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The Dumpling
The Dumpling

Chapter XVII

Cover illustration for The Dumpling
Context Illustration Reading 1/18 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
MUTINY AND A MESMERIST.
"You noisy fool, Wright!" he said, still holding me in his iron grip.
"I heard you ranting in the street outside."
Then, "Am I hurting you, Mr. Rissler?" he asked.
Foolishly I opened my mouth to reply, but hardly had I done so before a handkerchief was thrust between my lips, and stuffed the next instant half-way down my throat.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Dumpling

Chapter XVII

Reading 1/18 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
MUTINY AND A MESMERIST.
Line 2
"You noisy fool, Wright!" he said, still holding me in his iron grip.
Line 3
"I heard you ranting in the street outside."
Line 4
Then, "Am I hurting you, Mr. Rissler?" he asked.
Line 5
Foolishly I opened my mouth to reply, but hardly had I done so before a handkerchief was thrust between my lips, and stuffed the next instant half-way down my throat.

Learner Dictionary

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

Asked noun US /asked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Then, "Am I hurting you, Mr. Rissler?" he asked.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “Foolishly I opened my mouth to reply, but hardly had I done so before a handkerchief was thrust between my lips, and stuffed the next instant half-way down my throat.”

Between preposition US /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading “Foolishly I opened my mouth to reply, but hardly had I done so before a handkerchief was thrust between my lips, and stuffed the next instant half-way down my throat.”

Done noun US /done/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Foolishly I opened my mouth to reply, but hardly had I done so before a handkerchief was thrust between my lips, and stuffed the next instant half-way down my throat.”

Fool noun US /fool/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"You noisy fool, Wright!" he said, still holding me in his iron grip.”

Half-way noun US /half-way/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Foolishly I opened my mouth to reply, but hardly had I done so before a handkerchief was thrust between my lips, and stuffed the next instant half-way down my throat.”

Next noun US /next/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Foolishly I opened my mouth to reply, but hardly had I done so before a handkerchief was thrust between my lips, and stuffed the next instant half-way down my throat.”

Outside noun US /ˈoutside/

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

From this reading “"I heard you ranting in the street outside."”

Still noun US /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"You noisy fool, Wright!" he said, still holding me in his iron grip.”

Throat noun US /θroʊt/

The passage at the back of the mouth.

From this reading “Foolishly I opened my mouth to reply, but hardly had I done so before a handkerchief was thrust between my lips, and stuffed the next instant half-way down my throat.”

All words in this reading · 52

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 MUTINY AND A MESMERIST.

Amauxiliary verbUS /æm/

the form of “be” used with “I”

From this reading Then, "Am I hurting you, Mr. Rissler?" he asked.

ANDconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading MUTINY AND A MESMERIST.

askednounUS /asked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Then, "Am I hurting you, Mr. Rissler?" he asked.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Foolishly I opened my mouth to reply, but hardly had I done so before a handkerchief was thrust between my lips, and stuffed the next instant half-way down my throat.

betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading Foolishly I opened my mouth to reply, but hardly had I done so before a handkerchief was thrust between my lips, and stuffed the next instant half-way down my throat.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Foolishly I opened my mouth to reply, but hardly had I done so before a handkerchief was thrust between my lips, and stuffed the next instant half-way down my throat.

donenounUS /done/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Foolishly I opened my mouth to reply, but hardly had I done so before a handkerchief was thrust between my lips, and stuffed the next instant half-way down my throat.

down

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

From this reading Foolishly I opened my mouth to reply, but hardly had I done so before a handkerchief was thrust between my lips, and stuffed the next instant half-way down my throat.

foolnounUS /fool/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "You noisy fool, Wright!" he said, still holding me in his iron grip.

Foolishly

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

From this reading Foolishly I opened my mouth to reply, but hardly had I done so before a handkerchief was thrust between my lips, and stuffed the next instant half-way down my throat.

grip

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

From this reading "You noisy fool, Wright!" he said, still holding me in his iron grip.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Foolishly I opened my mouth to reply, but hardly had I done so before a handkerchief was thrust between my lips, and stuffed the next instant half-way down my throat.

half-waynounUS /half-way/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Foolishly I opened my mouth to reply, but hardly had I done so before a handkerchief was thrust between my lips, and stuffed the next instant half-way down my throat.

handkerchief

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

From this reading Foolishly I opened my mouth to reply, but hardly had I done so before a handkerchief was thrust between my lips, and stuffed the next instant half-way down my throat.

hardly

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

From this reading Foolishly I opened my mouth to reply, but hardly had I done so before a handkerchief was thrust between my lips, and stuffed the next instant half-way down my throat.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading "You noisy fool, Wright!" he said, still holding me in his iron grip.

heard

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

From this reading "I heard you ranting in the street outside."

