adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He had had a table, a samovar, wine, and a candle brought out, and over a cup of tea and a cigar he listened to the tales the old man told seated on the threshold at his feet.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading It was quite true that Olénin had been walking about the yard when Maryánka entered the gate, and had heard her say, “That devil, our lodger, is walking about.”
airnounUS /er/
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading Though the air was still, the candle dripped and flickered: now lighting up the post of the porch, now the table and crockery, now the cropped white head of the old man.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was quite true that Olénin had been walking about the yard when Maryánka entered the gate, and had heard her say, “That devil, our lodger, is walking about.”
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He had had a table, a samovar, wine, and a candle brought out, and over a cup of tea and a cigar he listened to the tales the old man told seated on the threshold at his feet.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It was quite true that Olénin had been walking about the yard when Maryánka entered the gate, and had heard her say, “That devil, our lodger, is walking about.”
beyondprepositionUS /bɪˈɑːnd/
on the far side of; further than
From this reading Moths circled round the flame and, shedding the dust of their wings, fluttered on the table and in the glasses, flew into the candle flame, and disappeared in the black space beyond.
blackadjectiveUS /blæk/
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading Moths circled round the flame and, shedding the dust of their wings, fluttered on the table and in the glasses, flew into the candle flame, and disappeared in the black space beyond.
broughtverbUS /brɔːt/
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading He had had a table, a samovar, wine, and a candle brought out, and over a cup of tea and a cigar he listened to the tales the old man told seated on the threshold at his feet.
candlenounUS /ˈkændəl/
stick of wax with a wick in the middle
From this reading He had had a table, a samovar, wine, and a candle brought out, and over a cup of tea and a cigar he listened to the tales the old man told seated on the threshold at his feet.
cigarnounUS /sɪˈɡɑːr/
a roll of tobacco for smoking
From this reading He had had a table, a samovar, wine, and a candle brought out, and over a cup of tea and a cigar he listened to the tales the old man told seated on the threshold at his feet.
circledverbUS /ˈsɜːrkəld/
past form of “circle” — travel around something
From this reading Moths circled round the flame and, shedding the dust of their wings, fluttered on the table and in the glasses, flew into the candle flame, and disappeared in the black space beyond.
crockerynounUS /ˈkrɑːkəri/
tableware (eating and serving dishes) collectively
From this reading Though the air was still, the candle dripped and flickered: now lighting up the post of the porch, now the table and crockery, now the cropped white head of the old man.
croppedadjectiveUS /krɑːpt/
(of land or soil) used for growing crops
From this reading Though the air was still, the candle dripped and flickered: now lighting up the post of the porch, now the table and crockery, now the cropped white head of the old man.
cupnounUS /kʌp/
a small open container usually used for drinking; usually has a handle
From this reading He had had a table, a samovar, wine, and a candle brought out, and over a cup of tea and a cigar he listened to the tales the old man told seated on the threshold at his feet.
DaddynounUS /ˈdædi/
an informal term for a father; probably derived from baby talk
From this reading He had spent that evening with Daddy Eróshka in the porch of his new lodging.
devilnounUS /ˈdevəl/
(Judeo-Christian and Islamic religions) chief spirit of evil and adversary of God; tempter of mankind; master of Hell
From this reading It was quite true that Olénin had been walking about the yard when Maryánka entered the gate, and had heard her say, “That devil, our lodger, is walking about.”
disappearedverbUS /ˌdɪsəˈpɪrd/
past form of “disappear” — get lost, as without warning or explanation
From this reading Moths circled round the flame and, shedding the dust of their wings, fluttered on the table and in the glasses, flew into the candle flame, and disappeared in the black space beyond.
drippedverbUS /drɪpt/
inflected form of “drip” — fall in drops
From this reading Though the air was still, the candle dripped and flickered: now lighting up the post of the porch, now the table and crockery, now the cropped white head of the old man.
dustverbUS /dʌst/
remove the dust from
From this reading Moths circled round the flame and, shedding the dust of their wings, fluttered on the table and in the glasses, flew into the candle flame, and disappeared in the black space beyond.
enteredverbUS /ˈentərd/
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading It was quite true that Olénin had been walking about the yard when Maryánka entered the gate, and had heard her say, “That devil, our lodger, is walking about.”
