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The Bishop and Other Stories
The Bishop and Other Stories

Chapter VIII · Chapter 8

Chapter 8 of The Bishop and Other Stories is here in full — 420 sentences across 84 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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Context Illustration Reading 1/84 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Apart from the two persons described above and the coachman Deniska, who lashed the pair of frisky bay horses, there was another figure in the chaise--a boy of nine with a sunburnt face, wet with tears.
This was Yegorushka, Kuzmitchov's nephew.
With the sanction of his uncle and the blessing of Father Christopher, he was now on his way to go to school.
His mother, Olga Ivanovna, the widow of a collegiate secretary, and Kuzmitchov's sister, who was fond of educated people and refined society, had entreated her brother to take Yegorushka with him when he went to sell wool and to put him to school; and now the boy was sitting on the box beside the coachman Deniska, holding on to his elbow to keep from falling off, and dancing up and down like a kettle on the hob, with no notion where he was going or what he was going for.
The rapid motion through the air blew out his red shirt like a balloon on his back and made his new hat with a peacock's feather in it, like a coachman's, keep slipping on to the back of his head.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Bishop and Other Stories

Chapter VIII · Chapter 8

Chapter 8 of The Bishop and Other Stories is here in full — 420 sentences across 84 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/84 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Apart from the two persons described above and the coachman Deniska, who lashed the pair of frisky bay horses, there was another figure in the chaise--a boy of nine with a sunburnt face, wet with tears.
Line 2
This was Yegorushka, Kuzmitchov's nephew.
Line 3
With the sanction of his uncle and the blessing of Father Christopher, he was now on his way to go to school.
/wɪð ðə ˈsæŋkʃən ʌv hɪz ˈʌŋkəl ənd ðə ˈblesɪŋ ʌv ˈfɑːðər ˈkrɪstəfər hiː wɑːz naʊ ɑːn hɪz weɪ tuː ɡoʊ tuː skuːl/
Line 4
His mother, Olga Ivanovna, the widow of a collegiate secretary, and Kuzmitchov's sister, who was fond of educated people and refined society, had entreated her brother to take Yegorushka with him when he went to sell wool and to put him to school; and now the boy was sitting on the box beside the coachman Deniska, holding on to his elbow to keep from falling off, and dancing up and down like a kettle on the hob, with no notion where he was going or what he was going for.
Line 5
The rapid motion through the air blew out his red shirt like a balloon on his back and made his new hat with a peacock's feather in it, like a coachman's, keep slipping on to the back of his head.

Learner Dictionary

These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.

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

balloon noun US /bəˈluːn/

large tough nonrigid bag filled with gas or heated air

From this reading “The rapid motion through the air blew out his red shirt like a balloon on his back and made his new hat with a peacock's feather in it, like a coachman's, keep slipping on to the back of his head.”

chaise noun US /ʃeɪz/

a long chair; for reclining

From this reading “Apart from the two persons described above and the coachman Deniska, who lashed the pair of frisky bay horses, there was another figure in the chaise--a boy of nine with a sunburnt face, wet with tears.”

collegiate adjective US /kəˈliːdʒɪt/

of or resembling or typical of a college or college students

From this reading “His mother, Olga Ivanovna, the widow of a collegiate secretary, and Kuzmitchov's sister, who was fond of educated people and refined society, had entreated her brother to take Yegorushka with him when he went to sell wool and to put him to school; and now the boy was sitting on the box beside the coachman Deniska, holding on to his elbow to keep from falling off, and dancing up and down like a kettle on the hob, with no notion where he was going or what he was going for.”

frisky adjective US /ˈfrɪski/

playful like a lively kitten

From this reading “Apart from the two persons described above and the coachman Deniska, who lashed the pair of frisky bay horses, there was another figure in the chaise--a boy of nine with a sunburnt face, wet with tears.”

hob noun US /hɑːb/

(folklore) a small grotesque supernatural creature that makes trouble for human beings

From this reading “His mother, Olga Ivanovna, the widow of a collegiate secretary, and Kuzmitchov's sister, who was fond of educated people and refined society, had entreated her brother to take Yegorushka with him when he went to sell wool and to put him to school; and now the boy was sitting on the box beside the coachman Deniska, holding on to his elbow to keep from falling off, and dancing up and down like a kettle on the hob, with no notion where he was going or what he was going for.”

kettle noun US /ˈketəl/

a metal pot for stewing or boiling; usually has a lid

From this reading “His mother, Olga Ivanovna, the widow of a collegiate secretary, and Kuzmitchov's sister, who was fond of educated people and refined society, had entreated her brother to take Yegorushka with him when he went to sell wool and to put him to school; and now the boy was sitting on the box beside the coachman Deniska, holding on to his elbow to keep from falling off, and dancing up and down like a kettle on the hob, with no notion where he was going or what he was going for.”

lashed verb US /læʃt/

past form of “lash” — beat severely with a whip or rod

From this reading “Apart from the two persons described above and the coachman Deniska, who lashed the pair of frisky bay horses, there was another figure in the chaise--a boy of nine with a sunburnt face, wet with tears.”

sanction noun US /ˈsæŋkʃən/

formal and explicit approval

From this reading “With the sanction of his uncle and the blessing of Father Christopher, he was now on his way to go to school.”

