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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 said to the child, to whom he had sacrificed barley-sugar (it had no attraction for his own lips, yet in these days there was always some of it about), he had confided to the small Sidney that if he would wait a little he should be intrusted with something nice to take down to his parent.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading He had said to the child, to whom he had sacrificed barley-sugar (it had no attraction for his own lips, yet in these days there was always some of it about), he had confided to the small Sidney that if he would wait a little he should be intrusted with something nice to take down to his parent.
absorbing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sidney had absorbing occupation and, while Peter copied off the song in a pretty hand, roamed, gurgling and sticky, about the room.
always
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had said to the child, to whom he had sacrificed barley-sugar (it had no attraction for his own lips, yet in these days there was always some of it about), he had confided to the small Sidney that if he would wait a little he should be intrusted with something nice to take down to his parent.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading At the moment Sidney committed this violence his kind friend had happened to raise the lid of the desk and, with his head beneath it, was rummaging among a mass of papers for a proper envelope.
ancientadjectiveUS /ˈeɪn.ʃənt/
Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.
From this reading “I say, I say, my boy!” he exclaimed, solicitous for the ancient glaze of his most cherished possession.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Sidney had absorbing occupation and, while Peter copied off the song in a pretty hand, roamed, gurgling and sticky, about the room.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading In this manner he lurched like a little toper into the rear of the davenport, which stood a few steps out from the recess of the window, and, as he was fond of beating time to his intensest joys, began to bang on the surface of it with a paper-knife which at that spot had chanced to fall upon the floor.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading In this manner he lurched like a little toper into the rear of the davenport, which stood a few steps out from the recess of the window, and, as he was fond of beating time to his intensest joys, began to bang on the surface of it with a paper-knife which at that spot had chanced to fall upon the floor.
attraction
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had said to the child, to whom he had sacrificed barley-sugar (it had no attraction for his own lips, yet in these days there was always some of it about), he had confided to the small Sidney that if he would wait a little he should be intrusted with something nice to take down to his parent.
bang
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In this manner he lurched like a little toper into the rear of the davenport, which stood a few steps out from the recess of the window, and, as he was fond of beating time to his intensest joys, began to bang on the surface of it with a paper-knife which at that spot had chanced to fall upon the floor.
barley-sugar
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had said to the child, to whom he had sacrificed barley-sugar (it had no attraction for his own lips, yet in these days there was always some of it about), he had confided to the small Sidney that if he would wait a little he should be intrusted with something nice to take down to his parent.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He had said to the child, to whom he had sacrificed barley-sugar (it had no attraction for his own lips, yet in these days there was always some of it about), he had confided to the small Sidney that if he would wait a little he should be intrusted with something nice to take down to his parent.
beating
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In this manner he lurched like a little toper into the rear of the davenport, which stood a few steps out from the recess of the window, and, as he was fond of beating time to his intensest joys, began to bang on the surface of it with a paper-knife which at that spot had chanced to fall upon the floor.
begannounUS /began/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In this manner he lurched like a little toper into the rear of the davenport, which stood a few steps out from the recess of the window, and, as he was fond of beating time to his intensest joys, began to bang on the surface of it with a paper-knife which at that spot had chanced to fall upon the floor.
beneathprepositionUS /bɪˈniːθ/
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading At the moment Sidney committed this violence his kind friend had happened to raise the lid of the desk and, with his head beneath it, was rummaging among a mass of papers for a proper envelope.
boy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I say, I say, my boy!” he exclaimed, solicitous for the ancient glaze of his most cherished possession.
chanced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In this manner he lurched like a little toper into the rear of the davenport, which stood a few steps out from the recess of the window, and, as he was fond of beating time to his intensest joys, began to bang on the surface of it with a paper-knife which at that spot had chanced to fall upon the floor.
cherished
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I say, I say, my boy!” he exclaimed, solicitous for the ancient glaze of his most cherished possession.