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading "You noisy fool, Wright!" he said, still holding me in his iron grip.

holding

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

From this reading "You noisy fool, Wright!" he said, still holding me in his iron grip.

hurting

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

From this reading Then, "Am I hurting you, Mr. Rissler?" he asked.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading "I heard you ranting in the street outside."

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading "You noisy fool, Wright!" he said, still holding me in his iron grip.

instant

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

From this reading Foolishly I opened my mouth to reply, but hardly had I done so before a handkerchief was thrust between my lips, and stuffed the next instant half-way down my throat.

iron

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

From this reading "You noisy fool, Wright!" he said, still holding me in his iron grip.

lips

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

From this reading Foolishly I opened my mouth to reply, but hardly had I done so before a handkerchief was thrust between my lips, and stuffed the next instant half-way down my throat.

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading "You noisy fool, Wright!" he said, still holding me in his iron grip.

MESMERIST

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

From this reading MUTINY AND A MESMERIST.

mouth

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

From this reading Foolishly I opened my mouth to reply, but hardly had I done so before a handkerchief was thrust between my lips, and stuffed the next instant half-way down my throat.

Mr

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

From this reading Then, "Am I hurting you, Mr. Rissler?" he asked.

MUTINY

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

From this reading MUTINY AND A MESMERIST.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading Foolishly I opened my mouth to reply, but hardly had I done so before a handkerchief was thrust between my lips, and stuffed the next instant half-way down my throat.

nextnounUS /next/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Foolishly I opened my mouth to reply, but hardly had I done so before a handkerchief was thrust between my lips, and stuffed the next instant half-way down my throat.

noisy

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

From this reading "You noisy fool, Wright!" he said, still holding me in his iron grip.

opened

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

From this reading Foolishly I opened my mouth to reply, but hardly had I done so before a handkerchief was thrust between my lips, and stuffed the next instant half-way down my throat.

outsidenounUS /ˈoutside/

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

From this reading "I heard you ranting in the street outside."

ranting

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

From this reading "I heard you ranting in the street outside."

reply

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

From this reading Foolishly I opened my mouth to reply, but hardly had I done so before a handkerchief was thrust between my lips, and stuffed the next instant half-way down my throat.

Rissler

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

From this reading Then, "Am I hurting you, Mr. Rissler?" he asked.

said

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

From this reading "You noisy fool, Wright!" he said, still holding me in his iron grip.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Foolishly I opened my mouth to reply, but hardly had I done so before a handkerchief was thrust between my lips, and stuffed the next instant half-way down my throat.

stillnounUS /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "You noisy fool, Wright!" he said, still holding me in his iron grip.

street

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

From this reading "I heard you ranting in the street outside."

stuffed

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

From this reading Foolishly I opened my mouth to reply, but hardly had I done so before a handkerchief was thrust between my lips, and stuffed the next instant half-way down my throat.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading "I heard you ranting in the street outside."

Then

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

From this reading Then, "Am I hurting you, Mr. Rissler?" he asked.

throatnounUS /θroʊt/

The passage at the back of the mouth.

From this reading Foolishly I opened my mouth to reply, but hardly had I done so before a handkerchief was thrust between my lips, and stuffed the next instant half-way down my throat.

thrust

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

From this reading Foolishly I opened my mouth to reply, but hardly had I done so before a handkerchief was thrust between my lips, and stuffed the next instant half-way down my throat.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Foolishly I opened my mouth to reply, but hardly had I done so before a handkerchief was thrust between my lips, and stuffed the next instant half-way down my throat.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Foolishly I opened my mouth to reply, but hardly had I done so before a handkerchief was thrust between my lips, and stuffed the next instant half-way down my throat.

Wright

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

From this reading "You noisy fool, Wright!" he said, still holding me in his iron grip.

YoupronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "You noisy fool, Wright!" he said, still holding me in his iron grip.