adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “‘In the commencement,’ said Harmodius, gravely, ‘it WAS very difficult; and, in order to keep my eyes open, I used to stick pins into my legs: now, however, I am used to it; and I’m sure I don’t take more than fifty pinches of snuff at a sitting.’
Ah
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “‘Ah! apropos of snuff: you are near Spain here, and were always a famous smoker.
alwaysadverbUS /ˈɔːlweɪz/
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading “‘Ah! apropos of snuff: you are near Spain here, and were always a famous smoker.
amauxiliary verbUS /æm/
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading “‘In the commencement,’ said Harmodius, gravely, ‘it WAS very difficult; and, in order to keep my eyes open, I used to stick pins into my legs: now, however, I am used to it; and I’m sure I don’t take more than fifty pinches of snuff at a sitting.’
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “‘In the commencement,’ said Harmodius, gravely, ‘it WAS very difficult; and, in order to keep my eyes open, I used to stick pins into my legs: now, however, I am used to it; and I’m sure I don’t take more than fifty pinches of snuff at a sitting.’
aproposadverbUS /ˌæprəˈpoʊ/
at an opportune time
From this reading “‘Ah! apropos of snuff: you are near Spain here, and were always a famous smoker.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “‘Ah! apropos of snuff: you are near Spain here, and were always a famous smoker.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading “‘In the commencement,’ said Harmodius, gravely, ‘it WAS very difficult; and, in order to keep my eyes open, I used to stick pins into my legs: now, however, I am used to it; and I’m sure I don’t take more than fifty pinches of snuff at a sitting.’
awayadverbUS /əˈweɪ/
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Give me a cigar,—it will take away the musty odor of these piles of papers.’
bearverbUS /ber/
have
From this reading “‘Impossible, my dear; I don’t smoke; my wife cannot bear a cigar.’
cannot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “‘Impossible, my dear; I don’t smoke; my wife cannot bear a cigar.’
cigarnounUS /sɪˈɡɑːr/
a roll of tobacco for smoking
From this reading Give me a cigar,—it will take away the musty odor of these piles of papers.’
commencementnounUS /kəˈmensmənt/
the time at which something is supposed to begin
From this reading “‘In the commencement,’ said Harmodius, gravely, ‘it WAS very difficult; and, in order to keep my eyes open, I used to stick pins into my legs: now, however, I am used to it; and I’m sure I don’t take more than fifty pinches of snuff at a sitting.’
dearadjectiveUS /dɪr/
dearly loved
From this reading “‘Impossible, my dear; I don’t smoke; my wife cannot bear a cigar.’
difficultadjectiveUS /ˈdɪfəkəlt/
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading “‘In the commencement,’ said Harmodius, gravely, ‘it WAS very difficult; and, in order to keep my eyes open, I used to stick pins into my legs: now, however, I am used to it; and I’m sure I don’t take more than fifty pinches of snuff at a sitting.’
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “‘In the commencement,’ said Harmodius, gravely, ‘it WAS very difficult; and, in order to keep my eyes open, I used to stick pins into my legs: now, however, I am used to it; and I’m sure I don’t take more than fifty pinches of snuff at a sitting.’
eyesnounUS /aɪz/
opinion or judgment
From this reading “‘In the commencement,’ said Harmodius, gravely, ‘it WAS very difficult; and, in order to keep my eyes open, I used to stick pins into my legs: now, however, I am used to it; and I’m sure I don’t take more than fifty pinches of snuff at a sitting.’
famousadjectiveUS /ˈfeɪməs/
widely known and esteemed
From this reading “‘Ah! apropos of snuff: you are near Spain here, and were always a famous smoker.
fiftynounUS /ˈfɪfti/
the cardinal number that is the product of ten and five
From this reading “‘In the commencement,’ said Harmodius, gravely, ‘it WAS very difficult; and, in order to keep my eyes open, I used to stick pins into my legs: now, however, I am used to it; and I’m sure I don’t take more than fifty pinches of snuff at a sitting.’
GiveverbUS /ɡɪv/
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading Give me a cigar,—it will take away the musty odor of these piles of papers.’
gravelyadverbUS /ˈɡreɪvli/
in a grave and sober manner
From this reading “‘In the commencement,’ said Harmodius, gravely, ‘it WAS very difficult; and, in order to keep my eyes open, I used to stick pins into my legs: now, however, I am used to it; and I’m sure I don’t take more than fifty pinches of snuff at a sitting.’
grewverbUS /ɡruː/
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading “His wife! thought I; always his wife: and I remember Juliette, who really grew sick at the smell of a pipe, and Harmodius would smoke, until, at last, the poor thing grew to smoke herself, like a trooper.
