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 _The shade of those our days that had no tongue._ It was last winter, after a twelve years’ absence from New York, that I saw again, at one of the Jim Cumnors’ dinners, my old friend Halston Merrick.
abandon
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From this reading The Cumnors’ house is one of the few where, even after such a lapse of time, one can be sure of finding familiar faces and picking up old threads; where for a moment one can abandon one’s self to the illusion that New York humanity is a shade less unstable than its bricks and mortar.
absence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _The shade of those our days that had no tongue._ It was last winter, after a twelve years’ absence from New York, that I saw again, at one of the Jim Cumnors’ dinners, my old friend Halston Merrick.
accepted
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From this reading He and I had been at Harvard together, for one thing, and had shared there curiosities and ardours a little outside the current tendencies: had, on the whole, been more critical than our comrades, and less amenable to the accepted.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading _The shade of those our days that had no tongue._ It was last winter, after a twelve years’ absence from New York, that I saw again, at one of the Jim Cumnors’ dinners, my old friend Halston Merrick.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading _The shade of those our days that had no tongue._ It was last winter, after a twelve years’ absence from New York, that I saw again, at one of the Jim Cumnors’ dinners, my old friend Halston Merrick.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was glad to see them all, including the three or four I did not know, or failed to recognize, but had no difficulty in passing as in the tradition and of the group; but I was most of all glad--as I rather wonderingly found--to set eyes again on Halston Merrick.
amenable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He and I had been at Harvard together, for one thing, and had shared there curiosities and ardours a little outside the current tendencies: had, on the whole, been more critical than our comrades, and less amenable to the accepted.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The Cumnors’ house is one of the few where, even after such a lapse of time, one can be sure of finding familiar faces and picking up old threads; where for a moment one can abandon one’s self to the illusion that New York humanity is a shade less unstable than its bricks and mortar.
ardours
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From this reading He and I had been at Harvard together, for one thing, and had shared there curiosities and ardours a little outside the current tendencies: had, on the whole, been more critical than our comrades, and less amenable to the accepted.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading I was glad to see them all, including the three or four I did not know, or failed to recognize, but had no difficulty in passing as in the tradition and of the group; but I was most of all glad--as I rather wonderingly found--to set eyes again on Halston Merrick.
assemble
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From this reading And that evening in particular I remember feeling that there could be no pleasanter way of re-entering the confused and careless world to which I was returning than through the quiet softly-lit diningroom in which Mrs. Cumnor, with a characteristic sense of my needing to be broken in gradually, had contrived to assemble so many friendly faces.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading _The shade of those our days that had no tongue._ It was last winter, after a twelve years’ absence from New York, that I saw again, at one of the Jim Cumnors’ dinners, my old friend Halston Merrick.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The Cumnors’ house is one of the few where, even after such a lapse of time, one can be sure of finding familiar faces and picking up old threads; where for a moment one can abandon one’s self to the illusion that New York humanity is a shade less unstable than its bricks and mortar.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He and I had been at Harvard together, for one thing, and had shared there curiosities and ardours a little outside the current tendencies: had, on the whole, been more critical than our comrades, and less amenable to the accepted.
bricks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Cumnors’ house is one of the few where, even after such a lapse of time, one can be sure of finding familiar faces and picking up old threads; where for a moment one can abandon one’s self to the illusion that New York humanity is a shade less unstable than its bricks and mortar.
brokennounUS /broken/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading And that evening in particular I remember feeling that there could be no pleasanter way of re-entering the confused and careless world to which I was returning than through the quiet softly-lit diningroom in which Mrs. Cumnor, with a characteristic sense of my needing to be broken in gradually, had contrived to assemble so many friendly faces.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I was glad to see them all, including the three or four I did not know, or failed to recognize, but had no difficulty in passing as in the tradition and of the group; but I was most of all glad--as I rather wonderingly found--to set eyes again on Halston Merrick.
canmodal verbUS /kæn/
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading The Cumnors’ house is one of the few where, even after such a lapse of time, one can be sure of finding familiar faces and picking up old threads; where for a moment one can abandon one’s self to the illusion that New York humanity is a shade less unstable than its bricks and mortar.
