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The Touchstone
The Touchstone

Chapter IV

Cover illustration for The Touchstone
Context Illustration Reading 1/41 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
VI THE week in town had been sultry, and the men, in the Sunday emancipation of white flannel and duck, filled the deck-chairs of the yacht with their outstretched apathy, following, through a mist of cigarette-smoke, the flitting inconsequences of the women.
The party was a small one--Flamel had few intimate friends--but composed of more heterogeneous atoms than the little pools into which society usually runs.
The reaction from the chief episode of his earlier life had bred in Glennard an uneasy distaste for any kind of personal saliency.
Cleverness was useful in business; but in society it seemed to him as futile as the sham cascades formed by a stream that might have been used to drive a mill.
He liked the collective point of view that goes with the civilized uniformity of dress-clothes, and his wife’s attitude implied the same preference; yet they found themselves slipping more and more into Flamel’s intimacy.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Touchstone

Chapter IV

Reading 1/41 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
VI THE week in town had been sultry, and the men, in the Sunday emancipation of white flannel and duck, filled the deck-chairs of the yacht with their outstretched apathy, following, through a mist of cigarette-smoke, the flitting inconsequences of the women.
Line 2
The party was a small one--Flamel had few intimate friends--but composed of more heterogeneous atoms than the little pools into which society usually runs.
Line 3
The reaction from the chief episode of his earlier life had bred in Glennard an uneasy distaste for any kind of personal saliency.
Line 4
Cleverness was useful in business; but in society it seemed to him as futile as the sham cascades formed by a stream that might have been used to drive a mill.
Line 5
He liked the collective point of view that goes with the civilized uniformity of dress-clothes, and his wife’s attitude implied the same preference; yet they found themselves slipping more and more into Flamel’s intimacy.

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “VI THE week in town had been sultry, and the men, in the Sunday emancipation of white flannel and duck, filled the deck-chairs of the yacht with their outstretched apathy, following, through a mist of cigarette-smoke, the flitting inconsequences of the women.”

Cleverness noun US /ˈklev.ər.nəs/

The quality of being intelligent, quick to understand, and resourceful in danger.

From this reading “Cleverness was useful in business; but in society it seemed to him as futile as the sham cascades formed by a stream that might have been used to drive a mill.”

Found noun US /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He liked the collective point of view that goes with the civilized uniformity of dress-clothes, and his wife’s attitude implied the same preference; yet they found themselves slipping more and more into Flamel’s intimacy.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “Cleverness was useful in business; but in society it seemed to him as futile as the sham cascades formed by a stream that might have been used to drive a mill.”

Life noun US /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The reaction from the chief episode of his earlier life had bred in Glennard an uneasy distaste for any kind of personal saliency.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The party was a small one--Flamel had few intimate friends--but composed of more heterogeneous atoms than the little pools into which society usually runs.”

Might modal verb US /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading “Cleverness was useful in business; but in society it seemed to him as futile as the sham cascades formed by a stream that might have been used to drive a mill.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “The party was a small one--Flamel had few intimate friends--but composed of more heterogeneous atoms than the little pools into which society usually runs.”

Party noun US /party/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The party was a small one--Flamel had few intimate friends--but composed of more heterogeneous atoms than the little pools into which society usually runs.”

Point noun US /pɔɪnt/

the main matter or purpose being discussed

From this reading “He liked the collective point of view that goes with the civilized uniformity of dress-clothes, and his wife’s attitude implied the same preference; yet they found themselves slipping more and more into Flamel’s intimacy.”

Same noun US /same/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He liked the collective point of view that goes with the civilized uniformity of dress-clothes, and his wife’s attitude implied the same preference; yet they found themselves slipping more and more into Flamel’s intimacy.”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Cleverness was useful in business; but in society it seemed to him as futile as the sham cascades formed by a stream that might have been used to drive a mill.”

