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1920
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During the 1920's, old-timers told Simon, the house had been owned by a bootlegger, who had installed a costly pipe organ and used the water tank to store hooch.
adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading _Simon Grue found a two-inch mermaid in his bathtub.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Later there had been a colony of shaven-headed Buddhist monks, who had strolled about the roof in their orange and yellow robes, meditating and eating raw vegetables.
always
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old house next door together with its spacious tarpapered roof, which held a sort of pent-shack, a cylindrical old water tank, and several chicken-wire enclosures, had always been a focus of curiosity in this region of Greenwich Village, especially to whoever happened to be renting Simon's studio, the north window-cum-skylight of which looked down upon it--if you were exceptionally tall or if, like Simon, you stood halfway up a stepladder and peered.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It had arms, hips, a finny tail, and (here the real trouble began) a face that reminded him irresistibly of Grushenka Stulnikov-Gurevich...._ It wasn't until the mermaid turned up in his bathtub that Simon Grue seriously began to wonder what the Russians were doing on the roof next door.
arms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had arms, hips, a finny tail, and (here the real trouble began) a face that reminded him irresistibly of Grushenka Stulnikov-Gurevich...._ It wasn't until the mermaid turned up in his bathtub that Simon Grue seriously began to wonder what the Russians were doing on the roof next door.
bathtub
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Simon Grue found a two-inch mermaid in his bathtub.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The old house next door together with its spacious tarpapered roof, which held a sort of pent-shack, a cylindrical old water tank, and several chicken-wire enclosures, had always been a focus of curiosity in this region of Greenwich Village, especially to whoever happened to be renting Simon's studio, the north window-cum-skylight of which looked down upon it--if you were exceptionally tall or if, like Simon, you stood halfway up a stepladder and peered.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The old house next door together with its spacious tarpapered roof, which held a sort of pent-shack, a cylindrical old water tank, and several chicken-wire enclosures, had always been a focus of curiosity in this region of Greenwich Village, especially to whoever happened to be renting Simon's studio, the north window-cum-skylight of which looked down upon it--if you were exceptionally tall or if, like Simon, you stood halfway up a stepladder and peered.
begannounUS /began/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It had arms, hips, a finny tail, and (here the real trouble began) a face that reminded him irresistibly of Grushenka Stulnikov-Gurevich...._ It wasn't until the mermaid turned up in his bathtub that Simon Grue seriously began to wonder what the Russians were doing on the roof next door.
bootlegger
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During the 1920's, old-timers told Simon, the house had been owned by a bootlegger, who had installed a costly pipe organ and used the water tank to store hooch.
Buddhist
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Later there had been a colony of shaven-headed Buddhist monks, who had strolled about the roof in their orange and yellow robes, meditating and eating raw vegetables.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading During the 1920's, old-timers told Simon, the house had been owned by a bootlegger, who had installed a costly pipe organ and used the water tank to store hooch.
chicken-wire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old house next door together with its spacious tarpapered roof, which held a sort of pent-shack, a cylindrical old water tank, and several chicken-wire enclosures, had always been a focus of curiosity in this region of Greenwich Village, especially to whoever happened to be renting Simon's studio, the north window-cum-skylight of which looked down upon it--if you were exceptionally tall or if, like Simon, you stood halfway up a stepladder and peered.
colony
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Later there had been a colony of shaven-headed Buddhist monks, who had strolled about the roof in their orange and yellow robes, meditating and eating raw vegetables.
costly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During the 1920's, old-timers told Simon, the house had been owned by a bootlegger, who had installed a costly pipe organ and used the water tank to store hooch.
curiosity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old house next door together with its spacious tarpapered roof, which held a sort of pent-shack, a cylindrical old water tank, and several chicken-wire enclosures, had always been a focus of curiosity in this region of Greenwich Village, especially to whoever happened to be renting Simon's studio, the north window-cum-skylight of which looked down upon it--if you were exceptionally tall or if, like Simon, you stood halfway up a stepladder and peered.
