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 "And what," said Varney,--"what, while we are pursuing a fancied clew, and seeking to provide first a name, and then a fortune for this young lawyer,--what steps have you really taken to meet the danger that menaces me,--to secure, if our inquiries fail, an independence for yourself?
abyss
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Why recall me, in these rare moments when I feel myself human still,-- why recall me back to the nethermost abyss of revenge and crime?
admitted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Months have elapsed, and you have still shrunk from advancing the great scheme upon which we built, when the daughter of Susan Mainwaring was admitted to your hearth."
advancing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Months have elapsed, and you have still shrunk from advancing the great scheme upon which we built, when the daughter of Susan Mainwaring was admitted to your hearth."
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading "And what," said Varney,--"what, while we are pursuing a fancied clew, and seeking to provide first a name, and then a fortune for this young lawyer,--what steps have you really taken to meet the danger that menaces me,--to secure, if our inquiries fail, an independence for yourself?
ANDconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE WEAVERS AND THE WOOF.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "And what," said Varney,--"what, while we are pursuing a fancied clew, and seeking to provide first a name, and then a fortune for this young lawyer,--what steps have you really taken to meet the danger that menaces me,--to secure, if our inquiries fail, an independence for yourself?
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Why recall me, in these rare moments when I feel myself human still,-- why recall me back to the nethermost abyss of revenge and crime?
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Oh, let me be sure that I have still a son!
built
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Months have elapsed, and you have still shrunk from advancing the great scheme upon which we built, when the daughter of Susan Mainwaring was admitted to your hearth."
clew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "And what," said Varney,--"what, while we are pursuing a fancied clew, and seeking to provide first a name, and then a fortune for this young lawyer,--what steps have you really taken to meet the danger that menaces me,--to secure, if our inquiries fail, an independence for yourself?
crime
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Why recall me, in these rare moments when I feel myself human still,-- why recall me back to the nethermost abyss of revenge and crime?
danger
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "And what," said Varney,--"what, while we are pursuing a fancied clew, and seeking to provide first a name, and then a fortune for this young lawyer,--what steps have you really taken to meet the danger that menaces me,--to secure, if our inquiries fail, an independence for yourself?
daughter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Months have elapsed, and you have still shrunk from advancing the great scheme upon which we built, when the daughter of Susan Mainwaring was admitted to your hearth."
elapsed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Months have elapsed, and you have still shrunk from advancing the great scheme upon which we built, when the daughter of Susan Mainwaring was admitted to your hearth."
fail
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "And what," said Varney,--"what, while we are pursuing a fancied clew, and seeking to provide first a name, and then a fortune for this young lawyer,--what steps have you really taken to meet the danger that menaces me,--to secure, if our inquiries fail, an independence for yourself?
fancied
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "And what," said Varney,--"what, while we are pursuing a fancied clew, and seeking to provide first a name, and then a fortune for this young lawyer,--what steps have you really taken to meet the danger that menaces me,--to secure, if our inquiries fail, an independence for yourself?
feel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Why recall me, in these rare moments when I feel myself human still,-- why recall me back to the nethermost abyss of revenge and crime?
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "And what," said Varney,--"what, while we are pursuing a fancied clew, and seeking to provide first a name, and then a fortune for this young lawyer,--what steps have you really taken to meet the danger that menaces me,--to secure, if our inquiries fail, an independence for yourself?
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "And what," said Varney,--"what, while we are pursuing a fancied clew, and seeking to provide first a name, and then a fortune for this young lawyer,--what steps have you really taken to meet the danger that menaces me,--to secure, if our inquiries fail, an independence for yourself?
fortunenounUS /ˈfortune/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading "And what," said Varney,--"what, while we are pursuing a fancied clew, and seeking to provide first a name, and then a fortune for this young lawyer,--what steps have you really taken to meet the danger that menaces me,--to secure, if our inquiries fail, an independence for yourself?
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Months have elapsed, and you have still shrunk from advancing the great scheme upon which we built, when the daughter of Susan Mainwaring was admitted to your hearth."
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Months have elapsed, and you have still shrunk from advancing the great scheme upon which we built, when the daughter of Susan Mainwaring was admitted to your hearth."
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "And what," said Varney,--"what, while we are pursuing a fancied clew, and seeking to provide first a name, and then a fortune for this young lawyer,--what steps have you really taken to meet the danger that menaces me,--to secure, if our inquiries fail, an independence for yourself?
hearth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Months have elapsed, and you have still shrunk from advancing the great scheme upon which we built, when the daughter of Susan Mainwaring was admitted to your hearth."
human
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Why recall me, in these rare moments when I feel myself human still,-- why recall me back to the nethermost abyss of revenge and crime?
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Why recall me, in these rare moments when I feel myself human still,-- why recall me back to the nethermost abyss of revenge and crime?
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "And what," said Varney,--"what, while we are pursuing a fancied clew, and seeking to provide first a name, and then a fortune for this young lawyer,--what steps have you really taken to meet the danger that menaces me,--to secure, if our inquiries fail, an independence for yourself?
