Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
12
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From this reading C. H. Webb had established a very excellent literary weekly called the Californian, but high merit was no guaranty of success; it languished, and he sold out to three printers, and Bret Harte became editor at $20 a week, and I was employed to contribute an article a week at $12.
20
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading C. H. Webb had established a very excellent literary weekly called the Californian, but high merit was no guaranty of success; it languished, and he sold out to three printers, and Bret Harte became editor at $20 a week, and I was employed to contribute an article a week at $12.
adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading For a time I wrote literary screeds for the Golden Era.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading But the journal still languished, and the printers sold out to Captain Ogden, a rich man and a pleasant gentleman who chose to amuse himself with such an expensive luxury without much caring about the cost of it.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading When he grew tired of the novelty, he re-sold to the printers, the paper presently died a peaceful death, and I was out of work again.
amuse
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From this reading But the journal still languished, and the printers sold out to Captain Ogden, a rich man and a pleasant gentleman who chose to amuse himself with such an expensive luxury without much caring about the cost of it.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading C. H. Webb had established a very excellent literary weekly called the Californian, but high merit was no guaranty of success; it languished, and he sold out to three printers, and Bret Harte became editor at $20 a week, and I was employed to contribute an article a week at $12.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading C. H. Webb had established a very excellent literary weekly called the Californian, but high merit was no guaranty of success; it languished, and he sold out to three printers, and Bret Harte became editor at $20 a week, and I was employed to contribute an article a week at $12.
aptly
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From this reading I would not mention these things but for the fact that they so aptly illustrate the ups and downs that characterize life on the Pacific coast.
article
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading C. H. Webb had established a very excellent literary weekly called the Californian, but high merit was no guaranty of success; it languished, and he sold out to three printers, and Bret Harte became editor at $20 a week, and I was employed to contribute an article a week at $12.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading C. H. Webb had established a very excellent literary weekly called the Californian, but high merit was no guaranty of success; it languished, and he sold out to three printers, and Bret Harte became editor at $20 a week, and I was employed to contribute an article a week at $12.
became
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From this reading C. H. Webb had established a very excellent literary weekly called the Californian, but high merit was no guaranty of success; it languished, and he sold out to three printers, and Bret Harte became editor at $20 a week, and I was employed to contribute an article a week at $12.
Bret
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From this reading C. H. Webb had established a very excellent literary weekly called the Californian, but high merit was no guaranty of success; it languished, and he sold out to three printers, and Bret Harte became editor at $20 a week, and I was employed to contribute an article a week at $12.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading C. H. Webb had established a very excellent literary weekly called the Californian, but high merit was no guaranty of success; it languished, and he sold out to three printers, and Bret Harte became editor at $20 a week, and I was employed to contribute an article a week at $12.
C
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading C. H. Webb had established a very excellent literary weekly called the Californian, but high merit was no guaranty of success; it languished, and he sold out to three printers, and Bret Harte became editor at $20 a week, and I was employed to contribute an article a week at $12.
Californian
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading C. H. Webb had established a very excellent literary weekly called the Californian, but high merit was no guaranty of success; it languished, and he sold out to three printers, and Bret Harte became editor at $20 a week, and I was employed to contribute an article a week at $12.
called
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading C. H. Webb had established a very excellent literary weekly called the Californian, but high merit was no guaranty of success; it languished, and he sold out to three printers, and Bret Harte became editor at $20 a week, and I was employed to contribute an article a week at $12.
CaptainnounUS /ˈcaptain/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading But the journal still languished, and the printers sold out to Captain Ogden, a rich man and a pleasant gentleman who chose to amuse himself with such an expensive luxury without much caring about the cost of it.
caring
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From this reading But the journal still languished, and the printers sold out to Captain Ogden, a rich man and a pleasant gentleman who chose to amuse himself with such an expensive luxury without much caring about the cost of it.
characterize
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From this reading I would not mention these things but for the fact that they so aptly illustrate the ups and downs that characterize life on the Pacific coast.
chose
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From this reading But the journal still languished, and the printers sold out to Captain Ogden, a rich man and a pleasant gentleman who chose to amuse himself with such an expensive luxury without much caring about the cost of it.
coast
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I would not mention these things but for the fact that they so aptly illustrate the ups and downs that characterize life on the Pacific coast.