cylindrical
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old house next door together with its spacious tarpapered roof, which held a sort of pent-shack, a cylindrical old water tank, and several chicken-wire enclosures, had always been a focus of curiosity in this region of Greenwich Village, especially to whoever happened to be renting Simon's studio, the north window-cum-skylight of which looked down upon it--if you were exceptionally tall or if, like Simon, you stood halfway up a stepladder and peered.
doing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had arms, hips, a finny tail, and (here the real trouble began) a face that reminded him irresistibly of Grushenka Stulnikov-Gurevich...._ It wasn't until the mermaid turned up in his bathtub that Simon Grue seriously began to wonder what the Russians were doing on the roof next door.
door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had arms, hips, a finny tail, and (here the real trouble began) a face that reminded him irresistibly of Grushenka Stulnikov-Gurevich...._ It wasn't until the mermaid turned up in his bathtub that Simon Grue seriously began to wonder what the Russians were doing on the roof next door.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old house next door together with its spacious tarpapered roof, which held a sort of pent-shack, a cylindrical old water tank, and several chicken-wire enclosures, had always been a focus of curiosity in this region of Greenwich Village, especially to whoever happened to be renting Simon's studio, the north window-cum-skylight of which looked down upon it--if you were exceptionally tall or if, like Simon, you stood halfway up a stepladder and peered.
DuringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading During the 1920's, old-timers told Simon, the house had been owned by a bootlegger, who had installed a costly pipe organ and used the water tank to store hooch.
eating
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Later there had been a colony of shaven-headed Buddhist monks, who had strolled about the roof in their orange and yellow robes, meditating and eating raw vegetables.
enclosures
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From this reading The old house next door together with its spacious tarpapered roof, which held a sort of pent-shack, a cylindrical old water tank, and several chicken-wire enclosures, had always been a focus of curiosity in this region of Greenwich Village, especially to whoever happened to be renting Simon's studio, the north window-cum-skylight of which looked down upon it--if you were exceptionally tall or if, like Simon, you stood halfway up a stepladder and peered.
especially
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old house next door together with its spacious tarpapered roof, which held a sort of pent-shack, a cylindrical old water tank, and several chicken-wire enclosures, had always been a focus of curiosity in this region of Greenwich Village, especially to whoever happened to be renting Simon's studio, the north window-cum-skylight of which looked down upon it--if you were exceptionally tall or if, like Simon, you stood halfway up a stepladder and peered.
exceptionally
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old house next door together with its spacious tarpapered roof, which held a sort of pent-shack, a cylindrical old water tank, and several chicken-wire enclosures, had always been a focus of curiosity in this region of Greenwich Village, especially to whoever happened to be renting Simon's studio, the north window-cum-skylight of which looked down upon it--if you were exceptionally tall or if, like Simon, you stood halfway up a stepladder and peered.
face
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had arms, hips, a finny tail, and (here the real trouble began) a face that reminded him irresistibly of Grushenka Stulnikov-Gurevich...._ It wasn't until the mermaid turned up in his bathtub that Simon Grue seriously began to wonder what the Russians were doing on the roof next door.
finny
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had arms, hips, a finny tail, and (here the real trouble began) a face that reminded him irresistibly of Grushenka Stulnikov-Gurevich...._ It wasn't until the mermaid turned up in his bathtub that Simon Grue seriously began to wonder what the Russians were doing on the roof next door.
focus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old house next door together with its spacious tarpapered roof, which held a sort of pent-shack, a cylindrical old water tank, and several chicken-wire enclosures, had always been a focus of curiosity in this region of Greenwich Village, especially to whoever happened to be renting Simon's studio, the north window-cum-skylight of which looked down upon it--if you were exceptionally tall or if, like Simon, you stood halfway up a stepladder and peered.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading _Simon Grue found a two-inch mermaid in his bathtub.
Greenwich
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old house next door together with its spacious tarpapered roof, which held a sort of pent-shack, a cylindrical old water tank, and several chicken-wire enclosures, had always been a focus of curiosity in this region of Greenwich Village, especially to whoever happened to be renting Simon's studio, the north window-cum-skylight of which looked down upon it--if you were exceptionally tall or if, like Simon, you stood halfway up a stepladder and peered.
Grue
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Simon Grue found a two-inch mermaid in his bathtub.