All words in this reading · 111

Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.

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 Apart from the two persons described above and the coachman Deniska, who lashed the pair of frisky bay horses, there was another figure in the chaise--a boy of nine with a sunburnt face, wet with tears.

aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/

higher than, or over, something

From this reading Apart from the two persons described above and the coachman Deniska, who lashed the pair of frisky bay horses, there was another figure in the chaise--a boy of nine with a sunburnt face, wet with tears.

airnounUS /er/

a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of

From this reading The rapid motion through the air blew out his red shirt like a balloon on his back and made his new hat with a peacock's feather in it, like a coachman's, keep slipping on to the back of his head.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Apart from the two persons described above and the coachman Deniska, who lashed the pair of frisky bay horses, there was another figure in the chaise--a boy of nine with a sunburnt face, wet with tears.

anotherdeterminerUS /əˈnʌðər/

one more of the same kind, or a different one

From this reading Apart from the two persons described above and the coachman Deniska, who lashed the pair of frisky bay horses, there was another figure in the chaise--a boy of nine with a sunburnt face, wet with tears.

ApartadverbUS /əˈpɑːrt/

separated or at a distance in place or position or time

From this reading Apart from the two persons described above and the coachman Deniska, who lashed the pair of frisky bay horses, there was another figure in the chaise--a boy of nine with a sunburnt face, wet with tears.

backadverbUS /bæk/

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading The rapid motion through the air blew out his red shirt like a balloon on his back and made his new hat with a peacock's feather in it, like a coachman's, keep slipping on to the back of his head.

balloonnounUS /bəˈluːn/

large tough nonrigid bag filled with gas or heated air

From this reading The rapid motion through the air blew out his red shirt like a balloon on his back and made his new hat with a peacock's feather in it, like a coachman's, keep slipping on to the back of his head.

baynounUS /beɪ/

an indentation of a shoreline larger than a cove but smaller than a gulf

From this reading Apart from the two persons described above and the coachman Deniska, who lashed the pair of frisky bay horses, there was another figure in the chaise--a boy of nine with a sunburnt face, wet with tears.

besideprepositionUS /bɪˈsaɪd/

next to; at the side of

From this reading His mother, Olga Ivanovna, the widow of a collegiate secretary, and Kuzmitchov's sister, who was fond of educated people and refined society, had entreated her brother to take Yegorushka with him when he went to sell wool and to put him to school; and now the boy was sitting on the box beside the coachman Deniska, holding on to his elbow to keep from falling off, and dancing up and down like a kettle on the hob, with no notion where he was going or what he was going for.

blessingnounUS /ˈblesɪŋ/

the formal act of approving

From this reading With the sanction of his uncle and the blessing of Father Christopher, he was now on his way to go to school.

blewverbUS /bluː/

inflected form of “blow” — exhale hard

From this reading The rapid motion through the air blew out his red shirt like a balloon on his back and made his new hat with a peacock's feather in it, like a coachman's, keep slipping on to the back of his head.

boxnounUS /bɑːks/

a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid

From this reading His mother, Olga Ivanovna, the widow of a collegiate secretary, and Kuzmitchov's sister, who was fond of educated people and refined society, had entreated her brother to take Yegorushka with him when he went to sell wool and to put him to school; and now the boy was sitting on the box beside the coachman Deniska, holding on to his elbow to keep from falling off, and dancing up and down like a kettle on the hob, with no notion where he was going or what he was going for.

boynounUS /bɔɪ/

a youthful male person

From this reading Apart from the two persons described above and the coachman Deniska, who lashed the pair of frisky bay horses, there was another figure in the chaise--a boy of nine with a sunburnt face, wet with tears.

brothernounUS /ˈbrʌðər/

a male with the same parents as someone else

From this reading His mother, Olga Ivanovna, the widow of a collegiate secretary, and Kuzmitchov's sister, who was fond of educated people and refined society, had entreated her brother to take Yegorushka with him when he went to sell wool and to put him to school; and now the boy was sitting on the box beside the coachman Deniska, holding on to his elbow to keep from falling off, and dancing up and down like a kettle on the hob, with no notion where he was going or what he was going for.

chaisenounUS /ʃeɪz/

a long chair; for reclining

From this reading Apart from the two persons described above and the coachman Deniska, who lashed the pair of frisky bay horses, there was another figure in the chaise--a boy of nine with a sunburnt face, wet with tears.

