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 There was a heavy town-fog that afternoon, a smoke-mist, densest in the sanctuary of the temple.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The people went about in it, busy and dirty, thickening their outside and inside linings of coal-tar, asphalt, sulphurous acid, oil of vitriol, and the other familiar things the men liked to breathe and to have upon their skins and garments and upon their wives and babies and sweethearts.
acid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The people went about in it, busy and dirty, thickening their outside and inside linings of coal-tar, asphalt, sulphurous acid, oil of vitriol, and the other familiar things the men liked to breathe and to have upon their skins and garments and upon their wives and babies and sweethearts.
afternoonnounUS /ˈafternoon/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading There was a heavy town-fog that afternoon, a smoke-mist, densest in the sanctuary of the temple.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The people went about in it, busy and dirty, thickening their outside and inside linings of coal-tar, asphalt, sulphurous acid, oil of vitriol, and the other familiar things the men liked to breathe and to have upon their skins and garments and upon their wives and babies and sweethearts.
anyhow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The traffic policeman had a hard time, for the people were independent--they retained some habits of the old market-town period, and would cross the street anywhere and anyhow, which not only got them killed more frequently than if they clung to the legal crossings, but kept the motormen, the chauffeurs, and the truck-drivers in a stew of profane nervousness.
anywhere
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The traffic policeman had a hard time, for the people were independent--they retained some habits of the old market-town period, and would cross the street anywhere and anyhow, which not only got them killed more frequently than if they clung to the legal crossings, but kept the motormen, the chauffeurs, and the truck-drivers in a stew of profane nervousness.
asphalt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The people went about in it, busy and dirty, thickening their outside and inside linings of coal-tar, asphalt, sulphurous acid, oil of vitriol, and the other familiar things the men liked to breathe and to have upon their skins and garments and upon their wives and babies and sweethearts.
babies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The people went about in it, busy and dirty, thickening their outside and inside linings of coal-tar, asphalt, sulphurous acid, oil of vitriol, and the other familiar things the men liked to breathe and to have upon their skins and garments and upon their wives and babies and sweethearts.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading There was more smoke than there had been this day of February a year earlier; there was more noise; and the crowds were thicker--yet quicker in spite of that.
breatheverbUS /briːð/
to speak or reveal information, especially secretly
From this reading The people went about in it, busy and dirty, thickening their outside and inside linings of coal-tar, asphalt, sulphurous acid, oil of vitriol, and the other familiar things the men liked to breathe and to have upon their skins and garments and upon their wives and babies and sweethearts.
busy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The people went about in it, busy and dirty, thickening their outside and inside linings of coal-tar, asphalt, sulphurous acid, oil of vitriol, and the other familiar things the men liked to breathe and to have upon their skins and garments and upon their wives and babies and sweethearts.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The traffic policeman had a hard time, for the people were independent--they retained some habits of the old market-town period, and would cross the street anywhere and anyhow, which not only got them killed more frequently than if they clung to the legal crossings, but kept the motormen, the chauffeurs, and the truck-drivers in a stew of profane nervousness.
chauffeurs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The traffic policeman had a hard time, for the people were independent--they retained some habits of the old market-town period, and would cross the street anywhere and anyhow, which not only got them killed more frequently than if they clung to the legal crossings, but kept the motormen, the chauffeurs, and the truck-drivers in a stew of profane nervousness.
city
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The growth of the city was visible in the smoke and the noise and the rush.
clungnounUS /clung/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The traffic policeman had a hard time, for the people were independent--they retained some habits of the old market-town period, and would cross the street anywhere and anyhow, which not only got them killed more frequently than if they clung to the legal crossings, but kept the motormen, the chauffeurs, and the truck-drivers in a stew of profane nervousness.
coal-tar
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The people went about in it, busy and dirty, thickening their outside and inside linings of coal-tar, asphalt, sulphurous acid, oil of vitriol, and the other familiar things the men liked to breathe and to have upon their skins and garments and upon their wives and babies and sweethearts.
cross
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The traffic policeman had a hard time, for the people were independent--they retained some habits of the old market-town period, and would cross the street anywhere and anyhow, which not only got them killed more frequently than if they clung to the legal crossings, but kept the motormen, the chauffeurs, and the truck-drivers in a stew of profane nervousness.
crossings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The traffic policeman had a hard time, for the people were independent--they retained some habits of the old market-town period, and would cross the street anywhere and anyhow, which not only got them killed more frequently than if they clung to the legal crossings, but kept the motormen, the chauffeurs, and the truck-drivers in a stew of profane nervousness.
crowds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was more smoke than there had been this day of February a year earlier; there was more noise; and the crowds were thicker--yet quicker in spite of that.
