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Childhood
Childhood

Chapter VI

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Context Illustration Reading 1/33 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
XVI -- VERSE-MAKING RATHER less than a month after our arrival in Moscow I was sitting upstairs in my Grandmamma’s house and doing some writing at a large table.
Opposite to me sat the drawing master, who was giving a few finishing touches to the head of a turbaned Turk, executed in black pencil.
Woloda, with out-stretched neck, was standing behind the drawing master and looking over his shoulder.
The head was Woloda’s first production in pencil and to-day--Grandmamma’s name-day--the masterpiece was to be presented to her.
“Aren’t you going to put a little more shadow there?” said Woloda to the master as he raised himself on tiptoe and pointed to the Turk’s neck.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Childhood

Chapter VI

Reading 1/33 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
XVI -- VERSE-MAKING RATHER less than a month after our arrival in Moscow I was sitting upstairs in my Grandmamma’s house and doing some writing at a large table.
Line 2
Opposite to me sat the drawing master, who was giving a few finishing touches to the head of a turbaned Turk, executed in black pencil.
Line 3
Woloda, with out-stretched neck, was standing behind the drawing master and looking over his shoulder.
Line 4
The head was Woloda’s first production in pencil and to-day--Grandmamma’s name-day--the masterpiece was to be presented to her.
Line 5
“Aren’t you going to put a little more shadow there?” said Woloda to the master as he raised himself on tiptoe and pointed to the Turk’s neck.

Learner Dictionary

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

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “XVI -- VERSE-MAKING RATHER less than a month after our arrival in Moscow I was sitting upstairs in my Grandmamma’s house and doing some writing at a large table.”

Behind preposition US /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading “Woloda, with out-stretched neck, was standing behind the drawing master and looking over his shoulder.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The head was Woloda’s first production in pencil and to-day--Grandmamma’s name-day--the masterpiece was to be presented to her.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading ““Aren’t you going to put a little more shadow there?” said Woloda to the master as he raised himself on tiptoe and pointed to the Turk’s neck.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““Aren’t you going to put a little more shadow there?” said Woloda to the master as he raised himself on tiptoe and pointed to the Turk’s neck.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “Woloda, with out-stretched neck, was standing behind the drawing master and looking over his shoulder.”

Shadow noun US /ˈʃæd.oʊ/

A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.

From this reading ““Aren’t you going to put a little more shadow there?” said Woloda to the master as he raised himself on tiptoe and pointed to the Turk’s neck.”

Standing noun US /ˈstanding/

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

From this reading “Woloda, with out-stretched neck, was standing behind the drawing master and looking over his shoulder.”

All words in this reading · 81

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading XVI -- VERSE-MAKING RATHER less than a month after our arrival in Moscow I was sitting upstairs in my Grandmamma’s house and doing some writing at a large table.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading XVI -- VERSE-MAKING RATHER less than a month after our arrival in Moscow I was sitting upstairs in my Grandmamma’s house and doing some writing at a large table.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading XVI -- VERSE-MAKING RATHER less than a month after our arrival in Moscow I was sitting upstairs in my Grandmamma’s house and doing some writing at a large table.

Aren't

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

From this reading “Aren’t you going to put a little more shadow there?” said Woloda to the master as he raised himself on tiptoe and pointed to the Turk’s neck.

arrival

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

From this reading XVI -- VERSE-MAKING RATHER less than a month after our arrival in Moscow I was sitting upstairs in my Grandmamma’s house and doing some writing at a large table.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading “Aren’t you going to put a little more shadow there?” said Woloda to the master as he raised himself on tiptoe and pointed to the Turk’s neck.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading XVI -- VERSE-MAKING RATHER less than a month after our arrival in Moscow I was sitting upstairs in my Grandmamma’s house and doing some writing at a large table.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading The head was Woloda’s first production in pencil and to-day--Grandmamma’s name-day--the masterpiece was to be presented to her.

behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading Woloda, with out-stretched neck, was standing behind the drawing master and looking over his shoulder.

black

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

From this reading Opposite to me sat the drawing master, who was giving a few finishing touches to the head of a turbaned Turk, executed in black pencil.

doing

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

From this reading XVI -- VERSE-MAKING RATHER less than a month after our arrival in Moscow I was sitting upstairs in my Grandmamma’s house and doing some writing at a large table.

drawing

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

From this reading Opposite to me sat the drawing master, who was giving a few finishing touches to the head of a turbaned Turk, executed in black pencil.

executed

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

From this reading Opposite to me sat the drawing master, who was giving a few finishing touches to the head of a turbaned Turk, executed in black pencil.

few

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

From this reading Opposite to me sat the drawing master, who was giving a few finishing touches to the head of a turbaned Turk, executed in black pencil.

finishing

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

From this reading Opposite to me sat the drawing master, who was giving a few finishing touches to the head of a turbaned Turk, executed in black pencil.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The head was Woloda’s first production in pencil and to-day--Grandmamma’s name-day--the masterpiece was to be presented to her.

giving

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

From this reading Opposite to me sat the drawing master, who was giving a few finishing touches to the head of a turbaned Turk, executed in black pencil.

going

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

From this reading “Aren’t you going to put a little more shadow there?” said Woloda to the master as he raised himself on tiptoe and pointed to the Turk’s neck.

