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Urban Sketches
Urban Sketches

Chapter I

Cover illustration for Urban Sketches
Context Illustration Reading 1/31 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
As I glance across my table, I am somewhat distracted by the spectacle of a venerable head whose crown occasionally appears beyond, at about its level.
The apparition of a very small hand--whose fingers are bunchy and have the appearance of being slightly webbed--which is frequently lifted above the table in a vain and impotent attempt to reach the inkstand, always affects me as a novelty at each recurrence of the phenomenon.
Yet both the venerable head and bunchy fingers belong to an individual with whom I am familiar, and to whom, for certain reasons hereafter described, I choose to apply the epithet written above this article.
His advent in the family was attended with peculiar circumstances.
He was received with some concern--the number of retainers having been increased by one in honor of his arrival.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Urban Sketches

Chapter I

Reading 1/31 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
As I glance across my table, I am somewhat distracted by the spectacle of a venerable head whose crown occasionally appears beyond, at about its level.
Line 2
The apparition of a very small hand--whose fingers are bunchy and have the appearance of being slightly webbed--which is frequently lifted above the table in a vain and impotent attempt to reach the inkstand, always affects me as a novelty at each recurrence of the phenomenon.
Line 3
Yet both the venerable head and bunchy fingers belong to an individual with whom I am familiar, and to whom, for certain reasons hereafter described, I choose to apply the epithet written above this article.
Line 4
His advent in the family was attended with peculiar circumstances.
Line 5
He was received with some concern--the number of retainers having been increased by one in honor of his arrival.

Learner Dictionary

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

About preposition US /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “As I glance across my table, I am somewhat distracted by the spectacle of a venerable head whose crown occasionally appears beyond, at about its level.”

Above preposition US /əˈbʌv/

higher than, or over, something

From this reading “The apparition of a very small hand--whose fingers are bunchy and have the appearance of being slightly webbed--which is frequently lifted above the table in a vain and impotent attempt to reach the inkstand, always affects me as a novelty at each recurrence of the phenomenon.”

Across preposition US /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading “As I glance across my table, I am somewhat distracted by the spectacle of a venerable head whose crown occasionally appears beyond, at about its level.”

Appearance noun US /ˈappearance/

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

From this reading “The apparition of a very small hand--whose fingers are bunchy and have the appearance of being slightly webbed--which is frequently lifted above the table in a vain and impotent attempt to reach the inkstand, always affects me as a novelty at each recurrence of the phenomenon.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “He was received with some concern--the number of retainers having been increased by one in honor of his arrival.”

Being auxiliary verb US /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading “The apparition of a very small hand--whose fingers are bunchy and have the appearance of being slightly webbed--which is frequently lifted above the table in a vain and impotent attempt to reach the inkstand, always affects me as a novelty at each recurrence of the phenomenon.”

Beyond preposition US /bɪˈɑːnd/

on the far side of; further than

From this reading “As I glance across my table, I am somewhat distracted by the spectacle of a venerable head whose crown occasionally appears beyond, at about its level.”

Choose noun US /choose/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Yet both the venerable head and bunchy fingers belong to an individual with whom I am familiar, and to whom, for certain reasons hereafter described, I choose to apply the epithet written above this article.”

Hand noun US /hand/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The apparition of a very small hand--whose fingers are bunchy and have the appearance of being slightly webbed--which is frequently lifted above the table in a vain and impotent attempt to reach the inkstand, always affects me as a novelty at each recurrence of the phenomenon.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “The apparition of a very small hand--whose fingers are bunchy and have the appearance of being slightly webbed--which is frequently lifted above the table in a vain and impotent attempt to reach the inkstand, always affects me as a novelty at each recurrence of the phenomenon.”

Having auxiliary verb US /ˈhævɪŋ/

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading “He was received with some concern--the number of retainers having been increased by one in honor of his arrival.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “He was received with some concern--the number of retainers having been increased by one in honor of his arrival.”

Reasons noun US /ˈreasons/

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

From this reading “Yet both the venerable head and bunchy fingers belong to an individual with whom I am familiar, and to whom, for certain reasons hereafter described, I choose to apply the epithet written above this article.”

Whose determiner US /huːz/

belonging to which person

From this reading “As I glance across my table, I am somewhat distracted by the spectacle of a venerable head whose crown occasionally appears beyond, at about its level.”