contribute
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading C. H. Webb had established a very excellent literary weekly called the Californian, but high merit was no guaranty of success; it languished, and he sold out to three printers, and Bret Harte became editor at $20 a week, and I was employed to contribute an article a week at $12.
cost
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From this reading But the journal still languished, and the printers sold out to Captain Ogden, a rich man and a pleasant gentleman who chose to amuse himself with such an expensive luxury without much caring about the cost of it.
death
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When he grew tired of the novelty, he re-sold to the printers, the paper presently died a peaceful death, and I was out of work again.
died
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When he grew tired of the novelty, he re-sold to the printers, the paper presently died a peaceful death, and I was out of work again.
downs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I would not mention these things but for the fact that they so aptly illustrate the ups and downs that characterize life on the Pacific coast.
editor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading C. H. Webb had established a very excellent literary weekly called the Californian, but high merit was no guaranty of success; it languished, and he sold out to three printers, and Bret Harte became editor at $20 a week, and I was employed to contribute an article a week at $12.
employed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading C. H. Webb had established a very excellent literary weekly called the Californian, but high merit was no guaranty of success; it languished, and he sold out to three printers, and Bret Harte became editor at $20 a week, and I was employed to contribute an article a week at $12.
Era
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From this reading For a time I wrote literary screeds for the Golden Era.
established
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading C. H. Webb had established a very excellent literary weekly called the Californian, but high merit was no guaranty of success; it languished, and he sold out to three printers, and Bret Harte became editor at $20 a week, and I was employed to contribute an article a week at $12.
excellent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading C. H. Webb had established a very excellent literary weekly called the Californian, but high merit was no guaranty of success; it languished, and he sold out to three printers, and Bret Harte became editor at $20 a week, and I was employed to contribute an article a week at $12.
expensive
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the journal still languished, and the printers sold out to Captain Ogden, a rich man and a pleasant gentleman who chose to amuse himself with such an expensive luxury without much caring about the cost of it.
fact
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I would not mention these things but for the fact that they so aptly illustrate the ups and downs that characterize life on the Pacific coast.
ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For a time I wrote literary screeds for the Golden Era.
gentlemannounUS /ˈgentleman/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading But the journal still languished, and the printers sold out to Captain Ogden, a rich man and a pleasant gentleman who chose to amuse himself with such an expensive luxury without much caring about the cost of it.
Golden
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a time I wrote literary screeds for the Golden Era.
grew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When he grew tired of the novelty, he re-sold to the printers, the paper presently died a peaceful death, and I was out of work again.
guaranty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading C. H. Webb had established a very excellent literary weekly called the Californian, but high merit was no guaranty of success; it languished, and he sold out to three printers, and Bret Harte became editor at $20 a week, and I was employed to contribute an article a week at $12.
H
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading C. H. Webb had established a very excellent literary weekly called the Californian, but high merit was no guaranty of success; it languished, and he sold out to three printers, and Bret Harte became editor at $20 a week, and I was employed to contribute an article a week at $12.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading C. H. Webb had established a very excellent literary weekly called the Californian, but high merit was no guaranty of success; it languished, and he sold out to three printers, and Bret Harte became editor at $20 a week, and I was employed to contribute an article a week at $12.
Harte
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading C. H. Webb had established a very excellent literary weekly called the Californian, but high merit was no guaranty of success; it languished, and he sold out to three printers, and Bret Harte became editor at $20 a week, and I was employed to contribute an article a week at $12.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading C. H. Webb had established a very excellent literary weekly called the Californian, but high merit was no guaranty of success; it languished, and he sold out to three printers, and Bret Harte became editor at $20 a week, and I was employed to contribute an article a week at $12.
high
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading C. H. Webb had established a very excellent literary weekly called the Californian, but high merit was no guaranty of success; it languished, and he sold out to three printers, and Bret Harte became editor at $20 a week, and I was employed to contribute an article a week at $12.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading But the journal still languished, and the printers sold out to Captain Ogden, a rich man and a pleasant gentleman who chose to amuse himself with such an expensive luxury without much caring about the cost of it.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading For a time I wrote literary screeds for the Golden Era.
