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The Jucklins: A Novel
The Jucklins: A Novel

Chapter I

Cover illustration for The Jucklins: A Novel
Context Illustration Reading 1/37 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."
I don't know why he should have called me lazy; I suppose it must have been on account of my awkwardness.
Lazy, why, I could sit all day and fish in one place and not get a bite, while my more industrious companions would, out of sheer exhaustion of patience, be compelled to move about; and I hold that patience is the very perfection of industry.
In the belief that I could never amount to anything I gradually approached my awkward manhood.
I grew fast, and I admit that I was always tired; and who is more weary than a sprout of a boy?
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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 Jucklins: A Novel

Chapter I

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

Line 1
The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."
Line 2
I don't know why he should have called me lazy; I suppose it must have been on account of my awkwardness.
Line 3
Lazy, why, I could sit all day and fish in one place and not get a bite, while my more industrious companions would, out of sheer exhaustion of patience, be compelled to move about; and I hold that patience is the very perfection of industry.
Line 4
In the belief that I could never amount to anything I gradually approached my awkward manhood.
Line 5
I grew fast, and I admit that I was always tired; and who is more weary than a sprout of a boy?

Learner Dictionary

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

About preposition US /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."”

Amount verb US /əˈmaʊnt/

to reach or total a particular quantity or value

From this reading “The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."”

Anything pronoun US /ˈeniθɪŋ/

any thing at all

From this reading “The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “I don't know why he should have called me lazy; I suppose it must have been on account of my awkwardness.”

Began noun US /began/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading “Lazy, why, I could sit all day and fish in one place and not get a bite, while my more industrious companions would, out of sheer exhaustion of patience, be compelled to move about; and I hold that patience is the very perfection of industry.”

Ever noun US /ever/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."”

Know noun US /know/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I don't know why he should have called me lazy; I suppose it must have been on account of my awkwardness.”

Life noun US /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."”

Make noun US /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."”

Must modal verb US /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading “I don't know why he should have called me lazy; I suppose it must have been on account of my awkwardness.”

Never noun US /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “In the belief that I could never amount to anything I gradually approached my awkward manhood.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “Lazy, why, I could sit all day and fish in one place and not get a bite, while my more industrious companions would, out of sheer exhaustion of patience, be compelled to move about; and I hold that patience is the very perfection of industry.”

Remember verb US /rɪˈmɛm.bər/

To recall to mind.

From this reading “The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."”

Suppose noun US /ˈsuppose/

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

From this reading “I don't know why he should have called me lazy; I suppose it must have been on account of my awkwardness.”

Think noun US /think/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."”

While conjunction US /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading “Lazy, why, I could sit all day and fish in one place and not get a bite, while my more industrious companions would, out of sheer exhaustion of patience, be compelled to move about; and I hold that patience is the very perfection of industry.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading “Lazy, why, I could sit all day and fish in one place and not get a bite, while my more industrious companions would, out of sheer exhaustion of patience, be compelled to move about; and I hold that patience is the very perfection of industry.”

All words in this reading · 102

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 The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."

account

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

From this reading I don't know why he should have called me lazy; I suppose it must have been on account of my awkwardness.

addressed

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

From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."

admit

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

From this reading I grew fast, and I admit that I was always tired; and who is more weary than a sprout of a boy?

all

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

From this reading Lazy, why, I could sit all day and fish in one place and not get a bite, while my more industrious companions would, out of sheer exhaustion of patience, be compelled to move about; and I hold that patience is the very perfection of industry.

always

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

From this reading I grew fast, and I admit that I was always tired; and who is more weary than a sprout of a boy?

amountverbUS /əˈmaʊnt/

to reach or total a particular quantity or value

From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."

anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/

any thing at all

From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."

approached

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

From this reading In the belief that I could never amount to anything I gradually approached my awkward manhood.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."

awkward

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

From this reading In the belief that I could never amount to anything I gradually approached my awkward manhood.

awkwardness

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

From this reading I don't know why he should have called me lazy; I suppose it must have been on account of my awkwardness.

back

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

From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading Lazy, why, I could sit all day and fish in one place and not get a bite, while my more industrious companions would, out of sheer exhaustion of patience, be compelled to move about; and I hold that patience is the very perfection of industry.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading I don't know why he should have called me lazy; I suppose it must have been on account of my awkwardness.

begannounUS /began/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."

belief

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

From this reading In the belief that I could never amount to anything I gradually approached my awkward manhood.