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was more smoke than there had been this day of February a year earlier; there was more noise; and the crowds were thicker--yet quicker in spite of that.
densest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a heavy town-fog that afternoon, a smoke-mist, densest in the sanctuary of the temple.
dirty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The people went about in it, busy and dirty, thickening their outside and inside linings of coal-tar, asphalt, sulphurous acid, oil of vitriol, and the other familiar things the men liked to breathe and to have upon their skins and garments and upon their wives and babies and sweethearts.
earlier
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was more smoke than there had been this day of February a year earlier; there was more noise; and the crowds were thicker--yet quicker in spite of that.
familiar
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The people went about in it, busy and dirty, thickening their outside and inside linings of coal-tar, asphalt, sulphurous acid, oil of vitriol, and the other familiar things the men liked to breathe and to have upon their skins and garments and upon their wives and babies and sweethearts.
February
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was more smoke than there had been this day of February a year earlier; there was more noise; and the crowds were thicker--yet quicker in spite of that.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The traffic policeman had a hard time, for the people were independent--they retained some habits of the old market-town period, and would cross the street anywhere and anyhow, which not only got them killed more frequently than if they clung to the legal crossings, but kept the motormen, the chauffeurs, and the truck-drivers in a stew of profane nervousness.
frequently
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The traffic policeman had a hard time, for the people were independent--they retained some habits of the old market-town period, and would cross the street anywhere and anyhow, which not only got them killed more frequently than if they clung to the legal crossings, but kept the motormen, the chauffeurs, and the truck-drivers in a stew of profane nervousness.
garments
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The people went about in it, busy and dirty, thickening their outside and inside linings of coal-tar, asphalt, sulphurous acid, oil of vitriol, and the other familiar things the men liked to breathe and to have upon their skins and garments and upon their wives and babies and sweethearts.
got
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The traffic policeman had a hard time, for the people were independent--they retained some habits of the old market-town period, and would cross the street anywhere and anyhow, which not only got them killed more frequently than if they clung to the legal crossings, but kept the motormen, the chauffeurs, and the truck-drivers in a stew of profane nervousness.
growth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The growth of the city was visible in the smoke and the noise and the rush.
habits
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The traffic policeman had a hard time, for the people were independent--they retained some habits of the old market-town period, and would cross the street anywhere and anyhow, which not only got them killed more frequently than if they clung to the legal crossings, but kept the motormen, the chauffeurs, and the truck-drivers in a stew of profane nervousness.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading There was more smoke than there had been this day of February a year earlier; there was more noise; and the crowds were thicker--yet quicker in spite of that.
hard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The traffic policeman had a hard time, for the people were independent--they retained some habits of the old market-town period, and would cross the street anywhere and anyhow, which not only got them killed more frequently than if they clung to the legal crossings, but kept the motormen, the chauffeurs, and the truck-drivers in a stew of profane nervousness.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The people went about in it, busy and dirty, thickening their outside and inside linings of coal-tar, asphalt, sulphurous acid, oil of vitriol, and the other familiar things the men liked to breathe and to have upon their skins and garments and upon their wives and babies and sweethearts.
heavy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a heavy town-fog that afternoon, a smoke-mist, densest in the sanctuary of the temple.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The traffic policeman had a hard time, for the people were independent--they retained some habits of the old market-town period, and would cross the street anywhere and anyhow, which not only got them killed more frequently than if they clung to the legal crossings, but kept the motormen, the chauffeurs, and the truck-drivers in a stew of profane nervousness.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There was a heavy town-fog that afternoon, a smoke-mist, densest in the sanctuary of the temple.
independent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The traffic policeman had a hard time, for the people were independent--they retained some habits of the old market-town period, and would cross the street anywhere and anyhow, which not only got them killed more frequently than if they clung to the legal crossings, but kept the motormen, the chauffeurs, and the truck-drivers in a stew of profane nervousness.
inside
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The people went about in it, busy and dirty, thickening their outside and inside linings of coal-tar, asphalt, sulphurous acid, oil of vitriol, and the other familiar things the men liked to breathe and to have upon their skins and garments and upon their wives and babies and sweethearts.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The people went about in it, busy and dirty, thickening their outside and inside linings of coal-tar, asphalt, sulphurous acid, oil of vitriol, and the other familiar things the men liked to breathe and to have upon their skins and garments and upon their wives and babies and sweethearts.