Grandmamma's

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

From this reading XVI -- VERSE-MAKING RATHER less than a month after our arrival in Moscow I was sitting upstairs in my Grandmamma’s house and doing some writing at a large table.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading “Aren’t you going to put a little more shadow there?” said Woloda to the master as he raised himself on tiptoe and pointed to the Turk’s neck.

head

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

From this reading Opposite to me sat the drawing master, who was giving a few finishing touches to the head of a turbaned Turk, executed in black pencil.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading The head was Woloda’s first production in pencil and to-day--Grandmamma’s name-day--the masterpiece was to be presented to her.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading “Aren’t you going to put a little more shadow there?” said Woloda to the master as he raised himself on tiptoe and pointed to the Turk’s neck.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Woloda, with out-stretched neck, was standing behind the drawing master and looking over his shoulder.

house

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

From this reading XVI -- VERSE-MAKING RATHER less than a month after our arrival in Moscow I was sitting upstairs in my Grandmamma’s house and doing some writing at a large table.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading XVI -- VERSE-MAKING RATHER less than a month after our arrival in Moscow I was sitting upstairs in my Grandmamma’s house and doing some writing at a large table.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading XVI -- VERSE-MAKING RATHER less than a month after our arrival in Moscow I was sitting upstairs in my Grandmamma’s house and doing some writing at a large table.

large

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

From this reading XVI -- VERSE-MAKING RATHER less than a month after our arrival in Moscow I was sitting upstairs in my Grandmamma’s house and doing some writing at a large table.

less

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

From this reading XVI -- VERSE-MAKING RATHER less than a month after our arrival in Moscow I was sitting upstairs in my Grandmamma’s house and doing some writing at a large table.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Aren’t you going to put a little more shadow there?” said Woloda to the master as he raised himself on tiptoe and pointed to the Turk’s neck.

looking

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

From this reading Woloda, with out-stretched neck, was standing behind the drawing master and looking over his shoulder.

master

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

From this reading Opposite to me sat the drawing master, who was giving a few finishing touches to the head of a turbaned Turk, executed in black pencil.

masterpiece

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

From this reading The head was Woloda’s first production in pencil and to-day--Grandmamma’s name-day--the masterpiece was to be presented to her.

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading Opposite to me sat the drawing master, who was giving a few finishing touches to the head of a turbaned Turk, executed in black pencil.

month

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

From this reading XVI -- VERSE-MAKING RATHER less than a month after our arrival in Moscow I was sitting upstairs in my Grandmamma’s house and doing some writing at a large table.

more

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

From this reading “Aren’t you going to put a little more shadow there?” said Woloda to the master as he raised himself on tiptoe and pointed to the Turk’s neck.

Moscow

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

From this reading XVI -- VERSE-MAKING RATHER less than a month after our arrival in Moscow I was sitting upstairs in my Grandmamma’s house and doing some writing at a large table.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading XVI -- VERSE-MAKING RATHER less than a month after our arrival in Moscow I was sitting upstairs in my Grandmamma’s house and doing some writing at a large table.

name-day

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

From this reading The head was Woloda’s first production in pencil and to-day--Grandmamma’s name-day--the masterpiece was to be presented to her.

neck

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

From this reading Woloda, with out-stretched neck, was standing behind the drawing master and looking over his shoulder.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Opposite to me sat the drawing master, who was giving a few finishing touches to the head of a turbaned Turk, executed in black pencil.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading “Aren’t you going to put a little more shadow there?” said Woloda to the master as he raised himself on tiptoe and pointed to the Turk’s neck.

Opposite

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

From this reading Opposite to me sat the drawing master, who was giving a few finishing touches to the head of a turbaned Turk, executed in black pencil.

ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading XVI -- VERSE-MAKING RATHER less than a month after our arrival in Moscow I was sitting upstairs in my Grandmamma’s house and doing some writing at a large table.

out-stretched

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

From this reading Woloda, with out-stretched neck, was standing behind the drawing master and looking over his shoulder.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading Woloda, with out-stretched neck, was standing behind the drawing master and looking over his shoulder.

pencil

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

From this reading Opposite to me sat the drawing master, who was giving a few finishing touches to the head of a turbaned Turk, executed in black pencil.

pointed

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

From this reading “Aren’t you going to put a little more shadow there?” said Woloda to the master as he raised himself on tiptoe and pointed to the Turk’s neck.

presented

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

From this reading The head was Woloda’s first production in pencil and to-day--Grandmamma’s name-day--the masterpiece was to be presented to her.

production

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

From this reading The head was Woloda’s first production in pencil and to-day--Grandmamma’s name-day--the masterpiece was to be presented to her.

put

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

From this reading “Aren’t you going to put a little more shadow there?” said Woloda to the master as he raised himself on tiptoe and pointed to the Turk’s neck.

raised

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

From this reading “Aren’t you going to put a little more shadow there?” said Woloda to the master as he raised himself on tiptoe and pointed to the Turk’s neck.

