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 Perhaps because I never found his work of great ethical or aesthetical proportions, but recognized that it pretended to be good only within its strict limitations, I recur to it now without that painful feeling of a diminished grandeur in it, which attends us so often when we go back to something that once greatly pleased us.
acquaintance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The plays are light and amusing transcripts from life, for the most part, and where at times they deepen into powerful situations, or express strong emotions, they do so with persons so little different from the average of our acquaintance that we do not remember just who the persons are.
aesthetical
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From this reading Perhaps because I never found his work of great ethical or aesthetical proportions, but recognized that it pretended to be good only within its strict limitations, I recur to it now without that painful feeling of a diminished grandeur in it, which attends us so often when we go back to something that once greatly pleased us.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading It seemed to me at the time that I must have read all his comedies in Venice, but I kept reading new ones after I came home, and still I can take a volume of his from the shelf, and when thirty years are past, find a play or two that I missed before.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed to me at the time that I must have read all his comedies in Venice, but I kept reading new ones after I came home, and still I can take a volume of his from the shelf, and when thirty years are past, find a play or two that I missed before.
amusing
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From this reading The plays are light and amusing transcripts from life, for the most part, and where at times they deepen into powerful situations, or express strong emotions, they do so with persons so little different from the average of our acquaintance that we do not remember just who the persons are.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It seemed to me at the time that I must have read all his comedies in Venice, but I kept reading new ones after I came home, and still I can take a volume of his from the shelf, and when thirty years are past, find a play or two that I missed before.
any
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From this reading That might very easily be, for there is seldom anything more poignant in any one of them than there is in the average course of things.
anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/
any thing at all
From this reading That might very easily be, for there is seldom anything more poignant in any one of them than there is in the average course of things.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It seemed to me at the time that I must have read all his comedies in Venice, but I kept reading new ones after I came home, and still I can take a volume of his from the shelf, and when thirty years are past, find a play or two that I missed before.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It seemed to me at the time that I must have read all his comedies in Venice, but I kept reading new ones after I came home, and still I can take a volume of his from the shelf, and when thirty years are past, find a play or two that I missed before.
attends
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From this reading Perhaps because I never found his work of great ethical or aesthetical proportions, but recognized that it pretended to be good only within its strict limitations, I recur to it now without that painful feeling of a diminished grandeur in it, which attends us so often when we go back to something that once greatly pleased us.
average
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That might very easily be, for there is seldom anything more poignant in any one of them than there is in the average course of things.
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps because I never found his work of great ethical or aesthetical proportions, but recognized that it pretended to be good only within its strict limitations, I recur to it now without that painful feeling of a diminished grandeur in it, which attends us so often when we go back to something that once greatly pleased us.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Perhaps because I never found his work of great ethical or aesthetical proportions, but recognized that it pretended to be good only within its strict limitations, I recur to it now without that painful feeling of a diminished grandeur in it, which attends us so often when we go back to something that once greatly pleased us.
becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/
for the reason that
From this reading Perhaps because I never found his work of great ethical or aesthetical proportions, but recognized that it pretended to be good only within its strict limitations, I recur to it now without that painful feeling of a diminished grandeur in it, which attends us so often when we go back to something that once greatly pleased us.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading It seemed to me at the time that I must have read all his comedies in Venice, but I kept reading new ones after I came home, and still I can take a volume of his from the shelf, and when thirty years are past, find a play or two that I missed before.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Perhaps because I never found his work of great ethical or aesthetical proportions, but recognized that it pretended to be good only within its strict limitations, I recur to it now without that painful feeling of a diminished grandeur in it, which attends us so often when we go back to something that once greatly pleased us.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed to me at the time that I must have read all his comedies in Venice, but I kept reading new ones after I came home, and still I can take a volume of his from the shelf, and when thirty years are past, find a play or two that I missed before.
canmodal verbUS /kæn/
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading It seemed to me at the time that I must have read all his comedies in Venice, but I kept reading new ones after I came home, and still I can take a volume of his from the shelf, and when thirty years are past, find a play or two that I missed before.
comedies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed to me at the time that I must have read all his comedies in Venice, but I kept reading new ones after I came home, and still I can take a volume of his from the shelf, and when thirty years are past, find a play or two that I missed before.
coursenounUS /course/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading That might very easily be, for there is seldom anything more poignant in any one of them than there is in the average course of things.