Grushenka
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had arms, hips, a finny tail, and (here the real trouble began) a face that reminded him irresistibly of Grushenka Stulnikov-Gurevich...._ It wasn't until the mermaid turned up in his bathtub that Simon Grue seriously began to wonder what the Russians were doing on the roof next door.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It had arms, hips, a finny tail, and (here the real trouble began) a face that reminded him irresistibly of Grushenka Stulnikov-Gurevich...._ It wasn't until the mermaid turned up in his bathtub that Simon Grue seriously began to wonder what the Russians were doing on the roof next door.
halfway
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old house next door together with its spacious tarpapered roof, which held a sort of pent-shack, a cylindrical old water tank, and several chicken-wire enclosures, had always been a focus of curiosity in this region of Greenwich Village, especially to whoever happened to be renting Simon's studio, the north window-cum-skylight of which looked down upon it--if you were exceptionally tall or if, like Simon, you stood halfway up a stepladder and peered.
happened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old house next door together with its spacious tarpapered roof, which held a sort of pent-shack, a cylindrical old water tank, and several chicken-wire enclosures, had always been a focus of curiosity in this region of Greenwich Village, especially to whoever happened to be renting Simon's studio, the north window-cum-skylight of which looked down upon it--if you were exceptionally tall or if, like Simon, you stood halfway up a stepladder and peered.
held
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old house next door together with its spacious tarpapered roof, which held a sort of pent-shack, a cylindrical old water tank, and several chicken-wire enclosures, had always been a focus of curiosity in this region of Greenwich Village, especially to whoever happened to be renting Simon's studio, the north window-cum-skylight of which looked down upon it--if you were exceptionally tall or if, like Simon, you stood halfway up a stepladder and peered.
herenounUS /here/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It had arms, hips, a finny tail, and (here the real trouble began) a face that reminded him irresistibly of Grushenka Stulnikov-Gurevich...._ It wasn't until the mermaid turned up in his bathtub that Simon Grue seriously began to wonder what the Russians were doing on the roof next door.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It had arms, hips, a finny tail, and (here the real trouble began) a face that reminded him irresistibly of Grushenka Stulnikov-Gurevich...._ It wasn't until the mermaid turned up in his bathtub that Simon Grue seriously began to wonder what the Russians were doing on the roof next door.
hips
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had arms, hips, a finny tail, and (here the real trouble began) a face that reminded him irresistibly of Grushenka Stulnikov-Gurevich...._ It wasn't until the mermaid turned up in his bathtub that Simon Grue seriously began to wonder what the Russians were doing on the roof next door.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading _Simon Grue found a two-inch mermaid in his bathtub.
hooch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During the 1920's, old-timers told Simon, the house had been owned by a bootlegger, who had installed a costly pipe organ and used the water tank to store hooch.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old house next door together with its spacious tarpapered roof, which held a sort of pent-shack, a cylindrical old water tank, and several chicken-wire enclosures, had always been a focus of curiosity in this region of Greenwich Village, especially to whoever happened to be renting Simon's studio, the north window-cum-skylight of which looked down upon it--if you were exceptionally tall or if, like Simon, you stood halfway up a stepladder and peered.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The old house next door together with its spacious tarpapered roof, which held a sort of pent-shack, a cylindrical old water tank, and several chicken-wire enclosures, had always been a focus of curiosity in this region of Greenwich Village, especially to whoever happened to be renting Simon's studio, the north window-cum-skylight of which looked down upon it--if you were exceptionally tall or if, like Simon, you stood halfway up a stepladder and peered.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading _Simon Grue found a two-inch mermaid in his bathtub.
installed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During the 1920's, old-timers told Simon, the house had been owned by a bootlegger, who had installed a costly pipe organ and used the water tank to store hooch.
irresistibly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had arms, hips, a finny tail, and (here the real trouble began) a face that reminded him irresistibly of Grushenka Stulnikov-Gurevich...._ It wasn't until the mermaid turned up in his bathtub that Simon Grue seriously began to wonder what the Russians were doing on the roof next door.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It had arms, hips, a finny tail, and (here the real trouble began) a face that reminded him irresistibly of Grushenka Stulnikov-Gurevich...._ It wasn't until the mermaid turned up in his bathtub that Simon Grue seriously began to wonder what the Russians were doing on the roof next door.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The old house next door together with its spacious tarpapered roof, which held a sort of pent-shack, a cylindrical old water tank, and several chicken-wire enclosures, had always been a focus of curiosity in this region of Greenwich Village, especially to whoever happened to be renting Simon's studio, the north window-cum-skylight of which looked down upon it--if you were exceptionally tall or if, like Simon, you stood halfway up a stepladder and peered.
