Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
Storm in a Teacup
Storm in a Teacup

Chapter VIII

Cover illustration for Storm in a Teacup
Context Illustration Reading 1/37 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
ASSAULT AND BATTERY In the engine house a small, hump-backed man sat picking over the masses of wet rag brought to him by Henry Barefoot from the boilers.
For, despite the sorters and the magnet, enemies to paper still lurked in the sodden rag, and the little man ran the sloppy stuff through his fingers, extracting from time to time fragments of rubber, whalebone, pearl, and other substances.
The engine house was a lofty chamber on two floors, with windows that faced the west.
Here, Ned Dingle reigned, and half a dozen men worked under him.
Much happened to the rag before it came to Ned, for after its final picking, it was washed again, and broken before the beater turned it into pulp.
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Storm in a Teacup

Chapter VIII

Reading 1/37 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
ASSAULT AND BATTERY In the engine house a small, hump-backed man sat picking over the masses of wet rag brought to him by Henry Barefoot from the boilers.
Line 2
For, despite the sorters and the magnet, enemies to paper still lurked in the sodden rag, and the little man ran the sloppy stuff through his fingers, extracting from time to time fragments of rubber, whalebone, pearl, and other substances.
Line 3
The engine house was a lofty chamber on two floors, with windows that faced the west.
Line 4
Here, Ned Dingle reigned, and half a dozen men worked under him.
Line 5
Much happened to the rag before it came to Ned, for after its final picking, it was washed again, and broken before the beater turned it into pulp.

Learner Dictionary

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

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “Much happened to the rag before it came to Ned, for after its final picking, it was washed again, and broken before the beater turned it into pulp.”

Again noun US /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Much happened to the rag before it came to Ned, for after its final picking, it was washed again, and broken before the beater turned it into pulp.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “Much happened to the rag before it came to Ned, for after its final picking, it was washed again, and broken before the beater turned it into pulp.”

Broken noun US /broken/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Much happened to the rag before it came to Ned, for after its final picking, it was washed again, and broken before the beater turned it into pulp.”

Brought noun US /ˈbrought/

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

From this reading “ASSAULT AND BATTERY In the engine house a small, hump-backed man sat picking over the masses of wet rag brought to him by Henry Barefoot from the boilers.”

Despite preposition US /dɪˈspaɪt/

although something is true; in spite of

From this reading “For, despite the sorters and the magnet, enemies to paper still lurked in the sodden rag, and the little man ran the sloppy stuff through his fingers, extracting from time to time fragments of rubber, whalebone, pearl, and other substances.”

Half noun US /half/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Here, Ned Dingle reigned, and half a dozen men worked under him.”

Here noun US /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Here, Ned Dingle reigned, and half a dozen men worked under him.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “For, despite the sorters and the magnet, enemies to paper still lurked in the sodden rag, and the little man ran the sloppy stuff through his fingers, extracting from time to time fragments of rubber, whalebone, pearl, and other substances.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “ASSAULT AND BATTERY In the engine house a small, hump-backed man sat picking over the masses of wet rag brought to him by Henry Barefoot from the boilers.”

Pearl noun US /pɜːrl/

a smooth round object formed inside a shell and valued as a jewel

From this reading “For, despite the sorters and the magnet, enemies to paper still lurked in the sodden rag, and the little man ran the sloppy stuff through his fingers, extracting from time to time fragments of rubber, whalebone, pearl, and other substances.”

Still noun US /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “For, despite the sorters and the magnet, enemies to paper still lurked in the sodden rag, and the little man ran the sloppy stuff through his fingers, extracting from time to time fragments of rubber, whalebone, pearl, and other substances.”

Through noun US /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading “For, despite the sorters and the magnet, enemies to paper still lurked in the sodden rag, and the little man ran the sloppy stuff through his fingers, extracting from time to time fragments of rubber, whalebone, pearl, and other substances.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “For, despite the sorters and the magnet, enemies to paper still lurked in the sodden rag, and the little man ran the sloppy stuff through his fingers, extracting from time to time fragments of rubber, whalebone, pearl, and other substances.”

Under preposition US /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading “Here, Ned Dingle reigned, and half a dozen men worked under him.”

All words in this reading · 85

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 ASSAULT AND BATTERY In the engine house a small, hump-backed man sat picking over the masses of wet rag brought to him by Henry Barefoot from the boilers.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading Much happened to the rag before it came to Ned, for after its final picking, it was washed again, and broken before the beater turned it into pulp.

againnounUS /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Much happened to the rag before it came to Ned, for after its final picking, it was washed again, and broken before the beater turned it into pulp.

ANDconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading ASSAULT AND BATTERY In the engine house a small, hump-backed man sat picking over the masses of wet rag brought to him by Henry Barefoot from the boilers.

ASSAULT

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

From this reading ASSAULT AND BATTERY In the engine house a small, hump-backed man sat picking over the masses of wet rag brought to him by Henry Barefoot from the boilers.

Barefoot

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

From this reading ASSAULT AND BATTERY In the engine house a small, hump-backed man sat picking over the masses of wet rag brought to him by Henry Barefoot from the boilers.

BATTERY

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

From this reading ASSAULT AND BATTERY In the engine house a small, hump-backed man sat picking over the masses of wet rag brought to him by Henry Barefoot from the boilers.

beater

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

From this reading Much happened to the rag before it came to Ned, for after its final picking, it was washed again, and broken before the beater turned it into pulp.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Much happened to the rag before it came to Ned, for after its final picking, it was washed again, and broken before the beater turned it into pulp.

boilers

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

From this reading ASSAULT AND BATTERY In the engine house a small, hump-backed man sat picking over the masses of wet rag brought to him by Henry Barefoot from the boilers.

brokennounUS /broken/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Much happened to the rag before it came to Ned, for after its final picking, it was washed again, and broken before the beater turned it into pulp.

broughtnounUS /ˈbrought/

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

From this reading ASSAULT AND BATTERY In the engine house a small, hump-backed man sat picking over the masses of wet rag brought to him by Henry Barefoot from the boilers.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading ASSAULT AND BATTERY In the engine house a small, hump-backed man sat picking over the masses of wet rag brought to him by Henry Barefoot from the boilers.

came

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

From this reading Much happened to the rag before it came to Ned, for after its final picking, it was washed again, and broken before the beater turned it into pulp.

chamber

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

From this reading The engine house was a lofty chamber on two floors, with windows that faced the west.

despiteprepositionUS /dɪˈspaɪt/

although something is true; in spite of

From this reading For, despite the sorters and the magnet, enemies to paper still lurked in the sodden rag, and the little man ran the sloppy stuff through his fingers, extracting from time to time fragments of rubber, whalebone, pearl, and other substances.

Dingle

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

From this reading Here, Ned Dingle reigned, and half a dozen men worked under him.

dozen

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

From this reading Here, Ned Dingle reigned, and half a dozen men worked under him.

enemies

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

From this reading For, despite the sorters and the magnet, enemies to paper still lurked in the sodden rag, and the little man ran the sloppy stuff through his fingers, extracting from time to time fragments of rubber, whalebone, pearl, and other substances.

engine

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

From this reading ASSAULT AND BATTERY In the engine house a small, hump-backed man sat picking over the masses of wet rag brought to him by Henry Barefoot from the boilers.

extracting

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

From this reading For, despite the sorters and the magnet, enemies to paper still lurked in the sodden rag, and the little man ran the sloppy stuff through his fingers, extracting from time to time fragments of rubber, whalebone, pearl, and other substances.

faced

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

From this reading The engine house was a lofty chamber on two floors, with windows that faced the west.

final

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

From this reading Much happened to the rag before it came to Ned, for after its final picking, it was washed again, and broken before the beater turned it into pulp.

fingers

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

From this reading For, despite the sorters and the magnet, enemies to paper still lurked in the sodden rag, and the little man ran the sloppy stuff through his fingers, extracting from time to time fragments of rubber, whalebone, pearl, and other substances.

floors

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

From this reading The engine house was a lofty chamber on two floors, with windows that faced the west.

ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading For, despite the sorters and the magnet, enemies to paper still lurked in the sodden rag, and the little man ran the sloppy stuff through his fingers, extracting from time to time fragments of rubber, whalebone, pearl, and other substances.

fragments

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

From this reading For, despite the sorters and the magnet, enemies to paper still lurked in the sodden rag, and the little man ran the sloppy stuff through his fingers, extracting from time to time fragments of rubber, whalebone, pearl, and other substances.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading ASSAULT AND BATTERY In the engine house a small, hump-backed man sat picking over the masses of wet rag brought to him by Henry Barefoot from the boilers.

halfnounUS /half/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Here, Ned Dingle reigned, and half a dozen men worked under him.

happened

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

From this reading Much happened to the rag before it came to Ned, for after its final picking, it was washed again, and broken before the beater turned it into pulp.