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "Why recall me, in these rare moments when I feel myself human still,-- why recall me back to the nethermost abyss of revenge and crime?
independence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "And what," said Varney,--"what, while we are pursuing a fancied clew, and seeking to provide first a name, and then a fortune for this young lawyer,--what steps have you really taken to meet the danger that menaces me,--to secure, if our inquiries fail, an independence for yourself?
inquiries
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "And what," said Varney,--"what, while we are pursuing a fancied clew, and seeking to provide first a name, and then a fortune for this young lawyer,--what steps have you really taken to meet the danger that menaces me,--to secure, if our inquiries fail, an independence for yourself?
lawyer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "And what," said Varney,--"what, while we are pursuing a fancied clew, and seeking to provide first a name, and then a fortune for this young lawyer,--what steps have you really taken to meet the danger that menaces me,--to secure, if our inquiries fail, an independence for yourself?
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading Oh, let me be sure that I have still a son!
Mainwaring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Months have elapsed, and you have still shrunk from advancing the great scheme upon which we built, when the daughter of Susan Mainwaring was admitted to your hearth."
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "And what," said Varney,--"what, while we are pursuing a fancied clew, and seeking to provide first a name, and then a fortune for this young lawyer,--what steps have you really taken to meet the danger that menaces me,--to secure, if our inquiries fail, an independence for yourself?
meet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "And what," said Varney,--"what, while we are pursuing a fancied clew, and seeking to provide first a name, and then a fortune for this young lawyer,--what steps have you really taken to meet the danger that menaces me,--to secure, if our inquiries fail, an independence for yourself?
menaces
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "And what," said Varney,--"what, while we are pursuing a fancied clew, and seeking to provide first a name, and then a fortune for this young lawyer,--what steps have you really taken to meet the danger that menaces me,--to secure, if our inquiries fail, an independence for yourself?
moments
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Why recall me, in these rare moments when I feel myself human still,-- why recall me back to the nethermost abyss of revenge and crime?
Months
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Months have elapsed, and you have still shrunk from advancing the great scheme upon which we built, when the daughter of Susan Mainwaring was admitted to your hearth."
myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading "Why recall me, in these rare moments when I feel myself human still,-- why recall me back to the nethermost abyss of revenge and crime?
namenounUS /name/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "And what," said Varney,--"what, while we are pursuing a fancied clew, and seeking to provide first a name, and then a fortune for this young lawyer,--what steps have you really taken to meet the danger that menaces me,--to secure, if our inquiries fail, an independence for yourself?
nethermost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Why recall me, in these rare moments when I feel myself human still,-- why recall me back to the nethermost abyss of revenge and crime?
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Months have elapsed, and you have still shrunk from advancing the great scheme upon which we built, when the daughter of Susan Mainwaring was admitted to your hearth."
Oh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Oh, let me be sure that I have still a son!
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading "And what," said Varney,--"what, while we are pursuing a fancied clew, and seeking to provide first a name, and then a fortune for this young lawyer,--what steps have you really taken to meet the danger that menaces me,--to secure, if our inquiries fail, an independence for yourself?
provide
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "And what," said Varney,--"what, while we are pursuing a fancied clew, and seeking to provide first a name, and then a fortune for this young lawyer,--what steps have you really taken to meet the danger that menaces me,--to secure, if our inquiries fail, an independence for yourself?
pursuing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "And what," said Varney,--"what, while we are pursuing a fancied clew, and seeking to provide first a name, and then a fortune for this young lawyer,--what steps have you really taken to meet the danger that menaces me,--to secure, if our inquiries fail, an independence for yourself?
rare
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Why recall me, in these rare moments when I feel myself human still,-- why recall me back to the nethermost abyss of revenge and crime?
really
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "And what," said Varney,--"what, while we are pursuing a fancied clew, and seeking to provide first a name, and then a fortune for this young lawyer,--what steps have you really taken to meet the danger that menaces me,--to secure, if our inquiries fail, an independence for yourself?
recall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Why recall me, in these rare moments when I feel myself human still,-- why recall me back to the nethermost abyss of revenge and crime?
revenge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Why recall me, in these rare moments when I feel myself human still,-- why recall me back to the nethermost abyss of revenge and crime?
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "And what," said Varney,--"what, while we are pursuing a fancied clew, and seeking to provide first a name, and then a fortune for this young lawyer,--what steps have you really taken to meet the danger that menaces me,--to secure, if our inquiries fail, an independence for yourself?
scheme
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Months have elapsed, and you have still shrunk from advancing the great scheme upon which we built, when the daughter of Susan Mainwaring was admitted to your hearth."
secure
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "And what," said Varney,--"what, while we are pursuing a fancied clew, and seeking to provide first a name, and then a fortune for this young lawyer,--what steps have you really taken to meet the danger that menaces me,--to secure, if our inquiries fail, an independence for yourself?
seeking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "And what," said Varney,--"what, while we are pursuing a fancied clew, and seeking to provide first a name, and then a fortune for this young lawyer,--what steps have you really taken to meet the danger that menaces me,--to secure, if our inquiries fail, an independence for yourself?
shrunk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Months have elapsed, and you have still shrunk from advancing the great scheme upon which we built, when the daughter of Susan Mainwaring was admitted to your hearth."
son
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Oh, let me be sure that I have still a son!
steps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "And what," said Varney,--"what, while we are pursuing a fancied clew, and seeking to provide first a name, and then a fortune for this young lawyer,--what steps have you really taken to meet the danger that menaces me,--to secure, if our inquiries fail, an independence for yourself?
