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 On a pleasant May morning, in the spring succeeding the events narrated in the last chapter, the door of Dr. Clayton’s office was locked against all intruders.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading On a pleasant May morning, in the spring succeeding the events narrated in the last chapter, the door of Dr. Clayton’s office was locked against all intruders.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On a pleasant May morning, in the spring succeeding the events narrated in the last chapter, the door of Dr. Clayton’s office was locked against all intruders.
all-important
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The shutters were closed; while within, with his feet upon a table and his hands clasped over his head, the doctor himself was revolving the all-important question—whether it were better to offer himself at once to Dell Thompson “and have it done with,” or to wait a few years for a _little girl_, who had recently crossed his pathway, leaving on his memory footprints he could not easily efface.
amauxiliary verbUS /æm/
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading “Now, I am as positive as a man need be that I can have either of them for the asking; therefore, in a case which involves the happiness of one’s whole life, it behooves me to consider the matter well.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The shutters were closed; while within, with his feet upon a table and his hands clasped over his head, the doctor himself was revolving the all-important question—whether it were better to offer himself at once to Dell Thompson “and have it done with,” or to wait a few years for a _little girl_, who had recently crossed his pathway, leaving on his memory footprints he could not easily efface.
any
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the benefit of any young men who may be similarly situated, we give a portion of his reasoning, as follows:
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading For the benefit of any young men who may be similarly situated, we give a portion of his reasoning, as follows:
asking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Now, I am as positive as a man need be that I can have either of them for the asking; therefore, in a case which involves the happiness of one’s whole life, it behooves me to consider the matter well.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The shutters were closed; while within, with his feet upon a table and his hands clasped over his head, the doctor himself was revolving the all-important question—whether it were better to offer himself at once to Dell Thompson “and have it done with,” or to wait a few years for a _little girl_, who had recently crossed his pathway, leaving on his memory footprints he could not easily efface.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading For the benefit of any young men who may be similarly situated, we give a portion of his reasoning, as follows:
behooves
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Now, I am as positive as a man need be that I can have either of them for the asking; therefore, in a case which involves the happiness of one’s whole life, it behooves me to consider the matter well.
benefit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the benefit of any young men who may be similarly situated, we give a portion of his reasoning, as follows:
bent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To be sure, if I follow the bent of my inclination, I am decided at once; but then, marriages of convenience sometimes prove just as pleasant as those of pure love; and so I’ll go over with the _pros_ and _cons_ of both, deciding upon the one which has the most of the former!
better
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The shutters were closed; while within, with his feet upon a table and his hands clasped over his head, the doctor himself was revolving the all-important question—whether it were better to offer himself at once to Dell Thompson “and have it done with,” or to wait a few years for a _little girl_, who had recently crossed his pathway, leaving on his memory footprints he could not easily efface.
bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/
the two together, not just one
From this reading To be sure, if I follow the bent of my inclination, I am decided at once; but then, marriages of convenience sometimes prove just as pleasant as those of pure love; and so I’ll go over with the _pros_ and _cons_ of both, deciding upon the one which has the most of the former!
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading To be sure, if I follow the bent of my inclination, I am decided at once; but then, marriages of convenience sometimes prove just as pleasant as those of pure love; and so I’ll go over with the _pros_ and _cons_ of both, deciding upon the one which has the most of the former!
canmodal verbUS /kæn/
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading “Now, I am as positive as a man need be that I can have either of them for the asking; therefore, in a case which involves the happiness of one’s whole life, it behooves me to consider the matter well.
case
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Now, I am as positive as a man need be that I can have either of them for the asking; therefore, in a case which involves the happiness of one’s whole life, it behooves me to consider the matter well.
chapter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On a pleasant May morning, in the spring succeeding the events narrated in the last chapter, the door of Dr. Clayton’s office was locked against all intruders.
clasped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The shutters were closed; while within, with his feet upon a table and his hands clasped over his head, the doctor himself was revolving the all-important question—whether it were better to offer himself at once to Dell Thompson “and have it done with,” or to wait a few years for a _little girl_, who had recently crossed his pathway, leaving on his memory footprints he could not easily efface.
