adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Sitting at the bottom of the sand-trap, the memory of Watson’s Hotel, with its swinging punkahs, white-robed attendants, and the sallow-faced Armenian, rose up in my mind as vividly as a photograph, and I burst into a loud fit of laughter.
absurdadjectiveUS /əbˈsɜːrd/
inconsistent with reason or logic or common sense
From this reading The contrast was too absurd!
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Sitting at the bottom of the sand-trap, the memory of Watson’s Hotel, with its swinging punkahs, white-robed attendants, and the sallow-faced Armenian, rose up in my mind as vividly as a photograph, and I burst into a loud fit of laughter.
anyadjectiveUS /ˈeni/
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Hindus seldom laugh, and his surroundings were not such as to move Gunga Dass to any undue excess of hilarity.
ArmeniannounUS /ɑːrˈmiːniən/
a native or inhabitant of Armenia
From this reading Sitting at the bottom of the sand-trap, the memory of Watson’s Hotel, with its swinging punkahs, white-robed attendants, and the sallow-faced Armenian, rose up in my mind as vividly as a photograph, and I burst into a loud fit of laughter.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Sitting at the bottom of the sand-trap, the memory of Watson’s Hotel, with its swinging punkahs, white-robed attendants, and the sallow-faced Armenian, rose up in my mind as vividly as a photograph, and I burst into a loud fit of laughter.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Sitting at the bottom of the sand-trap, the memory of Watson’s Hotel, with its swinging punkahs, white-robed attendants, and the sallow-faced Armenian, rose up in my mind as vividly as a photograph, and I burst into a loud fit of laughter.
attendantsnounUS /əˈtendənts/
plural of “attendant” — someone who waits on or tends to or attends to the needs of another
From this reading Sitting at the bottom of the sand-trap, the memory of Watson’s Hotel, with its swinging punkahs, white-robed attendants, and the sallow-faced Armenian, rose up in my mind as vividly as a photograph, and I burst into a loud fit of laughter.
bentnounUS /bent/
a relatively permanent inclination to react in a particular way
From this reading Gunga Dass, as he bent over the unclean bird, watched me curiously.
birdnounUS /bɜːrd/
warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading Gunga Dass, as he bent over the unclean bird, watched me curiously.
bottomnounUS /ˈbɑːtəm/
the lower side of anything
From this reading Sitting at the bottom of the sand-trap, the memory of Watson’s Hotel, with its swinging punkahs, white-robed attendants, and the sallow-faced Armenian, rose up in my mind as vividly as a photograph, and I burst into a loud fit of laughter.
burstverbUS /bɜːrst/
come open suddenly and violently, as if from internal pressure
From this reading Sitting at the bottom of the sand-trap, the memory of Watson’s Hotel, with its swinging punkahs, white-robed attendants, and the sallow-faced Armenian, rose up in my mind as vividly as a photograph, and I burst into a loud fit of laughter.
contrastnounUS /ˈkɑːntræst/
the opposition or dissimilarity of things that are compared
From this reading The contrast was too absurd!
crowverbUS /kroʊ/
dwell on with satisfaction
From this reading He removed the crow solemnly from the wooden spit and as solemnly devoured it.
curiouslyadverbUS /ˈkjʊriəsli/
in a manner differing from the usual or expected
From this reading Gunga Dass, as he bent over the unclean bird, watched me curiously.
DassnounUS /dæs/
plural of “das” — any of several small ungulate mammals of Africa and Asia with rodent-like incisors and feet with hooflike toes
From this reading Gunga Dass, as he bent over the unclean bird, watched me curiously.
devouredverbUS /dɪˈvaʊərd/
past form of “devour” — destroy completely
From this reading He removed the crow solemnly from the wooden spit and as solemnly devoured it.
excessnounUS /ˈekses/
a quantity much larger than is needed
From this reading Hindus seldom laugh, and his surroundings were not such as to move Gunga Dass to any undue excess of hilarity.
fitverbUS /fɪt/
be agreeable or acceptable to
From this reading Sitting at the bottom of the sand-trap, the memory of Watson’s Hotel, with its swinging punkahs, white-robed attendants, and the sallow-faced Armenian, rose up in my mind as vividly as a photograph, and I burst into a loud fit of laughter.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He removed the crow solemnly from the wooden spit and as solemnly devoured it.
Gunga
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gunga Dass, as he bent over the unclean bird, watched me curiously.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Gunga Dass, as he bent over the unclean bird, watched me curiously.
hilaritynounUS /hɪˈlerəti/
great merriment
From this reading Hindus seldom laugh, and his surroundings were not such as to move Gunga Dass to any undue excess of hilarity.
