AdeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A SONG, A BOTTLE, AND A GHOST All day John Brown, ex-clergyman and quack-doctor, harangued the people of Chaudiere from his gaily-painted wagon.
AlladjectiveUS /ɔːl/
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading A SONG, A BOTTLE, AND A GHOST All day John Brown, ex-clergyman and quack-doctor, harangued the people of Chaudiere from his gaily-painted wagon.
ANDconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A SONG, A BOTTLE, AND A GHOST All day John Brown, ex-clergyman and quack-doctor, harangued the people of Chaudiere from his gaily-painted wagon.
arsenicnounUS /ˈɑːrsənɪk/
a white powdered poisonous trioxide of arsenic; used in manufacturing glass and as a pesticide (rat poison) and weed killer
From this reading He lacked the necessary reticence, and arsenic had not availed him, though it had tempted Billy Wantage to forgery; and because Billy hid himself behind the dismal opportunity of silence, had ruined the name of a dead man called Charley Steele.
AsconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As a dabbler in mines he had been out of his element.
availedverbUS /əˈveɪld/
past form of “avail” — use to one's advantage
From this reading He lacked the necessary reticence, and arsenic had not availed him, though it had tempted Billy Wantage to forgery; and because Billy hid himself behind the dismal opportunity of silence, had ruined the name of a dead man called Charley Steele.
becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/
for the reason that
From this reading He lacked the necessary reticence, and arsenic had not availed him, though it had tempted Billy Wantage to forgery; and because Billy hid himself behind the dismal opportunity of silence, had ruined the name of a dead man called Charley Steele.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Inclined to the picturesque by nature, melodramatic and empirical, his earlier career had been the due fruit of habit and education.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading He lacked the necessary reticence, and arsenic had not availed him, though it had tempted Billy Wantage to forgery; and because Billy hid himself behind the dismal opportunity of silence, had ruined the name of a dead man called Charley Steele.
BillynounUS /ˈbɪli/
a short stout club used primarily by policemen
From this reading He lacked the necessary reticence, and arsenic had not availed him, though it had tempted Billy Wantage to forgery; and because Billy hid himself behind the dismal opportunity of silence, had ruined the name of a dead man called Charley Steele.
BOTTLEnounUS /ˈbɑːtəl/
a glass or plastic vessel used for storing drinks or other liquids; typically cylindrical without handles and with a narrow neck that can be plugged or capped
From this reading A SONG, A BOTTLE, AND A GHOST All day John Brown, ex-clergyman and quack-doctor, harangued the people of Chaudiere from his gaily-painted wagon.
BrownnounUS /braʊn/
an orange of low brightness and saturation
From this reading A SONG, A BOTTLE, AND A GHOST All day John Brown, ex-clergyman and quack-doctor, harangued the people of Chaudiere from his gaily-painted wagon.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Inclined to the picturesque by nature, melodramatic and empirical, his earlier career had been the due fruit of habit and education.
calledverbUS /kɔːld/
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading He lacked the necessary reticence, and arsenic had not availed him, though it had tempted Billy Wantage to forgery; and because Billy hid himself behind the dismal opportunity of silence, had ruined the name of a dead man called Charley Steele.
careernounUS /kərˈɪr/
the particular occupation for which you are trained
From this reading Inclined to the picturesque by nature, melodramatic and empirical, his earlier career had been the due fruit of habit and education.
charlatannounUS /ˈʃɑːrlətən/
a flamboyant deceiver; one who attracts customers with tricks or jokes
From this reading He had the perfect gift of the charlatan, and he had discovered his metier.
Charley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He lacked the necessary reticence, and arsenic had not availed him, though it had tempted Billy Wantage to forgery; and because Billy hid himself behind the dismal opportunity of silence, had ruined the name of a dead man called Charley Steele.