Clayton's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On a pleasant May morning, in the spring succeeding the events narrated in the last chapter, the door of Dr. Clayton’s office was locked against all intruders.
closed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The shutters were closed; while within, with his feet upon a table and his hands clasped over his head, the doctor himself was revolving the all-important question—whether it were better to offer himself at once to Dell Thompson “and have it done with,” or to wait a few years for a _little girl_, who had recently crossed his pathway, leaving on his memory footprints he could not easily efface.
cons
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To be sure, if I follow the bent of my inclination, I am decided at once; but then, marriages of convenience sometimes prove just as pleasant as those of pure love; and so I’ll go over with the _pros_ and _cons_ of both, deciding upon the one which has the most of the former!
consider
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Now, I am as positive as a man need be that I can have either of them for the asking; therefore, in a case which involves the happiness of one’s whole life, it behooves me to consider the matter well.
convenience
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To be sure, if I follow the bent of my inclination, I am decided at once; but then, marriages of convenience sometimes prove just as pleasant as those of pure love; and so I’ll go over with the _pros_ and _cons_ of both, deciding upon the one which has the most of the former!
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The shutters were closed; while within, with his feet upon a table and his hands clasped over his head, the doctor himself was revolving the all-important question—whether it were better to offer himself at once to Dell Thompson “and have it done with,” or to wait a few years for a _little girl_, who had recently crossed his pathway, leaving on his memory footprints he could not easily efface.
crossed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The shutters were closed; while within, with his feet upon a table and his hands clasped over his head, the doctor himself was revolving the all-important question—whether it were better to offer himself at once to Dell Thompson “and have it done with,” or to wait a few years for a _little girl_, who had recently crossed his pathway, leaving on his memory footprints he could not easily efface.
decided
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To be sure, if I follow the bent of my inclination, I am decided at once; but then, marriages of convenience sometimes prove just as pleasant as those of pure love; and so I’ll go over with the _pros_ and _cons_ of both, deciding upon the one which has the most of the former!
deciding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To be sure, if I follow the bent of my inclination, I am decided at once; but then, marriages of convenience sometimes prove just as pleasant as those of pure love; and so I’ll go over with the _pros_ and _cons_ of both, deciding upon the one which has the most of the former!
Dell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The shutters were closed; while within, with his feet upon a table and his hands clasped over his head, the doctor himself was revolving the all-important question—whether it were better to offer himself at once to Dell Thompson “and have it done with,” or to wait a few years for a _little girl_, who had recently crossed his pathway, leaving on his memory footprints he could not easily efface.
doctornounUS /doctor/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The shutters were closed; while within, with his feet upon a table and his hands clasped over his head, the doctor himself was revolving the all-important question—whether it were better to offer himself at once to Dell Thompson “and have it done with,” or to wait a few years for a _little girl_, who had recently crossed his pathway, leaving on his memory footprints he could not easily efface.
donenounUS /done/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The shutters were closed; while within, with his feet upon a table and his hands clasped over his head, the doctor himself was revolving the all-important question—whether it were better to offer himself at once to Dell Thompson “and have it done with,” or to wait a few years for a _little girl_, who had recently crossed his pathway, leaving on his memory footprints he could not easily efface.
door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On a pleasant May morning, in the spring succeeding the events narrated in the last chapter, the door of Dr. Clayton’s office was locked against all intruders.
