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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 The usual noises of a night in an Egyptian town were at their height.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading Muffled ejaculations could be heard, little gurgles of laughter, which in Egypt, thanks be to Allah, do not degenerate into giggles, the swish of a whip in the shadow, followed by a woman's cry, and through all, above all, unfinished catches of music.
accompaniment
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From this reading The distant and never-ceasing shuffling of slippered or naked feet on stone, or sand, made a dull accompaniment to the sharper notes of men's voices crying their wares of sticky sweetmeat or fruit, and the barking and growling of innumerable dogs.
adjective
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From this reading All kinds of humans, including tourists, writers, European officials and desert dilettanti, have affixed every kind of adjective to Egypt's music.
affixed
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From this reading All kinds of humans, including tourists, writers, European officials and desert dilettanti, have affixed every kind of adjective to Egypt's music.
all
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From this reading Muffled ejaculations could be heard, little gurgles of laughter, which in Egypt, thanks be to Allah, do not degenerate into giggles, the swish of a whip in the shadow, followed by a woman's cry, and through all, above all, unfinished catches of music.
Allah
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From this reading Muffled ejaculations could be heard, little gurgles of laughter, which in Egypt, thanks be to Allah, do not degenerate into giggles, the swish of a whip in the shadow, followed by a woman's cry, and through all, above all, unfinished catches of music.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The usual noises of a night in an Egyptian town were at their height.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The distant and never-ceasing shuffling of slippered or naked feet on stone, or sand, made a dull accompaniment to the sharper notes of men's voices crying their wares of sticky sweetmeat or fruit, and the barking and growling of innumerable dogs.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The usual noises of a night in an Egyptian town were at their height.
barking
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From this reading The distant and never-ceasing shuffling of slippered or naked feet on stone, or sand, made a dull accompaniment to the sharper notes of men's voices crying their wares of sticky sweetmeat or fruit, and the barking and growling of innumerable dogs.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Muffled ejaculations could be heard, little gurgles of laughter, which in Egypt, thanks be to Allah, do not degenerate into giggles, the swish of a whip in the shadow, followed by a woman's cry, and through all, above all, unfinished catches of music.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Muffled ejaculations could be heard, little gurgles of laughter, which in Egypt, thanks be to Allah, do not degenerate into giggles, the swish of a whip in the shadow, followed by a woman's cry, and through all, above all, unfinished catches of music.
catches
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Muffled ejaculations could be heard, little gurgles of laughter, which in Egypt, thanks be to Allah, do not degenerate into giggles, the swish of a whip in the shadow, followed by a woman's cry, and through all, above all, unfinished catches of music.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Muffled ejaculations could be heard, little gurgles of laughter, which in Egypt, thanks be to Allah, do not degenerate into giggles, the swish of a whip in the shadow, followed by a woman's cry, and through all, above all, unfinished catches of music.
cry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Muffled ejaculations could be heard, little gurgles of laughter, which in Egypt, thanks be to Allah, do not degenerate into giggles, the swish of a whip in the shadow, followed by a woman's cry, and through all, above all, unfinished catches of music.
crying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The distant and never-ceasing shuffling of slippered or naked feet on stone, or sand, made a dull accompaniment to the sharper notes of men's voices crying their wares of sticky sweetmeat or fruit, and the barking and growling of innumerable dogs.
degenerate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Muffled ejaculations could be heard, little gurgles of laughter, which in Egypt, thanks be to Allah, do not degenerate into giggles, the swish of a whip in the shadow, followed by a woman's cry, and through all, above all, unfinished catches of music.
desert
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All kinds of humans, including tourists, writers, European officials and desert dilettanti, have affixed every kind of adjective to Egypt's music.
dilettanti
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All kinds of humans, including tourists, writers, European officials and desert dilettanti, have affixed every kind of adjective to Egypt's music.
distantadjectiveUS /ˈdɪstənt/
not friendly or close
From this reading The distant and never-ceasing shuffling of slippered or naked feet on stone, or sand, made a dull accompaniment to the sharper notes of men's voices crying their wares of sticky sweetmeat or fruit, and the barking and growling of innumerable dogs.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Muffled ejaculations could be heard, little gurgles of laughter, which in Egypt, thanks be to Allah, do not degenerate into giggles, the swish of a whip in the shadow, followed by a woman's cry, and through all, above all, unfinished catches of music.
dogs
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From this reading The distant and never-ceasing shuffling of slippered or naked feet on stone, or sand, made a dull accompaniment to the sharper notes of men's voices crying their wares of sticky sweetmeat or fruit, and the barking and growling of innumerable dogs.
dull
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The distant and never-ceasing shuffling of slippered or naked feet on stone, or sand, made a dull accompaniment to the sharper notes of men's voices crying their wares of sticky sweetmeat or fruit, and the barking and growling of innumerable dogs.
