Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
1601
1601

Chapter II

Cover illustration for 1601
Context Illustration Reading 1/35 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
“Steve Gillis declares that Mark Twain let go such a scorching, singeing blast that the brute's owner sold him the next day for a Mexican hairless dog.”
Nor did Mark's “geysers of profanity” cease spouting after these gay and youthful days in San Francisco.
With Clemens it may truly be said that profanity was an art--a pyrotechnic art that entertained nations.
“It was my duty to keep buttons on his shirts,” recalled Katy Leary, life-long housekeeper and friend in the Clemens menage, “and he'd swear something terrible if I didn't.
If he found a shirt in his drawer without a button on, he'd take every single shirt out of that drawer and throw them right out of the window, rain or shine--out of the bathroom window they'd go.
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

1601

Chapter II

Reading 1/35 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
“Steve Gillis declares that Mark Twain let go such a scorching, singeing blast that the brute's owner sold him the next day for a Mexican hairless dog.”
Line 2
Nor did Mark's “geysers of profanity” cease spouting after these gay and youthful days in San Francisco.
Line 3
With Clemens it may truly be said that profanity was an art--a pyrotechnic art that entertained nations.
Line 4
“It was my duty to keep buttons on his shirts,” recalled Katy Leary, life-long housekeeper and friend in the Clemens menage, “and he'd swear something terrible if I didn't.
Line 5
If he found a shirt in his drawer without a button on, he'd take every single shirt out of that drawer and throw them right out of the window, rain or shine--out of the bathroom window they'd go.

Learner Dictionary

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

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “Nor did Mark's “geysers of profanity” cease spouting after these gay and youthful days in San Francisco.”

Art auxiliary verb US /ɑːrt/

an old form of “are”, used with “thou”

From this reading “With Clemens it may truly be said that profanity was an art--a pyrotechnic art that entertained nations.”

Duty noun US /ˈduːti/

a responsibility that must be carried out

From this reading ““It was my duty to keep buttons on his shirts,” recalled Katy Leary, life-long housekeeper and friend in the Clemens menage, “and he'd swear something terrible if I didn't.”

Every determiner US /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading “If he found a shirt in his drawer without a button on, he'd take every single shirt out of that drawer and throw them right out of the window, rain or shine--out of the bathroom window they'd go.”

Found noun US /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “If he found a shirt in his drawer without a button on, he'd take every single shirt out of that drawer and throw them right out of the window, rain or shine--out of the bathroom window they'd go.”

Let auxiliary verb US /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading ““Steve Gillis declares that Mark Twain let go such a scorching, singeing blast that the brute's owner sold him the next day for a Mexican hairless dog.””

May modal verb US /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading “With Clemens it may truly be said that profanity was an art--a pyrotechnic art that entertained nations.”

Next noun US /next/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““Steve Gillis declares that Mark Twain let go such a scorching, singeing blast that the brute's owner sold him the next day for a Mexican hairless dog.””

Right noun US /right/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “If he found a shirt in his drawer without a button on, he'd take every single shirt out of that drawer and throw them right out of the window, rain or shine--out of the bathroom window they'd go.”

Something pronoun US /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading ““It was my duty to keep buttons on his shirts,” recalled Katy Leary, life-long housekeeper and friend in the Clemens menage, “and he'd swear something terrible if I didn't.”

Take noun US /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “If he found a shirt in his drawer without a button on, he'd take every single shirt out of that drawer and throw them right out of the window, rain or shine--out of the bathroom window they'd go.”

Terrible noun US /ˈterrible/

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

From this reading ““It was my duty to keep buttons on his shirts,” recalled Katy Leary, life-long housekeeper and friend in the Clemens menage, “and he'd swear something terrible if I didn't.”

These determiner US /ðiːz/

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

From this reading “Nor did Mark's “geysers of profanity” cease spouting after these gay and youthful days in San Francisco.”

Without preposition US /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading “If he found a shirt in his drawer without a button on, he'd take every single shirt out of that drawer and throw them right out of the window, rain or shine--out of the bathroom window they'd go.”

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 “Steve Gillis declares that Mark Twain let go such a scorching, singeing blast that the brute's owner sold him the next day for a Mexican hairless dog.”