Dr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On a pleasant May morning, in the spring succeeding the events narrated in the last chapter, the door of Dr. Clayton’s office was locked against all intruders.
easily
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The shutters were closed; while within, with his feet upon a table and his hands clasped over his head, the doctor himself was revolving the all-important question—whether it were better to offer himself at once to Dell Thompson “and have it done with,” or to wait a few years for a _little girl_, who had recently crossed his pathway, leaving on his memory footprints he could not easily efface.
efface
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The shutters were closed; while within, with his feet upon a table and his hands clasped over his head, the doctor himself was revolving the all-important question—whether it were better to offer himself at once to Dell Thompson “and have it done with,” or to wait a few years for a _little girl_, who had recently crossed his pathway, leaving on his memory footprints he could not easily efface.
eitherdeterminerUS /ˈiːðər/
one or the other of two
From this reading “Now, I am as positive as a man need be that I can have either of them for the asking; therefore, in a case which involves the happiness of one’s whole life, it behooves me to consider the matter well.
events
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On a pleasant May morning, in the spring succeeding the events narrated in the last chapter, the door of Dr. Clayton’s office was locked against all intruders.
feet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The shutters were closed; while within, with his feet upon a table and his hands clasped over his head, the doctor himself was revolving the all-important question—whether it were better to offer himself at once to Dell Thompson “and have it done with,” or to wait a few years for a _little girl_, who had recently crossed his pathway, leaving on his memory footprints he could not easily efface.
few
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The shutters were closed; while within, with his feet upon a table and his hands clasped over his head, the doctor himself was revolving the all-important question—whether it were better to offer himself at once to Dell Thompson “and have it done with,” or to wait a few years for a _little girl_, who had recently crossed his pathway, leaving on his memory footprints he could not easily efface.
follow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To be sure, if I follow the bent of my inclination, I am decided at once; but then, marriages of convenience sometimes prove just as pleasant as those of pure love; and so I’ll go over with the _pros_ and _cons_ of both, deciding upon the one which has the most of the former!
follows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the benefit of any young men who may be similarly situated, we give a portion of his reasoning, as follows:
footprints
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The shutters were closed; while within, with his feet upon a table and his hands clasped over his head, the doctor himself was revolving the all-important question—whether it were better to offer himself at once to Dell Thompson “and have it done with,” or to wait a few years for a _little girl_, who had recently crossed his pathway, leaving on his memory footprints he could not easily efface.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The shutters were closed; while within, with his feet upon a table and his hands clasped over his head, the doctor himself was revolving the all-important question—whether it were better to offer himself at once to Dell Thompson “and have it done with,” or to wait a few years for a _little girl_, who had recently crossed his pathway, leaving on his memory footprints he could not easily efface.
former
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To be sure, if I follow the bent of my inclination, I am decided at once; but then, marriages of convenience sometimes prove just as pleasant as those of pure love; and so I’ll go over with the _pros_ and _cons_ of both, deciding upon the one which has the most of the former!
girl
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The shutters were closed; while within, with his feet upon a table and his hands clasped over his head, the doctor himself was revolving the all-important question—whether it were better to offer himself at once to Dell Thompson “and have it done with,” or to wait a few years for a _little girl_, who had recently crossed his pathway, leaving on his memory footprints he could not easily efface.
give
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the benefit of any young men who may be similarly situated, we give a portion of his reasoning, as follows:
go
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To be sure, if I follow the bent of my inclination, I am decided at once; but then, marriages of convenience sometimes prove just as pleasant as those of pure love; and so I’ll go over with the _pros_ and _cons_ of both, deciding upon the one which has the most of the former!
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The shutters were closed; while within, with his feet upon a table and his hands clasped over his head, the doctor himself was revolving the all-important question—whether it were better to offer himself at once to Dell Thompson “and have it done with,” or to wait a few years for a _little girl_, who had recently crossed his pathway, leaving on his memory footprints he could not easily efface.
handsplural nounUS /hændz/
members of a ship’s crew
From this reading The shutters were closed; while within, with his feet upon a table and his hands clasped over his head, the doctor himself was revolving the all-important question—whether it were better to offer himself at once to Dell Thompson “and have it done with,” or to wait a few years for a _little girl_, who had recently crossed his pathway, leaving on his memory footprints he could not easily efface.
happiness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Now, I am as positive as a man need be that I can have either of them for the asking; therefore, in a case which involves the happiness of one’s whole life, it behooves me to consider the matter well.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading To be sure, if I follow the bent of my inclination, I am decided at once; but then, marriages of convenience sometimes prove just as pleasant as those of pure love; and so I’ll go over with the _pros_ and _cons_ of both, deciding upon the one which has the most of the former!