child
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had said to the child, to whom he had sacrificed barley-sugar (it had no attraction for his own lips, yet in these days there was always some of it about), he had confided to the small Sidney that if he would wait a little he should be intrusted with something nice to take down to his parent.
committed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the moment Sidney committed this violence his kind friend had happened to raise the lid of the desk and, with his head beneath it, was rummaging among a mass of papers for a proper envelope.
confided
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had said to the child, to whom he had sacrificed barley-sugar (it had no attraction for his own lips, yet in these days there was always some of it about), he had confided to the small Sidney that if he would wait a little he should be intrusted with something nice to take down to his parent.
copied
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sidney had absorbing occupation and, while Peter copied off the song in a pretty hand, roamed, gurgling and sticky, about the room.
davenport
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In this manner he lurched like a little toper into the rear of the davenport, which stood a few steps out from the recess of the window, and, as he was fond of beating time to his intensest joys, began to bang on the surface of it with a paper-knife which at that spot had chanced to fall upon the floor.
days
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had said to the child, to whom he had sacrificed barley-sugar (it had no attraction for his own lips, yet in these days there was always some of it about), he had confided to the small Sidney that if he would wait a little he should be intrusted with something nice to take down to his parent.
desk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the moment Sidney committed this violence his kind friend had happened to raise the lid of the desk and, with his head beneath it, was rummaging among a mass of papers for a proper envelope.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had said to the child, to whom he had sacrificed barley-sugar (it had no attraction for his own lips, yet in these days there was always some of it about), he had confided to the small Sidney that if he would wait a little he should be intrusted with something nice to take down to his parent.
envelope
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the moment Sidney committed this violence his kind friend had happened to raise the lid of the desk and, with his head beneath it, was rummaging among a mass of papers for a proper envelope.
exclaimed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I say, I say, my boy!” he exclaimed, solicitous for the ancient glaze of his most cherished possession.
fall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In this manner he lurched like a little toper into the rear of the davenport, which stood a few steps out from the recess of the window, and, as he was fond of beating time to his intensest joys, began to bang on the surface of it with a paper-knife which at that spot had chanced to fall upon the floor.
few
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In this manner he lurched like a little toper into the rear of the davenport, which stood a few steps out from the recess of the window, and, as he was fond of beating time to his intensest joys, began to bang on the surface of it with a paper-knife which at that spot had chanced to fall upon the floor.
floor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In this manner he lurched like a little toper into the rear of the davenport, which stood a few steps out from the recess of the window, and, as he was fond of beating time to his intensest joys, began to bang on the surface of it with a paper-knife which at that spot had chanced to fall upon the floor.
fond
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In this manner he lurched like a little toper into the rear of the davenport, which stood a few steps out from the recess of the window, and, as he was fond of beating time to his intensest joys, began to bang on the surface of it with a paper-knife which at that spot had chanced to fall upon the floor.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He had said to the child, to whom he had sacrificed barley-sugar (it had no attraction for his own lips, yet in these days there was always some of it about), he had confided to the small Sidney that if he would wait a little he should be intrusted with something nice to take down to his parent.
friend
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the moment Sidney committed this violence his kind friend had happened to raise the lid of the desk and, with his head beneath it, was rummaging among a mass of papers for a proper envelope.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading In this manner he lurched like a little toper into the rear of the davenport, which stood a few steps out from the recess of the window, and, as he was fond of beating time to his intensest joys, began to bang on the surface of it with a paper-knife which at that spot had chanced to fall upon the floor.
glaze
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I say, I say, my boy!” he exclaimed, solicitous for the ancient glaze of his most cherished possession.
gurgling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sidney had absorbing occupation and, while Peter copied off the song in a pretty hand, roamed, gurgling and sticky, about the room.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had said to the child, to whom he had sacrificed barley-sugar (it had no attraction for his own lips, yet in these days there was always some of it about), he had confided to the small Sidney that if he would wait a little he should be intrusted with something nice to take down to his parent.
hand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sidney had absorbing occupation and, while Peter copied off the song in a pretty hand, roamed, gurgling and sticky, about the room.