kept
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The traffic policeman had a hard time, for the people were independent--they retained some habits of the old market-town period, and would cross the street anywhere and anyhow, which not only got them killed more frequently than if they clung to the legal crossings, but kept the motormen, the chauffeurs, and the truck-drivers in a stew of profane nervousness.
killed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The traffic policeman had a hard time, for the people were independent--they retained some habits of the old market-town period, and would cross the street anywhere and anyhow, which not only got them killed more frequently than if they clung to the legal crossings, but kept the motormen, the chauffeurs, and the truck-drivers in a stew of profane nervousness.
legal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The traffic policeman had a hard time, for the people were independent--they retained some habits of the old market-town period, and would cross the street anywhere and anyhow, which not only got them killed more frequently than if they clung to the legal crossings, but kept the motormen, the chauffeurs, and the truck-drivers in a stew of profane nervousness.
liked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The people went about in it, busy and dirty, thickening their outside and inside linings of coal-tar, asphalt, sulphurous acid, oil of vitriol, and the other familiar things the men liked to breathe and to have upon their skins and garments and upon their wives and babies and sweethearts.
linings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The people went about in it, busy and dirty, thickening their outside and inside linings of coal-tar, asphalt, sulphurous acid, oil of vitriol, and the other familiar things the men liked to breathe and to have upon their skins and garments and upon their wives and babies and sweethearts.
market-town
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The traffic policeman had a hard time, for the people were independent--they retained some habits of the old market-town period, and would cross the street anywhere and anyhow, which not only got them killed more frequently than if they clung to the legal crossings, but kept the motormen, the chauffeurs, and the truck-drivers in a stew of profane nervousness.
men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The people went about in it, busy and dirty, thickening their outside and inside linings of coal-tar, asphalt, sulphurous acid, oil of vitriol, and the other familiar things the men liked to breathe and to have upon their skins and garments and upon their wives and babies and sweethearts.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was more smoke than there had been this day of February a year earlier; there was more noise; and the crowds were thicker--yet quicker in spite of that.
motormen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The traffic policeman had a hard time, for the people were independent--they retained some habits of the old market-town period, and would cross the street anywhere and anyhow, which not only got them killed more frequently than if they clung to the legal crossings, but kept the motormen, the chauffeurs, and the truck-drivers in a stew of profane nervousness.
nervousness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The traffic policeman had a hard time, for the people were independent--they retained some habits of the old market-town period, and would cross the street anywhere and anyhow, which not only got them killed more frequently than if they clung to the legal crossings, but kept the motormen, the chauffeurs, and the truck-drivers in a stew of profane nervousness.
noise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The growth of the city was visible in the smoke and the noise and the rush.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The traffic policeman had a hard time, for the people were independent--they retained some habits of the old market-town period, and would cross the street anywhere and anyhow, which not only got them killed more frequently than if they clung to the legal crossings, but kept the motormen, the chauffeurs, and the truck-drivers in a stew of profane nervousness.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There was a heavy town-fog that afternoon, a smoke-mist, densest in the sanctuary of the temple.
oilnounUS /ɔɪl/
A viscous liquid derived from petroleum or plants, stored in large earthen jars.
From this reading The people went about in it, busy and dirty, thickening their outside and inside linings of coal-tar, asphalt, sulphurous acid, oil of vitriol, and the other familiar things the men liked to breathe and to have upon their skins and garments and upon their wives and babies and sweethearts.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The traffic policeman had a hard time, for the people were independent--they retained some habits of the old market-town period, and would cross the street anywhere and anyhow, which not only got them killed more frequently than if they clung to the legal crossings, but kept the motormen, the chauffeurs, and the truck-drivers in a stew of profane nervousness.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The traffic policeman had a hard time, for the people were independent--they retained some habits of the old market-town period, and would cross the street anywhere and anyhow, which not only got them killed more frequently than if they clung to the legal crossings, but kept the motormen, the chauffeurs, and the truck-drivers in a stew of profane nervousness.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The people went about in it, busy and dirty, thickening their outside and inside linings of coal-tar, asphalt, sulphurous acid, oil of vitriol, and the other familiar things the men liked to breathe and to have upon their skins and garments and upon their wives and babies and sweethearts.
outsidenounUS /ˈoutside/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The people went about in it, busy and dirty, thickening their outside and inside linings of coal-tar, asphalt, sulphurous acid, oil of vitriol, and the other familiar things the men liked to breathe and to have upon their skins and garments and upon their wives and babies and sweethearts.
