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

Chapter XIX

Cover illustration for Annihilation
Context Illustration Reading 1/48 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
DENNIS SUPPLIES A SIMILE On Saturday morning, as McCarty opened his door to proceed to breakfast he caromed violently with Dennis at the head of the stairs.
“It’s a wonder you wouldn’t look where you’re going!” the latter observed.
“I’ve come straight off duty without a bite or a shave to find out what’s new, but not to be thrown downstairs!”
“Come on, let’s eat, then,” invited McCarty.
“You can get a shave after and join me back here, for I’ve had a ’phone from the inspector and he’ll be around soon; he’s got something to tell us.”
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.

Annihilation

Chapter XIX

Reading 1/48 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
DENNIS SUPPLIES A SIMILE On Saturday morning, as McCarty opened his door to proceed to breakfast he caromed violently with Dennis at the head of the stairs.
Line 2
“It’s a wonder you wouldn’t look where you’re going!” the latter observed.
Line 3
“I’ve come straight off duty without a bite or a shave to find out what’s new, but not to be thrown downstairs!”
Line 4
“Come on, let’s eat, then,” invited McCarty.
Line 5
“You can get a shave after and join me back here, for I’ve had a ’phone from the inspector and he’ll be around soon; he’s got something to tell us.”

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 ““You can get a shave after and join me back here, for I’ve had a ’phone from the inspector and he’ll be around soon; he’s got something to tell us.””

Around preposition US /ərˈaʊnd/

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading ““You can get a shave after and join me back here, for I’ve had a ’phone from the inspector and he’ll be around soon; he’s got something to tell us.””

Come noun US /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““I’ve come straight off duty without a bite or a shave to find out what’s new, but not to be thrown downstairs!””

Duty noun US /ˈduːti/

a responsibility that must be carried out

From this reading ““I’ve come straight off duty without a bite or a shave to find out what’s new, but not to be thrown downstairs!””

Here noun US /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““You can get a shave after and join me back here, for I’ve had a ’phone from the inspector and he’ll be around soon; he’s got something to tell us.””

Look noun US /look/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““It’s a wonder you wouldn’t look where you’re going!” the latter observed.”

Morning noun US /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “DENNIS SUPPLIES A SIMILE On Saturday morning, as McCarty opened his door to proceed to breakfast he caromed violently with Dennis at the head of the stairs.”

Something pronoun US /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading ““You can get a shave after and join me back here, for I’ve had a ’phone from the inspector and he’ll be around soon; he’s got something to tell us.””

Soon noun US /soon/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““You can get a shave after and join me back here, for I’ve had a ’phone from the inspector and he’ll be around soon; he’s got something to tell us.””

Tell noun US /tell/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““You can get a shave after and join me back here, for I’ve had a ’phone from the inspector and he’ll be around soon; he’s got something to tell us.””

Without preposition US /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading ““I’ve come straight off duty without a bite or a shave to find out what’s new, but not to be thrown downstairs!””

All words in this reading · 77

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 DENNIS SUPPLIES A SIMILE On Saturday morning, as McCarty opened his door to proceed to breakfast he caromed violently with Dennis at the head of the stairs.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “You can get a shave after and join me back here, for I’ve had a ’phone from the inspector and he’ll be around soon; he’s got something to tell us.”

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading “You can get a shave after and join me back here, for I’ve had a ’phone from the inspector and he’ll be around soon; he’s got something to tell us.”

aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading “You can get a shave after and join me back here, for I’ve had a ’phone from the inspector and he’ll be around soon; he’s got something to tell us.”

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading DENNIS SUPPLIES A SIMILE On Saturday morning, as McCarty opened his door to proceed to breakfast he caromed violently with Dennis at the head of the stairs.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading DENNIS SUPPLIES A SIMILE On Saturday morning, as McCarty opened his door to proceed to breakfast he caromed violently with Dennis at the head of the stairs.

back

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

From this reading “You can get a shave after and join me back here, for I’ve had a ’phone from the inspector and he’ll be around soon; he’s got something to tell us.”

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading “I’ve come straight off duty without a bite or a shave to find out what’s new, but not to be thrown downstairs!”

bite

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

From this reading “I’ve come straight off duty without a bite or a shave to find out what’s new, but not to be thrown downstairs!”

breakfast

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

From this reading DENNIS SUPPLIES A SIMILE On Saturday morning, as McCarty opened his door to proceed to breakfast he caromed violently with Dennis at the head of the stairs.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading “I’ve come straight off duty without a bite or a shave to find out what’s new, but not to be thrown downstairs!”

canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading “You can get a shave after and join me back here, for I’ve had a ’phone from the inspector and he’ll be around soon; he’s got something to tell us.”

caromed

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

From this reading DENNIS SUPPLIES A SIMILE On Saturday morning, as McCarty opened his door to proceed to breakfast he caromed violently with Dennis at the head of the stairs.

comenounUS /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I’ve come straight off duty without a bite or a shave to find out what’s new, but not to be thrown downstairs!”

