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Five Thousand an Hour
Five Thousand an Hour

Chapter XII

Cover illustration for Five Thousand an Hour
Context Illustration Reading 1/20 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
IN WHICH JOHNNY BUYS A PRESENT AND HATCHES A SCHEME Johnny, relying like a lost mariner on Polly Parsons and Constance Joy to help him pick out a present for his only mother, approached Lofty's with a diffidence amounting to awe.
In that exclusive shop he would meet miles of furbelowed femininity, but he would not have ventured unprotected into those fluffed and billowed aisles for anything short of a penance.
Being a philosopher, however, he kept his mind active in as many other directions as possible, like a child deliberately feasting upon thoughts of Santa Claus though on the way to a promised spanking.
"There's a hoodoo on this block," Johnny observed as they were caught in the traffic crush almost in front of their destination.
"Lofty and Ersten must be the hoodooers, then," laughed Polly.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Five Thousand an Hour

Chapter XII

Reading 1/20 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
IN WHICH JOHNNY BUYS A PRESENT AND HATCHES A SCHEME Johnny, relying like a lost mariner on Polly Parsons and Constance Joy to help him pick out a present for his only mother, approached Lofty's with a diffidence amounting to awe.
Line 2
In that exclusive shop he would meet miles of furbelowed femininity, but he would not have ventured unprotected into those fluffed and billowed aisles for anything short of a penance.
Line 3
Being a philosopher, however, he kept his mind active in as many other directions as possible, like a child deliberately feasting upon thoughts of Santa Claus though on the way to a promised spanking.
Line 4
"There's a hoodoo on this block," Johnny observed as they were caught in the traffic crush almost in front of their destination.
Line 5
"Lofty and Ersten must be the hoodooers, then," laughed Polly.

Learner Dictionary

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

Anything pronoun US /ˈeniθɪŋ/

any thing at all

From this reading “In that exclusive shop he would meet miles of furbelowed femininity, but he would not have ventured unprotected into those fluffed and billowed aisles for anything short of a penance.”

Being auxiliary verb US /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading “Being a philosopher, however, he kept his mind active in as many other directions as possible, like a child deliberately feasting upon thoughts of Santa Claus though on the way to a promised spanking.”

HATCHES noun US /ˈhatches/

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

From this reading “IN WHICH JOHNNY BUYS A PRESENT AND HATCHES A SCHEME Johnny, relying like a lost mariner on Polly Parsons and Constance Joy to help him pick out a present for his only mother, approached Lofty's with a diffidence amounting to awe.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “In that exclusive shop he would meet miles of furbelowed femininity, but he would not have ventured unprotected into those fluffed and billowed aisles for anything short of a penance.”

Help noun US /help/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “IN WHICH JOHNNY BUYS A PRESENT AND HATCHES A SCHEME Johnny, relying like a lost mariner on Polly Parsons and Constance Joy to help him pick out a present for his only mother, approached Lofty's with a diffidence amounting to awe.”

However adverb US /ˌhaʊˈevər/

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading “Being a philosopher, however, he kept his mind active in as many other directions as possible, like a child deliberately feasting upon thoughts of Santa Claus though on the way to a promised spanking.”

Mind noun US /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Being a philosopher, however, he kept his mind active in as many other directions as possible, like a child deliberately feasting upon thoughts of Santa Claus though on the way to a promised spanking.”

Must modal verb US /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading “"Lofty and Ersten must be the hoodooers, then," laughed Polly.”

Short adjective US /ʃɔrt/

brief or direct in expression

From this reading “In that exclusive shop he would meet miles of furbelowed femininity, but he would not have ventured unprotected into those fluffed and billowed aisles for anything short of a penance.”

Those determiner US /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading “In that exclusive shop he would meet miles of furbelowed femininity, but he would not have ventured unprotected into those fluffed and billowed aisles for anything short of a penance.”

Though conjunction US /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “Being a philosopher, however, he kept his mind active in as many other directions as possible, like a child deliberately feasting upon thoughts of Santa Claus though on the way to a promised spanking.”

