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Barbarians
Barbarians

Chapter XXI

Cover illustration for Barbarians
Context Illustration Reading 1/28 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE GARDENER A week later, toward noon, as usual, the two American, muleteers, Smith and Glenn, sauntered over from their corral to the White Doe Tavern where, it being a meatless day, they ate largely of potato soup and of a tench, smoking hot.
The tench had been caught that morning off the back doorstep, which was an ancient and mossy slab of limestone let into the coping of the river wall.
Jean Courtray, the crippled inn-keeper, caught it.
All that morning he had sat there in the sun on the river wall, half dozing, opening his dim eyes at intervals to gaze at his painted quill afloat among the water weeds of the little river Lesse.
At intervals, too, he turned his head with that peculiar movement of the old, and peered at his daughter, Maryette, and the Belgian gardener who were working among the potatoes in the garden.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Barbarians

Chapter XXI

Reading 1/28 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE GARDENER A week later, toward noon, as usual, the two American, muleteers, Smith and Glenn, sauntered over from their corral to the White Doe Tavern where, it being a meatless day, they ate largely of potato soup and of a tench, smoking hot.
Line 2
The tench had been caught that morning off the back doorstep, which was an ancient and mossy slab of limestone let into the coping of the river wall.
Line 3
Jean Courtray, the crippled inn-keeper, caught it.
Line 4
All that morning he had sat there in the sun on the river wall, half dozing, opening his dim eyes at intervals to gaze at his painted quill afloat among the water weeds of the little river Lesse.
Line 5
At intervals, too, he turned his head with that peculiar movement of the old, and peered at his daughter, Maryette, and the Belgian gardener who were working among the potatoes in the garden.

Learner Dictionary

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

Among preposition US /əˈmʌŋ/

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading “All that morning he had sat there in the sun on the river wall, half dozing, opening his dim eyes at intervals to gaze at his painted quill afloat among the water weeds of the little river Lesse.”

Ancient adjective US /ˈeɪn.ʃənt/

Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.

From this reading “The tench had been caught that morning off the back doorstep, which was an ancient and mossy slab of limestone let into the coping of the river wall.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “The tench had been caught that morning off the back doorstep, which was an ancient and mossy slab of limestone let into the coping of the river wall.”

Being auxiliary verb US /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading “THE GARDENER A week later, toward noon, as usual, the two American, muleteers, Smith and Glenn, sauntered over from their corral to the White Doe Tavern where, it being a meatless day, they ate largely of potato soup and of a tench, smoking hot.”

Half noun US /half/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “All that morning he had sat there in the sun on the river wall, half dozing, opening his dim eyes at intervals to gaze at his painted quill afloat among the water weeds of the little river Lesse.”

Let auxiliary verb US /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading “The tench had been caught that morning off the back doorstep, which was an ancient and mossy slab of limestone let into the coping of the river wall.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “All that morning he had sat there in the sun on the river wall, half dozing, opening his dim eyes at intervals to gaze at his painted quill afloat among the water weeds of the little river Lesse.”

Morning noun US /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The tench had been caught that morning off the back doorstep, which was an ancient and mossy slab of limestone let into the coping of the river wall.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “THE GARDENER A week later, toward noon, as usual, the two American, muleteers, Smith and Glenn, sauntered over from their corral to the White Doe Tavern where, it being a meatless day, they ate largely of potato soup and of a tench, smoking hot.”

Smoking noun US /ˈsmoking/

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

From this reading “THE GARDENER A week later, toward noon, as usual, the two American, muleteers, Smith and Glenn, sauntered over from their corral to the White Doe Tavern where, it being a meatless day, they ate largely of potato soup and of a tench, smoking hot.”

Toward preposition US /təˈwɔːrd/

in the direction of

From this reading “THE GARDENER A week later, toward noon, as usual, the two American, muleteers, Smith and Glenn, sauntered over from their corral to the White Doe Tavern where, it being a meatless day, they ate largely of potato soup and of a tench, smoking hot.”