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading Nor did Mark's “geysers of profanity” cease spouting after these gay and youthful days in San Francisco.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading With Clemens it may truly be said that profanity was an art--a pyrotechnic art that entertained nations.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Nor did Mark's “geysers of profanity” cease spouting after these gay and youthful days in San Francisco.

artauxiliary verbUS /ɑːrt/

an old form of “are”, used with “thou”

From this reading With Clemens it may truly be said that profanity was an art--a pyrotechnic art that entertained nations.

bathroom

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

From this reading If he found a shirt in his drawer without a button on, he'd take every single shirt out of that drawer and throw them right out of the window, rain or shine--out of the bathroom window they'd go.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading With Clemens it may truly be said that profanity was an art--a pyrotechnic art that entertained nations.

blast

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

From this reading “Steve Gillis declares that Mark Twain let go such a scorching, singeing blast that the brute's owner sold him the next day for a Mexican hairless dog.”

brute's

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

From this reading “Steve Gillis declares that Mark Twain let go such a scorching, singeing blast that the brute's owner sold him the next day for a Mexican hairless dog.”

button

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

From this reading If he found a shirt in his drawer without a button on, he'd take every single shirt out of that drawer and throw them right out of the window, rain or shine--out of the bathroom window they'd go.

buttons

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

From this reading “It was my duty to keep buttons on his shirts,” recalled Katy Leary, life-long housekeeper and friend in the Clemens menage, “and he'd swear something terrible if I didn't.

cease

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

From this reading Nor did Mark's “geysers of profanity” cease spouting after these gay and youthful days in San Francisco.

Clemens

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

From this reading With Clemens it may truly be said that profanity was an art--a pyrotechnic art that entertained nations.

day

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

From this reading “Steve Gillis declares that Mark Twain let go such a scorching, singeing blast that the brute's owner sold him the next day for a Mexican hairless dog.”

days

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

From this reading Nor did Mark's “geysers of profanity” cease spouting after these gay and youthful days in San Francisco.

declares

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

From this reading “Steve Gillis declares that Mark Twain let go such a scorching, singeing blast that the brute's owner sold him the next day for a Mexican hairless dog.”

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading Nor did Mark's “geysers of profanity” cease spouting after these gay and youthful days in San Francisco.

didn't

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

From this reading “It was my duty to keep buttons on his shirts,” recalled Katy Leary, life-long housekeeper and friend in the Clemens menage, “and he'd swear something terrible if I didn't.

dog

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

From this reading “Steve Gillis declares that Mark Twain let go such a scorching, singeing blast that the brute's owner sold him the next day for a Mexican hairless dog.”

drawer

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

From this reading If he found a shirt in his drawer without a button on, he'd take every single shirt out of that drawer and throw them right out of the window, rain or shine--out of the bathroom window they'd go.

dutynounUS /ˈduːti/

a responsibility that must be carried out

From this reading “It was my duty to keep buttons on his shirts,” recalled Katy Leary, life-long housekeeper and friend in the Clemens menage, “and he'd swear something terrible if I didn't.

entertained

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

From this reading With Clemens it may truly be said that profanity was an art--a pyrotechnic art that entertained nations.

everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading If he found a shirt in his drawer without a button on, he'd take every single shirt out of that drawer and throw them right out of the window, rain or shine--out of the bathroom window they'd go.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading “Steve Gillis declares that Mark Twain let go such a scorching, singeing blast that the brute's owner sold him the next day for a Mexican hairless dog.”

foundnounUS /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading If he found a shirt in his drawer without a button on, he'd take every single shirt out of that drawer and throw them right out of the window, rain or shine--out of the bathroom window they'd go.

Francisco

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

From this reading Nor did Mark's “geysers of profanity” cease spouting after these gay and youthful days in San Francisco.

friend

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

From this reading “It was my duty to keep buttons on his shirts,” recalled Katy Leary, life-long housekeeper and friend in the Clemens menage, “and he'd swear something terrible if I didn't.

gay

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

From this reading Nor did Mark's “geysers of profanity” cease spouting after these gay and youthful days in San Francisco.

geysers

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

From this reading Nor did Mark's “geysers of profanity” cease spouting after these gay and youthful days in San Francisco.

Gillis

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

From this reading “Steve Gillis declares that Mark Twain let go such a scorching, singeing blast that the brute's owner sold him the next day for a Mexican hairless dog.”

go

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

From this reading “Steve Gillis declares that Mark Twain let go such a scorching, singeing blast that the brute's owner sold him the next day for a Mexican hairless dog.”

hairless

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

From this reading “Steve Gillis declares that Mark Twain let go such a scorching, singeing blast that the brute's owner sold him the next day for a Mexican hairless dog.”

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading If he found a shirt in his drawer without a button on, he'd take every single shirt out of that drawer and throw them right out of the window, rain or shine--out of the bathroom window they'd go.

he'd

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

From this reading “It was my duty to keep buttons on his shirts,” recalled Katy Leary, life-long housekeeper and friend in the Clemens menage, “and he'd swear something terrible if I didn't.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading “Steve Gillis declares that Mark Twain let go such a scorching, singeing blast that the brute's owner sold him the next day for a Mexican hairless dog.”

