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No Great Magic
No Great Magic

Chapter I

Cover illustration for No Great Magic
Context Illustration Reading 1/96 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The troupers of the Big Time lack no art to sway a crowd-- or to change all history!
To bring the dead to life Is no great magic.
Few are wholly dead: Blow on a dead man's embers And a live flame will start.
--Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.
I said to him quietly, "Siddy, what are we putting on tonight?
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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.

No Great Magic

Chapter I

Reading 1/96 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The troupers of the Big Time lack no art to sway a crowd-- or to change all history!
Line 2
To bring the dead to life Is no great magic.
Line 3
Few are wholly dead: Blow on a dead man's embers And a live flame will start.
Line 4
--Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.
Line 5
I said to him quietly, "Siddy, what are we putting on tonight?

Learner Dictionary

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

Art auxiliary verb US /ɑːrt/

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

From this reading “The troupers of the Big Time lack no art to sway a crowd-- or to change all history!”

Dead noun US /dead/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “To bring the dead to life Is no great magic.”

Flame noun US /fleɪm/

A hot glowing body of ignited gas produced by fire.

From this reading “Few are wholly dead: Blow on a dead man's embers And a live flame will start.”

Great noun US /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “To bring the dead to life Is no great magic.”

Half noun US /half/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “--Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading “--Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.”

Life noun US /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “To bring the dead to life Is no great magic.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “--Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “--Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.”

Start noun US /start/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Few are wholly dead: Blow on a dead man's embers And a live flame will start.”

Through noun US /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading “--Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The troupers of the Big Time lack no art to sway a crowd-- or to change all history!”

Tonight adverb US /təˈnaɪt/

On the present night.

From this reading “I said to him quietly, "Siddy, what are we putting on tonight?”

Yet conjunction US /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading “--Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.”

All words in this reading · 87

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 troupers of the Big Time lack no art to sway a crowd-- or to change all history!

actors

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

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.

all

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

From this reading The troupers of the Big Time lack no art to sway a crowd-- or to change all history!

AndconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Few are wholly dead: Blow on a dead man's embers And a live flame will start.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading Few are wholly dead: Blow on a dead man's embers And a live flame will start.

artauxiliary verbUS /ɑːrt/

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

From this reading The troupers of the Big Time lack no art to sway a crowd-- or to change all history!

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.

Big

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

From this reading The troupers of the Big Time lack no art to sway a crowd-- or to change all history!

Blow

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

From this reading Few are wholly dead: Blow on a dead man's embers And a live flame will start.

boys

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

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.

bring

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

From this reading To bring the dead to life Is no great magic.

bulb-framed

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

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.

change

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

From this reading The troupers of the Big Time lack no art to sway a crowd-- or to change all history!

chin

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

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.

crowd

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

From this reading The troupers of the Big Time lack no art to sway a crowd-- or to change all history!

curtain

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

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.

deadnounUS /dead/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading To bring the dead to life Is no great magic.

dipped

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

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.

dressing

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

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.

embers

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

From this reading Few are wholly dead: Blow on a dead man's embers And a live flame will start.

experimentally

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

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.

fat

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

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.

features

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

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.

Few

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

From this reading Few are wholly dead: Blow on a dead man's embers And a live flame will start.

filmy

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

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.

flamenounUS /fleɪm/

A hot glowing body of ignited gas produced by fire.

From this reading Few are wholly dead: Blow on a dead man's embers And a live flame will start.

Graves

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

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.

greatnounUS /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading To bring the dead to life Is no great magic.

halfnounUS /half/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading I said to him quietly, "Siddy, what are we putting on tonight?

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.

history

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

From this reading The troupers of the Big Time lack no art to sway a crowd-- or to change all history!

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.

Isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading To bring the dead to life Is no great magic.

kneading

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

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.

lack

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

From this reading The troupers of the Big Time lack no art to sway a crowd-- or to change all history!

lifenounUS /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading To bring the dead to life Is no great magic.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.

live

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

From this reading Few are wholly dead: Blow on a dead man's embers And a live flame will start.

lucky

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

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.

magic

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

From this reading To bring the dead to life Is no great magic.

making

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

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.

man's

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

From this reading Few are wholly dead: Blow on a dead man's embers And a live flame will start.

mirror

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

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading The troupers of the Big Time lack no art to sway a crowd-- or to change all history!

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The troupers of the Big Time lack no art to sway a crowd-- or to change all history!

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Few are wholly dead: Blow on a dead man's embers And a live flame will start.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading The troupers of the Big Time lack no art to sway a crowd-- or to change all history!

putting

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

From this reading I said to him quietly, "Siddy, what are we putting on tonight?

quietly

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

From this reading I said to him quietly, "Siddy, what are we putting on tonight?

room

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

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.

said

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

From this reading I said to him quietly, "Siddy, what are we putting on tonight?

Sid

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

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.

Siddy

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

From this reading I said to him quietly, "Siddy, what are we putting on tonight?

sitting

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

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.

star's

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

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.

staring

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

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.

startnounUS /start/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Few are wholly dead: Blow on a dead man's embers And a live flame will start.

sternly

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

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.

stubble

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

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.

sway

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

From this reading The troupers of the Big Time lack no art to sway a crowd-- or to change all history!

table

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

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The troupers of the Big Time lack no art to sway a crowd-- or to change all history!

there

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

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.

threadbare

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

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.

throughnounUS /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.

TimenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The troupers of the Big Time lack no art to sway a crowd-- or to change all history!

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The troupers of the Big Time lack no art to sway a crowd-- or to change all history!

tonightadverbUS /təˈnaɪt/

On the present night.

From this reading I said to him quietly, "Siddy, what are we putting on tonight?

troupers

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

From this reading The troupers of the Big Time lack no art to sway a crowd-- or to change all history!

undershirt

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

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.

up

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

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading I said to him quietly, "Siddy, what are we putting on tonight?

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading I said to him quietly, "Siddy, what are we putting on tonight?

wholly

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

From this reading Few are wholly dead: Blow on a dead man's embers And a live flame will start.

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading Few are wholly dead: Blow on a dead man's embers And a live flame will start.

working

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

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.

yellowed

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

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.

yetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading --Graves I dipped through the filmy curtain into the boys' half of the dressing room and there was Sid sitting at the star's dressing table in his threadbare yellowed undershirt, the lucky one, not making up yet but staring sternly at himself in the bulb-framed mirror and experimentally working his features a little, as actors will, and kneading the stubble on his fat chin.