Bill

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

From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."

bite

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

From this reading Lazy, why, I could sit all day and fish in one place and not get a bite, while my more industrious companions would, out of sheer exhaustion of patience, be compelled to move about; and I hold that patience is the very perfection of industry.

boy

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

From this reading I grew fast, and I admit that I was always tired; and who is more weary than a sprout of a boy?

called

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

From this reading I don't know why he should have called me lazy; I suppose it must have been on account of my awkwardness.

canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."

companions

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

From this reading Lazy, why, I could sit all day and fish in one place and not get a bite, while my more industrious companions would, out of sheer exhaustion of patience, be compelled to move about; and I hold that patience is the very perfection of industry.

compelled

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

From this reading Lazy, why, I could sit all day and fish in one place and not get a bite, while my more industrious companions would, out of sheer exhaustion of patience, be compelled to move about; and I hold that patience is the very perfection of industry.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading Lazy, why, I could sit all day and fish in one place and not get a bite, while my more industrious companions would, out of sheer exhaustion of patience, be compelled to move about; and I hold that patience is the very perfection of industry.

day

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

From this reading Lazy, why, I could sit all day and fish in one place and not get a bite, while my more industrious companions would, out of sheer exhaustion of patience, be compelled to move about; and I hold that patience is the very perfection of industry.

don't

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

From this reading I don't know why he should have called me lazy; I suppose it must have been on account of my awkwardness.

evernounUS /ever/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."

exhaustion

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

From this reading Lazy, why, I could sit all day and fish in one place and not get a bite, while my more industrious companions would, out of sheer exhaustion of patience, be compelled to move about; and I hold that patience is the very perfection of industry.

family

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

From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."

far

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

From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."

fast

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

From this reading I grew fast, and I admit that I was always tired; and who is more weary than a sprout of a boy?

father

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

From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."

fish

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

From this reading Lazy, why, I could sit all day and fish in one place and not get a bite, while my more industrious companions would, out of sheer exhaustion of patience, be compelled to move about; and I hold that patience is the very perfection of industry.

get

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

From this reading Lazy, why, I could sit all day and fish in one place and not get a bite, while my more industrious companions would, out of sheer exhaustion of patience, be compelled to move about; and I hold that patience is the very perfection of industry.

gradually

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

From this reading In the belief that I could never amount to anything I gradually approached my awkward manhood.

grew

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

From this reading I grew fast, and I admit that I was always tired; and who is more weary than a sprout of a boy?

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading I don't know why he should have called me lazy; I suppose it must have been on account of my awkwardness.

hold

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

From this reading Lazy, why, I could sit all day and fish in one place and not get a bite, while my more industrious companions would, out of sheer exhaustion of patience, be compelled to move about; and I hold that patience is the very perfection of industry.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."

industrious

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

From this reading Lazy, why, I could sit all day and fish in one place and not get a bite, while my more industrious companions would, out of sheer exhaustion of patience, be compelled to move about; and I hold that patience is the very perfection of industry.

industry

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

From this reading Lazy, why, I could sit all day and fish in one place and not get a bite, while my more industrious companions would, out of sheer exhaustion of patience, be compelled to move about; and I hold that patience is the very perfection of industry.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading Lazy, why, I could sit all day and fish in one place and not get a bite, while my more industrious companions would, out of sheer exhaustion of patience, be compelled to move about; and I hold that patience is the very perfection of industry.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading I don't know why he should have called me lazy; I suppose it must have been on account of my awkwardness.

knownounUS /know/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading I don't know why he should have called me lazy; I suppose it must have been on account of my awkwardness.

laugh

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

From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."

lazy

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

From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."

lifenounUS /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."

makenounUS /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."

manhood

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

From this reading In the belief that I could never amount to anything I gradually approached my awkward manhood.

