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The Turmoil: A Novel
The Turmoil: A Novel

Chapter XXIII

Cover illustration for The Turmoil: A Novel
Context Illustration Reading 1/47 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Bibbs continued to live in the shelter of his dream.
He had told Edith, after his ineffective effort to be useful in her affairs, that he had decided that he was “a member of the family”; but he appeared to have relapsed to the retired list after that one attempt at participancy--he was far enough detached from membership now.
These were turbulent days in the New House, but Bibbs had no part whatever in the turbulence--he seemed an absent-minded stranger, present by accident and not wholly aware that he was present.
He would sit, faintly smiling over pleasant imaginings and dear reminiscences of his own, while battle raged between Edith and her father, or while Sheridan unloosed jeremiads upon the sullen Roscoe, who drank heavily to endure them.
The happy dreamer wandered into storm-areas like a somnambulist, and wandered out again unawakened.
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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 Turmoil: A Novel

Chapter XXIII

Reading 1/47 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Bibbs continued to live in the shelter of his dream.
Line 2
He had told Edith, after his ineffective effort to be useful in her affairs, that he had decided that he was “a member of the family”; but he appeared to have relapsed to the retired list after that one attempt at participancy--he was far enough detached from membership now.
Line 3
These were turbulent days in the New House, but Bibbs had no part whatever in the turbulence--he seemed an absent-minded stranger, present by accident and not wholly aware that he was present.
Line 4
He would sit, faintly smiling over pleasant imaginings and dear reminiscences of his own, while battle raged between Edith and her father, or while Sheridan unloosed jeremiads upon the sullen Roscoe, who drank heavily to endure them.
Line 5
The happy dreamer wandered into storm-areas like a somnambulist, and wandered out again unawakened.

Learner Dictionary

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

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “He had told Edith, after his ineffective effort to be useful in her affairs, that he had decided that he was “a member of the family”; but he appeared to have relapsed to the retired list after that one attempt at participancy--he was far enough detached from membership now.”

Again noun US /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The happy dreamer wandered into storm-areas like a somnambulist, and wandered out again unawakened.”

Between preposition US /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading “He would sit, faintly smiling over pleasant imaginings and dear reminiscences of his own, while battle raged between Edith and her father, or while Sheridan unloosed jeremiads upon the sullen Roscoe, who drank heavily to endure them.”

Continued noun US /ˈcontinued/

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

From this reading “Bibbs continued to live in the shelter of his dream.”

Dream noun US /driːm/

A series of thoughts, images, or emotions during sleep.

From this reading “Bibbs continued to live in the shelter of his dream.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “He had told Edith, after his ineffective effort to be useful in her affairs, that he had decided that he was “a member of the family”; but he appeared to have relapsed to the retired list after that one attempt at participancy--he was far enough detached from membership now.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “He had told Edith, after his ineffective effort to be useful in her affairs, that he had decided that he was “a member of the family”; but he appeared to have relapsed to the retired list after that one attempt at participancy--he was far enough detached from membership now.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “He would sit, faintly smiling over pleasant imaginings and dear reminiscences of his own, while battle raged between Edith and her father, or while Sheridan unloosed jeremiads upon the sullen Roscoe, who drank heavily to endure them.”

Part noun US /part/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “These were turbulent days in the New House, but Bibbs had no part whatever in the turbulence--he seemed an absent-minded stranger, present by accident and not wholly aware that he was present.”

Pleasant noun US /pleasant/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He would sit, faintly smiling over pleasant imaginings and dear reminiscences of his own, while battle raged between Edith and her father, or while Sheridan unloosed jeremiads upon the sullen Roscoe, who drank heavily to endure them.”

Retired verb US /rɪˈtaɪərd/

went away to a private place

From this reading “He had told Edith, after his ineffective effort to be useful in her affairs, that he had decided that he was “a member of the family”; but he appeared to have relapsed to the retired list after that one attempt at participancy--he was far enough detached from membership now.”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “These were turbulent days in the New House, but Bibbs had no part whatever in the turbulence--he seemed an absent-minded stranger, present by accident and not wholly aware that he was present.”