Themselves pronoun US /ðemˈselvz/

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading “He liked the collective point of view that goes with the civilized uniformity of dress-clothes, and his wife’s attitude implied the same preference; yet they found themselves slipping more and more into Flamel’s intimacy.”

Through noun US /ˈthrough/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “VI THE week in town had been sultry, and the men, in the Sunday emancipation of white flannel and duck, filled the deck-chairs of the yacht with their outstretched apathy, following, through a mist of cigarette-smoke, the flitting inconsequences of the women.”

Yet conjunction US /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading “He liked the collective point of view that goes with the civilized uniformity of dress-clothes, and his wife’s attitude implied the same preference; yet they found themselves slipping more and more into Flamel’s intimacy.”

All words in this reading · 110

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 VI THE week in town had been sultry, and the men, in the Sunday emancipation of white flannel and duck, filled the deck-chairs of the yacht with their outstretched apathy, following, through a mist of cigarette-smoke, the flitting inconsequences of the women.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading The reaction from the chief episode of his earlier life had bred in Glennard an uneasy distaste for any kind of personal saliency.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading VI THE week in town had been sultry, and the men, in the Sunday emancipation of white flannel and duck, filled the deck-chairs of the yacht with their outstretched apathy, following, through a mist of cigarette-smoke, the flitting inconsequences of the women.

any

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The reaction from the chief episode of his earlier life had bred in Glennard an uneasy distaste for any kind of personal saliency.

apathy

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading VI THE week in town had been sultry, and the men, in the Sunday emancipation of white flannel and duck, filled the deck-chairs of the yacht with their outstretched apathy, following, through a mist of cigarette-smoke, the flitting inconsequences of the women.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading Cleverness was useful in business; but in society it seemed to him as futile as the sham cascades formed by a stream that might have been used to drive a mill.

atoms

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The party was a small one--Flamel had few intimate friends--but composed of more heterogeneous atoms than the little pools into which society usually runs.

attitude

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He liked the collective point of view that goes with the civilized uniformity of dress-clothes, and his wife’s attitude implied the same preference; yet they found themselves slipping more and more into Flamel’s intimacy.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading VI THE week in town had been sultry, and the men, in the Sunday emancipation of white flannel and duck, filled the deck-chairs of the yacht with their outstretched apathy, following, through a mist of cigarette-smoke, the flitting inconsequences of the women.

bred

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The reaction from the chief episode of his earlier life had bred in Glennard an uneasy distaste for any kind of personal saliency.

business

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Cleverness was useful in business; but in society it seemed to him as futile as the sham cascades formed by a stream that might have been used to drive a mill.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading The party was a small one--Flamel had few intimate friends--but composed of more heterogeneous atoms than the little pools into which society usually runs.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Cleverness was useful in business; but in society it seemed to him as futile as the sham cascades formed by a stream that might have been used to drive a mill.

cascades

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Cleverness was useful in business; but in society it seemed to him as futile as the sham cascades formed by a stream that might have been used to drive a mill.

chief

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The reaction from the chief episode of his earlier life had bred in Glennard an uneasy distaste for any kind of personal saliency.

cigarette-smoke

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading VI THE week in town had been sultry, and the men, in the Sunday emancipation of white flannel and duck, filled the deck-chairs of the yacht with their outstretched apathy, following, through a mist of cigarette-smoke, the flitting inconsequences of the women.

civilized

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He liked the collective point of view that goes with the civilized uniformity of dress-clothes, and his wife’s attitude implied the same preference; yet they found themselves slipping more and more into Flamel’s intimacy.

ClevernessnounUS /ˈklev.ər.nəs/

The quality of being intelligent, quick to understand, and resourceful in danger.

