the crude test of his reader’s eyes and ears, invokes a peril and a misery unknown to the lecturer who has made his first public from the platform.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading But I suppose, with the wearing nerves of middle life, he hated more and more the personal swarming of interest upon him, and all the inevitable clatter of the thing.
victoriousadjectiveUS /vɪkˈtɔːriəs/
having won
From this reading Clemens was victorious on the platform from the beginning, and it would be folly to pretend that he did not exult in his triumphs there.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was this perdition which he re-entered when he undertook that round-the-world lecturing tour for the payment of the debts left to him by the bankruptcy of his firm in the publishing business.
wearingnounUS /ˈwerɪŋ/
(geology) the mechanical process of wearing or grinding something down (as by particles washing over it)
From this reading But I suppose, with the wearing nerves of middle life, he hated more and more the personal swarming of interest upon him, and all the inevitable clatter of the thing.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading It was this perdition which he re-entered when he undertook that round-the-world lecturing tour for the payment of the debts left to him by the bankruptcy of his firm in the publishing business.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It was this perdition which he re-entered when he undertook that round-the-world lecturing tour for the payment of the debts left to him by the bankruptcy of his firm in the publishing business.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading The author who takes up lecturing without the ability to give histrionic support to the literary reputation which he brings to the crude test of his reader’s eyes and ears, invokes a peril and a misery unknown to the lecturer who has made his first public from the platform.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading But I suppose, with the wearing nerves of middle life, he hated more and more the personal swarming of interest upon him, and all the inevitable clatter of the thing.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading The author who takes up lecturing without the ability to give histrionic support to the literary reputation which he brings to the crude test of his reader’s eyes and ears, invokes a peril and a misery unknown to the lecturer who has made his first public from the platform.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Clemens was victorious on the platform from the beginning, and it would be folly to pretend that he did not exult in his triumphs there.
