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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 patched tablecloths which he spread over the tops were coarse and much worn; the dishes carried after him by the two assistants, whose knees bent under the burden, were made of tin, and marred by many a dent.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading He swung his stout body to and fro with jerks like a grasshopper, and in doing so his shirt rose above his belt, but the white napkin under his arm did not move a finger's width.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading The patched tablecloths which he spread over the tops were coarse and much worn; the dishes carried after him by the two assistants, whose knees bent under the burden, were made of tin, and marred by many a dent.
aided
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From this reading Without heeding their entrance, he continued,--aided by two assistants who were scarcely beyond boyhood,--to set the large and small pine tables which he had placed wherever he could find room.
also
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From this reading At first Dietel, the old waiter, whose bullet-shaped head was covered with thick gray hair, also failed to notice them.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Without heeding their entrance, he continued,--aided by two assistants who were scarcely beyond boyhood,--to set the large and small pine tables which he had placed wherever he could find room.
arm
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From this reading He swung his stout body to and fro with jerks like a grasshopper, and in doing so his shirt rose above his belt, but the white napkin under his arm did not move a finger's width.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading In small things, as well as great ones, Dietel was very methodical.
assistants
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From this reading Without heeding their entrance, he continued,--aided by two assistants who were scarcely beyond boyhood,--to set the large and small pine tables which he had placed wherever he could find room.
AtprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At first Dietel, the old waiter, whose bullet-shaped head was covered with thick gray hair, also failed to notice them.
belt
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From this reading He swung his stout body to and fro with jerks like a grasshopper, and in doing so his shirt rose above his belt, but the white napkin under his arm did not move a finger's width.
bent
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From this reading The patched tablecloths which he spread over the tops were coarse and much worn; the dishes carried after him by the two assistants, whose knees bent under the burden, were made of tin, and marred by many a dent.
beyondprepositionUS /bɪˈɑːnd/
on the far side of; further than
From this reading Without heeding their entrance, he continued,--aided by two assistants who were scarcely beyond boyhood,--to set the large and small pine tables which he had placed wherever he could find room.
bodynounUS /body/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He swung his stout body to and fro with jerks like a grasshopper, and in doing so his shirt rose above his belt, but the white napkin under his arm did not move a finger's width.
boyhood
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From this reading Without heeding their entrance, he continued,--aided by two assistants who were scarcely beyond boyhood,--to set the large and small pine tables which he had placed wherever he could find room.
bullet-shaped
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From this reading At first Dietel, the old waiter, whose bullet-shaped head was covered with thick gray hair, also failed to notice them.
burden
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From this reading The patched tablecloths which he spread over the tops were coarse and much worn; the dishes carried after him by the two assistants, whose knees bent under the burden, were made of tin, and marred by many a dent.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He swung his stout body to and fro with jerks like a grasshopper, and in doing so his shirt rose above his belt, but the white napkin under his arm did not move a finger's width.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Without heeding their entrance, he continued,--aided by two assistants who were scarcely beyond boyhood,--to set the large and small pine tables which he had placed wherever he could find room.
carried
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From this reading The patched tablecloths which he spread over the tops were coarse and much worn; the dishes carried after him by the two assistants, whose knees bent under the burden, were made of tin, and marred by many a dent.
coarse
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From this reading The patched tablecloths which he spread over the tops were coarse and much worn; the dishes carried after him by the two assistants, whose knees bent under the burden, were made of tin, and marred by many a dent.
continuednounUS /ˈcontinued/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Without heeding their entrance, he continued,--aided by two assistants who were scarcely beyond boyhood,--to set the large and small pine tables which he had placed wherever he could find room.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Without heeding their entrance, he continued,--aided by two assistants who were scarcely beyond boyhood,--to set the large and small pine tables which he had placed wherever he could find room.
covered
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From this reading At first Dietel, the old waiter, whose bullet-shaped head was covered with thick gray hair, also failed to notice them.
dent
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From this reading The patched tablecloths which he spread over the tops were coarse and much worn; the dishes carried after him by the two assistants, whose knees bent under the burden, were made of tin, and marred by many a dent.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading He swung his stout body to and fro with jerks like a grasshopper, and in doing so his shirt rose above his belt, but the white napkin under his arm did not move a finger's width.