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The shutters were closed; while within, with his feet upon a table and his hands clasped over his head, the doctor himself was revolving the all-important question—whether it were better to offer himself at once to Dell Thompson “and have it done with,” or to wait a few years for a _little girl_, who had recently crossed his pathway, leaving on his memory footprints he could not easily efface.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The shutters were closed; while within, with his feet upon a table and his hands clasped over his head, the doctor himself was revolving the all-important question—whether it were better to offer himself at once to Dell Thompson “and have it done with,” or to wait a few years for a _little girl_, who had recently crossed his pathway, leaving on his memory footprints he could not easily efface.
head
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The shutters were closed; while within, with his feet upon a table and his hands clasped over his head, the doctor himself was revolving the all-important question—whether it were better to offer himself at once to Dell Thompson “and have it done with,” or to wait a few years for a _little girl_, who had recently crossed his pathway, leaving on his memory footprints he could not easily efface.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading The shutters were closed; while within, with his feet upon a table and his hands clasped over his head, the doctor himself was revolving the all-important question—whether it were better to offer himself at once to Dell Thompson “and have it done with,” or to wait a few years for a _little girl_, who had recently crossed his pathway, leaving on his memory footprints he could not easily efface.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The shutters were closed; while within, with his feet upon a table and his hands clasped over his head, the doctor himself was revolving the all-important question—whether it were better to offer himself at once to Dell Thompson “and have it done with,” or to wait a few years for a _little girl_, who had recently crossed his pathway, leaving on his memory footprints he could not easily efface.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “Now, I am as positive as a man need be that I can have either of them for the asking; therefore, in a case which involves the happiness of one’s whole life, it behooves me to consider the matter well.
I'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To be sure, if I follow the bent of my inclination, I am decided at once; but then, marriages of convenience sometimes prove just as pleasant as those of pure love; and so I’ll go over with the _pros_ and _cons_ of both, deciding upon the one which has the most of the former!
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading To be sure, if I follow the bent of my inclination, I am decided at once; but then, marriages of convenience sometimes prove just as pleasant as those of pure love; and so I’ll go over with the _pros_ and _cons_ of both, deciding upon the one which has the most of the former!
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading On a pleasant May morning, in the spring succeeding the events narrated in the last chapter, the door of Dr. Clayton’s office was locked against all intruders.
inclination
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To be sure, if I follow the bent of my inclination, I am decided at once; but then, marriages of convenience sometimes prove just as pleasant as those of pure love; and so I’ll go over with the _pros_ and _cons_ of both, deciding upon the one which has the most of the former!
intruders
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On a pleasant May morning, in the spring succeeding the events narrated in the last chapter, the door of Dr. Clayton’s office was locked against all intruders.
involves
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Now, I am as positive as a man need be that I can have either of them for the asking; therefore, in a case which involves the happiness of one’s whole life, it behooves me to consider the matter well.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The shutters were closed; while within, with his feet upon a table and his hands clasped over his head, the doctor himself was revolving the all-important question—whether it were better to offer himself at once to Dell Thompson “and have it done with,” or to wait a few years for a _little girl_, who had recently crossed his pathway, leaving on his memory footprints he could not easily efface.
just
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To be sure, if I follow the bent of my inclination, I am decided at once; but then, marriages of convenience sometimes prove just as pleasant as those of pure love; and so I’ll go over with the _pros_ and _cons_ of both, deciding upon the one which has the most of the former!
