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The Food of the Gods and How It Came to Earth
The Food of the Gods and How It Came to Earth

Chapter II

Cover illustration for The Food of the Gods and How It Came to Earth
Context Illustration Reading 1/81 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The most dramatic of the fifty appearances was certainly that of the wasp that visited the British Museum about midday, dropping out of the blue serene upon one of the innumerable pigeons that feed in the courtyard of that building, and flying up to the cornice to devour its victim at leisure.
After that it crawled for a time over the museum roof, entered the dome of the reading-room by a skylight, buzzed about inside it for some little time--there was a stampede among the readers--and at last found another window and vanished again with a sudden silence from human observation.
Most of the other reports were of mere passings or descents.
A picnic party was dispersed at Aldington Knoll and all its sweets and jam consumed, and a puppy was killed and torn to pieces near Whitstable under the very eyes of its mistress....
The streets that evening resounded with the cry, the newspaper placards gave themselves up exclusively in the biggest of letters to the "Gigantic Wasps in Kent."
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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.

The Food of the Gods and How It Came to Earth

Chapter II

Reading 1/81 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The most dramatic of the fifty appearances was certainly that of the wasp that visited the British Museum about midday, dropping out of the blue serene upon one of the innumerable pigeons that feed in the courtyard of that building, and flying up to the cornice to devour its victim at leisure.
Line 2
After that it crawled for a time over the museum roof, entered the dome of the reading-room by a skylight, buzzed about inside it for some little time--there was a stampede among the readers--and at last found another window and vanished again with a sudden silence from human observation.
Line 3
Most of the other reports were of mere passings or descents.
Line 4
A picnic party was dispersed at Aldington Knoll and all its sweets and jam consumed, and a puppy was killed and torn to pieces near Whitstable under the very eyes of its mistress....
Line 5
The streets that evening resounded with the cry, the newspaper placards gave themselves up exclusively in the biggest of letters to the "Gigantic Wasps in Kent."

Learner Dictionary

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

About preposition US /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “The most dramatic of the fifty appearances was certainly that of the wasp that visited the British Museum about midday, dropping out of the blue serene upon one of the innumerable pigeons that feed in the courtyard of that building, and flying up to the cornice to devour its victim at leisure.”

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “After that it crawled for a time over the museum roof, entered the dome of the reading-room by a skylight, buzzed about inside it for some little time--there was a stampede among the readers--and at last found another window and vanished again with a sudden silence from human observation.”

Again noun US /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “After that it crawled for a time over the museum roof, entered the dome of the reading-room by a skylight, buzzed about inside it for some little time--there was a stampede among the readers--and at last found another window and vanished again with a sudden silence from human observation.”

Among preposition US /əˈmʌŋ/

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading “After that it crawled for a time over the museum roof, entered the dome of the reading-room by a skylight, buzzed about inside it for some little time--there was a stampede among the readers--and at last found another window and vanished again with a sudden silence from human observation.”

Another noun US /ˈanother/

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

From this reading “After that it crawled for a time over the museum roof, entered the dome of the reading-room by a skylight, buzzed about inside it for some little time--there was a stampede among the readers--and at last found another window and vanished again with a sudden silence from human observation.”

Courtyard noun US /ˈkɔːrtjɑːrd/

an open area surrounded by the walls of a building

From this reading “The most dramatic of the fifty appearances was certainly that of the wasp that visited the British Museum about midday, dropping out of the blue serene upon one of the innumerable pigeons that feed in the courtyard of that building, and flying up to the cornice to devour its victim at leisure.”

Found noun US /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “After that it crawled for a time over the museum roof, entered the dome of the reading-room by a skylight, buzzed about inside it for some little time--there was a stampede among the readers--and at last found another window and vanished again with a sudden silence from human observation.”

Last noun US /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “After that it crawled for a time over the museum roof, entered the dome of the reading-room by a skylight, buzzed about inside it for some little time--there was a stampede among the readers--and at last found another window and vanished again with a sudden silence from human observation.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “After that it crawled for a time over the museum roof, entered the dome of the reading-room by a skylight, buzzed about inside it for some little time--there was a stampede among the readers--and at last found another window and vanished again with a sudden silence from human observation.”