deepen
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From this reading The plays are light and amusing transcripts from life, for the most part, and where at times they deepen into powerful situations, or express strong emotions, they do so with persons so little different from the average of our acquaintance that we do not remember just who the persons are.
differentnounUS /ˈdifferent/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The plays are light and amusing transcripts from life, for the most part, and where at times they deepen into powerful situations, or express strong emotions, they do so with persons so little different from the average of our acquaintance that we do not remember just who the persons are.
diminished
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps because I never found his work of great ethical or aesthetical proportions, but recognized that it pretended to be good only within its strict limitations, I recur to it now without that painful feeling of a diminished grandeur in it, which attends us so often when we go back to something that once greatly pleased us.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading The plays are light and amusing transcripts from life, for the most part, and where at times they deepen into powerful situations, or express strong emotions, they do so with persons so little different from the average of our acquaintance that we do not remember just who the persons are.
easily
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That might very easily be, for there is seldom anything more poignant in any one of them than there is in the average course of things.
emotions
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From this reading The plays are light and amusing transcripts from life, for the most part, and where at times they deepen into powerful situations, or express strong emotions, they do so with persons so little different from the average of our acquaintance that we do not remember just who the persons are.
ethical
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps because I never found his work of great ethical or aesthetical proportions, but recognized that it pretended to be good only within its strict limitations, I recur to it now without that painful feeling of a diminished grandeur in it, which attends us so often when we go back to something that once greatly pleased us.
expressverbUS /ɪkˈspres/
to show or communicate a feeling or idea
From this reading The plays are light and amusing transcripts from life, for the most part, and where at times they deepen into powerful situations, or express strong emotions, they do so with persons so little different from the average of our acquaintance that we do not remember just who the persons are.
fancy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their number is very great, but perhaps those that I fancy I have not read, I have really read once or more and forgotten.
feelingnounUS /ˈfeeling/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Perhaps because I never found his work of great ethical or aesthetical proportions, but recognized that it pretended to be good only within its strict limitations, I recur to it now without that painful feeling of a diminished grandeur in it, which attends us so often when we go back to something that once greatly pleased us.
find
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed to me at the time that I must have read all his comedies in Venice, but I kept reading new ones after I came home, and still I can take a volume of his from the shelf, and when thirty years are past, find a play or two that I missed before.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading That might very easily be, for there is seldom anything more poignant in any one of them than there is in the average course of things.
forgottenadjectiveUS /fərˈɡɑːt.n̩/
Not remembered; lapsed from memory.
From this reading Their number is very great, but perhaps those that I fancy I have not read, I have really read once or more and forgotten.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Perhaps because I never found his work of great ethical or aesthetical proportions, but recognized that it pretended to be good only within its strict limitations, I recur to it now without that painful feeling of a diminished grandeur in it, which attends us so often when we go back to something that once greatly pleased us.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It seemed to me at the time that I must have read all his comedies in Venice, but I kept reading new ones after I came home, and still I can take a volume of his from the shelf, and when thirty years are past, find a play or two that I missed before.
go
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps because I never found his work of great ethical or aesthetical proportions, but recognized that it pretended to be good only within its strict limitations, I recur to it now without that painful feeling of a diminished grandeur in it, which attends us so often when we go back to something that once greatly pleased us.
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Perhaps because I never found his work of great ethical or aesthetical proportions, but recognized that it pretended to be good only within its strict limitations, I recur to it now without that painful feeling of a diminished grandeur in it, which attends us so often when we go back to something that once greatly pleased us.
grandeur
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps because I never found his work of great ethical or aesthetical proportions, but recognized that it pretended to be good only within its strict limitations, I recur to it now without that painful feeling of a diminished grandeur in it, which attends us so often when we go back to something that once greatly pleased us.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Perhaps because I never found his work of great ethical or aesthetical proportions, but recognized that it pretended to be good only within its strict limitations, I recur to it now without that painful feeling of a diminished grandeur in it, which attends us so often when we go back to something that once greatly pleased us.
greatly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps because I never found his work of great ethical or aesthetical proportions, but recognized that it pretended to be good only within its strict limitations, I recur to it now without that painful feeling of a diminished grandeur in it, which attends us so often when we go back to something that once greatly pleased us.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It seemed to me at the time that I must have read all his comedies in Venice, but I kept reading new ones after I came home, and still I can take a volume of his from the shelf, and when thirty years are past, find a play or two that I missed before.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Perhaps because I never found his work of great ethical or aesthetical proportions, but recognized that it pretended to be good only within its strict limitations, I recur to it now without that painful feeling of a diminished grandeur in it, which attends us so often when we go back to something that once greatly pleased us.
