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The Phantom 'Rickshaw, and Other Ghost Stories
The Phantom 'Rickshaw, and Other Ghost Stories

Chapter V

Cover illustration for The Phantom 'Rickshaw, and Other Ghost Stories
Context Illustration Reading 1/40 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Sitting at the bottom of the sand-trap, the memory of Watson’s Hotel, with its swinging punkahs, white-robed attendants, and the sallow-faced Armenian, rose up in my mind as vividly as a photograph, and I burst into a loud fit of laughter.
The contrast was too absurd!
Gunga Dass, as he bent over the unclean bird, watched me curiously.
Hindus seldom laugh, and his surroundings were not such as to move Gunga Dass to any undue excess of hilarity.
He removed the crow solemnly from the wooden spit and as solemnly devoured it.
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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 Phantom 'Rickshaw, and Other Ghost Stories

Chapter V

Reading 1/40 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Sitting at the bottom of the sand-trap, the memory of Watson’s Hotel, with its swinging punkahs, white-robed attendants, and the sallow-faced Armenian, rose up in my mind as vividly as a photograph, and I burst into a loud fit of laughter.
Line 2
The contrast was too absurd!
Line 3
Gunga Dass, as he bent over the unclean bird, watched me curiously.
Line 4
Hindus seldom laugh, and his surroundings were not such as to move Gunga Dass to any undue excess of hilarity.
Line 5
He removed the crow solemnly from the wooden spit and as solemnly devoured it.

Learner Dictionary

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

Memory noun US /ˈmem.ər.i/

The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.

From this reading “Sitting at the bottom of the sand-trap, the memory of Watson’s Hotel, with its swinging punkahs, white-robed attendants, and the sallow-faced Armenian, rose up in my mind as vividly as a photograph, and I burst into a loud fit of laughter.”

Mind noun US /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Sitting at the bottom of the sand-trap, the memory of Watson’s Hotel, with its swinging punkahs, white-robed attendants, and the sallow-faced Armenian, rose up in my mind as vividly as a photograph, and I burst into a loud fit of laughter.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “Gunga Dass, as he bent over the unclean bird, watched me curiously.”

Solemnly adverb US /ˈsɑləmli/

seriously and formally

From this reading “He removed the crow solemnly from the wooden spit and as solemnly devoured it.”

All words in this reading · 69

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 Sitting at the bottom of the sand-trap, the memory of Watson’s Hotel, with its swinging punkahs, white-robed attendants, and the sallow-faced Armenian, rose up in my mind as vividly as a photograph, and I burst into a loud fit of laughter.

absurd

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

From this reading The contrast was too absurd!

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Sitting at the bottom of the sand-trap, the memory of Watson’s Hotel, with its swinging punkahs, white-robed attendants, and the sallow-faced Armenian, rose up in my mind as vividly as a photograph, and I burst into a loud fit of laughter.

any

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

From this reading Hindus seldom laugh, and his surroundings were not such as to move Gunga Dass to any undue excess of hilarity.

Armenian

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

From this reading Sitting at the bottom of the sand-trap, the memory of Watson’s Hotel, with its swinging punkahs, white-robed attendants, and the sallow-faced Armenian, rose up in my mind as vividly as a photograph, and I burst into a loud fit of laughter.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Sitting at the bottom of the sand-trap, the memory of Watson’s Hotel, with its swinging punkahs, white-robed attendants, and the sallow-faced Armenian, rose up in my mind as vividly as a photograph, and I burst into a loud fit of laughter.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Sitting at the bottom of the sand-trap, the memory of Watson’s Hotel, with its swinging punkahs, white-robed attendants, and the sallow-faced Armenian, rose up in my mind as vividly as a photograph, and I burst into a loud fit of laughter.

attendants

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

From this reading Sitting at the bottom of the sand-trap, the memory of Watson’s Hotel, with its swinging punkahs, white-robed attendants, and the sallow-faced Armenian, rose up in my mind as vividly as a photograph, and I burst into a loud fit of laughter.

bent

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

From this reading Gunga Dass, as he bent over the unclean bird, watched me curiously.

bird

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

From this reading Gunga Dass, as he bent over the unclean bird, watched me curiously.

bottom

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

From this reading Sitting at the bottom of the sand-trap, the memory of Watson’s Hotel, with its swinging punkahs, white-robed attendants, and the sallow-faced Armenian, rose up in my mind as vividly as a photograph, and I burst into a loud fit of laughter.

burst

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

From this reading Sitting at the bottom of the sand-trap, the memory of Watson’s Hotel, with its swinging punkahs, white-robed attendants, and the sallow-faced Armenian, rose up in my mind as vividly as a photograph, and I burst into a loud fit of laughter.

contrast

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

From this reading The contrast was too absurd!

crow

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

From this reading He removed the crow solemnly from the wooden spit and as solemnly devoured it.

curiously

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

From this reading Gunga Dass, as he bent over the unclean bird, watched me curiously.