Observation noun US /ˈobservation/

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

From this reading “After that it crawled for a time over the museum roof, entered the dome of the reading-room by a skylight, buzzed about inside it for some little time--there was a stampede among the readers--and at last found another window and vanished again with a sudden silence from human observation.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “The most dramatic of the fifty appearances was certainly that of the wasp that visited the British Museum about midday, dropping out of the blue serene upon one of the innumerable pigeons that feed in the courtyard of that building, and flying up to the cornice to devour its victim at leisure.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “After that it crawled for a time over the museum roof, entered the dome of the reading-room by a skylight, buzzed about inside it for some little time--there was a stampede among the readers--and at last found another window and vanished again with a sudden silence from human observation.”

Party noun US /party/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A picnic party was dispersed at Aldington Knoll and all its sweets and jam consumed, and a puppy was killed and torn to pieces near Whitstable under the very eyes of its mistress....”

Pieces noun US /pieces/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A picnic party was dispersed at Aldington Knoll and all its sweets and jam consumed, and a puppy was killed and torn to pieces near Whitstable under the very eyes of its mistress....”

Silence noun US /ˈsaɪ.ləns/

Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.

From this reading “After that it crawled for a time over the museum roof, entered the dome of the reading-room by a skylight, buzzed about inside it for some little time--there was a stampede among the readers--and at last found another window and vanished again with a sudden silence from human observation.”

Sudden noun US /sudden/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “After that it crawled for a time over the museum roof, entered the dome of the reading-room by a skylight, buzzed about inside it for some little time--there was a stampede among the readers--and at last found another window and vanished again with a sudden silence from human observation.”

Themselves pronoun US /ðemˈselvz/

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading “The streets that evening resounded with the cry, the newspaper placards gave themselves up exclusively in the biggest of letters to the "Gigantic Wasps in Kent."”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “After that it crawled for a time over the museum roof, entered the dome of the reading-room by a skylight, buzzed about inside it for some little time--there was a stampede among the readers--and at last found another window and vanished again with a sudden silence from human observation.”

Under preposition US /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading “A picnic party was dispersed at Aldington Knoll and all its sweets and jam consumed, and a puppy was killed and torn to pieces near Whitstable under the very eyes of its mistress....”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “The most dramatic of the fifty appearances was certainly that of the wasp that visited the British Museum about midday, dropping out of the blue serene upon one of the innumerable pigeons that feed in the courtyard of that building, and flying up to the cornice to devour its victim at leisure.”

All words in this reading · 110

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 After that it crawled for a time over the museum roof, entered the dome of the reading-room by a skylight, buzzed about inside it for some little time--there was a stampede among the readers--and at last found another window and vanished again with a sudden silence from human observation.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading The most dramatic of the fifty appearances was certainly that of the wasp that visited the British Museum about midday, dropping out of the blue serene upon one of the innumerable pigeons that feed in the courtyard of that building, and flying up to the cornice to devour its victim at leisure.

AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading After that it crawled for a time over the museum roof, entered the dome of the reading-room by a skylight, buzzed about inside it for some little time--there was a stampede among the readers--and at last found another window and vanished again with a sudden silence from human observation.

againnounUS /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading After that it crawled for a time over the museum roof, entered the dome of the reading-room by a skylight, buzzed about inside it for some little time--there was a stampede among the readers--and at last found another window and vanished again with a sudden silence from human observation.

Aldington

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

From this reading A picnic party was dispersed at Aldington Knoll and all its sweets and jam consumed, and a puppy was killed and torn to pieces near Whitstable under the very eyes of its mistress....

all

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

From this reading A picnic party was dispersed at Aldington Knoll and all its sweets and jam consumed, and a puppy was killed and torn to pieces near Whitstable under the very eyes of its mistress....

amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading After that it crawled for a time over the museum roof, entered the dome of the reading-room by a skylight, buzzed about inside it for some little time--there was a stampede among the readers--and at last found another window and vanished again with a sudden silence from human observation.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The most dramatic of the fifty appearances was certainly that of the wasp that visited the British Museum about midday, dropping out of the blue serene upon one of the innumerable pigeons that feed in the courtyard of that building, and flying up to the cornice to devour its victim at leisure.

anothernounUS /ˈanother/

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

From this reading After that it crawled for a time over the museum roof, entered the dome of the reading-room by a skylight, buzzed about inside it for some little time--there was a stampede among the readers--and at last found another window and vanished again with a sudden silence from human observation.