Harmodius
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “‘In the commencement,’ said Harmodius, gravely, ‘it WAS very difficult; and, in order to keep my eyes open, I used to stick pins into my legs: now, however, I am used to it; and I’m sure I don’t take more than fifty pinches of snuff at a sitting.’
hereadverbUS /hiːr/
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading “‘Ah! apropos of snuff: you are near Spain here, and were always a famous smoker.
herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading “His wife! thought I; always his wife: and I remember Juliette, who really grew sick at the smell of a pipe, and Harmodius would smoke, until, at last, the poor thing grew to smoke herself, like a trooper.
HisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading “His wife! thought I; always his wife: and I remember Juliette, who really grew sick at the smell of a pipe, and Harmodius would smoke, until, at last, the poor thing grew to smoke herself, like a trooper.
howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading “‘In the commencement,’ said Harmodius, gravely, ‘it WAS very difficult; and, in order to keep my eyes open, I used to stick pins into my legs: now, however, I am used to it; and I’m sure I don’t take more than fifty pinches of snuff at a sitting.’
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “‘In the commencement,’ said Harmodius, gravely, ‘it WAS very difficult; and, in order to keep my eyes open, I used to stick pins into my legs: now, however, I am used to it; and I’m sure I don’t take more than fifty pinches of snuff at a sitting.’
I'm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “‘In the commencement,’ said Harmodius, gravely, ‘it WAS very difficult; and, in order to keep my eyes open, I used to stick pins into my legs: now, however, I am used to it; and I’m sure I don’t take more than fifty pinches of snuff at a sitting.’
ImpossibleadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpɑːsəbəl/
not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with
From this reading “‘Impossible, my dear; I don’t smoke; my wife cannot bear a cigar.’
InprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “‘In the commencement,’ said Harmodius, gravely, ‘it WAS very difficult; and, in order to keep my eyes open, I used to stick pins into my legs: now, however, I am used to it; and I’m sure I don’t take more than fifty pinches of snuff at a sitting.’
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading “‘In the commencement,’ said Harmodius, gravely, ‘it WAS very difficult; and, in order to keep my eyes open, I used to stick pins into my legs: now, however, I am used to it; and I’m sure I don’t take more than fifty pinches of snuff at a sitting.’
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “‘In the commencement,’ said Harmodius, gravely, ‘it WAS very difficult; and, in order to keep my eyes open, I used to stick pins into my legs: now, however, I am used to it; and I’m sure I don’t take more than fifty pinches of snuff at a sitting.’
Juliette
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “His wife! thought I; always his wife: and I remember Juliette, who really grew sick at the smell of a pipe, and Harmodius would smoke, until, at last, the poor thing grew to smoke herself, like a trooper.
keepverbUS /kiːp/
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading “‘In the commencement,’ said Harmodius, gravely, ‘it WAS very difficult; and, in order to keep my eyes open, I used to stick pins into my legs: now, however, I am used to it; and I’m sure I don’t take more than fifty pinches of snuff at a sitting.’
lastadjectiveUS /læst/
immediately past
From this reading “His wife! thought I; always his wife: and I remember Juliette, who really grew sick at the smell of a pipe, and Harmodius would smoke, until, at last, the poor thing grew to smoke herself, like a trooper.
legsnounUS /leɡz/
staying power
From this reading “‘In the commencement,’ said Harmodius, gravely, ‘it WAS very difficult; and, in order to keep my eyes open, I used to stick pins into my legs: now, however, I am used to it; and I’m sure I don’t take more than fifty pinches of snuff at a sitting.’
likeverbUS /laɪk/
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading “His wife! thought I; always his wife: and I remember Juliette, who really grew sick at the smell of a pipe, and Harmodius would smoke, until, at last, the poor thing grew to smoke herself, like a trooper.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Give me a cigar,—it will take away the musty odor of these piles of papers.’
moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading “‘In the commencement,’ said Harmodius, gravely, ‘it WAS very difficult; and, in order to keep my eyes open, I used to stick pins into my legs: now, however, I am used to it; and I’m sure I don’t take more than fifty pinches of snuff at a sitting.’
mustyadjectiveUS /ˈmʌsti/
covered with or smelling of mold
From this reading Give me a cigar,—it will take away the musty odor of these piles of papers.’
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “‘In the commencement,’ said Harmodius, gravely, ‘it WAS very difficult; and, in order to keep my eyes open, I used to stick pins into my legs: now, however, I am used to it; and I’m sure I don’t take more than fifty pinches of snuff at a sitting.’
nearadverbUS /nɪr/
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading “‘Ah! apropos of snuff: you are near Spain here, and were always a famous smoker.
nowadverbUS /naʊ/
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading “‘In the commencement,’ said Harmodius, gravely, ‘it WAS very difficult; and, in order to keep my eyes open, I used to stick pins into my legs: now, however, I am used to it; and I’m sure I don’t take more than fifty pinches of snuff at a sitting.’
odornounUS /ˈoʊdər/
any property detected by the olfactory system
From this reading Give me a cigar,—it will take away the musty odor of these piles of papers.’