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Months have elapsed, and you have still shrunk from advancing the great scheme upon which we built, when the daughter of Susan Mainwaring was admitted to your hearth."
surenounUS /sure/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Oh, let me be sure that I have still a son!
Susan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Months have elapsed, and you have still shrunk from advancing the great scheme upon which we built, when the daughter of Susan Mainwaring was admitted to your hearth."
taken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "And what," said Varney,--"what, while we are pursuing a fancied clew, and seeking to provide first a name, and then a fortune for this young lawyer,--what steps have you really taken to meet the danger that menaces me,--to secure, if our inquiries fail, an independence for yourself?
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "And what," said Varney,--"what, while we are pursuing a fancied clew, and seeking to provide first a name, and then a fortune for this young lawyer,--what steps have you really taken to meet the danger that menaces me,--to secure, if our inquiries fail, an independence for yourself?
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE WEAVERS AND THE WOOF.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "And what," said Varney,--"what, while we are pursuing a fancied clew, and seeking to provide first a name, and then a fortune for this young lawyer,--what steps have you really taken to meet the danger that menaces me,--to secure, if our inquiries fail, an independence for yourself?
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading "Why recall me, in these rare moments when I feel myself human still,-- why recall me back to the nethermost abyss of revenge and crime?
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "And what," said Varney,--"what, while we are pursuing a fancied clew, and seeking to provide first a name, and then a fortune for this young lawyer,--what steps have you really taken to meet the danger that menaces me,--to secure, if our inquiries fail, an independence for yourself?
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "And what," said Varney,--"what, while we are pursuing a fancied clew, and seeking to provide first a name, and then a fortune for this young lawyer,--what steps have you really taken to meet the danger that menaces me,--to secure, if our inquiries fail, an independence for yourself?
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Months have elapsed, and you have still shrunk from advancing the great scheme upon which we built, when the daughter of Susan Mainwaring was admitted to your hearth."
Varney
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "And what," said Varney,--"what, while we are pursuing a fancied clew, and seeking to provide first a name, and then a fortune for this young lawyer,--what steps have you really taken to meet the danger that menaces me,--to secure, if our inquiries fail, an independence for yourself?
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Months have elapsed, and you have still shrunk from advancing the great scheme upon which we built, when the daughter of Susan Mainwaring was admitted to your hearth."
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "And what," said Varney,--"what, while we are pursuing a fancied clew, and seeking to provide first a name, and then a fortune for this young lawyer,--what steps have you really taken to meet the danger that menaces me,--to secure, if our inquiries fail, an independence for yourself?
WEAVERS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE WEAVERS AND THE WOOF.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "And what," said Varney,--"what, while we are pursuing a fancied clew, and seeking to provide first a name, and then a fortune for this young lawyer,--what steps have you really taken to meet the danger that menaces me,--to secure, if our inquiries fail, an independence for yourself?
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading Months have elapsed, and you have still shrunk from advancing the great scheme upon which we built, when the daughter of Susan Mainwaring was admitted to your hearth."
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Months have elapsed, and you have still shrunk from advancing the great scheme upon which we built, when the daughter of Susan Mainwaring was admitted to your hearth."
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading "And what," said Varney,--"what, while we are pursuing a fancied clew, and seeking to provide first a name, and then a fortune for this young lawyer,--what steps have you really taken to meet the danger that menaces me,--to secure, if our inquiries fail, an independence for yourself?
Why
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Why recall me, in these rare moments when I feel myself human still,-- why recall me back to the nethermost abyss of revenge and crime?
WOOF
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE WEAVERS AND THE WOOF.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "And what," said Varney,--"what, while we are pursuing a fancied clew, and seeking to provide first a name, and then a fortune for this young lawyer,--what steps have you really taken to meet the danger that menaces me,--to secure, if our inquiries fail, an independence for yourself?
young
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "And what," said Varney,--"what, while we are pursuing a fancied clew, and seeking to provide first a name, and then a fortune for this young lawyer,--what steps have you really taken to meet the danger that menaces me,--to secure, if our inquiries fail, an independence for yourself?
yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Months have elapsed, and you have still shrunk from advancing the great scheme upon which we built, when the daughter of Susan Mainwaring was admitted to your hearth."
yourselfpronounUS /jərˈself/
used when the person spoken to is also the object of the action
From this reading "And what," said Varney,--"what, while we are pursuing a fancied clew, and seeking to provide first a name, and then a fortune for this young lawyer,--what steps have you really taken to meet the danger that menaces me,--to secure, if our inquiries fail, an independence for yourself?