DENNIS

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

From this reading DENNIS SUPPLIES A SIMILE On Saturday morning, as McCarty opened his door to proceed to breakfast he caromed violently with Dennis at the head of the stairs.

door

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

From this reading DENNIS SUPPLIES A SIMILE On Saturday morning, as McCarty opened his door to proceed to breakfast he caromed violently with Dennis at the head of the stairs.

downstairs

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

From this reading “I’ve come straight off duty without a bite or a shave to find out what’s new, but not to be thrown downstairs!”

dutynounUS /ˈduːti/

a responsibility that must be carried out

From this reading “I’ve come straight off duty without a bite or a shave to find out what’s new, but not to be thrown downstairs!”

eat

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

From this reading “Come on, let’s eat, then,” invited McCarty.

find

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

From this reading “I’ve come straight off duty without a bite or a shave to find out what’s new, but not to be thrown downstairs!”

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading “You can get a shave after and join me back here, for I’ve had a ’phone from the inspector and he’ll be around soon; he’s got something to tell us.”

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading “You can get a shave after and join me back here, for I’ve had a ’phone from the inspector and he’ll be around soon; he’s got something to tell us.”

get

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

From this reading “You can get a shave after and join me back here, for I’ve had a ’phone from the inspector and he’ll be around soon; he’s got something to tell us.”

going

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

From this reading “It’s a wonder you wouldn’t look where you’re going!” the latter observed.

got

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

From this reading “You can get a shave after and join me back here, for I’ve had a ’phone from the inspector and he’ll be around soon; he’s got something to tell us.”

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading “You can get a shave after and join me back here, for I’ve had a ’phone from the inspector and he’ll be around soon; he’s got something to tell us.”

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading DENNIS SUPPLIES A SIMILE On Saturday morning, as McCarty opened his door to proceed to breakfast he caromed violently with Dennis at the head of the stairs.

he'll

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

From this reading “You can get a shave after and join me back here, for I’ve had a ’phone from the inspector and he’ll be around soon; he’s got something to tell us.”

he's

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

From this reading “You can get a shave after and join me back here, for I’ve had a ’phone from the inspector and he’ll be around soon; he’s got something to tell us.”

head

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

From this reading DENNIS SUPPLIES A SIMILE On Saturday morning, as McCarty opened his door to proceed to breakfast he caromed violently with Dennis at the head of the stairs.

herenounUS /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “You can get a shave after and join me back here, for I’ve had a ’phone from the inspector and he’ll be around soon; he’s got something to tell us.”

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading DENNIS SUPPLIES A SIMILE On Saturday morning, as McCarty opened his door to proceed to breakfast he caromed violently with Dennis at the head of the stairs.

I've

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

From this reading “I’ve come straight off duty without a bite or a shave to find out what’s new, but not to be thrown downstairs!”

inspector

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

From this reading “You can get a shave after and join me back here, for I’ve had a ’phone from the inspector and he’ll be around soon; he’s got something to tell us.”

invited

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

From this reading “Come on, let’s eat, then,” invited McCarty.

It's

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

From this reading “It’s a wonder you wouldn’t look where you’re going!” the latter observed.

join

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

From this reading “You can get a shave after and join me back here, for I’ve had a ’phone from the inspector and he’ll be around soon; he’s got something to tell us.”

latter

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

From this reading “It’s a wonder you wouldn’t look where you’re going!” the latter observed.

let's

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

From this reading “Come on, let’s eat, then,” invited McCarty.

looknounUS /look/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It’s a wonder you wouldn’t look where you’re going!” the latter observed.

McCarty

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

From this reading DENNIS SUPPLIES A SIMILE On Saturday morning, as McCarty opened his door to proceed to breakfast he caromed violently with Dennis at the head of the stairs.

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading “You can get a shave after and join me back here, for I’ve had a ’phone from the inspector and he’ll be around soon; he’s got something to tell us.”

morningnounUS /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading DENNIS SUPPLIES A SIMILE On Saturday morning, as McCarty opened his door to proceed to breakfast he caromed violently with Dennis at the head of the stairs.

new

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

From this reading “I’ve come straight off duty without a bite or a shave to find out what’s new, but not to be thrown downstairs!”