Eróshka
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had spent that evening with Daddy Eróshka in the porch of his new lodging.
eveningnounUS /ˈiːvnɪŋ/
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading He had spent that evening with Daddy Eróshka in the porch of his new lodging.
feetnounUS /fiːt/
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading He had had a table, a samovar, wine, and a candle brought out, and over a cup of tea and a cigar he listened to the tales the old man told seated on the threshold at his feet.
flamenounUS /fleɪm/
A hot glowing body of ignited gas produced by fire.
From this reading Moths circled round the flame and, shedding the dust of their wings, fluttered on the table and in the glasses, flew into the candle flame, and disappeared in the black space beyond.
flewverbUS /fluː/
inflected form of “fly” — travel through the air; be airborne
From this reading Moths circled round the flame and, shedding the dust of their wings, fluttered on the table and in the glasses, flew into the candle flame, and disappeared in the black space beyond.
flickeredverbUS /ˈflɪkərd/
past form of “flicker” — move back and forth very rapidly
From this reading Though the air was still, the candle dripped and flickered: now lighting up the post of the porch, now the table and crockery, now the cropped white head of the old man.
flutteredverbUS /ˈflʌtərd/
past form of “flutter” — move along rapidly and lightly; skim or dart
From this reading Moths circled round the flame and, shedding the dust of their wings, fluttered on the table and in the glasses, flew into the candle flame, and disappeared in the black space beyond.
gatenounUS /ɡeɪt/
a movable barrier in a fence or wall
From this reading It was quite true that Olénin had been walking about the yard when Maryánka entered the gate, and had heard her say, “That devil, our lodger, is walking about.”
glassesnounUS /ˈɡlæsəz/
(plural) optical instrument consisting of a frame that holds a pair of lenses for correcting defective vision
From this reading Moths circled round the flame and, shedding the dust of their wings, fluttered on the table and in the glasses, flew into the candle flame, and disappeared in the black space beyond.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was quite true that Olénin had been walking about the yard when Maryánka entered the gate, and had heard her say, “That devil, our lodger, is walking about.”
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had spent that evening with Daddy Eróshka in the porch of his new lodging.
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 Though the air was still, the candle dripped and flickered: now lighting up the post of the porch, now the table and crockery, now the cropped white head of the old man.
heardadjectiveUS /hɜːrd/
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading It was quite true that Olénin had been walking about the yard when Maryánka entered the gate, and had heard her say, “That devil, our lodger, is walking about.”
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading It was quite true that Olénin had been walking about the yard when Maryánka entered the gate, and had heard her say, “That devil, our lodger, is walking about.”
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He had spent that evening with Daddy Eróshka in the porch of his new lodging.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He had spent that evening with Daddy Eróshka in the porch of his new lodging.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Moths circled round the flame and, shedding the dust of their wings, fluttered on the table and in the glasses, flew into the candle flame, and disappeared in the black space beyond.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was quite true that Olénin had been walking about the yard when Maryánka entered the gate, and had heard her say, “That devil, our lodger, is walking about.”
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was quite true that Olénin had been walking about the yard when Maryánka entered the gate, and had heard her say, “That devil, our lodger, is walking about.”
lightingnounUS /ˈlaɪtɪŋ/
having abundant light or illumination
From this reading Though the air was still, the candle dripped and flickered: now lighting up the post of the porch, now the table and crockery, now the cropped white head of the old man.
listenedverbUS /ˈlɪsənd/
past form of “listen” — hear with intention
From this reading He had had a table, a samovar, wine, and a candle brought out, and over a cup of tea and a cigar he listened to the tales the old man told seated on the threshold at his feet.
lodgernoun
a tenant in someone's house
From this reading It was quite true that Olénin had been walking about the yard when Maryánka entered the gate, and had heard her say, “That devil, our lodger, is walking about.”
lodgingnounUS /ˈlɑːdʒɪŋ/
structures collectively in which people are housed
From this reading He had spent that evening with Daddy Eróshka in the porch of his new lodging.
mannounUS /mæn/
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading He had had a table, a samovar, wine, and a candle brought out, and over a cup of tea and a cigar he listened to the tales the old man told seated on the threshold at his feet.