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading On a pleasant May morning, in the spring succeeding the events narrated in the last chapter, the door of Dr. Clayton’s office was locked against all intruders.
leaving
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The shutters were closed; while within, with his feet upon a table and his hands clasped over his head, the doctor himself was revolving the all-important question—whether it were better to offer himself at once to Dell Thompson “and have it done with,” or to wait a few years for a _little girl_, who had recently crossed his pathway, leaving on his memory footprints he could not easily efface.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Now, I am as positive as a man need be that I can have either of them for the asking; therefore, in a case which involves the happiness of one’s whole life, it behooves me to consider the matter well.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The shutters were closed; while within, with his feet upon a table and his hands clasped over his head, the doctor himself was revolving the all-important question—whether it were better to offer himself at once to Dell Thompson “and have it done with,” or to wait a few years for a _little girl_, who had recently crossed his pathway, leaving on his memory footprints he could not easily efface.
locked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On a pleasant May morning, in the spring succeeding the events narrated in the last chapter, the door of Dr. Clayton’s office was locked against all intruders.
love
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To be sure, if I follow the bent of my inclination, I am decided at once; but then, marriages of convenience sometimes prove just as pleasant as those of pure love; and so I’ll go over with the _pros_ and _cons_ of both, deciding upon the one which has the most of the former!
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Now, I am as positive as a man need be that I can have either of them for the asking; therefore, in a case which involves the happiness of one’s whole life, it behooves me to consider the matter well.
marriages
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To be sure, if I follow the bent of my inclination, I am decided at once; but then, marriages of convenience sometimes prove just as pleasant as those of pure love; and so I’ll go over with the _pros_ and _cons_ of both, deciding upon the one which has the most of the former!
matter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Now, I am as positive as a man need be that I can have either of them for the asking; therefore, in a case which involves the happiness of one’s whole life, it behooves me to consider the matter well.
Maymodal verbUS /meɪ/
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading On a pleasant May morning, in the spring succeeding the events narrated in the last chapter, the door of Dr. Clayton’s office was locked against all intruders.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “Now, I am as positive as a man need be that I can have either of them for the asking; therefore, in a case which involves the happiness of one’s whole life, it behooves me to consider the matter well.
memorynounUS /ˈmem.ər.i/
The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.
From this reading The shutters were closed; while within, with his feet upon a table and his hands clasped over his head, the doctor himself was revolving the all-important question—whether it were better to offer himself at once to Dell Thompson “and have it done with,” or to wait a few years for a _little girl_, who had recently crossed his pathway, leaving on his memory footprints he could not easily efface.
men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the benefit of any young men who may be similarly situated, we give a portion of his reasoning, as follows:
morningnounUS /morning/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading On a pleasant May morning, in the spring succeeding the events narrated in the last chapter, the door of Dr. Clayton’s office was locked against all intruders.
most
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To be sure, if I follow the bent of my inclination, I am decided at once; but then, marriages of convenience sometimes prove just as pleasant as those of pure love; and so I’ll go over with the _pros_ and _cons_ of both, deciding upon the one which has the most of the former!
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading To be sure, if I follow the bent of my inclination, I am decided at once; but then, marriages of convenience sometimes prove just as pleasant as those of pure love; and so I’ll go over with the _pros_ and _cons_ of both, deciding upon the one which has the most of the former!
narrated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On a pleasant May morning, in the spring succeeding the events narrated in the last chapter, the door of Dr. Clayton’s office was locked against all intruders.
neednounUS /need/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Now, I am as positive as a man need be that I can have either of them for the asking; therefore, in a case which involves the happiness of one’s whole life, it behooves me to consider the matter well.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The shutters were closed; while within, with his feet upon a table and his hands clasped over his head, the doctor himself was revolving the all-important question—whether it were better to offer himself at once to Dell Thompson “and have it done with,” or to wait a few years for a _little girl_, who had recently crossed his pathway, leaving on his memory footprints he could not easily efface.