These determiner US /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading “These were turbulent days in the New House, but Bibbs had no part whatever in the turbulence--he seemed an absent-minded stranger, present by accident and not wholly aware that he was present.”

Told noun US /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He had told Edith, after his ineffective effort to be useful in her affairs, that he had decided that he was “a member of the family”; but he appeared to have relapsed to the retired list after that one attempt at participancy--he was far enough detached from membership now.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “He would sit, faintly smiling over pleasant imaginings and dear reminiscences of his own, while battle raged between Edith and her father, or while Sheridan unloosed jeremiads upon the sullen Roscoe, who drank heavily to endure them.”

Whatever determiner US /ˌwʌˈtevər/

any or all of a kind, it does not matter which

From this reading “These were turbulent days in the New House, but Bibbs had no part whatever in the turbulence--he seemed an absent-minded stranger, present by accident and not wholly aware that he was present.”

While conjunction US /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading “He would sit, faintly smiling over pleasant imaginings and dear reminiscences of his own, while battle raged between Edith and her father, or while Sheridan unloosed jeremiads upon the sullen Roscoe, who drank heavily to endure them.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading “He would sit, faintly smiling over pleasant imaginings and dear reminiscences of his own, while battle raged between Edith and her father, or while Sheridan unloosed jeremiads upon the sullen Roscoe, who drank heavily to endure them.”

All words in this reading · 101

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 He had told Edith, after his ineffective effort to be useful in her affairs, that he had decided that he was “a member of the family”; but he appeared to have relapsed to the retired list after that one attempt at participancy--he was far enough detached from membership now.

absent-minded

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

From this reading These were turbulent days in the New House, but Bibbs had no part whatever in the turbulence--he seemed an absent-minded stranger, present by accident and not wholly aware that he was present.

accident

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

From this reading These were turbulent days in the New House, but Bibbs had no part whatever in the turbulence--he seemed an absent-minded stranger, present by accident and not wholly aware that he was present.

affairs

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

From this reading He had told Edith, after his ineffective effort to be useful in her affairs, that he had decided that he was “a member of the family”; but he appeared to have relapsed to the retired list after that one attempt at participancy--he was far enough detached from membership now.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading He had told Edith, after his ineffective effort to be useful in her affairs, that he had decided that he was “a member of the family”; but he appeared to have relapsed to the retired list after that one attempt at participancy--he was far enough detached from membership now.

againnounUS /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The happy dreamer wandered into storm-areas like a somnambulist, and wandered out again unawakened.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading These were turbulent days in the New House, but Bibbs had no part whatever in the turbulence--he seemed an absent-minded stranger, present by accident and not wholly aware that he was present.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading These were turbulent days in the New House, but Bibbs had no part whatever in the turbulence--he seemed an absent-minded stranger, present by accident and not wholly aware that he was present.

appeared

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

From this reading He had told Edith, after his ineffective effort to be useful in her affairs, that he had decided that he was “a member of the family”; but he appeared to have relapsed to the retired list after that one attempt at participancy--he was far enough detached from membership now.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading He had told Edith, after his ineffective effort to be useful in her affairs, that he had decided that he was “a member of the family”; but he appeared to have relapsed to the retired list after that one attempt at participancy--he was far enough detached from membership now.

attempt

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

From this reading He had told Edith, after his ineffective effort to be useful in her affairs, that he had decided that he was “a member of the family”; but he appeared to have relapsed to the retired list after that one attempt at participancy--he was far enough detached from membership now.

aware

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

From this reading These were turbulent days in the New House, but Bibbs had no part whatever in the turbulence--he seemed an absent-minded stranger, present by accident and not wholly aware that he was present.

battle

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

From this reading He would sit, faintly smiling over pleasant imaginings and dear reminiscences of his own, while battle raged between Edith and her father, or while Sheridan unloosed jeremiads upon the sullen Roscoe, who drank heavily to endure them.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading He had told Edith, after his ineffective effort to be useful in her affairs, that he had decided that he was “a member of the family”; but he appeared to have relapsed to the retired list after that one attempt at participancy--he was far enough detached from membership now.

betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading He would sit, faintly smiling over pleasant imaginings and dear reminiscences of his own, while battle raged between Edith and her father, or while Sheridan unloosed jeremiads upon the sullen Roscoe, who drank heavily to endure them.

