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Chapter II
When the King awoke in the early morning, he found that a wet but thoughtful rat had crept into the place during the night and made a cosy bed for itself in his bosom. Being disturbed now, it scampered away. The boy smiled, and said, "Poor fool, why so fearful? I am as forlorn as thou. 'Twould be a sham in me to hurt the helpless, who am myself so helpless.
Reading 1/17 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading “Being disturbed now, it scampered away.”
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading “When the King awoke in the early morning, he found that a wet but thoughtful rat had crept into the place during the night and made a cosy bed for itself in his bosom.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “The boy smiled, and said, "Poor fool, why so fearful?”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “When the King awoke in the early morning, he found that a wet but thoughtful rat had crept into the place during the night and made a cosy bed for itself in his bosom.”
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading “When the King awoke in the early morning, he found that a wet but thoughtful rat had crept into the place during the night and made a cosy bed for itself in his bosom.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “When the King awoke in the early morning, he found that a wet but thoughtful rat had crept into the place during the night and made a cosy bed for itself in his bosom.”
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading “'Twould be a sham in me to hurt the helpless, who am myself so helpless.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “The boy smiled, and said, "Poor fool, why so fearful?”
an old word for “you”, as the subject, speaking to one person
From this reading “I am as forlorn as thou.”
Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading When the King awoke in the early morning, he found that a wet but thoughtful rat had crept into the place during the night and made a cosy bed for itself in his bosom.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading I am as forlorn as thou.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When the King awoke in the early morning, he found that a wet but thoughtful rat had crept into the place during the night and made a cosy bed for itself in his bosom.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading I am as forlorn as thou.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Being disturbed now, it scampered away.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the King awoke in the early morning, he found that a wet but thoughtful rat had crept into the place during the night and made a cosy bed for itself in his bosom.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading 'Twould be a sham in me to hurt the helpless, who am myself so helpless.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the King awoke in the early morning, he found that a wet but thoughtful rat had crept into the place during the night and made a cosy bed for itself in his bosom.
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Being disturbed now, it scampered away.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the King awoke in the early morning, he found that a wet but thoughtful rat had crept into the place during the night and made a cosy bed for itself in his bosom.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The boy smiled, and said, "Poor fool, why so fearful?
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading When the King awoke in the early morning, he found that a wet but thoughtful rat had crept into the place during the night and made a cosy bed for itself in his bosom.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the King awoke in the early morning, he found that a wet but thoughtful rat had crept into the place during the night and made a cosy bed for itself in his bosom.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the King awoke in the early morning, he found that a wet but thoughtful rat had crept into the place during the night and made a cosy bed for itself in his bosom.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Being disturbed now, it scampered away.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading When the King awoke in the early morning, he found that a wet but thoughtful rat had crept into the place during the night and made a cosy bed for itself in his bosom.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the King awoke in the early morning, he found that a wet but thoughtful rat had crept into the place during the night and made a cosy bed for itself in his bosom.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The boy smiled, and said, "Poor fool, why so fearful?
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The boy smiled, and said, "Poor fool, why so fearful?
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading When the King awoke in the early morning, he found that a wet but thoughtful rat had crept into the place during the night and made a cosy bed for itself in his bosom.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I am as forlorn as thou.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading When the King awoke in the early morning, he found that a wet but thoughtful rat had crept into the place during the night and made a cosy bed for itself in his bosom.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading When the King awoke in the early morning, he found that a wet but thoughtful rat had crept into the place during the night and made a cosy bed for itself in his bosom.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When the King awoke in the early morning, he found that a wet but thoughtful rat had crept into the place during the night and made a cosy bed for itself in his bosom.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'Twould be a sham in me to hurt the helpless, who am myself so helpless.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading When the King awoke in the early morning, he found that a wet but thoughtful rat had crept into the place during the night and made a cosy bed for itself in his bosom.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'Twould be a sham in me to hurt the helpless, who am myself so helpless.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I am as forlorn as thou.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading When the King awoke in the early morning, he found that a wet but thoughtful rat had crept into the place during the night and made a cosy bed for itself in his bosom.
moving to the inside of something
From this reading When the King awoke in the early morning, he found that a wet but thoughtful rat had crept into the place during the night and made a cosy bed for itself in his bosom.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Being disturbed now, it scampered away.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading When the King awoke in the early morning, he found that a wet but thoughtful rat had crept into the place during the night and made a cosy bed for itself in his bosom.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the King awoke in the early morning, he found that a wet but thoughtful rat had crept into the place during the night and made a cosy bed for itself in his bosom.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the King awoke in the early morning, he found that a wet but thoughtful rat had crept into the place during the night and made a cosy bed for itself in his bosom.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading 'Twould be a sham in me to hurt the helpless, who am myself so helpless.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading When the King awoke in the early morning, he found that a wet but thoughtful rat had crept into the place during the night and made a cosy bed for itself in his bosom.
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading 'Twould be a sham in me to hurt the helpless, who am myself so helpless.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the King awoke in the early morning, he found that a wet but thoughtful rat had crept into the place during the night and made a cosy bed for itself in his bosom.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Being disturbed now, it scampered away.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the King awoke in the early morning, he found that a wet but thoughtful rat had crept into the place during the night and made a cosy bed for itself in his bosom.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The boy smiled, and said, "Poor fool, why so fearful?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the King awoke in the early morning, he found that a wet but thoughtful rat had crept into the place during the night and made a cosy bed for itself in his bosom.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The boy smiled, and said, "Poor fool, why so fearful?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Being disturbed now, it scampered away.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'Twould be a sham in me to hurt the helpless, who am myself so helpless.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The boy smiled, and said, "Poor fool, why so fearful?
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The boy smiled, and said, "Poor fool, why so fearful?
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading When the King awoke in the early morning, he found that a wet but thoughtful rat had crept into the place during the night and made a cosy bed for itself in his bosom.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When the King awoke in the early morning, he found that a wet but thoughtful rat had crept into the place during the night and made a cosy bed for itself in his bosom.
an old word for “you”, as the subject, speaking to one person
From this reading I am as forlorn as thou.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the King awoke in the early morning, he found that a wet but thoughtful rat had crept into the place during the night and made a cosy bed for itself in his bosom.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading 'Twould be a sham in me to hurt the helpless, who am myself so helpless.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'Twould be a sham in me to hurt the helpless, who am myself so helpless.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the King awoke in the early morning, he found that a wet but thoughtful rat had crept into the place during the night and made a cosy bed for itself in his bosom.
at the time that
From this reading When the King awoke in the early morning, he found that a wet but thoughtful rat had crept into the place during the night and made a cosy bed for itself in his bosom.
which person or people
From this reading 'Twould be a sham in me to hurt the helpless, who am myself so helpless.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The boy smiled, and said, "Poor fool, why so fearful?
