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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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.