Egypt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Muffled ejaculations could be heard, little gurgles of laughter, which in Egypt, thanks be to Allah, do not degenerate into giggles, the swish of a whip in the shadow, followed by a woman's cry, and through all, above all, unfinished catches of music.
Egypt's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All kinds of humans, including tourists, writers, European officials and desert dilettanti, have affixed every kind of adjective to Egypt's music.
Egyptian
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From this reading The usual noises of a night in an Egyptian town were at their height.
ejaculations
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From this reading Muffled ejaculations could be heard, little gurgles of laughter, which in Egypt, thanks be to Allah, do not degenerate into giggles, the swish of a whip in the shadow, followed by a woman's cry, and through all, above all, unfinished catches of music.
eleven
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ten o'clock!--half-past!--eleven!
European
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All kinds of humans, including tourists, writers, European officials and desert dilettanti, have affixed every kind of adjective to Egypt's music.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading All kinds of humans, including tourists, writers, European officials and desert dilettanti, have affixed every kind of adjective to Egypt's music.
feet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The distant and never-ceasing shuffling of slippered or naked feet on stone, or sand, made a dull accompaniment to the sharper notes of men's voices crying their wares of sticky sweetmeat or fruit, and the barking and growling of innumerable dogs.
followed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Muffled ejaculations could be heard, little gurgles of laughter, which in Egypt, thanks be to Allah, do not degenerate into giggles, the swish of a whip in the shadow, followed by a woman's cry, and through all, above all, unfinished catches of music.
fruit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The distant and never-ceasing shuffling of slippered or naked feet on stone, or sand, made a dull accompaniment to the sharper notes of men's voices crying their wares of sticky sweetmeat or fruit, and the barking and growling of innumerable dogs.
giggles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Muffled ejaculations could be heard, little gurgles of laughter, which in Egypt, thanks be to Allah, do not degenerate into giggles, the swish of a whip in the shadow, followed by a woman's cry, and through all, above all, unfinished catches of music.
growlingnounUS /ˈgrowling/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The distant and never-ceasing shuffling of slippered or naked feet on stone, or sand, made a dull accompaniment to the sharper notes of men's voices crying their wares of sticky sweetmeat or fruit, and the barking and growling of innumerable dogs.
gurgles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Muffled ejaculations could be heard, little gurgles of laughter, which in Egypt, thanks be to Allah, do not degenerate into giggles, the swish of a whip in the shadow, followed by a woman's cry, and through all, above all, unfinished catches of music.
half-past
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ten o'clock!--half-past!--eleven!
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading All kinds of humans, including tourists, writers, European officials and desert dilettanti, have affixed every kind of adjective to Egypt's music.
heard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Muffled ejaculations could be heard, little gurgles of laughter, which in Egypt, thanks be to Allah, do not degenerate into giggles, the swish of a whip in the shadow, followed by a woman's cry, and through all, above all, unfinished catches of music.
height
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From this reading The usual noises of a night in an Egyptian town were at their height.
humans
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From this reading All kinds of humans, including tourists, writers, European officials and desert dilettanti, have affixed every kind of adjective to Egypt's music.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The usual noises of a night in an Egyptian town were at their height.
including
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All kinds of humans, including tourists, writers, European officials and desert dilettanti, have affixed every kind of adjective to Egypt's music.
innumerable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The distant and never-ceasing shuffling of slippered or naked feet on stone, or sand, made a dull accompaniment to the sharper notes of men's voices crying their wares of sticky sweetmeat or fruit, and the barking and growling of innumerable dogs.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Muffled ejaculations could be heard, little gurgles of laughter, which in Egypt, thanks be to Allah, do not degenerate into giggles, the swish of a whip in the shadow, followed by a woman's cry, and through all, above all, unfinished catches of music.