Later
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Later there had been a colony of shaven-headed Buddhist monks, who had strolled about the roof in their orange and yellow robes, meditating and eating raw vegetables.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old house next door together with its spacious tarpapered roof, which held a sort of pent-shack, a cylindrical old water tank, and several chicken-wire enclosures, had always been a focus of curiosity in this region of Greenwich Village, especially to whoever happened to be renting Simon's studio, the north window-cum-skylight of which looked down upon it--if you were exceptionally tall or if, like Simon, you stood halfway up a stepladder and peered.
lookednounUS /looked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The old house next door together with its spacious tarpapered roof, which held a sort of pent-shack, a cylindrical old water tank, and several chicken-wire enclosures, had always been a focus of curiosity in this region of Greenwich Village, especially to whoever happened to be renting Simon's studio, the north window-cum-skylight of which looked down upon it--if you were exceptionally tall or if, like Simon, you stood halfway up a stepladder and peered.
meditating
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Later there had been a colony of shaven-headed Buddhist monks, who had strolled about the roof in their orange and yellow robes, meditating and eating raw vegetables.
mermaid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Simon Grue found a two-inch mermaid in his bathtub.
monks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Later there had been a colony of shaven-headed Buddhist monks, who had strolled about the roof in their orange and yellow robes, meditating and eating raw vegetables.
nextnounUS /next/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It had arms, hips, a finny tail, and (here the real trouble began) a face that reminded him irresistibly of Grushenka Stulnikov-Gurevich...._ It wasn't until the mermaid turned up in his bathtub that Simon Grue seriously began to wonder what the Russians were doing on the roof next door.
north
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old house next door together with its spacious tarpapered roof, which held a sort of pent-shack, a cylindrical old water tank, and several chicken-wire enclosures, had always been a focus of curiosity in this region of Greenwich Village, especially to whoever happened to be renting Simon's studio, the north window-cum-skylight of which looked down upon it--if you were exceptionally tall or if, like Simon, you stood halfway up a stepladder and peered.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It had arms, hips, a finny tail, and (here the real trouble began) a face that reminded him irresistibly of Grushenka Stulnikov-Gurevich...._ It wasn't until the mermaid turned up in his bathtub that Simon Grue seriously began to wonder what the Russians were doing on the roof next door.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old house next door together with its spacious tarpapered roof, which held a sort of pent-shack, a cylindrical old water tank, and several chicken-wire enclosures, had always been a focus of curiosity in this region of Greenwich Village, especially to whoever happened to be renting Simon's studio, the north window-cum-skylight of which looked down upon it--if you were exceptionally tall or if, like Simon, you stood halfway up a stepladder and peered.
old-timers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During the 1920's, old-timers told Simon, the house had been owned by a bootlegger, who had installed a costly pipe organ and used the water tank to store hooch.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It had arms, hips, a finny tail, and (here the real trouble began) a face that reminded him irresistibly of Grushenka Stulnikov-Gurevich...._ It wasn't until the mermaid turned up in his bathtub that Simon Grue seriously began to wonder what the Russians were doing on the roof next door.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The old house next door together with its spacious tarpapered roof, which held a sort of pent-shack, a cylindrical old water tank, and several chicken-wire enclosures, had always been a focus of curiosity in this region of Greenwich Village, especially to whoever happened to be renting Simon's studio, the north window-cum-skylight of which looked down upon it--if you were exceptionally tall or if, like Simon, you stood halfway up a stepladder and peered.
orange
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Later there had been a colony of shaven-headed Buddhist monks, who had strolled about the roof in their orange and yellow robes, meditating and eating raw vegetables.
organ
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During the 1920's, old-timers told Simon, the house had been owned by a bootlegger, who had installed a costly pipe organ and used the water tank to store hooch.