Dietel
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From this reading At first Dietel, the old waiter, whose bullet-shaped head was covered with thick gray hair, also failed to notice them.
dishes
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From this reading The patched tablecloths which he spread over the tops were coarse and much worn; the dishes carried after him by the two assistants, whose knees bent under the burden, were made of tin, and marred by many a dent.
doing
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From this reading He swung his stout body to and fro with jerks like a grasshopper, and in doing so his shirt rose above his belt, but the white napkin under his arm did not move a finger's width.
entrance
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From this reading Without heeding their entrance, he continued,--aided by two assistants who were scarcely beyond boyhood,--to set the large and small pine tables which he had placed wherever he could find room.
failed
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From this reading At first Dietel, the old waiter, whose bullet-shaped head was covered with thick gray hair, also failed to notice them.
find
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From this reading Without heeding their entrance, he continued,--aided by two assistants who were scarcely beyond boyhood,--to set the large and small pine tables which he had placed wherever he could find room.
finger's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He swung his stout body to and fro with jerks like a grasshopper, and in doing so his shirt rose above his belt, but the white napkin under his arm did not move a finger's width.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading At first Dietel, the old waiter, whose bullet-shaped head was covered with thick gray hair, also failed to notice them.
fro
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From this reading He swung his stout body to and fro with jerks like a grasshopper, and in doing so his shirt rose above his belt, but the white napkin under his arm did not move a finger's width.
grasshopper
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From this reading He swung his stout body to and fro with jerks like a grasshopper, and in doing so his shirt rose above his belt, but the white napkin under his arm did not move a finger's width.
gray
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At first Dietel, the old waiter, whose bullet-shaped head was covered with thick gray hair, also failed to notice them.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In small things, as well as great ones, Dietel was very methodical.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Without heeding their entrance, he continued,--aided by two assistants who were scarcely beyond boyhood,--to set the large and small pine tables which he had placed wherever he could find room.
hair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At first Dietel, the old waiter, whose bullet-shaped head was covered with thick gray hair, also failed to notice them.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Without heeding their entrance, he continued,--aided by two assistants who were scarcely beyond boyhood,--to set the large and small pine tables which he had placed wherever he could find room.
head
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From this reading At first Dietel, the old waiter, whose bullet-shaped head was covered with thick gray hair, also failed to notice them.
heeding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Without heeding their entrance, he continued,--aided by two assistants who were scarcely beyond boyhood,--to set the large and small pine tables which he had placed wherever he could find room.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The patched tablecloths which he spread over the tops were coarse and much worn; the dishes carried after him by the two assistants, whose knees bent under the burden, were made of tin, and marred by many a dent.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He swung his stout body to and fro with jerks like a grasshopper, and in doing so his shirt rose above his belt, but the white napkin under his arm did not move a finger's width.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He swung his stout body to and fro with jerks like a grasshopper, and in doing so his shirt rose above his belt, but the white napkin under his arm did not move a finger's width.
jerks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He swung his stout body to and fro with jerks like a grasshopper, and in doing so his shirt rose above his belt, but the white napkin under his arm did not move a finger's width.
knees
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The patched tablecloths which he spread over the tops were coarse and much worn; the dishes carried after him by the two assistants, whose knees bent under the burden, were made of tin, and marred by many a dent.
large
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Without heeding their entrance, he continued,--aided by two assistants who were scarcely beyond boyhood,--to set the large and small pine tables which he had placed wherever he could find room.
like
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From this reading He swung his stout body to and fro with jerks like a grasshopper, and in doing so his shirt rose above his belt, but the white napkin under his arm did not move a finger's width.