ChristophernounUS /ˈkrɪstəfər/

Christian martyr and patron saint of travellers (3rd century)

From this reading With the sanction of his uncle and the blessing of Father Christopher, he was now on his way to go to school.

coachmannounUS /ˈkoʊtʃmən/

a man who drives a coach (or carriage)

From this reading Apart from the two persons described above and the coachman Deniska, who lashed the pair of frisky bay horses, there was another figure in the chaise--a boy of nine with a sunburnt face, wet with tears.

coachman's

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

From this reading The rapid motion through the air blew out his red shirt like a balloon on his back and made his new hat with a peacock's feather in it, like a coachman's, keep slipping on to the back of his head.

collegiateadjectiveUS /kəˈliːdʒɪt/

of or resembling or typical of a college or college students

From this reading His mother, Olga Ivanovna, the widow of a collegiate secretary, and Kuzmitchov's sister, who was fond of educated people and refined society, had entreated her brother to take Yegorushka with him when he went to sell wool and to put him to school; and now the boy was sitting on the box beside the coachman Deniska, holding on to his elbow to keep from falling off, and dancing up and down like a kettle on the hob, with no notion where he was going or what he was going for.

dancingnounUS /ˈdænsɪŋ/

taking a series of rhythmical steps (and movements) in time to music

From this reading His mother, Olga Ivanovna, the widow of a collegiate secretary, and Kuzmitchov's sister, who was fond of educated people and refined society, had entreated her brother to take Yegorushka with him when he went to sell wool and to put him to school; and now the boy was sitting on the box beside the coachman Deniska, holding on to his elbow to keep from falling off, and dancing up and down like a kettle on the hob, with no notion where he was going or what he was going for.

Deniska

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

From this reading Apart from the two persons described above and the coachman Deniska, who lashed the pair of frisky bay horses, there was another figure in the chaise--a boy of nine with a sunburnt face, wet with tears.

describedadjectiveUS /dɪˈskraɪbd/

represented in words especially with sharpness and detail

From this reading Apart from the two persons described above and the coachman Deniska, who lashed the pair of frisky bay horses, there was another figure in the chaise--a boy of nine with a sunburnt face, wet with tears.

downadjectiveUS /daʊn/

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading His mother, Olga Ivanovna, the widow of a collegiate secretary, and Kuzmitchov's sister, who was fond of educated people and refined society, had entreated her brother to take Yegorushka with him when he went to sell wool and to put him to school; and now the boy was sitting on the box beside the coachman Deniska, holding on to his elbow to keep from falling off, and dancing up and down like a kettle on the hob, with no notion where he was going or what he was going for.

educatedadjectiveUS /ˈedʒəkeɪtɪd/

possessing an education (especially having more than average knowledge)

From this reading His mother, Olga Ivanovna, the widow of a collegiate secretary, and Kuzmitchov's sister, who was fond of educated people and refined society, had entreated her brother to take Yegorushka with him when he went to sell wool and to put him to school; and now the boy was sitting on the box beside the coachman Deniska, holding on to his elbow to keep from falling off, and dancing up and down like a kettle on the hob, with no notion where he was going or what he was going for.

elbownounUS /ˈelboʊ/

hinge joint between the forearm and upper arm and the corresponding joint in the forelimb of a quadruped

From this reading His mother, Olga Ivanovna, the widow of a collegiate secretary, and Kuzmitchov's sister, who was fond of educated people and refined society, had entreated her brother to take Yegorushka with him when he went to sell wool and to put him to school; and now the boy was sitting on the box beside the coachman Deniska, holding on to his elbow to keep from falling off, and dancing up and down like a kettle on the hob, with no notion where he was going or what he was going for.

entreated

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

From this reading His mother, Olga Ivanovna, the widow of a collegiate secretary, and Kuzmitchov's sister, who was fond of educated people and refined society, had entreated her brother to take Yegorushka with him when he went to sell wool and to put him to school; and now the boy was sitting on the box beside the coachman Deniska, holding on to his elbow to keep from falling off, and dancing up and down like a kettle on the hob, with no notion where he was going or what he was going for.

facenounUS /feɪs/

the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading Apart from the two persons described above and the coachman Deniska, who lashed the pair of frisky bay horses, there was another figure in the chaise--a boy of nine with a sunburnt face, wet with tears.

fallingadjectiveUS /ˈfɑːlɪŋ/

decreasing in amount or degree

From this reading His mother, Olga Ivanovna, the widow of a collegiate secretary, and Kuzmitchov's sister, who was fond of educated people and refined society, had entreated her brother to take Yegorushka with him when he went to sell wool and to put him to school; and now the boy was sitting on the box beside the coachman Deniska, holding on to his elbow to keep from falling off, and dancing up and down like a kettle on the hob, with no notion where he was going or what he was going for.

