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adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Not in a day could he learn to chant in noble verse.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading It was the elusive spirit of poetry itself that he sensed and sought after but could not capture.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Rhyme and metre and structure were serious enough in themselves, but there was, over and beyond them, an intangible and evasive something that he caught in all great poetry, but which he could not catch and imprison in his own.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Rhyme and metre and structure were serious enough in themselves, but there was, over and beyond them, an intangible and evasive something that he caught in all great poetry, but which he could not catch and imprison in his own.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Rhyme and metre and structure were serious enough in themselves, but there was, over and beyond them, an intangible and evasive something that he caught in all great poetry, but which he could not catch and imprison in his own.
article
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Martin went back to his pearl-diving article, which would have been finished sooner if it had not been broken in upon so frequently by his attempts to write poetry.
attempts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Martin went back to his pearl-diving article, which would have been finished sooner if it had not been broken in upon so frequently by his attempts to write poetry.
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Martin went back to his pearl-diving article, which would have been finished sooner if it had not been broken in upon so frequently by his attempts to write poetry.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Martin went back to his pearl-diving article, which would have been finished sooner if it had not been broken in upon so frequently by his attempts to write poetry.
beyondprepositionUS /bɪˈɑːnd/
on the far side of; further than
From this reading Rhyme and metre and structure were serious enough in themselves, but there was, over and beyond them, an intangible and evasive something that he caught in all great poetry, but which he could not catch and imprison in his own.
brokennounUS /broken/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Martin went back to his pearl-diving article, which would have been finished sooner if it had not been broken in upon so frequently by his attempts to write poetry.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading His poems were love poems, inspired by Ruth, but they were never completed.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Martin went back to his pearl-diving article, which would have been finished sooner if it had not been broken in upon so frequently by his attempts to write poetry.
capture
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was the elusive spirit of poetry itself that he sensed and sought after but could not capture.
catch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Rhyme and metre and structure were serious enough in themselves, but there was, over and beyond them, an intangible and evasive something that he caught in all great poetry, but which he could not catch and imprison in his own.
caught
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Rhyme and metre and structure were serious enough in themselves, but there was, over and beyond them, an intangible and evasive something that he caught in all great poetry, but which he could not catch and imprison in his own.
chant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not in a day could he learn to chant in noble verse.
completed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His poems were love poems, inspired by Ruth, but they were never completed.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Not in a day could he learn to chant in noble verse.
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not in a day could he learn to chant in noble verse.
elusive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was the elusive spirit of poetry itself that he sensed and sought after but could not capture.
enough
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Rhyme and metre and structure were serious enough in themselves, but there was, over and beyond them, an intangible and evasive something that he caught in all great poetry, but which he could not catch and imprison in his own.
evasive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Rhyme and metre and structure were serious enough in themselves, but there was, over and beyond them, an intangible and evasive something that he caught in all great poetry, but which he could not catch and imprison in his own.
finished
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Martin went back to his pearl-diving article, which would have been finished sooner if it had not been broken in upon so frequently by his attempts to write poetry.
frequently
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Martin went back to his pearl-diving article, which would have been finished sooner if it had not been broken in upon so frequently by his attempts to write poetry.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Rhyme and metre and structure were serious enough in themselves, but there was, over and beyond them, an intangible and evasive something that he caught in all great poetry, but which he could not catch and imprison in his own.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Martin went back to his pearl-diving article, which would have been finished sooner if it had not been broken in upon so frequently by his attempts to write poetry.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Martin went back to his pearl-diving article, which would have been finished sooner if it had not been broken in upon so frequently by his attempts to write poetry.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Not in a day could he learn to chant in noble verse.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Martin went back to his pearl-diving article, which would have been finished sooner if it had not been broken in upon so frequently by his attempts to write poetry.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Martin went back to his pearl-diving article, which would have been finished sooner if it had not been broken in upon so frequently by his attempts to write poetry.
imprison
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Rhyme and metre and structure were serious enough in themselves, but there was, over and beyond them, an intangible and evasive something that he caught in all great poetry, but which he could not catch and imprison in his own.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Martin went back to his pearl-diving article, which would have been finished sooner if it had not been broken in upon so frequently by his attempts to write poetry.
inspired
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His poems were love poems, inspired by Ruth, but they were never completed.
intangible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Rhyme and metre and structure were serious enough in themselves, but there was, over and beyond them, an intangible and evasive something that he caught in all great poetry, but which he could not catch and imprison in his own.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Martin went back to his pearl-diving article, which would have been finished sooner if it had not been broken in upon so frequently by his attempts to write poetry.
itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading It was the elusive spirit of poetry itself that he sensed and sought after but could not capture.
learn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not in a day could he learn to chant in noble verse.
love
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His poems were love poems, inspired by Ruth, but they were never completed.