Henry

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

From this reading ASSAULT AND BATTERY In the engine house a small, hump-backed man sat picking over the masses of wet rag brought to him by Henry Barefoot from the boilers.

HerenounUS /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Here, Ned Dingle reigned, and half a dozen men worked under him.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading ASSAULT AND BATTERY In the engine house a small, hump-backed man sat picking over the masses of wet rag brought to him by Henry Barefoot from the boilers.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading For, despite the sorters and the magnet, enemies to paper still lurked in the sodden rag, and the little man ran the sloppy stuff through his fingers, extracting from time to time fragments of rubber, whalebone, pearl, and other substances.

house

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

From this reading ASSAULT AND BATTERY In the engine house a small, hump-backed man sat picking over the masses of wet rag brought to him by Henry Barefoot from the boilers.

hump-backed

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

From this reading ASSAULT AND BATTERY In the engine house a small, hump-backed man sat picking over the masses of wet rag brought to him by Henry Barefoot from the boilers.

InprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading ASSAULT AND BATTERY In the engine house a small, hump-backed man sat picking over the masses of wet rag brought to him by Henry Barefoot from the boilers.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Much happened to the rag before it came to Ned, for after its final picking, it was washed again, and broken before the beater turned it into pulp.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Much happened to the rag before it came to Ned, for after its final picking, it was washed again, and broken before the beater turned it into pulp.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Much happened to the rag before it came to Ned, for after its final picking, it was washed again, and broken before the beater turned it into pulp.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading For, despite the sorters and the magnet, enemies to paper still lurked in the sodden rag, and the little man ran the sloppy stuff through his fingers, extracting from time to time fragments of rubber, whalebone, pearl, and other substances.

lofty

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

From this reading The engine house was a lofty chamber on two floors, with windows that faced the west.

lurked

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

From this reading For, despite the sorters and the magnet, enemies to paper still lurked in the sodden rag, and the little man ran the sloppy stuff through his fingers, extracting from time to time fragments of rubber, whalebone, pearl, and other substances.

magnet

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

From this reading For, despite the sorters and the magnet, enemies to paper still lurked in the sodden rag, and the little man ran the sloppy stuff through his fingers, extracting from time to time fragments of rubber, whalebone, pearl, and other substances.

man

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

From this reading ASSAULT AND BATTERY In the engine house a small, hump-backed man sat picking over the masses of wet rag brought to him by Henry Barefoot from the boilers.

masses

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

From this reading ASSAULT AND BATTERY In the engine house a small, hump-backed man sat picking over the masses of wet rag brought to him by Henry Barefoot from the boilers.

men

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

From this reading Here, Ned Dingle reigned, and half a dozen men worked under him.

Much

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

From this reading Much happened to the rag before it came to Ned, for after its final picking, it was washed again, and broken before the beater turned it into pulp.

Ned

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

From this reading Here, Ned Dingle reigned, and half a dozen men worked under him.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading ASSAULT AND BATTERY In the engine house a small, hump-backed man sat picking over the masses of wet rag brought to him by Henry Barefoot from the boilers.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The engine house was a lofty chamber on two floors, with windows that faced the west.

other

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

From this reading For, despite the sorters and the magnet, enemies to paper still lurked in the sodden rag, and the little man ran the sloppy stuff through his fingers, extracting from time to time fragments of rubber, whalebone, pearl, and other substances.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading ASSAULT AND BATTERY In the engine house a small, hump-backed man sat picking over the masses of wet rag brought to him by Henry Barefoot from the boilers.

paper

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

From this reading For, despite the sorters and the magnet, enemies to paper still lurked in the sodden rag, and the little man ran the sloppy stuff through his fingers, extracting from time to time fragments of rubber, whalebone, pearl, and other substances.

pearlnounUS /pɜːrl/

a smooth round object formed inside a shell and valued as a jewel

From this reading For, despite the sorters and the magnet, enemies to paper still lurked in the sodden rag, and the little man ran the sloppy stuff through his fingers, extracting from time to time fragments of rubber, whalebone, pearl, and other substances.

picking

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

From this reading ASSAULT AND BATTERY In the engine house a small, hump-backed man sat picking over the masses of wet rag brought to him by Henry Barefoot from the boilers.

pulp

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

From this reading Much happened to the rag before it came to Ned, for after its final picking, it was washed again, and broken before the beater turned it into pulp.