home
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed to me at the time that I must have read all his comedies in Venice, but I kept reading new ones after I came home, and still I can take a volume of his from the shelf, and when thirty years are past, find a play or two that I missed before.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Perhaps because I never found his work of great ethical or aesthetical proportions, but recognized that it pretended to be good only within its strict limitations, I recur to it now without that painful feeling of a diminished grandeur in it, which attends us so often when we go back to something that once greatly pleased us.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Perhaps because I never found his work of great ethical or aesthetical proportions, but recognized that it pretended to be good only within its strict limitations, I recur to it now without that painful feeling of a diminished grandeur in it, which attends us so often when we go back to something that once greatly pleased us.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The plays are light and amusing transcripts from life, for the most part, and where at times they deepen into powerful situations, or express strong emotions, they do so with persons so little different from the average of our acquaintance that we do not remember just who the persons are.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Their number is very great, but perhaps those that I fancy I have not read, I have really read once or more and forgotten.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Perhaps because I never found his work of great ethical or aesthetical proportions, but recognized that it pretended to be good only within its strict limitations, I recur to it now without that painful feeling of a diminished grandeur in it, which attends us so often when we go back to something that once greatly pleased us.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Perhaps because I never found his work of great ethical or aesthetical proportions, but recognized that it pretended to be good only within its strict limitations, I recur to it now without that painful feeling of a diminished grandeur in it, which attends us so often when we go back to something that once greatly pleased us.
just
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The plays are light and amusing transcripts from life, for the most part, and where at times they deepen into powerful situations, or express strong emotions, they do so with persons so little different from the average of our acquaintance that we do not remember just who the persons are.
kept
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed to me at the time that I must have read all his comedies in Venice, but I kept reading new ones after I came home, and still I can take a volume of his from the shelf, and when thirty years are past, find a play or two that I missed before.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The plays are light and amusing transcripts from life, for the most part, and where at times they deepen into powerful situations, or express strong emotions, they do so with persons so little different from the average of our acquaintance that we do not remember just who the persons are.
light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The plays are light and amusing transcripts from life, for the most part, and where at times they deepen into powerful situations, or express strong emotions, they do so with persons so little different from the average of our acquaintance that we do not remember just who the persons are.
limitations
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps because I never found his work of great ethical or aesthetical proportions, but recognized that it pretended to be good only within its strict limitations, I recur to it now without that painful feeling of a diminished grandeur in it, which attends us so often when we go back to something that once greatly pleased us.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The plays are light and amusing transcripts from life, for the most part, and where at times they deepen into powerful situations, or express strong emotions, they do so with persons so little different from the average of our acquaintance that we do not remember just who the persons are.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It seemed to me at the time that I must have read all his comedies in Venice, but I kept reading new ones after I came home, and still I can take a volume of his from the shelf, and when thirty years are past, find a play or two that I missed before.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading That might very easily be, for there is seldom anything more poignant in any one of them than there is in the average course of things.
missed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed to me at the time that I must have read all his comedies in Venice, but I kept reading new ones after I came home, and still I can take a volume of his from the shelf, and when thirty years are past, find a play or two that I missed before.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their number is very great, but perhaps those that I fancy I have not read, I have really read once or more and forgotten.
most
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The plays are light and amusing transcripts from life, for the most part, and where at times they deepen into powerful situations, or express strong emotions, they do so with persons so little different from the average of our acquaintance that we do not remember just who the persons are.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading It seemed to me at the time that I must have read all his comedies in Venice, but I kept reading new ones after I came home, and still I can take a volume of his from the shelf, and when thirty years are past, find a play or two that I missed before.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Perhaps because I never found his work of great ethical or aesthetical proportions, but recognized that it pretended to be good only within its strict limitations, I recur to it now without that painful feeling of a diminished grandeur in it, which attends us so often when we go back to something that once greatly pleased us.
new
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed to me at the time that I must have read all his comedies in Venice, but I kept reading new ones after I came home, and still I can take a volume of his from the shelf, and when thirty years are past, find a play or two that I missed before.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Their number is very great, but perhaps those that I fancy I have not read, I have really read once or more and forgotten.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps because I never found his work of great ethical or aesthetical proportions, but recognized that it pretended to be good only within its strict limitations, I recur to it now without that painful feeling of a diminished grandeur in it, which attends us so often when we go back to something that once greatly pleased us.