RATHER

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

From this reading XVI -- VERSE-MAKING RATHER less than a month after our arrival in Moscow I was sitting upstairs in my Grandmamma’s house and doing some writing at a large table.

said

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

From this reading “Aren’t you going to put a little more shadow there?” said Woloda to the master as he raised himself on tiptoe and pointed to the Turk’s neck.

sat

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

From this reading Opposite to me sat the drawing master, who was giving a few finishing touches to the head of a turbaned Turk, executed in black pencil.

shadownounUS /ˈʃæd.oʊ/

A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.

From this reading “Aren’t you going to put a little more shadow there?” said Woloda to the master as he raised himself on tiptoe and pointed to the Turk’s neck.

shoulder

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

From this reading Woloda, with out-stretched neck, was standing behind the drawing master and looking over his shoulder.

sitting

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

From this reading XVI -- VERSE-MAKING RATHER less than a month after our arrival in Moscow I was sitting upstairs in my Grandmamma’s house and doing some writing at a large table.

some

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

From this reading XVI -- VERSE-MAKING RATHER less than a month after our arrival in Moscow I was sitting upstairs in my Grandmamma’s house and doing some writing at a large table.

standingnounUS /ˈstanding/

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

From this reading Woloda, with out-stretched neck, was standing behind the drawing master and looking over his shoulder.

table

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

From this reading XVI -- VERSE-MAKING RATHER less than a month after our arrival in Moscow I was sitting upstairs in my Grandmamma’s house and doing some writing at a large table.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading XVI -- VERSE-MAKING RATHER less than a month after our arrival in Moscow I was sitting upstairs in my Grandmamma’s house and doing some writing at a large table.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Opposite to me sat the drawing master, who was giving a few finishing touches to the head of a turbaned Turk, executed in black pencil.

there

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

From this reading “Aren’t you going to put a little more shadow there?” said Woloda to the master as he raised himself on tiptoe and pointed to the Turk’s neck.

tiptoe

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

From this reading “Aren’t you going to put a little more shadow there?” said Woloda to the master as he raised himself on tiptoe and pointed to the Turk’s neck.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Opposite to me sat the drawing master, who was giving a few finishing touches to the head of a turbaned Turk, executed in black pencil.

to-day

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

From this reading The head was Woloda’s first production in pencil and to-day--Grandmamma’s name-day--the masterpiece was to be presented to her.

touches

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

From this reading Opposite to me sat the drawing master, who was giving a few finishing touches to the head of a turbaned Turk, executed in black pencil.

turbaned

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

From this reading Opposite to me sat the drawing master, who was giving a few finishing touches to the head of a turbaned Turk, executed in black pencil.

Turk

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

From this reading Opposite to me sat the drawing master, who was giving a few finishing touches to the head of a turbaned Turk, executed in black pencil.

Turk's

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

From this reading “Aren’t you going to put a little more shadow there?” said Woloda to the master as he raised himself on tiptoe and pointed to the Turk’s neck.

upstairs

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

From this reading XVI -- VERSE-MAKING RATHER less than a month after our arrival in Moscow I was sitting upstairs in my Grandmamma’s house and doing some writing at a large table.

VERSE-MAKING

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

From this reading XVI -- VERSE-MAKING RATHER less than a month after our arrival in Moscow I was sitting upstairs in my Grandmamma’s house and doing some writing at a large table.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading XVI -- VERSE-MAKING RATHER less than a month after our arrival in Moscow I was sitting upstairs in my Grandmamma’s house and doing some writing at a large table.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading Opposite to me sat the drawing master, who was giving a few finishing touches to the head of a turbaned Turk, executed in black pencil.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Woloda, with out-stretched neck, was standing behind the drawing master and looking over his shoulder.

Woloda

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

From this reading Woloda, with out-stretched neck, was standing behind the drawing master and looking over his shoulder.

Woloda's

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

From this reading The head was Woloda’s first production in pencil and to-day--Grandmamma’s name-day--the masterpiece was to be presented to her.

writing

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

From this reading XVI -- VERSE-MAKING RATHER less than a month after our arrival in Moscow I was sitting upstairs in my Grandmamma’s house and doing some writing at a large table.

XVI

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

From this reading XVI -- VERSE-MAKING RATHER less than a month after our arrival in Moscow I was sitting upstairs in my Grandmamma’s house and doing some writing at a large table.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “Aren’t you going to put a little more shadow there?” said Woloda to the master as he raised himself on tiptoe and pointed to the Turk’s neck.