Unprotected adjective US /ˌʌnprəˈtɛktɪd/

without protection or defence without safety or defence from danger

From this reading “In that exclusive shop he would meet miles of furbelowed femininity, but he would not have ventured unprotected into those fluffed and billowed aisles for anything short of a penance.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “Being a philosopher, however, he kept his mind active in as many other directions as possible, like a child deliberately feasting upon thoughts of Santa Claus though on the way to a promised spanking.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading “In that exclusive shop he would meet miles of furbelowed femininity, but he would not have ventured unprotected into those fluffed and billowed aisles for anything short of a penance.”

All words in this reading · 100

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 IN WHICH JOHNNY BUYS A PRESENT AND HATCHES A SCHEME Johnny, relying like a lost mariner on Polly Parsons and Constance Joy to help him pick out a present for his only mother, approached Lofty's with a diffidence amounting to awe.

active

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

From this reading Being a philosopher, however, he kept his mind active in as many other directions as possible, like a child deliberately feasting upon thoughts of Santa Claus though on the way to a promised spanking.

aisles

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

From this reading In that exclusive shop he would meet miles of furbelowed femininity, but he would not have ventured unprotected into those fluffed and billowed aisles for anything short of a penance.

almost

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

From this reading "There's a hoodoo on this block," Johnny observed as they were caught in the traffic crush almost in front of their destination.

amounting

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

From this reading IN WHICH JOHNNY BUYS A PRESENT AND HATCHES A SCHEME Johnny, relying like a lost mariner on Polly Parsons and Constance Joy to help him pick out a present for his only mother, approached Lofty's with a diffidence amounting to awe.

ANDconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading IN WHICH JOHNNY BUYS A PRESENT AND HATCHES A SCHEME Johnny, relying like a lost mariner on Polly Parsons and Constance Joy to help him pick out a present for his only mother, approached Lofty's with a diffidence amounting to awe.

anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/

any thing at all

From this reading In that exclusive shop he would meet miles of furbelowed femininity, but he would not have ventured unprotected into those fluffed and billowed aisles for anything short of a penance.

approached

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

From this reading IN WHICH JOHNNY BUYS A PRESENT AND HATCHES A SCHEME Johnny, relying like a lost mariner on Polly Parsons and Constance Joy to help him pick out a present for his only mother, approached Lofty's with a diffidence amounting to awe.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Being a philosopher, however, he kept his mind active in as many other directions as possible, like a child deliberately feasting upon thoughts of Santa Claus though on the way to a promised spanking.

awe

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

From this reading IN WHICH JOHNNY BUYS A PRESENT AND HATCHES A SCHEME Johnny, relying like a lost mariner on Polly Parsons and Constance Joy to help him pick out a present for his only mother, approached Lofty's with a diffidence amounting to awe.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading "Lofty and Ersten must be the hoodooers, then," laughed Polly.

Beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading Being a philosopher, however, he kept his mind active in as many other directions as possible, like a child deliberately feasting upon thoughts of Santa Claus though on the way to a promised spanking.

billowed

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

From this reading In that exclusive shop he would meet miles of furbelowed femininity, but he would not have ventured unprotected into those fluffed and billowed aisles for anything short of a penance.

block

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

From this reading "There's a hoodoo on this block," Johnny observed as they were caught in the traffic crush almost in front of their destination.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading In that exclusive shop he would meet miles of furbelowed femininity, but he would not have ventured unprotected into those fluffed and billowed aisles for anything short of a penance.

BUYS

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

From this reading IN WHICH JOHNNY BUYS A PRESENT AND HATCHES A SCHEME Johnny, relying like a lost mariner on Polly Parsons and Constance Joy to help him pick out a present for his only mother, approached Lofty's with a diffidence amounting to awe.

caught

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

From this reading "There's a hoodoo on this block," Johnny observed as they were caught in the traffic crush almost in front of their destination.

child

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

From this reading Being a philosopher, however, he kept his mind active in as many other directions as possible, like a child deliberately feasting upon thoughts of Santa Claus though on the way to a promised spanking.

