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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 And he, without ever uttering a word, would continue eating with the aid of his right hand, while stretching out his left to protect and defend his plate.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After this, they got tired even of these practical jokes; and the brother-in-law, mad at having to support him always, struck him, cuffed him incessantly, laughing at the useless efforts of the other to ward off or return the blows.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Then the spectators, huddled against the walls, burst out laughing, nudged each other, and stamped their feet on the floor.
aid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And he, without ever uttering a word, would continue eating with the aid of his right hand, while stretching out his left to protect and defend his plate.
always
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From this reading After this, they got tired even of these practical jokes; and the brother-in-law, mad at having to support him always, struck him, cuffed him incessantly, laughing at the useless efforts of the other to ward off or return the blows.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Then the spectators, huddled against the walls, burst out laughing, nudged each other, and stamped their feet on the floor.
anothernounUS /ˈanother/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading At another time they made him chew corks, bits of wood, leaves, or even filth, which he was unable to distinguish.
AtprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At another time they made him chew corks, bits of wood, leaves, or even filth, which he was unable to distinguish.
bits
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From this reading At another time they made him chew corks, bits of wood, leaves, or even filth, which he was unable to distinguish.
blows
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From this reading After this, they got tired even of these practical jokes; and the brother-in-law, mad at having to support him always, struck him, cuffed him incessantly, laughing at the useless efforts of the other to ward off or return the blows.
brother-in-law
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From this reading After this, they got tired even of these practical jokes; and the brother-in-law, mad at having to support him always, struck him, cuffed him incessantly, laughing at the useless efforts of the other to ward off or return the blows.
burst
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From this reading Then the spectators, huddled against the walls, burst out laughing, nudged each other, and stamped their feet on the floor.
came
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From this reading Then came a new pleasure--the pleasure of smacking his face.
chew
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From this reading At another time they made him chew corks, bits of wood, leaves, or even filth, which he was unable to distinguish.
continue
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From this reading And he, without ever uttering a word, would continue eating with the aid of his right hand, while stretching out his left to protect and defend his plate.
corks
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From this reading At another time they made him chew corks, bits of wood, leaves, or even filth, which he was unable to distinguish.
cuffed
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From this reading After this, they got tired even of these practical jokes; and the brother-in-law, mad at having to support him always, struck him, cuffed him incessantly, laughing at the useless efforts of the other to ward off or return the blows.
defend
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And he, without ever uttering a word, would continue eating with the aid of his right hand, while stretching out his left to protect and defend his plate.
distinguish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At another time they made him chew corks, bits of wood, leaves, or even filth, which he was unable to distinguish.
eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading Then the spectators, huddled against the walls, burst out laughing, nudged each other, and stamped their feet on the floor.
eating
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From this reading And he, without ever uttering a word, would continue eating with the aid of his right hand, while stretching out his left to protect and defend his plate.
efforts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After this, they got tired even of these practical jokes; and the brother-in-law, mad at having to support him always, struck him, cuffed him incessantly, laughing at the useless efforts of the other to ward off or return the blows.
evennounUS /even/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading At another time they made him chew corks, bits of wood, leaves, or even filth, which he was unable to distinguish.
evernounUS /ever/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading And he, without ever uttering a word, would continue eating with the aid of his right hand, while stretching out his left to protect and defend his plate.
face
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From this reading Then came a new pleasure--the pleasure of smacking his face.
feet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the spectators, huddled against the walls, burst out laughing, nudged each other, and stamped their feet on the floor.
filth
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From this reading At another time they made him chew corks, bits of wood, leaves, or even filth, which he was unable to distinguish.
floor
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From this reading Then the spectators, huddled against the walls, burst out laughing, nudged each other, and stamped their feet on the floor.
got
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From this reading After this, they got tired even of these practical jokes; and the brother-in-law, mad at having to support him always, struck him, cuffed him incessantly, laughing at the useless efforts of the other to ward off or return the blows.
hand
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From this reading And he, without ever uttering a word, would continue eating with the aid of his right hand, while stretching out his left to protect and defend his plate.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading After this, they got tired even of these practical jokes; and the brother-in-law, mad at having to support him always, struck him, cuffed him incessantly, laughing at the useless efforts of the other to ward off or return the blows.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading And he, without ever uttering a word, would continue eating with the aid of his right hand, while stretching out his left to protect and defend his plate.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading At another time they made him chew corks, bits of wood, leaves, or even filth, which he was unable to distinguish.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading And he, without ever uttering a word, would continue eating with the aid of his right hand, while stretching out his left to protect and defend his plate.
huddled
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From this reading Then the spectators, huddled against the walls, burst out laughing, nudged each other, and stamped their feet on the floor.
incessantly
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From this reading After this, they got tired even of these practical jokes; and the brother-in-law, mad at having to support him always, struck him, cuffed him incessantly, laughing at the useless efforts of the other to ward off or return the blows.
jokes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After this, they got tired even of these practical jokes; and the brother-in-law, mad at having to support him always, struck him, cuffed him incessantly, laughing at the useless efforts of the other to ward off or return the blows.
laughing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the spectators, huddled against the walls, burst out laughing, nudged each other, and stamped their feet on the floor.
leaves
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From this reading At another time they made him chew corks, bits of wood, leaves, or even filth, which he was unable to distinguish.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading And he, without ever uttering a word, would continue eating with the aid of his right hand, while stretching out his left to protect and defend his plate.
mad
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From this reading After this, they got tired even of these practical jokes; and the brother-in-law, mad at having to support him always, struck him, cuffed him incessantly, laughing at the useless efforts of the other to ward off or return the blows.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At another time they made him chew corks, bits of wood, leaves, or even filth, which he was unable to distinguish.