illustrate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I would not mention these things but for the fact that they so aptly illustrate the ups and downs that characterize life on the Pacific coast.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading C. H. Webb had established a very excellent literary weekly called the Californian, but high merit was no guaranty of success; it languished, and he sold out to three printers, and Bret Harte became editor at $20 a week, and I was employed to contribute an article a week at $12.
journal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the journal still languished, and the printers sold out to Captain Ogden, a rich man and a pleasant gentleman who chose to amuse himself with such an expensive luxury without much caring about the cost of it.
languished
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading C. H. Webb had established a very excellent literary weekly called the Californian, but high merit was no guaranty of success; it languished, and he sold out to three printers, and Bret Harte became editor at $20 a week, and I was employed to contribute an article a week at $12.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I would not mention these things but for the fact that they so aptly illustrate the ups and downs that characterize life on the Pacific coast.
literary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a time I wrote literary screeds for the Golden Era.
luxury
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From this reading But the journal still languished, and the printers sold out to Captain Ogden, a rich man and a pleasant gentleman who chose to amuse himself with such an expensive luxury without much caring about the cost of it.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the journal still languished, and the printers sold out to Captain Ogden, a rich man and a pleasant gentleman who chose to amuse himself with such an expensive luxury without much caring about the cost of it.
mention
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I would not mention these things but for the fact that they so aptly illustrate the ups and downs that characterize life on the Pacific coast.
merit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading C. H. Webb had established a very excellent literary weekly called the Californian, but high merit was no guaranty of success; it languished, and he sold out to three printers, and Bret Harte became editor at $20 a week, and I was employed to contribute an article a week at $12.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the journal still languished, and the printers sold out to Captain Ogden, a rich man and a pleasant gentleman who chose to amuse himself with such an expensive luxury without much caring about the cost of it.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading C. H. Webb had established a very excellent literary weekly called the Californian, but high merit was no guaranty of success; it languished, and he sold out to three printers, and Bret Harte became editor at $20 a week, and I was employed to contribute an article a week at $12.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading I would not mention these things but for the fact that they so aptly illustrate the ups and downs that characterize life on the Pacific coast.
novelty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When he grew tired of the novelty, he re-sold to the printers, the paper presently died a peaceful death, and I was out of work again.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading C. H. Webb had established a very excellent literary weekly called the Californian, but high merit was no guaranty of success; it languished, and he sold out to three printers, and Bret Harte became editor at $20 a week, and I was employed to contribute an article a week at $12.
Ogden
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the journal still languished, and the printers sold out to Captain Ogden, a rich man and a pleasant gentleman who chose to amuse himself with such an expensive luxury without much caring about the cost of it.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading I would not mention these things but for the fact that they so aptly illustrate the ups and downs that characterize life on the Pacific coast.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading C. H. Webb had established a very excellent literary weekly called the Californian, but high merit was no guaranty of success; it languished, and he sold out to three printers, and Bret Harte became editor at $20 a week, and I was employed to contribute an article a week at $12.
Pacific
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I would not mention these things but for the fact that they so aptly illustrate the ups and downs that characterize life on the Pacific coast.
paper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When he grew tired of the novelty, he re-sold to the printers, the paper presently died a peaceful death, and I was out of work again.
peaceful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When he grew tired of the novelty, he re-sold to the printers, the paper presently died a peaceful death, and I was out of work again.
pleasantnounUS /pleasant/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But the journal still languished, and the printers sold out to Captain Ogden, a rich man and a pleasant gentleman who chose to amuse himself with such an expensive luxury without much caring about the cost of it.
presently
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When he grew tired of the novelty, he re-sold to the printers, the paper presently died a peaceful death, and I was out of work again.
printers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading C. H. Webb had established a very excellent literary weekly called the Californian, but high merit was no guaranty of success; it languished, and he sold out to three printers, and Bret Harte became editor at $20 a week, and I was employed to contribute an article a week at $12.
re-sold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When he grew tired of the novelty, he re-sold to the printers, the paper presently died a peaceful death, and I was out of work again.
rich
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the journal still languished, and the printers sold out to Captain Ogden, a rich man and a pleasant gentleman who chose to amuse himself with such an expensive luxury without much caring about the cost of it.