careless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And that evening in particular I remember feeling that there could be no pleasanter way of re-entering the confused and careless world to which I was returning than through the quiet softly-lit diningroom in which Mrs. Cumnor, with a characteristic sense of my needing to be broken in gradually, had contrived to assemble so many friendly faces.
characteristic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And that evening in particular I remember feeling that there could be no pleasanter way of re-entering the confused and careless world to which I was returning than through the quiet softly-lit diningroom in which Mrs. Cumnor, with a characteristic sense of my needing to be broken in gradually, had contrived to assemble so many friendly faces.
comradesnounUS /ˈkɑːmrædz/
people who share difficult work or danger, especially soldiers
From this reading He and I had been at Harvard together, for one thing, and had shared there curiosities and ardours a little outside the current tendencies: had, on the whole, been more critical than our comrades, and less amenable to the accepted.
confused
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And that evening in particular I remember feeling that there could be no pleasanter way of re-entering the confused and careless world to which I was returning than through the quiet softly-lit diningroom in which Mrs. Cumnor, with a characteristic sense of my needing to be broken in gradually, had contrived to assemble so many friendly faces.
contrived
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And that evening in particular I remember feeling that there could be no pleasanter way of re-entering the confused and careless world to which I was returning than through the quiet softly-lit diningroom in which Mrs. Cumnor, with a characteristic sense of my needing to be broken in gradually, had contrived to assemble so many friendly faces.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading And that evening in particular I remember feeling that there could be no pleasanter way of re-entering the confused and careless world to which I was returning than through the quiet softly-lit diningroom in which Mrs. Cumnor, with a characteristic sense of my needing to be broken in gradually, had contrived to assemble so many friendly faces.
critical
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He and I had been at Harvard together, for one thing, and had shared there curiosities and ardours a little outside the current tendencies: had, on the whole, been more critical than our comrades, and less amenable to the accepted.
Cumnor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And that evening in particular I remember feeling that there could be no pleasanter way of re-entering the confused and careless world to which I was returning than through the quiet softly-lit diningroom in which Mrs. Cumnor, with a characteristic sense of my needing to be broken in gradually, had contrived to assemble so many friendly faces.
Cumnors
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _The shade of those our days that had no tongue._ It was last winter, after a twelve years’ absence from New York, that I saw again, at one of the Jim Cumnors’ dinners, my old friend Halston Merrick.
curiosities
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He and I had been at Harvard together, for one thing, and had shared there curiosities and ardours a little outside the current tendencies: had, on the whole, been more critical than our comrades, and less amenable to the accepted.
currentnounUS /ˈcurrent/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading He and I had been at Harvard together, for one thing, and had shared there curiosities and ardours a little outside the current tendencies: had, on the whole, been more critical than our comrades, and less amenable to the accepted.
days
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _The shade of those our days that had no tongue._ It was last winter, after a twelve years’ absence from New York, that I saw again, at one of the Jim Cumnors’ dinners, my old friend Halston Merrick.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading I was glad to see them all, including the three or four I did not know, or failed to recognize, but had no difficulty in passing as in the tradition and of the group; but I was most of all glad--as I rather wonderingly found--to set eyes again on Halston Merrick.
difficulty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was glad to see them all, including the three or four I did not know, or failed to recognize, but had no difficulty in passing as in the tradition and of the group; but I was most of all glad--as I rather wonderingly found--to set eyes again on Halston Merrick.
diningroom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And that evening in particular I remember feeling that there could be no pleasanter way of re-entering the confused and careless world to which I was returning than through the quiet softly-lit diningroom in which Mrs. Cumnor, with a characteristic sense of my needing to be broken in gradually, had contrived to assemble so many friendly faces.
dinners
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _The shade of those our days that had no tongue._ It was last winter, after a twelve years’ absence from New York, that I saw again, at one of the Jim Cumnors’ dinners, my old friend Halston Merrick.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The Cumnors’ house is one of the few where, even after such a lapse of time, one can be sure of finding familiar faces and picking up old threads; where for a moment one can abandon one’s self to the illusion that New York humanity is a shade less unstable than its bricks and mortar.