kind
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All kinds of humans, including tourists, writers, European officials and desert dilettanti, have affixed every kind of adjective to Egypt's music.
kinds
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All kinds of humans, including tourists, writers, European officials and desert dilettanti, have affixed every kind of adjective to Egypt's music.
laughter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Muffled ejaculations could be heard, little gurgles of laughter, which in Egypt, thanks be to Allah, do not degenerate into giggles, the swish of a whip in the shadow, followed by a woman's cry, and through all, above all, unfinished catches of music.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Muffled ejaculations could be heard, little gurgles of laughter, which in Egypt, thanks be to Allah, do not degenerate into giggles, the swish of a whip in the shadow, followed by a woman's cry, and through all, above all, unfinished catches of music.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The distant and never-ceasing shuffling of slippered or naked feet on stone, or sand, made a dull accompaniment to the sharper notes of men's voices crying their wares of sticky sweetmeat or fruit, and the barking and growling of innumerable dogs.
men's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The distant and never-ceasing shuffling of slippered or naked feet on stone, or sand, made a dull accompaniment to the sharper notes of men's voices crying their wares of sticky sweetmeat or fruit, and the barking and growling of innumerable dogs.
Muffled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Muffled ejaculations could be heard, little gurgles of laughter, which in Egypt, thanks be to Allah, do not degenerate into giggles, the swish of a whip in the shadow, followed by a woman's cry, and through all, above all, unfinished catches of music.
music
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Muffled ejaculations could be heard, little gurgles of laughter, which in Egypt, thanks be to Allah, do not degenerate into giggles, the swish of a whip in the shadow, followed by a woman's cry, and through all, above all, unfinished catches of music.
naked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The distant and never-ceasing shuffling of slippered or naked feet on stone, or sand, made a dull accompaniment to the sharper notes of men's voices crying their wares of sticky sweetmeat or fruit, and the barking and growling of innumerable dogs.
never-ceasing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The distant and never-ceasing shuffling of slippered or naked feet on stone, or sand, made a dull accompaniment to the sharper notes of men's voices crying their wares of sticky sweetmeat or fruit, and the barking and growling of innumerable dogs.
night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The usual noises of a night in an Egyptian town were at their height.
noises
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The usual noises of a night in an Egyptian town were at their height.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Muffled ejaculations could be heard, little gurgles of laughter, which in Egypt, thanks be to Allah, do not degenerate into giggles, the swish of a whip in the shadow, followed by a woman's cry, and through all, above all, unfinished catches of music.
notes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The distant and never-ceasing shuffling of slippered or naked feet on stone, or sand, made a dull accompaniment to the sharper notes of men's voices crying their wares of sticky sweetmeat or fruit, and the barking and growling of innumerable dogs.
o'clock
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ten o'clock!--half-past!--eleven!
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The usual noises of a night in an Egyptian town were at their height.
officials
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All kinds of humans, including tourists, writers, European officials and desert dilettanti, have affixed every kind of adjective to Egypt's music.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The distant and never-ceasing shuffling of slippered or naked feet on stone, or sand, made a dull accompaniment to the sharper notes of men's voices crying their wares of sticky sweetmeat or fruit, and the barking and growling of innumerable dogs.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The distant and never-ceasing shuffling of slippered or naked feet on stone, or sand, made a dull accompaniment to the sharper notes of men's voices crying their wares of sticky sweetmeat or fruit, and the barking and growling of innumerable dogs.
sand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The distant and never-ceasing shuffling of slippered or naked feet on stone, or sand, made a dull accompaniment to the sharper notes of men's voices crying their wares of sticky sweetmeat or fruit, and the barking and growling of innumerable dogs.
shadownounUS /ˈʃæd.oʊ/
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading Muffled ejaculations could be heard, little gurgles of laughter, which in Egypt, thanks be to Allah, do not degenerate into giggles, the swish of a whip in the shadow, followed by a woman's cry, and through all, above all, unfinished catches of music.
sharper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The distant and never-ceasing shuffling of slippered or naked feet on stone, or sand, made a dull accompaniment to the sharper notes of men's voices crying their wares of sticky sweetmeat or fruit, and the barking and growling of innumerable dogs.