rag

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

From this reading ASSAULT AND BATTERY In the engine house a small, hump-backed man sat picking over the masses of wet rag brought to him by Henry Barefoot from the boilers.

ran

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

From this reading For, despite the sorters and the magnet, enemies to paper still lurked in the sodden rag, and the little man ran the sloppy stuff through his fingers, extracting from time to time fragments of rubber, whalebone, pearl, and other substances.

reigned

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

From this reading Here, Ned Dingle reigned, and half a dozen men worked under him.

rubber

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

From this reading For, despite the sorters and the magnet, enemies to paper still lurked in the sodden rag, and the little man ran the sloppy stuff through his fingers, extracting from time to time fragments of rubber, whalebone, pearl, and other substances.

sat

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

From this reading ASSAULT AND BATTERY In the engine house a small, hump-backed man sat picking over the masses of wet rag brought to him by Henry Barefoot from the boilers.

sloppy

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

From this reading For, despite the sorters and the magnet, enemies to paper still lurked in the sodden rag, and the little man ran the sloppy stuff through his fingers, extracting from time to time fragments of rubber, whalebone, pearl, and other substances.

small

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

From this reading ASSAULT AND BATTERY In the engine house a small, hump-backed man sat picking over the masses of wet rag brought to him by Henry Barefoot from the boilers.

sodden

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

From this reading For, despite the sorters and the magnet, enemies to paper still lurked in the sodden rag, and the little man ran the sloppy stuff through his fingers, extracting from time to time fragments of rubber, whalebone, pearl, and other substances.

sorters

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

From this reading For, despite the sorters and the magnet, enemies to paper still lurked in the sodden rag, and the little man ran the sloppy stuff through his fingers, extracting from time to time fragments of rubber, whalebone, pearl, and other substances.

stillnounUS /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading For, despite the sorters and the magnet, enemies to paper still lurked in the sodden rag, and the little man ran the sloppy stuff through his fingers, extracting from time to time fragments of rubber, whalebone, pearl, and other substances.

stuff

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

From this reading For, despite the sorters and the magnet, enemies to paper still lurked in the sodden rag, and the little man ran the sloppy stuff through his fingers, extracting from time to time fragments of rubber, whalebone, pearl, and other substances.

substances

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

From this reading For, despite the sorters and the magnet, enemies to paper still lurked in the sodden rag, and the little man ran the sloppy stuff through his fingers, extracting from time to time fragments of rubber, whalebone, pearl, and other substances.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The engine house was a lofty chamber on two floors, with windows that faced the west.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading ASSAULT AND BATTERY In the engine house a small, hump-backed man sat picking over the masses of wet rag brought to him by Henry Barefoot from the boilers.

throughnounUS /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading For, despite the sorters and the magnet, enemies to paper still lurked in the sodden rag, and the little man ran the sloppy stuff through his fingers, extracting from time to time fragments of rubber, whalebone, pearl, and other substances.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading For, despite the sorters and the magnet, enemies to paper still lurked in the sodden rag, and the little man ran the sloppy stuff through his fingers, extracting from time to time fragments of rubber, whalebone, pearl, and other substances.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading ASSAULT AND BATTERY In the engine house a small, hump-backed man sat picking over the masses of wet rag brought to him by Henry Barefoot from the boilers.

turned

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

From this reading Much happened to the rag before it came to Ned, for after its final picking, it was washed again, and broken before the beater turned it into pulp.

two

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

From this reading The engine house was a lofty chamber on two floors, with windows that faced the west.

underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading Here, Ned Dingle reigned, and half a dozen men worked under him.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The engine house was a lofty chamber on two floors, with windows that faced the west.

washed

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

From this reading Much happened to the rag before it came to Ned, for after its final picking, it was washed again, and broken before the beater turned it into pulp.

west

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

From this reading The engine house was a lofty chamber on two floors, with windows that faced the west.

wet

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

From this reading ASSAULT AND BATTERY In the engine house a small, hump-backed man sat picking over the masses of wet rag brought to him by Henry Barefoot from the boilers.

whalebone

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

From this reading For, despite the sorters and the magnet, enemies to paper still lurked in the sodden rag, and the little man ran the sloppy stuff through his fingers, extracting from time to time fragments of rubber, whalebone, pearl, and other substances.

windows

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

From this reading The engine house was a lofty chamber on two floors, with windows that faced the west.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The engine house was a lofty chamber on two floors, with windows that faced the west.

worked

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

From this reading Here, Ned Dingle reigned, and half a dozen men worked under him.