new
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From this reading Then came a new pleasure--the pleasure of smacking his face.
nudged
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From this reading Then the spectators, huddled against the walls, burst out laughing, nudged each other, and stamped their feet on the floor.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading And he, without ever uttering a word, would continue eating with the aid of his right hand, while stretching out his left to protect and defend his plate.
off
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After this, they got tired even of these practical jokes; and the brother-in-law, mad at having to support him always, struck him, cuffed him incessantly, laughing at the useless efforts of the other to ward off or return the blows.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Then the spectators, huddled against the walls, burst out laughing, nudged each other, and stamped their feet on the floor.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading At another time they made him chew corks, bits of wood, leaves, or even filth, which he was unable to distinguish.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the spectators, huddled against the walls, burst out laughing, nudged each other, and stamped their feet on the floor.
out
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From this reading Then the spectators, huddled against the walls, burst out laughing, nudged each other, and stamped their feet on the floor.
plate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And he, without ever uttering a word, would continue eating with the aid of his right hand, while stretching out his left to protect and defend his plate.
pleasure
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then came a new pleasure--the pleasure of smacking his face.
practical
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After this, they got tired even of these practical jokes; and the brother-in-law, mad at having to support him always, struck him, cuffed him incessantly, laughing at the useless efforts of the other to ward off or return the blows.
protect
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And he, without ever uttering a word, would continue eating with the aid of his right hand, while stretching out his left to protect and defend his plate.
return
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After this, they got tired even of these practical jokes; and the brother-in-law, mad at having to support him always, struck him, cuffed him incessantly, laughing at the useless efforts of the other to ward off or return the blows.
rightnounUS /right/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading And he, without ever uttering a word, would continue eating with the aid of his right hand, while stretching out his left to protect and defend his plate.
smacking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then came a new pleasure--the pleasure of smacking his face.
spectators
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the spectators, huddled against the walls, burst out laughing, nudged each other, and stamped their feet on the floor.
stamped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the spectators, huddled against the walls, burst out laughing, nudged each other, and stamped their feet on the floor.
stretching
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And he, without ever uttering a word, would continue eating with the aid of his right hand, while stretching out his left to protect and defend his plate.
strucknounUS /struck/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading After this, they got tired even of these practical jokes; and the brother-in-law, mad at having to support him always, struck him, cuffed him incessantly, laughing at the useless efforts of the other to ward off or return the blows.
supportverbUS /səˈpɔːrt/
to provide what someone needs in order to live
From this reading After this, they got tired even of these practical jokes; and the brother-in-law, mad at having to support him always, struck him, cuffed him incessantly, laughing at the useless efforts of the other to ward off or return the blows.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Then the spectators, huddled against the walls, burst out laughing, nudged each other, and stamped their feet on the floor.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Then the spectators, huddled against the walls, burst out laughing, nudged each other, and stamped their feet on the floor.
Then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the spectators, huddled against the walls, burst out laughing, nudged each other, and stamped their feet on the floor.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading After this, they got tired even of these practical jokes; and the brother-in-law, mad at having to support him always, struck him, cuffed him incessantly, laughing at the useless efforts of the other to ward off or return the blows.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading At another time they made him chew corks, bits of wood, leaves, or even filth, which he was unable to distinguish.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading After this, they got tired even of these practical jokes; and the brother-in-law, mad at having to support him always, struck him, cuffed him incessantly, laughing at the useless efforts of the other to ward off or return the blows.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading At another time they made him chew corks, bits of wood, leaves, or even filth, which he was unable to distinguish.
tired
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After this, they got tired even of these practical jokes; and the brother-in-law, mad at having to support him always, struck him, cuffed him incessantly, laughing at the useless efforts of the other to ward off or return the blows.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading And he, without ever uttering a word, would continue eating with the aid of his right hand, while stretching out his left to protect and defend his plate.
unable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At another time they made him chew corks, bits of wood, leaves, or even filth, which he was unable to distinguish.
useless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After this, they got tired even of these practical jokes; and the brother-in-law, mad at having to support him always, struck him, cuffed him incessantly, laughing at the useless efforts of the other to ward off or return the blows.
uttering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And he, without ever uttering a word, would continue eating with the aid of his right hand, while stretching out his left to protect and defend his plate.
walls
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then the spectators, huddled against the walls, burst out laughing, nudged each other, and stamped their feet on the floor.
ward
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After this, they got tired even of these practical jokes; and the brother-in-law, mad at having to support him always, struck him, cuffed him incessantly, laughing at the useless efforts of the other to ward off or return the blows.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading At another time they made him chew corks, bits of wood, leaves, or even filth, which he was unable to distinguish.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading At another time they made him chew corks, bits of wood, leaves, or even filth, which he was unable to distinguish.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading And he, without ever uttering a word, would continue eating with the aid of his right hand, while stretching out his left to protect and defend his plate.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading And he, without ever uttering a word, would continue eating with the aid of his right hand, while stretching out his left to protect and defend his plate.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading And he, without ever uttering a word, would continue eating with the aid of his right hand, while stretching out his left to protect and defend his plate.
wood
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At another time they made him chew corks, bits of wood, leaves, or even filth, which he was unable to distinguish.
word
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And he, without ever uttering a word, would continue eating with the aid of his right hand, while stretching out his left to protect and defend his plate.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading And he, without ever uttering a word, would continue eating with the aid of his right hand, while stretching out his left to protect and defend his plate.