All words in this reading · 102

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 THE GARDENER A week later, toward noon, as usual, the two American, muleteers, Smith and Glenn, sauntered over from their corral to the White Doe Tavern where, it being a meatless day, they ate largely of potato soup and of a tench, smoking hot.

afloat

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

From this reading All that morning he had sat there in the sun on the river wall, half dozing, opening his dim eyes at intervals to gaze at his painted quill afloat among the water weeds of the little river Lesse.

All

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

From this reading All that morning he had sat there in the sun on the river wall, half dozing, opening his dim eyes at intervals to gaze at his painted quill afloat among the water weeds of the little river Lesse.

American

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

From this reading THE GARDENER A week later, toward noon, as usual, the two American, muleteers, Smith and Glenn, sauntered over from their corral to the White Doe Tavern where, it being a meatless day, they ate largely of potato soup and of a tench, smoking hot.

amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading All that morning he had sat there in the sun on the river wall, half dozing, opening his dim eyes at intervals to gaze at his painted quill afloat among the water weeds of the little river Lesse.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading The tench had been caught that morning off the back doorstep, which was an ancient and mossy slab of limestone let into the coping of the river wall.

ancientadjectiveUS /ˈeɪn.ʃənt/

Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.

From this reading The tench had been caught that morning off the back doorstep, which was an ancient and mossy slab of limestone let into the coping of the river wall.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading THE GARDENER A week later, toward noon, as usual, the two American, muleteers, Smith and Glenn, sauntered over from their corral to the White Doe Tavern where, it being a meatless day, they ate largely of potato soup and of a tench, smoking hot.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading THE GARDENER A week later, toward noon, as usual, the two American, muleteers, Smith and Glenn, sauntered over from their corral to the White Doe Tavern where, it being a meatless day, they ate largely of potato soup and of a tench, smoking hot.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading All that morning he had sat there in the sun on the river wall, half dozing, opening his dim eyes at intervals to gaze at his painted quill afloat among the water weeds of the little river Lesse.

ate

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

From this reading THE GARDENER A week later, toward noon, as usual, the two American, muleteers, Smith and Glenn, sauntered over from their corral to the White Doe Tavern where, it being a meatless day, they ate largely of potato soup and of a tench, smoking hot.

back

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

From this reading The tench had been caught that morning off the back doorstep, which was an ancient and mossy slab of limestone let into the coping of the river wall.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading The tench had been caught that morning off the back doorstep, which was an ancient and mossy slab of limestone let into the coping of the river wall.

beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading THE GARDENER A week later, toward noon, as usual, the two American, muleteers, Smith and Glenn, sauntered over from their corral to the White Doe Tavern where, it being a meatless day, they ate largely of potato soup and of a tench, smoking hot.

Belgian

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

From this reading At intervals, too, he turned his head with that peculiar movement of the old, and peered at his daughter, Maryette, and the Belgian gardener who were working among the potatoes in the garden.

caught

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

From this reading The tench had been caught that morning off the back doorstep, which was an ancient and mossy slab of limestone let into the coping of the river wall.

coping

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

From this reading The tench had been caught that morning off the back doorstep, which was an ancient and mossy slab of limestone let into the coping of the river wall.

corral

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

From this reading THE GARDENER A week later, toward noon, as usual, the two American, muleteers, Smith and Glenn, sauntered over from their corral to the White Doe Tavern where, it being a meatless day, they ate largely of potato soup and of a tench, smoking hot.

Courtray

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

From this reading Jean Courtray, the crippled inn-keeper, caught it.

crippled

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

From this reading Jean Courtray, the crippled inn-keeper, caught it.

daughter

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

From this reading At intervals, too, he turned his head with that peculiar movement of the old, and peered at his daughter, Maryette, and the Belgian gardener who were working among the potatoes in the garden.

day

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

From this reading THE GARDENER A week later, toward noon, as usual, the two American, muleteers, Smith and Glenn, sauntered over from their corral to the White Doe Tavern where, it being a meatless day, they ate largely of potato soup and of a tench, smoking hot.

dim

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

From this reading All that morning he had sat there in the sun on the river wall, half dozing, opening his dim eyes at intervals to gaze at his painted quill afloat among the water weeds of the little river Lesse.