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading “I’ve come straight off duty without a bite or a shave to find out what’s new, but not to be thrown downstairs!”

observed

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

From this reading “It’s a wonder you wouldn’t look where you’re going!” the latter observed.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading DENNIS SUPPLIES A SIMILE On Saturday morning, as McCarty opened his door to proceed to breakfast he caromed violently with Dennis at the head of the stairs.

off

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

From this reading “I’ve come straight off duty without a bite or a shave to find out what’s new, but not to be thrown downstairs!”

OnprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading DENNIS SUPPLIES A SIMILE On Saturday morning, as McCarty opened his door to proceed to breakfast he caromed violently with Dennis at the head of the stairs.

opened

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

From this reading DENNIS SUPPLIES A SIMILE On Saturday morning, as McCarty opened his door to proceed to breakfast he caromed violently with Dennis at the head of the stairs.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading “I’ve come straight off duty without a bite or a shave to find out what’s new, but not to be thrown downstairs!”

out

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

From this reading “I’ve come straight off duty without a bite or a shave to find out what’s new, but not to be thrown downstairs!”

phone

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

From this reading “You can get a shave after and join me back here, for I’ve had a ’phone from the inspector and he’ll be around soon; he’s got something to tell us.”

proceed

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

From this reading DENNIS SUPPLIES A SIMILE On Saturday morning, as McCarty opened his door to proceed to breakfast he caromed violently with Dennis at the head of the stairs.

Saturday

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

From this reading DENNIS SUPPLIES A SIMILE On Saturday morning, as McCarty opened his door to proceed to breakfast he caromed violently with Dennis at the head of the stairs.

shave

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

From this reading “I’ve come straight off duty without a bite or a shave to find out what’s new, but not to be thrown downstairs!”

SIMILE

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

From this reading DENNIS SUPPLIES A SIMILE On Saturday morning, as McCarty opened his door to proceed to breakfast he caromed violently with Dennis at the head of the stairs.

somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading “You can get a shave after and join me back here, for I’ve had a ’phone from the inspector and he’ll be around soon; he’s got something to tell us.”

soon

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

From this reading “You can get a shave after and join me back here, for I’ve had a ’phone from the inspector and he’ll be around soon; he’s got something to tell us.”

stairs

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

From this reading DENNIS SUPPLIES A SIMILE On Saturday morning, as McCarty opened his door to proceed to breakfast he caromed violently with Dennis at the head of the stairs.

straight

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

From this reading “I’ve come straight off duty without a bite or a shave to find out what’s new, but not to be thrown downstairs!”

SUPPLIES

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

From this reading DENNIS SUPPLIES A SIMILE On Saturday morning, as McCarty opened his door to proceed to breakfast he caromed violently with Dennis at the head of the stairs.

tellnounUS /tell/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “You can get a shave after and join me back here, for I’ve had a ’phone from the inspector and he’ll be around soon; he’s got something to tell us.”

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading DENNIS SUPPLIES A SIMILE On Saturday morning, as McCarty opened his door to proceed to breakfast he caromed violently with Dennis at the head of the stairs.

then

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

From this reading “Come on, let’s eat, then,” invited McCarty.

thrown

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

From this reading “I’ve come straight off duty without a bite or a shave to find out what’s new, but not to be thrown downstairs!”

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading DENNIS SUPPLIES A SIMILE On Saturday morning, as McCarty opened his door to proceed to breakfast he caromed violently with Dennis at the head of the stairs.

uspronounUS /ʌs/

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading “You can get a shave after and join me back here, for I’ve had a ’phone from the inspector and he’ll be around soon; he’s got something to tell us.”

violently

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

From this reading DENNIS SUPPLIES A SIMILE On Saturday morning, as McCarty opened his door to proceed to breakfast he caromed violently with Dennis at the head of the stairs.

what's

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

From this reading “I’ve come straight off duty without a bite or a shave to find out what’s new, but not to be thrown downstairs!”

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading “It’s a wonder you wouldn’t look where you’re going!” the latter observed.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading DENNIS SUPPLIES A SIMILE On Saturday morning, as McCarty opened his door to proceed to breakfast he caromed violently with Dennis at the head of the stairs.

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading “I’ve come straight off duty without a bite or a shave to find out what’s new, but not to be thrown downstairs!”

wonder

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

From this reading “It’s a wonder you wouldn’t look where you’re going!” the latter observed.

wouldn't

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

From this reading “It’s a wonder you wouldn’t look where you’re going!” the latter observed.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “It’s a wonder you wouldn’t look where you’re going!” the latter observed.

you're

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

From this reading “It’s a wonder you wouldn’t look where you’re going!” the latter observed.