Martin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Martin went back to his pearl-diving article, which would have been finished sooner if it had not been broken in upon so frequently by his attempts to write poetry.
metre
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Rhyme and metre and structure were serious enough in themselves, but there was, over and beyond them, an intangible and evasive something that he caught in all great poetry, but which he could not catch and imprison in his own.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading His poems were love poems, inspired by Ruth, but they were never completed.
noble
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not in a day could he learn to chant in noble verse.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Martin went back to his pearl-diving article, which would have been finished sooner if it had not been broken in upon so frequently by his attempts to write poetry.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was the elusive spirit of poetry itself that he sensed and sought after but could not capture.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Rhyme and metre and structure were serious enough in themselves, but there was, over and beyond them, an intangible and evasive something that he caught in all great poetry, but which he could not catch and imprison in his own.
own
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Rhyme and metre and structure were serious enough in themselves, but there was, over and beyond them, an intangible and evasive something that he caught in all great poetry, but which he could not catch and imprison in his own.
pearl-diving
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Martin went back to his pearl-diving article, which would have been finished sooner if it had not been broken in upon so frequently by his attempts to write poetry.
poems
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His poems were love poems, inspired by Ruth, but they were never completed.
poetry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Martin went back to his pearl-diving article, which would have been finished sooner if it had not been broken in upon so frequently by his attempts to write poetry.
Rhyme
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Rhyme and metre and structure were serious enough in themselves, but there was, over and beyond them, an intangible and evasive something that he caught in all great poetry, but which he could not catch and imprison in his own.
Ruth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His poems were love poems, inspired by Ruth, but they were never completed.
sensed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was the elusive spirit of poetry itself that he sensed and sought after but could not capture.
serious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Rhyme and metre and structure were serious enough in themselves, but there was, over and beyond them, an intangible and evasive something that he caught in all great poetry, but which he could not catch and imprison in his own.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Martin went back to his pearl-diving article, which would have been finished sooner if it had not been broken in upon so frequently by his attempts to write poetry.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Rhyme and metre and structure were serious enough in themselves, but there was, over and beyond them, an intangible and evasive something that he caught in all great poetry, but which he could not catch and imprison in his own.
sooner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Martin went back to his pearl-diving article, which would have been finished sooner if it had not been broken in upon so frequently by his attempts to write poetry.
sought
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was the elusive spirit of poetry itself that he sensed and sought after but could not capture.
spirit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was the elusive spirit of poetry itself that he sensed and sought after but could not capture.
structure
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Rhyme and metre and structure were serious enough in themselves, but there was, over and beyond them, an intangible and evasive something that he caught in all great poetry, but which he could not catch and imprison in his own.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Rhyme and metre and structure were serious enough in themselves, but there was, over and beyond them, an intangible and evasive something that he caught in all great poetry, but which he could not catch and imprison in his own.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was the elusive spirit of poetry itself that he sensed and sought after but could not capture.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Rhyme and metre and structure were serious enough in themselves, but there was, over and beyond them, an intangible and evasive something that he caught in all great poetry, but which he could not catch and imprison in his own.
themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading Rhyme and metre and structure were serious enough in themselves, but there was, over and beyond them, an intangible and evasive something that he caught in all great poetry, but which he could not catch and imprison in his own.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Rhyme and metre and structure were serious enough in themselves, but there was, over and beyond them, an intangible and evasive something that he caught in all great poetry, but which he could not catch and imprison in his own.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading His poems were love poems, inspired by Ruth, but they were never completed.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Martin went back to his pearl-diving article, which would have been finished sooner if it had not been broken in upon so frequently by his attempts to write poetry.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Martin went back to his pearl-diving article, which would have been finished sooner if it had not been broken in upon so frequently by his attempts to write poetry.
verse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Not in a day could he learn to chant in noble verse.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Rhyme and metre and structure were serious enough in themselves, but there was, over and beyond them, an intangible and evasive something that he caught in all great poetry, but which he could not catch and imprison in his own.
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Martin went back to his pearl-diving article, which would have been finished sooner if it had not been broken in upon so frequently by his attempts to write poetry.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading His poems were love poems, inspired by Ruth, but they were never completed.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Martin went back to his pearl-diving article, which would have been finished sooner if it had not been broken in upon so frequently by his attempts to write poetry.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Martin went back to his pearl-diving article, which would have been finished sooner if it had not been broken in upon so frequently by his attempts to write poetry.
write
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Martin went back to his pearl-diving article, which would have been finished sooner if it had not been broken in upon so frequently by his attempts to write poetry.