Doe

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

From this reading THE GARDENER A week later, toward noon, as usual, the two American, muleteers, Smith and Glenn, sauntered over from their corral to the White Doe Tavern where, it being a meatless day, they ate largely of potato soup and of a tench, smoking hot.

doorstep

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

From this reading The tench had been caught that morning off the back doorstep, which was an ancient and mossy slab of limestone let into the coping of the river wall.

dozing

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

From this reading All that morning he had sat there in the sun on the river wall, half dozing, opening his dim eyes at intervals to gaze at his painted quill afloat among the water weeds of the little river Lesse.

eyes

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

From this reading All that morning he had sat there in the sun on the river wall, half dozing, opening his dim eyes at intervals to gaze at his painted quill afloat among the water weeds of the little river Lesse.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading THE GARDENER A week later, toward noon, as usual, the two American, muleteers, Smith and Glenn, sauntered over from their corral to the White Doe Tavern where, it being a meatless day, they ate largely of potato soup and of a tench, smoking hot.

garden

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

From this reading At intervals, too, he turned his head with that peculiar movement of the old, and peered at his daughter, Maryette, and the Belgian gardener who were working among the potatoes in the garden.

GARDENER

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

From this reading THE GARDENER A week later, toward noon, as usual, the two American, muleteers, Smith and Glenn, sauntered over from their corral to the White Doe Tavern where, it being a meatless day, they ate largely of potato soup and of a tench, smoking hot.

gaze

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

From this reading All that morning he had sat there in the sun on the river wall, half dozing, opening his dim eyes at intervals to gaze at his painted quill afloat among the water weeds of the little river Lesse.

Glenn

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

From this reading THE GARDENER A week later, toward noon, as usual, the two American, muleteers, Smith and Glenn, sauntered over from their corral to the White Doe Tavern where, it being a meatless day, they ate largely of potato soup and of a tench, smoking hot.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading The tench had been caught that morning off the back doorstep, which was an ancient and mossy slab of limestone let into the coping of the river wall.

halfnounUS /half/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading All that morning he had sat there in the sun on the river wall, half dozing, opening his dim eyes at intervals to gaze at his painted quill afloat among the water weeds of the little river Lesse.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading All that morning he had sat there in the sun on the river wall, half dozing, opening his dim eyes at intervals to gaze at his painted quill afloat among the water weeds of the little river Lesse.

head

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

From this reading At intervals, too, he turned his head with that peculiar movement of the old, and peered at his daughter, Maryette, and the Belgian gardener who were working among the potatoes in the garden.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading All that morning he had sat there in the sun on the river wall, half dozing, opening his dim eyes at intervals to gaze at his painted quill afloat among the water weeds of the little river Lesse.

hot

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

From this reading THE GARDENER A week later, toward noon, as usual, the two American, muleteers, Smith and Glenn, sauntered over from their corral to the White Doe Tavern where, it being a meatless day, they ate largely of potato soup and of a tench, smoking hot.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading All that morning he had sat there in the sun on the river wall, half dozing, opening his dim eyes at intervals to gaze at his painted quill afloat among the water weeds of the little river Lesse.

inn-keeper

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

From this reading Jean Courtray, the crippled inn-keeper, caught it.

intervals

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

From this reading All that morning he had sat there in the sun on the river wall, half dozing, opening his dim eyes at intervals to gaze at his painted quill afloat among the water weeds of the little river Lesse.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading The tench had been caught that morning off the back doorstep, which was an ancient and mossy slab of limestone let into the coping of the river wall.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading THE GARDENER A week later, toward noon, as usual, the two American, muleteers, Smith and Glenn, sauntered over from their corral to the White Doe Tavern where, it being a meatless day, they ate largely of potato soup and of a tench, smoking hot.