FathernounUS /ˈfɑːðər/

a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading With the sanction of his uncle and the blessing of Father Christopher, he was now on his way to go to school.

featherverbUS /ˈfeðər/

join tongue and groove, in carpentry

From this reading The rapid motion through the air blew out his red shirt like a balloon on his back and made his new hat with a peacock's feather in it, like a coachman's, keep slipping on to the back of his head.

figurenounUS /ˈfɪɡjər/

a diagram or picture illustrating textual material

From this reading Apart from the two persons described above and the coachman Deniska, who lashed the pair of frisky bay horses, there was another figure in the chaise--a boy of nine with a sunburnt face, wet with tears.

fondadjectiveUS /fɑːnd/

having or displaying warmth or affection

From this reading His mother, Olga Ivanovna, the widow of a collegiate secretary, and Kuzmitchov's sister, who was fond of educated people and refined society, had entreated her brother to take Yegorushka with him when he went to sell wool and to put him to school; and now the boy was sitting on the box beside the coachman Deniska, holding on to his elbow to keep from falling off, and dancing up and down like a kettle on the hob, with no notion where he was going or what he was going for.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading His mother, Olga Ivanovna, the widow of a collegiate secretary, and Kuzmitchov's sister, who was fond of educated people and refined society, had entreated her brother to take Yegorushka with him when he went to sell wool and to put him to school; and now the boy was sitting on the box beside the coachman Deniska, holding on to his elbow to keep from falling off, and dancing up and down like a kettle on the hob, with no notion where he was going or what he was going for.

friskyadjectiveUS /ˈfrɪski/

playful like a lively kitten

From this reading Apart from the two persons described above and the coachman Deniska, who lashed the pair of frisky bay horses, there was another figure in the chaise--a boy of nine with a sunburnt face, wet with tears.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Apart from the two persons described above and the coachman Deniska, who lashed the pair of frisky bay horses, there was another figure in the chaise--a boy of nine with a sunburnt face, wet with tears.

goverbUS /ɡoʊ/

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading With the sanction of his uncle and the blessing of Father Christopher, he was now on his way to go to school.

goingnounUS /ˈɡoʊɪŋ/

the act of departing

From this reading His mother, Olga Ivanovna, the widow of a collegiate secretary, and Kuzmitchov's sister, who was fond of educated people and refined society, had entreated her brother to take Yegorushka with him when he went to sell wool and to put him to school; and now the boy was sitting on the box beside the coachman Deniska, holding on to his elbow to keep from falling off, and dancing up and down like a kettle on the hob, with no notion where he was going or what he was going for.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading His mother, Olga Ivanovna, the widow of a collegiate secretary, and Kuzmitchov's sister, who was fond of educated people and refined society, had entreated her brother to take Yegorushka with him when he went to sell wool and to put him to school; and now the boy was sitting on the box beside the coachman Deniska, holding on to his elbow to keep from falling off, and dancing up and down like a kettle on the hob, with no notion where he was going or what he was going for.

hatnounUS /hæt/

headdress that protects the head from bad weather; has shaped crown and usually a brim

From this reading The rapid motion through the air blew out his red shirt like a balloon on his back and made his new hat with a peacock's feather in it, like a coachman's, keep slipping on to the back of his head.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading With the sanction of his uncle and the blessing of Father Christopher, he was now on his way to go to school.

headnounUS /hed/

the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading The rapid motion through the air blew out his red shirt like a balloon on his back and made his new hat with a peacock's feather in it, like a coachman's, keep slipping on to the back of his head.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading His mother, Olga Ivanovna, the widow of a collegiate secretary, and Kuzmitchov's sister, who was fond of educated people and refined society, had entreated her brother to take Yegorushka with him when he went to sell wool and to put him to school; and now the boy was sitting on the box beside the coachman Deniska, holding on to his elbow to keep from falling off, and dancing up and down like a kettle on the hob, with no notion where he was going or what he was going for.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading His mother, Olga Ivanovna, the widow of a collegiate secretary, and Kuzmitchov's sister, who was fond of educated people and refined society, had entreated her brother to take Yegorushka with him when he went to sell wool and to put him to school; and now the boy was sitting on the box beside the coachman Deniska, holding on to his elbow to keep from falling off, and dancing up and down like a kettle on the hob, with no notion where he was going or what he was going for.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading With the sanction of his uncle and the blessing of Father Christopher, he was now on his way to go to school.

hobnounUS /hɑːb/

(folklore) a small grotesque supernatural creature that makes trouble for human beings

From this reading His mother, Olga Ivanovna, the widow of a collegiate secretary, and Kuzmitchov's sister, who was fond of educated people and refined society, had entreated her brother to take Yegorushka with him when he went to sell wool and to put him to school; and now the boy was sitting on the box beside the coachman Deniska, holding on to his elbow to keep from falling off, and dancing up and down like a kettle on the hob, with no notion where he was going or what he was going for.

holdingnounUS /ˈhoʊldɪŋ/

the act of retaining something

From this reading His mother, Olga Ivanovna, the widow of a collegiate secretary, and Kuzmitchov's sister, who was fond of educated people and refined society, had entreated her brother to take Yegorushka with him when he went to sell wool and to put him to school; and now the boy was sitting on the box beside the coachman Deniska, holding on to his elbow to keep from falling off, and dancing up and down like a kettle on the hob, with no notion where he was going or what he was going for.

horsesnounUS /ˈhɔːrsəz/

plural of “horse” — solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times

From this reading Apart from the two persons described above and the coachman Deniska, who lashed the pair of frisky bay horses, there was another figure in the chaise--a boy of nine with a sunburnt face, wet with tears.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Apart from the two persons described above and the coachman Deniska, who lashed the pair of frisky bay horses, there was another figure in the chaise--a boy of nine with a sunburnt face, wet with tears.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading The rapid motion through the air blew out his red shirt like a balloon on his back and made his new hat with a peacock's feather in it, like a coachman's, keep slipping on to the back of his head.