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading “It was my duty to keep buttons on his shirts,” recalled Katy Leary, life-long housekeeper and friend in the Clemens menage, “and he'd swear something terrible if I didn't.

housekeeper

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

From this reading “It was my duty to keep buttons on his shirts,” recalled Katy Leary, life-long housekeeper and friend in the Clemens menage, “and he'd swear something terrible if I didn't.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading “It was my duty to keep buttons on his shirts,” recalled Katy Leary, life-long housekeeper and friend in the Clemens menage, “and he'd swear something terrible if I didn't.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading “It was my duty to keep buttons on his shirts,” recalled Katy Leary, life-long housekeeper and friend in the Clemens menage, “and he'd swear something terrible if I didn't.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Nor did Mark's “geysers of profanity” cease spouting after these gay and youthful days in San Francisco.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading With Clemens it may truly be said that profanity was an art--a pyrotechnic art that entertained nations.

Katy

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

From this reading “It was my duty to keep buttons on his shirts,” recalled Katy Leary, life-long housekeeper and friend in the Clemens menage, “and he'd swear something terrible if I didn't.

keep

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

From this reading “It was my duty to keep buttons on his shirts,” recalled Katy Leary, life-long housekeeper and friend in the Clemens menage, “and he'd swear something terrible if I didn't.

Leary

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

From this reading “It was my duty to keep buttons on his shirts,” recalled Katy Leary, life-long housekeeper and friend in the Clemens menage, “and he'd swear something terrible if I didn't.

letauxiliary verbUS /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading “Steve Gillis declares that Mark Twain let go such a scorching, singeing blast that the brute's owner sold him the next day for a Mexican hairless dog.”

life-long

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

From this reading “It was my duty to keep buttons on his shirts,” recalled Katy Leary, life-long housekeeper and friend in the Clemens menage, “and he'd swear something terrible if I didn't.

Mark

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

From this reading “Steve Gillis declares that Mark Twain let go such a scorching, singeing blast that the brute's owner sold him the next day for a Mexican hairless dog.”

Mark's

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

From this reading Nor did Mark's “geysers of profanity” cease spouting after these gay and youthful days in San Francisco.

maymodal verbUS /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading With Clemens it may truly be said that profanity was an art--a pyrotechnic art that entertained nations.

menage

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

From this reading “It was my duty to keep buttons on his shirts,” recalled Katy Leary, life-long housekeeper and friend in the Clemens menage, “and he'd swear something terrible if I didn't.

Mexican

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

From this reading “Steve Gillis declares that Mark Twain let go such a scorching, singeing blast that the brute's owner sold him the next day for a Mexican hairless dog.”

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading “It was my duty to keep buttons on his shirts,” recalled Katy Leary, life-long housekeeper and friend in the Clemens menage, “and he'd swear something terrible if I didn't.

nations

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

From this reading With Clemens it may truly be said that profanity was an art--a pyrotechnic art that entertained nations.

nextnounUS /next/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Steve Gillis declares that Mark Twain let go such a scorching, singeing blast that the brute's owner sold him the next day for a Mexican hairless dog.”

NorconjunctionUS /nɔːr/

and not; used after a negative to add a second negative

From this reading Nor did Mark's “geysers of profanity” cease spouting after these gay and youthful days in San Francisco.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Nor did Mark's “geysers of profanity” cease spouting after these gay and youthful days in San Francisco.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading “It was my duty to keep buttons on his shirts,” recalled Katy Leary, life-long housekeeper and friend in the Clemens menage, “and he'd swear something terrible if I didn't.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading If he found a shirt in his drawer without a button on, he'd take every single shirt out of that drawer and throw them right out of the window, rain or shine--out of the bathroom window they'd go.

out

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

From this reading If he found a shirt in his drawer without a button on, he'd take every single shirt out of that drawer and throw them right out of the window, rain or shine--out of the bathroom window they'd go.

owner

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

From this reading “Steve Gillis declares that Mark Twain let go such a scorching, singeing blast that the brute's owner sold him the next day for a Mexican hairless dog.”

profanity

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

From this reading Nor did Mark's “geysers of profanity” cease spouting after these gay and youthful days in San Francisco.

pyrotechnic

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

From this reading With Clemens it may truly be said that profanity was an art--a pyrotechnic art that entertained nations.

rain

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

From this reading If he found a shirt in his drawer without a button on, he'd take every single shirt out of that drawer and throw them right out of the window, rain or shine--out of the bathroom window they'd go.

recalled

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

From this reading “It was my duty to keep buttons on his shirts,” recalled Katy Leary, life-long housekeeper and friend in the Clemens menage, “and he'd swear something terrible if I didn't.

rightnounUS /right/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading If he found a shirt in his drawer without a button on, he'd take every single shirt out of that drawer and throw them right out of the window, rain or shine--out of the bathroom window they'd go.

said

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

From this reading With Clemens it may truly be said that profanity was an art--a pyrotechnic art that entertained nations.