appearances

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

From this reading The most dramatic of the fifty appearances was certainly that of the wasp that visited the British Museum about midday, dropping out of the blue serene upon one of the innumerable pigeons that feed in the courtyard of that building, and flying up to the cornice to devour its victim at leisure.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The most dramatic of the fifty appearances was certainly that of the wasp that visited the British Museum about midday, dropping out of the blue serene upon one of the innumerable pigeons that feed in the courtyard of that building, and flying up to the cornice to devour its victim at leisure.

biggest

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

From this reading The streets that evening resounded with the cry, the newspaper placards gave themselves up exclusively in the biggest of letters to the "Gigantic Wasps in Kent."

blue

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

From this reading The most dramatic of the fifty appearances was certainly that of the wasp that visited the British Museum about midday, dropping out of the blue serene upon one of the innumerable pigeons that feed in the courtyard of that building, and flying up to the cornice to devour its victim at leisure.

British

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

From this reading The most dramatic of the fifty appearances was certainly that of the wasp that visited the British Museum about midday, dropping out of the blue serene upon one of the innumerable pigeons that feed in the courtyard of that building, and flying up to the cornice to devour its victim at leisure.

building

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

From this reading The most dramatic of the fifty appearances was certainly that of the wasp that visited the British Museum about midday, dropping out of the blue serene upon one of the innumerable pigeons that feed in the courtyard of that building, and flying up to the cornice to devour its victim at leisure.

buzzed

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

From this reading After that it crawled for a time over the museum roof, entered the dome of the reading-room by a skylight, buzzed about inside it for some little time--there was a stampede among the readers--and at last found another window and vanished again with a sudden silence from human observation.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading After that it crawled for a time over the museum roof, entered the dome of the reading-room by a skylight, buzzed about inside it for some little time--there was a stampede among the readers--and at last found another window and vanished again with a sudden silence from human observation.

certainly

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

From this reading The most dramatic of the fifty appearances was certainly that of the wasp that visited the British Museum about midday, dropping out of the blue serene upon one of the innumerable pigeons that feed in the courtyard of that building, and flying up to the cornice to devour its victim at leisure.

consumed

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

From this reading A picnic party was dispersed at Aldington Knoll and all its sweets and jam consumed, and a puppy was killed and torn to pieces near Whitstable under the very eyes of its mistress....

cornice

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

From this reading The most dramatic of the fifty appearances was certainly that of the wasp that visited the British Museum about midday, dropping out of the blue serene upon one of the innumerable pigeons that feed in the courtyard of that building, and flying up to the cornice to devour its victim at leisure.

courtyardnounUS /ˈkɔːrtjɑːrd/

an open area surrounded by the walls of a building

From this reading The most dramatic of the fifty appearances was certainly that of the wasp that visited the British Museum about midday, dropping out of the blue serene upon one of the innumerable pigeons that feed in the courtyard of that building, and flying up to the cornice to devour its victim at leisure.

crawled

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

From this reading After that it crawled for a time over the museum roof, entered the dome of the reading-room by a skylight, buzzed about inside it for some little time--there was a stampede among the readers--and at last found another window and vanished again with a sudden silence from human observation.

cry

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

From this reading The streets that evening resounded with the cry, the newspaper placards gave themselves up exclusively in the biggest of letters to the "Gigantic Wasps in Kent."

descents

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

From this reading Most of the other reports were of mere passings or descents.

devour

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

From this reading The most dramatic of the fifty appearances was certainly that of the wasp that visited the British Museum about midday, dropping out of the blue serene upon one of the innumerable pigeons that feed in the courtyard of that building, and flying up to the cornice to devour its victim at leisure.

dispersed

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

From this reading A picnic party was dispersed at Aldington Knoll and all its sweets and jam consumed, and a puppy was killed and torn to pieces near Whitstable under the very eyes of its mistress....

dome

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

From this reading After that it crawled for a time over the museum roof, entered the dome of the reading-room by a skylight, buzzed about inside it for some little time--there was a stampede among the readers--and at last found another window and vanished again with a sudden silence from human observation.