Ivanovna

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

From this reading His mother, Olga Ivanovna, the widow of a collegiate secretary, and Kuzmitchov's sister, who was fond of educated people and refined society, had entreated her brother to take Yegorushka with him when he went to sell wool and to put him to school; and now the boy was sitting on the box beside the coachman Deniska, holding on to his elbow to keep from falling off, and dancing up and down like a kettle on the hob, with no notion where he was going or what he was going for.

keepverbUS /kiːp/

cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”

From this reading His mother, Olga Ivanovna, the widow of a collegiate secretary, and Kuzmitchov's sister, who was fond of educated people and refined society, had entreated her brother to take Yegorushka with him when he went to sell wool and to put him to school; and now the boy was sitting on the box beside the coachman Deniska, holding on to his elbow to keep from falling off, and dancing up and down like a kettle on the hob, with no notion where he was going or what he was going for.

kettlenounUS /ˈketəl/

a metal pot for stewing or boiling; usually has a lid

From this reading His mother, Olga Ivanovna, the widow of a collegiate secretary, and Kuzmitchov's sister, who was fond of educated people and refined society, had entreated her brother to take Yegorushka with him when he went to sell wool and to put him to school; and now the boy was sitting on the box beside the coachman Deniska, holding on to his elbow to keep from falling off, and dancing up and down like a kettle on the hob, with no notion where he was going or what he was going for.

Kuzmitchov's

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

From this reading This was Yegorushka, Kuzmitchov's nephew.

lashedverbUS /læʃt/

past form of “lash” — beat severely with a whip or rod

From this reading Apart from the two persons described above and the coachman Deniska, who lashed the pair of frisky bay horses, there was another figure in the chaise--a boy of nine with a sunburnt face, wet with tears.

likeverbUS /laɪk/

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading His mother, Olga Ivanovna, the widow of a collegiate secretary, and Kuzmitchov's sister, who was fond of educated people and refined society, had entreated her brother to take Yegorushka with him when he went to sell wool and to put him to school; and now the boy was sitting on the box beside the coachman Deniska, holding on to his elbow to keep from falling off, and dancing up and down like a kettle on the hob, with no notion where he was going or what he was going for.

madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading The rapid motion through the air blew out his red shirt like a balloon on his back and made his new hat with a peacock's feather in it, like a coachman's, keep slipping on to the back of his head.

mothernounUS /ˈmʌðər/

a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading His mother, Olga Ivanovna, the widow of a collegiate secretary, and Kuzmitchov's sister, who was fond of educated people and refined society, had entreated her brother to take Yegorushka with him when he went to sell wool and to put him to school; and now the boy was sitting on the box beside the coachman Deniska, holding on to his elbow to keep from falling off, and dancing up and down like a kettle on the hob, with no notion where he was going or what he was going for.

motionnounUS /ˈmoʊʃən/

the use of movements (especially of the hands) to communicate familiar or prearranged signals

From this reading The rapid motion through the air blew out his red shirt like a balloon on his back and made his new hat with a peacock's feather in it, like a coachman's, keep slipping on to the back of his head.

nephewnounUS /ˈnefjuː/

a son of your brother or sister

From this reading This was Yegorushka, Kuzmitchov's nephew.

newadjectiveUS /nuː/

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading The rapid motion through the air blew out his red shirt like a balloon on his back and made his new hat with a peacock's feather in it, like a coachman's, keep slipping on to the back of his head.

ninenounUS /naɪn/

the cardinal number that is the sum of eight and one

From this reading Apart from the two persons described above and the coachman Deniska, who lashed the pair of frisky bay horses, there was another figure in the chaise--a boy of nine with a sunburnt face, wet with tears.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading His mother, Olga Ivanovna, the widow of a collegiate secretary, and Kuzmitchov's sister, who was fond of educated people and refined society, had entreated her brother to take Yegorushka with him when he went to sell wool and to put him to school; and now the boy was sitting on the box beside the coachman Deniska, holding on to his elbow to keep from falling off, and dancing up and down like a kettle on the hob, with no notion where he was going or what he was going for.

notionnounUS /ˈnoʊʃən/

a vague idea in which some confidence is placed

From this reading His mother, Olga Ivanovna, the widow of a collegiate secretary, and Kuzmitchov's sister, who was fond of educated people and refined society, had entreated her brother to take Yegorushka with him when he went to sell wool and to put him to school; and now the boy was sitting on the box beside the coachman Deniska, holding on to his elbow to keep from falling off, and dancing up and down like a kettle on the hob, with no notion where he was going or what he was going for.

