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adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading That would have been a weakness which would not only have marked him forever as a cry-baby, but an indecorum too gross for words.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading There were some things so base that a boy could not do them; and what happened out of doors, and strictly within the boy's world, had to be kept sacredly secret among the boys.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading That would have been a weakness which would not only have marked him forever as a cry-baby, but an indecorum too gross for words.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It would have been as if, when once the boys were playing trip at school, and a big boy tripped him, and he lay quivering and panting on the ground, he had got up as soon as he could catch his breath and gone in and told the teacher; or as if, when the fellows were playing soak-about, and he got hit in the pit of the stomach with a hard ball, he had complained of the fellow who threw it.
anxious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of course, the tear and the blood could not be kept from the anxious eyes at home, but even there you were expected not to say just what boys did it.
appeal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For instance, if you had been beguiled, as a little boy, into being the last in the game of snap-the-whip, and the snap sent you rolling head over heels on the hard ground, and skinned your nose and tore your trousers, you could cry from the pain without disgrace, and some of the fellows would come up and try to comfort you; but you were bound in honor not to appeal to the teacher, and you were expected to use every device to get the blood off you before you went in, and to hide the tear in your trousers.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading That would have been a weakness which would not only have marked him forever as a cry-baby, but an indecorum too gross for words.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It would have been as if, when once the boys were playing trip at school, and a big boy tripped him, and he lay quivering and panting on the ground, he had got up as soon as he could catch his breath and gone in and told the teacher; or as if, when the fellows were playing soak-about, and he got hit in the pit of the stomach with a hard ball, he had complained of the fellow who threw it.
ball
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would have been as if, when once the boys were playing trip at school, and a big boy tripped him, and he lay quivering and panting on the ground, he had got up as soon as he could catch his breath and gone in and told the teacher; or as if, when the fellows were playing soak-about, and he got hit in the pit of the stomach with a hard ball, he had complained of the fellow who threw it.
base
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were some things so base that a boy could not do them; and what happened out of doors, and strictly within the boy's world, had to be kept sacredly secret among the boys.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading There were some things so base that a boy could not do them; and what happened out of doors, and strictly within the boy's world, had to be kept sacredly secret among the boys.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading That would have been a weakness which would not only have marked him forever as a cry-baby, but an indecorum too gross for words.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading For instance, if you had been beguiled, as a little boy, into being the last in the game of snap-the-whip, and the snap sent you rolling head over heels on the hard ground, and skinned your nose and tore your trousers, you could cry from the pain without disgrace, and some of the fellows would come up and try to comfort you; but you were bound in honor not to appeal to the teacher, and you were expected to use every device to get the blood off you before you went in, and to hide the tear in your trousers.
beguiled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For instance, if you had been beguiled, as a little boy, into being the last in the game of snap-the-whip, and the snap sent you rolling head over heels on the hard ground, and skinned your nose and tore your trousers, you could cry from the pain without disgrace, and some of the fellows would come up and try to comfort you; but you were bound in honor not to appeal to the teacher, and you were expected to use every device to get the blood off you before you went in, and to hide the tear in your trousers.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading For instance, if you had been beguiled, as a little boy, into being the last in the game of snap-the-whip, and the snap sent you rolling head over heels on the hard ground, and skinned your nose and tore your trousers, you could cry from the pain without disgrace, and some of the fellows would come up and try to comfort you; but you were bound in honor not to appeal to the teacher, and you were expected to use every device to get the blood off you before you went in, and to hide the tear in your trousers.
big
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would have been as if, when once the boys were playing trip at school, and a big boy tripped him, and he lay quivering and panting on the ground, he had got up as soon as he could catch his breath and gone in and told the teacher; or as if, when the fellows were playing soak-about, and he got hit in the pit of the stomach with a hard ball, he had complained of the fellow who threw it.
bloodnounUS /blood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For instance, if you had been beguiled, as a little boy, into being the last in the game of snap-the-whip, and the snap sent you rolling head over heels on the hard ground, and skinned your nose and tore your trousers, you could cry from the pain without disgrace, and some of the fellows would come up and try to comfort you; but you were bound in honor not to appeal to the teacher, and you were expected to use every device to get the blood off you before you went in, and to hide the tear in your trousers.
bound
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For instance, if you had been beguiled, as a little boy, into being the last in the game of snap-the-whip, and the snap sent you rolling head over heels on the hard ground, and skinned your nose and tore your trousers, you could cry from the pain without disgrace, and some of the fellows would come up and try to comfort you; but you were bound in honor not to appeal to the teacher, and you were expected to use every device to get the blood off you before you went in, and to hide the tear in your trousers.
boy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would have been as if, when once the boys were playing trip at school, and a big boy tripped him, and he lay quivering and panting on the ground, he had got up as soon as he could catch his breath and gone in and told the teacher; or as if, when the fellows were playing soak-about, and he got hit in the pit of the stomach with a hard ball, he had complained of the fellow who threw it.
boy's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were some things so base that a boy could not do them; and what happened out of doors, and strictly within the boy's world, had to be kept sacredly secret among the boys.
boys
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would have been as if, when once the boys were playing trip at school, and a big boy tripped him, and he lay quivering and panting on the ground, he had got up as soon as he could catch his breath and gone in and told the teacher; or as if, when the fellows were playing soak-about, and he got hit in the pit of the stomach with a hard ball, he had complained of the fellow who threw it.
breath
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would have been as if, when once the boys were playing trip at school, and a big boy tripped him, and he lay quivering and panting on the ground, he had got up as soon as he could catch his breath and gone in and told the teacher; or as if, when the fellows were playing soak-about, and he got hit in the pit of the stomach with a hard ball, he had complained of the fellow who threw it.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading That would have been a weakness which would not only have marked him forever as a cry-baby, but an indecorum too gross for words.
catch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would have been as if, when once the boys were playing trip at school, and a big boy tripped him, and he lay quivering and panting on the ground, he had got up as soon as he could catch his breath and gone in and told the teacher; or as if, when the fellows were playing soak-about, and he got hit in the pit of the stomach with a hard ball, he had complained of the fellow who threw it.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For instance, if you had been beguiled, as a little boy, into being the last in the game of snap-the-whip, and the snap sent you rolling head over heels on the hard ground, and skinned your nose and tore your trousers, you could cry from the pain without disgrace, and some of the fellows would come up and try to comfort you; but you were bound in honor not to appeal to the teacher, and you were expected to use every device to get the blood off you before you went in, and to hide the tear in your trousers.
comfort
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For instance, if you had been beguiled, as a little boy, into being the last in the game of snap-the-whip, and the snap sent you rolling head over heels on the hard ground, and skinned your nose and tore your trousers, you could cry from the pain without disgrace, and some of the fellows would come up and try to comfort you; but you were bound in honor not to appeal to the teacher, and you were expected to use every device to get the blood off you before you went in, and to hide the tear in your trousers.
complained
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would have been as if, when once the boys were playing trip at school, and a big boy tripped him, and he lay quivering and panting on the ground, he had got up as soon as he could catch his breath and gone in and told the teacher; or as if, when the fellows were playing soak-about, and he got hit in the pit of the stomach with a hard ball, he had complained of the fellow who threw it.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading It would have been as if, when once the boys were playing trip at school, and a big boy tripped him, and he lay quivering and panting on the ground, he had got up as soon as he could catch his breath and gone in and told the teacher; or as if, when the fellows were playing soak-about, and he got hit in the pit of the stomach with a hard ball, he had complained of the fellow who threw it.
coursenounUS /course/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Of course, the tear and the blood could not be kept from the anxious eyes at home, but even there you were expected not to say just what boys did it.
cry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For instance, if you had been beguiled, as a little boy, into being the last in the game of snap-the-whip, and the snap sent you rolling head over heels on the hard ground, and skinned your nose and tore your trousers, you could cry from the pain without disgrace, and some of the fellows would come up and try to comfort you; but you were bound in honor not to appeal to the teacher, and you were expected to use every device to get the blood off you before you went in, and to hide the tear in your trousers.
cry-baby
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That would have been a weakness which would not only have marked him forever as a cry-baby, but an indecorum too gross for words.
device
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For instance, if you had been beguiled, as a little boy, into being the last in the game of snap-the-whip, and the snap sent you rolling head over heels on the hard ground, and skinned your nose and tore your trousers, you could cry from the pain without disgrace, and some of the fellows would come up and try to comfort you; but you were bound in honor not to appeal to the teacher, and you were expected to use every device to get the blood off you before you went in, and to hide the tear in your trousers.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Of course, the tear and the blood could not be kept from the anxious eyes at home, but even there you were expected not to say just what boys did it.
disgracenounUS /dɪsˈɡreɪs/
shame caused by unacceptable behaviour
From this reading For instance, if you had been beguiled, as a little boy, into being the last in the game of snap-the-whip, and the snap sent you rolling head over heels on the hard ground, and skinned your nose and tore your trousers, you could cry from the pain without disgrace, and some of the fellows would come up and try to comfort you; but you were bound in honor not to appeal to the teacher, and you were expected to use every device to get the blood off you before you went in, and to hide the tear in your trousers.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading There were some things so base that a boy could not do them; and what happened out of doors, and strictly within the boy's world, had to be kept sacredly secret among the boys.
doors
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were some things so base that a boy could not do them; and what happened out of doors, and strictly within the boy's world, had to be kept sacredly secret among the boys.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Of course, the tear and the blood could not be kept from the anxious eyes at home, but even there you were expected not to say just what boys did it.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading For instance, if you had been beguiled, as a little boy, into being the last in the game of snap-the-whip, and the snap sent you rolling head over heels on the hard ground, and skinned your nose and tore your trousers, you could cry from the pain without disgrace, and some of the fellows would come up and try to comfort you; but you were bound in honor not to appeal to the teacher, and you were expected to use every device to get the blood off you before you went in, and to hide the tear in your trousers.
expected
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For instance, if you had been beguiled, as a little boy, into being the last in the game of snap-the-whip, and the snap sent you rolling head over heels on the hard ground, and skinned your nose and tore your trousers, you could cry from the pain without disgrace, and some of the fellows would come up and try to comfort you; but you were bound in honor not to appeal to the teacher, and you were expected to use every device to get the blood off you before you went in, and to hide the tear in your trousers.
eyes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of course, the tear and the blood could not be kept from the anxious eyes at home, but even there you were expected not to say just what boys did it.
fellow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would have been as if, when once the boys were playing trip at school, and a big boy tripped him, and he lay quivering and panting on the ground, he had got up as soon as he could catch his breath and gone in and told the teacher; or as if, when the fellows were playing soak-about, and he got hit in the pit of the stomach with a hard ball, he had complained of the fellow who threw it.
fellows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would have been as if, when once the boys were playing trip at school, and a big boy tripped him, and he lay quivering and panting on the ground, he had got up as soon as he could catch his breath and gone in and told the teacher; or as if, when the fellows were playing soak-about, and he got hit in the pit of the stomach with a hard ball, he had complained of the fellow who threw it.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading That would have been a weakness which would not only have marked him forever as a cry-baby, but an indecorum too gross for words.
forever
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That would have been a weakness which would not only have marked him forever as a cry-baby, but an indecorum too gross for words.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading For instance, if you had been beguiled, as a little boy, into being the last in the game of snap-the-whip, and the snap sent you rolling head over heels on the hard ground, and skinned your nose and tore your trousers, you could cry from the pain without disgrace, and some of the fellows would come up and try to comfort you; but you were bound in honor not to appeal to the teacher, and you were expected to use every device to get the blood off you before you went in, and to hide the tear in your trousers.
game
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For instance, if you had been beguiled, as a little boy, into being the last in the game of snap-the-whip, and the snap sent you rolling head over heels on the hard ground, and skinned your nose and tore your trousers, you could cry from the pain without disgrace, and some of the fellows would come up and try to comfort you; but you were bound in honor not to appeal to the teacher, and you were expected to use every device to get the blood off you before you went in, and to hide the tear in your trousers.
get
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For instance, if you had been beguiled, as a little boy, into being the last in the game of snap-the-whip, and the snap sent you rolling head over heels on the hard ground, and skinned your nose and tore your trousers, you could cry from the pain without disgrace, and some of the fellows would come up and try to comfort you; but you were bound in honor not to appeal to the teacher, and you were expected to use every device to get the blood off you before you went in, and to hide the tear in your trousers.
gone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would have been as if, when once the boys were playing trip at school, and a big boy tripped him, and he lay quivering and panting on the ground, he had got up as soon as he could catch his breath and gone in and told the teacher; or as if, when the fellows were playing soak-about, and he got hit in the pit of the stomach with a hard ball, he had complained of the fellow who threw it.
got
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would have been as if, when once the boys were playing trip at school, and a big boy tripped him, and he lay quivering and panting on the ground, he had got up as soon as he could catch his breath and gone in and told the teacher; or as if, when the fellows were playing soak-about, and he got hit in the pit of the stomach with a hard ball, he had complained of the fellow who threw it.
gross
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That would have been a weakness which would not only have marked him forever as a cry-baby, but an indecorum too gross for words.
ground
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would have been as if, when once the boys were playing trip at school, and a big boy tripped him, and he lay quivering and panting on the ground, he had got up as soon as he could catch his breath and gone in and told the teacher; or as if, when the fellows were playing soak-about, and he got hit in the pit of the stomach with a hard ball, he had complained of the fellow who threw it.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It would have been as if, when once the boys were playing trip at school, and a big boy tripped him, and he lay quivering and panting on the ground, he had got up as soon as he could catch his breath and gone in and told the teacher; or as if, when the fellows were playing soak-about, and he got hit in the pit of the stomach with a hard ball, he had complained of the fellow who threw it.
happened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were some things so base that a boy could not do them; and what happened out of doors, and strictly within the boy's world, had to be kept sacredly secret among the boys.
hard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would have been as if, when once the boys were playing trip at school, and a big boy tripped him, and he lay quivering and panting on the ground, he had got up as soon as he could catch his breath and gone in and told the teacher; or as if, when the fellows were playing soak-about, and he got hit in the pit of the stomach with a hard ball, he had complained of the fellow who threw it.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading That would have been a weakness which would not only have marked him forever as a cry-baby, but an indecorum too gross for words.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It would have been as if, when once the boys were playing trip at school, and a big boy tripped him, and he lay quivering and panting on the ground, he had got up as soon as he could catch his breath and gone in and told the teacher; or as if, when the fellows were playing soak-about, and he got hit in the pit of the stomach with a hard ball, he had complained of the fellow who threw it.
head
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For instance, if you had been beguiled, as a little boy, into being the last in the game of snap-the-whip, and the snap sent you rolling head over heels on the hard ground, and skinned your nose and tore your trousers, you could cry from the pain without disgrace, and some of the fellows would come up and try to comfort you; but you were bound in honor not to appeal to the teacher, and you were expected to use every device to get the blood off you before you went in, and to hide the tear in your trousers.
heels
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For instance, if you had been beguiled, as a little boy, into being the last in the game of snap-the-whip, and the snap sent you rolling head over heels on the hard ground, and skinned your nose and tore your trousers, you could cry from the pain without disgrace, and some of the fellows would come up and try to comfort you; but you were bound in honor not to appeal to the teacher, and you were expected to use every device to get the blood off you before you went in, and to hide the tear in your trousers.
hide
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For instance, if you had been beguiled, as a little boy, into being the last in the game of snap-the-whip, and the snap sent you rolling head over heels on the hard ground, and skinned your nose and tore your trousers, you could cry from the pain without disgrace, and some of the fellows would come up and try to comfort you; but you were bound in honor not to appeal to the teacher, and you were expected to use every device to get the blood off you before you went in, and to hide the tear in your trousers.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading That would have been a weakness which would not only have marked him forever as a cry-baby, but an indecorum too gross for words.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It would have been as if, when once the boys were playing trip at school, and a big boy tripped him, and he lay quivering and panting on the ground, he had got up as soon as he could catch his breath and gone in and told the teacher; or as if, when the fellows were playing soak-about, and he got hit in the pit of the stomach with a hard ball, he had complained of the fellow who threw it.
hit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would have been as if, when once the boys were playing trip at school, and a big boy tripped him, and he lay quivering and panting on the ground, he had got up as soon as he could catch his breath and gone in and told the teacher; or as if, when the fellows were playing soak-about, and he got hit in the pit of the stomach with a hard ball, he had complained of the fellow who threw it.
home
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of course, the tear and the blood could not be kept from the anxious eyes at home, but even there you were expected not to say just what boys did it.
honor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For instance, if you had been beguiled, as a little boy, into being the last in the game of snap-the-whip, and the snap sent you rolling head over heels on the hard ground, and skinned your nose and tore your trousers, you could cry from the pain without disgrace, and some of the fellows would come up and try to comfort you; but you were bound in honor not to appeal to the teacher, and you were expected to use every device to get the blood off you before you went in, and to hide the tear in your trousers.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading It would have been as if, when once the boys were playing trip at school, and a big boy tripped him, and he lay quivering and panting on the ground, he had got up as soon as he could catch his breath and gone in and told the teacher; or as if, when the fellows were playing soak-about, and he got hit in the pit of the stomach with a hard ball, he had complained of the fellow who threw it.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It would have been as if, when once the boys were playing trip at school, and a big boy tripped him, and he lay quivering and panting on the ground, he had got up as soon as he could catch his breath and gone in and told the teacher; or as if, when the fellows were playing soak-about, and he got hit in the pit of the stomach with a hard ball, he had complained of the fellow who threw it.
indecorum
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That would have been a weakness which would not only have marked him forever as a cry-baby, but an indecorum too gross for words.
instance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For instance, if you had been beguiled, as a little boy, into being the last in the game of snap-the-whip, and the snap sent you rolling head over heels on the hard ground, and skinned your nose and tore your trousers, you could cry from the pain without disgrace, and some of the fellows would come up and try to comfort you; but you were bound in honor not to appeal to the teacher, and you were expected to use every device to get the blood off you before you went in, and to hide the tear in your trousers.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading For instance, if you had been beguiled, as a little boy, into being the last in the game of snap-the-whip, and the snap sent you rolling head over heels on the hard ground, and skinned your nose and tore your trousers, you could cry from the pain without disgrace, and some of the fellows would come up and try to comfort you; but you were bound in honor not to appeal to the teacher, and you were expected to use every device to get the blood off you before you went in, and to hide the tear in your trousers.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It would have been as if, when once the boys were playing trip at school, and a big boy tripped him, and he lay quivering and panting on the ground, he had got up as soon as he could catch his breath and gone in and told the teacher; or as if, when the fellows were playing soak-about, and he got hit in the pit of the stomach with a hard ball, he had complained of the fellow who threw it.
just
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of course, the tear and the blood could not be kept from the anxious eyes at home, but even there you were expected not to say just what boys did it.
kept
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were some things so base that a boy could not do them; and what happened out of doors, and strictly within the boy's world, had to be kept sacredly secret among the boys.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For instance, if you had been beguiled, as a little boy, into being the last in the game of snap-the-whip, and the snap sent you rolling head over heels on the hard ground, and skinned your nose and tore your trousers, you could cry from the pain without disgrace, and some of the fellows would come up and try to comfort you; but you were bound in honor not to appeal to the teacher, and you were expected to use every device to get the blood off you before you went in, and to hide the tear in your trousers.
lay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would have been as if, when once the boys were playing trip at school, and a big boy tripped him, and he lay quivering and panting on the ground, he had got up as soon as he could catch his breath and gone in and told the teacher; or as if, when the fellows were playing soak-about, and he got hit in the pit of the stomach with a hard ball, he had complained of the fellow who threw it.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For instance, if you had been beguiled, as a little boy, into being the last in the game of snap-the-whip, and the snap sent you rolling head over heels on the hard ground, and skinned your nose and tore your trousers, you could cry from the pain without disgrace, and some of the fellows would come up and try to comfort you; but you were bound in honor not to appeal to the teacher, and you were expected to use every device to get the blood off you before you went in, and to hide the tear in your trousers.
marked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That would have been a weakness which would not only have marked him forever as a cry-baby, but an indecorum too gross for words.
nose
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For instance, if you had been beguiled, as a little boy, into being the last in the game of snap-the-whip, and the snap sent you rolling head over heels on the hard ground, and skinned your nose and tore your trousers, you could cry from the pain without disgrace, and some of the fellows would come up and try to comfort you; but you were bound in honor not to appeal to the teacher, and you were expected to use every device to get the blood off you before you went in, and to hide the tear in your trousers.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading That would have been a weakness which would not only have marked him forever as a cry-baby, but an indecorum too gross for words.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It would have been as if, when once the boys were playing trip at school, and a big boy tripped him, and he lay quivering and panting on the ground, he had got up as soon as he could catch his breath and gone in and told the teacher; or as if, when the fellows were playing soak-about, and he got hit in the pit of the stomach with a hard ball, he had complained of the fellow who threw it.
off
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For instance, if you had been beguiled, as a little boy, into being the last in the game of snap-the-whip, and the snap sent you rolling head over heels on the hard ground, and skinned your nose and tore your trousers, you could cry from the pain without disgrace, and some of the fellows would come up and try to comfort you; but you were bound in honor not to appeal to the teacher, and you were expected to use every device to get the blood off you before you went in, and to hide the tear in your trousers.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It would have been as if, when once the boys were playing trip at school, and a big boy tripped him, and he lay quivering and panting on the ground, he had got up as soon as he could catch his breath and gone in and told the teacher; or as if, when the fellows were playing soak-about, and he got hit in the pit of the stomach with a hard ball, he had complained of the fellow who threw it.
once
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would have been as if, when once the boys were playing trip at school, and a big boy tripped him, and he lay quivering and panting on the ground, he had got up as soon as he could catch his breath and gone in and told the teacher; or as if, when the fellows were playing soak-about, and he got hit in the pit of the stomach with a hard ball, he had complained of the fellow who threw it.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That would have been a weakness which would not only have marked him forever as a cry-baby, but an indecorum too gross for words.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading It would have been as if, when once the boys were playing trip at school, and a big boy tripped him, and he lay quivering and panting on the ground, he had got up as soon as he could catch his breath and gone in and told the teacher; or as if, when the fellows were playing soak-about, and he got hit in the pit of the stomach with a hard ball, he had complained of the fellow who threw it.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were some things so base that a boy could not do them; and what happened out of doors, and strictly within the boy's world, had to be kept sacredly secret among the boys.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading For instance, if you had been beguiled, as a little boy, into being the last in the game of snap-the-whip, and the snap sent you rolling head over heels on the hard ground, and skinned your nose and tore your trousers, you could cry from the pain without disgrace, and some of the fellows would come up and try to comfort you; but you were bound in honor not to appeal to the teacher, and you were expected to use every device to get the blood off you before you went in, and to hide the tear in your trousers.
pain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For instance, if you had been beguiled, as a little boy, into being the last in the game of snap-the-whip, and the snap sent you rolling head over heels on the hard ground, and skinned your nose and tore your trousers, you could cry from the pain without disgrace, and some of the fellows would come up and try to comfort you; but you were bound in honor not to appeal to the teacher, and you were expected to use every device to get the blood off you before you went in, and to hide the tear in your trousers.
panting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would have been as if, when once the boys were playing trip at school, and a big boy tripped him, and he lay quivering and panting on the ground, he had got up as soon as he could catch his breath and gone in and told the teacher; or as if, when the fellows were playing soak-about, and he got hit in the pit of the stomach with a hard ball, he had complained of the fellow who threw it.
pitnounUS /pɪt/
A large hole in the ground, or an abyss of darkness and peril.
From this reading It would have been as if, when once the boys were playing trip at school, and a big boy tripped him, and he lay quivering and panting on the ground, he had got up as soon as he could catch his breath and gone in and told the teacher; or as if, when the fellows were playing soak-about, and he got hit in the pit of the stomach with a hard ball, he had complained of the fellow who threw it.
playing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would have been as if, when once the boys were playing trip at school, and a big boy tripped him, and he lay quivering and panting on the ground, he had got up as soon as he could catch his breath and gone in and told the teacher; or as if, when the fellows were playing soak-about, and he got hit in the pit of the stomach with a hard ball, he had complained of the fellow who threw it.
quivering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would have been as if, when once the boys were playing trip at school, and a big boy tripped him, and he lay quivering and panting on the ground, he had got up as soon as he could catch his breath and gone in and told the teacher; or as if, when the fellows were playing soak-about, and he got hit in the pit of the stomach with a hard ball, he had complained of the fellow who threw it.
rolling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For instance, if you had been beguiled, as a little boy, into being the last in the game of snap-the-whip, and the snap sent you rolling head over heels on the hard ground, and skinned your nose and tore your trousers, you could cry from the pain without disgrace, and some of the fellows would come up and try to comfort you; but you were bound in honor not to appeal to the teacher, and you were expected to use every device to get the blood off you before you went in, and to hide the tear in your trousers.
sacredly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were some things so base that a boy could not do them; and what happened out of doors, and strictly within the boy's world, had to be kept sacredly secret among the boys.
say
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Of course, the tear and the blood could not be kept from the anxious eyes at home, but even there you were expected not to say just what boys did it.
school
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would have been as if, when once the boys were playing trip at school, and a big boy tripped him, and he lay quivering and panting on the ground, he had got up as soon as he could catch his breath and gone in and told the teacher; or as if, when the fellows were playing soak-about, and he got hit in the pit of the stomach with a hard ball, he had complained of the fellow who threw it.
secretnounUS /ˈsiː.krət/
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading There were some things so base that a boy could not do them; and what happened out of doors, and strictly within the boy's world, had to be kept sacredly secret among the boys.
sent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For instance, if you had been beguiled, as a little boy, into being the last in the game of snap-the-whip, and the snap sent you rolling head over heels on the hard ground, and skinned your nose and tore your trousers, you could cry from the pain without disgrace, and some of the fellows would come up and try to comfort you; but you were bound in honor not to appeal to the teacher, and you were expected to use every device to get the blood off you before you went in, and to hide the tear in your trousers.
skinned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For instance, if you had been beguiled, as a little boy, into being the last in the game of snap-the-whip, and the snap sent you rolling head over heels on the hard ground, and skinned your nose and tore your trousers, you could cry from the pain without disgrace, and some of the fellows would come up and try to comfort you; but you were bound in honor not to appeal to the teacher, and you were expected to use every device to get the blood off you before you went in, and to hide the tear in your trousers.
snap
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For instance, if you had been beguiled, as a little boy, into being the last in the game of snap-the-whip, and the snap sent you rolling head over heels on the hard ground, and skinned your nose and tore your trousers, you could cry from the pain without disgrace, and some of the fellows would come up and try to comfort you; but you were bound in honor not to appeal to the teacher, and you were expected to use every device to get the blood off you before you went in, and to hide the tear in your trousers.
snap-the-whip
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For instance, if you had been beguiled, as a little boy, into being the last in the game of snap-the-whip, and the snap sent you rolling head over heels on the hard ground, and skinned your nose and tore your trousers, you could cry from the pain without disgrace, and some of the fellows would come up and try to comfort you; but you were bound in honor not to appeal to the teacher, and you were expected to use every device to get the blood off you before you went in, and to hide the tear in your trousers.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading There were some things so base that a boy could not do them; and what happened out of doors, and strictly within the boy's world, had to be kept sacredly secret among the boys.
soak-about
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would have been as if, when once the boys were playing trip at school, and a big boy tripped him, and he lay quivering and panting on the ground, he had got up as soon as he could catch his breath and gone in and told the teacher; or as if, when the fellows were playing soak-about, and he got hit in the pit of the stomach with a hard ball, he had complained of the fellow who threw it.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were some things so base that a boy could not do them; and what happened out of doors, and strictly within the boy's world, had to be kept sacredly secret among the boys.
soon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would have been as if, when once the boys were playing trip at school, and a big boy tripped him, and he lay quivering and panting on the ground, he had got up as soon as he could catch his breath and gone in and told the teacher; or as if, when the fellows were playing soak-about, and he got hit in the pit of the stomach with a hard ball, he had complained of the fellow who threw it.
stomach
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would have been as if, when once the boys were playing trip at school, and a big boy tripped him, and he lay quivering and panting on the ground, he had got up as soon as he could catch his breath and gone in and told the teacher; or as if, when the fellows were playing soak-about, and he got hit in the pit of the stomach with a hard ball, he had complained of the fellow who threw it.
strictly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were some things so base that a boy could not do them; and what happened out of doors, and strictly within the boy's world, had to be kept sacredly secret among the boys.
teacher
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would have been as if, when once the boys were playing trip at school, and a big boy tripped him, and he lay quivering and panting on the ground, he had got up as soon as he could catch his breath and gone in and told the teacher; or as if, when the fellows were playing soak-about, and he got hit in the pit of the stomach with a hard ball, he had complained of the fellow who threw it.
tear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For instance, if you had been beguiled, as a little boy, into being the last in the game of snap-the-whip, and the snap sent you rolling head over heels on the hard ground, and skinned your nose and tore your trousers, you could cry from the pain without disgrace, and some of the fellows would come up and try to comfort you; but you were bound in honor not to appeal to the teacher, and you were expected to use every device to get the blood off you before you went in, and to hide the tear in your trousers.
ThatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That would have been a weakness which would not only have marked him forever as a cry-baby, but an indecorum too gross for words.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It would have been as if, when once the boys were playing trip at school, and a big boy tripped him, and he lay quivering and panting on the ground, he had got up as soon as he could catch his breath and gone in and told the teacher; or as if, when the fellows were playing soak-about, and he got hit in the pit of the stomach with a hard ball, he had complained of the fellow who threw it.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading There were some things so base that a boy could not do them; and what happened out of doors, and strictly within the boy's world, had to be kept sacredly secret among the boys.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were some things so base that a boy could not do them; and what happened out of doors, and strictly within the boy's world, had to be kept sacredly secret among the boys.
things
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were some things so base that a boy could not do them; and what happened out of doors, and strictly within the boy's world, had to be kept sacredly secret among the boys.
threw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would have been as if, when once the boys were playing trip at school, and a big boy tripped him, and he lay quivering and panting on the ground, he had got up as soon as he could catch his breath and gone in and told the teacher; or as if, when the fellows were playing soak-about, and he got hit in the pit of the stomach with a hard ball, he had complained of the fellow who threw it.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There were some things so base that a boy could not do them; and what happened out of doors, and strictly within the boy's world, had to be kept sacredly secret among the boys.
toldnounUS /told/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It would have been as if, when once the boys were playing trip at school, and a big boy tripped him, and he lay quivering and panting on the ground, he had got up as soon as he could catch his breath and gone in and told the teacher; or as if, when the fellows were playing soak-about, and he got hit in the pit of the stomach with a hard ball, he had complained of the fellow who threw it.
too
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That would have been a weakness which would not only have marked him forever as a cry-baby, but an indecorum too gross for words.
tore
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For instance, if you had been beguiled, as a little boy, into being the last in the game of snap-the-whip, and the snap sent you rolling head over heels on the hard ground, and skinned your nose and tore your trousers, you could cry from the pain without disgrace, and some of the fellows would come up and try to comfort you; but you were bound in honor not to appeal to the teacher, and you were expected to use every device to get the blood off you before you went in, and to hide the tear in your trousers.
trip
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would have been as if, when once the boys were playing trip at school, and a big boy tripped him, and he lay quivering and panting on the ground, he had got up as soon as he could catch his breath and gone in and told the teacher; or as if, when the fellows were playing soak-about, and he got hit in the pit of the stomach with a hard ball, he had complained of the fellow who threw it.
tripped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would have been as if, when once the boys were playing trip at school, and a big boy tripped him, and he lay quivering and panting on the ground, he had got up as soon as he could catch his breath and gone in and told the teacher; or as if, when the fellows were playing soak-about, and he got hit in the pit of the stomach with a hard ball, he had complained of the fellow who threw it.
trousers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For instance, if you had been beguiled, as a little boy, into being the last in the game of snap-the-whip, and the snap sent you rolling head over heels on the hard ground, and skinned your nose and tore your trousers, you could cry from the pain without disgrace, and some of the fellows would come up and try to comfort you; but you were bound in honor not to appeal to the teacher, and you were expected to use every device to get the blood off you before you went in, and to hide the tear in your trousers.
try
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For instance, if you had been beguiled, as a little boy, into being the last in the game of snap-the-whip, and the snap sent you rolling head over heels on the hard ground, and skinned your nose and tore your trousers, you could cry from the pain without disgrace, and some of the fellows would come up and try to comfort you; but you were bound in honor not to appeal to the teacher, and you were expected to use every device to get the blood off you before you went in, and to hide the tear in your trousers.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It would have been as if, when once the boys were playing trip at school, and a big boy tripped him, and he lay quivering and panting on the ground, he had got up as soon as he could catch his breath and gone in and told the teacher; or as if, when the fellows were playing soak-about, and he got hit in the pit of the stomach with a hard ball, he had complained of the fellow who threw it.
use
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For instance, if you had been beguiled, as a little boy, into being the last in the game of snap-the-whip, and the snap sent you rolling head over heels on the hard ground, and skinned your nose and tore your trousers, you could cry from the pain without disgrace, and some of the fellows would come up and try to comfort you; but you were bound in honor not to appeal to the teacher, and you were expected to use every device to get the blood off you before you went in, and to hide the tear in your trousers.
weaknessnounUS /ˈwiːknəs/
a lack of physical strength
From this reading That would have been a weakness which would not only have marked him forever as a cry-baby, but an indecorum too gross for words.
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading For instance, if you had been beguiled, as a little boy, into being the last in the game of snap-the-whip, and the snap sent you rolling head over heels on the hard ground, and skinned your nose and tore your trousers, you could cry from the pain without disgrace, and some of the fellows would come up and try to comfort you; but you were bound in honor not to appeal to the teacher, and you were expected to use every device to get the blood off you before you went in, and to hide the tear in your trousers.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It would have been as if, when once the boys were playing trip at school, and a big boy tripped him, and he lay quivering and panting on the ground, he had got up as soon as he could catch his breath and gone in and told the teacher; or as if, when the fellows were playing soak-about, and he got hit in the pit of the stomach with a hard ball, he had complained of the fellow who threw it.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading There were some things so base that a boy could not do them; and what happened out of doors, and strictly within the boy's world, had to be kept sacredly secret among the boys.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading It would have been as if, when once the boys were playing trip at school, and a big boy tripped him, and he lay quivering and panting on the ground, he had got up as soon as he could catch his breath and gone in and told the teacher; or as if, when the fellows were playing soak-about, and he got hit in the pit of the stomach with a hard ball, he had complained of the fellow who threw it.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading That would have been a weakness which would not only have marked him forever as a cry-baby, but an indecorum too gross for words.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading It would have been as if, when once the boys were playing trip at school, and a big boy tripped him, and he lay quivering and panting on the ground, he had got up as soon as he could catch his breath and gone in and told the teacher; or as if, when the fellows were playing soak-about, and he got hit in the pit of the stomach with a hard ball, he had complained of the fellow who threw it.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading It would have been as if, when once the boys were playing trip at school, and a big boy tripped him, and he lay quivering and panting on the ground, he had got up as soon as he could catch his breath and gone in and told the teacher; or as if, when the fellows were playing soak-about, and he got hit in the pit of the stomach with a hard ball, he had complained of the fellow who threw it.
withinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading There were some things so base that a boy could not do them; and what happened out of doors, and strictly within the boy's world, had to be kept sacredly secret among the boys.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading For instance, if you had been beguiled, as a little boy, into being the last in the game of snap-the-whip, and the snap sent you rolling head over heels on the hard ground, and skinned your nose and tore your trousers, you could cry from the pain without disgrace, and some of the fellows would come up and try to comfort you; but you were bound in honor not to appeal to the teacher, and you were expected to use every device to get the blood off you before you went in, and to hide the tear in your trousers.
words
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That would have been a weakness which would not only have marked him forever as a cry-baby, but an indecorum too gross for words.
world
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were some things so base that a boy could not do them; and what happened out of doors, and strictly within the boy's world, had to be kept sacredly secret among the boys.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading That would have been a weakness which would not only have marked him forever as a cry-baby, but an indecorum too gross for words.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading For instance, if you had been beguiled, as a little boy, into being the last in the game of snap-the-whip, and the snap sent you rolling head over heels on the hard ground, and skinned your nose and tore your trousers, you could cry from the pain without disgrace, and some of the fellows would come up and try to comfort you; but you were bound in honor not to appeal to the teacher, and you were expected to use every device to get the blood off you before you went in, and to hide the tear in your trousers.
yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading For instance, if you had been beguiled, as a little boy, into being the last in the game of snap-the-whip, and the snap sent you rolling head over heels on the hard ground, and skinned your nose and tore your trousers, you could cry from the pain without disgrace, and some of the fellows would come up and try to comfort you; but you were bound in honor not to appeal to the teacher, and you were expected to use every device to get the blood off you before you went in, and to hide the tear in your trousers.