evening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And that evening in particular I remember feeling that there could be no pleasanter way of re-entering the confused and careless world to which I was returning than through the quiet softly-lit diningroom in which Mrs. Cumnor, with a characteristic sense of my needing to be broken in gradually, had contrived to assemble so many friendly faces.
eyes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was glad to see them all, including the three or four I did not know, or failed to recognize, but had no difficulty in passing as in the tradition and of the group; but I was most of all glad--as I rather wonderingly found--to set eyes again on Halston Merrick.
faces
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Cumnors’ house is one of the few where, even after such a lapse of time, one can be sure of finding familiar faces and picking up old threads; where for a moment one can abandon one’s self to the illusion that New York humanity is a shade less unstable than its bricks and mortar.
failed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was glad to see them all, including the three or four I did not know, or failed to recognize, but had no difficulty in passing as in the tradition and of the group; but I was most of all glad--as I rather wonderingly found--to set eyes again on Halston Merrick.
familiar
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Cumnors’ house is one of the few where, even after such a lapse of time, one can be sure of finding familiar faces and picking up old threads; where for a moment one can abandon one’s self to the illusion that New York humanity is a shade less unstable than its bricks and mortar.
feelingnounUS /ˈfeeling/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading And that evening in particular I remember feeling that there could be no pleasanter way of re-entering the confused and careless world to which I was returning than through the quiet softly-lit diningroom in which Mrs. Cumnor, with a characteristic sense of my needing to be broken in gradually, had contrived to assemble so many friendly faces.
few
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Cumnors’ house is one of the few where, even after such a lapse of time, one can be sure of finding familiar faces and picking up old threads; where for a moment one can abandon one’s self to the illusion that New York humanity is a shade less unstable than its bricks and mortar.
finding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Cumnors’ house is one of the few where, even after such a lapse of time, one can be sure of finding familiar faces and picking up old threads; where for a moment one can abandon one’s self to the illusion that New York humanity is a shade less unstable than its bricks and mortar.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The Cumnors’ house is one of the few where, even after such a lapse of time, one can be sure of finding familiar faces and picking up old threads; where for a moment one can abandon one’s self to the illusion that New York humanity is a shade less unstable than its bricks and mortar.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I was glad to see them all, including the three or four I did not know, or failed to recognize, but had no difficulty in passing as in the tradition and of the group; but I was most of all glad--as I rather wonderingly found--to set eyes again on Halston Merrick.
four
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was glad to see them all, including the three or four I did not know, or failed to recognize, but had no difficulty in passing as in the tradition and of the group; but I was most of all glad--as I rather wonderingly found--to set eyes again on Halston Merrick.
friend
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _The shade of those our days that had no tongue._ It was last winter, after a twelve years’ absence from New York, that I saw again, at one of the Jim Cumnors’ dinners, my old friend Halston Merrick.
friendly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And that evening in particular I remember feeling that there could be no pleasanter way of re-entering the confused and careless world to which I was returning than through the quiet softly-lit diningroom in which Mrs. Cumnor, with a characteristic sense of my needing to be broken in gradually, had contrived to assemble so many friendly faces.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading _The shade of those our days that had no tongue._ It was last winter, after a twelve years’ absence from New York, that I saw again, at one of the Jim Cumnors’ dinners, my old friend Halston Merrick.
glad
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was glad to see them all, including the three or four I did not know, or failed to recognize, but had no difficulty in passing as in the tradition and of the group; but I was most of all glad--as I rather wonderingly found--to set eyes again on Halston Merrick.
gradually
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And that evening in particular I remember feeling that there could be no pleasanter way of re-entering the confused and careless world to which I was returning than through the quiet softly-lit diningroom in which Mrs. Cumnor, with a characteristic sense of my needing to be broken in gradually, had contrived to assemble so many friendly faces.
group
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was glad to see them all, including the three or four I did not know, or failed to recognize, but had no difficulty in passing as in the tradition and of the group; but I was most of all glad--as I rather wonderingly found--to set eyes again on Halston Merrick.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading _The shade of those our days that had no tongue._ It was last winter, after a twelve years’ absence from New York, that I saw again, at one of the Jim Cumnors’ dinners, my old friend Halston Merrick.
