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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 But if it lay before us, and we could watch its current approaching from a long distance, what could we do with it before it had reached the now?
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading But if it lay before us, and we could watch its current approaching from a long distance, what could we do with it before it had reached the now?
approaching
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But if it lay before us, and we could watch its current approaching from a long distance, what could we do with it before it had reached the now?
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Were he as good as he thinks himself wise he could but at best have produced a fine cameo in very low relief: with a work in the round, which he is meant to be, he could have done nothing.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Were he as good as he thinks himself wise he could but at best have produced a fine cameo in very low relief: with a work in the round, which he is meant to be, he could have done nothing.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Were he as good as he thinks himself wise he could but at best have produced a fine cameo in very low relief: with a work in the round, which he is meant to be, he could have done nothing.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading But if it lay before us, and we could watch its current approaching from a long distance, what could we do with it before it had reached the now?
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading No man can order his life, for it comes flowing over him from behind.
best
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Were he as good as he thinks himself wise he could but at best have produced a fine cameo in very low relief: with a work in the round, which he is meant to be, he could have done nothing.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But if it lay before us, and we could watch its current approaching from a long distance, what could we do with it before it had reached the now?
cameo
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Were he as good as he thinks himself wise he could but at best have produced a fine cameo in very low relief: with a work in the round, which he is meant to be, he could have done nothing.
canmodal verbUS /kæn/
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading No man can order his life, for it comes flowing over him from behind.
character
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In like wise a man thinks foolishly who imagines he could have done this and that with his own character and development, if he had but known this and that in time.
comes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No man can order his life, for it comes flowing over him from behind.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading But if it lay before us, and we could watch its current approaching from a long distance, what could we do with it before it had reached the now?
currentnounUS /ˈcurrent/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading But if it lay before us, and we could watch its current approaching from a long distance, what could we do with it before it had reached the now?
development
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In like wise a man thinks foolishly who imagines he could have done this and that with his own character and development, if he had but known this and that in time.
distance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But if it lay before us, and we could watch its current approaching from a long distance, what could we do with it before it had reached the now?
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading But if it lay before us, and we could watch its current approaching from a long distance, what could we do with it before it had reached the now?
donenounUS /done/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In like wise a man thinks foolishly who imagines he could have done this and that with his own character and development, if he had but known this and that in time.
finenounUS /fine/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Were he as good as he thinks himself wise he could but at best have produced a fine cameo in very low relief: with a work in the round, which he is meant to be, he could have done nothing.
flowing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No man can order his life, for it comes flowing over him from behind.
foolishly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In like wise a man thinks foolishly who imagines he could have done this and that with his own character and development, if he had but known this and that in time.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading No man can order his life, for it comes flowing over him from behind.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading No man can order his life, for it comes flowing over him from behind.
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Were he as good as he thinks himself wise he could but at best have produced a fine cameo in very low relief: with a work in the round, which he is meant to be, he could have done nothing.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But if it lay before us, and we could watch its current approaching from a long distance, what could we do with it before it had reached the now?
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading In like wise a man thinks foolishly who imagines he could have done this and that with his own character and development, if he had but known this and that in time.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading In like wise a man thinks foolishly who imagines he could have done this and that with his own character and development, if he had but known this and that in time.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading No man can order his life, for it comes flowing over him from behind.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Were he as good as he thinks himself wise he could but at best have produced a fine cameo in very low relief: with a work in the round, which he is meant to be, he could have done nothing.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading No man can order his life, for it comes flowing over him from behind.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading But if it lay before us, and we could watch its current approaching from a long distance, what could we do with it before it had reached the now?
imagines
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In like wise a man thinks foolishly who imagines he could have done this and that with his own character and development, if he had but known this and that in time.
InprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In like wise a man thinks foolishly who imagines he could have done this and that with his own character and development, if he had but known this and that in time.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Were he as good as he thinks himself wise he could but at best have produced a fine cameo in very low relief: with a work in the round, which he is meant to be, he could have done nothing.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading No man can order his life, for it comes flowing over him from behind.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading But if it lay before us, and we could watch its current approaching from a long distance, what could we do with it before it had reached the now?
known
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In like wise a man thinks foolishly who imagines he could have done this and that with his own character and development, if he had but known this and that in time.
lay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But if it lay before us, and we could watch its current approaching from a long distance, what could we do with it before it had reached the now?