dramatic

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

From this reading The most dramatic of the fifty appearances was certainly that of the wasp that visited the British Museum about midday, dropping out of the blue serene upon one of the innumerable pigeons that feed in the courtyard of that building, and flying up to the cornice to devour its victim at leisure.

dropping

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

From this reading The most dramatic of the fifty appearances was certainly that of the wasp that visited the British Museum about midday, dropping out of the blue serene upon one of the innumerable pigeons that feed in the courtyard of that building, and flying up to the cornice to devour its victim at leisure.

entered

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

From this reading After that it crawled for a time over the museum roof, entered the dome of the reading-room by a skylight, buzzed about inside it for some little time--there was a stampede among the readers--and at last found another window and vanished again with a sudden silence from human observation.

evening

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

From this reading The streets that evening resounded with the cry, the newspaper placards gave themselves up exclusively in the biggest of letters to the "Gigantic Wasps in Kent."

exclusively

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

From this reading The streets that evening resounded with the cry, the newspaper placards gave themselves up exclusively in the biggest of letters to the "Gigantic Wasps in Kent."

eyes

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

From this reading A picnic party was dispersed at Aldington Knoll and all its sweets and jam consumed, and a puppy was killed and torn to pieces near Whitstable under the very eyes of its mistress....

feed

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

From this reading The most dramatic of the fifty appearances was certainly that of the wasp that visited the British Museum about midday, dropping out of the blue serene upon one of the innumerable pigeons that feed in the courtyard of that building, and flying up to the cornice to devour its victim at leisure.

fifty

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

From this reading The most dramatic of the fifty appearances was certainly that of the wasp that visited the British Museum about midday, dropping out of the blue serene upon one of the innumerable pigeons that feed in the courtyard of that building, and flying up to the cornice to devour its victim at leisure.

flying

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

From this reading The most dramatic of the fifty appearances was certainly that of the wasp that visited the British Museum about midday, dropping out of the blue serene upon one of the innumerable pigeons that feed in the courtyard of that building, and flying up to the cornice to devour its victim at leisure.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading After that it crawled for a time over the museum roof, entered the dome of the reading-room by a skylight, buzzed about inside it for some little time--there was a stampede among the readers--and at last found another window and vanished again with a sudden silence from human observation.

foundnounUS /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading After that it crawled for a time over the museum roof, entered the dome of the reading-room by a skylight, buzzed about inside it for some little time--there was a stampede among the readers--and at last found another window and vanished again with a sudden silence from human observation.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading After that it crawled for a time over the museum roof, entered the dome of the reading-room by a skylight, buzzed about inside it for some little time--there was a stampede among the readers--and at last found another window and vanished again with a sudden silence from human observation.

gave

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

From this reading The streets that evening resounded with the cry, the newspaper placards gave themselves up exclusively in the biggest of letters to the "Gigantic Wasps in Kent."

Gigantic

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

From this reading The streets that evening resounded with the cry, the newspaper placards gave themselves up exclusively in the biggest of letters to the "Gigantic Wasps in Kent."

human

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

From this reading After that it crawled for a time over the museum roof, entered the dome of the reading-room by a skylight, buzzed about inside it for some little time--there was a stampede among the readers--and at last found another window and vanished again with a sudden silence from human observation.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The most dramatic of the fifty appearances was certainly that of the wasp that visited the British Museum about midday, dropping out of the blue serene upon one of the innumerable pigeons that feed in the courtyard of that building, and flying up to the cornice to devour its victim at leisure.

innumerable

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

From this reading The most dramatic of the fifty appearances was certainly that of the wasp that visited the British Museum about midday, dropping out of the blue serene upon one of the innumerable pigeons that feed in the courtyard of that building, and flying up to the cornice to devour its victim at leisure.

inside

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

From this reading After that it crawled for a time over the museum roof, entered the dome of the reading-room by a skylight, buzzed about inside it for some little time--there was a stampede among the readers--and at last found another window and vanished again with a sudden silence from human observation.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading After that it crawled for a time over the museum roof, entered the dome of the reading-room by a skylight, buzzed about inside it for some little time--there was a stampede among the readers--and at last found another window and vanished again with a sudden silence from human observation.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading The most dramatic of the fifty appearances was certainly that of the wasp that visited the British Museum about midday, dropping out of the blue serene upon one of the innumerable pigeons that feed in the courtyard of that building, and flying up to the cornice to devour its victim at leisure.

jam

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

From this reading A picnic party was dispersed at Aldington Knoll and all its sweets and jam consumed, and a puppy was killed and torn to pieces near Whitstable under the very eyes of its mistress....