Dass

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

From this reading Gunga Dass, as he bent over the unclean bird, watched me curiously.

devoured

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

From this reading He removed the crow solemnly from the wooden spit and as solemnly devoured it.

excess

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

From this reading Hindus seldom laugh, and his surroundings were not such as to move Gunga Dass to any undue excess of hilarity.

fit

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

From this reading Sitting at the bottom of the sand-trap, the memory of Watson’s Hotel, with its swinging punkahs, white-robed attendants, and the sallow-faced Armenian, rose up in my mind as vividly as a photograph, and I burst into a loud fit of laughter.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading He removed the crow solemnly from the wooden spit and as solemnly devoured it.

Gunga

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

From this reading Gunga Dass, as he bent over the unclean bird, watched me curiously.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Gunga Dass, as he bent over the unclean bird, watched me curiously.

hilarity

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

From this reading Hindus seldom laugh, and his surroundings were not such as to move Gunga Dass to any undue excess of hilarity.

Hindus

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

From this reading Hindus seldom laugh, and his surroundings were not such as to move Gunga Dass to any undue excess of hilarity.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Hindus seldom laugh, and his surroundings were not such as to move Gunga Dass to any undue excess of hilarity.

Hotel

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

From this reading Sitting at the bottom of the sand-trap, the memory of Watson’s Hotel, with its swinging punkahs, white-robed attendants, and the sallow-faced Armenian, rose up in my mind as vividly as a photograph, and I burst into a loud fit of laughter.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading Sitting at the bottom of the sand-trap, the memory of Watson’s Hotel, with its swinging punkahs, white-robed attendants, and the sallow-faced Armenian, rose up in my mind as vividly as a photograph, and I burst into a loud fit of laughter.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Sitting at the bottom of the sand-trap, the memory of Watson’s Hotel, with its swinging punkahs, white-robed attendants, and the sallow-faced Armenian, rose up in my mind as vividly as a photograph, and I burst into a loud fit of laughter.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Sitting at the bottom of the sand-trap, the memory of Watson’s Hotel, with its swinging punkahs, white-robed attendants, and the sallow-faced Armenian, rose up in my mind as vividly as a photograph, and I burst into a loud fit of laughter.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading He removed the crow solemnly from the wooden spit and as solemnly devoured it.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Sitting at the bottom of the sand-trap, the memory of Watson’s Hotel, with its swinging punkahs, white-robed attendants, and the sallow-faced Armenian, rose up in my mind as vividly as a photograph, and I burst into a loud fit of laughter.

laugh

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

From this reading Hindus seldom laugh, and his surroundings were not such as to move Gunga Dass to any undue excess of hilarity.

laughter

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

From this reading Sitting at the bottom of the sand-trap, the memory of Watson’s Hotel, with its swinging punkahs, white-robed attendants, and the sallow-faced Armenian, rose up in my mind as vividly as a photograph, and I burst into a loud fit of laughter.

loud

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

From this reading Sitting at the bottom of the sand-trap, the memory of Watson’s Hotel, with its swinging punkahs, white-robed attendants, and the sallow-faced Armenian, rose up in my mind as vividly as a photograph, and I burst into a loud fit of laughter.

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Gunga Dass, as he bent over the unclean bird, watched me curiously.

memorynounUS /ˈmem.ər.i/

The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.

From this reading Sitting at the bottom of the sand-trap, the memory of Watson’s Hotel, with its swinging punkahs, white-robed attendants, and the sallow-faced Armenian, rose up in my mind as vividly as a photograph, and I burst into a loud fit of laughter.

mindnounUS /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Sitting at the bottom of the sand-trap, the memory of Watson’s Hotel, with its swinging punkahs, white-robed attendants, and the sallow-faced Armenian, rose up in my mind as vividly as a photograph, and I burst into a loud fit of laughter.

move

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

From this reading Hindus seldom laugh, and his surroundings were not such as to move Gunga Dass to any undue excess of hilarity.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading Sitting at the bottom of the sand-trap, the memory of Watson’s Hotel, with its swinging punkahs, white-robed attendants, and the sallow-faced Armenian, rose up in my mind as vividly as a photograph, and I burst into a loud fit of laughter.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Hindus seldom laugh, and his surroundings were not such as to move Gunga Dass to any undue excess of hilarity.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Sitting at the bottom of the sand-trap, the memory of Watson’s Hotel, with its swinging punkahs, white-robed attendants, and the sallow-faced Armenian, rose up in my mind as vividly as a photograph, and I burst into a loud fit of laughter.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading Gunga Dass, as he bent over the unclean bird, watched me curiously.