Jean

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

From this reading Jean Courtray, the crippled inn-keeper, caught it.

largely

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

From this reading THE GARDENER A week later, toward noon, as usual, the two American, muleteers, Smith and Glenn, sauntered over from their corral to the White Doe Tavern where, it being a meatless day, they ate largely of potato soup and of a tench, smoking hot.

later

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

From this reading THE GARDENER A week later, toward noon, as usual, the two American, muleteers, Smith and Glenn, sauntered over from their corral to the White Doe Tavern where, it being a meatless day, they ate largely of potato soup and of a tench, smoking hot.

Lesse

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

From this reading All that morning he had sat there in the sun on the river wall, half dozing, opening his dim eyes at intervals to gaze at his painted quill afloat among the water weeds of the little river Lesse.

letauxiliary verbUS /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading The tench had been caught that morning off the back doorstep, which was an ancient and mossy slab of limestone let into the coping of the river wall.

limestone

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

From this reading The tench had been caught that morning off the back doorstep, which was an ancient and mossy slab of limestone let into the coping of the river wall.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading All that morning he had sat there in the sun on the river wall, half dozing, opening his dim eyes at intervals to gaze at his painted quill afloat among the water weeds of the little river Lesse.

Maryette

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

From this reading At intervals, too, he turned his head with that peculiar movement of the old, and peered at his daughter, Maryette, and the Belgian gardener who were working among the potatoes in the garden.

meatless

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

From this reading THE GARDENER A week later, toward noon, as usual, the two American, muleteers, Smith and Glenn, sauntered over from their corral to the White Doe Tavern where, it being a meatless day, they ate largely of potato soup and of a tench, smoking hot.

morningnounUS /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The tench had been caught that morning off the back doorstep, which was an ancient and mossy slab of limestone let into the coping of the river wall.

mossy

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

From this reading The tench had been caught that morning off the back doorstep, which was an ancient and mossy slab of limestone let into the coping of the river wall.

movement

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

From this reading At intervals, too, he turned his head with that peculiar movement of the old, and peered at his daughter, Maryette, and the Belgian gardener who were working among the potatoes in the garden.

muleteers

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

From this reading THE GARDENER A week later, toward noon, as usual, the two American, muleteers, Smith and Glenn, sauntered over from their corral to the White Doe Tavern where, it being a meatless day, they ate largely of potato soup and of a tench, smoking hot.

noon

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

From this reading THE GARDENER A week later, toward noon, as usual, the two American, muleteers, Smith and Glenn, sauntered over from their corral to the White Doe Tavern where, it being a meatless day, they ate largely of potato soup and of a tench, smoking hot.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE GARDENER A week later, toward noon, as usual, the two American, muleteers, Smith and Glenn, sauntered over from their corral to the White Doe Tavern where, it being a meatless day, they ate largely of potato soup and of a tench, smoking hot.

off

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

From this reading The tench had been caught that morning off the back doorstep, which was an ancient and mossy slab of limestone let into the coping of the river wall.

old

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

From this reading At intervals, too, he turned his head with that peculiar movement of the old, and peered at his daughter, Maryette, and the Belgian gardener who were working among the potatoes in the garden.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading All that morning he had sat there in the sun on the river wall, half dozing, opening his dim eyes at intervals to gaze at his painted quill afloat among the water weeds of the little river Lesse.

opening

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

From this reading All that morning he had sat there in the sun on the river wall, half dozing, opening his dim eyes at intervals to gaze at his painted quill afloat among the water weeds of the little river Lesse.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading THE GARDENER A week later, toward noon, as usual, the two American, muleteers, Smith and Glenn, sauntered over from their corral to the White Doe Tavern where, it being a meatless day, they ate largely of potato soup and of a tench, smoking hot.