Yet conjunction US /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading “Yet both the venerable head and bunchy fingers belong to an individual with whom I am familiar, and to whom, for certain reasons hereafter described, I choose to apply the epithet written above this article.”

All words in this reading · 95

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 As I glance across my table, I am somewhat distracted by the spectacle of a venerable head whose crown occasionally appears beyond, at about its level.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading As I glance across my table, I am somewhat distracted by the spectacle of a venerable head whose crown occasionally appears beyond, at about its level.

aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/

higher than, or over, something

From this reading The apparition of a very small hand--whose fingers are bunchy and have the appearance of being slightly webbed--which is frequently lifted above the table in a vain and impotent attempt to reach the inkstand, always affects me as a novelty at each recurrence of the phenomenon.

acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading As I glance across my table, I am somewhat distracted by the spectacle of a venerable head whose crown occasionally appears beyond, at about its level.

advent

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

From this reading His advent in the family was attended with peculiar circumstances.

affects

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

From this reading The apparition of a very small hand--whose fingers are bunchy and have the appearance of being slightly webbed--which is frequently lifted above the table in a vain and impotent attempt to reach the inkstand, always affects me as a novelty at each recurrence of the phenomenon.

always

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

From this reading The apparition of a very small hand--whose fingers are bunchy and have the appearance of being slightly webbed--which is frequently lifted above the table in a vain and impotent attempt to reach the inkstand, always affects me as a novelty at each recurrence of the phenomenon.

amauxiliary verbUS /æm/

the form of “be” used with “I”

From this reading As I glance across my table, I am somewhat distracted by the spectacle of a venerable head whose crown occasionally appears beyond, at about its level.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading Yet both the venerable head and bunchy fingers belong to an individual with whom I am familiar, and to whom, for certain reasons hereafter described, I choose to apply the epithet written above this article.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The apparition of a very small hand--whose fingers are bunchy and have the appearance of being slightly webbed--which is frequently lifted above the table in a vain and impotent attempt to reach the inkstand, always affects me as a novelty at each recurrence of the phenomenon.

apparition

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

From this reading The apparition of a very small hand--whose fingers are bunchy and have the appearance of being slightly webbed--which is frequently lifted above the table in a vain and impotent attempt to reach the inkstand, always affects me as a novelty at each recurrence of the phenomenon.

appearancenounUS /ˈappearance/

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

From this reading The apparition of a very small hand--whose fingers are bunchy and have the appearance of being slightly webbed--which is frequently lifted above the table in a vain and impotent attempt to reach the inkstand, always affects me as a novelty at each recurrence of the phenomenon.

appears

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

From this reading As I glance across my table, I am somewhat distracted by the spectacle of a venerable head whose crown occasionally appears beyond, at about its level.

apply

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

From this reading Yet both the venerable head and bunchy fingers belong to an individual with whom I am familiar, and to whom, for certain reasons hereafter described, I choose to apply the epithet written above this article.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading The apparition of a very small hand--whose fingers are bunchy and have the appearance of being slightly webbed--which is frequently lifted above the table in a vain and impotent attempt to reach the inkstand, always affects me as a novelty at each recurrence of the phenomenon.

arrival

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

From this reading He was received with some concern--the number of retainers having been increased by one in honor of his arrival.

article

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

From this reading Yet both the venerable head and bunchy fingers belong to an individual with whom I am familiar, and to whom, for certain reasons hereafter described, I choose to apply the epithet written above this article.

AsconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading As I glance across my table, I am somewhat distracted by the spectacle of a venerable head whose crown occasionally appears beyond, at about its level.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading As I glance across my table, I am somewhat distracted by the spectacle of a venerable head whose crown occasionally appears beyond, at about its level.

attempt

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

From this reading The apparition of a very small hand--whose fingers are bunchy and have the appearance of being slightly webbed--which is frequently lifted above the table in a vain and impotent attempt to reach the inkstand, always affects me as a novelty at each recurrence of the phenomenon.

attended

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

From this reading His advent in the family was attended with peculiar circumstances.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading He was received with some concern--the number of retainers having been increased by one in honor of his arrival.

beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading The apparition of a very small hand--whose fingers are bunchy and have the appearance of being slightly webbed--which is frequently lifted above the table in a vain and impotent attempt to reach the inkstand, always affects me as a novelty at each recurrence of the phenomenon.

belong

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

From this reading Yet both the venerable head and bunchy fingers belong to an individual with whom I am familiar, and to whom, for certain reasons hereafter described, I choose to apply the epithet written above this article.

beyondprepositionUS /bɪˈɑːnd/

on the far side of; further than

From this reading As I glance across my table, I am somewhat distracted by the spectacle of a venerable head whose crown occasionally appears beyond, at about its level.

bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/

the two together, not just one

From this reading Yet both the venerable head and bunchy fingers belong to an individual with whom I am familiar, and to whom, for certain reasons hereafter described, I choose to apply the epithet written above this article.

bunchy

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

From this reading The apparition of a very small hand--whose fingers are bunchy and have the appearance of being slightly webbed--which is frequently lifted above the table in a vain and impotent attempt to reach the inkstand, always affects me as a novelty at each recurrence of the phenomenon.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading As I glance across my table, I am somewhat distracted by the spectacle of a venerable head whose crown occasionally appears beyond, at about its level.

certain

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

From this reading Yet both the venerable head and bunchy fingers belong to an individual with whom I am familiar, and to whom, for certain reasons hereafter described, I choose to apply the epithet written above this article.

choosenounUS /choose/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Yet both the venerable head and bunchy fingers belong to an individual with whom I am familiar, and to whom, for certain reasons hereafter described, I choose to apply the epithet written above this article.

circumstances

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

From this reading His advent in the family was attended with peculiar circumstances.

concern

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

From this reading He was received with some concern--the number of retainers having been increased by one in honor of his arrival.

crown

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

From this reading As I glance across my table, I am somewhat distracted by the spectacle of a venerable head whose crown occasionally appears beyond, at about its level.

described

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

From this reading Yet both the venerable head and bunchy fingers belong to an individual with whom I am familiar, and to whom, for certain reasons hereafter described, I choose to apply the epithet written above this article.

distracted

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

From this reading As I glance across my table, I am somewhat distracted by the spectacle of a venerable head whose crown occasionally appears beyond, at about its level.

eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading The apparition of a very small hand--whose fingers are bunchy and have the appearance of being slightly webbed--which is frequently lifted above the table in a vain and impotent attempt to reach the inkstand, always affects me as a novelty at each recurrence of the phenomenon.

epithet

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

From this reading Yet both the venerable head and bunchy fingers belong to an individual with whom I am familiar, and to whom, for certain reasons hereafter described, I choose to apply the epithet written above this article.

familiar

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

From this reading Yet both the venerable head and bunchy fingers belong to an individual with whom I am familiar, and to whom, for certain reasons hereafter described, I choose to apply the epithet written above this article.

family

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

From this reading His advent in the family was attended with peculiar circumstances.

fingers

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

From this reading The apparition of a very small hand--whose fingers are bunchy and have the appearance of being slightly webbed--which is frequently lifted above the table in a vain and impotent attempt to reach the inkstand, always affects me as a novelty at each recurrence of the phenomenon.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Yet both the venerable head and bunchy fingers belong to an individual with whom I am familiar, and to whom, for certain reasons hereafter described, I choose to apply the epithet written above this article.

frequently

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

From this reading The apparition of a very small hand--whose fingers are bunchy and have the appearance of being slightly webbed--which is frequently lifted above the table in a vain and impotent attempt to reach the inkstand, always affects me as a novelty at each recurrence of the phenomenon.

glance

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

From this reading As I glance across my table, I am somewhat distracted by the spectacle of a venerable head whose crown occasionally appears beyond, at about its level.

hand

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

From this reading The apparition of a very small hand--whose fingers are bunchy and have the appearance of being slightly webbed--which is frequently lifted above the table in a vain and impotent attempt to reach the inkstand, always affects me as a novelty at each recurrence of the phenomenon.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading The apparition of a very small hand--whose fingers are bunchy and have the appearance of being slightly webbed--which is frequently lifted above the table in a vain and impotent attempt to reach the inkstand, always affects me as a novelty at each recurrence of the phenomenon.

havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading He was received with some concern--the number of retainers having been increased by one in honor of his arrival.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He was received with some concern--the number of retainers having been increased by one in honor of his arrival.

head

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

From this reading As I glance across my table, I am somewhat distracted by the spectacle of a venerable head whose crown occasionally appears beyond, at about its level.

hereafter

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

From this reading Yet both the venerable head and bunchy fingers belong to an individual with whom I am familiar, and to whom, for certain reasons hereafter described, I choose to apply the epithet written above this article.

HisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading His advent in the family was attended with peculiar circumstances.

honor

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

From this reading He was received with some concern--the number of retainers having been increased by one in honor of his arrival.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading As I glance across my table, I am somewhat distracted by the spectacle of a venerable head whose crown occasionally appears beyond, at about its level.

impotent

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

From this reading The apparition of a very small hand--whose fingers are bunchy and have the appearance of being slightly webbed--which is frequently lifted above the table in a vain and impotent attempt to reach the inkstand, always affects me as a novelty at each recurrence of the phenomenon.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The apparition of a very small hand--whose fingers are bunchy and have the appearance of being slightly webbed--which is frequently lifted above the table in a vain and impotent attempt to reach the inkstand, always affects me as a novelty at each recurrence of the phenomenon.

increased

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

From this reading He was received with some concern--the number of retainers having been increased by one in honor of his arrival.

individual

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

From this reading Yet both the venerable head and bunchy fingers belong to an individual with whom I am familiar, and to whom, for certain reasons hereafter described, I choose to apply the epithet written above this article.

inkstand

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

From this reading The apparition of a very small hand--whose fingers are bunchy and have the appearance of being slightly webbed--which is frequently lifted above the table in a vain and impotent attempt to reach the inkstand, always affects me as a novelty at each recurrence of the phenomenon.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading The apparition of a very small hand--whose fingers are bunchy and have the appearance of being slightly webbed--which is frequently lifted above the table in a vain and impotent attempt to reach the inkstand, always affects me as a novelty at each recurrence of the phenomenon.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading As I glance across my table, I am somewhat distracted by the spectacle of a venerable head whose crown occasionally appears beyond, at about its level.

level

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

From this reading As I glance across my table, I am somewhat distracted by the spectacle of a venerable head whose crown occasionally appears beyond, at about its level.

lifted

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

From this reading The apparition of a very small hand--whose fingers are bunchy and have the appearance of being slightly webbed--which is frequently lifted above the table in a vain and impotent attempt to reach the inkstand, always affects me as a novelty at each recurrence of the phenomenon.

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading The apparition of a very small hand--whose fingers are bunchy and have the appearance of being slightly webbed--which is frequently lifted above the table in a vain and impotent attempt to reach the inkstand, always affects me as a novelty at each recurrence of the phenomenon.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading As I glance across my table, I am somewhat distracted by the spectacle of a venerable head whose crown occasionally appears beyond, at about its level.

novelty

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

From this reading The apparition of a very small hand--whose fingers are bunchy and have the appearance of being slightly webbed--which is frequently lifted above the table in a vain and impotent attempt to reach the inkstand, always affects me as a novelty at each recurrence of the phenomenon.

number

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

From this reading He was received with some concern--the number of retainers having been increased by one in honor of his arrival.

occasionally

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

From this reading As I glance across my table, I am somewhat distracted by the spectacle of a venerable head whose crown occasionally appears beyond, at about its level.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading As I glance across my table, I am somewhat distracted by the spectacle of a venerable head whose crown occasionally appears beyond, at about its level.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading He was received with some concern--the number of retainers having been increased by one in honor of his arrival.

peculiar

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

From this reading His advent in the family was attended with peculiar circumstances.

phenomenon

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

From this reading The apparition of a very small hand--whose fingers are bunchy and have the appearance of being slightly webbed--which is frequently lifted above the table in a vain and impotent attempt to reach the inkstand, always affects me as a novelty at each recurrence of the phenomenon.

reach

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

From this reading The apparition of a very small hand--whose fingers are bunchy and have the appearance of being slightly webbed--which is frequently lifted above the table in a vain and impotent attempt to reach the inkstand, always affects me as a novelty at each recurrence of the phenomenon.