owned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During the 1920's, old-timers told Simon, the house had been owned by a bootlegger, who had installed a costly pipe organ and used the water tank to store hooch.
peered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old house next door together with its spacious tarpapered roof, which held a sort of pent-shack, a cylindrical old water tank, and several chicken-wire enclosures, had always been a focus of curiosity in this region of Greenwich Village, especially to whoever happened to be renting Simon's studio, the north window-cum-skylight of which looked down upon it--if you were exceptionally tall or if, like Simon, you stood halfway up a stepladder and peered.
pent-shack
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old house next door together with its spacious tarpapered roof, which held a sort of pent-shack, a cylindrical old water tank, and several chicken-wire enclosures, had always been a focus of curiosity in this region of Greenwich Village, especially to whoever happened to be renting Simon's studio, the north window-cum-skylight of which looked down upon it--if you were exceptionally tall or if, like Simon, you stood halfway up a stepladder and peered.
pipe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During the 1920's, old-timers told Simon, the house had been owned by a bootlegger, who had installed a costly pipe organ and used the water tank to store hooch.
raw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Later there had been a colony of shaven-headed Buddhist monks, who had strolled about the roof in their orange and yellow robes, meditating and eating raw vegetables.
real
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had arms, hips, a finny tail, and (here the real trouble began) a face that reminded him irresistibly of Grushenka Stulnikov-Gurevich...._ It wasn't until the mermaid turned up in his bathtub that Simon Grue seriously began to wonder what the Russians were doing on the roof next door.
region
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old house next door together with its spacious tarpapered roof, which held a sort of pent-shack, a cylindrical old water tank, and several chicken-wire enclosures, had always been a focus of curiosity in this region of Greenwich Village, especially to whoever happened to be renting Simon's studio, the north window-cum-skylight of which looked down upon it--if you were exceptionally tall or if, like Simon, you stood halfway up a stepladder and peered.
reminded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had arms, hips, a finny tail, and (here the real trouble began) a face that reminded him irresistibly of Grushenka Stulnikov-Gurevich...._ It wasn't until the mermaid turned up in his bathtub that Simon Grue seriously began to wonder what the Russians were doing on the roof next door.
renting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old house next door together with its spacious tarpapered roof, which held a sort of pent-shack, a cylindrical old water tank, and several chicken-wire enclosures, had always been a focus of curiosity in this region of Greenwich Village, especially to whoever happened to be renting Simon's studio, the north window-cum-skylight of which looked down upon it--if you were exceptionally tall or if, like Simon, you stood halfway up a stepladder and peered.
robes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Later there had been a colony of shaven-headed Buddhist monks, who had strolled about the roof in their orange and yellow robes, meditating and eating raw vegetables.
roof
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had arms, hips, a finny tail, and (here the real trouble began) a face that reminded him irresistibly of Grushenka Stulnikov-Gurevich...._ It wasn't until the mermaid turned up in his bathtub that Simon Grue seriously began to wonder what the Russians were doing on the roof next door.
Russians
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had arms, hips, a finny tail, and (here the real trouble began) a face that reminded him irresistibly of Grushenka Stulnikov-Gurevich...._ It wasn't until the mermaid turned up in his bathtub that Simon Grue seriously began to wonder what the Russians were doing on the roof next door.
s
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During the 1920's, old-timers told Simon, the house had been owned by a bootlegger, who had installed a costly pipe organ and used the water tank to store hooch.
seriously
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had arms, hips, a finny tail, and (here the real trouble began) a face that reminded him irresistibly of Grushenka Stulnikov-Gurevich...._ It wasn't until the mermaid turned up in his bathtub that Simon Grue seriously began to wonder what the Russians were doing on the roof next door.
several
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old house next door together with its spacious tarpapered roof, which held a sort of pent-shack, a cylindrical old water tank, and several chicken-wire enclosures, had always been a focus of curiosity in this region of Greenwich Village, especially to whoever happened to be renting Simon's studio, the north window-cum-skylight of which looked down upon it--if you were exceptionally tall or if, like Simon, you stood halfway up a stepladder and peered.
shaven-headed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Later there had been a colony of shaven-headed Buddhist monks, who had strolled about the roof in their orange and yellow robes, meditating and eating raw vegetables.