number
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their number is very great, but perhaps those that I fancy I have not read, I have really read once or more and forgotten.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Perhaps because I never found his work of great ethical or aesthetical proportions, but recognized that it pretended to be good only within its strict limitations, I recur to it now without that painful feeling of a diminished grandeur in it, which attends us so often when we go back to something that once greatly pleased us.
often
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps because I never found his work of great ethical or aesthetical proportions, but recognized that it pretended to be good only within its strict limitations, I recur to it now without that painful feeling of a diminished grandeur in it, which attends us so often when we go back to something that once greatly pleased us.
once
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps because I never found his work of great ethical or aesthetical proportions, but recognized that it pretended to be good only within its strict limitations, I recur to it now without that painful feeling of a diminished grandeur in it, which attends us so often when we go back to something that once greatly pleased us.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading That might very easily be, for there is seldom anything more poignant in any one of them than there is in the average course of things.
ones
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed to me at the time that I must have read all his comedies in Venice, but I kept reading new ones after I came home, and still I can take a volume of his from the shelf, and when thirty years are past, find a play or two that I missed before.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps because I never found his work of great ethical or aesthetical proportions, but recognized that it pretended to be good only within its strict limitations, I recur to it now without that painful feeling of a diminished grandeur in it, which attends us so often when we go back to something that once greatly pleased us.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Perhaps because I never found his work of great ethical or aesthetical proportions, but recognized that it pretended to be good only within its strict limitations, I recur to it now without that painful feeling of a diminished grandeur in it, which attends us so often when we go back to something that once greatly pleased us.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading The plays are light and amusing transcripts from life, for the most part, and where at times they deepen into powerful situations, or express strong emotions, they do so with persons so little different from the average of our acquaintance that we do not remember just who the persons are.
painful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps because I never found his work of great ethical or aesthetical proportions, but recognized that it pretended to be good only within its strict limitations, I recur to it now without that painful feeling of a diminished grandeur in it, which attends us so often when we go back to something that once greatly pleased us.
partnounUS /part/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The plays are light and amusing transcripts from life, for the most part, and where at times they deepen into powerful situations, or express strong emotions, they do so with persons so little different from the average of our acquaintance that we do not remember just who the persons are.
past
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed to me at the time that I must have read all his comedies in Venice, but I kept reading new ones after I came home, and still I can take a volume of his from the shelf, and when thirty years are past, find a play or two that I missed before.
Perhaps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps because I never found his work of great ethical or aesthetical proportions, but recognized that it pretended to be good only within its strict limitations, I recur to it now without that painful feeling of a diminished grandeur in it, which attends us so often when we go back to something that once greatly pleased us.
persons
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The plays are light and amusing transcripts from life, for the most part, and where at times they deepen into powerful situations, or express strong emotions, they do so with persons so little different from the average of our acquaintance that we do not remember just who the persons are.
play
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed to me at the time that I must have read all his comedies in Venice, but I kept reading new ones after I came home, and still I can take a volume of his from the shelf, and when thirty years are past, find a play or two that I missed before.
plays
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The plays are light and amusing transcripts from life, for the most part, and where at times they deepen into powerful situations, or express strong emotions, they do so with persons so little different from the average of our acquaintance that we do not remember just who the persons are.
pleasednounUS /ˈpleased/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Perhaps because I never found his work of great ethical or aesthetical proportions, but recognized that it pretended to be good only within its strict limitations, I recur to it now without that painful feeling of a diminished grandeur in it, which attends us so often when we go back to something that once greatly pleased us.
poignant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That might very easily be, for there is seldom anything more poignant in any one of them than there is in the average course of things.
powerful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The plays are light and amusing transcripts from life, for the most part, and where at times they deepen into powerful situations, or express strong emotions, they do so with persons so little different from the average of our acquaintance that we do not remember just who the persons are.
pretended
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps because I never found his work of great ethical or aesthetical proportions, but recognized that it pretended to be good only within its strict limitations, I recur to it now without that painful feeling of a diminished grandeur in it, which attends us so often when we go back to something that once greatly pleased us.
proportions
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps because I never found his work of great ethical or aesthetical proportions, but recognized that it pretended to be good only within its strict limitations, I recur to it now without that painful feeling of a diminished grandeur in it, which attends us so often when we go back to something that once greatly pleased us.