Bibbs

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

From this reading Bibbs continued to live in the shelter of his dream.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading He had told Edith, after his ineffective effort to be useful in her affairs, that he had decided that he was “a member of the family”; but he appeared to have relapsed to the retired list after that one attempt at participancy--he was far enough detached from membership now.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading These were turbulent days in the New House, but Bibbs had no part whatever in the turbulence--he seemed an absent-minded stranger, present by accident and not wholly aware that he was present.

continuednounUS /ˈcontinued/

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

From this reading Bibbs continued to live in the shelter of his dream.

days

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

From this reading These were turbulent days in the New House, but Bibbs had no part whatever in the turbulence--he seemed an absent-minded stranger, present by accident and not wholly aware that he was present.

dear

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

From this reading He would sit, faintly smiling over pleasant imaginings and dear reminiscences of his own, while battle raged between Edith and her father, or while Sheridan unloosed jeremiads upon the sullen Roscoe, who drank heavily to endure them.

decided

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

From this reading He had told Edith, after his ineffective effort to be useful in her affairs, that he had decided that he was “a member of the family”; but he appeared to have relapsed to the retired list after that one attempt at participancy--he was far enough detached from membership now.

detached

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

From this reading He had told Edith, after his ineffective effort to be useful in her affairs, that he had decided that he was “a member of the family”; but he appeared to have relapsed to the retired list after that one attempt at participancy--he was far enough detached from membership now.

drank

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

From this reading He would sit, faintly smiling over pleasant imaginings and dear reminiscences of his own, while battle raged between Edith and her father, or while Sheridan unloosed jeremiads upon the sullen Roscoe, who drank heavily to endure them.

dreamnounUS /driːm/

A series of thoughts, images, or emotions during sleep.

From this reading Bibbs continued to live in the shelter of his dream.

dreamer

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

From this reading The happy dreamer wandered into storm-areas like a somnambulist, and wandered out again unawakened.

Edith

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

From this reading He had told Edith, after his ineffective effort to be useful in her affairs, that he had decided that he was “a member of the family”; but he appeared to have relapsed to the retired list after that one attempt at participancy--he was far enough detached from membership now.

effort

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

From this reading He had told Edith, after his ineffective effort to be useful in her affairs, that he had decided that he was “a member of the family”; but he appeared to have relapsed to the retired list after that one attempt at participancy--he was far enough detached from membership now.

endure

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

From this reading He would sit, faintly smiling over pleasant imaginings and dear reminiscences of his own, while battle raged between Edith and her father, or while Sheridan unloosed jeremiads upon the sullen Roscoe, who drank heavily to endure them.

enough

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

From this reading He had told Edith, after his ineffective effort to be useful in her affairs, that he had decided that he was “a member of the family”; but he appeared to have relapsed to the retired list after that one attempt at participancy--he was far enough detached from membership now.

faintly

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

From this reading He would sit, faintly smiling over pleasant imaginings and dear reminiscences of his own, while battle raged between Edith and her father, or while Sheridan unloosed jeremiads upon the sullen Roscoe, who drank heavily to endure them.

family

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

From this reading He had told Edith, after his ineffective effort to be useful in her affairs, that he had decided that he was “a member of the family”; but he appeared to have relapsed to the retired list after that one attempt at participancy--he was far enough detached from membership now.

far

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

From this reading He had told Edith, after his ineffective effort to be useful in her affairs, that he had decided that he was “a member of the family”; but he appeared to have relapsed to the retired list after that one attempt at participancy--he was far enough detached from membership now.

father

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

From this reading He would sit, faintly smiling over pleasant imaginings and dear reminiscences of his own, while battle raged between Edith and her father, or while Sheridan unloosed jeremiads upon the sullen Roscoe, who drank heavily to endure them.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading He had told Edith, after his ineffective effort to be useful in her affairs, that he had decided that he was “a member of the family”; but he appeared to have relapsed to the retired list after that one attempt at participancy--he was far enough detached from membership now.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading He had told Edith, after his ineffective effort to be useful in her affairs, that he had decided that he was “a member of the family”; but he appeared to have relapsed to the retired list after that one attempt at participancy--he was far enough detached from membership now.