Chaudiere
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A SONG, A BOTTLE, AND A GHOST All day John Brown, ex-clergyman and quack-doctor, harangued the people of Chaudiere from his gaily-painted wagon.
dabblernoun
an amateur who engages in an activity without serious intentions and who pretends to have knowledge
From this reading As a dabbler in mines he had been out of his element.
daynounUS /deɪ/
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading A SONG, A BOTTLE, AND A GHOST All day John Brown, ex-clergyman and quack-doctor, harangued the people of Chaudiere from his gaily-painted wagon.
deadadjectiveUS /ded/
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading He lacked the necessary reticence, and arsenic had not availed him, though it had tempted Billy Wantage to forgery; and because Billy hid himself behind the dismal opportunity of silence, had ruined the name of a dead man called Charley Steele.
discoveredadjectiveUS /dɪˈskʌvərd/
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading He had the perfect gift of the charlatan, and he had discovered his metier.
dismaladjectiveUS /ˈdɪzməl/
causing dejection
From this reading He lacked the necessary reticence, and arsenic had not availed him, though it had tempted Billy Wantage to forgery; and because Billy hid himself behind the dismal opportunity of silence, had ruined the name of a dead man called Charley Steele.
dueadjectiveUS /duː/
owed and payable immediately or on demand
From this reading Inclined to the picturesque by nature, melodramatic and empirical, his earlier career had been the due fruit of habit and education.
earlieradverbUS /ˈɜːrliər/
earlier in time; previously
From this reading Inclined to the picturesque by nature, melodramatic and empirical, his earlier career had been the due fruit of habit and education.
educationnounUS /ˌedʒəˈkeɪʃən/
the activities of educating or instructing; activities that impart knowledge or skill
From this reading Inclined to the picturesque by nature, melodramatic and empirical, his earlier career had been the due fruit of habit and education.
elementnounUS /ˈeləmənt/
an abstract part of something
From this reading As a dabbler in mines he had been out of his element.
empiricaladjectiveUS /ˌemˈpɪrɪkəl/
derived from experiment and observation rather than theory
From this reading Inclined to the picturesque by nature, melodramatic and empirical, his earlier career had been the due fruit of habit and education.
ex-clergyman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A SONG, A BOTTLE, AND A GHOST All day John Brown, ex-clergyman and quack-doctor, harangued the people of Chaudiere from his gaily-painted wagon.
forgerynounUS /ˈfɔːrdʒəri/
a copy that is represented as the original
From this reading He lacked the necessary reticence, and arsenic had not availed him, though it had tempted Billy Wantage to forgery; and because Billy hid himself behind the dismal opportunity of silence, had ruined the name of a dead man called Charley Steele.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A SONG, A BOTTLE, AND A GHOST All day John Brown, ex-clergyman and quack-doctor, harangued the people of Chaudiere from his gaily-painted wagon.
fruitnounUS /fruːt/
the ripened reproductive body of a seed plant
From this reading Inclined to the picturesque by nature, melodramatic and empirical, his earlier career had been the due fruit of habit and education.
gaily-painted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A SONG, A BOTTLE, AND A GHOST All day John Brown, ex-clergyman and quack-doctor, harangued the people of Chaudiere from his gaily-painted wagon.
GHOSTnounUS /ɡoʊst/
a mental representation of some haunting experience
From this reading A SONG, A BOTTLE, AND A GHOST All day John Brown, ex-clergyman and quack-doctor, harangued the people of Chaudiere from his gaily-painted wagon.
giftnounUS /ɡɪft/
something acquired without compensation
From this reading He had the perfect gift of the charlatan, and he had discovered his metier.
habitnounUS /ˈhæbət/
an established custom
From this reading Inclined to the picturesque by nature, melodramatic and empirical, his earlier career had been the due fruit of habit and education.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had the perfect gift of the charlatan, and he had discovered his metier.
haranguedverbUS /hərˈæŋd/
past form of “harangue” — deliver a harangue to; address forcefully
From this reading A SONG, A BOTTLE, AND A GHOST All day John Brown, ex-clergyman and quack-doctor, harangued the people of Chaudiere from his gaily-painted wagon.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had the perfect gift of the charlatan, and he had discovered his metier.