read
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed to me at the time that I must have read all his comedies in Venice, but I kept reading new ones after I came home, and still I can take a volume of his from the shelf, and when thirty years are past, find a play or two that I missed before.
reading
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed to me at the time that I must have read all his comedies in Venice, but I kept reading new ones after I came home, and still I can take a volume of his from the shelf, and when thirty years are past, find a play or two that I missed before.
really
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their number is very great, but perhaps those that I fancy I have not read, I have really read once or more and forgotten.
recognized
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps because I never found his work of great ethical or aesthetical proportions, but recognized that it pretended to be good only within its strict limitations, I recur to it now without that painful feeling of a diminished grandeur in it, which attends us so often when we go back to something that once greatly pleased us.
recur
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps because I never found his work of great ethical or aesthetical proportions, but recognized that it pretended to be good only within its strict limitations, I recur to it now without that painful feeling of a diminished grandeur in it, which attends us so often when we go back to something that once greatly pleased us.
rememberverbUS /rɪˈmɛm.bər/
To recall to mind.
From this reading The plays are light and amusing transcripts from life, for the most part, and where at times they deepen into powerful situations, or express strong emotions, they do so with persons so little different from the average of our acquaintance that we do not remember just who the persons are.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It seemed to me at the time that I must have read all his comedies in Venice, but I kept reading new ones after I came home, and still I can take a volume of his from the shelf, and when thirty years are past, find a play or two that I missed before.
seldom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That might very easily be, for there is seldom anything more poignant in any one of them than there is in the average course of things.
shelfnounUS /ʃelf/
A flat horizontal plane used to hold books or scrolls in a library.
From this reading It seemed to me at the time that I must have read all his comedies in Venice, but I kept reading new ones after I came home, and still I can take a volume of his from the shelf, and when thirty years are past, find a play or two that I missed before.
situations
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The plays are light and amusing transcripts from life, for the most part, and where at times they deepen into powerful situations, or express strong emotions, they do so with persons so little different from the average of our acquaintance that we do not remember just who the persons are.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Perhaps because I never found his work of great ethical or aesthetical proportions, but recognized that it pretended to be good only within its strict limitations, I recur to it now without that painful feeling of a diminished grandeur in it, which attends us so often when we go back to something that once greatly pleased us.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Perhaps because I never found his work of great ethical or aesthetical proportions, but recognized that it pretended to be good only within its strict limitations, I recur to it now without that painful feeling of a diminished grandeur in it, which attends us so often when we go back to something that once greatly pleased us.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It seemed to me at the time that I must have read all his comedies in Venice, but I kept reading new ones after I came home, and still I can take a volume of his from the shelf, and when thirty years are past, find a play or two that I missed before.
strict
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps because I never found his work of great ethical or aesthetical proportions, but recognized that it pretended to be good only within its strict limitations, I recur to it now without that painful feeling of a diminished grandeur in it, which attends us so often when we go back to something that once greatly pleased us.
strong
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The plays are light and amusing transcripts from life, for the most part, and where at times they deepen into powerful situations, or express strong emotions, they do so with persons so little different from the average of our acquaintance that we do not remember just who the persons are.
takenounUS /take/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It seemed to me at the time that I must have read all his comedies in Venice, but I kept reading new ones after I came home, and still I can take a volume of his from the shelf, and when thirty years are past, find a play or two that I missed before.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading That might very easily be, for there is seldom anything more poignant in any one of them than there is in the average course of things.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Perhaps because I never found his work of great ethical or aesthetical proportions, but recognized that it pretended to be good only within its strict limitations, I recur to it now without that painful feeling of a diminished grandeur in it, which attends us so often when we go back to something that once greatly pleased us.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It seemed to me at the time that I must have read all his comedies in Venice, but I kept reading new ones after I came home, and still I can take a volume of his from the shelf, and when thirty years are past, find a play or two that I missed before.
TheirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Their number is very great, but perhaps those that I fancy I have not read, I have really read once or more and forgotten.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading That might very easily be, for there is seldom anything more poignant in any one of them than there is in the average course of things.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That might very easily be, for there is seldom anything more poignant in any one of them than there is in the average course of things.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The plays are light and amusing transcripts from life, for the most part, and where at times they deepen into powerful situations, or express strong emotions, they do so with persons so little different from the average of our acquaintance that we do not remember just who the persons are.
things
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That might very easily be, for there is seldom anything more poignant in any one of them than there is in the average course of things.
thirty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed to me at the time that I must have read all his comedies in Venice, but I kept reading new ones after I came home, and still I can take a volume of his from the shelf, and when thirty years are past, find a play or two that I missed before.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Their number is very great, but perhaps those that I fancy I have not read, I have really read once or more and forgotten.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It seemed to me at the time that I must have read all his comedies in Venice, but I kept reading new ones after I came home, and still I can take a volume of his from the shelf, and when thirty years are past, find a play or two that I missed before.
times
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The plays are light and amusing transcripts from life, for the most part, and where at times they deepen into powerful situations, or express strong emotions, they do so with persons so little different from the average of our acquaintance that we do not remember just who the persons are.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Perhaps because I never found his work of great ethical or aesthetical proportions, but recognized that it pretended to be good only within its strict limitations, I recur to it now without that painful feeling of a diminished grandeur in it, which attends us so often when we go back to something that once greatly pleased us.
transcripts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The plays are light and amusing transcripts from life, for the most part, and where at times they deepen into powerful situations, or express strong emotions, they do so with persons so little different from the average of our acquaintance that we do not remember just who the persons are.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed to me at the time that I must have read all his comedies in Venice, but I kept reading new ones after I came home, and still I can take a volume of his from the shelf, and when thirty years are past, find a play or two that I missed before.
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Perhaps because I never found his work of great ethical or aesthetical proportions, but recognized that it pretended to be good only within its strict limitations, I recur to it now without that painful feeling of a diminished grandeur in it, which attends us so often when we go back to something that once greatly pleased us.
Venice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed to me at the time that I must have read all his comedies in Venice, but I kept reading new ones after I came home, and still I can take a volume of his from the shelf, and when thirty years are past, find a play or two that I missed before.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their number is very great, but perhaps those that I fancy I have not read, I have really read once or more and forgotten.
volume
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed to me at the time that I must have read all his comedies in Venice, but I kept reading new ones after I came home, and still I can take a volume of his from the shelf, and when thirty years are past, find a play or two that I missed before.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Perhaps because I never found his work of great ethical or aesthetical proportions, but recognized that it pretended to be good only within its strict limitations, I recur to it now without that painful feeling of a diminished grandeur in it, which attends us so often when we go back to something that once greatly pleased us.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading Perhaps because I never found his work of great ethical or aesthetical proportions, but recognized that it pretended to be good only within its strict limitations, I recur to it now without that painful feeling of a diminished grandeur in it, which attends us so often when we go back to something that once greatly pleased us.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading The plays are light and amusing transcripts from life, for the most part, and where at times they deepen into powerful situations, or express strong emotions, they do so with persons so little different from the average of our acquaintance that we do not remember just who the persons are.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Perhaps because I never found his work of great ethical or aesthetical proportions, but recognized that it pretended to be good only within its strict limitations, I recur to it now without that painful feeling of a diminished grandeur in it, which attends us so often when we go back to something that once greatly pleased us.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading The plays are light and amusing transcripts from life, for the most part, and where at times they deepen into powerful situations, or express strong emotions, they do so with persons so little different from the average of our acquaintance that we do not remember just who the persons are.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The plays are light and amusing transcripts from life, for the most part, and where at times they deepen into powerful situations, or express strong emotions, they do so with persons so little different from the average of our acquaintance that we do not remember just who the persons are.
withinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading Perhaps because I never found his work of great ethical or aesthetical proportions, but recognized that it pretended to be good only within its strict limitations, I recur to it now without that painful feeling of a diminished grandeur in it, which attends us so often when we go back to something that once greatly pleased us.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Perhaps because I never found his work of great ethical or aesthetical proportions, but recognized that it pretended to be good only within its strict limitations, I recur to it now without that painful feeling of a diminished grandeur in it, which attends us so often when we go back to something that once greatly pleased us.
work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Perhaps because I never found his work of great ethical or aesthetical proportions, but recognized that it pretended to be good only within its strict limitations, I recur to it now without that painful feeling of a diminished grandeur in it, which attends us so often when we go back to something that once greatly pleased us.
years
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seemed to me at the time that I must have read all his comedies in Venice, but I kept reading new ones after I came home, and still I can take a volume of his from the shelf, and when thirty years are past, find a play or two that I missed before.