From this reading Cleverness was useful in business; but in society it seemed to him as futile as the sham cascades formed by a stream that might have been used to drive a mill.

collective

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He liked the collective point of view that goes with the civilized uniformity of dress-clothes, and his wife’s attitude implied the same preference; yet they found themselves slipping more and more into Flamel’s intimacy.

composed

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The party was a small one--Flamel had few intimate friends--but composed of more heterogeneous atoms than the little pools into which society usually runs.

deck-chairs

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading VI THE week in town had been sultry, and the men, in the Sunday emancipation of white flannel and duck, filled the deck-chairs of the yacht with their outstretched apathy, following, through a mist of cigarette-smoke, the flitting inconsequences of the women.

distaste

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The reaction from the chief episode of his earlier life had bred in Glennard an uneasy distaste for any kind of personal saliency.

dress-clothes

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He liked the collective point of view that goes with the civilized uniformity of dress-clothes, and his wife’s attitude implied the same preference; yet they found themselves slipping more and more into Flamel’s intimacy.

drive

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Cleverness was useful in business; but in society it seemed to him as futile as the sham cascades formed by a stream that might have been used to drive a mill.

duck

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading VI THE week in town had been sultry, and the men, in the Sunday emancipation of white flannel and duck, filled the deck-chairs of the yacht with their outstretched apathy, following, through a mist of cigarette-smoke, the flitting inconsequences of the women.

earlier

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The reaction from the chief episode of his earlier life had bred in Glennard an uneasy distaste for any kind of personal saliency.

emancipation

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading VI THE week in town had been sultry, and the men, in the Sunday emancipation of white flannel and duck, filled the deck-chairs of the yacht with their outstretched apathy, following, through a mist of cigarette-smoke, the flitting inconsequences of the women.

episode

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The reaction from the chief episode of his earlier life had bred in Glennard an uneasy distaste for any kind of personal saliency.

few

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The party was a small one--Flamel had few intimate friends--but composed of more heterogeneous atoms than the little pools into which society usually runs.

filled

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading VI THE week in town had been sultry, and the men, in the Sunday emancipation of white flannel and duck, filled the deck-chairs of the yacht with their outstretched apathy, following, through a mist of cigarette-smoke, the flitting inconsequences of the women.

Flamel

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The party was a small one--Flamel had few intimate friends--but composed of more heterogeneous atoms than the little pools into which society usually runs.

Flamel's

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He liked the collective point of view that goes with the civilized uniformity of dress-clothes, and his wife’s attitude implied the same preference; yet they found themselves slipping more and more into Flamel’s intimacy.

flannel

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading VI THE week in town had been sultry, and the men, in the Sunday emancipation of white flannel and duck, filled the deck-chairs of the yacht with their outstretched apathy, following, through a mist of cigarette-smoke, the flitting inconsequences of the women.

flitting

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading VI THE week in town had been sultry, and the men, in the Sunday emancipation of white flannel and duck, filled the deck-chairs of the yacht with their outstretched apathy, following, through a mist of cigarette-smoke, the flitting inconsequences of the women.

following

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading VI THE week in town had been sultry, and the men, in the Sunday emancipation of white flannel and duck, filled the deck-chairs of the yacht with their outstretched apathy, following, through a mist of cigarette-smoke, the flitting inconsequences of the women.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The reaction from the chief episode of his earlier life had bred in Glennard an uneasy distaste for any kind of personal saliency.

formed

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Cleverness was useful in business; but in society it seemed to him as futile as the sham cascades formed by a stream that might have been used to drive a mill.

foundnounUS /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He liked the collective point of view that goes with the civilized uniformity of dress-clothes, and his wife’s attitude implied the same preference; yet they found themselves slipping more and more into Flamel’s intimacy.

friends

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The party was a small one--Flamel had few intimate friends--but composed of more heterogeneous atoms than the little pools into which society usually runs.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The reaction from the chief episode of his earlier life had bred in Glennard an uneasy distaste for any kind of personal saliency.

futile

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Cleverness was useful in business; but in society it seemed to him as futile as the sham cascades formed by a stream that might have been used to drive a mill.