Maryánka
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was quite true that Olénin had been walking about the yard when Maryánka entered the gate, and had heard her say, “That devil, our lodger, is walking about.”
MothsnounUS /mɔːθs/
plural of “moth” — typically crepuscular or nocturnal insect having a stout body and feathery or hairlike antennae
From this reading Moths circled round the flame and, shedding the dust of their wings, fluttered on the table and in the glasses, flew into the candle flame, and disappeared in the black space beyond.
newadjectiveUS /nuː/
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading He had spent that evening with Daddy Eróshka in the porch of his new lodging.
nowadverbUS /naʊ/
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Though the air was still, the candle dripped and flickered: now lighting up the post of the porch, now the table and crockery, now the cropped white head of the old man.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He had spent that evening with Daddy Eróshka in the porch of his new lodging.
oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading He had had a table, a samovar, wine, and a candle brought out, and over a cup of tea and a cigar he listened to the tales the old man told seated on the threshold at his feet.
Olénin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was quite true that Olénin had been walking about the yard when Maryánka entered the gate, and had heard her say, “That devil, our lodger, is walking about.”
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He had had a table, a samovar, wine, and a candle brought out, and over a cup of tea and a cigar he listened to the tales the old man told seated on the threshold at his feet.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading It was quite true that Olénin had been walking about the yard when Maryánka entered the gate, and had heard her say, “That devil, our lodger, is walking about.”
outadjectiveUS /aʊt/
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading He had had a table, a samovar, wine, and a candle brought out, and over a cup of tea and a cigar he listened to the tales the old man told seated on the threshold at his feet.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading He had had a table, a samovar, wine, and a candle brought out, and over a cup of tea and a cigar he listened to the tales the old man told seated on the threshold at his feet.
porchnounUS /pɔːrtʃ/
a structure attached to the exterior of a building often forming a covered entrance
From this reading He had spent that evening with Daddy Eróshka in the porch of his new lodging.
postverbUS /poʊst/
affix in a public place or for public notice
From this reading Though the air was still, the candle dripped and flickered: now lighting up the post of the porch, now the table and crockery, now the cropped white head of the old man.
quiteadverbUS /kwaɪt/
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading It was quite true that Olénin had been walking about the yard when Maryánka entered the gate, and had heard her say, “That devil, our lodger, is walking about.”
roundnounUS /raʊnd/
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading Moths circled round the flame and, shedding the dust of their wings, fluttered on the table and in the glasses, flew into the candle flame, and disappeared in the black space beyond.
samovarnoun
a metal urn with a spigot at the base; used in Russia to boil water for tea
From this reading He had had a table, a samovar, wine, and a candle brought out, and over a cup of tea and a cigar he listened to the tales the old man told seated on the threshold at his feet.
sayverbUS /seɪ/
express in words
From this reading It was quite true that Olénin had been walking about the yard when Maryánka entered the gate, and had heard her say, “That devil, our lodger, is walking about.”
seatedadjectiveUS /ˈsiːtɪd/
(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks
From this reading He had had a table, a samovar, wine, and a candle brought out, and over a cup of tea and a cigar he listened to the tales the old man told seated on the threshold at his feet.
sheddingnounUS /ˈʃedɪŋ/
the process whereby something is shed
From this reading Moths circled round the flame and, shedding the dust of their wings, fluttered on the table and in the glasses, flew into the candle flame, and disappeared in the black space beyond.
spacenounUS /speɪs/
the unlimited expanse in which everything is located
From this reading Moths circled round the flame and, shedding the dust of their wings, fluttered on the table and in the glasses, flew into the candle flame, and disappeared in the black space beyond.
