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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 For what he persuaded himself were good and defensible reasons, he had lived the life of an urban hermit in Denver, arguing that a poverty-smitten crumb-gatherer with one foot in the grave might properly refuse to be other than an onlooker in any scene of the human comedy.
all
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From this reading For him, as for all who can discern the masks and trappings and the sham stage-properties, the world-comedy had become pitifully tragic; and he was by nature compassionate and sympathetic.
altogether
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From this reading The prompting was not altogether unselfish.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading ROBERT LANSDALE, literary starveling and doomed victim of an incurable malady, was yet sufficiently unchastened to read Bartrow's telegram with the nerves of reluctance sharp set.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading ROBERT LANSDALE, literary starveling and doomed victim of an incurable malady, was yet sufficiently unchastened to read Bartrow's telegram with the nerves of reluctance sharp set.
any
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For what he persuaded himself were good and defensible reasons, he had lived the life of an urban hermit in Denver, arguing that a poverty-smitten crumb-gatherer with one foot in the grave might properly refuse to be other than an onlooker in any scene of the human comedy.
arguing
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From this reading For what he persuaded himself were good and defensible reasons, he had lived the life of an urban hermit in Denver, arguing that a poverty-smitten crumb-gatherer with one foot in the grave might properly refuse to be other than an onlooker in any scene of the human comedy.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading For him, as for all who can discern the masks and trappings and the sham stage-properties, the world-comedy had become pitifully tragic; and he was by nature compassionate and sympathetic.
banned
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From this reading In common with other craftsmen of his guild, Lansdale was blessed, or banned, with a moiety of the seer's gift.
Bartrow's
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From this reading ROBERT LANSDALE, literary starveling and doomed victim of an incurable malady, was yet sufficiently unchastened to read Bartrow's telegram with the nerves of reluctance sharp set.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading For what he persuaded himself were good and defensible reasons, he had lived the life of an urban hermit in Denver, arguing that a poverty-smitten crumb-gatherer with one foot in the grave might properly refuse to be other than an onlooker in any scene of the human comedy.
become
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For him, as for all who can discern the masks and trappings and the sham stage-properties, the world-comedy had become pitifully tragic; and he was by nature compassionate and sympathetic.
blessed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In common with other craftsmen of his guild, Lansdale was blessed, or banned, with a moiety of the seer's gift.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading For him, as for all who can discern the masks and trappings and the sham stage-properties, the world-comedy had become pitifully tragic; and he was by nature compassionate and sympathetic.
canmodal verbUS /kæn/
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading For him, as for all who can discern the masks and trappings and the sham stage-properties, the world-comedy had become pitifully tragic; and he was by nature compassionate and sympathetic.
comedy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For what he persuaded himself were good and defensible reasons, he had lived the life of an urban hermit in Denver, arguing that a poverty-smitten crumb-gatherer with one foot in the grave might properly refuse to be other than an onlooker in any scene of the human comedy.
common
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In common with other craftsmen of his guild, Lansdale was blessed, or banned, with a moiety of the seer's gift.
compassionateadjectiveUS /kəmˈpæʃənət/
feeling and showing sympathy for suffering
From this reading For him, as for all who can discern the masks and trappings and the sham stage-properties, the world-comedy had become pitifully tragic; and he was by nature compassionate and sympathetic.
craftsmen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In common with other craftsmen of his guild, Lansdale was blessed, or banned, with a moiety of the seer's gift.
crumb-gatherer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For what he persuaded himself were good and defensible reasons, he had lived the life of an urban hermit in Denver, arguing that a poverty-smitten crumb-gatherer with one foot in the grave might properly refuse to be other than an onlooker in any scene of the human comedy.
defensible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For what he persuaded himself were good and defensible reasons, he had lived the life of an urban hermit in Denver, arguing that a poverty-smitten crumb-gatherer with one foot in the grave might properly refuse to be other than an onlooker in any scene of the human comedy.
Denver
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For what he persuaded himself were good and defensible reasons, he had lived the life of an urban hermit in Denver, arguing that a poverty-smitten crumb-gatherer with one foot in the grave might properly refuse to be other than an onlooker in any scene of the human comedy.
discern
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For him, as for all who can discern the masks and trappings and the sham stage-properties, the world-comedy had become pitifully tragic; and he was by nature compassionate and sympathetic.
doomed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ROBERT LANSDALE, literary starveling and doomed victim of an incurable malady, was yet sufficiently unchastened to read Bartrow's telegram with the nerves of reluctance sharp set.
footnounUS /foot/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For what he persuaded himself were good and defensible reasons, he had lived the life of an urban hermit in Denver, arguing that a poverty-smitten crumb-gatherer with one foot in the grave might properly refuse to be other than an onlooker in any scene of the human comedy.
ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For what he persuaded himself were good and defensible reasons, he had lived the life of an urban hermit in Denver, arguing that a poverty-smitten crumb-gatherer with one foot in the grave might properly refuse to be other than an onlooker in any scene of the human comedy.
gift
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In common with other craftsmen of his guild, Lansdale was blessed, or banned, with a moiety of the seer's gift.
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For what he persuaded himself were good and defensible reasons, he had lived the life of an urban hermit in Denver, arguing that a poverty-smitten crumb-gatherer with one foot in the grave might properly refuse to be other than an onlooker in any scene of the human comedy.
grave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For what he persuaded himself were good and defensible reasons, he had lived the life of an urban hermit in Denver, arguing that a poverty-smitten crumb-gatherer with one foot in the grave might properly refuse to be other than an onlooker in any scene of the human comedy.
guild
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In common with other craftsmen of his guild, Lansdale was blessed, or banned, with a moiety of the seer's gift.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading For what he persuaded himself were good and defensible reasons, he had lived the life of an urban hermit in Denver, arguing that a poverty-smitten crumb-gatherer with one foot in the grave might properly refuse to be other than an onlooker in any scene of the human comedy.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading For what he persuaded himself were good and defensible reasons, he had lived the life of an urban hermit in Denver, arguing that a poverty-smitten crumb-gatherer with one foot in the grave might properly refuse to be other than an onlooker in any scene of the human comedy.
hermit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For what he persuaded himself were good and defensible reasons, he had lived the life of an urban hermit in Denver, arguing that a poverty-smitten crumb-gatherer with one foot in the grave might properly refuse to be other than an onlooker in any scene of the human comedy.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading For him, as for all who can discern the masks and trappings and the sham stage-properties, the world-comedy had become pitifully tragic; and he was by nature compassionate and sympathetic.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading For what he persuaded himself were good and defensible reasons, he had lived the life of an urban hermit in Denver, arguing that a poverty-smitten crumb-gatherer with one foot in the grave might properly refuse to be other than an onlooker in any scene of the human comedy.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading In common with other craftsmen of his guild, Lansdale was blessed, or banned, with a moiety of the seer's gift.
human
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For what he persuaded himself were good and defensible reasons, he had lived the life of an urban hermit in Denver, arguing that a poverty-smitten crumb-gatherer with one foot in the grave might properly refuse to be other than an onlooker in any scene of the human comedy.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading For what he persuaded himself were good and defensible reasons, he had lived the life of an urban hermit in Denver, arguing that a poverty-smitten crumb-gatherer with one foot in the grave might properly refuse to be other than an onlooker in any scene of the human comedy.
incurable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ROBERT LANSDALE, literary starveling and doomed victim of an incurable malady, was yet sufficiently unchastened to read Bartrow's telegram with the nerves of reluctance sharp set.
LANSDALE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ROBERT LANSDALE, literary starveling and doomed victim of an incurable malady, was yet sufficiently unchastened to read Bartrow's telegram with the nerves of reluctance sharp set.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For what he persuaded himself were good and defensible reasons, he had lived the life of an urban hermit in Denver, arguing that a poverty-smitten crumb-gatherer with one foot in the grave might properly refuse to be other than an onlooker in any scene of the human comedy.
literary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ROBERT LANSDALE, literary starveling and doomed victim of an incurable malady, was yet sufficiently unchastened to read Bartrow's telegram with the nerves of reluctance sharp set.
lived
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For what he persuaded himself were good and defensible reasons, he had lived the life of an urban hermit in Denver, arguing that a poverty-smitten crumb-gatherer with one foot in the grave might properly refuse to be other than an onlooker in any scene of the human comedy.
malady
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ROBERT LANSDALE, literary starveling and doomed victim of an incurable malady, was yet sufficiently unchastened to read Bartrow's telegram with the nerves of reluctance sharp set.