Halston
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _The shade of those our days that had no tongue._ It was last winter, after a twelve years’ absence from New York, that I saw again, at one of the Jim Cumnors’ dinners, my old friend Halston Merrick.
Harvard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He and I had been at Harvard together, for one thing, and had shared there curiosities and ardours a little outside the current tendencies: had, on the whole, been more critical than our comrades, and less amenable to the accepted.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He and I had been at Harvard together, for one thing, and had shared there curiosities and ardours a little outside the current tendencies: had, on the whole, been more critical than our comrades, and less amenable to the accepted.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Cumnors’ house is one of the few where, even after such a lapse of time, one can be sure of finding familiar faces and picking up old threads; where for a moment one can abandon one’s self to the illusion that New York humanity is a shade less unstable than its bricks and mortar.
humanity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Cumnors’ house is one of the few where, even after such a lapse of time, one can be sure of finding familiar faces and picking up old threads; where for a moment one can abandon one’s self to the illusion that New York humanity is a shade less unstable than its bricks and mortar.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading _The shade of those our days that had no tongue._ It was last winter, after a twelve years’ absence from New York, that I saw again, at one of the Jim Cumnors’ dinners, my old friend Halston Merrick.
illusion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Cumnors’ house is one of the few where, even after such a lapse of time, one can be sure of finding familiar faces and picking up old threads; where for a moment one can abandon one’s self to the illusion that New York humanity is a shade less unstable than its bricks and mortar.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading And that evening in particular I remember feeling that there could be no pleasanter way of re-entering the confused and careless world to which I was returning than through the quiet softly-lit diningroom in which Mrs. Cumnor, with a characteristic sense of my needing to be broken in gradually, had contrived to assemble so many friendly faces.
including
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was glad to see them all, including the three or four I did not know, or failed to recognize, but had no difficulty in passing as in the tradition and of the group; but I was most of all glad--as I rather wonderingly found--to set eyes again on Halston Merrick.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The Cumnors’ house is one of the few where, even after such a lapse of time, one can be sure of finding familiar faces and picking up old threads; where for a moment one can abandon one’s self to the illusion that New York humanity is a shade less unstable than its bricks and mortar.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading _The shade of those our days that had no tongue._ It was last winter, after a twelve years’ absence from New York, that I saw again, at one of the Jim Cumnors’ dinners, my old friend Halston Merrick.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The Cumnors’ house is one of the few where, even after such a lapse of time, one can be sure of finding familiar faces and picking up old threads; where for a moment one can abandon one’s self to the illusion that New York humanity is a shade less unstable than its bricks and mortar.
Jim
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _The shade of those our days that had no tongue._ It was last winter, after a twelve years’ absence from New York, that I saw again, at one of the Jim Cumnors’ dinners, my old friend Halston Merrick.
knownounUS /know/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I was glad to see them all, including the three or four I did not know, or failed to recognize, but had no difficulty in passing as in the tradition and of the group; but I was most of all glad--as I rather wonderingly found--to set eyes again on Halston Merrick.
lapse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Cumnors’ house is one of the few where, even after such a lapse of time, one can be sure of finding familiar faces and picking up old threads; where for a moment one can abandon one’s self to the illusion that New York humanity is a shade less unstable than its bricks and mortar.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading _The shade of those our days that had no tongue._ It was last winter, after a twelve years’ absence from New York, that I saw again, at one of the Jim Cumnors’ dinners, my old friend Halston Merrick.
less
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Cumnors’ house is one of the few where, even after such a lapse of time, one can be sure of finding familiar faces and picking up old threads; where for a moment one can abandon one’s self to the illusion that New York humanity is a shade less unstable than its bricks and mortar.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He and I had been at Harvard together, for one thing, and had shared there curiosities and ardours a little outside the current tendencies: had, on the whole, been more critical than our comrades, and less amenable to the accepted.
many
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And that evening in particular I remember feeling that there could be no pleasanter way of re-entering the confused and careless world to which I was returning than through the quiet softly-lit diningroom in which Mrs. Cumnor, with a characteristic sense of my needing to be broken in gradually, had contrived to assemble so many friendly faces.