Now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Now, I am as positive as a man need be that I can have either of them for the asking; therefore, in a case which involves the happiness of one’s whole life, it behooves me to consider the matter well.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading On a pleasant May morning, in the spring succeeding the events narrated in the last chapter, the door of Dr. Clayton’s office was locked against all intruders.
offer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The shutters were closed; while within, with his feet upon a table and his hands clasped over his head, the doctor himself was revolving the all-important question—whether it were better to offer himself at once to Dell Thompson “and have it done with,” or to wait a few years for a _little girl_, who had recently crossed his pathway, leaving on his memory footprints he could not easily efface.
office
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On a pleasant May morning, in the spring succeeding the events narrated in the last chapter, the door of Dr. Clayton’s office was locked against all intruders.
OnprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On a pleasant May morning, in the spring succeeding the events narrated in the last chapter, the door of Dr. Clayton’s office was locked against all intruders.
once
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The shutters were closed; while within, with his feet upon a table and his hands clasped over his head, the doctor himself was revolving the all-important question—whether it were better to offer himself at once to Dell Thompson “and have it done with,” or to wait a few years for a _little girl_, who had recently crossed his pathway, leaving on his memory footprints he could not easily efface.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading To be sure, if I follow the bent of my inclination, I am decided at once; but then, marriages of convenience sometimes prove just as pleasant as those of pure love; and so I’ll go over with the _pros_ and _cons_ of both, deciding upon the one which has the most of the former!
one's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Now, I am as positive as a man need be that I can have either of them for the asking; therefore, in a case which involves the happiness of one’s whole life, it behooves me to consider the matter well.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The shutters were closed; while within, with his feet upon a table and his hands clasped over his head, the doctor himself was revolving the all-important question—whether it were better to offer himself at once to Dell Thompson “and have it done with,” or to wait a few years for a _little girl_, who had recently crossed his pathway, leaving on his memory footprints he could not easily efface.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The shutters were closed; while within, with his feet upon a table and his hands clasped over his head, the doctor himself was revolving the all-important question—whether it were better to offer himself at once to Dell Thompson “and have it done with,” or to wait a few years for a _little girl_, who had recently crossed his pathway, leaving on his memory footprints he could not easily efface.
pathway
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The shutters were closed; while within, with his feet upon a table and his hands clasped over his head, the doctor himself was revolving the all-important question—whether it were better to offer himself at once to Dell Thompson “and have it done with,” or to wait a few years for a _little girl_, who had recently crossed his pathway, leaving on his memory footprints he could not easily efface.
pleasantnounUS /pleasant/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading On a pleasant May morning, in the spring succeeding the events narrated in the last chapter, the door of Dr. Clayton’s office was locked against all intruders.
portion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the benefit of any young men who may be similarly situated, we give a portion of his reasoning, as follows:
positive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Now, I am as positive as a man need be that I can have either of them for the asking; therefore, in a case which involves the happiness of one’s whole life, it behooves me to consider the matter well.
pros
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To be sure, if I follow the bent of my inclination, I am decided at once; but then, marriages of convenience sometimes prove just as pleasant as those of pure love; and so I’ll go over with the _pros_ and _cons_ of both, deciding upon the one which has the most of the former!
prove
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To be sure, if I follow the bent of my inclination, I am decided at once; but then, marriages of convenience sometimes prove just as pleasant as those of pure love; and so I’ll go over with the _pros_ and _cons_ of both, deciding upon the one which has the most of the former!
pure
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To be sure, if I follow the bent of my inclination, I am decided at once; but then, marriages of convenience sometimes prove just as pleasant as those of pure love; and so I’ll go over with the _pros_ and _cons_ of both, deciding upon the one which has the most of the former!
questionnounUS /ˈquestion/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The shutters were closed; while within, with his feet upon a table and his hands clasped over his head, the doctor himself was revolving the all-important question—whether it were better to offer himself at once to Dell Thompson “and have it done with,” or to wait a few years for a _little girl_, who had recently crossed his pathway, leaving on his memory footprints he could not easily efface.