Claus

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

From this reading Being a philosopher, however, he kept his mind active in as many other directions as possible, like a child deliberately feasting upon thoughts of Santa Claus though on the way to a promised spanking.

Constance

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

From this reading IN WHICH JOHNNY BUYS A PRESENT AND HATCHES A SCHEME Johnny, relying like a lost mariner on Polly Parsons and Constance Joy to help him pick out a present for his only mother, approached Lofty's with a diffidence amounting to awe.

crush

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

From this reading "There's a hoodoo on this block," Johnny observed as they were caught in the traffic crush almost in front of their destination.

deliberately

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

From this reading Being a philosopher, however, he kept his mind active in as many other directions as possible, like a child deliberately feasting upon thoughts of Santa Claus though on the way to a promised spanking.

destination

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

From this reading "There's a hoodoo on this block," Johnny observed as they were caught in the traffic crush almost in front of their destination.

diffidence

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

From this reading IN WHICH JOHNNY BUYS A PRESENT AND HATCHES A SCHEME Johnny, relying like a lost mariner on Polly Parsons and Constance Joy to help him pick out a present for his only mother, approached Lofty's with a diffidence amounting to awe.

directions

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

From this reading Being a philosopher, however, he kept his mind active in as many other directions as possible, like a child deliberately feasting upon thoughts of Santa Claus though on the way to a promised spanking.

Ersten

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

From this reading "Lofty and Ersten must be the hoodooers, then," laughed Polly.

exclusive

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

From this reading In that exclusive shop he would meet miles of furbelowed femininity, but he would not have ventured unprotected into those fluffed and billowed aisles for anything short of a penance.

feasting

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

From this reading Being a philosopher, however, he kept his mind active in as many other directions as possible, like a child deliberately feasting upon thoughts of Santa Claus though on the way to a promised spanking.

femininity

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

From this reading In that exclusive shop he would meet miles of furbelowed femininity, but he would not have ventured unprotected into those fluffed and billowed aisles for anything short of a penance.

fluffed

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

From this reading In that exclusive shop he would meet miles of furbelowed femininity, but he would not have ventured unprotected into those fluffed and billowed aisles for anything short of a penance.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading IN WHICH JOHNNY BUYS A PRESENT AND HATCHES A SCHEME Johnny, relying like a lost mariner on Polly Parsons and Constance Joy to help him pick out a present for his only mother, approached Lofty's with a diffidence amounting to awe.

front

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

From this reading "There's a hoodoo on this block," Johnny observed as they were caught in the traffic crush almost in front of their destination.

furbelowed

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

From this reading In that exclusive shop he would meet miles of furbelowed femininity, but he would not have ventured unprotected into those fluffed and billowed aisles for anything short of a penance.

HATCHESnounUS /ˈhatches/

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

From this reading IN WHICH JOHNNY BUYS A PRESENT AND HATCHES A SCHEME Johnny, relying like a lost mariner on Polly Parsons and Constance Joy to help him pick out a present for his only mother, approached Lofty's with a diffidence amounting to awe.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading In that exclusive shop he would meet miles of furbelowed femininity, but he would not have ventured unprotected into those fluffed and billowed aisles for anything short of a penance.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading In that exclusive shop he would meet miles of furbelowed femininity, but he would not have ventured unprotected into those fluffed and billowed aisles for anything short of a penance.

helpnounUS /help/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading IN WHICH JOHNNY BUYS A PRESENT AND HATCHES A SCHEME Johnny, relying like a lost mariner on Polly Parsons and Constance Joy to help him pick out a present for his only mother, approached Lofty's with a diffidence amounting to awe.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading IN WHICH JOHNNY BUYS A PRESENT AND HATCHES A SCHEME Johnny, relying like a lost mariner on Polly Parsons and Constance Joy to help him pick out a present for his only mother, approached Lofty's with a diffidence amounting to awe.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading IN WHICH JOHNNY BUYS A PRESENT AND HATCHES A SCHEME Johnny, relying like a lost mariner on Polly Parsons and Constance Joy to help him pick out a present for his only mother, approached Lofty's with a diffidence amounting to awe.