hidverbUS /hɪd/
inflected form of “hide” — prevent from being seen or discovered
From this reading He lacked the necessary reticence, and arsenic had not availed him, though it had tempted Billy Wantage to forgery; and because Billy hid himself behind the dismal opportunity of silence, had ruined the name of a dead man called Charley Steele.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He lacked the necessary reticence, and arsenic had not availed him, though it had tempted Billy Wantage to forgery; and because Billy hid himself behind the dismal opportunity of silence, had ruined the name of a dead man called Charley Steele.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He lacked the necessary reticence, and arsenic had not availed him, though it had tempted Billy Wantage to forgery; and because Billy hid himself behind the dismal opportunity of silence, had ruined the name of a dead man called Charley Steele.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading A SONG, A BOTTLE, AND A GHOST All day John Brown, ex-clergyman and quack-doctor, harangued the people of Chaudiere from his gaily-painted wagon.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading As a dabbler in mines he had been out of his element.
InclinedadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈklaɪnd/
(often followed by “to”) having a preference, disposition, or tendency
From this reading Inclined to the picturesque by nature, melodramatic and empirical, his earlier career had been the due fruit of habit and education.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He lacked the necessary reticence, and arsenic had not availed him, though it had tempted Billy Wantage to forgery; and because Billy hid himself behind the dismal opportunity of silence, had ruined the name of a dead man called Charley Steele.
JohnnounUS /dʒɑːn/
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading A SONG, A BOTTLE, AND A GHOST All day John Brown, ex-clergyman and quack-doctor, harangued the people of Chaudiere from his gaily-painted wagon.
lackedverbUS /lækt/
past form of “lack” — be without
From this reading He lacked the necessary reticence, and arsenic had not availed him, though it had tempted Billy Wantage to forgery; and because Billy hid himself behind the dismal opportunity of silence, had ruined the name of a dead man called Charley Steele.
mannounUS /mæn/
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading He lacked the necessary reticence, and arsenic had not availed him, though it had tempted Billy Wantage to forgery; and because Billy hid himself behind the dismal opportunity of silence, had ruined the name of a dead man called Charley Steele.
melodramaticadjectiveUS /ˌmelədrəˈmætɪk/
having the excitement and emotional appeal of melodrama
From this reading Inclined to the picturesque by nature, melodramatic and empirical, his earlier career had been the due fruit of habit and education.
metiernounUS /ˈmetjər/
an asset of special worth or utility
From this reading He had the perfect gift of the charlatan, and he had discovered his metier.
minesnounUS /maɪnz/
plural of “mine” — excavation in the earth from which ores and minerals are extracted
From this reading As a dabbler in mines he had been out of his element.
nameverbUS /neɪm/
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading He lacked the necessary reticence, and arsenic had not availed him, though it had tempted Billy Wantage to forgery; and because Billy hid himself behind the dismal opportunity of silence, had ruined the name of a dead man called Charley Steele.
naturenounUS /ˈneɪtʃər/
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading Inclined to the picturesque by nature, melodramatic and empirical, his earlier career had been the due fruit of habit and education.
necessaryadjectiveUS /ˈnesəseri/
absolutely essential
From this reading He lacked the necessary reticence, and arsenic had not availed him, though it had tempted Billy Wantage to forgery; and because Billy hid himself behind the dismal opportunity of silence, had ruined the name of a dead man called Charley Steele.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He lacked the necessary reticence, and arsenic had not availed him, though it had tempted Billy Wantage to forgery; and because Billy hid himself behind the dismal opportunity of silence, had ruined the name of a dead man called Charley Steele.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A SONG, A BOTTLE, AND A GHOST All day John Brown, ex-clergyman and quack-doctor, harangued the people of Chaudiere from his gaily-painted wagon.
