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AdeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading I TRY A FALL WITH JAMES MULLEN Some one dressed like a woman was standing by the stove whistling softly to himself while paring his nails with a pearl-handled knife.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading For about a quarter of a minute I stood there feeling, and perhaps looking, rather foolish.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Then Hughes said again, and this time rather louder, “My brother, sir.”
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “My brother Bill, sir,” said Hughes gruffly, and I thought rather nervously, indicating me with the peaked cloth cap which he carried, rolled scrollwise, in his hand.
Bill
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “My brother Bill, sir,” said Hughes gruffly, and I thought rather nervously, indicating me with the peaked cloth cap which he carried, rolled scrollwise, in his hand.
bow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I followed suit with a bow, or rather a duck, and a polite “Good-evening, sir,” but Mullen continued his nail-pairing and whistling without deigning to look up.
brother
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “My brother Bill, sir,” said Hughes gruffly, and I thought rather nervously, indicating me with the peaked cloth cap which he carried, rolled scrollwise, in his hand.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I followed suit with a bow, or rather a duck, and a polite “Good-evening, sir,” but Mullen continued his nail-pairing and whistling without deigning to look up.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading I TRY A FALL WITH JAMES MULLEN Some one dressed like a woman was standing by the stove whistling softly to himself while paring his nails with a pearl-handled knife.
cap
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “My brother Bill, sir,” said Hughes gruffly, and I thought rather nervously, indicating me with the peaked cloth cap which he carried, rolled scrollwise, in his hand.
carried
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “My brother Bill, sir,” said Hughes gruffly, and I thought rather nervously, indicating me with the peaked cloth cap which he carried, rolled scrollwise, in his hand.
cloth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “My brother Bill, sir,” said Hughes gruffly, and I thought rather nervously, indicating me with the peaked cloth cap which he carried, rolled scrollwise, in his hand.
continuednounUS /ˈcontinued/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading I followed suit with a bow, or rather a duck, and a polite “Good-evening, sir,” but Mullen continued his nail-pairing and whistling without deigning to look up.
deigning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I followed suit with a bow, or rather a duck, and a polite “Good-evening, sir,” but Mullen continued his nail-pairing and whistling without deigning to look up.
dressed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I TRY A FALL WITH JAMES MULLEN Some one dressed like a woman was standing by the stove whistling softly to himself while paring his nails with a pearl-handled knife.
duck
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I followed suit with a bow, or rather a duck, and a polite “Good-evening, sir,” but Mullen continued his nail-pairing and whistling without deigning to look up.
FALL
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I TRY A FALL WITH JAMES MULLEN Some one dressed like a woman was standing by the stove whistling softly to himself while paring his nails with a pearl-handled knife.
feelingnounUS /ˈfeeling/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading For about a quarter of a minute I stood there feeling, and perhaps looking, rather foolish.
followed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I followed suit with a bow, or rather a duck, and a polite “Good-evening, sir,” but Mullen continued his nail-pairing and whistling without deigning to look up.
foolish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For about a quarter of a minute I stood there feeling, and perhaps looking, rather foolish.
ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For about a quarter of a minute I stood there feeling, and perhaps looking, rather foolish.
Good-evening
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I followed suit with a bow, or rather a duck, and a polite “Good-evening, sir,” but Mullen continued his nail-pairing and whistling without deigning to look up.
gruffly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “My brother Bill, sir,” said Hughes gruffly, and I thought rather nervously, indicating me with the peaked cloth cap which he carried, rolled scrollwise, in his hand.
hand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “My brother Bill, sir,” said Hughes gruffly, and I thought rather nervously, indicating me with the peaked cloth cap which he carried, rolled scrollwise, in his hand.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “My brother Bill, sir,” said Hughes gruffly, and I thought rather nervously, indicating me with the peaked cloth cap which he carried, rolled scrollwise, in his hand.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading I TRY A FALL WITH JAMES MULLEN Some one dressed like a woman was standing by the stove whistling softly to himself while paring his nails with a pearl-handled knife.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading I TRY A FALL WITH JAMES MULLEN Some one dressed like a woman was standing by the stove whistling softly to himself while paring his nails with a pearl-handled knife.