masks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For him, as for all who can discern the masks and trappings and the sham stage-properties, the world-comedy had become pitifully tragic; and he was by nature compassionate and sympathetic.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading For what he persuaded himself were good and defensible reasons, he had lived the life of an urban hermit in Denver, arguing that a poverty-smitten crumb-gatherer with one foot in the grave might properly refuse to be other than an onlooker in any scene of the human comedy.
moiety
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In common with other craftsmen of his guild, Lansdale was blessed, or banned, with a moiety of the seer's gift.
nature
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For him, as for all who can discern the masks and trappings and the sham stage-properties, the world-comedy had become pitifully tragic; and he was by nature compassionate and sympathetic.
nerves
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ROBERT LANSDALE, literary starveling and doomed victim of an incurable malady, was yet sufficiently unchastened to read Bartrow's telegram with the nerves of reluctance sharp set.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The prompting was not altogether unselfish.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading ROBERT LANSDALE, literary starveling and doomed victim of an incurable malady, was yet sufficiently unchastened to read Bartrow's telegram with the nerves of reluctance sharp set.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading For what he persuaded himself were good and defensible reasons, he had lived the life of an urban hermit in Denver, arguing that a poverty-smitten crumb-gatherer with one foot in the grave might properly refuse to be other than an onlooker in any scene of the human comedy.
onlooker
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For what he persuaded himself were good and defensible reasons, he had lived the life of an urban hermit in Denver, arguing that a poverty-smitten crumb-gatherer with one foot in the grave might properly refuse to be other than an onlooker in any scene of the human comedy.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading In common with other craftsmen of his guild, Lansdale was blessed, or banned, with a moiety of the seer's gift.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For what he persuaded himself were good and defensible reasons, he had lived the life of an urban hermit in Denver, arguing that a poverty-smitten crumb-gatherer with one foot in the grave might properly refuse to be other than an onlooker in any scene of the human comedy.
persuaded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For what he persuaded himself were good and defensible reasons, he had lived the life of an urban hermit in Denver, arguing that a poverty-smitten crumb-gatherer with one foot in the grave might properly refuse to be other than an onlooker in any scene of the human comedy.
pitifully
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For him, as for all who can discern the masks and trappings and the sham stage-properties, the world-comedy had become pitifully tragic; and he was by nature compassionate and sympathetic.
poverty-smitten
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For what he persuaded himself were good and defensible reasons, he had lived the life of an urban hermit in Denver, arguing that a poverty-smitten crumb-gatherer with one foot in the grave might properly refuse to be other than an onlooker in any scene of the human comedy.
prompting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The prompting was not altogether unselfish.
properly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For what he persuaded himself were good and defensible reasons, he had lived the life of an urban hermit in Denver, arguing that a poverty-smitten crumb-gatherer with one foot in the grave might properly refuse to be other than an onlooker in any scene of the human comedy.
read
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ROBERT LANSDALE, literary starveling and doomed victim of an incurable malady, was yet sufficiently unchastened to read Bartrow's telegram with the nerves of reluctance sharp set.
reasonsnounUS /ˈreasons/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading For what he persuaded himself were good and defensible reasons, he had lived the life of an urban hermit in Denver, arguing that a poverty-smitten crumb-gatherer with one foot in the grave might properly refuse to be other than an onlooker in any scene of the human comedy.
refuse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For what he persuaded himself were good and defensible reasons, he had lived the life of an urban hermit in Denver, arguing that a poverty-smitten crumb-gatherer with one foot in the grave might properly refuse to be other than an onlooker in any scene of the human comedy.
reluctance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ROBERT LANSDALE, literary starveling and doomed victim of an incurable malady, was yet sufficiently unchastened to read Bartrow's telegram with the nerves of reluctance sharp set.
ROBERT
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ROBERT LANSDALE, literary starveling and doomed victim of an incurable malady, was yet sufficiently unchastened to read Bartrow's telegram with the nerves of reluctance sharp set.
scene
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For what he persuaded himself were good and defensible reasons, he had lived the life of an urban hermit in Denver, arguing that a poverty-smitten crumb-gatherer with one foot in the grave might properly refuse to be other than an onlooker in any scene of the human comedy.
seer's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In common with other craftsmen of his guild, Lansdale was blessed, or banned, with a moiety of the seer's gift.
set
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ROBERT LANSDALE, literary starveling and doomed victim of an incurable malady, was yet sufficiently unchastened to read Bartrow's telegram with the nerves of reluctance sharp set.