made
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From this reading The patched tablecloths which he spread over the tops were coarse and much worn; the dishes carried after him by the two assistants, whose knees bent under the burden, were made of tin, and marred by many a dent.
many
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The patched tablecloths which he spread over the tops were coarse and much worn; the dishes carried after him by the two assistants, whose knees bent under the burden, were made of tin, and marred by many a dent.
marred
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From this reading The patched tablecloths which he spread over the tops were coarse and much worn; the dishes carried after him by the two assistants, whose knees bent under the burden, were made of tin, and marred by many a dent.
methodical
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In small things, as well as great ones, Dietel was very methodical.
move
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From this reading He swung his stout body to and fro with jerks like a grasshopper, and in doing so his shirt rose above his belt, but the white napkin under his arm did not move a finger's width.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The patched tablecloths which he spread over the tops were coarse and much worn; the dishes carried after him by the two assistants, whose knees bent under the burden, were made of tin, and marred by many a dent.
napkin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He swung his stout body to and fro with jerks like a grasshopper, and in doing so his shirt rose above his belt, but the white napkin under his arm did not move a finger's width.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He swung his stout body to and fro with jerks like a grasshopper, and in doing so his shirt rose above his belt, but the white napkin under his arm did not move a finger's width.
notice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At first Dietel, the old waiter, whose bullet-shaped head was covered with thick gray hair, also failed to notice them.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The patched tablecloths which he spread over the tops were coarse and much worn; the dishes carried after him by the two assistants, whose knees bent under the burden, were made of tin, and marred by many a dent.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At first Dietel, the old waiter, whose bullet-shaped head was covered with thick gray hair, also failed to notice them.
ones
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From this reading In small things, as well as great ones, Dietel was very methodical.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The patched tablecloths which he spread over the tops were coarse and much worn; the dishes carried after him by the two assistants, whose knees bent under the burden, were made of tin, and marred by many a dent.
patched
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From this reading The patched tablecloths which he spread over the tops were coarse and much worn; the dishes carried after him by the two assistants, whose knees bent under the burden, were made of tin, and marred by many a dent.
pine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Without heeding their entrance, he continued,--aided by two assistants who were scarcely beyond boyhood,--to set the large and small pine tables which he had placed wherever he could find room.
placed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Without heeding their entrance, he continued,--aided by two assistants who were scarcely beyond boyhood,--to set the large and small pine tables which he had placed wherever he could find room.
room
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From this reading Without heeding their entrance, he continued,--aided by two assistants who were scarcely beyond boyhood,--to set the large and small pine tables which he had placed wherever he could find room.
rose
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From this reading He swung his stout body to and fro with jerks like a grasshopper, and in doing so his shirt rose above his belt, but the white napkin under his arm did not move a finger's width.
scarcely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Without heeding their entrance, he continued,--aided by two assistants who were scarcely beyond boyhood,--to set the large and small pine tables which he had placed wherever he could find room.
set
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Without heeding their entrance, he continued,--aided by two assistants who were scarcely beyond boyhood,--to set the large and small pine tables which he had placed wherever he could find room.
shirt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He swung his stout body to and fro with jerks like a grasshopper, and in doing so his shirt rose above his belt, but the white napkin under his arm did not move a finger's width.
small
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From this reading Without heeding their entrance, he continued,--aided by two assistants who were scarcely beyond boyhood,--to set the large and small pine tables which he had placed wherever he could find room.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading He swung his stout body to and fro with jerks like a grasshopper, and in doing so his shirt rose above his belt, but the white napkin under his arm did not move a finger's width.
spread
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The patched tablecloths which he spread over the tops were coarse and much worn; the dishes carried after him by the two assistants, whose knees bent under the burden, were made of tin, and marred by many a dent.
stout
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He swung his stout body to and fro with jerks like a grasshopper, and in doing so his shirt rose above his belt, but the white napkin under his arm did not move a finger's width.