happy

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

From this reading The happy dreamer wandered into storm-areas like a somnambulist, and wandered out again unawakened.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading He had told Edith, after his ineffective effort to be useful in her affairs, that he had decided that he was “a member of the family”; but he appeared to have relapsed to the retired list after that one attempt at participancy--he was far enough detached from membership now.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He had told Edith, after his ineffective effort to be useful in her affairs, that he had decided that he was “a member of the family”; but he appeared to have relapsed to the retired list after that one attempt at participancy--he was far enough detached from membership now.

heavily

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

From this reading He would sit, faintly smiling over pleasant imaginings and dear reminiscences of his own, while battle raged between Edith and her father, or while Sheridan unloosed jeremiads upon the sullen Roscoe, who drank heavily to endure them.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading He had told Edith, after his ineffective effort to be useful in her affairs, that he had decided that he was “a member of the family”; but he appeared to have relapsed to the retired list after that one attempt at participancy--he was far enough detached from membership now.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Bibbs continued to live in the shelter of his dream.

House

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

From this reading These were turbulent days in the New House, but Bibbs had no part whatever in the turbulence--he seemed an absent-minded stranger, present by accident and not wholly aware that he was present.

imaginings

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

From this reading He would sit, faintly smiling over pleasant imaginings and dear reminiscences of his own, while battle raged between Edith and her father, or while Sheridan unloosed jeremiads upon the sullen Roscoe, who drank heavily to endure them.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Bibbs continued to live in the shelter of his dream.

ineffective

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

From this reading He had told Edith, after his ineffective effort to be useful in her affairs, that he had decided that he was “a member of the family”; but he appeared to have relapsed to the retired list after that one attempt at participancy--he was far enough detached from membership now.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading The happy dreamer wandered into storm-areas like a somnambulist, and wandered out again unawakened.

jeremiads

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

From this reading He would sit, faintly smiling over pleasant imaginings and dear reminiscences of his own, while battle raged between Edith and her father, or while Sheridan unloosed jeremiads upon the sullen Roscoe, who drank heavily to endure them.

like

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

From this reading The happy dreamer wandered into storm-areas like a somnambulist, and wandered out again unawakened.

list

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

From this reading He had told Edith, after his ineffective effort to be useful in her affairs, that he had decided that he was “a member of the family”; but he appeared to have relapsed to the retired list after that one attempt at participancy--he was far enough detached from membership now.

live

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

From this reading Bibbs continued to live in the shelter of his dream.

member

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

From this reading He had told Edith, after his ineffective effort to be useful in her affairs, that he had decided that he was “a member of the family”; but he appeared to have relapsed to the retired list after that one attempt at participancy--he was far enough detached from membership now.

membership

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

From this reading He had told Edith, after his ineffective effort to be useful in her affairs, that he had decided that he was “a member of the family”; but he appeared to have relapsed to the retired list after that one attempt at participancy--he was far enough detached from membership now.

New

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

From this reading These were turbulent days in the New House, but Bibbs had no part whatever in the turbulence--he seemed an absent-minded stranger, present by accident and not wholly aware that he was present.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading These were turbulent days in the New House, but Bibbs had no part whatever in the turbulence--he seemed an absent-minded stranger, present by accident and not wholly aware that he was present.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading These were turbulent days in the New House, but Bibbs had no part whatever in the turbulence--he seemed an absent-minded stranger, present by accident and not wholly aware that he was present.

now

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

From this reading He had told Edith, after his ineffective effort to be useful in her affairs, that he had decided that he was “a member of the family”; but he appeared to have relapsed to the retired list after that one attempt at participancy--he was far enough detached from membership now.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Bibbs continued to live in the shelter of his dream.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading He had told Edith, after his ineffective effort to be useful in her affairs, that he had decided that he was “a member of the family”; but he appeared to have relapsed to the retired list after that one attempt at participancy--he was far enough detached from membership now.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading He would sit, faintly smiling over pleasant imaginings and dear reminiscences of his own, while battle raged between Edith and her father, or while Sheridan unloosed jeremiads upon the sullen Roscoe, who drank heavily to endure them.