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “‘In the commencement,’ said Harmodius, gravely, ‘it WAS very difficult; and, in order to keep my eyes open, I used to stick pins into my legs: now, however, I am used to it; and I’m sure I don’t take more than fifty pinches of snuff at a sitting.’
openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/
To move from a closed position.
From this reading “‘In the commencement,’ said Harmodius, gravely, ‘it WAS very difficult; and, in order to keep my eyes open, I used to stick pins into my legs: now, however, I am used to it; and I’m sure I don’t take more than fifty pinches of snuff at a sitting.’
ordernounUS /ˈɔːrdər/
(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading “‘In the commencement,’ said Harmodius, gravely, ‘it WAS very difficult; and, in order to keep my eyes open, I used to stick pins into my legs: now, however, I am used to it; and I’m sure I don’t take more than fifty pinches of snuff at a sitting.’
papersnounUS /ˈpeɪpərz/
writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature)
From this reading Give me a cigar,—it will take away the musty odor of these piles of papers.’
pilesnounUS /paɪlz/
venous swelling external or internal to the anal sphincter
From this reading Give me a cigar,—it will take away the musty odor of these piles of papers.’
pinches
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “‘In the commencement,’ said Harmodius, gravely, ‘it WAS very difficult; and, in order to keep my eyes open, I used to stick pins into my legs: now, however, I am used to it; and I’m sure I don’t take more than fifty pinches of snuff at a sitting.’
pinsnounUS /pɪnz/
plural of “pin” — a piece of jewelry that is pinned onto the wearer's garment
From this reading “‘In the commencement,’ said Harmodius, gravely, ‘it WAS very difficult; and, in order to keep my eyes open, I used to stick pins into my legs: now, however, I am used to it; and I’m sure I don’t take more than fifty pinches of snuff at a sitting.’
pipenounUS /paɪp/
a tube with a small bowl at one end; used for smoking tobacco
From this reading “His wife! thought I; always his wife: and I remember Juliette, who really grew sick at the smell of a pipe, and Harmodius would smoke, until, at last, the poor thing grew to smoke herself, like a trooper.
pooradjectiveUS /puːr/
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading “His wife! thought I; always his wife: and I remember Juliette, who really grew sick at the smell of a pipe, and Harmodius would smoke, until, at last, the poor thing grew to smoke herself, like a trooper.
reallyadverbUS /ˈrɪli/
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading “His wife! thought I; always his wife: and I remember Juliette, who really grew sick at the smell of a pipe, and Harmodius would smoke, until, at last, the poor thing grew to smoke herself, like a trooper.
rememberverbUS /rɪˈmɛm.bər/
To recall to mind.
From this reading “His wife! thought I; always his wife: and I remember Juliette, who really grew sick at the smell of a pipe, and Harmodius would smoke, until, at last, the poor thing grew to smoke herself, like a trooper.
saidadjectiveUS /sed/
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “‘In the commencement,’ said Harmodius, gravely, ‘it WAS very difficult; and, in order to keep my eyes open, I used to stick pins into my legs: now, however, I am used to it; and I’m sure I don’t take more than fifty pinches of snuff at a sitting.’
sickadjectiveUS /sɪk/
affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function
From this reading “His wife! thought I; always his wife: and I remember Juliette, who really grew sick at the smell of a pipe, and Harmodius would smoke, until, at last, the poor thing grew to smoke herself, like a trooper.
sittingnounUS /ˈsɪtɪŋ/
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading “‘In the commencement,’ said Harmodius, gravely, ‘it WAS very difficult; and, in order to keep my eyes open, I used to stick pins into my legs: now, however, I am used to it; and I’m sure I don’t take more than fifty pinches of snuff at a sitting.’
smellnounUS /smel/
the sensation that results when olfactory receptors in the nose are stimulated by particular chemicals in gaseous form
From this reading “His wife! thought I; always his wife: and I remember Juliette, who really grew sick at the smell of a pipe, and Harmodius would smoke, until, at last, the poor thing grew to smoke herself, like a trooper.
smokenounUS /smoʊk/
a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas
From this reading “‘Impossible, my dear; I don’t smoke; my wife cannot bear a cigar.’
smokernounUS /ˈsmoʊkər/
a person who smokes tobacco
From this reading “‘Ah! apropos of snuff: you are near Spain here, and were always a famous smoker.
snuffnounUS /snʌf/
the charred portion of a candlewick
From this reading “‘In the commencement,’ said Harmodius, gravely, ‘it WAS very difficult; and, in order to keep my eyes open, I used to stick pins into my legs: now, however, I am used to it; and I’m sure I don’t take more than fifty pinches of snuff at a sitting.’