people
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The people went about in it, busy and dirty, thickening their outside and inside linings of coal-tar, asphalt, sulphurous acid, oil of vitriol, and the other familiar things the men liked to breathe and to have upon their skins and garments and upon their wives and babies and sweethearts.
period
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The traffic policeman had a hard time, for the people were independent--they retained some habits of the old market-town period, and would cross the street anywhere and anyhow, which not only got them killed more frequently than if they clung to the legal crossings, but kept the motormen, the chauffeurs, and the truck-drivers in a stew of profane nervousness.
policeman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The traffic policeman had a hard time, for the people were independent--they retained some habits of the old market-town period, and would cross the street anywhere and anyhow, which not only got them killed more frequently than if they clung to the legal crossings, but kept the motormen, the chauffeurs, and the truck-drivers in a stew of profane nervousness.
profane
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The traffic policeman had a hard time, for the people were independent--they retained some habits of the old market-town period, and would cross the street anywhere and anyhow, which not only got them killed more frequently than if they clung to the legal crossings, but kept the motormen, the chauffeurs, and the truck-drivers in a stew of profane nervousness.
quicker
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was more smoke than there had been this day of February a year earlier; there was more noise; and the crowds were thicker--yet quicker in spite of that.
retained
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The traffic policeman had a hard time, for the people were independent--they retained some habits of the old market-town period, and would cross the street anywhere and anyhow, which not only got them killed more frequently than if they clung to the legal crossings, but kept the motormen, the chauffeurs, and the truck-drivers in a stew of profane nervousness.
rush
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The growth of the city was visible in the smoke and the noise and the rush.
sanctuarynounUS /ˈsæŋk.tʃu.er.i/
A place of safety, refuge, or holy retreat within the academy.
From this reading There was a heavy town-fog that afternoon, a smoke-mist, densest in the sanctuary of the temple.
skins
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The people went about in it, busy and dirty, thickening their outside and inside linings of coal-tar, asphalt, sulphurous acid, oil of vitriol, and the other familiar things the men liked to breathe and to have upon their skins and garments and upon their wives and babies and sweethearts.
smoke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The growth of the city was visible in the smoke and the noise and the rush.
smoke-mist
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a heavy town-fog that afternoon, a smoke-mist, densest in the sanctuary of the temple.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The traffic policeman had a hard time, for the people were independent--they retained some habits of the old market-town period, and would cross the street anywhere and anyhow, which not only got them killed more frequently than if they clung to the legal crossings, but kept the motormen, the chauffeurs, and the truck-drivers in a stew of profane nervousness.
spite
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was more smoke than there had been this day of February a year earlier; there was more noise; and the crowds were thicker--yet quicker in spite of that.
stew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The traffic policeman had a hard time, for the people were independent--they retained some habits of the old market-town period, and would cross the street anywhere and anyhow, which not only got them killed more frequently than if they clung to the legal crossings, but kept the motormen, the chauffeurs, and the truck-drivers in a stew of profane nervousness.
street
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The traffic policeman had a hard time, for the people were independent--they retained some habits of the old market-town period, and would cross the street anywhere and anyhow, which not only got them killed more frequently than if they clung to the legal crossings, but kept the motormen, the chauffeurs, and the truck-drivers in a stew of profane nervousness.
sulphurous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The people went about in it, busy and dirty, thickening their outside and inside linings of coal-tar, asphalt, sulphurous acid, oil of vitriol, and the other familiar things the men liked to breathe and to have upon their skins and garments and upon their wives and babies and sweethearts.
sweethearts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The people went about in it, busy and dirty, thickening their outside and inside linings of coal-tar, asphalt, sulphurous acid, oil of vitriol, and the other familiar things the men liked to breathe and to have upon their skins and garments and upon their wives and babies and sweethearts.
temple
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a heavy town-fog that afternoon, a smoke-mist, densest in the sanctuary of the temple.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading There was more smoke than there had been this day of February a year earlier; there was more noise; and the crowds were thicker--yet quicker in spite of that.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There was a heavy town-fog that afternoon, a smoke-mist, densest in the sanctuary of the temple.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading There was a heavy town-fog that afternoon, a smoke-mist, densest in the sanctuary of the temple.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The people went about in it, busy and dirty, thickening their outside and inside linings of coal-tar, asphalt, sulphurous acid, oil of vitriol, and the other familiar things the men liked to breathe and to have upon their skins and garments and upon their wives and babies and sweethearts.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The traffic policeman had a hard time, for the people were independent--they retained some habits of the old market-town period, and would cross the street anywhere and anyhow, which not only got them killed more frequently than if they clung to the legal crossings, but kept the motormen, the chauffeurs, and the truck-drivers in a stew of profane nervousness.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a heavy town-fog that afternoon, a smoke-mist, densest in the sanctuary of the temple.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The traffic policeman had a hard time, for the people were independent--they retained some habits of the old market-town period, and would cross the street anywhere and anyhow, which not only got them killed more frequently than if they clung to the legal crossings, but kept the motormen, the chauffeurs, and the truck-drivers in a stew of profane nervousness.