shuffling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The distant and never-ceasing shuffling of slippered or naked feet on stone, or sand, made a dull accompaniment to the sharper notes of men's voices crying their wares of sticky sweetmeat or fruit, and the barking and growling of innumerable dogs.
slippered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The distant and never-ceasing shuffling of slippered or naked feet on stone, or sand, made a dull accompaniment to the sharper notes of men's voices crying their wares of sticky sweetmeat or fruit, and the barking and growling of innumerable dogs.
sticky
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The distant and never-ceasing shuffling of slippered or naked feet on stone, or sand, made a dull accompaniment to the sharper notes of men's voices crying their wares of sticky sweetmeat or fruit, and the barking and growling of innumerable dogs.
stone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The distant and never-ceasing shuffling of slippered or naked feet on stone, or sand, made a dull accompaniment to the sharper notes of men's voices crying their wares of sticky sweetmeat or fruit, and the barking and growling of innumerable dogs.
sweetmeat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The distant and never-ceasing shuffling of slippered or naked feet on stone, or sand, made a dull accompaniment to the sharper notes of men's voices crying their wares of sticky sweetmeat or fruit, and the barking and growling of innumerable dogs.
swish
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Muffled ejaculations could be heard, little gurgles of laughter, which in Egypt, thanks be to Allah, do not degenerate into giggles, the swish of a whip in the shadow, followed by a woman's cry, and through all, above all, unfinished catches of music.
Ten
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ten o'clock!--half-past!--eleven!
thanks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Muffled ejaculations could be heard, little gurgles of laughter, which in Egypt, thanks be to Allah, do not degenerate into giggles, the swish of a whip in the shadow, followed by a woman's cry, and through all, above all, unfinished catches of music.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The usual noises of a night in an Egyptian town were at their height.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The usual noises of a night in an Egyptian town were at their height.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Muffled ejaculations could be heard, little gurgles of laughter, which in Egypt, thanks be to Allah, do not degenerate into giggles, the swish of a whip in the shadow, followed by a woman's cry, and through all, above all, unfinished catches of music.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The distant and never-ceasing shuffling of slippered or naked feet on stone, or sand, made a dull accompaniment to the sharper notes of men's voices crying their wares of sticky sweetmeat or fruit, and the barking and growling of innumerable dogs.
tourists
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All kinds of humans, including tourists, writers, European officials and desert dilettanti, have affixed every kind of adjective to Egypt's music.
town
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The usual noises of a night in an Egyptian town were at their height.
unfinished
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Muffled ejaculations could be heard, little gurgles of laughter, which in Egypt, thanks be to Allah, do not degenerate into giggles, the swish of a whip in the shadow, followed by a woman's cry, and through all, above all, unfinished catches of music.
usual
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The usual noises of a night in an Egyptian town were at their height.
voices
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The distant and never-ceasing shuffling of slippered or naked feet on stone, or sand, made a dull accompaniment to the sharper notes of men's voices crying their wares of sticky sweetmeat or fruit, and the barking and growling of innumerable dogs.
wares
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The distant and never-ceasing shuffling of slippered or naked feet on stone, or sand, made a dull accompaniment to the sharper notes of men's voices crying their wares of sticky sweetmeat or fruit, and the barking and growling of innumerable dogs.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The usual noises of a night in an Egyptian town were at their height.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Muffled ejaculations could be heard, little gurgles of laughter, which in Egypt, thanks be to Allah, do not degenerate into giggles, the swish of a whip in the shadow, followed by a woman's cry, and through all, above all, unfinished catches of music.
whip
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Muffled ejaculations could be heard, little gurgles of laughter, which in Egypt, thanks be to Allah, do not degenerate into giggles, the swish of a whip in the shadow, followed by a woman's cry, and through all, above all, unfinished catches of music.
woman's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Muffled ejaculations could be heard, little gurgles of laughter, which in Egypt, thanks be to Allah, do not degenerate into giggles, the swish of a whip in the shadow, followed by a woman's cry, and through all, above all, unfinished catches of music.
writers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All kinds of humans, including tourists, writers, European officials and desert dilettanti, have affixed every kind of adjective to Egypt's music.