San

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

From this reading Nor did Mark's “geysers of profanity” cease spouting after these gay and youthful days in San Francisco.

scorching

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

From this reading “Steve Gillis declares that Mark Twain let go such a scorching, singeing blast that the brute's owner sold him the next day for a Mexican hairless dog.”

shine

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

From this reading If he found a shirt in his drawer without a button on, he'd take every single shirt out of that drawer and throw them right out of the window, rain or shine--out of the bathroom window they'd go.

shirt

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

From this reading If he found a shirt in his drawer without a button on, he'd take every single shirt out of that drawer and throw them right out of the window, rain or shine--out of the bathroom window they'd go.

shirts

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

From this reading “It was my duty to keep buttons on his shirts,” recalled Katy Leary, life-long housekeeper and friend in the Clemens menage, “and he'd swear something terrible if I didn't.

singeing

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

From this reading “Steve Gillis declares that Mark Twain let go such a scorching, singeing blast that the brute's owner sold him the next day for a Mexican hairless dog.”

single

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

From this reading If he found a shirt in his drawer without a button on, he'd take every single shirt out of that drawer and throw them right out of the window, rain or shine--out of the bathroom window they'd go.

sold

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

From this reading “Steve Gillis declares that Mark Twain let go such a scorching, singeing blast that the brute's owner sold him the next day for a Mexican hairless dog.”

somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading “It was my duty to keep buttons on his shirts,” recalled Katy Leary, life-long housekeeper and friend in the Clemens menage, “and he'd swear something terrible if I didn't.

spouting

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

From this reading Nor did Mark's “geysers of profanity” cease spouting after these gay and youthful days in San Francisco.

Steve

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

From this reading “Steve Gillis declares that Mark Twain let go such a scorching, singeing blast that the brute's owner sold him the next day for a Mexican hairless dog.”

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading “Steve Gillis declares that Mark Twain let go such a scorching, singeing blast that the brute's owner sold him the next day for a Mexican hairless dog.”

swear

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

From this reading “It was my duty to keep buttons on his shirts,” recalled Katy Leary, life-long housekeeper and friend in the Clemens menage, “and he'd swear something terrible if I didn't.

takenounUS /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading If he found a shirt in his drawer without a button on, he'd take every single shirt out of that drawer and throw them right out of the window, rain or shine--out of the bathroom window they'd go.

terriblenounUS /ˈterrible/

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

From this reading “It was my duty to keep buttons on his shirts,” recalled Katy Leary, life-long housekeeper and friend in the Clemens menage, “and he'd swear something terrible if I didn't.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading “Steve Gillis declares that Mark Twain let go such a scorching, singeing blast that the brute's owner sold him the next day for a Mexican hairless dog.”

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading “Steve Gillis declares that Mark Twain let go such a scorching, singeing blast that the brute's owner sold him the next day for a Mexican hairless dog.”

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading If he found a shirt in his drawer without a button on, he'd take every single shirt out of that drawer and throw them right out of the window, rain or shine--out of the bathroom window they'd go.

thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

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

From this reading Nor did Mark's “geysers of profanity” cease spouting after these gay and youthful days in San Francisco.

they'd

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

From this reading If he found a shirt in his drawer without a button on, he'd take every single shirt out of that drawer and throw them right out of the window, rain or shine--out of the bathroom window they'd go.

throw

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

From this reading If he found a shirt in his drawer without a button on, he'd take every single shirt out of that drawer and throw them right out of the window, rain or shine--out of the bathroom window they'd go.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading “It was my duty to keep buttons on his shirts,” recalled Katy Leary, life-long housekeeper and friend in the Clemens menage, “and he'd swear something terrible if I didn't.

truly

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

From this reading With Clemens it may truly be said that profanity was an art--a pyrotechnic art that entertained nations.

Twain

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

From this reading “Steve Gillis declares that Mark Twain let go such a scorching, singeing blast that the brute's owner sold him the next day for a Mexican hairless dog.”

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading With Clemens it may truly be said that profanity was an art--a pyrotechnic art that entertained nations.

window

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

From this reading If he found a shirt in his drawer without a button on, he'd take every single shirt out of that drawer and throw them right out of the window, rain or shine--out of the bathroom window they'd go.

WithprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading With Clemens it may truly be said that profanity was an art--a pyrotechnic art that entertained nations.

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading If he found a shirt in his drawer without a button on, he'd take every single shirt out of that drawer and throw them right out of the window, rain or shine--out of the bathroom window they'd go.

youthful

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

From this reading Nor did Mark's “geysers of profanity” cease spouting after these gay and youthful days in San Francisco.