happened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the moment Sidney committed this violence his kind friend had happened to raise the lid of the desk and, with his head beneath it, was rummaging among a mass of papers for a proper envelope.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had said to the child, to whom he had sacrificed barley-sugar (it had no attraction for his own lips, yet in these days there was always some of it about), he had confided to the small Sidney that if he would wait a little he should be intrusted with something nice to take down to his parent.
head
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the moment Sidney committed this violence his kind friend had happened to raise the lid of the desk and, with his head beneath it, was rummaging among a mass of papers for a proper envelope.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He had said to the child, to whom he had sacrificed barley-sugar (it had no attraction for his own lips, yet in these days there was always some of it about), he had confided to the small Sidney that if he would wait a little he should be intrusted with something nice to take down to his parent.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I say, I say, my boy!” he exclaimed, solicitous for the ancient glaze of his most cherished possession.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading He had said to the child, to whom he had sacrificed barley-sugar (it had no attraction for his own lips, yet in these days there was always some of it about), he had confided to the small Sidney that if he would wait a little he should be intrusted with something nice to take down to his parent.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He had said to the child, to whom he had sacrificed barley-sugar (it had no attraction for his own lips, yet in these days there was always some of it about), he had confided to the small Sidney that if he would wait a little he should be intrusted with something nice to take down to his parent.
intensest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In this manner he lurched like a little toper into the rear of the davenport, which stood a few steps out from the recess of the window, and, as he was fond of beating time to his intensest joys, began to bang on the surface of it with a paper-knife which at that spot had chanced to fall upon the floor.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading In this manner he lurched like a little toper into the rear of the davenport, which stood a few steps out from the recess of the window, and, as he was fond of beating time to his intensest joys, began to bang on the surface of it with a paper-knife which at that spot had chanced to fall upon the floor.
intrusted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had said to the child, to whom he had sacrificed barley-sugar (it had no attraction for his own lips, yet in these days there was always some of it about), he had confided to the small Sidney that if he would wait a little he should be intrusted with something nice to take down to his parent.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He had said to the child, to whom he had sacrificed barley-sugar (it had no attraction for his own lips, yet in these days there was always some of it about), he had confided to the small Sidney that if he would wait a little he should be intrusted with something nice to take down to his parent.
joys
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In this manner he lurched like a little toper into the rear of the davenport, which stood a few steps out from the recess of the window, and, as he was fond of beating time to his intensest joys, began to bang on the surface of it with a paper-knife which at that spot had chanced to fall upon the floor.
kind
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the moment Sidney committed this violence his kind friend had happened to raise the lid of the desk and, with his head beneath it, was rummaging among a mass of papers for a proper envelope.
lid
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the moment Sidney committed this violence his kind friend had happened to raise the lid of the desk and, with his head beneath it, was rummaging among a mass of papers for a proper envelope.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In this manner he lurched like a little toper into the rear of the davenport, which stood a few steps out from the recess of the window, and, as he was fond of beating time to his intensest joys, began to bang on the surface of it with a paper-knife which at that spot had chanced to fall upon the floor.
lips
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had said to the child, to whom he had sacrificed barley-sugar (it had no attraction for his own lips, yet in these days there was always some of it about), he had confided to the small Sidney that if he would wait a little he should be intrusted with something nice to take down to his parent.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He had said to the child, to whom he had sacrificed barley-sugar (it had no attraction for his own lips, yet in these days there was always some of it about), he had confided to the small Sidney that if he would wait a little he should be intrusted with something nice to take down to his parent.
lurched
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In this manner he lurched like a little toper into the rear of the davenport, which stood a few steps out from the recess of the window, and, as he was fond of beating time to his intensest joys, began to bang on the surface of it with a paper-knife which at that spot had chanced to fall upon the floor.
manner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In this manner he lurched like a little toper into the rear of the davenport, which stood a few steps out from the recess of the window, and, as he was fond of beating time to his intensest joys, began to bang on the surface of it with a paper-knife which at that spot had chanced to fall upon the floor.