SpainnounUS /speɪn/
a parliamentary monarchy in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula; a former colonial power
From this reading “‘Ah! apropos of snuff: you are near Spain here, and were always a famous smoker.
stickverbUS /stɪk/
put, fix, force, or implant
From this reading “‘In the commencement,’ said Harmodius, gravely, ‘it WAS very difficult; and, in order to keep my eyes open, I used to stick pins into my legs: now, however, I am used to it; and I’m sure I don’t take more than fifty pinches of snuff at a sitting.’
sureadjectiveUS /ʃʊr/
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading “‘In the commencement,’ said Harmodius, gravely, ‘it WAS very difficult; and, in order to keep my eyes open, I used to stick pins into my legs: now, however, I am used to it; and I’m sure I don’t take more than fifty pinches of snuff at a sitting.’
takeverbUS /teɪk/
carry out
From this reading “‘In the commencement,’ said Harmodius, gravely, ‘it WAS very difficult; and, in order to keep my eyes open, I used to stick pins into my legs: now, however, I am used to it; and I’m sure I don’t take more than fifty pinches of snuff at a sitting.’
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading “‘In the commencement,’ said Harmodius, gravely, ‘it WAS very difficult; and, in order to keep my eyes open, I used to stick pins into my legs: now, however, I am used to it; and I’m sure I don’t take more than fifty pinches of snuff at a sitting.’
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “‘In the commencement,’ said Harmodius, gravely, ‘it WAS very difficult; and, in order to keep my eyes open, I used to stick pins into my legs: now, however, I am used to it; and I’m sure I don’t take more than fifty pinches of snuff at a sitting.’
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Give me a cigar,—it will take away the musty odor of these piles of papers.’
thingnounUS /θɪŋ/
a special situation
From this reading “His wife! thought I; always his wife: and I remember Juliette, who really grew sick at the smell of a pipe, and Harmodius would smoke, until, at last, the poor thing grew to smoke herself, like a trooper.
thoughtnounUS /θɔːt/
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading “His wife! thought I; always his wife: and I remember Juliette, who really grew sick at the smell of a pipe, and Harmodius would smoke, until, at last, the poor thing grew to smoke herself, like a trooper.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “‘In the commencement,’ said Harmodius, gravely, ‘it WAS very difficult; and, in order to keep my eyes open, I used to stick pins into my legs: now, however, I am used to it; and I’m sure I don’t take more than fifty pinches of snuff at a sitting.’
troopernounUS /ˈtruːpər/
a soldier in a motorized army unit
From this reading “His wife! thought I; always his wife: and I remember Juliette, who really grew sick at the smell of a pipe, and Harmodius would smoke, until, at last, the poor thing grew to smoke herself, like a trooper.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading “His wife! thought I; always his wife: and I remember Juliette, who really grew sick at the smell of a pipe, and Harmodius would smoke, until, at last, the poor thing grew to smoke herself, like a trooper.
usedadjectiveUS /juːzd/
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading “‘In the commencement,’ said Harmodius, gravely, ‘it WAS very difficult; and, in order to keep my eyes open, I used to stick pins into my legs: now, however, I am used to it; and I’m sure I don’t take more than fifty pinches of snuff at a sitting.’
veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/
precisely as stated
From this reading “‘In the commencement,’ said Harmodius, gravely, ‘it WAS very difficult; and, in order to keep my eyes open, I used to stick pins into my legs: now, however, I am used to it; and I’m sure I don’t take more than fifty pinches of snuff at a sitting.’
WASauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “‘In the commencement,’ said Harmodius, gravely, ‘it WAS very difficult; and, in order to keep my eyes open, I used to stick pins into my legs: now, however, I am used to it; and I’m sure I don’t take more than fifty pinches of snuff at a sitting.’
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “‘Ah! apropos of snuff: you are near Spain here, and were always a famous smoker.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading “His wife! thought I; always his wife: and I remember Juliette, who really grew sick at the smell of a pipe, and Harmodius would smoke, until, at last, the poor thing grew to smoke herself, like a trooper.
wifenounUS /waɪf/
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading “‘Impossible, my dear; I don’t smoke; my wife cannot bear a cigar.’
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading Give me a cigar,—it will take away the musty odor of these piles of papers.’
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading “His wife! thought I; always his wife: and I remember Juliette, who really grew sick at the smell of a pipe, and Harmodius would smoke, until, at last, the poor thing grew to smoke herself, like a trooper.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “‘Ah! apropos of snuff: you are near Spain here, and were always a famous smoker.