Hughes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “My brother Bill, sir,” said Hughes gruffly, and I thought rather nervously, indicating me with the peaked cloth cap which he carried, rolled scrollwise, in his hand.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I TRY A FALL WITH JAMES MULLEN Some one dressed like a woman was standing by the stove whistling softly to himself while paring his nails with a pearl-handled knife.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “My brother Bill, sir,” said Hughes gruffly, and I thought rather nervously, indicating me with the peaked cloth cap which he carried, rolled scrollwise, in his hand.
indicating
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “My brother Bill, sir,” said Hughes gruffly, and I thought rather nervously, indicating me with the peaked cloth cap which he carried, rolled scrollwise, in his hand.
JAMES
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I TRY A FALL WITH JAMES MULLEN Some one dressed like a woman was standing by the stove whistling softly to himself while paring his nails with a pearl-handled knife.
knife
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I TRY A FALL WITH JAMES MULLEN Some one dressed like a woman was standing by the stove whistling softly to himself while paring his nails with a pearl-handled knife.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I TRY A FALL WITH JAMES MULLEN Some one dressed like a woman was standing by the stove whistling softly to himself while paring his nails with a pearl-handled knife.
looknounUS /look/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I followed suit with a bow, or rather a duck, and a polite “Good-evening, sir,” but Mullen continued his nail-pairing and whistling without deigning to look up.
looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For about a quarter of a minute I stood there feeling, and perhaps looking, rather foolish.
louder
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then Hughes said again, and this time rather louder, “My brother, sir.”
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “My brother Bill, sir,” said Hughes gruffly, and I thought rather nervously, indicating me with the peaked cloth cap which he carried, rolled scrollwise, in his hand.
minute
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For about a quarter of a minute I stood there feeling, and perhaps looking, rather foolish.
MULLEN
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I TRY A FALL WITH JAMES MULLEN Some one dressed like a woman was standing by the stove whistling softly to himself while paring his nails with a pearl-handled knife.
MydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “My brother Bill, sir,” said Hughes gruffly, and I thought rather nervously, indicating me with the peaked cloth cap which he carried, rolled scrollwise, in his hand.
nail-pairing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I followed suit with a bow, or rather a duck, and a polite “Good-evening, sir,” but Mullen continued his nail-pairing and whistling without deigning to look up.
nails
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I TRY A FALL WITH JAMES MULLEN Some one dressed like a woman was standing by the stove whistling softly to himself while paring his nails with a pearl-handled knife.
nervously
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “My brother Bill, sir,” said Hughes gruffly, and I thought rather nervously, indicating me with the peaked cloth cap which he carried, rolled scrollwise, in his hand.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading For about a quarter of a minute I stood there feeling, and perhaps looking, rather foolish.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading I TRY A FALL WITH JAMES MULLEN Some one dressed like a woman was standing by the stove whistling softly to himself while paring his nails with a pearl-handled knife.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading I followed suit with a bow, or rather a duck, and a polite “Good-evening, sir,” but Mullen continued his nail-pairing and whistling without deigning to look up.
paring
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I TRY A FALL WITH JAMES MULLEN Some one dressed like a woman was standing by the stove whistling softly to himself while paring his nails with a pearl-handled knife.
peaked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “My brother Bill, sir,” said Hughes gruffly, and I thought rather nervously, indicating me with the peaked cloth cap which he carried, rolled scrollwise, in his hand.
pearl-handled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I TRY A FALL WITH JAMES MULLEN Some one dressed like a woman was standing by the stove whistling softly to himself while paring his nails with a pearl-handled knife.
perhaps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For about a quarter of a minute I stood there feeling, and perhaps looking, rather foolish.
polite
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I followed suit with a bow, or rather a duck, and a polite “Good-evening, sir,” but Mullen continued his nail-pairing and whistling without deigning to look up.
quarter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For about a quarter of a minute I stood there feeling, and perhaps looking, rather foolish.