HindusnounUS /ˈhɪnduːz/
plural of “hindu” — a native or inhabitant of Hindustan or India
From this reading Hindus seldom laugh, and his surroundings were not such as to move Gunga Dass to any undue excess of hilarity.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Hindus seldom laugh, and his surroundings were not such as to move Gunga Dass to any undue excess of hilarity.
HotelnounUS /hoʊˈtel/
a building where travelers can pay for lodging and meals and other services
From this reading Sitting at the bottom of the sand-trap, the memory of Watson’s Hotel, with its swinging punkahs, white-robed attendants, and the sallow-faced Armenian, rose up in my mind as vividly as a photograph, and I burst into a loud fit of laughter.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Sitting at the bottom of the sand-trap, the memory of Watson’s Hotel, with its swinging punkahs, white-robed attendants, and the sallow-faced Armenian, rose up in my mind as vividly as a photograph, and I burst into a loud fit of laughter.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Sitting at the bottom of the sand-trap, the memory of Watson’s Hotel, with its swinging punkahs, white-robed attendants, and the sallow-faced Armenian, rose up in my mind as vividly as a photograph, and I burst into a loud fit of laughter.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Sitting at the bottom of the sand-trap, the memory of Watson’s Hotel, with its swinging punkahs, white-robed attendants, and the sallow-faced Armenian, rose up in my mind as vividly as a photograph, and I burst into a loud fit of laughter.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He removed the crow solemnly from the wooden spit and as solemnly devoured it.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Sitting at the bottom of the sand-trap, the memory of Watson’s Hotel, with its swinging punkahs, white-robed attendants, and the sallow-faced Armenian, rose up in my mind as vividly as a photograph, and I burst into a loud fit of laughter.
laughnounUS /læf/
the sound of laughing
From this reading Hindus seldom laugh, and his surroundings were not such as to move Gunga Dass to any undue excess of hilarity.
laughternounUS /ˈlæftər/
the sound of laughing
From this reading Sitting at the bottom of the sand-trap, the memory of Watson’s Hotel, with its swinging punkahs, white-robed attendants, and the sallow-faced Armenian, rose up in my mind as vividly as a photograph, and I burst into a loud fit of laughter.
loudadjectiveUS /laʊd/
characterized by or producing sound of great volume or intensity
From this reading Sitting at the bottom of the sand-trap, the memory of Watson’s Hotel, with its swinging punkahs, white-robed attendants, and the sallow-faced Armenian, rose up in my mind as vividly as a photograph, and I burst into a loud fit of laughter.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Gunga Dass, as he bent over the unclean bird, watched me curiously.
memorynounUS /ˈmem.ər.i/
The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.
From this reading Sitting at the bottom of the sand-trap, the memory of Watson’s Hotel, with its swinging punkahs, white-robed attendants, and the sallow-faced Armenian, rose up in my mind as vividly as a photograph, and I burst into a loud fit of laughter.
mindnounUS /maɪnd/
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading Sitting at the bottom of the sand-trap, the memory of Watson’s Hotel, with its swinging punkahs, white-robed attendants, and the sallow-faced Armenian, rose up in my mind as vividly as a photograph, and I burst into a loud fit of laughter.
moveverbUS /muːv/
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Hindus seldom laugh, and his surroundings were not such as to move Gunga Dass to any undue excess of hilarity.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Sitting at the bottom of the sand-trap, the memory of Watson’s Hotel, with its swinging punkahs, white-robed attendants, and the sallow-faced Armenian, rose up in my mind as vividly as a photograph, and I burst into a loud fit of laughter.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Hindus seldom laugh, and his surroundings were not such as to move Gunga Dass to any undue excess of hilarity.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Sitting at the bottom of the sand-trap, the memory of Watson’s Hotel, with its swinging punkahs, white-robed attendants, and the sallow-faced Armenian, rose up in my mind as vividly as a photograph, and I burst into a loud fit of laughter.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Gunga Dass, as he bent over the unclean bird, watched me curiously.
photographverbUS /ˈfoʊtəɡræf/
record on photographic film
From this reading Sitting at the bottom of the sand-trap, the memory of Watson’s Hotel, with its swinging punkahs, white-robed attendants, and the sallow-faced Armenian, rose up in my mind as vividly as a photograph, and I burst into a loud fit of laughter.
punkahs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sitting at the bottom of the sand-trap, the memory of Watson’s Hotel, with its swinging punkahs, white-robed attendants, and the sallow-faced Armenian, rose up in my mind as vividly as a photograph, and I burst into a loud fit of laughter.
removedadjectiveUS /riˈmuːvd/
separated in relationship by a given degree of descent
From this reading He removed the crow solemnly from the wooden spit and as solemnly devoured it.
rosenounUS /roʊz/
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading Sitting at the bottom of the sand-trap, the memory of Watson’s Hotel, with its swinging punkahs, white-robed attendants, and the sallow-faced Armenian, rose up in my mind as vividly as a photograph, and I burst into a loud fit of laughter.