swung
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He swung his stout body to and fro with jerks like a grasshopper, and in doing so his shirt rose above his belt, but the white napkin under his arm did not move a finger's width.
tablecloths
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The patched tablecloths which he spread over the tops were coarse and much worn; the dishes carried after him by the two assistants, whose knees bent under the burden, were made of tin, and marred by many a dent.
tables
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Without heeding their entrance, he continued,--aided by two assistants who were scarcely beyond boyhood,--to set the large and small pine tables which he had placed wherever he could find room.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading At first Dietel, the old waiter, whose bullet-shaped head was covered with thick gray hair, also failed to notice them.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Without heeding their entrance, he continued,--aided by two assistants who were scarcely beyond boyhood,--to set the large and small pine tables which he had placed wherever he could find room.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading At first Dietel, the old waiter, whose bullet-shaped head was covered with thick gray hair, also failed to notice them.
thick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At first Dietel, the old waiter, whose bullet-shaped head was covered with thick gray hair, also failed to notice them.
things
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In small things, as well as great ones, Dietel was very methodical.
tin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The patched tablecloths which he spread over the tops were coarse and much worn; the dishes carried after him by the two assistants, whose knees bent under the burden, were made of tin, and marred by many a dent.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading At first Dietel, the old waiter, whose bullet-shaped head was covered with thick gray hair, also failed to notice them.
tops
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The patched tablecloths which he spread over the tops were coarse and much worn; the dishes carried after him by the two assistants, whose knees bent under the burden, were made of tin, and marred by many a dent.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Without heeding their entrance, he continued,--aided by two assistants who were scarcely beyond boyhood,--to set the large and small pine tables which he had placed wherever he could find room.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading The patched tablecloths which he spread over the tops were coarse and much worn; the dishes carried after him by the two assistants, whose knees bent under the burden, were made of tin, and marred by many a dent.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In small things, as well as great ones, Dietel was very methodical.
waiter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At first Dietel, the old waiter, whose bullet-shaped head was covered with thick gray hair, also failed to notice them.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading At first Dietel, the old waiter, whose bullet-shaped head was covered with thick gray hair, also failed to notice them.
well
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In small things, as well as great ones, Dietel was very methodical.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Without heeding their entrance, he continued,--aided by two assistants who were scarcely beyond boyhood,--to set the large and small pine tables which he had placed wherever he could find room.
whereverconjunctionUS /weˈrevər/
in or to any place at all
From this reading Without heeding their entrance, he continued,--aided by two assistants who were scarcely beyond boyhood,--to set the large and small pine tables which he had placed wherever he could find room.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Without heeding their entrance, he continued,--aided by two assistants who were scarcely beyond boyhood,--to set the large and small pine tables which he had placed wherever he could find room.
white
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He swung his stout body to and fro with jerks like a grasshopper, and in doing so his shirt rose above his belt, but the white napkin under his arm did not move a finger's width.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading Without heeding their entrance, he continued,--aided by two assistants who were scarcely beyond boyhood,--to set the large and small pine tables which he had placed wherever he could find room.
whosedeterminerUS /huːz/
belonging to which person
From this reading At first Dietel, the old waiter, whose bullet-shaped head was covered with thick gray hair, also failed to notice them.
width
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He swung his stout body to and fro with jerks like a grasshopper, and in doing so his shirt rose above his belt, but the white napkin under his arm did not move a finger's width.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading At first Dietel, the old waiter, whose bullet-shaped head was covered with thick gray hair, also failed to notice them.
WithoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Without heeding their entrance, he continued,--aided by two assistants who were scarcely beyond boyhood,--to set the large and small pine tables which he had placed wherever he could find room.
wornverbUS /wɔːrn/
Damaged or thinned by continuous use.
From this reading The patched tablecloths which he spread over the tops were coarse and much worn; the dishes carried after him by the two assistants, whose knees bent under the burden, were made of tin, and marred by many a dent.