nowadverbUS /naʊ/

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading With the sanction of his uncle and the blessing of Father Christopher, he was now on his way to go to school.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Apart from the two persons described above and the coachman Deniska, who lashed the pair of frisky bay horses, there was another figure in the chaise--a boy of nine with a sunburnt face, wet with tears.

offadverbUS /ɔːf/

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading His mother, Olga Ivanovna, the widow of a collegiate secretary, and Kuzmitchov's sister, who was fond of educated people and refined society, had entreated her brother to take Yegorushka with him when he went to sell wool and to put him to school; and now the boy was sitting on the box beside the coachman Deniska, holding on to his elbow to keep from falling off, and dancing up and down like a kettle on the hob, with no notion where he was going or what he was going for.

Olga

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

From this reading His mother, Olga Ivanovna, the widow of a collegiate secretary, and Kuzmitchov's sister, who was fond of educated people and refined society, had entreated her brother to take Yegorushka with him when he went to sell wool and to put him to school; and now the boy was sitting on the box beside the coachman Deniska, holding on to his elbow to keep from falling off, and dancing up and down like a kettle on the hob, with no notion where he was going or what he was going for.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading With the sanction of his uncle and the blessing of Father Christopher, he was now on his way to go to school.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading His mother, Olga Ivanovna, the widow of a collegiate secretary, and Kuzmitchov's sister, who was fond of educated people and refined society, had entreated her brother to take Yegorushka with him when he went to sell wool and to put him to school; and now the boy was sitting on the box beside the coachman Deniska, holding on to his elbow to keep from falling off, and dancing up and down like a kettle on the hob, with no notion where he was going or what he was going for.

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading The rapid motion through the air blew out his red shirt like a balloon on his back and made his new hat with a peacock's feather in it, like a coachman's, keep slipping on to the back of his head.

pairnounUS /per/

a set of two similar things considered as a unit

From this reading Apart from the two persons described above and the coachman Deniska, who lashed the pair of frisky bay horses, there was another figure in the chaise--a boy of nine with a sunburnt face, wet with tears.

peacock's

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

From this reading The rapid motion through the air blew out his red shirt like a balloon on his back and made his new hat with a peacock's feather in it, like a coachman's, keep slipping on to the back of his head.

peoplenounUS /ˈpiːpəl/

(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively

From this reading His mother, Olga Ivanovna, the widow of a collegiate secretary, and Kuzmitchov's sister, who was fond of educated people and refined society, had entreated her brother to take Yegorushka with him when he went to sell wool and to put him to school; and now the boy was sitting on the box beside the coachman Deniska, holding on to his elbow to keep from falling off, and dancing up and down like a kettle on the hob, with no notion where he was going or what he was going for.

personsnounUS /ˈpɜːrsənz/

plural of “person” — a human being

From this reading Apart from the two persons described above and the coachman Deniska, who lashed the pair of frisky bay horses, there was another figure in the chaise--a boy of nine with a sunburnt face, wet with tears.

putverbUS /pʊt/

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading His mother, Olga Ivanovna, the widow of a collegiate secretary, and Kuzmitchov's sister, who was fond of educated people and refined society, had entreated her brother to take Yegorushka with him when he went to sell wool and to put him to school; and now the boy was sitting on the box beside the coachman Deniska, holding on to his elbow to keep from falling off, and dancing up and down like a kettle on the hob, with no notion where he was going or what he was going for.

rapidadjectiveUS /ˈræpəd/

done or occurring in a brief period of time

From this reading The rapid motion through the air blew out his red shirt like a balloon on his back and made his new hat with a peacock's feather in it, like a coachman's, keep slipping on to the back of his head.

rednounUS /red/

red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood

From this reading The rapid motion through the air blew out his red shirt like a balloon on his back and made his new hat with a peacock's feather in it, like a coachman's, keep slipping on to the back of his head.

refinedadjectiveUS /rəˈfaɪnd/

(used of persons and their behavior) cultivated and genteel

From this reading His mother, Olga Ivanovna, the widow of a collegiate secretary, and Kuzmitchov's sister, who was fond of educated people and refined society, had entreated her brother to take Yegorushka with him when he went to sell wool and to put him to school; and now the boy was sitting on the box beside the coachman Deniska, holding on to his elbow to keep from falling off, and dancing up and down like a kettle on the hob, with no notion where he was going or what he was going for.

sanctionnounUS /ˈsæŋkʃən/

formal and explicit approval

From this reading With the sanction of his uncle and the blessing of Father Christopher, he was now on his way to go to school.

schoolnounUS /skuːl/

an educational institution

From this reading With the sanction of his uncle and the blessing of Father Christopher, he was now on his way to go to school.

secretarynounUS /ˈsekrəteri/

a person who is head of an administrative department of government

From this reading His mother, Olga Ivanovna, the widow of a collegiate secretary, and Kuzmitchov's sister, who was fond of educated people and refined society, had entreated her brother to take Yegorushka with him when he went to sell wool and to put him to school; and now the boy was sitting on the box beside the coachman Deniska, holding on to his elbow to keep from falling off, and dancing up and down like a kettle on the hob, with no notion where he was going or what he was going for.