Merrick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _The shade of those our days that had no tongue._ It was last winter, after a twelve years’ absence from New York, that I saw again, at one of the Jim Cumnors’ dinners, my old friend Halston Merrick.
moment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Cumnors’ house is one of the few where, even after such a lapse of time, one can be sure of finding familiar faces and picking up old threads; where for a moment one can abandon one’s self to the illusion that New York humanity is a shade less unstable than its bricks and mortar.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He and I had been at Harvard together, for one thing, and had shared there curiosities and ardours a little outside the current tendencies: had, on the whole, been more critical than our comrades, and less amenable to the accepted.
mortar
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Cumnors’ house is one of the few where, even after such a lapse of time, one can be sure of finding familiar faces and picking up old threads; where for a moment one can abandon one’s self to the illusion that New York humanity is a shade less unstable than its bricks and mortar.
most
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was glad to see them all, including the three or four I did not know, or failed to recognize, but had no difficulty in passing as in the tradition and of the group; but I was most of all glad--as I rather wonderingly found--to set eyes again on Halston Merrick.
Mrs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And that evening in particular I remember feeling that there could be no pleasanter way of re-entering the confused and careless world to which I was returning than through the quiet softly-lit diningroom in which Mrs. Cumnor, with a characteristic sense of my needing to be broken in gradually, had contrived to assemble so many friendly faces.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading _The shade of those our days that had no tongue._ It was last winter, after a twelve years’ absence from New York, that I saw again, at one of the Jim Cumnors’ dinners, my old friend Halston Merrick.
needing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And that evening in particular I remember feeling that there could be no pleasanter way of re-entering the confused and careless world to which I was returning than through the quiet softly-lit diningroom in which Mrs. Cumnor, with a characteristic sense of my needing to be broken in gradually, had contrived to assemble so many friendly faces.
New
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _The shade of those our days that had no tongue._ It was last winter, after a twelve years’ absence from New York, that I saw again, at one of the Jim Cumnors’ dinners, my old friend Halston Merrick.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading _The shade of those our days that had no tongue._ It was last winter, after a twelve years’ absence from New York, that I saw again, at one of the Jim Cumnors’ dinners, my old friend Halston Merrick.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading I was glad to see them all, including the three or four I did not know, or failed to recognize, but had no difficulty in passing as in the tradition and of the group; but I was most of all glad--as I rather wonderingly found--to set eyes again on Halston Merrick.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading _The shade of those our days that had no tongue._ It was last winter, after a twelve years’ absence from New York, that I saw again, at one of the Jim Cumnors’ dinners, my old friend Halston Merrick.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _The shade of those our days that had no tongue._ It was last winter, after a twelve years’ absence from New York, that I saw again, at one of the Jim Cumnors’ dinners, my old friend Halston Merrick.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading I was glad to see them all, including the three or four I did not know, or failed to recognize, but had no difficulty in passing as in the tradition and of the group; but I was most of all glad--as I rather wonderingly found--to set eyes again on Halston Merrick.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading _The shade of those our days that had no tongue._ It was last winter, after a twelve years’ absence from New York, that I saw again, at one of the Jim Cumnors’ dinners, my old friend Halston Merrick.
one's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Cumnors’ house is one of the few where, even after such a lapse of time, one can be sure of finding familiar faces and picking up old threads; where for a moment one can abandon one’s self to the illusion that New York humanity is a shade less unstable than its bricks and mortar.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading I was glad to see them all, including the three or four I did not know, or failed to recognize, but had no difficulty in passing as in the tradition and of the group; but I was most of all glad--as I rather wonderingly found--to set eyes again on Halston Merrick.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading _The shade of those our days that had no tongue._ It was last winter, after a twelve years’ absence from New York, that I saw again, at one of the Jim Cumnors’ dinners, my old friend Halston Merrick.