reasoning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the benefit of any young men who may be similarly situated, we give a portion of his reasoning, as follows:
recently
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The shutters were closed; while within, with his feet upon a table and his hands clasped over his head, the doctor himself was revolving the all-important question—whether it were better to offer himself at once to Dell Thompson “and have it done with,” or to wait a few years for a _little girl_, who had recently crossed his pathway, leaving on his memory footprints he could not easily efface.
revolving
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The shutters were closed; while within, with his feet upon a table and his hands clasped over his head, the doctor himself was revolving the all-important question—whether it were better to offer himself at once to Dell Thompson “and have it done with,” or to wait a few years for a _little girl_, who had recently crossed his pathway, leaving on his memory footprints he could not easily efface.
shutters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The shutters were closed; while within, with his feet upon a table and his hands clasped over his head, the doctor himself was revolving the all-important question—whether it were better to offer himself at once to Dell Thompson “and have it done with,” or to wait a few years for a _little girl_, who had recently crossed his pathway, leaving on his memory footprints he could not easily efface.
similarly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the benefit of any young men who may be similarly situated, we give a portion of his reasoning, as follows:
situated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the benefit of any young men who may be similarly situated, we give a portion of his reasoning, as follows:
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading To be sure, if I follow the bent of my inclination, I am decided at once; but then, marriages of convenience sometimes prove just as pleasant as those of pure love; and so I’ll go over with the _pros_ and _cons_ of both, deciding upon the one which has the most of the former!
sometimes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To be sure, if I follow the bent of my inclination, I am decided at once; but then, marriages of convenience sometimes prove just as pleasant as those of pure love; and so I’ll go over with the _pros_ and _cons_ of both, deciding upon the one which has the most of the former!
spring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On a pleasant May morning, in the spring succeeding the events narrated in the last chapter, the door of Dr. Clayton’s office was locked against all intruders.
succeeding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On a pleasant May morning, in the spring succeeding the events narrated in the last chapter, the door of Dr. Clayton’s office was locked against all intruders.
surenounUS /sure/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading To be sure, if I follow the bent of my inclination, I am decided at once; but then, marriages of convenience sometimes prove just as pleasant as those of pure love; and so I’ll go over with the _pros_ and _cons_ of both, deciding upon the one which has the most of the former!
table
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The shutters were closed; while within, with his feet upon a table and his hands clasped over his head, the doctor himself was revolving the all-important question—whether it were better to offer himself at once to Dell Thompson “and have it done with,” or to wait a few years for a _little girl_, who had recently crossed his pathway, leaving on his memory footprints he could not easily efface.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “Now, I am as positive as a man need be that I can have either of them for the asking; therefore, in a case which involves the happiness of one’s whole life, it behooves me to consider the matter well.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading On a pleasant May morning, in the spring succeeding the events narrated in the last chapter, the door of Dr. Clayton’s office was locked against all intruders.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading “Now, I am as positive as a man need be that I can have either of them for the asking; therefore, in a case which involves the happiness of one’s whole life, it behooves me to consider the matter well.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To be sure, if I follow the bent of my inclination, I am decided at once; but then, marriages of convenience sometimes prove just as pleasant as those of pure love; and so I’ll go over with the _pros_ and _cons_ of both, deciding upon the one which has the most of the former!
thereforeadverbUS /ˈðerfɔːr/
for that reason; as a result
From this reading “Now, I am as positive as a man need be that I can have either of them for the asking; therefore, in a case which involves the happiness of one’s whole life, it behooves me to consider the matter well.
Thompson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The shutters were closed; while within, with his feet upon a table and his hands clasped over his head, the doctor himself was revolving the all-important question—whether it were better to offer himself at once to Dell Thompson “and have it done with,” or to wait a few years for a _little girl_, who had recently crossed his pathway, leaving on his memory footprints he could not easily efface.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading To be sure, if I follow the bent of my inclination, I am decided at once; but then, marriages of convenience sometimes prove just as pleasant as those of pure love; and so I’ll go over with the _pros_ and _cons_ of both, deciding upon the one which has the most of the former!