sellverbUS /sel/

exchange or deliver for money or its equivalent

From this reading His mother, Olga Ivanovna, the widow of a collegiate secretary, and Kuzmitchov's sister, who was fond of educated people and refined society, had entreated her brother to take Yegorushka with him when he went to sell wool and to put him to school; and now the boy was sitting on the box beside the coachman Deniska, holding on to his elbow to keep from falling off, and dancing up and down like a kettle on the hob, with no notion where he was going or what he was going for.

shirtnounUS /ʃɜːrt/

a garment worn on the upper half of the body

From this reading The rapid motion through the air blew out his red shirt like a balloon on his back and made his new hat with a peacock's feather in it, like a coachman's, keep slipping on to the back of his head.

sisternounUS /ˈsɪstər/

a female person who has the same parents as another person

From this reading His mother, Olga Ivanovna, the widow of a collegiate secretary, and Kuzmitchov's sister, who was fond of educated people and refined society, had entreated her brother to take Yegorushka with him when he went to sell wool and to put him to school; and now the boy was sitting on the box beside the coachman Deniska, holding on to his elbow to keep from falling off, and dancing up and down like a kettle on the hob, with no notion where he was going or what he was going for.

sittingnounUS /ˈsɪtɪŋ/

(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)

From this reading His mother, Olga Ivanovna, the widow of a collegiate secretary, and Kuzmitchov's sister, who was fond of educated people and refined society, had entreated her brother to take Yegorushka with him when he went to sell wool and to put him to school; and now the boy was sitting on the box beside the coachman Deniska, holding on to his elbow to keep from falling off, and dancing up and down like a kettle on the hob, with no notion where he was going or what he was going for.

slippingadjectiveUS /ˈslɪpɪŋ/

moving as on a slippery surface

From this reading The rapid motion through the air blew out his red shirt like a balloon on his back and made his new hat with a peacock's feather in it, like a coachman's, keep slipping on to the back of his head.

societynounUS /səˈsaɪəti/

an extended social group having a distinctive cultural and economic organization

From this reading His mother, Olga Ivanovna, the widow of a collegiate secretary, and Kuzmitchov's sister, who was fond of educated people and refined society, had entreated her brother to take Yegorushka with him when he went to sell wool and to put him to school; and now the boy was sitting on the box beside the coachman Deniska, holding on to his elbow to keep from falling off, and dancing up and down like a kettle on the hob, with no notion where he was going or what he was going for.

sunburntadjective

suffering from overexposure to direct sunlight

From this reading Apart from the two persons described above and the coachman Deniska, who lashed the pair of frisky bay horses, there was another figure in the chaise--a boy of nine with a sunburnt face, wet with tears.

takeverbUS /teɪk/

carry out

From this reading His mother, Olga Ivanovna, the widow of a collegiate secretary, and Kuzmitchov's sister, who was fond of educated people and refined society, had entreated her brother to take Yegorushka with him when he went to sell wool and to put him to school; and now the boy was sitting on the box beside the coachman Deniska, holding on to his elbow to keep from falling off, and dancing up and down like a kettle on the hob, with no notion where he was going or what he was going for.

tearsnounUS /terz/

the process of shedding tears (usually accompanied by sobs or other inarticulate sounds)

From this reading Apart from the two persons described above and the coachman Deniska, who lashed the pair of frisky bay horses, there was another figure in the chaise--a boy of nine with a sunburnt face, wet with tears.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Apart from the two persons described above and the coachman Deniska, who lashed the pair of frisky bay horses, there was another figure in the chaise--a boy of nine with a sunburnt face, wet with tears.

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading Apart from the two persons described above and the coachman Deniska, who lashed the pair of frisky bay horses, there was another figure in the chaise--a boy of nine with a sunburnt face, wet with tears.

ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading This was Yegorushka, Kuzmitchov's nephew.

throughprepositionUS /θruː/

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading The rapid motion through the air blew out his red shirt like a balloon on his back and made his new hat with a peacock's feather in it, like a coachman's, keep slipping on to the back of his head.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading With the sanction of his uncle and the blessing of Father Christopher, he was now on his way to go to school.

twonounUS /tuː/

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading Apart from the two persons described above and the coachman Deniska, who lashed the pair of frisky bay horses, there was another figure in the chaise--a boy of nine with a sunburnt face, wet with tears.

unclenounUS /ˈʌŋkəl/

the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt

From this reading With the sanction of his uncle and the blessing of Father Christopher, he was now on his way to go to school.

upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading His mother, Olga Ivanovna, the widow of a collegiate secretary, and Kuzmitchov's sister, who was fond of educated people and refined society, had entreated her brother to take Yegorushka with him when he went to sell wool and to put him to school; and now the boy was sitting on the box beside the coachman Deniska, holding on to his elbow to keep from falling off, and dancing up and down like a kettle on the hob, with no notion where he was going or what he was going for.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Apart from the two persons described above and the coachman Deniska, who lashed the pair of frisky bay horses, there was another figure in the chaise--a boy of nine with a sunburnt face, wet with tears.