Kent

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

From this reading The streets that evening resounded with the cry, the newspaper placards gave themselves up exclusively in the biggest of letters to the "Gigantic Wasps in Kent."

killed

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

From this reading A picnic party was dispersed at Aldington Knoll and all its sweets and jam consumed, and a puppy was killed and torn to pieces near Whitstable under the very eyes of its mistress....

Knoll

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

From this reading A picnic party was dispersed at Aldington Knoll and all its sweets and jam consumed, and a puppy was killed and torn to pieces near Whitstable under the very eyes of its mistress....

lastnounUS /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading After that it crawled for a time over the museum roof, entered the dome of the reading-room by a skylight, buzzed about inside it for some little time--there was a stampede among the readers--and at last found another window and vanished again with a sudden silence from human observation.

leisure

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

From this reading The most dramatic of the fifty appearances was certainly that of the wasp that visited the British Museum about midday, dropping out of the blue serene upon one of the innumerable pigeons that feed in the courtyard of that building, and flying up to the cornice to devour its victim at leisure.

letters

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

From this reading The streets that evening resounded with the cry, the newspaper placards gave themselves up exclusively in the biggest of letters to the "Gigantic Wasps in Kent."

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading After that it crawled for a time over the museum roof, entered the dome of the reading-room by a skylight, buzzed about inside it for some little time--there was a stampede among the readers--and at last found another window and vanished again with a sudden silence from human observation.

mere

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

From this reading Most of the other reports were of mere passings or descents.

midday

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

From this reading The most dramatic of the fifty appearances was certainly that of the wasp that visited the British Museum about midday, dropping out of the blue serene upon one of the innumerable pigeons that feed in the courtyard of that building, and flying up to the cornice to devour its victim at leisure.

mistress

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

From this reading A picnic party was dispersed at Aldington Knoll and all its sweets and jam consumed, and a puppy was killed and torn to pieces near Whitstable under the very eyes of its mistress....

most

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

From this reading The most dramatic of the fifty appearances was certainly that of the wasp that visited the British Museum about midday, dropping out of the blue serene upon one of the innumerable pigeons that feed in the courtyard of that building, and flying up to the cornice to devour its victim at leisure.

Museum

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

From this reading The most dramatic of the fifty appearances was certainly that of the wasp that visited the British Museum about midday, dropping out of the blue serene upon one of the innumerable pigeons that feed in the courtyard of that building, and flying up to the cornice to devour its victim at leisure.

near

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

From this reading A picnic party was dispersed at Aldington Knoll and all its sweets and jam consumed, and a puppy was killed and torn to pieces near Whitstable under the very eyes of its mistress....

newspaper

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

From this reading The streets that evening resounded with the cry, the newspaper placards gave themselves up exclusively in the biggest of letters to the "Gigantic Wasps in Kent."

observationnounUS /ˈobservation/

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

From this reading After that it crawled for a time over the museum roof, entered the dome of the reading-room by a skylight, buzzed about inside it for some little time--there was a stampede among the readers--and at last found another window and vanished again with a sudden silence from human observation.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The most dramatic of the fifty appearances was certainly that of the wasp that visited the British Museum about midday, dropping out of the blue serene upon one of the innumerable pigeons that feed in the courtyard of that building, and flying up to the cornice to devour its victim at leisure.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading The most dramatic of the fifty appearances was certainly that of the wasp that visited the British Museum about midday, dropping out of the blue serene upon one of the innumerable pigeons that feed in the courtyard of that building, and flying up to the cornice to devour its victim at leisure.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Most of the other reports were of mere passings or descents.

other

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

From this reading Most of the other reports were of mere passings or descents.

out

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

From this reading The most dramatic of the fifty appearances was certainly that of the wasp that visited the British Museum about midday, dropping out of the blue serene upon one of the innumerable pigeons that feed in the courtyard of that building, and flying up to the cornice to devour its victim at leisure.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading After that it crawled for a time over the museum roof, entered the dome of the reading-room by a skylight, buzzed about inside it for some little time--there was a stampede among the readers--and at last found another window and vanished again with a sudden silence from human observation.