Simon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Simon Grue found a two-inch mermaid in his bathtub.
Simon's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old house next door together with its spacious tarpapered roof, which held a sort of pent-shack, a cylindrical old water tank, and several chicken-wire enclosures, had always been a focus of curiosity in this region of Greenwich Village, especially to whoever happened to be renting Simon's studio, the north window-cum-skylight of which looked down upon it--if you were exceptionally tall or if, like Simon, you stood halfway up a stepladder and peered.
sort
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old house next door together with its spacious tarpapered roof, which held a sort of pent-shack, a cylindrical old water tank, and several chicken-wire enclosures, had always been a focus of curiosity in this region of Greenwich Village, especially to whoever happened to be renting Simon's studio, the north window-cum-skylight of which looked down upon it--if you were exceptionally tall or if, like Simon, you stood halfway up a stepladder and peered.
spacious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old house next door together with its spacious tarpapered roof, which held a sort of pent-shack, a cylindrical old water tank, and several chicken-wire enclosures, had always been a focus of curiosity in this region of Greenwich Village, especially to whoever happened to be renting Simon's studio, the north window-cum-skylight of which looked down upon it--if you were exceptionally tall or if, like Simon, you stood halfway up a stepladder and peered.
stepladder
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old house next door together with its spacious tarpapered roof, which held a sort of pent-shack, a cylindrical old water tank, and several chicken-wire enclosures, had always been a focus of curiosity in this region of Greenwich Village, especially to whoever happened to be renting Simon's studio, the north window-cum-skylight of which looked down upon it--if you were exceptionally tall or if, like Simon, you stood halfway up a stepladder and peered.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The old house next door together with its spacious tarpapered roof, which held a sort of pent-shack, a cylindrical old water tank, and several chicken-wire enclosures, had always been a focus of curiosity in this region of Greenwich Village, especially to whoever happened to be renting Simon's studio, the north window-cum-skylight of which looked down upon it--if you were exceptionally tall or if, like Simon, you stood halfway up a stepladder and peered.
store
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During the 1920's, old-timers told Simon, the house had been owned by a bootlegger, who had installed a costly pipe organ and used the water tank to store hooch.
strolled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Later there had been a colony of shaven-headed Buddhist monks, who had strolled about the roof in their orange and yellow robes, meditating and eating raw vegetables.
studio
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old house next door together with its spacious tarpapered roof, which held a sort of pent-shack, a cylindrical old water tank, and several chicken-wire enclosures, had always been a focus of curiosity in this region of Greenwich Village, especially to whoever happened to be renting Simon's studio, the north window-cum-skylight of which looked down upon it--if you were exceptionally tall or if, like Simon, you stood halfway up a stepladder and peered.
Stulnikov-Gurevich
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had arms, hips, a finny tail, and (here the real trouble began) a face that reminded him irresistibly of Grushenka Stulnikov-Gurevich...._ It wasn't until the mermaid turned up in his bathtub that Simon Grue seriously began to wonder what the Russians were doing on the roof next door.
tail
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had arms, hips, a finny tail, and (here the real trouble began) a face that reminded him irresistibly of Grushenka Stulnikov-Gurevich...._ It wasn't until the mermaid turned up in his bathtub that Simon Grue seriously began to wonder what the Russians were doing on the roof next door.
tall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old house next door together with its spacious tarpapered roof, which held a sort of pent-shack, a cylindrical old water tank, and several chicken-wire enclosures, had always been a focus of curiosity in this region of Greenwich Village, especially to whoever happened to be renting Simon's studio, the north window-cum-skylight of which looked down upon it--if you were exceptionally tall or if, like Simon, you stood halfway up a stepladder and peered.
tank
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old house next door together with its spacious tarpapered roof, which held a sort of pent-shack, a cylindrical old water tank, and several chicken-wire enclosures, had always been a focus of curiosity in this region of Greenwich Village, especially to whoever happened to be renting Simon's studio, the north window-cum-skylight of which looked down upon it--if you were exceptionally tall or if, like Simon, you stood halfway up a stepladder and peered.