opportunitynounUS /ˌɑːpərˈtuːnəti/
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading He lacked the necessary reticence, and arsenic had not availed him, though it had tempted Billy Wantage to forgery; and because Billy hid himself behind the dismal opportunity of silence, had ruined the name of a dead man called Charley Steele.
outadjectiveUS /aʊt/
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading As a dabbler in mines he had been out of his element.
peoplenounUS /ˈpiːpəl/
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading A SONG, A BOTTLE, AND A GHOST All day John Brown, ex-clergyman and quack-doctor, harangued the people of Chaudiere from his gaily-painted wagon.
perfectadjectiveUS /pərˈfekt/
being complete of its kind and without defect or blemish
From this reading He had the perfect gift of the charlatan, and he had discovered his metier.
picturesqueadjectiveUS /ˈpɪktʃərəsk/
suggesting or suitable for a picture; pretty as a picture
From this reading Inclined to the picturesque by nature, melodramatic and empirical, his earlier career had been the due fruit of habit and education.
quack-doctor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A SONG, A BOTTLE, AND A GHOST All day John Brown, ex-clergyman and quack-doctor, harangued the people of Chaudiere from his gaily-painted wagon.
reticencenounUS /ˈretɪsəns/
the trait of being uncommunicative; not volunteering anything more than necessary
From this reading He lacked the necessary reticence, and arsenic had not availed him, though it had tempted Billy Wantage to forgery; and because Billy hid himself behind the dismal opportunity of silence, had ruined the name of a dead man called Charley Steele.
ruinedadjectiveUS /ˈruːənd/
destroyed physically or morally
From this reading He lacked the necessary reticence, and arsenic had not availed him, though it had tempted Billy Wantage to forgery; and because Billy hid himself behind the dismal opportunity of silence, had ruined the name of a dead man called Charley Steele.
silencenounUS /ˈsaɪ.ləns/
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading He lacked the necessary reticence, and arsenic had not availed him, though it had tempted Billy Wantage to forgery; and because Billy hid himself behind the dismal opportunity of silence, had ruined the name of a dead man called Charley Steele.
SONGnounUS /sɔːŋ/
a short musical composition with words
From this reading A SONG, A BOTTLE, AND A GHOST All day John Brown, ex-clergyman and quack-doctor, harangued the people of Chaudiere from his gaily-painted wagon.
SteelenounUS /stiːl/
English writer (1672-1729)
From this reading He lacked the necessary reticence, and arsenic had not availed him, though it had tempted Billy Wantage to forgery; and because Billy hid himself behind the dismal opportunity of silence, had ruined the name of a dead man called Charley Steele.
temptedverbUS /ˈtemptɪd/
past form of “tempt” — dispose or incline or entice to
From this reading He lacked the necessary reticence, and arsenic had not availed him, though it had tempted Billy Wantage to forgery; and because Billy hid himself behind the dismal opportunity of silence, had ruined the name of a dead man called Charley Steele.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A SONG, A BOTTLE, AND A GHOST All day John Brown, ex-clergyman and quack-doctor, harangued the people of Chaudiere from his gaily-painted wagon.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading He lacked the necessary reticence, and arsenic had not availed him, though it had tempted Billy Wantage to forgery; and because Billy hid himself behind the dismal opportunity of silence, had ruined the name of a dead man called Charley Steele.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Inclined to the picturesque by nature, melodramatic and empirical, his earlier career had been the due fruit of habit and education.
wagonnounUS /ˈwæɡən/
any of various kinds of wheeled vehicles drawn by an animal or a tractor
From this reading A SONG, A BOTTLE, AND A GHOST All day John Brown, ex-clergyman and quack-doctor, harangued the people of Chaudiere from his gaily-painted wagon.
Wantage
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He lacked the necessary reticence, and arsenic had not availed him, though it had tempted Billy Wantage to forgery; and because Billy hid himself behind the dismal opportunity of silence, had ruined the name of a dead man called Charley Steele.