painted

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

From this reading All that morning he had sat there in the sun on the river wall, half dozing, opening his dim eyes at intervals to gaze at his painted quill afloat among the water weeds of the little river Lesse.

peculiar

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

From this reading At intervals, too, he turned his head with that peculiar movement of the old, and peered at his daughter, Maryette, and the Belgian gardener who were working among the potatoes in the garden.

peered

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

From this reading At intervals, too, he turned his head with that peculiar movement of the old, and peered at his daughter, Maryette, and the Belgian gardener who were working among the potatoes in the garden.

potato

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

From this reading THE GARDENER A week later, toward noon, as usual, the two American, muleteers, Smith and Glenn, sauntered over from their corral to the White Doe Tavern where, it being a meatless day, they ate largely of potato soup and of a tench, smoking hot.

potatoes

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

From this reading At intervals, too, he turned his head with that peculiar movement of the old, and peered at his daughter, Maryette, and the Belgian gardener who were working among the potatoes in the garden.

quill

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

From this reading All that morning he had sat there in the sun on the river wall, half dozing, opening his dim eyes at intervals to gaze at his painted quill afloat among the water weeds of the little river Lesse.

river

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

From this reading The tench had been caught that morning off the back doorstep, which was an ancient and mossy slab of limestone let into the coping of the river wall.

sat

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

From this reading All that morning he had sat there in the sun on the river wall, half dozing, opening his dim eyes at intervals to gaze at his painted quill afloat among the water weeds of the little river Lesse.

sauntered

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

From this reading THE GARDENER A week later, toward noon, as usual, the two American, muleteers, Smith and Glenn, sauntered over from their corral to the White Doe Tavern where, it being a meatless day, they ate largely of potato soup and of a tench, smoking hot.

slab

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

From this reading The tench had been caught that morning off the back doorstep, which was an ancient and mossy slab of limestone let into the coping of the river wall.

Smith

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

From this reading THE GARDENER A week later, toward noon, as usual, the two American, muleteers, Smith and Glenn, sauntered over from their corral to the White Doe Tavern where, it being a meatless day, they ate largely of potato soup and of a tench, smoking hot.

smokingnounUS /ˈsmoking/

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

From this reading THE GARDENER A week later, toward noon, as usual, the two American, muleteers, Smith and Glenn, sauntered over from their corral to the White Doe Tavern where, it being a meatless day, they ate largely of potato soup and of a tench, smoking hot.

soup

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

From this reading THE GARDENER A week later, toward noon, as usual, the two American, muleteers, Smith and Glenn, sauntered over from their corral to the White Doe Tavern where, it being a meatless day, they ate largely of potato soup and of a tench, smoking hot.

sun

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

From this reading All that morning he had sat there in the sun on the river wall, half dozing, opening his dim eyes at intervals to gaze at his painted quill afloat among the water weeds of the little river Lesse.

Tavern

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

From this reading THE GARDENER A week later, toward noon, as usual, the two American, muleteers, Smith and Glenn, sauntered over from their corral to the White Doe Tavern where, it being a meatless day, they ate largely of potato soup and of a tench, smoking hot.

tench

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

From this reading THE GARDENER A week later, toward noon, as usual, the two American, muleteers, Smith and Glenn, sauntered over from their corral to the White Doe Tavern where, it being a meatless day, they ate largely of potato soup and of a tench, smoking hot.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The tench had been caught that morning off the back doorstep, which was an ancient and mossy slab of limestone let into the coping of the river wall.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE GARDENER A week later, toward noon, as usual, the two American, muleteers, Smith and Glenn, sauntered over from their corral to the White Doe Tavern where, it being a meatless day, they ate largely of potato soup and of a tench, smoking hot.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading THE GARDENER A week later, toward noon, as usual, the two American, muleteers, Smith and Glenn, sauntered over from their corral to the White Doe Tavern where, it being a meatless day, they ate largely of potato soup and of a tench, smoking hot.