tarpapered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old house next door together with its spacious tarpapered roof, which held a sort of pent-shack, a cylindrical old water tank, and several chicken-wire enclosures, had always been a focus of curiosity in this region of Greenwich Village, especially to whoever happened to be renting Simon's studio, the north window-cum-skylight of which looked down upon it--if you were exceptionally tall or if, like Simon, you stood halfway up a stepladder and peered.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It had arms, hips, a finny tail, and (here the real trouble began) a face that reminded him irresistibly of Grushenka Stulnikov-Gurevich...._ It wasn't until the mermaid turned up in his bathtub that Simon Grue seriously began to wonder what the Russians were doing on the roof next door.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It had arms, hips, a finny tail, and (here the real trouble began) a face that reminded him irresistibly of Grushenka Stulnikov-Gurevich...._ It wasn't until the mermaid turned up in his bathtub that Simon Grue seriously began to wonder what the Russians were doing on the roof next door.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Later there had been a colony of shaven-headed Buddhist monks, who had strolled about the roof in their orange and yellow robes, meditating and eating raw vegetables.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Later there had been a colony of shaven-headed Buddhist monks, who had strolled about the roof in their orange and yellow robes, meditating and eating raw vegetables.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The old house next door together with its spacious tarpapered roof, which held a sort of pent-shack, a cylindrical old water tank, and several chicken-wire enclosures, had always been a focus of curiosity in this region of Greenwich Village, especially to whoever happened to be renting Simon's studio, the north window-cum-skylight of which looked down upon it--if you were exceptionally tall or if, like Simon, you stood halfway up a stepladder and peered.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It had arms, hips, a finny tail, and (here the real trouble began) a face that reminded him irresistibly of Grushenka Stulnikov-Gurevich...._ It wasn't until the mermaid turned up in his bathtub that Simon Grue seriously began to wonder what the Russians were doing on the roof next door.
together
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old house next door together with its spacious tarpapered roof, which held a sort of pent-shack, a cylindrical old water tank, and several chicken-wire enclosures, had always been a focus of curiosity in this region of Greenwich Village, especially to whoever happened to be renting Simon's studio, the north window-cum-skylight of which looked down upon it--if you were exceptionally tall or if, like Simon, you stood halfway up a stepladder and peered.
toldnounUS /told/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading During the 1920's, old-timers told Simon, the house had been owned by a bootlegger, who had installed a costly pipe organ and used the water tank to store hooch.
trouble
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had arms, hips, a finny tail, and (here the real trouble began) a face that reminded him irresistibly of Grushenka Stulnikov-Gurevich...._ It wasn't until the mermaid turned up in his bathtub that Simon Grue seriously began to wonder what the Russians were doing on the roof next door.
turned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had arms, hips, a finny tail, and (here the real trouble began) a face that reminded him irresistibly of Grushenka Stulnikov-Gurevich...._ It wasn't until the mermaid turned up in his bathtub that Simon Grue seriously began to wonder what the Russians were doing on the roof next door.
two-inch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Simon Grue found a two-inch mermaid in his bathtub.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading It had arms, hips, a finny tail, and (here the real trouble began) a face that reminded him irresistibly of Grushenka Stulnikov-Gurevich...._ It wasn't until the mermaid turned up in his bathtub that Simon Grue seriously began to wonder what the Russians were doing on the roof next door.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had arms, hips, a finny tail, and (here the real trouble began) a face that reminded him irresistibly of Grushenka Stulnikov-Gurevich...._ It wasn't until the mermaid turned up in his bathtub that Simon Grue seriously began to wonder what the Russians were doing on the roof next door.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The old house next door together with its spacious tarpapered roof, which held a sort of pent-shack, a cylindrical old water tank, and several chicken-wire enclosures, had always been a focus of curiosity in this region of Greenwich Village, especially to whoever happened to be renting Simon's studio, the north window-cum-skylight of which looked down upon it--if you were exceptionally tall or if, like Simon, you stood halfway up a stepladder and peered.
used
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During the 1920's, old-timers told Simon, the house had been owned by a bootlegger, who had installed a costly pipe organ and used the water tank to store hooch.
vegetables
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Later there had been a colony of shaven-headed Buddhist monks, who had strolled about the roof in their orange and yellow robes, meditating and eating raw vegetables.