reasonsnounUS /ˈreasons/

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

From this reading Yet both the venerable head and bunchy fingers belong to an individual with whom I am familiar, and to whom, for certain reasons hereafter described, I choose to apply the epithet written above this article.

received

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

From this reading He was received with some concern--the number of retainers having been increased by one in honor of his arrival.

recurrence

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

From this reading The apparition of a very small hand--whose fingers are bunchy and have the appearance of being slightly webbed--which is frequently lifted above the table in a vain and impotent attempt to reach the inkstand, always affects me as a novelty at each recurrence of the phenomenon.

retainers

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

From this reading He was received with some concern--the number of retainers having been increased by one in honor of his arrival.

slightly

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

From this reading The apparition of a very small hand--whose fingers are bunchy and have the appearance of being slightly webbed--which is frequently lifted above the table in a vain and impotent attempt to reach the inkstand, always affects me as a novelty at each recurrence of the phenomenon.

small

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

From this reading The apparition of a very small hand--whose fingers are bunchy and have the appearance of being slightly webbed--which is frequently lifted above the table in a vain and impotent attempt to reach the inkstand, always affects me as a novelty at each recurrence of the phenomenon.

some

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

From this reading He was received with some concern--the number of retainers having been increased by one in honor of his arrival.

somewhat

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

From this reading As I glance across my table, I am somewhat distracted by the spectacle of a venerable head whose crown occasionally appears beyond, at about its level.

spectacle

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

From this reading As I glance across my table, I am somewhat distracted by the spectacle of a venerable head whose crown occasionally appears beyond, at about its level.

table

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

From this reading As I glance across my table, I am somewhat distracted by the spectacle of a venerable head whose crown occasionally appears beyond, at about its level.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading As I glance across my table, I am somewhat distracted by the spectacle of a venerable head whose crown occasionally appears beyond, at about its level.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading Yet both the venerable head and bunchy fingers belong to an individual with whom I am familiar, and to whom, for certain reasons hereafter described, I choose to apply the epithet written above this article.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The apparition of a very small hand--whose fingers are bunchy and have the appearance of being slightly webbed--which is frequently lifted above the table in a vain and impotent attempt to reach the inkstand, always affects me as a novelty at each recurrence of the phenomenon.

vain

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

From this reading The apparition of a very small hand--whose fingers are bunchy and have the appearance of being slightly webbed--which is frequently lifted above the table in a vain and impotent attempt to reach the inkstand, always affects me as a novelty at each recurrence of the phenomenon.

venerable

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

From this reading As I glance across my table, I am somewhat distracted by the spectacle of a venerable head whose crown occasionally appears beyond, at about its level.

very

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

From this reading The apparition of a very small hand--whose fingers are bunchy and have the appearance of being slightly webbed--which is frequently lifted above the table in a vain and impotent attempt to reach the inkstand, always affects me as a novelty at each recurrence of the phenomenon.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading His advent in the family was attended with peculiar circumstances.

webbed

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

From this reading The apparition of a very small hand--whose fingers are bunchy and have the appearance of being slightly webbed--which is frequently lifted above the table in a vain and impotent attempt to reach the inkstand, always affects me as a novelty at each recurrence of the phenomenon.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading The apparition of a very small hand--whose fingers are bunchy and have the appearance of being slightly webbed--which is frequently lifted above the table in a vain and impotent attempt to reach the inkstand, always affects me as a novelty at each recurrence of the phenomenon.

whompronounUS /huːm/

the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Yet both the venerable head and bunchy fingers belong to an individual with whom I am familiar, and to whom, for certain reasons hereafter described, I choose to apply the epithet written above this article.

whosedeterminerUS /huːz/

belonging to which person

From this reading As I glance across my table, I am somewhat distracted by the spectacle of a venerable head whose crown occasionally appears beyond, at about its level.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Yet both the venerable head and bunchy fingers belong to an individual with whom I am familiar, and to whom, for certain reasons hereafter described, I choose to apply the epithet written above this article.

written

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

From this reading Yet both the venerable head and bunchy fingers belong to an individual with whom I am familiar, and to whom, for certain reasons hereafter described, I choose to apply the epithet written above this article.

YetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading Yet both the venerable head and bunchy fingers belong to an individual with whom I am familiar, and to whom, for certain reasons hereafter described, I choose to apply the epithet written above this article.