outsidenounUS /ˈoutside/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading He and I had been at Harvard together, for one thing, and had shared there curiosities and ardours a little outside the current tendencies: had, on the whole, been more critical than our comrades, and less amenable to the accepted.
particular
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And that evening in particular I remember feeling that there could be no pleasanter way of re-entering the confused and careless world to which I was returning than through the quiet softly-lit diningroom in which Mrs. Cumnor, with a characteristic sense of my needing to be broken in gradually, had contrived to assemble so many friendly faces.
passing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was glad to see them all, including the three or four I did not know, or failed to recognize, but had no difficulty in passing as in the tradition and of the group; but I was most of all glad--as I rather wonderingly found--to set eyes again on Halston Merrick.
picking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Cumnors’ house is one of the few where, even after such a lapse of time, one can be sure of finding familiar faces and picking up old threads; where for a moment one can abandon one’s self to the illusion that New York humanity is a shade less unstable than its bricks and mortar.
pleasanternounUS /ˈpleasanter/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading And that evening in particular I remember feeling that there could be no pleasanter way of re-entering the confused and careless world to which I was returning than through the quiet softly-lit diningroom in which Mrs. Cumnor, with a characteristic sense of my needing to be broken in gradually, had contrived to assemble so many friendly faces.
quiet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And that evening in particular I remember feeling that there could be no pleasanter way of re-entering the confused and careless world to which I was returning than through the quiet softly-lit diningroom in which Mrs. Cumnor, with a characteristic sense of my needing to be broken in gradually, had contrived to assemble so many friendly faces.
rather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was glad to see them all, including the three or four I did not know, or failed to recognize, but had no difficulty in passing as in the tradition and of the group; but I was most of all glad--as I rather wonderingly found--to set eyes again on Halston Merrick.
re-entering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And that evening in particular I remember feeling that there could be no pleasanter way of re-entering the confused and careless world to which I was returning than through the quiet softly-lit diningroom in which Mrs. Cumnor, with a characteristic sense of my needing to be broken in gradually, had contrived to assemble so many friendly faces.
recognize
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was glad to see them all, including the three or four I did not know, or failed to recognize, but had no difficulty in passing as in the tradition and of the group; but I was most of all glad--as I rather wonderingly found--to set eyes again on Halston Merrick.
rememberverbUS /rɪˈmɛm.bər/
To recall to mind.
From this reading And that evening in particular I remember feeling that there could be no pleasanter way of re-entering the confused and careless world to which I was returning than through the quiet softly-lit diningroom in which Mrs. Cumnor, with a characteristic sense of my needing to be broken in gradually, had contrived to assemble so many friendly faces.
returning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And that evening in particular I remember feeling that there could be no pleasanter way of re-entering the confused and careless world to which I was returning than through the quiet softly-lit diningroom in which Mrs. Cumnor, with a characteristic sense of my needing to be broken in gradually, had contrived to assemble so many friendly faces.
saw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _The shade of those our days that had no tongue._ It was last winter, after a twelve years’ absence from New York, that I saw again, at one of the Jim Cumnors’ dinners, my old friend Halston Merrick.
see
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was glad to see them all, including the three or four I did not know, or failed to recognize, but had no difficulty in passing as in the tradition and of the group; but I was most of all glad--as I rather wonderingly found--to set eyes again on Halston Merrick.
self
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Cumnors’ house is one of the few where, even after such a lapse of time, one can be sure of finding familiar faces and picking up old threads; where for a moment one can abandon one’s self to the illusion that New York humanity is a shade less unstable than its bricks and mortar.
sense
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And that evening in particular I remember feeling that there could be no pleasanter way of re-entering the confused and careless world to which I was returning than through the quiet softly-lit diningroom in which Mrs. Cumnor, with a characteristic sense of my needing to be broken in gradually, had contrived to assemble so many friendly faces.
set
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was glad to see them all, including the three or four I did not know, or failed to recognize, but had no difficulty in passing as in the tradition and of the group; but I was most of all glad--as I rather wonderingly found--to set eyes again on Halston Merrick.