hoodoo

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

From this reading "There's a hoodoo on this block," Johnny observed as they were caught in the traffic crush almost in front of their destination.

hoodooers

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

From this reading "Lofty and Ersten must be the hoodooers, then," laughed Polly.

howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading Being a philosopher, however, he kept his mind active in as many other directions as possible, like a child deliberately feasting upon thoughts of Santa Claus though on the way to a promised spanking.

INprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading IN WHICH JOHNNY BUYS A PRESENT AND HATCHES A SCHEME Johnny, relying like a lost mariner on Polly Parsons and Constance Joy to help him pick out a present for his only mother, approached Lofty's with a diffidence amounting to awe.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading In that exclusive shop he would meet miles of furbelowed femininity, but he would not have ventured unprotected into those fluffed and billowed aisles for anything short of a penance.

JOHNNY

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

From this reading IN WHICH JOHNNY BUYS A PRESENT AND HATCHES A SCHEME Johnny, relying like a lost mariner on Polly Parsons and Constance Joy to help him pick out a present for his only mother, approached Lofty's with a diffidence amounting to awe.

Joy

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

From this reading IN WHICH JOHNNY BUYS A PRESENT AND HATCHES A SCHEME Johnny, relying like a lost mariner on Polly Parsons and Constance Joy to help him pick out a present for his only mother, approached Lofty's with a diffidence amounting to awe.

kept

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

From this reading Being a philosopher, however, he kept his mind active in as many other directions as possible, like a child deliberately feasting upon thoughts of Santa Claus though on the way to a promised spanking.

laughed

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

From this reading "Lofty and Ersten must be the hoodooers, then," laughed Polly.

like

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

From this reading IN WHICH JOHNNY BUYS A PRESENT AND HATCHES A SCHEME Johnny, relying like a lost mariner on Polly Parsons and Constance Joy to help him pick out a present for his only mother, approached Lofty's with a diffidence amounting to awe.

Lofty

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

From this reading "Lofty and Ersten must be the hoodooers, then," laughed Polly.

Lofty's

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

From this reading IN WHICH JOHNNY BUYS A PRESENT AND HATCHES A SCHEME Johnny, relying like a lost mariner on Polly Parsons and Constance Joy to help him pick out a present for his only mother, approached Lofty's with a diffidence amounting to awe.

lost

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

From this reading IN WHICH JOHNNY BUYS A PRESENT AND HATCHES A SCHEME Johnny, relying like a lost mariner on Polly Parsons and Constance Joy to help him pick out a present for his only mother, approached Lofty's with a diffidence amounting to awe.

many

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

From this reading Being a philosopher, however, he kept his mind active in as many other directions as possible, like a child deliberately feasting upon thoughts of Santa Claus though on the way to a promised spanking.

mariner

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

From this reading IN WHICH JOHNNY BUYS A PRESENT AND HATCHES A SCHEME Johnny, relying like a lost mariner on Polly Parsons and Constance Joy to help him pick out a present for his only mother, approached Lofty's with a diffidence amounting to awe.

meet

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

From this reading In that exclusive shop he would meet miles of furbelowed femininity, but he would not have ventured unprotected into those fluffed and billowed aisles for anything short of a penance.

miles

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

From this reading In that exclusive shop he would meet miles of furbelowed femininity, but he would not have ventured unprotected into those fluffed and billowed aisles for anything short of a penance.

mindnounUS /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Being a philosopher, however, he kept his mind active in as many other directions as possible, like a child deliberately feasting upon thoughts of Santa Claus though on the way to a promised spanking.