out

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

From this reading The happy dreamer wandered into storm-areas like a somnambulist, and wandered out again unawakened.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading He would sit, faintly smiling over pleasant imaginings and dear reminiscences of his own, while battle raged between Edith and her father, or while Sheridan unloosed jeremiads upon the sullen Roscoe, who drank heavily to endure them.

own

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

From this reading He would sit, faintly smiling over pleasant imaginings and dear reminiscences of his own, while battle raged between Edith and her father, or while Sheridan unloosed jeremiads upon the sullen Roscoe, who drank heavily to endure them.

partnounUS /part/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading These were turbulent days in the New House, but Bibbs had no part whatever in the turbulence--he seemed an absent-minded stranger, present by accident and not wholly aware that he was present.

participancy

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

From this reading He had told Edith, after his ineffective effort to be useful in her affairs, that he had decided that he was “a member of the family”; but he appeared to have relapsed to the retired list after that one attempt at participancy--he was far enough detached from membership now.

pleasantnounUS /pleasant/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He would sit, faintly smiling over pleasant imaginings and dear reminiscences of his own, while battle raged between Edith and her father, or while Sheridan unloosed jeremiads upon the sullen Roscoe, who drank heavily to endure them.

present

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

From this reading These were turbulent days in the New House, but Bibbs had no part whatever in the turbulence--he seemed an absent-minded stranger, present by accident and not wholly aware that he was present.

raged

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

From this reading He would sit, faintly smiling over pleasant imaginings and dear reminiscences of his own, while battle raged between Edith and her father, or while Sheridan unloosed jeremiads upon the sullen Roscoe, who drank heavily to endure them.

relapsed

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

From this reading He had told Edith, after his ineffective effort to be useful in her affairs, that he had decided that he was “a member of the family”; but he appeared to have relapsed to the retired list after that one attempt at participancy--he was far enough detached from membership now.

reminiscences

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

From this reading He would sit, faintly smiling over pleasant imaginings and dear reminiscences of his own, while battle raged between Edith and her father, or while Sheridan unloosed jeremiads upon the sullen Roscoe, who drank heavily to endure them.

retiredverbUS /rɪˈtaɪərd/

went away to a private place

From this reading He had told Edith, after his ineffective effort to be useful in her affairs, that he had decided that he was “a member of the family”; but he appeared to have relapsed to the retired list after that one attempt at participancy--he was far enough detached from membership now.

Roscoe

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

From this reading He would sit, faintly smiling over pleasant imaginings and dear reminiscences of his own, while battle raged between Edith and her father, or while Sheridan unloosed jeremiads upon the sullen Roscoe, who drank heavily to endure them.

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading These were turbulent days in the New House, but Bibbs had no part whatever in the turbulence--he seemed an absent-minded stranger, present by accident and not wholly aware that he was present.

shelter

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

From this reading Bibbs continued to live in the shelter of his dream.

Sheridan

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

From this reading He would sit, faintly smiling over pleasant imaginings and dear reminiscences of his own, while battle raged between Edith and her father, or while Sheridan unloosed jeremiads upon the sullen Roscoe, who drank heavily to endure them.

sit

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

From this reading He would sit, faintly smiling over pleasant imaginings and dear reminiscences of his own, while battle raged between Edith and her father, or while Sheridan unloosed jeremiads upon the sullen Roscoe, who drank heavily to endure them.

smiling

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

From this reading He would sit, faintly smiling over pleasant imaginings and dear reminiscences of his own, while battle raged between Edith and her father, or while Sheridan unloosed jeremiads upon the sullen Roscoe, who drank heavily to endure them.

somnambulist

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

From this reading The happy dreamer wandered into storm-areas like a somnambulist, and wandered out again unawakened.

storm-areas

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

From this reading The happy dreamer wandered into storm-areas like a somnambulist, and wandered out again unawakened.