Glennard

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The reaction from the chief episode of his earlier life had bred in Glennard an uneasy distaste for any kind of personal saliency.

goes

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He liked the collective point of view that goes with the civilized uniformity of dress-clothes, and his wife’s attitude implied the same preference; yet they found themselves slipping more and more into Flamel’s intimacy.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading VI THE week in town had been sultry, and the men, in the Sunday emancipation of white flannel and duck, filled the deck-chairs of the yacht with their outstretched apathy, following, through a mist of cigarette-smoke, the flitting inconsequences of the women.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Cleverness was useful in business; but in society it seemed to him as futile as the sham cascades formed by a stream that might have been used to drive a mill.

HepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading He liked the collective point of view that goes with the civilized uniformity of dress-clothes, and his wife’s attitude implied the same preference; yet they found themselves slipping more and more into Flamel’s intimacy.

heterogeneous

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The party was a small one--Flamel had few intimate friends--but composed of more heterogeneous atoms than the little pools into which society usually runs.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Cleverness was useful in business; but in society it seemed to him as futile as the sham cascades formed by a stream that might have been used to drive a mill.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading The reaction from the chief episode of his earlier life had bred in Glennard an uneasy distaste for any kind of personal saliency.

implied

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He liked the collective point of view that goes with the civilized uniformity of dress-clothes, and his wife’s attitude implied the same preference; yet they found themselves slipping more and more into Flamel’s intimacy.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading VI THE week in town had been sultry, and the men, in the Sunday emancipation of white flannel and duck, filled the deck-chairs of the yacht with their outstretched apathy, following, through a mist of cigarette-smoke, the flitting inconsequences of the women.

inconsequences

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading VI THE week in town had been sultry, and the men, in the Sunday emancipation of white flannel and duck, filled the deck-chairs of the yacht with their outstretched apathy, following, through a mist of cigarette-smoke, the flitting inconsequences of the women.

intimacy

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He liked the collective point of view that goes with the civilized uniformity of dress-clothes, and his wife’s attitude implied the same preference; yet they found themselves slipping more and more into Flamel’s intimacy.

intimate

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The party was a small one--Flamel had few intimate friends--but composed of more heterogeneous atoms than the little pools into which society usually runs.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading The party was a small one--Flamel had few intimate friends--but composed of more heterogeneous atoms than the little pools into which society usually runs.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Cleverness was useful in business; but in society it seemed to him as futile as the sham cascades formed by a stream that might have been used to drive a mill.

kind

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The reaction from the chief episode of his earlier life had bred in Glennard an uneasy distaste for any kind of personal saliency.

lifenounUS /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The reaction from the chief episode of his earlier life had bred in Glennard an uneasy distaste for any kind of personal saliency.

liked

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He liked the collective point of view that goes with the civilized uniformity of dress-clothes, and his wife’s attitude implied the same preference; yet they found themselves slipping more and more into Flamel’s intimacy.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The party was a small one--Flamel had few intimate friends--but composed of more heterogeneous atoms than the little pools into which society usually runs.

men

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading VI THE week in town had been sultry, and the men, in the Sunday emancipation of white flannel and duck, filled the deck-chairs of the yacht with their outstretched apathy, following, through a mist of cigarette-smoke, the flitting inconsequences of the women.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading Cleverness was useful in business; but in society it seemed to him as futile as the sham cascades formed by a stream that might have been used to drive a mill.

mill

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Cleverness was useful in business; but in society it seemed to him as futile as the sham cascades formed by a stream that might have been used to drive a mill.

mist

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading VI THE week in town had been sultry, and the men, in the Sunday emancipation of white flannel and duck, filled the deck-chairs of the yacht with their outstretched apathy, following, through a mist of cigarette-smoke, the flitting inconsequences of the women.

more

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The party was a small one--Flamel had few intimate friends--but composed of more heterogeneous atoms than the little pools into which society usually runs.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading VI THE week in town had been sultry, and the men, in the Sunday emancipation of white flannel and duck, filled the deck-chairs of the yacht with their outstretched apathy, following, through a mist of cigarette-smoke, the flitting inconsequences of the women.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading The party was a small one--Flamel had few intimate friends--but composed of more heterogeneous atoms than the little pools into which society usually runs.