mother

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

From this reading IN WHICH JOHNNY BUYS A PRESENT AND HATCHES A SCHEME Johnny, relying like a lost mariner on Polly Parsons and Constance Joy to help him pick out a present for his only mother, approached Lofty's with a diffidence amounting to awe.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading "Lofty and Ersten must be the hoodooers, then," laughed Polly.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading In that exclusive shop he would meet miles of furbelowed femininity, but he would not have ventured unprotected into those fluffed and billowed aisles for anything short of a penance.

observed

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

From this reading "There's a hoodoo on this block," Johnny observed as they were caught in the traffic crush almost in front of their destination.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading In that exclusive shop he would meet miles of furbelowed femininity, but he would not have ventured unprotected into those fluffed and billowed aisles for anything short of a penance.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading IN WHICH JOHNNY BUYS A PRESENT AND HATCHES A SCHEME Johnny, relying like a lost mariner on Polly Parsons and Constance Joy to help him pick out a present for his only mother, approached Lofty's with a diffidence amounting to awe.

only

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

From this reading IN WHICH JOHNNY BUYS A PRESENT AND HATCHES A SCHEME Johnny, relying like a lost mariner on Polly Parsons and Constance Joy to help him pick out a present for his only mother, approached Lofty's with a diffidence amounting to awe.

other

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

From this reading Being a philosopher, however, he kept his mind active in as many other directions as possible, like a child deliberately feasting upon thoughts of Santa Claus though on the way to a promised spanking.

out

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

From this reading IN WHICH JOHNNY BUYS A PRESENT AND HATCHES A SCHEME Johnny, relying like a lost mariner on Polly Parsons and Constance Joy to help him pick out a present for his only mother, approached Lofty's with a diffidence amounting to awe.

Parsons

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

From this reading IN WHICH JOHNNY BUYS A PRESENT AND HATCHES A SCHEME Johnny, relying like a lost mariner on Polly Parsons and Constance Joy to help him pick out a present for his only mother, approached Lofty's with a diffidence amounting to awe.

penance

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

From this reading In that exclusive shop he would meet miles of furbelowed femininity, but he would not have ventured unprotected into those fluffed and billowed aisles for anything short of a penance.

philosopher

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

From this reading Being a philosopher, however, he kept his mind active in as many other directions as possible, like a child deliberately feasting upon thoughts of Santa Claus though on the way to a promised spanking.

pick

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

From this reading IN WHICH JOHNNY BUYS A PRESENT AND HATCHES A SCHEME Johnny, relying like a lost mariner on Polly Parsons and Constance Joy to help him pick out a present for his only mother, approached Lofty's with a diffidence amounting to awe.

Polly

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

From this reading IN WHICH JOHNNY BUYS A PRESENT AND HATCHES A SCHEME Johnny, relying like a lost mariner on Polly Parsons and Constance Joy to help him pick out a present for his only mother, approached Lofty's with a diffidence amounting to awe.

possible

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

From this reading Being a philosopher, however, he kept his mind active in as many other directions as possible, like a child deliberately feasting upon thoughts of Santa Claus though on the way to a promised spanking.

PRESENT

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

From this reading IN WHICH JOHNNY BUYS A PRESENT AND HATCHES A SCHEME Johnny, relying like a lost mariner on Polly Parsons and Constance Joy to help him pick out a present for his only mother, approached Lofty's with a diffidence amounting to awe.

promised

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

From this reading Being a philosopher, however, he kept his mind active in as many other directions as possible, like a child deliberately feasting upon thoughts of Santa Claus though on the way to a promised spanking.

relying

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

From this reading IN WHICH JOHNNY BUYS A PRESENT AND HATCHES A SCHEME Johnny, relying like a lost mariner on Polly Parsons and Constance Joy to help him pick out a present for his only mother, approached Lofty's with a diffidence amounting to awe.

Santa

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

From this reading Being a philosopher, however, he kept his mind active in as many other directions as possible, like a child deliberately feasting upon thoughts of Santa Claus though on the way to a promised spanking.