photograph

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

From this reading Sitting at the bottom of the sand-trap, the memory of Watson’s Hotel, with its swinging punkahs, white-robed attendants, and the sallow-faced Armenian, rose up in my mind as vividly as a photograph, and I burst into a loud fit of laughter.

punkahs

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

From this reading Sitting at the bottom of the sand-trap, the memory of Watson’s Hotel, with its swinging punkahs, white-robed attendants, and the sallow-faced Armenian, rose up in my mind as vividly as a photograph, and I burst into a loud fit of laughter.

removed

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

From this reading He removed the crow solemnly from the wooden spit and as solemnly devoured it.

rose

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

From this reading Sitting at the bottom of the sand-trap, the memory of Watson’s Hotel, with its swinging punkahs, white-robed attendants, and the sallow-faced Armenian, rose up in my mind as vividly as a photograph, and I burst into a loud fit of laughter.

sallow-faced

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

From this reading Sitting at the bottom of the sand-trap, the memory of Watson’s Hotel, with its swinging punkahs, white-robed attendants, and the sallow-faced Armenian, rose up in my mind as vividly as a photograph, and I burst into a loud fit of laughter.

sand-trap

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

From this reading Sitting at the bottom of the sand-trap, the memory of Watson’s Hotel, with its swinging punkahs, white-robed attendants, and the sallow-faced Armenian, rose up in my mind as vividly as a photograph, and I burst into a loud fit of laughter.

seldom

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

From this reading Hindus seldom laugh, and his surroundings were not such as to move Gunga Dass to any undue excess of hilarity.

Sitting

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

From this reading Sitting at the bottom of the sand-trap, the memory of Watson’s Hotel, with its swinging punkahs, white-robed attendants, and the sallow-faced Armenian, rose up in my mind as vividly as a photograph, and I burst into a loud fit of laughter.

solemnlyadverbUS /ˈsɑləmli/

seriously and formally

From this reading He removed the crow solemnly from the wooden spit and as solemnly devoured it.

spit

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

From this reading He removed the crow solemnly from the wooden spit and as solemnly devoured it.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading Hindus seldom laugh, and his surroundings were not such as to move Gunga Dass to any undue excess of hilarity.

surroundings

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

From this reading Hindus seldom laugh, and his surroundings were not such as to move Gunga Dass to any undue excess of hilarity.

swinging

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

From this reading Sitting at the bottom of the sand-trap, the memory of Watson’s Hotel, with its swinging punkahs, white-robed attendants, and the sallow-faced Armenian, rose up in my mind as vividly as a photograph, and I burst into a loud fit of laughter.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Sitting at the bottom of the sand-trap, the memory of Watson’s Hotel, with its swinging punkahs, white-robed attendants, and the sallow-faced Armenian, rose up in my mind as vividly as a photograph, and I burst into a loud fit of laughter.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Hindus seldom laugh, and his surroundings were not such as to move Gunga Dass to any undue excess of hilarity.

too

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

From this reading The contrast was too absurd!

unclean

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

From this reading Gunga Dass, as he bent over the unclean bird, watched me curiously.

undue

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

From this reading Hindus seldom laugh, and his surroundings were not such as to move Gunga Dass to any undue excess of hilarity.

up

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

From this reading Sitting at the bottom of the sand-trap, the memory of Watson’s Hotel, with its swinging punkahs, white-robed attendants, and the sallow-faced Armenian, rose up in my mind as vividly as a photograph, and I burst into a loud fit of laughter.

vividly

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

From this reading Sitting at the bottom of the sand-trap, the memory of Watson’s Hotel, with its swinging punkahs, white-robed attendants, and the sallow-faced Armenian, rose up in my mind as vividly as a photograph, and I burst into a loud fit of laughter.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The contrast was too absurd!

watched

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

From this reading Gunga Dass, as he bent over the unclean bird, watched me curiously.

Watson's

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

From this reading Sitting at the bottom of the sand-trap, the memory of Watson’s Hotel, with its swinging punkahs, white-robed attendants, and the sallow-faced Armenian, rose up in my mind as vividly as a photograph, and I burst into a loud fit of laughter.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading Hindus seldom laugh, and his surroundings were not such as to move Gunga Dass to any undue excess of hilarity.

white-robed

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

From this reading Sitting at the bottom of the sand-trap, the memory of Watson’s Hotel, with its swinging punkahs, white-robed attendants, and the sallow-faced Armenian, rose up in my mind as vividly as a photograph, and I burst into a loud fit of laughter.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Sitting at the bottom of the sand-trap, the memory of Watson’s Hotel, with its swinging punkahs, white-robed attendants, and the sallow-faced Armenian, rose up in my mind as vividly as a photograph, and I burst into a loud fit of laughter.

wooden

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

From this reading He removed the crow solemnly from the wooden spit and as solemnly devoured it.