mass
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the moment Sidney committed this violence his kind friend had happened to raise the lid of the desk and, with his head beneath it, was rummaging among a mass of papers for a proper envelope.
moment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the moment Sidney committed this violence his kind friend had happened to raise the lid of the desk and, with his head beneath it, was rummaging among a mass of papers for a proper envelope.
most
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I say, I say, my boy!” he exclaimed, solicitous for the ancient glaze of his most cherished possession.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “I say, I say, my boy!” he exclaimed, solicitous for the ancient glaze of his most cherished possession.
nice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had said to the child, to whom he had sacrificed barley-sugar (it had no attraction for his own lips, yet in these days there was always some of it about), he had confided to the small Sidney that if he would wait a little he should be intrusted with something nice to take down to his parent.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading He had said to the child, to whom he had sacrificed barley-sugar (it had no attraction for his own lips, yet in these days there was always some of it about), he had confided to the small Sidney that if he would wait a little he should be intrusted with something nice to take down to his parent.
occupation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sidney had absorbing occupation and, while Peter copied off the song in a pretty hand, roamed, gurgling and sticky, about the room.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He had said to the child, to whom he had sacrificed barley-sugar (it had no attraction for his own lips, yet in these days there was always some of it about), he had confided to the small Sidney that if he would wait a little he should be intrusted with something nice to take down to his parent.
off
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sidney had absorbing occupation and, while Peter copied off the song in a pretty hand, roamed, gurgling and sticky, about the room.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading In this manner he lurched like a little toper into the rear of the davenport, which stood a few steps out from the recess of the window, and, as he was fond of beating time to his intensest joys, began to bang on the surface of it with a paper-knife which at that spot had chanced to fall upon the floor.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In this manner he lurched like a little toper into the rear of the davenport, which stood a few steps out from the recess of the window, and, as he was fond of beating time to his intensest joys, began to bang on the surface of it with a paper-knife which at that spot had chanced to fall upon the floor.
own
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had said to the child, to whom he had sacrificed barley-sugar (it had no attraction for his own lips, yet in these days there was always some of it about), he had confided to the small Sidney that if he would wait a little he should be intrusted with something nice to take down to his parent.
paper-knife
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In this manner he lurched like a little toper into the rear of the davenport, which stood a few steps out from the recess of the window, and, as he was fond of beating time to his intensest joys, began to bang on the surface of it with a paper-knife which at that spot had chanced to fall upon the floor.
papers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the moment Sidney committed this violence his kind friend had happened to raise the lid of the desk and, with his head beneath it, was rummaging among a mass of papers for a proper envelope.
parent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had said to the child, to whom he had sacrificed barley-sugar (it had no attraction for his own lips, yet in these days there was always some of it about), he had confided to the small Sidney that if he would wait a little he should be intrusted with something nice to take down to his parent.
Peter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sidney had absorbing occupation and, while Peter copied off the song in a pretty hand, roamed, gurgling and sticky, about the room.
possession
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I say, I say, my boy!” he exclaimed, solicitous for the ancient glaze of his most cherished possession.
pretty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sidney had absorbing occupation and, while Peter copied off the song in a pretty hand, roamed, gurgling and sticky, about the room.
proper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the moment Sidney committed this violence his kind friend had happened to raise the lid of the desk and, with his head beneath it, was rummaging among a mass of papers for a proper envelope.
raise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the moment Sidney committed this violence his kind friend had happened to raise the lid of the desk and, with his head beneath it, was rummaging among a mass of papers for a proper envelope.
rear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In this manner he lurched like a little toper into the rear of the davenport, which stood a few steps out from the recess of the window, and, as he was fond of beating time to his intensest joys, began to bang on the surface of it with a paper-knife which at that spot had chanced to fall upon the floor.
recess
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In this manner he lurched like a little toper into the rear of the davenport, which stood a few steps out from the recess of the window, and, as he was fond of beating time to his intensest joys, began to bang on the surface of it with a paper-knife which at that spot had chanced to fall upon the floor.
roamed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sidney had absorbing occupation and, while Peter copied off the song in a pretty hand, roamed, gurgling and sticky, about the room.