outstretched

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading VI THE week in town had been sultry, and the men, in the Sunday emancipation of white flannel and duck, filled the deck-chairs of the yacht with their outstretched apathy, following, through a mist of cigarette-smoke, the flitting inconsequences of the women.

partynounUS /party/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The party was a small one--Flamel had few intimate friends--but composed of more heterogeneous atoms than the little pools into which society usually runs.

personal

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The reaction from the chief episode of his earlier life had bred in Glennard an uneasy distaste for any kind of personal saliency.

pointnounUS /pɔɪnt/

the main matter or purpose being discussed

From this reading He liked the collective point of view that goes with the civilized uniformity of dress-clothes, and his wife’s attitude implied the same preference; yet they found themselves slipping more and more into Flamel’s intimacy.

pools

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The party was a small one--Flamel had few intimate friends--but composed of more heterogeneous atoms than the little pools into which society usually runs.

preference

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He liked the collective point of view that goes with the civilized uniformity of dress-clothes, and his wife’s attitude implied the same preference; yet they found themselves slipping more and more into Flamel’s intimacy.

reaction

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The reaction from the chief episode of his earlier life had bred in Glennard an uneasy distaste for any kind of personal saliency.

runs

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The party was a small one--Flamel had few intimate friends--but composed of more heterogeneous atoms than the little pools into which society usually runs.

saliency

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The reaction from the chief episode of his earlier life had bred in Glennard an uneasy distaste for any kind of personal saliency.

samenounUS /same/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He liked the collective point of view that goes with the civilized uniformity of dress-clothes, and his wife’s attitude implied the same preference; yet they found themselves slipping more and more into Flamel’s intimacy.

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Cleverness was useful in business; but in society it seemed to him as futile as the sham cascades formed by a stream that might have been used to drive a mill.

sham

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Cleverness was useful in business; but in society it seemed to him as futile as the sham cascades formed by a stream that might have been used to drive a mill.

slipping

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He liked the collective point of view that goes with the civilized uniformity of dress-clothes, and his wife’s attitude implied the same preference; yet they found themselves slipping more and more into Flamel’s intimacy.

small

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The party was a small one--Flamel had few intimate friends--but composed of more heterogeneous atoms than the little pools into which society usually runs.

society

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The party was a small one--Flamel had few intimate friends--but composed of more heterogeneous atoms than the little pools into which society usually runs.

stream

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Cleverness was useful in business; but in society it seemed to him as futile as the sham cascades formed by a stream that might have been used to drive a mill.

sultry

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading VI THE week in town had been sultry, and the men, in the Sunday emancipation of white flannel and duck, filled the deck-chairs of the yacht with their outstretched apathy, following, through a mist of cigarette-smoke, the flitting inconsequences of the women.

Sunday

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading VI THE week in town had been sultry, and the men, in the Sunday emancipation of white flannel and duck, filled the deck-chairs of the yacht with their outstretched apathy, following, through a mist of cigarette-smoke, the flitting inconsequences of the women.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading The party was a small one--Flamel had few intimate friends--but composed of more heterogeneous atoms than the little pools into which society usually runs.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Cleverness was useful in business; but in society it seemed to him as futile as the sham cascades formed by a stream that might have been used to drive a mill.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading VI THE week in town had been sultry, and the men, in the Sunday emancipation of white flannel and duck, filled the deck-chairs of the yacht with their outstretched apathy, following, through a mist of cigarette-smoke, the flitting inconsequences of the women.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading VI THE week in town had been sultry, and the men, in the Sunday emancipation of white flannel and duck, filled the deck-chairs of the yacht with their outstretched apathy, following, through a mist of cigarette-smoke, the flitting inconsequences of the women.

themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading He liked the collective point of view that goes with the civilized uniformity of dress-clothes, and his wife’s attitude implied the same preference; yet they found themselves slipping more and more into Flamel’s intimacy.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading He liked the collective point of view that goes with the civilized uniformity of dress-clothes, and his wife’s attitude implied the same preference; yet they found themselves slipping more and more into Flamel’s intimacy.

throughnounUS /ˈthrough/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading VI THE week in town had been sultry, and the men, in the Sunday emancipation of white flannel and duck, filled the deck-chairs of the yacht with their outstretched apathy, following, through a mist of cigarette-smoke, the flitting inconsequences of the women.

toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading Cleverness was useful in business; but in society it seemed to him as futile as the sham cascades formed by a stream that might have been used to drive a mill.

town

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading VI THE week in town had been sultry, and the men, in the Sunday emancipation of white flannel and duck, filled the deck-chairs of the yacht with their outstretched apathy, following, through a mist of cigarette-smoke, the flitting inconsequences of the women.

uneasy

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The reaction from the chief episode of his earlier life had bred in Glennard an uneasy distaste for any kind of personal saliency.

uniformity

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He liked the collective point of view that goes with the civilized uniformity of dress-clothes, and his wife’s attitude implied the same preference; yet they found themselves slipping more and more into Flamel’s intimacy.

used

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Cleverness was useful in business; but in society it seemed to him as futile as the sham cascades formed by a stream that might have been used to drive a mill.

useful

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Cleverness was useful in business; but in society it seemed to him as futile as the sham cascades formed by a stream that might have been used to drive a mill.

usually

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The party was a small one--Flamel had few intimate friends--but composed of more heterogeneous atoms than the little pools into which society usually runs.

VI

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading VI THE week in town had been sultry, and the men, in the Sunday emancipation of white flannel and duck, filled the deck-chairs of the yacht with their outstretched apathy, following, through a mist of cigarette-smoke, the flitting inconsequences of the women.

view

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He liked the collective point of view that goes with the civilized uniformity of dress-clothes, and his wife’s attitude implied the same preference; yet they found themselves slipping more and more into Flamel’s intimacy.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading The party was a small one--Flamel had few intimate friends--but composed of more heterogeneous atoms than the little pools into which society usually runs.

week

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading VI THE week in town had been sultry, and the men, in the Sunday emancipation of white flannel and duck, filled the deck-chairs of the yacht with their outstretched apathy, following, through a mist of cigarette-smoke, the flitting inconsequences of the women.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading The party was a small one--Flamel had few intimate friends--but composed of more heterogeneous atoms than the little pools into which society usually runs.

white

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading VI THE week in town had been sultry, and the men, in the Sunday emancipation of white flannel and duck, filled the deck-chairs of the yacht with their outstretched apathy, following, through a mist of cigarette-smoke, the flitting inconsequences of the women.

wife's

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading He liked the collective point of view that goes with the civilized uniformity of dress-clothes, and his wife’s attitude implied the same preference; yet they found themselves slipping more and more into Flamel’s intimacy.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading VI THE week in town had been sultry, and the men, in the Sunday emancipation of white flannel and duck, filled the deck-chairs of the yacht with their outstretched apathy, following, through a mist of cigarette-smoke, the flitting inconsequences of the women.

women

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading VI THE week in town had been sultry, and the men, in the Sunday emancipation of white flannel and duck, filled the deck-chairs of the yacht with their outstretched apathy, following, through a mist of cigarette-smoke, the flitting inconsequences of the women.

yacht

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading VI THE week in town had been sultry, and the men, in the Sunday emancipation of white flannel and duck, filled the deck-chairs of the yacht with their outstretched apathy, following, through a mist of cigarette-smoke, the flitting inconsequences of the women.

yetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading He liked the collective point of view that goes with the civilized uniformity of dress-clothes, and his wife’s attitude implied the same preference; yet they found themselves slipping more and more into Flamel’s intimacy.