stranger

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

From this reading These were turbulent days in the New House, but Bibbs had no part whatever in the turbulence--he seemed an absent-minded stranger, present by accident and not wholly aware that he was present.

sullen

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

From this reading He would sit, faintly smiling over pleasant imaginings and dear reminiscences of his own, while battle raged between Edith and her father, or while Sheridan unloosed jeremiads upon the sullen Roscoe, who drank heavily to endure them.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He had told Edith, after his ineffective effort to be useful in her affairs, that he had decided that he was “a member of the family”; but he appeared to have relapsed to the retired list after that one attempt at participancy--he was far enough detached from membership now.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Bibbs continued to live in the shelter of his dream.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading He would sit, faintly smiling over pleasant imaginings and dear reminiscences of his own, while battle raged between Edith and her father, or while Sheridan unloosed jeremiads upon the sullen Roscoe, who drank heavily to endure them.

ThesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading These were turbulent days in the New House, but Bibbs had no part whatever in the turbulence--he seemed an absent-minded stranger, present by accident and not wholly aware that he was present.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Bibbs continued to live in the shelter of his dream.

toldnounUS /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He had told Edith, after his ineffective effort to be useful in her affairs, that he had decided that he was “a member of the family”; but he appeared to have relapsed to the retired list after that one attempt at participancy--he was far enough detached from membership now.

turbulence

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

From this reading These were turbulent days in the New House, but Bibbs had no part whatever in the turbulence--he seemed an absent-minded stranger, present by accident and not wholly aware that he was present.

turbulent

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

From this reading These were turbulent days in the New House, but Bibbs had no part whatever in the turbulence--he seemed an absent-minded stranger, present by accident and not wholly aware that he was present.

unawakened

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

From this reading The happy dreamer wandered into storm-areas like a somnambulist, and wandered out again unawakened.

unloosed

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

From this reading He would sit, faintly smiling over pleasant imaginings and dear reminiscences of his own, while battle raged between Edith and her father, or while Sheridan unloosed jeremiads upon the sullen Roscoe, who drank heavily to endure them.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading He would sit, faintly smiling over pleasant imaginings and dear reminiscences of his own, while battle raged between Edith and her father, or while Sheridan unloosed jeremiads upon the sullen Roscoe, who drank heavily to endure them.

useful

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

From this reading He had told Edith, after his ineffective effort to be useful in her affairs, that he had decided that he was “a member of the family”; but he appeared to have relapsed to the retired list after that one attempt at participancy--he was far enough detached from membership now.

wandered

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

From this reading The happy dreamer wandered into storm-areas like a somnambulist, and wandered out again unawakened.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading He had told Edith, after his ineffective effort to be useful in her affairs, that he had decided that he was “a member of the family”; but he appeared to have relapsed to the retired list after that one attempt at participancy--he was far enough detached from membership now.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading These were turbulent days in the New House, but Bibbs had no part whatever in the turbulence--he seemed an absent-minded stranger, present by accident and not wholly aware that he was present.

whateverdeterminerUS /ˌwʌˈtevər/

any or all of a kind, it does not matter which

From this reading These were turbulent days in the New House, but Bibbs had no part whatever in the turbulence--he seemed an absent-minded stranger, present by accident and not wholly aware that he was present.

whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading He would sit, faintly smiling over pleasant imaginings and dear reminiscences of his own, while battle raged between Edith and her father, or while Sheridan unloosed jeremiads upon the sullen Roscoe, who drank heavily to endure them.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading He would sit, faintly smiling over pleasant imaginings and dear reminiscences of his own, while battle raged between Edith and her father, or while Sheridan unloosed jeremiads upon the sullen Roscoe, who drank heavily to endure them.

wholly

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

From this reading These were turbulent days in the New House, but Bibbs had no part whatever in the turbulence--he seemed an absent-minded stranger, present by accident and not wholly aware that he was present.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading He would sit, faintly smiling over pleasant imaginings and dear reminiscences of his own, while battle raged between Edith and her father, or while Sheridan unloosed jeremiads upon the sullen Roscoe, who drank heavily to endure them.