sallow-faced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sitting at the bottom of the sand-trap, the memory of Watson’s Hotel, with its swinging punkahs, white-robed attendants, and the sallow-faced Armenian, rose up in my mind as vividly as a photograph, and I burst into a loud fit of laughter.
sand-trap
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sitting at the bottom of the sand-trap, the memory of Watson’s Hotel, with its swinging punkahs, white-robed attendants, and the sallow-faced Armenian, rose up in my mind as vividly as a photograph, and I burst into a loud fit of laughter.
seldomadverbUS /ˈseldəm/
not often
From this reading Hindus seldom laugh, and his surroundings were not such as to move Gunga Dass to any undue excess of hilarity.
SittingnounUS /ˈsɪtɪŋ/
(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)
From this reading Sitting at the bottom of the sand-trap, the memory of Watson’s Hotel, with its swinging punkahs, white-robed attendants, and the sallow-faced Armenian, rose up in my mind as vividly as a photograph, and I burst into a loud fit of laughter.
solemnlyadverbUS /ˈsɔːləmli/
in a grave and sedate manner
From this reading He removed the crow solemnly from the wooden spit and as solemnly devoured it.
spitverbUS /spɪt/
expel or eject (saliva or phlegm or sputum) from the mouth
From this reading He removed the crow solemnly from the wooden spit and as solemnly devoured it.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Hindus seldom laugh, and his surroundings were not such as to move Gunga Dass to any undue excess of hilarity.
surroundingsnounUS /sərˈaʊndɪŋz/
the environmental condition
From this reading Hindus seldom laugh, and his surroundings were not such as to move Gunga Dass to any undue excess of hilarity.
swingingnounUS /ˈswɪŋɪŋ/
changing location by moving back and forth
From this reading Sitting at the bottom of the sand-trap, the memory of Watson’s Hotel, with its swinging punkahs, white-robed attendants, and the sallow-faced Armenian, rose up in my mind as vividly as a photograph, and I burst into a loud fit of laughter.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Sitting at the bottom of the sand-trap, the memory of Watson’s Hotel, with its swinging punkahs, white-robed attendants, and the sallow-faced Armenian, rose up in my mind as vividly as a photograph, and I burst into a loud fit of laughter.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Hindus seldom laugh, and his surroundings were not such as to move Gunga Dass to any undue excess of hilarity.
tooadverbUS /tuː/
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading The contrast was too absurd!
uncleanadjectiveUS /ənˈkliːn/
soiled or likely to soil with dirt or grime
From this reading Gunga Dass, as he bent over the unclean bird, watched me curiously.
undueadjectiveUS /ənˈduː/
not yet payable
From this reading Hindus seldom laugh, and his surroundings were not such as to move Gunga Dass to any undue excess of hilarity.
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Sitting at the bottom of the sand-trap, the memory of Watson’s Hotel, with its swinging punkahs, white-robed attendants, and the sallow-faced Armenian, rose up in my mind as vividly as a photograph, and I burst into a loud fit of laughter.
vividlyadverbUS /ˈvɪvədli/
in a vivid manner
From this reading Sitting at the bottom of the sand-trap, the memory of Watson’s Hotel, with its swinging punkahs, white-robed attendants, and the sallow-faced Armenian, rose up in my mind as vividly as a photograph, and I burst into a loud fit of laughter.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The contrast was too absurd!
watchedverbUS /wɑːtʃt/
past form of “watch” — look attentively
From this reading Gunga Dass, as he bent over the unclean bird, watched me curiously.
Watson'snounUS /ˈwɑːtsənz/
possessive form of “watson” — United States telephone engineer who assisted Alexander Graham Bell in his experiments (1854-1934)
From this reading Sitting at the bottom of the sand-trap, the memory of Watson’s Hotel, with its swinging punkahs, white-robed attendants, and the sallow-faced Armenian, rose up in my mind as vividly as a photograph, and I burst into a loud fit of laughter.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Hindus seldom laugh, and his surroundings were not such as to move Gunga Dass to any undue excess of hilarity.
white-robed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sitting at the bottom of the sand-trap, the memory of Watson’s Hotel, with its swinging punkahs, white-robed attendants, and the sallow-faced Armenian, rose up in my mind as vividly as a photograph, and I burst into a loud fit of laughter.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Sitting at the bottom of the sand-trap, the memory of Watson’s Hotel, with its swinging punkahs, white-robed attendants, and the sallow-faced Armenian, rose up in my mind as vividly as a photograph, and I burst into a loud fit of laughter.
woodenadjectiveUS /ˈwʊdən/
made or consisting of (entirely or in part) or employing wood
From this reading He removed the crow solemnly from the wooden spit and as solemnly devoured it.