spentadjectiveUS /spent/
depleted of energy, force, or strength
From this reading He had spent that evening with Daddy Eróshka in the porch of his new lodging.
stilladjectiveUS /stɪl/
not in physical motion
From this reading Though the air was still, the candle dripped and flickered: now lighting up the post of the porch, now the table and crockery, now the cropped white head of the old man.
tablenounUS /ˈteɪbəl/
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading He had had a table, a samovar, wine, and a candle brought out, and over a cup of tea and a cigar he listened to the tales the old man told seated on the threshold at his feet.
talesnounUS /teɪlz/
plural of “tale” — a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading He had had a table, a samovar, wine, and a candle brought out, and over a cup of tea and a cigar he listened to the tales the old man told seated on the threshold at his feet.
teanounUS /tiː/
a beverage made by steeping tea leaves in water
From this reading He had had a table, a samovar, wine, and a candle brought out, and over a cup of tea and a cigar he listened to the tales the old man told seated on the threshold at his feet.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was quite true that Olénin had been walking about the yard when Maryánka entered the gate, and had heard her say, “That devil, our lodger, is walking about.”
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was quite true that Olénin had been walking about the yard when Maryánka entered the gate, and had heard her say, “That devil, our lodger, is walking about.”
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Moths circled round the flame and, shedding the dust of their wings, fluttered on the table and in the glasses, flew into the candle flame, and disappeared in the black space beyond.
ThoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Though the air was still, the candle dripped and flickered: now lighting up the post of the porch, now the table and crockery, now the cropped white head of the old man.
thresholdnounUS /ˈθreʃoʊld/
the starting point for a new state or experience
From this reading He had had a table, a samovar, wine, and a candle brought out, and over a cup of tea and a cigar he listened to the tales the old man told seated on the threshold at his feet.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He had had a table, a samovar, wine, and a candle brought out, and over a cup of tea and a cigar he listened to the tales the old man told seated on the threshold at his feet.
toldverbUS /toʊld/
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading He had had a table, a samovar, wine, and a candle brought out, and over a cup of tea and a cigar he listened to the tales the old man told seated on the threshold at his feet.
trueadjectiveUS /truː/
consistent with fact or reality; not false
From this reading It was quite true that Olénin had been walking about the yard when Maryánka entered the gate, and had heard her say, “That devil, our lodger, is walking about.”
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Though the air was still, the candle dripped and flickered: now lighting up the post of the porch, now the table and crockery, now the cropped white head of the old man.
walkingadjectiveUS /ˈwɔːkɪŋ/
close enough to be walked to
From this reading It was quite true that Olénin had been walking about the yard when Maryánka entered the gate, and had heard her say, “That devil, our lodger, is walking about.”
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was quite true that Olénin had been walking about the yard when Maryánka entered the gate, and had heard her say, “That devil, our lodger, is walking about.”
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading It was quite true that Olénin had been walking about the yard when Maryánka entered the gate, and had heard her say, “That devil, our lodger, is walking about.”
whitenounUS /waɪt/
a Caucasian
From this reading Though the air was still, the candle dripped and flickered: now lighting up the post of the porch, now the table and crockery, now the cropped white head of the old man.
winenounUS /waɪn/
fermented juice (of grapes especially)
From this reading He had had a table, a samovar, wine, and a candle brought out, and over a cup of tea and a cigar he listened to the tales the old man told seated on the threshold at his feet.
wingsnounUS /wɪŋz/
a means of flight or ascent
From this reading Moths circled round the flame and, shedding the dust of their wings, fluttered on the table and in the glasses, flew into the candle flame, and disappeared in the black space beyond.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading He had spent that evening with Daddy Eróshka in the porch of his new lodging.
yardnounUS /jɑːrd/
a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading It was quite true that Olénin had been walking about the yard when Maryánka entered the gate, and had heard her say, “That devil, our lodger, is walking about.”