shade
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _The shade of those our days that had no tongue._ It was last winter, after a twelve years’ absence from New York, that I saw again, at one of the Jim Cumnors’ dinners, my old friend Halston Merrick.
shared
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He and I had been at Harvard together, for one thing, and had shared there curiosities and ardours a little outside the current tendencies: had, on the whole, been more critical than our comrades, and less amenable to the accepted.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading And that evening in particular I remember feeling that there could be no pleasanter way of re-entering the confused and careless world to which I was returning than through the quiet softly-lit diningroom in which Mrs. Cumnor, with a characteristic sense of my needing to be broken in gradually, had contrived to assemble so many friendly faces.
softly-lit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And that evening in particular I remember feeling that there could be no pleasanter way of re-entering the confused and careless world to which I was returning than through the quiet softly-lit diningroom in which Mrs. Cumnor, with a characteristic sense of my needing to be broken in gradually, had contrived to assemble so many friendly faces.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading The Cumnors’ house is one of the few where, even after such a lapse of time, one can be sure of finding familiar faces and picking up old threads; where for a moment one can abandon one’s self to the illusion that New York humanity is a shade less unstable than its bricks and mortar.
surenounUS /sure/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The Cumnors’ house is one of the few where, even after such a lapse of time, one can be sure of finding familiar faces and picking up old threads; where for a moment one can abandon one’s self to the illusion that New York humanity is a shade less unstable than its bricks and mortar.
tendencies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He and I had been at Harvard together, for one thing, and had shared there curiosities and ardours a little outside the current tendencies: had, on the whole, been more critical than our comrades, and less amenable to the accepted.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The Cumnors’ house is one of the few where, even after such a lapse of time, one can be sure of finding familiar faces and picking up old threads; where for a moment one can abandon one’s self to the illusion that New York humanity is a shade less unstable than its bricks and mortar.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading _The shade of those our days that had no tongue._ It was last winter, after a twelve years’ absence from New York, that I saw again, at one of the Jim Cumnors’ dinners, my old friend Halston Merrick.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading _The shade of those our days that had no tongue._ It was last winter, after a twelve years’ absence from New York, that I saw again, at one of the Jim Cumnors’ dinners, my old friend Halston Merrick.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading I was glad to see them all, including the three or four I did not know, or failed to recognize, but had no difficulty in passing as in the tradition and of the group; but I was most of all glad--as I rather wonderingly found--to set eyes again on Halston Merrick.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And that evening in particular I remember feeling that there could be no pleasanter way of re-entering the confused and careless world to which I was returning than through the quiet softly-lit diningroom in which Mrs. Cumnor, with a characteristic sense of my needing to be broken in gradually, had contrived to assemble so many friendly faces.
thingnounUS /thing/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He and I had been at Harvard together, for one thing, and had shared there curiosities and ardours a little outside the current tendencies: had, on the whole, been more critical than our comrades, and less amenable to the accepted.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading _The shade of those our days that had no tongue._ It was last winter, after a twelve years’ absence from New York, that I saw again, at one of the Jim Cumnors’ dinners, my old friend Halston Merrick.
threads
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Cumnors’ house is one of the few where, even after such a lapse of time, one can be sure of finding familiar faces and picking up old threads; where for a moment one can abandon one’s self to the illusion that New York humanity is a shade less unstable than its bricks and mortar.
three
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was glad to see them all, including the three or four I did not know, or failed to recognize, but had no difficulty in passing as in the tradition and of the group; but I was most of all glad--as I rather wonderingly found--to set eyes again on Halston Merrick.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading And that evening in particular I remember feeling that there could be no pleasanter way of re-entering the confused and careless world to which I was returning than through the quiet softly-lit diningroom in which Mrs. Cumnor, with a characteristic sense of my needing to be broken in gradually, had contrived to assemble so many friendly faces.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The Cumnors’ house is one of the few where, even after such a lapse of time, one can be sure of finding familiar faces and picking up old threads; where for a moment one can abandon one’s self to the illusion that New York humanity is a shade less unstable than its bricks and mortar.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The Cumnors’ house is one of the few where, even after such a lapse of time, one can be sure of finding familiar faces and picking up old threads; where for a moment one can abandon one’s self to the illusion that New York humanity is a shade less unstable than its bricks and mortar.