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sidney had absorbing occupation and, while Peter copied off the song in a pretty hand, roamed, gurgling and sticky, about the room.
rummaging
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the moment Sidney committed this violence his kind friend had happened to raise the lid of the desk and, with his head beneath it, was rummaging among a mass of papers for a proper envelope.
sacrificed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had said to the child, to whom he had sacrificed barley-sugar (it had no attraction for his own lips, yet in these days there was always some of it about), he had confided to the small Sidney that if he would wait a little he should be intrusted with something nice to take down to his parent.
said
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had said to the child, to whom he had sacrificed barley-sugar (it had no attraction for his own lips, yet in these days there was always some of it about), he had confided to the small Sidney that if he would wait a little he should be intrusted with something nice to take down to his parent.
say
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I say, I say, my boy!” he exclaimed, solicitous for the ancient glaze of his most cherished possession.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading He had said to the child, to whom he had sacrificed barley-sugar (it had no attraction for his own lips, yet in these days there was always some of it about), he had confided to the small Sidney that if he would wait a little he should be intrusted with something nice to take down to his parent.
Sidney
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had said to the child, to whom he had sacrificed barley-sugar (it had no attraction for his own lips, yet in these days there was always some of it about), he had confided to the small Sidney that if he would wait a little he should be intrusted with something nice to take down to his parent.
small
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had said to the child, to whom he had sacrificed barley-sugar (it had no attraction for his own lips, yet in these days there was always some of it about), he had confided to the small Sidney that if he would wait a little he should be intrusted with something nice to take down to his parent.
solicitous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I say, I say, my boy!” he exclaimed, solicitous for the ancient glaze of his most cherished possession.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had said to the child, to whom he had sacrificed barley-sugar (it had no attraction for his own lips, yet in these days there was always some of it about), he had confided to the small Sidney that if he would wait a little he should be intrusted with something nice to take down to his parent.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading He had said to the child, to whom he had sacrificed barley-sugar (it had no attraction for his own lips, yet in these days there was always some of it about), he had confided to the small Sidney that if he would wait a little he should be intrusted with something nice to take down to his parent.
song
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sidney had absorbing occupation and, while Peter copied off the song in a pretty hand, roamed, gurgling and sticky, about the room.
spot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In this manner he lurched like a little toper into the rear of the davenport, which stood a few steps out from the recess of the window, and, as he was fond of beating time to his intensest joys, began to bang on the surface of it with a paper-knife which at that spot had chanced to fall upon the floor.
steps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In this manner he lurched like a little toper into the rear of the davenport, which stood a few steps out from the recess of the window, and, as he was fond of beating time to his intensest joys, began to bang on the surface of it with a paper-knife which at that spot had chanced to fall upon the floor.
sticky
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sidney had absorbing occupation and, while Peter copied off the song in a pretty hand, roamed, gurgling and sticky, about the room.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In this manner he lurched like a little toper into the rear of the davenport, which stood a few steps out from the recess of the window, and, as he was fond of beating time to his intensest joys, began to bang on the surface of it with a paper-knife which at that spot had chanced to fall upon the floor.
surface
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In this manner he lurched like a little toper into the rear of the davenport, which stood a few steps out from the recess of the window, and, as he was fond of beating time to his intensest joys, began to bang on the surface of it with a paper-knife which at that spot had chanced to fall upon the floor.