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."

more

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

From this reading Lazy, why, I could sit all day and fish in one place and not get a bite, while my more industrious companions would, out of sheer exhaustion of patience, be compelled to move about; and I hold that patience is the very perfection of industry.

move

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

From this reading Lazy, why, I could sit all day and fish in one place and not get a bite, while my more industrious companions would, out of sheer exhaustion of patience, be compelled to move about; and I hold that patience is the very perfection of industry.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading I don't know why he should have called me lazy; I suppose it must have been on account of my awkwardness.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."

neighbors

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

From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."

nevernounUS /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading In the belief that I could never amount to anything I gradually approached my awkward manhood.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Lazy, why, I could sit all day and fish in one place and not get a bite, while my more industrious companions would, out of sheer exhaustion of patience, be compelled to move about; and I hold that patience is the very perfection of industry.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading I don't know why he should have called me lazy; I suppose it must have been on account of my awkwardness.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Lazy, why, I could sit all day and fish in one place and not get a bite, while my more industrious companions would, out of sheer exhaustion of patience, be compelled to move about; and I hold that patience is the very perfection of industry.

ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."

out

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

From this reading Lazy, why, I could sit all day and fish in one place and not get a bite, while my more industrious companions would, out of sheer exhaustion of patience, be compelled to move about; and I hold that patience is the very perfection of industry.

patience

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

From this reading Lazy, why, I could sit all day and fish in one place and not get a bite, while my more industrious companions would, out of sheer exhaustion of patience, be compelled to move about; and I hold that patience is the very perfection of industry.

perfection

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

From this reading Lazy, why, I could sit all day and fish in one place and not get a bite, while my more industrious companions would, out of sheer exhaustion of patience, be compelled to move about; and I hold that patience is the very perfection of industry.

place

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

From this reading Lazy, why, I could sit all day and fish in one place and not get a bite, while my more industrious companions would, out of sheer exhaustion of patience, be compelled to move about; and I hold that patience is the very perfection of industry.

reckon

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

From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."

remark

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

From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."

rememberverbUS /rɪˈmɛm.bər/

To recall to mind.

From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."

school

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

From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."

serious

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

From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."

sheer

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

From this reading Lazy, why, I could sit all day and fish in one place and not get a bite, while my more industrious companions would, out of sheer exhaustion of patience, be compelled to move about; and I hold that patience is the very perfection of industry.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading I don't know why he should have called me lazy; I suppose it must have been on account of my awkwardness.

sit

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

From this reading Lazy, why, I could sit all day and fish in one place and not get a bite, while my more industrious companions would, out of sheer exhaustion of patience, be compelled to move about; and I hold that patience is the very perfection of industry.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."

sprout

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

From this reading I grew fast, and I admit that I was always tired; and who is more weary than a sprout of a boy?

supposenounUS /ˈsuppose/

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

From this reading I don't know why he should have called me lazy; I suppose it must have been on account of my awkwardness.

teacher

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

From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading I grew fast, and I admit that I was always tired; and who is more weary than a sprout of a boy?

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."

thinknounUS /think/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."

tired

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

From this reading I grew fast, and I admit that I was always tired; and who is more weary than a sprout of a boy?

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."

too

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

From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."

very

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

From this reading Lazy, why, I could sit all day and fish in one place and not get a bite, while my more industrious companions would, out of sheer exhaustion of patience, be compelled to move about; and I hold that patience is the very perfection of industry.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."

we'll

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

From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."

weary

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

From this reading I grew fast, and I admit that I was always tired; and who is more weary than a sprout of a boy?

whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading Lazy, why, I could sit all day and fish in one place and not get a bite, while my more industrious companions would, out of sheer exhaustion of patience, be compelled to move about; and I hold that patience is the very perfection of industry.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading I grew fast, and I admit that I was always tired; and who is more weary than a sprout of a boy?

why

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

From this reading I don't know why he should have called me lazy; I suppose it must have been on account of my awkwardness.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading Lazy, why, I could sit all day and fish in one place and not get a bite, while my more industrious companions would, out of sheer exhaustion of patience, be compelled to move about; and I hold that patience is the very perfection of industry.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading The neighbors and our family began to laugh at me about as far back as I can remember, and I think that the first serious remark my father ever addressed to me was, "Bill, you are too lazy to amount to anything in this life, so I reckon we'll have to make a school teacher of you."