thickening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The people went about in it, busy and dirty, thickening their outside and inside linings of coal-tar, asphalt, sulphurous acid, oil of vitriol, and the other familiar things the men liked to breathe and to have upon their skins and garments and upon their wives and babies and sweethearts.
thicker
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was more smoke than there had been this day of February a year earlier; there was more noise; and the crowds were thicker--yet quicker in spite of that.
things
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The people went about in it, busy and dirty, thickening their outside and inside linings of coal-tar, asphalt, sulphurous acid, oil of vitriol, and the other familiar things the men liked to breathe and to have upon their skins and garments and upon their wives and babies and sweethearts.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading There was more smoke than there had been this day of February a year earlier; there was more noise; and the crowds were thicker--yet quicker in spite of that.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The traffic policeman had a hard time, for the people were independent--they retained some habits of the old market-town period, and would cross the street anywhere and anyhow, which not only got them killed more frequently than if they clung to the legal crossings, but kept the motormen, the chauffeurs, and the truck-drivers in a stew of profane nervousness.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The people went about in it, busy and dirty, thickening their outside and inside linings of coal-tar, asphalt, sulphurous acid, oil of vitriol, and the other familiar things the men liked to breathe and to have upon their skins and garments and upon their wives and babies and sweethearts.
town-fog
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a heavy town-fog that afternoon, a smoke-mist, densest in the sanctuary of the temple.
traffic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The traffic policeman had a hard time, for the people were independent--they retained some habits of the old market-town period, and would cross the street anywhere and anyhow, which not only got them killed more frequently than if they clung to the legal crossings, but kept the motormen, the chauffeurs, and the truck-drivers in a stew of profane nervousness.
truck-drivers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The traffic policeman had a hard time, for the people were independent--they retained some habits of the old market-town period, and would cross the street anywhere and anyhow, which not only got them killed more frequently than if they clung to the legal crossings, but kept the motormen, the chauffeurs, and the truck-drivers in a stew of profane nervousness.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The people went about in it, busy and dirty, thickening their outside and inside linings of coal-tar, asphalt, sulphurous acid, oil of vitriol, and the other familiar things the men liked to breathe and to have upon their skins and garments and upon their wives and babies and sweethearts.
visible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The growth of the city was visible in the smoke and the noise and the rush.
vitriol
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The people went about in it, busy and dirty, thickening their outside and inside linings of coal-tar, asphalt, sulphurous acid, oil of vitriol, and the other familiar things the men liked to breathe and to have upon their skins and garments and upon their wives and babies and sweethearts.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was a heavy town-fog that afternoon, a smoke-mist, densest in the sanctuary of the temple.
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The people went about in it, busy and dirty, thickening their outside and inside linings of coal-tar, asphalt, sulphurous acid, oil of vitriol, and the other familiar things the men liked to breathe and to have upon their skins and garments and upon their wives and babies and sweethearts.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There was more smoke than there had been this day of February a year earlier; there was more noise; and the crowds were thicker--yet quicker in spite of that.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The traffic policeman had a hard time, for the people were independent--they retained some habits of the old market-town period, and would cross the street anywhere and anyhow, which not only got them killed more frequently than if they clung to the legal crossings, but kept the motormen, the chauffeurs, and the truck-drivers in a stew of profane nervousness.
wives
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The people went about in it, busy and dirty, thickening their outside and inside linings of coal-tar, asphalt, sulphurous acid, oil of vitriol, and the other familiar things the men liked to breathe and to have upon their skins and garments and upon their wives and babies and sweethearts.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The traffic policeman had a hard time, for the people were independent--they retained some habits of the old market-town period, and would cross the street anywhere and anyhow, which not only got them killed more frequently than if they clung to the legal crossings, but kept the motormen, the chauffeurs, and the truck-drivers in a stew of profane nervousness.
year
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was more smoke than there had been this day of February a year earlier; there was more noise; and the crowds were thicker--yet quicker in spite of that.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading There was more smoke than there had been this day of February a year earlier; there was more noise; and the crowds were thicker--yet quicker in spite of that.