partynounUS /party/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A picnic party was dispersed at Aldington Knoll and all its sweets and jam consumed, and a puppy was killed and torn to pieces near Whitstable under the very eyes of its mistress....

passings

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

From this reading Most of the other reports were of mere passings or descents.

picnic

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

From this reading A picnic party was dispersed at Aldington Knoll and all its sweets and jam consumed, and a puppy was killed and torn to pieces near Whitstable under the very eyes of its mistress....

pieces

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

From this reading A picnic party was dispersed at Aldington Knoll and all its sweets and jam consumed, and a puppy was killed and torn to pieces near Whitstable under the very eyes of its mistress....

pigeons

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

From this reading The most dramatic of the fifty appearances was certainly that of the wasp that visited the British Museum about midday, dropping out of the blue serene upon one of the innumerable pigeons that feed in the courtyard of that building, and flying up to the cornice to devour its victim at leisure.

placards

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

From this reading The streets that evening resounded with the cry, the newspaper placards gave themselves up exclusively in the biggest of letters to the "Gigantic Wasps in Kent."

puppy

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

From this reading A picnic party was dispersed at Aldington Knoll and all its sweets and jam consumed, and a puppy was killed and torn to pieces near Whitstable under the very eyes of its mistress....

readers

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

From this reading After that it crawled for a time over the museum roof, entered the dome of the reading-room by a skylight, buzzed about inside it for some little time--there was a stampede among the readers--and at last found another window and vanished again with a sudden silence from human observation.

reading-room

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

From this reading After that it crawled for a time over the museum roof, entered the dome of the reading-room by a skylight, buzzed about inside it for some little time--there was a stampede among the readers--and at last found another window and vanished again with a sudden silence from human observation.

reports

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

From this reading Most of the other reports were of mere passings or descents.

resounded

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

From this reading The streets that evening resounded with the cry, the newspaper placards gave themselves up exclusively in the biggest of letters to the "Gigantic Wasps in Kent."

roof

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

From this reading After that it crawled for a time over the museum roof, entered the dome of the reading-room by a skylight, buzzed about inside it for some little time--there was a stampede among the readers--and at last found another window and vanished again with a sudden silence from human observation.

serene

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

From this reading The most dramatic of the fifty appearances was certainly that of the wasp that visited the British Museum about midday, dropping out of the blue serene upon one of the innumerable pigeons that feed in the courtyard of that building, and flying up to the cornice to devour its victim at leisure.

silencenounUS /ˈsaɪ.ləns/

Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.

From this reading After that it crawled for a time over the museum roof, entered the dome of the reading-room by a skylight, buzzed about inside it for some little time--there was a stampede among the readers--and at last found another window and vanished again with a sudden silence from human observation.

skylight

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

From this reading After that it crawled for a time over the museum roof, entered the dome of the reading-room by a skylight, buzzed about inside it for some little time--there was a stampede among the readers--and at last found another window and vanished again with a sudden silence from human observation.

some

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

From this reading After that it crawled for a time over the museum roof, entered the dome of the reading-room by a skylight, buzzed about inside it for some little time--there was a stampede among the readers--and at last found another window and vanished again with a sudden silence from human observation.

stampede

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

From this reading After that it crawled for a time over the museum roof, entered the dome of the reading-room by a skylight, buzzed about inside it for some little time--there was a stampede among the readers--and at last found another window and vanished again with a sudden silence from human observation.

streets

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

From this reading The streets that evening resounded with the cry, the newspaper placards gave themselves up exclusively in the biggest of letters to the "Gigantic Wasps in Kent."

suddennounUS /sudden/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading After that it crawled for a time over the museum roof, entered the dome of the reading-room by a skylight, buzzed about inside it for some little time--there was a stampede among the readers--and at last found another window and vanished again with a sudden silence from human observation.

sweets

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

From this reading A picnic party was dispersed at Aldington Knoll and all its sweets and jam consumed, and a puppy was killed and torn to pieces near Whitstable under the very eyes of its mistress....