takenounUS /take/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He had said to the child, to whom he had sacrificed barley-sugar (it had no attraction for his own lips, yet in these days there was always some of it about), he had confided to the small Sidney that if he would wait a little he should be intrusted with something nice to take down to his parent.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He had said to the child, to whom he had sacrificed barley-sugar (it had no attraction for his own lips, yet in these days there was always some of it about), he had confided to the small Sidney that if he would wait a little he should be intrusted with something nice to take down to his parent.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He had said to the child, to whom he had sacrificed barley-sugar (it had no attraction for his own lips, yet in these days there was always some of it about), he had confided to the small Sidney that if he would wait a little he should be intrusted with something nice to take down to his parent.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had said to the child, to whom he had sacrificed barley-sugar (it had no attraction for his own lips, yet in these days there was always some of it about), he had confided to the small Sidney that if he would wait a little he should be intrusted with something nice to take down to his parent.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading He had said to the child, to whom he had sacrificed barley-sugar (it had no attraction for his own lips, yet in these days there was always some of it about), he had confided to the small Sidney that if he would wait a little he should be intrusted with something nice to take down to his parent.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading In this manner he lurched like a little toper into the rear of the davenport, which stood a few steps out from the recess of the window, and, as he was fond of beating time to his intensest joys, began to bang on the surface of it with a paper-knife which at that spot had chanced to fall upon the floor.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In this manner he lurched like a little toper into the rear of the davenport, which stood a few steps out from the recess of the window, and, as he was fond of beating time to his intensest joys, began to bang on the surface of it with a paper-knife which at that spot had chanced to fall upon the floor.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He had said to the child, to whom he had sacrificed barley-sugar (it had no attraction for his own lips, yet in these days there was always some of it about), he had confided to the small Sidney that if he would wait a little he should be intrusted with something nice to take down to his parent.
toper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In this manner he lurched like a little toper into the rear of the davenport, which stood a few steps out from the recess of the window, and, as he was fond of beating time to his intensest joys, began to bang on the surface of it with a paper-knife which at that spot had chanced to fall upon the floor.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading In this manner he lurched like a little toper into the rear of the davenport, which stood a few steps out from the recess of the window, and, as he was fond of beating time to his intensest joys, began to bang on the surface of it with a paper-knife which at that spot had chanced to fall upon the floor.
violence
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the moment Sidney committed this violence his kind friend had happened to raise the lid of the desk and, with his head beneath it, was rummaging among a mass of papers for a proper envelope.
wait
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had said to the child, to whom he had sacrificed barley-sugar (it had no attraction for his own lips, yet in these days there was always some of it about), he had confided to the small Sidney that if he would wait a little he should be intrusted with something nice to take down to his parent.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He had said to the child, to whom he had sacrificed barley-sugar (it had no attraction for his own lips, yet in these days there was always some of it about), he had confided to the small Sidney that if he would wait a little he should be intrusted with something nice to take down to his parent.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading In this manner he lurched like a little toper into the rear of the davenport, which stood a few steps out from the recess of the window, and, as he was fond of beating time to his intensest joys, began to bang on the surface of it with a paper-knife which at that spot had chanced to fall upon the floor.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Sidney had absorbing occupation and, while Peter copied off the song in a pretty hand, roamed, gurgling and sticky, about the room.
whompronounUS /huːm/
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He had said to the child, to whom he had sacrificed barley-sugar (it had no attraction for his own lips, yet in these days there was always some of it about), he had confided to the small Sidney that if he would wait a little he should be intrusted with something nice to take down to his parent.
window
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In this manner he lurched like a little toper into the rear of the davenport, which stood a few steps out from the recess of the window, and, as he was fond of beating time to his intensest joys, began to bang on the surface of it with a paper-knife which at that spot had chanced to fall upon the floor.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading He had said to the child, to whom he had sacrificed barley-sugar (it had no attraction for his own lips, yet in these days there was always some of it about), he had confided to the small Sidney that if he would wait a little he should be intrusted with something nice to take down to his parent.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He had said to the child, to whom he had sacrificed barley-sugar (it had no attraction for his own lips, yet in these days there was always some of it about), he had confided to the small Sidney that if he would wait a little he should be intrusted with something nice to take down to his parent.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading He had said to the child, to whom he had sacrificed barley-sugar (it had no attraction for his own lips, yet in these days there was always some of it about), he had confided to the small Sidney that if he would wait a little he should be intrusted with something nice to take down to his parent.