sham
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For him, as for all who can discern the masks and trappings and the sham stage-properties, the world-comedy had become pitifully tragic; and he was by nature compassionate and sympathetic.
sharp
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ROBERT LANSDALE, literary starveling and doomed victim of an incurable malady, was yet sufficiently unchastened to read Bartrow's telegram with the nerves of reluctance sharp set.
stage-properties
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For him, as for all who can discern the masks and trappings and the sham stage-properties, the world-comedy had become pitifully tragic; and he was by nature compassionate and sympathetic.
starveling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ROBERT LANSDALE, literary starveling and doomed victim of an incurable malady, was yet sufficiently unchastened to read Bartrow's telegram with the nerves of reluctance sharp set.
sufficiently
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ROBERT LANSDALE, literary starveling and doomed victim of an incurable malady, was yet sufficiently unchastened to read Bartrow's telegram with the nerves of reluctance sharp set.
sympathetic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For him, as for all who can discern the masks and trappings and the sham stage-properties, the world-comedy had become pitifully tragic; and he was by nature compassionate and sympathetic.
telegram
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ROBERT LANSDALE, literary starveling and doomed victim of an incurable malady, was yet sufficiently unchastened to read Bartrow's telegram with the nerves of reluctance sharp set.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading For what he persuaded himself were good and defensible reasons, he had lived the life of an urban hermit in Denver, arguing that a poverty-smitten crumb-gatherer with one foot in the grave might properly refuse to be other than an onlooker in any scene of the human comedy.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading For what he persuaded himself were good and defensible reasons, he had lived the life of an urban hermit in Denver, arguing that a poverty-smitten crumb-gatherer with one foot in the grave might properly refuse to be other than an onlooker in any scene of the human comedy.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ROBERT LANSDALE, literary starveling and doomed victim of an incurable malady, was yet sufficiently unchastened to read Bartrow's telegram with the nerves of reluctance sharp set.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading ROBERT LANSDALE, literary starveling and doomed victim of an incurable malady, was yet sufficiently unchastened to read Bartrow's telegram with the nerves of reluctance sharp set.
tragic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For him, as for all who can discern the masks and trappings and the sham stage-properties, the world-comedy had become pitifully tragic; and he was by nature compassionate and sympathetic.
trappings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For him, as for all who can discern the masks and trappings and the sham stage-properties, the world-comedy had become pitifully tragic; and he was by nature compassionate and sympathetic.
unchastened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ROBERT LANSDALE, literary starveling and doomed victim of an incurable malady, was yet sufficiently unchastened to read Bartrow's telegram with the nerves of reluctance sharp set.
unselfish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The prompting was not altogether unselfish.
urban
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For what he persuaded himself were good and defensible reasons, he had lived the life of an urban hermit in Denver, arguing that a poverty-smitten crumb-gatherer with one foot in the grave might properly refuse to be other than an onlooker in any scene of the human comedy.
victim
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ROBERT LANSDALE, literary starveling and doomed victim of an incurable malady, was yet sufficiently unchastened to read Bartrow's telegram with the nerves of reluctance sharp set.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading ROBERT LANSDALE, literary starveling and doomed victim of an incurable malady, was yet sufficiently unchastened to read Bartrow's telegram with the nerves of reluctance sharp set.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading For what he persuaded himself were good and defensible reasons, he had lived the life of an urban hermit in Denver, arguing that a poverty-smitten crumb-gatherer with one foot in the grave might properly refuse to be other than an onlooker in any scene of the human comedy.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading For what he persuaded himself were good and defensible reasons, he had lived the life of an urban hermit in Denver, arguing that a poverty-smitten crumb-gatherer with one foot in the grave might properly refuse to be other than an onlooker in any scene of the human comedy.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading For him, as for all who can discern the masks and trappings and the sham stage-properties, the world-comedy had become pitifully tragic; and he was by nature compassionate and sympathetic.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading ROBERT LANSDALE, literary starveling and doomed victim of an incurable malady, was yet sufficiently unchastened to read Bartrow's telegram with the nerves of reluctance sharp set.
world-comedy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For him, as for all who can discern the masks and trappings and the sham stage-properties, the world-comedy had become pitifully tragic; and he was by nature compassionate and sympathetic.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading ROBERT LANSDALE, literary starveling and doomed victim of an incurable malady, was yet sufficiently unchastened to read Bartrow's telegram with the nerves of reluctance sharp set.