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The most dramatic of the fifty appearances was certainly that of the wasp that visited the British Museum about midday, dropping out of the blue serene upon one of the innumerable pigeons that feed in the courtyard of that building, and flying up to the cornice to devour its victim at leisure.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The most dramatic of the fifty appearances was certainly that of the wasp that visited the British Museum about midday, dropping out of the blue serene upon one of the innumerable pigeons that feed in the courtyard of that building, and flying up to the cornice to devour its victim at leisure.

themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading The streets that evening resounded with the cry, the newspaper placards gave themselves up exclusively in the biggest of letters to the "Gigantic Wasps in Kent."

there

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

From this reading After that it crawled for a time over the museum roof, entered the dome of the reading-room by a skylight, buzzed about inside it for some little time--there was a stampede among the readers--and at last found another window and vanished again with a sudden silence from human observation.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading After that it crawled for a time over the museum roof, entered the dome of the reading-room by a skylight, buzzed about inside it for some little time--there was a stampede among the readers--and at last found another window and vanished again with a sudden silence from human observation.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The most dramatic of the fifty appearances was certainly that of the wasp that visited the British Museum about midday, dropping out of the blue serene upon one of the innumerable pigeons that feed in the courtyard of that building, and flying up to the cornice to devour its victim at leisure.

torn

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

From this reading A picnic party was dispersed at Aldington Knoll and all its sweets and jam consumed, and a puppy was killed and torn to pieces near Whitstable under the very eyes of its mistress....

underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading A picnic party was dispersed at Aldington Knoll and all its sweets and jam consumed, and a puppy was killed and torn to pieces near Whitstable under the very eyes of its mistress....

up

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

From this reading The most dramatic of the fifty appearances was certainly that of the wasp that visited the British Museum about midday, dropping out of the blue serene upon one of the innumerable pigeons that feed in the courtyard of that building, and flying up to the cornice to devour its victim at leisure.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading The most dramatic of the fifty appearances was certainly that of the wasp that visited the British Museum about midday, dropping out of the blue serene upon one of the innumerable pigeons that feed in the courtyard of that building, and flying up to the cornice to devour its victim at leisure.

vanished

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

From this reading After that it crawled for a time over the museum roof, entered the dome of the reading-room by a skylight, buzzed about inside it for some little time--there was a stampede among the readers--and at last found another window and vanished again with a sudden silence from human observation.

very

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

From this reading A picnic party was dispersed at Aldington Knoll and all its sweets and jam consumed, and a puppy was killed and torn to pieces near Whitstable under the very eyes of its mistress....

victim

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

From this reading The most dramatic of the fifty appearances was certainly that of the wasp that visited the British Museum about midday, dropping out of the blue serene upon one of the innumerable pigeons that feed in the courtyard of that building, and flying up to the cornice to devour its victim at leisure.

visited

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

From this reading The most dramatic of the fifty appearances was certainly that of the wasp that visited the British Museum about midday, dropping out of the blue serene upon one of the innumerable pigeons that feed in the courtyard of that building, and flying up to the cornice to devour its victim at leisure.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The most dramatic of the fifty appearances was certainly that of the wasp that visited the British Museum about midday, dropping out of the blue serene upon one of the innumerable pigeons that feed in the courtyard of that building, and flying up to the cornice to devour its victim at leisure.

wasp

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

From this reading The most dramatic of the fifty appearances was certainly that of the wasp that visited the British Museum about midday, dropping out of the blue serene upon one of the innumerable pigeons that feed in the courtyard of that building, and flying up to the cornice to devour its victim at leisure.

Wasps

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

From this reading The streets that evening resounded with the cry, the newspaper placards gave themselves up exclusively in the biggest of letters to the "Gigantic Wasps in Kent."

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading Most of the other reports were of mere passings or descents.

Whitstable

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

From this reading A picnic party was dispersed at Aldington Knoll and all its sweets and jam consumed, and a puppy was killed and torn to pieces near Whitstable under the very eyes of its mistress....

window

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

From this reading After that it crawled for a time over the museum roof, entered the dome of the reading-room by a skylight, buzzed about inside it for some little time--there was a stampede among the readers--and at last found another window and vanished again with a sudden silence from human observation.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading After that it crawled for a time over the museum roof, entered the dome of the reading-room by a skylight, buzzed about inside it for some little time--there was a stampede among the readers--and at last found another window and vanished again with a sudden silence from human observation.