Village
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old house next door together with its spacious tarpapered roof, which held a sort of pent-shack, a cylindrical old water tank, and several chicken-wire enclosures, had always been a focus of curiosity in this region of Greenwich Village, especially to whoever happened to be renting Simon's studio, the north window-cum-skylight of which looked down upon it--if you were exceptionally tall or if, like Simon, you stood halfway up a stepladder and peered.
wasn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had arms, hips, a finny tail, and (here the real trouble began) a face that reminded him irresistibly of Grushenka Stulnikov-Gurevich...._ It wasn't until the mermaid turned up in his bathtub that Simon Grue seriously began to wonder what the Russians were doing on the roof next door.
water
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old house next door together with its spacious tarpapered roof, which held a sort of pent-shack, a cylindrical old water tank, and several chicken-wire enclosures, had always been a focus of curiosity in this region of Greenwich Village, especially to whoever happened to be renting Simon's studio, the north window-cum-skylight of which looked down upon it--if you were exceptionally tall or if, like Simon, you stood halfway up a stepladder and peered.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It had arms, hips, a finny tail, and (here the real trouble began) a face that reminded him irresistibly of Grushenka Stulnikov-Gurevich...._ It wasn't until the mermaid turned up in his bathtub that Simon Grue seriously began to wonder what the Russians were doing on the roof next door.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading It had arms, hips, a finny tail, and (here the real trouble began) a face that reminded him irresistibly of Grushenka Stulnikov-Gurevich...._ It wasn't until the mermaid turned up in his bathtub that Simon Grue seriously began to wonder what the Russians were doing on the roof next door.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The old house next door together with its spacious tarpapered roof, which held a sort of pent-shack, a cylindrical old water tank, and several chicken-wire enclosures, had always been a focus of curiosity in this region of Greenwich Village, especially to whoever happened to be renting Simon's studio, the north window-cum-skylight of which looked down upon it--if you were exceptionally tall or if, like Simon, you stood halfway up a stepladder and peered.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading During the 1920's, old-timers told Simon, the house had been owned by a bootlegger, who had installed a costly pipe organ and used the water tank to store hooch.
whoever
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old house next door together with its spacious tarpapered roof, which held a sort of pent-shack, a cylindrical old water tank, and several chicken-wire enclosures, had always been a focus of curiosity in this region of Greenwich Village, especially to whoever happened to be renting Simon's studio, the north window-cum-skylight of which looked down upon it--if you were exceptionally tall or if, like Simon, you stood halfway up a stepladder and peered.
window-cum-skylight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old house next door together with its spacious tarpapered roof, which held a sort of pent-shack, a cylindrical old water tank, and several chicken-wire enclosures, had always been a focus of curiosity in this region of Greenwich Village, especially to whoever happened to be renting Simon's studio, the north window-cum-skylight of which looked down upon it--if you were exceptionally tall or if, like Simon, you stood halfway up a stepladder and peered.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The old house next door together with its spacious tarpapered roof, which held a sort of pent-shack, a cylindrical old water tank, and several chicken-wire enclosures, had always been a focus of curiosity in this region of Greenwich Village, especially to whoever happened to be renting Simon's studio, the north window-cum-skylight of which looked down upon it--if you were exceptionally tall or if, like Simon, you stood halfway up a stepladder and peered.
wonder
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It had arms, hips, a finny tail, and (here the real trouble began) a face that reminded him irresistibly of Grushenka Stulnikov-Gurevich...._ It wasn't until the mermaid turned up in his bathtub that Simon Grue seriously began to wonder what the Russians were doing on the roof next door.
yellow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Later there had been a colony of shaven-headed Buddhist monks, who had strolled about the roof in their orange and yellow robes, meditating and eating raw vegetables.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading The old house next door together with its spacious tarpapered roof, which held a sort of pent-shack, a cylindrical old water tank, and several chicken-wire enclosures, had always been a focus of curiosity in this region of Greenwich Village, especially to whoever happened to be renting Simon's studio, the north window-cum-skylight of which looked down upon it--if you were exceptionally tall or if, like Simon, you stood halfway up a stepladder and peered.