SCHEME

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

From this reading IN WHICH JOHNNY BUYS A PRESENT AND HATCHES A SCHEME Johnny, relying like a lost mariner on Polly Parsons and Constance Joy to help him pick out a present for his only mother, approached Lofty's with a diffidence amounting to awe.

shop

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

From this reading In that exclusive shop he would meet miles of furbelowed femininity, but he would not have ventured unprotected into those fluffed and billowed aisles for anything short of a penance.

shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔrt/

brief or direct in expression

From this reading In that exclusive shop he would meet miles of furbelowed femininity, but he would not have ventured unprotected into those fluffed and billowed aisles for anything short of a penance.

spanking

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

From this reading Being a philosopher, however, he kept his mind active in as many other directions as possible, like a child deliberately feasting upon thoughts of Santa Claus though on the way to a promised spanking.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading In that exclusive shop he would meet miles of furbelowed femininity, but he would not have ventured unprotected into those fluffed and billowed aisles for anything short of a penance.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Being a philosopher, however, he kept his mind active in as many other directions as possible, like a child deliberately feasting upon thoughts of Santa Claus though on the way to a promised spanking.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading "There's a hoodoo on this block," Johnny observed as they were caught in the traffic crush almost in front of their destination.

then

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

From this reading "Lofty and Ersten must be the hoodooers, then," laughed Polly.

There's

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

From this reading "There's a hoodoo on this block," Johnny observed as they were caught in the traffic crush almost in front of their destination.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading "There's a hoodoo on this block," Johnny observed as they were caught in the traffic crush almost in front of their destination.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading "There's a hoodoo on this block," Johnny observed as they were caught in the traffic crush almost in front of their destination.

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading In that exclusive shop he would meet miles of furbelowed femininity, but he would not have ventured unprotected into those fluffed and billowed aisles for anything short of a penance.

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading Being a philosopher, however, he kept his mind active in as many other directions as possible, like a child deliberately feasting upon thoughts of Santa Claus though on the way to a promised spanking.

thoughts

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

From this reading Being a philosopher, however, he kept his mind active in as many other directions as possible, like a child deliberately feasting upon thoughts of Santa Claus though on the way to a promised spanking.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading IN WHICH JOHNNY BUYS A PRESENT AND HATCHES A SCHEME Johnny, relying like a lost mariner on Polly Parsons and Constance Joy to help him pick out a present for his only mother, approached Lofty's with a diffidence amounting to awe.

traffic

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

From this reading "There's a hoodoo on this block," Johnny observed as they were caught in the traffic crush almost in front of their destination.

unprotectedadjectiveUS /ˌʌnprəˈtɛktɪd/

without protection or defence without safety or defence from danger

From this reading In that exclusive shop he would meet miles of furbelowed femininity, but he would not have ventured unprotected into those fluffed and billowed aisles for anything short of a penance.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Being a philosopher, however, he kept his mind active in as many other directions as possible, like a child deliberately feasting upon thoughts of Santa Claus though on the way to a promised spanking.

ventured

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

From this reading In that exclusive shop he would meet miles of furbelowed femininity, but he would not have ventured unprotected into those fluffed and billowed aisles for anything short of a penance.

way

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

From this reading Being a philosopher, however, he kept his mind active in as many other directions as possible, like a child deliberately feasting upon thoughts of Santa Claus though on the way to a promised spanking.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading "There's a hoodoo on this block," Johnny observed as they were caught in the traffic crush almost in front of their destination.

WHICHpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading IN WHICH JOHNNY BUYS A PRESENT AND HATCHES A SCHEME Johnny, relying like a lost mariner on Polly Parsons and Constance Joy to help him pick out a present for his only mother, approached Lofty's with a diffidence amounting to awe.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading IN WHICH JOHNNY BUYS A PRESENT AND HATCHES A SCHEME Johnny, relying like a lost mariner on Polly Parsons and Constance Joy to help him pick out a present for his only mother, approached Lofty's with a diffidence amounting to awe.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading In that exclusive shop he would meet miles of furbelowed femininity, but he would not have ventured unprotected into those fluffed and billowed aisles for anything short of a penance.