screeds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a time I wrote literary screeds for the Golden Era.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading I would not mention these things but for the fact that they so aptly illustrate the ups and downs that characterize life on the Pacific coast.
sold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading C. H. Webb had established a very excellent literary weekly called the Californian, but high merit was no guaranty of success; it languished, and he sold out to three printers, and Bret Harte became editor at $20 a week, and I was employed to contribute an article a week at $12.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But the journal still languished, and the printers sold out to Captain Ogden, a rich man and a pleasant gentleman who chose to amuse himself with such an expensive luxury without much caring about the cost of it.
success
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading C. H. Webb had established a very excellent literary weekly called the Californian, but high merit was no guaranty of success; it languished, and he sold out to three printers, and Bret Harte became editor at $20 a week, and I was employed to contribute an article a week at $12.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading But the journal still languished, and the printers sold out to Captain Ogden, a rich man and a pleasant gentleman who chose to amuse himself with such an expensive luxury without much caring about the cost of it.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I would not mention these things but for the fact that they so aptly illustrate the ups and downs that characterize life on the Pacific coast.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading For a time I wrote literary screeds for the Golden Era.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading I would not mention these things but for the fact that they so aptly illustrate the ups and downs that characterize life on the Pacific coast.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading I would not mention these things but for the fact that they so aptly illustrate the ups and downs that characterize life on the Pacific coast.
things
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I would not mention these things but for the fact that they so aptly illustrate the ups and downs that characterize life on the Pacific coast.
three
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading C. H. Webb had established a very excellent literary weekly called the Californian, but high merit was no guaranty of success; it languished, and he sold out to three printers, and Bret Harte became editor at $20 a week, and I was employed to contribute an article a week at $12.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For a time I wrote literary screeds for the Golden Era.
tired
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When he grew tired of the novelty, he re-sold to the printers, the paper presently died a peaceful death, and I was out of work again.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading C. H. Webb had established a very excellent literary weekly called the Californian, but high merit was no guaranty of success; it languished, and he sold out to three printers, and Bret Harte became editor at $20 a week, and I was employed to contribute an article a week at $12.
ups
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I would not mention these things but for the fact that they so aptly illustrate the ups and downs that characterize life on the Pacific coast.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading C. H. Webb had established a very excellent literary weekly called the Californian, but high merit was no guaranty of success; it languished, and he sold out to three printers, and Bret Harte became editor at $20 a week, and I was employed to contribute an article a week at $12.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading C. H. Webb had established a very excellent literary weekly called the Californian, but high merit was no guaranty of success; it languished, and he sold out to three printers, and Bret Harte became editor at $20 a week, and I was employed to contribute an article a week at $12.
Webb
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading C. H. Webb had established a very excellent literary weekly called the Californian, but high merit was no guaranty of success; it languished, and he sold out to three printers, and Bret Harte became editor at $20 a week, and I was employed to contribute an article a week at $12.
week
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading C. H. Webb had established a very excellent literary weekly called the Californian, but high merit was no guaranty of success; it languished, and he sold out to three printers, and Bret Harte became editor at $20 a week, and I was employed to contribute an article a week at $12.
weekly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading C. H. Webb had established a very excellent literary weekly called the Californian, but high merit was no guaranty of success; it languished, and he sold out to three printers, and Bret Harte became editor at $20 a week, and I was employed to contribute an article a week at $12.
WhenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading When he grew tired of the novelty, he re-sold to the printers, the paper presently died a peaceful death, and I was out of work again.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading But the journal still languished, and the printers sold out to Captain Ogden, a rich man and a pleasant gentleman who chose to amuse himself with such an expensive luxury without much caring about the cost of it.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading But the journal still languished, and the printers sold out to Captain Ogden, a rich man and a pleasant gentleman who chose to amuse himself with such an expensive luxury without much caring about the cost of it.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading But the journal still languished, and the printers sold out to Captain Ogden, a rich man and a pleasant gentleman who chose to amuse himself with such an expensive luxury without much caring about the cost of it.
work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When he grew tired of the novelty, he re-sold to the printers, the paper presently died a peaceful death, and I was out of work again.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading I would not mention these things but for the fact that they so aptly illustrate the ups and downs that characterize life on the Pacific coast.
wrote
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a time I wrote literary screeds for the Golden Era.