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading No man can order his life, for it comes flowing over him from behind.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In like wise a man thinks foolishly who imagines he could have done this and that with his own character and development, if he had but known this and that in time.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But if it lay before us, and we could watch its current approaching from a long distance, what could we do with it before it had reached the now?
low
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Were he as good as he thinks himself wise he could but at best have produced a fine cameo in very low relief: with a work in the round, which he is meant to be, he could have done nothing.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No man can order his life, for it comes flowing over him from behind.
meant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Were he as good as he thinks himself wise he could but at best have produced a fine cameo in very low relief: with a work in the round, which he is meant to be, he could have done nothing.
NodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading No man can order his life, for it comes flowing over him from behind.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Were he as good as he thinks himself wise he could but at best have produced a fine cameo in very low relief: with a work in the round, which he is meant to be, he could have done nothing.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But if it lay before us, and we could watch its current approaching from a long distance, what could we do with it before it had reached the now?
ordernounUS /order/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading No man can order his life, for it comes flowing over him from behind.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading No man can order his life, for it comes flowing over him from behind.
own
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In like wise a man thinks foolishly who imagines he could have done this and that with his own character and development, if he had but known this and that in time.
produced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Were he as good as he thinks himself wise he could but at best have produced a fine cameo in very low relief: with a work in the round, which he is meant to be, he could have done nothing.
reached
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But if it lay before us, and we could watch its current approaching from a long distance, what could we do with it before it had reached the now?
reliefnounUS /rɪˈliːf/
a feeling of comfort after worry or pain
From this reading Were he as good as he thinks himself wise he could but at best have produced a fine cameo in very low relief: with a work in the round, which he is meant to be, he could have done nothing.
round
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Were he as good as he thinks himself wise he could but at best have produced a fine cameo in very low relief: with a work in the round, which he is meant to be, he could have done nothing.
SINNER
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE SINNER.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading In like wise a man thinks foolishly who imagines he could have done this and that with his own character and development, if he had but known this and that in time.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE SINNER.
thinks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In like wise a man thinks foolishly who imagines he could have done this and that with his own character and development, if he had but known this and that in time.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading In like wise a man thinks foolishly who imagines he could have done this and that with his own character and development, if he had but known this and that in time.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In like wise a man thinks foolishly who imagines he could have done this and that with his own character and development, if he had but known this and that in time.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Were he as good as he thinks himself wise he could but at best have produced a fine cameo in very low relief: with a work in the round, which he is meant to be, he could have done nothing.
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading But if it lay before us, and we could watch its current approaching from a long distance, what could we do with it before it had reached the now?
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Were he as good as he thinks himself wise he could but at best have produced a fine cameo in very low relief: with a work in the round, which he is meant to be, he could have done nothing.
watch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But if it lay before us, and we could watch its current approaching from a long distance, what could we do with it before it had reached the now?
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading But if it lay before us, and we could watch its current approaching from a long distance, what could we do with it before it had reached the now?
Wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Were he as good as he thinks himself wise he could but at best have produced a fine cameo in very low relief: with a work in the round, which he is meant to be, he could have done nothing.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading But if it lay before us, and we could watch its current approaching from a long distance, what could we do with it before it had reached the now?
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Were he as good as he thinks himself wise he could but at best have produced a fine cameo in very low relief: with a work in the round, which he is meant to be, he could have done nothing.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading In like wise a man thinks foolishly who imagines he could have done this and that with his own character and development, if he had but known this and that in time.
wise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In like wise a man thinks foolishly who imagines he could have done this and that with his own character and development, if he had but known this and that in time.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading But if it lay before us, and we could watch its current approaching from a long distance, what could we do with it before it had reached the now?
work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Were he as good as he thinks himself wise he could but at best have produced a fine cameo in very low relief: with a work in the round, which he is meant to be, he could have done nothing.