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The shutters were closed; while within, with his feet upon a table and his hands clasped over his head, the doctor himself was revolving the all-important question—whether it were better to offer himself at once to Dell Thompson “and have it done with,” or to wait a few years for a _little girl_, who had recently crossed his pathway, leaving on his memory footprints he could not easily efface.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The shutters were closed; while within, with his feet upon a table and his hands clasped over his head, the doctor himself was revolving the all-important question—whether it were better to offer himself at once to Dell Thompson “and have it done with,” or to wait a few years for a _little girl_, who had recently crossed his pathway, leaving on his memory footprints he could not easily efface.
wait
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The shutters were closed; while within, with his feet upon a table and his hands clasped over his head, the doctor himself was revolving the all-important question—whether it were better to offer himself at once to Dell Thompson “and have it done with,” or to wait a few years for a _little girl_, who had recently crossed his pathway, leaving on his memory footprints he could not easily efface.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading On a pleasant May morning, in the spring succeeding the events narrated in the last chapter, the door of Dr. Clayton’s office was locked against all intruders.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading For the benefit of any young men who may be similarly situated, we give a portion of his reasoning, as follows:
well
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Now, I am as positive as a man need be that I can have either of them for the asking; therefore, in a case which involves the happiness of one’s whole life, it behooves me to consider the matter well.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The shutters were closed; while within, with his feet upon a table and his hands clasped over his head, the doctor himself was revolving the all-important question—whether it were better to offer himself at once to Dell Thompson “and have it done with,” or to wait a few years for a _little girl_, who had recently crossed his pathway, leaving on his memory footprints he could not easily efface.
whetherconjunctionUS /ˈweðər/
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading The shutters were closed; while within, with his feet upon a table and his hands clasped over his head, the doctor himself was revolving the all-important question—whether it were better to offer himself at once to Dell Thompson “and have it done with,” or to wait a few years for a _little girl_, who had recently crossed his pathway, leaving on his memory footprints he could not easily efface.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading “Now, I am as positive as a man need be that I can have either of them for the asking; therefore, in a case which involves the happiness of one’s whole life, it behooves me to consider the matter well.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading The shutters were closed; while within, with his feet upon a table and his hands clasped over his head, the doctor himself was revolving the all-important question—whether it were better to offer himself at once to Dell Thompson “and have it done with,” or to wait a few years for a _little girl_, who had recently crossed his pathway, leaving on his memory footprints he could not easily efface.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading The shutters were closed; while within, with his feet upon a table and his hands clasped over his head, the doctor himself was revolving the all-important question—whether it were better to offer himself at once to Dell Thompson “and have it done with,” or to wait a few years for a _little girl_, who had recently crossed his pathway, leaving on his memory footprints he could not easily efface.
whole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Now, I am as positive as a man need be that I can have either of them for the asking; therefore, in a case which involves the happiness of one’s whole life, it behooves me to consider the matter well.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The shutters were closed; while within, with his feet upon a table and his hands clasped over his head, the doctor himself was revolving the all-important question—whether it were better to offer himself at once to Dell Thompson “and have it done with,” or to wait a few years for a _little girl_, who had recently crossed his pathway, leaving on his memory footprints he could not easily efface.
withinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading The shutters were closed; while within, with his feet upon a table and his hands clasped over his head, the doctor himself was revolving the all-important question—whether it were better to offer himself at once to Dell Thompson “and have it done with,” or to wait a few years for a _little girl_, who had recently crossed his pathway, leaving on his memory footprints he could not easily efface.
years
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The shutters were closed; while within, with his feet upon a table and his hands clasped over his head, the doctor himself was revolving the all-important question—whether it were better to offer himself at once to Dell Thompson “and have it done with,” or to wait a few years for a _little girl_, who had recently crossed his pathway, leaving on his memory footprints he could not easily efface.
young
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the benefit of any young men who may be similarly situated, we give a portion of his reasoning, as follows:
