Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
12th
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the 12th of August, 18-- (just three days after my tenth birthday, when I had been given such wonderful presents), I was awakened at seven o’clock in the morning by Karl Ivanitch slapping the wall close to my head with a fly-flap made of sugar paper and a stick.
18
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From this reading On the 12th of August, 18-- (just three days after my tenth birthday, when I had been given such wonderful presents), I was awakened at seven o’clock in the morning by Karl Ivanitch slapping the wall close to my head with a fly-flap made of sugar paper and a stick.
adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading On the 12th of August, 18-- (just three days after my tenth birthday, when I had been given such wonderful presents), I was awakened at seven o’clock in the morning by Karl Ivanitch slapping the wall close to my head with a fly-flap made of sugar paper and a stick.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading He, in a parti-coloured wadded dressing-gown fastened about the waist with a wide belt of the same material, a red knitted cap adorned with a tassel, and soft slippers of goat skin, went on walking round the walls and taking aim at, and slapping, flies.
adorned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He, in a parti-coloured wadded dressing-gown fastened about the waist with a wide belt of the same material, a red knitted cap adorned with a tassel, and soft slippers of goat skin, went on walking round the walls and taking aim at, and slapping, flies.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading On the 12th of August, 18-- (just three days after my tenth birthday, when I had been given such wonderful presents), I was awakened at seven o’clock in the morning by Karl Ivanitch slapping the wall close to my head with a fly-flap made of sugar paper and a stick.
aim
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He, in a parti-coloured wadded dressing-gown fastened about the waist with a wide belt of the same material, a red knitted cap adorned with a tassel, and soft slippers of goat skin, went on walking round the walls and taking aim at, and slapping, flies.
amauxiliary verbUS /æm/
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading “Suppose,” I thought to myself, “that I am only a small boy, yet why should he disturb me?
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading On the 12th of August, 18-- (just three days after my tenth birthday, when I had been given such wonderful presents), I was awakened at seven o’clock in the morning by Karl Ivanitch slapping the wall close to my head with a fly-flap made of sugar paper and a stick.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading On the 12th of August, 18-- (just three days after my tenth birthday, when I had been given such wonderful presents), I was awakened at seven o’clock in the morning by Karl Ivanitch slapping the wall close to my head with a fly-flap made of sugar paper and a stick.
August
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the 12th of August, 18-- (just three days after my tenth birthday, when I had been given such wonderful presents), I was awakened at seven o’clock in the morning by Karl Ivanitch slapping the wall close to my head with a fly-flap made of sugar paper and a stick.
awakened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the 12th of August, 18-- (just three days after my tenth birthday, when I had been given such wonderful presents), I was awakened at seven o’clock in the morning by Karl Ivanitch slapping the wall close to my head with a fly-flap made of sugar paper and a stick.
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He did this so roughly that he hit the image of my patron saint suspended to the oaken back of my bed, and the dead fly fell down on my curls.
bed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He did this so roughly that he hit the image of my patron saint suspended to the oaken back of my bed, and the dead fly fell down on my curls.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading On the 12th of August, 18-- (just three days after my tenth birthday, when I had been given such wonderful presents), I was awakened at seven o’clock in the morning by Karl Ivanitch slapping the wall close to my head with a fly-flap made of sugar paper and a stick.
belt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He, in a parti-coloured wadded dressing-gown fastened about the waist with a wide belt of the same material, a red knitted cap adorned with a tassel, and soft slippers of goat skin, went on walking round the walls and taking aim at, and slapping, flies.
birthday
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the 12th of August, 18-- (just three days after my tenth birthday, when I had been given such wonderful presents), I was awakened at seven o’clock in the morning by Karl Ivanitch slapping the wall close to my head with a fly-flap made of sugar paper and a stick.
boy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Suppose,” I thought to myself, “that I am only a small boy, yet why should he disturb me?
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading On the 12th of August, 18-- (just three days after my tenth birthday, when I had been given such wonderful presents), I was awakened at seven o’clock in the morning by Karl Ivanitch slapping the wall close to my head with a fly-flap made of sugar paper and a stick.
cap
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He, in a parti-coloured wadded dressing-gown fastened about the waist with a wide belt of the same material, a red knitted cap adorned with a tassel, and soft slippers of goat skin, went on walking round the walls and taking aim at, and slapping, flies.
close
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the 12th of August, 18-- (just three days after my tenth birthday, when I had been given such wonderful presents), I was awakened at seven o’clock in the morning by Karl Ivanitch slapping the wall close to my head with a fly-flap made of sugar paper and a stick.
coverlet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I peeped out from under the coverlet, steadied the still shaking image with my hand, flicked the dead fly on to the floor, and gazed at Karl Ivanitch with sleepy, wrathful eyes.
curls
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He did this so roughly that he hit the image of my patron saint suspended to the oaken back of my bed, and the dead fly fell down on my curls.
days
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the 12th of August, 18-- (just three days after my tenth birthday, when I had been given such wonderful presents), I was awakened at seven o’clock in the morning by Karl Ivanitch slapping the wall close to my head with a fly-flap made of sugar paper and a stick.
deadnounUS /dead/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He did this so roughly that he hit the image of my patron saint suspended to the oaken back of my bed, and the dead fly fell down on my curls.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading He did this so roughly that he hit the image of my patron saint suspended to the oaken back of my bed, and the dead fly fell down on my curls.
disturb
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Suppose,” I thought to myself, “that I am only a small boy, yet why should he disturb me?
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He did this so roughly that he hit the image of my patron saint suspended to the oaken back of my bed, and the dead fly fell down on my curls.
dressing-gown
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He, in a parti-coloured wadded dressing-gown fastened about the waist with a wide belt of the same material, a red knitted cap adorned with a tassel, and soft slippers of goat skin, went on walking round the walls and taking aim at, and slapping, flies.
eyes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I peeped out from under the coverlet, steadied the still shaking image with my hand, flicked the dead fly on to the floor, and gazed at Karl Ivanitch with sleepy, wrathful eyes.
fastened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He, in a parti-coloured wadded dressing-gown fastened about the waist with a wide belt of the same material, a red knitted cap adorned with a tassel, and soft slippers of goat skin, went on walking round the walls and taking aim at, and slapping, flies.
fell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He did this so roughly that he hit the image of my patron saint suspended to the oaken back of my bed, and the dead fly fell down on my curls.
flicked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I peeped out from under the coverlet, steadied the still shaking image with my hand, flicked the dead fly on to the floor, and gazed at Karl Ivanitch with sleepy, wrathful eyes.
flies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He, in a parti-coloured wadded dressing-gown fastened about the waist with a wide belt of the same material, a red knitted cap adorned with a tassel, and soft slippers of goat skin, went on walking round the walls and taking aim at, and slapping, flies.
floor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I peeped out from under the coverlet, steadied the still shaking image with my hand, flicked the dead fly on to the floor, and gazed at Karl Ivanitch with sleepy, wrathful eyes.
fly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He did this so roughly that he hit the image of my patron saint suspended to the oaken back of my bed, and the dead fly fell down on my curls.
fly-flap
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the 12th of August, 18-- (just three days after my tenth birthday, when I had been given such wonderful presents), I was awakened at seven o’clock in the morning by Karl Ivanitch slapping the wall close to my head with a fly-flap made of sugar paper and a stick.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading I peeped out from under the coverlet, steadied the still shaking image with my hand, flicked the dead fly on to the floor, and gazed at Karl Ivanitch with sleepy, wrathful eyes.
gazed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I peeped out from under the coverlet, steadied the still shaking image with my hand, flicked the dead fly on to the floor, and gazed at Karl Ivanitch with sleepy, wrathful eyes.
given
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the 12th of August, 18-- (just three days after my tenth birthday, when I had been given such wonderful presents), I was awakened at seven o’clock in the morning by Karl Ivanitch slapping the wall close to my head with a fly-flap made of sugar paper and a stick.
goat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He, in a parti-coloured wadded dressing-gown fastened about the waist with a wide belt of the same material, a red knitted cap adorned with a tassel, and soft slippers of goat skin, went on walking round the walls and taking aim at, and slapping, flies.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading On the 12th of August, 18-- (just three days after my tenth birthday, when I had been given such wonderful presents), I was awakened at seven o’clock in the morning by Karl Ivanitch slapping the wall close to my head with a fly-flap made of sugar paper and a stick.
hand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I peeped out from under the coverlet, steadied the still shaking image with my hand, flicked the dead fly on to the floor, and gazed at Karl Ivanitch with sleepy, wrathful eyes.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He did this so roughly that he hit the image of my patron saint suspended to the oaken back of my bed, and the dead fly fell down on my curls.
head
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the 12th of August, 18-- (just three days after my tenth birthday, when I had been given such wonderful presents), I was awakened at seven o’clock in the morning by Karl Ivanitch slapping the wall close to my head with a fly-flap made of sugar paper and a stick.
hit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He did this so roughly that he hit the image of my patron saint suspended to the oaken back of my bed, and the dead fly fell down on my curls.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading On the 12th of August, 18-- (just three days after my tenth birthday, when I had been given such wonderful presents), I was awakened at seven o’clock in the morning by Karl Ivanitch slapping the wall close to my head with a fly-flap made of sugar paper and a stick.
image
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He did this so roughly that he hit the image of my patron saint suspended to the oaken back of my bed, and the dead fly fell down on my curls.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading On the 12th of August, 18-- (just three days after my tenth birthday, when I had been given such wonderful presents), I was awakened at seven o’clock in the morning by Karl Ivanitch slapping the wall close to my head with a fly-flap made of sugar paper and a stick.
Ivanitch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the 12th of August, 18-- (just three days after my tenth birthday, when I had been given such wonderful presents), I was awakened at seven o’clock in the morning by Karl Ivanitch slapping the wall close to my head with a fly-flap made of sugar paper and a stick.
just
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the 12th of August, 18-- (just three days after my tenth birthday, when I had been given such wonderful presents), I was awakened at seven o’clock in the morning by Karl Ivanitch slapping the wall close to my head with a fly-flap made of sugar paper and a stick.
Karl
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the 12th of August, 18-- (just three days after my tenth birthday, when I had been given such wonderful presents), I was awakened at seven o’clock in the morning by Karl Ivanitch slapping the wall close to my head with a fly-flap made of sugar paper and a stick.
knitted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He, in a parti-coloured wadded dressing-gown fastened about the waist with a wide belt of the same material, a red knitted cap adorned with a tassel, and soft slippers of goat skin, went on walking round the walls and taking aim at, and slapping, flies.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the 12th of August, 18-- (just three days after my tenth birthday, when I had been given such wonderful presents), I was awakened at seven o’clock in the morning by Karl Ivanitch slapping the wall close to my head with a fly-flap made of sugar paper and a stick.
material
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He, in a parti-coloured wadded dressing-gown fastened about the waist with a wide belt of the same material, a red knitted cap adorned with a tassel, and soft slippers of goat skin, went on walking round the walls and taking aim at, and slapping, flies.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “Suppose,” I thought to myself, “that I am only a small boy, yet why should he disturb me?
morningnounUS /morning/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading On the 12th of August, 18-- (just three days after my tenth birthday, when I had been given such wonderful presents), I was awakened at seven o’clock in the morning by Karl Ivanitch slapping the wall close to my head with a fly-flap made of sugar paper and a stick.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading On the 12th of August, 18-- (just three days after my tenth birthday, when I had been given such wonderful presents), I was awakened at seven o’clock in the morning by Karl Ivanitch slapping the wall close to my head with a fly-flap made of sugar paper and a stick.
myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading “Suppose,” I thought to myself, “that I am only a small boy, yet why should he disturb me?
o'clock
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the 12th of August, 18-- (just three days after my tenth birthday, when I had been given such wonderful presents), I was awakened at seven o’clock in the morning by Karl Ivanitch slapping the wall close to my head with a fly-flap made of sugar paper and a stick.
oaken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He did this so roughly that he hit the image of my patron saint suspended to the oaken back of my bed, and the dead fly fell down on my curls.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading On the 12th of August, 18-- (just three days after my tenth birthday, when I had been given such wonderful presents), I was awakened at seven o’clock in the morning by Karl Ivanitch slapping the wall close to my head with a fly-flap made of sugar paper and a stick.
OnprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On the 12th of August, 18-- (just three days after my tenth birthday, when I had been given such wonderful presents), I was awakened at seven o’clock in the morning by Karl Ivanitch slapping the wall close to my head with a fly-flap made of sugar paper and a stick.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Suppose,” I thought to myself, “that I am only a small boy, yet why should he disturb me?
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I peeped out from under the coverlet, steadied the still shaking image with my hand, flicked the dead fly on to the floor, and gazed at Karl Ivanitch with sleepy, wrathful eyes.
paper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the 12th of August, 18-- (just three days after my tenth birthday, when I had been given such wonderful presents), I was awakened at seven o’clock in the morning by Karl Ivanitch slapping the wall close to my head with a fly-flap made of sugar paper and a stick.
parti-coloured
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He, in a parti-coloured wadded dressing-gown fastened about the waist with a wide belt of the same material, a red knitted cap adorned with a tassel, and soft slippers of goat skin, went on walking round the walls and taking aim at, and slapping, flies.
patron
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He did this so roughly that he hit the image of my patron saint suspended to the oaken back of my bed, and the dead fly fell down on my curls.
peeped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I peeped out from under the coverlet, steadied the still shaking image with my hand, flicked the dead fly on to the floor, and gazed at Karl Ivanitch with sleepy, wrathful eyes.
presents
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the 12th of August, 18-- (just three days after my tenth birthday, when I had been given such wonderful presents), I was awakened at seven o’clock in the morning by Karl Ivanitch slapping the wall close to my head with a fly-flap made of sugar paper and a stick.
red
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He, in a parti-coloured wadded dressing-gown fastened about the waist with a wide belt of the same material, a red knitted cap adorned with a tassel, and soft slippers of goat skin, went on walking round the walls and taking aim at, and slapping, flies.
roughly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He did this so roughly that he hit the image of my patron saint suspended to the oaken back of my bed, and the dead fly fell down on my curls.
round
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He, in a parti-coloured wadded dressing-gown fastened about the waist with a wide belt of the same material, a red knitted cap adorned with a tassel, and soft slippers of goat skin, went on walking round the walls and taking aim at, and slapping, flies.
saint
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He did this so roughly that he hit the image of my patron saint suspended to the oaken back of my bed, and the dead fly fell down on my curls.
samenounUS /same/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He, in a parti-coloured wadded dressing-gown fastened about the waist with a wide belt of the same material, a red knitted cap adorned with a tassel, and soft slippers of goat skin, went on walking round the walls and taking aim at, and slapping, flies.
seven
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the 12th of August, 18-- (just three days after my tenth birthday, when I had been given such wonderful presents), I was awakened at seven o’clock in the morning by Karl Ivanitch slapping the wall close to my head with a fly-flap made of sugar paper and a stick.
shakingnounUS /ˈshaking/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading I peeped out from under the coverlet, steadied the still shaking image with my hand, flicked the dead fly on to the floor, and gazed at Karl Ivanitch with sleepy, wrathful eyes.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading “Suppose,” I thought to myself, “that I am only a small boy, yet why should he disturb me?
skin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He, in a parti-coloured wadded dressing-gown fastened about the waist with a wide belt of the same material, a red knitted cap adorned with a tassel, and soft slippers of goat skin, went on walking round the walls and taking aim at, and slapping, flies.
slapping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the 12th of August, 18-- (just three days after my tenth birthday, when I had been given such wonderful presents), I was awakened at seven o’clock in the morning by Karl Ivanitch slapping the wall close to my head with a fly-flap made of sugar paper and a stick.
sleepy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I peeped out from under the coverlet, steadied the still shaking image with my hand, flicked the dead fly on to the floor, and gazed at Karl Ivanitch with sleepy, wrathful eyes.
slippers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He, in a parti-coloured wadded dressing-gown fastened about the waist with a wide belt of the same material, a red knitted cap adorned with a tassel, and soft slippers of goat skin, went on walking round the walls and taking aim at, and slapping, flies.
small
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Suppose,” I thought to myself, “that I am only a small boy, yet why should he disturb me?
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading He did this so roughly that he hit the image of my patron saint suspended to the oaken back of my bed, and the dead fly fell down on my curls.
soft
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He, in a parti-coloured wadded dressing-gown fastened about the waist with a wide belt of the same material, a red knitted cap adorned with a tassel, and soft slippers of goat skin, went on walking round the walls and taking aim at, and slapping, flies.
steadied
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I peeped out from under the coverlet, steadied the still shaking image with my hand, flicked the dead fly on to the floor, and gazed at Karl Ivanitch with sleepy, wrathful eyes.
stick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the 12th of August, 18-- (just three days after my tenth birthday, when I had been given such wonderful presents), I was awakened at seven o’clock in the morning by Karl Ivanitch slapping the wall close to my head with a fly-flap made of sugar paper and a stick.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I peeped out from under the coverlet, steadied the still shaking image with my hand, flicked the dead fly on to the floor, and gazed at Karl Ivanitch with sleepy, wrathful eyes.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading On the 12th of August, 18-- (just three days after my tenth birthday, when I had been given such wonderful presents), I was awakened at seven o’clock in the morning by Karl Ivanitch slapping the wall close to my head with a fly-flap made of sugar paper and a stick.
sugar
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the 12th of August, 18-- (just three days after my tenth birthday, when I had been given such wonderful presents), I was awakened at seven o’clock in the morning by Karl Ivanitch slapping the wall close to my head with a fly-flap made of sugar paper and a stick.
SupposenounUS /ˈsuppose/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “Suppose,” I thought to myself, “that I am only a small boy, yet why should he disturb me?
suspended
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He did this so roughly that he hit the image of my patron saint suspended to the oaken back of my bed, and the dead fly fell down on my curls.
taking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He, in a parti-coloured wadded dressing-gown fastened about the waist with a wide belt of the same material, a red knitted cap adorned with a tassel, and soft slippers of goat skin, went on walking round the walls and taking aim at, and slapping, flies.
tassel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He, in a parti-coloured wadded dressing-gown fastened about the waist with a wide belt of the same material, a red knitted cap adorned with a tassel, and soft slippers of goat skin, went on walking round the walls and taking aim at, and slapping, flies.
tenth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the 12th of August, 18-- (just three days after my tenth birthday, when I had been given such wonderful presents), I was awakened at seven o’clock in the morning by Karl Ivanitch slapping the wall close to my head with a fly-flap made of sugar paper and a stick.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He did this so roughly that he hit the image of my patron saint suspended to the oaken back of my bed, and the dead fly fell down on my curls.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading On the 12th of August, 18-- (just three days after my tenth birthday, when I had been given such wonderful presents), I was awakened at seven o’clock in the morning by Karl Ivanitch slapping the wall close to my head with a fly-flap made of sugar paper and a stick.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading He did this so roughly that he hit the image of my patron saint suspended to the oaken back of my bed, and the dead fly fell down on my curls.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Suppose,” I thought to myself, “that I am only a small boy, yet why should he disturb me?