waynounUS /weɪ/

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading With the sanction of his uncle and the blessing of Father Christopher, he was now on his way to go to school.

wentverbUS /went/

inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading His mother, Olga Ivanovna, the widow of a collegiate secretary, and Kuzmitchov's sister, who was fond of educated people and refined society, had entreated her brother to take Yegorushka with him when he went to sell wool and to put him to school; and now the boy was sitting on the box beside the coachman Deniska, holding on to his elbow to keep from falling off, and dancing up and down like a kettle on the hob, with no notion where he was going or what he was going for.

wetadjectiveUS /wet/

covered or soaked with a liquid such as water

From this reading Apart from the two persons described above and the coachman Deniska, who lashed the pair of frisky bay horses, there was another figure in the chaise--a boy of nine with a sunburnt face, wet with tears.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading His mother, Olga Ivanovna, the widow of a collegiate secretary, and Kuzmitchov's sister, who was fond of educated people and refined society, had entreated her brother to take Yegorushka with him when he went to sell wool and to put him to school; and now the boy was sitting on the box beside the coachman Deniska, holding on to his elbow to keep from falling off, and dancing up and down like a kettle on the hob, with no notion where he was going or what he was going for.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading His mother, Olga Ivanovna, the widow of a collegiate secretary, and Kuzmitchov's sister, who was fond of educated people and refined society, had entreated her brother to take Yegorushka with him when he went to sell wool and to put him to school; and now the boy was sitting on the box beside the coachman Deniska, holding on to his elbow to keep from falling off, and dancing up and down like a kettle on the hob, with no notion where he was going or what he was going for.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading His mother, Olga Ivanovna, the widow of a collegiate secretary, and Kuzmitchov's sister, who was fond of educated people and refined society, had entreated her brother to take Yegorushka with him when he went to sell wool and to put him to school; and now the boy was sitting on the box beside the coachman Deniska, holding on to his elbow to keep from falling off, and dancing up and down like a kettle on the hob, with no notion where he was going or what he was going for.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading Apart from the two persons described above and the coachman Deniska, who lashed the pair of frisky bay horses, there was another figure in the chaise--a boy of nine with a sunburnt face, wet with tears.

widownounUS /ˈwɪdoʊ/

a woman whose husband is dead especially one who has not remarried

From this reading His mother, Olga Ivanovna, the widow of a collegiate secretary, and Kuzmitchov's sister, who was fond of educated people and refined society, had entreated her brother to take Yegorushka with him when he went to sell wool and to put him to school; and now the boy was sitting on the box beside the coachman Deniska, holding on to his elbow to keep from falling off, and dancing up and down like a kettle on the hob, with no notion where he was going or what he was going for.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Apart from the two persons described above and the coachman Deniska, who lashed the pair of frisky bay horses, there was another figure in the chaise--a boy of nine with a sunburnt face, wet with tears.

woolnounUS /wʊl/

a fabric made from the hair of sheep

From this reading His mother, Olga Ivanovna, the widow of a collegiate secretary, and Kuzmitchov's sister, who was fond of educated people and refined society, had entreated her brother to take Yegorushka with him when he went to sell wool and to put him to school; and now the boy was sitting on the box beside the coachman Deniska, holding on to his elbow to keep from falling off, and dancing up and down like a kettle on the hob, with no notion where he was going or what he was going for.

Yegorushka

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

From this reading This was Yegorushka, Kuzmitchov's nephew.

Chapter 8 of The Bishop and Other Stories by Anton Pavlovich Chekhov holds 420 sentences, grouped into 84 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 8 of The Bishop and Other Stories contain?

Chapter 8 holds 420 sentences of The Bishop and Other Stories, unabridged, divided into 84 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 8 of The Bishop and Other Stories by Anton Pavlovich Chekhov exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 420 sentences, grouped into 84 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.

How do I study chapter 8 of The Bishop and Other Stories?

Work through the 84 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 84 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.

Can chapter 8 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 8 can be played aloud in United States English.

Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.

Questions about reading The Bishop and Other Stories

Common questions about reading The Bishop and Other Stories by Anton Pavlovich Chekhov on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Bishop and Other Stories?

Yes. All 6285 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #13419 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Bishop and Other Stories is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #13419, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Bishop and Other Stories take to read?

About 523 minutes of reading across 1257 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Bishop and Other Stories section by section

How to work through The Bishop and Other Stories section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 15 chapters of The Bishop and Other Stories to begin.

  2. Read one section

    Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.

  3. Listen and tap

    Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in The Bishop and Other Stories

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Bishop and Other Stories, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Evening
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Bishop and Other Stories; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Service
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Bishop and Other Stories; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Being
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Bishop and Other Stories; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Celebrated
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Bishop and Other Stories; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.