there

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

From this reading All that morning he had sat there in the sun on the river wall, half dozing, opening his dim eyes at intervals to gaze at his painted quill afloat among the water weeds of the little river Lesse.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading THE GARDENER A week later, toward noon, as usual, the two American, muleteers, Smith and Glenn, sauntered over from their corral to the White Doe Tavern where, it being a meatless day, they ate largely of potato soup and of a tench, smoking hot.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading THE GARDENER A week later, toward noon, as usual, the two American, muleteers, Smith and Glenn, sauntered over from their corral to the White Doe Tavern where, it being a meatless day, they ate largely of potato soup and of a tench, smoking hot.

too

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

From this reading At intervals, too, he turned his head with that peculiar movement of the old, and peered at his daughter, Maryette, and the Belgian gardener who were working among the potatoes in the garden.

towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/

in the direction of

From this reading THE GARDENER A week later, toward noon, as usual, the two American, muleteers, Smith and Glenn, sauntered over from their corral to the White Doe Tavern where, it being a meatless day, they ate largely of potato soup and of a tench, smoking hot.

turned

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

From this reading At intervals, too, he turned his head with that peculiar movement of the old, and peered at his daughter, Maryette, and the Belgian gardener who were working among the potatoes in the garden.

two

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

From this reading THE GARDENER A week later, toward noon, as usual, the two American, muleteers, Smith and Glenn, sauntered over from their corral to the White Doe Tavern where, it being a meatless day, they ate largely of potato soup and of a tench, smoking hot.

usual

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

From this reading THE GARDENER A week later, toward noon, as usual, the two American, muleteers, Smith and Glenn, sauntered over from their corral to the White Doe Tavern where, it being a meatless day, they ate largely of potato soup and of a tench, smoking hot.

wall

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

From this reading The tench had been caught that morning off the back doorstep, which was an ancient and mossy slab of limestone let into the coping of the river wall.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The tench had been caught that morning off the back doorstep, which was an ancient and mossy slab of limestone let into the coping of the river wall.

water

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

From this reading All that morning he had sat there in the sun on the river wall, half dozing, opening his dim eyes at intervals to gaze at his painted quill afloat among the water weeds of the little river Lesse.

weeds

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

From this reading All that morning he had sat there in the sun on the river wall, half dozing, opening his dim eyes at intervals to gaze at his painted quill afloat among the water weeds of the little river Lesse.

week

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

From this reading THE GARDENER A week later, toward noon, as usual, the two American, muleteers, Smith and Glenn, sauntered over from their corral to the White Doe Tavern where, it being a meatless day, they ate largely of potato soup and of a tench, smoking hot.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading At intervals, too, he turned his head with that peculiar movement of the old, and peered at his daughter, Maryette, and the Belgian gardener who were working among the potatoes in the garden.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading THE GARDENER A week later, toward noon, as usual, the two American, muleteers, Smith and Glenn, sauntered over from their corral to the White Doe Tavern where, it being a meatless day, they ate largely of potato soup and of a tench, smoking hot.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading The tench had been caught that morning off the back doorstep, which was an ancient and mossy slab of limestone let into the coping of the river wall.

White

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

From this reading THE GARDENER A week later, toward noon, as usual, the two American, muleteers, Smith and Glenn, sauntered over from their corral to the White Doe Tavern where, it being a meatless day, they ate largely of potato soup and of a tench, smoking hot.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading At intervals, too, he turned his head with that peculiar movement of the old, and peered at his daughter, Maryette, and the Belgian gardener who were working among the potatoes in the garden.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading At intervals, too, he turned his head with that peculiar movement of the old, and peered at his daughter, Maryette, and the Belgian gardener who were working among the potatoes in the garden.

working

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

From this reading At intervals, too, he turned his head with that peculiar movement of the old, and peered at his daughter, Maryette, and the Belgian gardener who were working among the potatoes in the garden.