three
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the 12th of August, 18-- (just three days after my tenth birthday, when I had been given such wonderful presents), I was awakened at seven o’clock in the morning by Karl Ivanitch slapping the wall close to my head with a fly-flap made of sugar paper and a stick.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading On the 12th of August, 18-- (just three days after my tenth birthday, when I had been given such wonderful presents), I was awakened at seven o’clock in the morning by Karl Ivanitch slapping the wall close to my head with a fly-flap made of sugar paper and a stick.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading I peeped out from under the coverlet, steadied the still shaking image with my hand, flicked the dead fly on to the floor, and gazed at Karl Ivanitch with sleepy, wrathful eyes.
wadded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He, in a parti-coloured wadded dressing-gown fastened about the waist with a wide belt of the same material, a red knitted cap adorned with a tassel, and soft slippers of goat skin, went on walking round the walls and taking aim at, and slapping, flies.
waist
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He, in a parti-coloured wadded dressing-gown fastened about the waist with a wide belt of the same material, a red knitted cap adorned with a tassel, and soft slippers of goat skin, went on walking round the walls and taking aim at, and slapping, flies.
walking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He, in a parti-coloured wadded dressing-gown fastened about the waist with a wide belt of the same material, a red knitted cap adorned with a tassel, and soft slippers of goat skin, went on walking round the walls and taking aim at, and slapping, flies.
wall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the 12th of August, 18-- (just three days after my tenth birthday, when I had been given such wonderful presents), I was awakened at seven o’clock in the morning by Karl Ivanitch slapping the wall close to my head with a fly-flap made of sugar paper and a stick.
walls
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He, in a parti-coloured wadded dressing-gown fastened about the waist with a wide belt of the same material, a red knitted cap adorned with a tassel, and soft slippers of goat skin, went on walking round the walls and taking aim at, and slapping, flies.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading On the 12th of August, 18-- (just three days after my tenth birthday, when I had been given such wonderful presents), I was awakened at seven o’clock in the morning by Karl Ivanitch slapping the wall close to my head with a fly-flap made of sugar paper and a stick.
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He, in a parti-coloured wadded dressing-gown fastened about the waist with a wide belt of the same material, a red knitted cap adorned with a tassel, and soft slippers of goat skin, went on walking round the walls and taking aim at, and slapping, flies.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading On the 12th of August, 18-- (just three days after my tenth birthday, when I had been given such wonderful presents), I was awakened at seven o’clock in the morning by Karl Ivanitch slapping the wall close to my head with a fly-flap made of sugar paper and a stick.
why
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Suppose,” I thought to myself, “that I am only a small boy, yet why should he disturb me?
wide
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He, in a parti-coloured wadded dressing-gown fastened about the waist with a wide belt of the same material, a red knitted cap adorned with a tassel, and soft slippers of goat skin, went on walking round the walls and taking aim at, and slapping, flies.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading On the 12th of August, 18-- (just three days after my tenth birthday, when I had been given such wonderful presents), I was awakened at seven o’clock in the morning by Karl Ivanitch slapping the wall close to my head with a fly-flap made of sugar paper and a stick.
wonderfulnounUS /ˈwonderful/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading On the 12th of August, 18-- (just three days after my tenth birthday, when I had been given such wonderful presents), I was awakened at seven o’clock in the morning by Karl Ivanitch slapping the wall close to my head with a fly-flap made of sugar paper and a stick.
wrathful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I peeped out from under the coverlet, steadied the still shaking image with my hand, flicked the dead fly on to the floor, and gazed at Karl Ivanitch with sleepy, wrathful eyes.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading “Suppose,” I thought to myself, “that I am only a small boy, yet why should he disturb me?