together
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He and I had been at Harvard together, for one thing, and had shared there curiosities and ardours a little outside the current tendencies: had, on the whole, been more critical than our comrades, and less amenable to the accepted.
tonguenounUS /tongue/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading _The shade of those our days that had no tongue._ It was last winter, after a twelve years’ absence from New York, that I saw again, at one of the Jim Cumnors’ dinners, my old friend Halston Merrick.
tradition
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was glad to see them all, including the three or four I did not know, or failed to recognize, but had no difficulty in passing as in the tradition and of the group; but I was most of all glad--as I rather wonderingly found--to set eyes again on Halston Merrick.
twelve
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _The shade of those our days that had no tongue._ It was last winter, after a twelve years’ absence from New York, that I saw again, at one of the Jim Cumnors’ dinners, my old friend Halston Merrick.
unstable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Cumnors’ house is one of the few where, even after such a lapse of time, one can be sure of finding familiar faces and picking up old threads; where for a moment one can abandon one’s self to the illusion that New York humanity is a shade less unstable than its bricks and mortar.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Cumnors’ house is one of the few where, even after such a lapse of time, one can be sure of finding familiar faces and picking up old threads; where for a moment one can abandon one’s self to the illusion that New York humanity is a shade less unstable than its bricks and mortar.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading _The shade of those our days that had no tongue._ It was last winter, after a twelve years’ absence from New York, that I saw again, at one of the Jim Cumnors’ dinners, my old friend Halston Merrick.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And that evening in particular I remember feeling that there could be no pleasanter way of re-entering the confused and careless world to which I was returning than through the quiet softly-lit diningroom in which Mrs. Cumnor, with a characteristic sense of my needing to be broken in gradually, had contrived to assemble so many friendly faces.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading The Cumnors’ house is one of the few where, even after such a lapse of time, one can be sure of finding familiar faces and picking up old threads; where for a moment one can abandon one’s self to the illusion that New York humanity is a shade less unstable than its bricks and mortar.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading And that evening in particular I remember feeling that there could be no pleasanter way of re-entering the confused and careless world to which I was returning than through the quiet softly-lit diningroom in which Mrs. Cumnor, with a characteristic sense of my needing to be broken in gradually, had contrived to assemble so many friendly faces.
whole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He and I had been at Harvard together, for one thing, and had shared there curiosities and ardours a little outside the current tendencies: had, on the whole, been more critical than our comrades, and less amenable to the accepted.
winter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _The shade of those our days that had no tongue._ It was last winter, after a twelve years’ absence from New York, that I saw again, at one of the Jim Cumnors’ dinners, my old friend Halston Merrick.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading And that evening in particular I remember feeling that there could be no pleasanter way of re-entering the confused and careless world to which I was returning than through the quiet softly-lit diningroom in which Mrs. Cumnor, with a characteristic sense of my needing to be broken in gradually, had contrived to assemble so many friendly faces.
wonderingly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was glad to see them all, including the three or four I did not know, or failed to recognize, but had no difficulty in passing as in the tradition and of the group; but I was most of all glad--as I rather wonderingly found--to set eyes again on Halston Merrick.
world
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And that evening in particular I remember feeling that there could be no pleasanter way of re-entering the confused and careless world to which I was returning than through the quiet softly-lit diningroom in which Mrs. Cumnor, with a characteristic sense of my needing to be broken in gradually, had contrived to assemble so many friendly faces.
years
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _The shade of those our days that had no tongue._ It was last winter, after a twelve years’ absence from New York, that I saw again, at one of the Jim Cumnors’ dinners, my old friend Halston Merrick.
York
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _The shade of those our days that had no tongue._ It was last winter, after a twelve years’ absence from New York, that I saw again, at one of the Jim Cumnors’ dinners, my old friend Halston Merrick.