rather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “My brother Bill, sir,” said Hughes gruffly, and I thought rather nervously, indicating me with the peaked cloth cap which he carried, rolled scrollwise, in his hand.
rolled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “My brother Bill, sir,” said Hughes gruffly, and I thought rather nervously, indicating me with the peaked cloth cap which he carried, rolled scrollwise, in his hand.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “My brother Bill, sir,” said Hughes gruffly, and I thought rather nervously, indicating me with the peaked cloth cap which he carried, rolled scrollwise, in his hand.
scrollwise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “My brother Bill, sir,” said Hughes gruffly, and I thought rather nervously, indicating me with the peaked cloth cap which he carried, rolled scrollwise, in his hand.
sir
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “My brother Bill, sir,” said Hughes gruffly, and I thought rather nervously, indicating me with the peaked cloth cap which he carried, rolled scrollwise, in his hand.
softly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I TRY A FALL WITH JAMES MULLEN Some one dressed like a woman was standing by the stove whistling softly to himself while paring his nails with a pearl-handled knife.
Some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I TRY A FALL WITH JAMES MULLEN Some one dressed like a woman was standing by the stove whistling softly to himself while paring his nails with a pearl-handled knife.
standingnounUS /ˈstanding/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading I TRY A FALL WITH JAMES MULLEN Some one dressed like a woman was standing by the stove whistling softly to himself while paring his nails with a pearl-handled knife.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For about a quarter of a minute I stood there feeling, and perhaps looking, rather foolish.
stove
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I TRY A FALL WITH JAMES MULLEN Some one dressed like a woman was standing by the stove whistling softly to himself while paring his nails with a pearl-handled knife.
suit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I followed suit with a bow, or rather a duck, and a polite “Good-evening, sir,” but Mullen continued his nail-pairing and whistling without deigning to look up.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I TRY A FALL WITH JAMES MULLEN Some one dressed like a woman was standing by the stove whistling softly to himself while paring his nails with a pearl-handled knife.
Then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then Hughes said again, and this time rather louder, “My brother, sir.”
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For about a quarter of a minute I stood there feeling, and perhaps looking, rather foolish.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Then Hughes said again, and this time rather louder, “My brother, sir.”
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “My brother Bill, sir,” said Hughes gruffly, and I thought rather nervously, indicating me with the peaked cloth cap which he carried, rolled scrollwise, in his hand.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Then Hughes said again, and this time rather louder, “My brother, sir.”
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I TRY A FALL WITH JAMES MULLEN Some one dressed like a woman was standing by the stove whistling softly to himself while paring his nails with a pearl-handled knife.
TRY
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I TRY A FALL WITH JAMES MULLEN Some one dressed like a woman was standing by the stove whistling softly to himself while paring his nails with a pearl-handled knife.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I followed suit with a bow, or rather a duck, and a polite “Good-evening, sir,” but Mullen continued his nail-pairing and whistling without deigning to look up.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I TRY A FALL WITH JAMES MULLEN Some one dressed like a woman was standing by the stove whistling softly to himself while paring his nails with a pearl-handled knife.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading “My brother Bill, sir,” said Hughes gruffly, and I thought rather nervously, indicating me with the peaked cloth cap which he carried, rolled scrollwise, in his hand.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading I TRY A FALL WITH JAMES MULLEN Some one dressed like a woman was standing by the stove whistling softly to himself while paring his nails with a pearl-handled knife.
whistling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I TRY A FALL WITH JAMES MULLEN Some one dressed like a woman was standing by the stove whistling softly to himself while paring his nails with a pearl-handled knife.
WITHprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading I TRY A FALL WITH JAMES MULLEN Some one dressed like a woman was standing by the stove whistling softly to himself while paring his nails with a pearl-handled knife.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading I followed suit with a bow, or rather a duck, and a polite “Good-evening, sir,” but Mullen continued his nail-pairing and whistling without deigning to look up.
woman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I TRY A FALL WITH JAMES MULLEN Some one dressed like a woman was standing by the stove whistling softly to himself while paring his nails with a pearl-handled knife.
