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 CHINAMAN'S SHOP Bill Bigs met a good many Chinamen, and had dealings with them, always finding them keen business fellows, moderately honest, though some were arrant rogues.
always
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE CHINAMAN'S SHOP Bill Bigs met a good many Chinamen, and had dealings with them, always finding them keen business fellows, moderately honest, though some were arrant rogues.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading He saw three tea chests, which he guessed were empty, a couple of Chinese bowls, a vase with strange hideous dragons painted or burnt on, an ivory-handled stick, a hat, a pile of chop-sticks, a bundle of red papers, and a cat slumbering serenely among the miscellaneous collection.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He saw three tea chests, which he guessed were empty, a couple of Chinese bowls, a vase with strange hideous dragons painted or burnt on, an ivory-handled stick, a hat, a pile of chop-sticks, a bundle of red papers, and a cat slumbering serenely among the miscellaneous collection.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE CHINAMAN'S SHOP Bill Bigs met a good many Chinamen, and had dealings with them, always finding them keen business fellows, moderately honest, though some were arrant rogues.
any
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Probably this was the name of the man at the door; at any rate something prompted Bill to cross the road and look in at the shop window.
arrant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE CHINAMAN'S SHOP Bill Bigs met a good many Chinamen, and had dealings with them, always finding them keen business fellows, moderately honest, though some were arrant rogues.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He went out of the coffee house to look round, and saw the fat Chinaman still standing in his doorway like a statue, as though he had not moved since they saw him before entering the house.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Probably this was the name of the man at the door; at any rate something prompted Bill to cross the road and look in at the shop window.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading He went out of the coffee house to look round, and saw the fat Chinaman still standing in his doorway like a statue, as though he had not moved since they saw him before entering the house.
Bigs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE CHINAMAN'S SHOP Bill Bigs met a good many Chinamen, and had dealings with them, always finding them keen business fellows, moderately honest, though some were arrant rogues.
Bill
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From this reading THE CHINAMAN'S SHOP Bill Bigs met a good many Chinamen, and had dealings with them, always finding them keen business fellows, moderately honest, though some were arrant rogues.
bowls
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He saw three tea chests, which he guessed were empty, a couple of Chinese bowls, a vase with strange hideous dragons painted or burnt on, an ivory-handled stick, a hat, a pile of chop-sticks, a bundle of red papers, and a cat slumbering serenely among the miscellaneous collection.
bundlenounUS /ˈbʌndəl/
a group of things tied or wrapped together
From this reading He saw three tea chests, which he guessed were empty, a couple of Chinese bowls, a vase with strange hideous dragons painted or burnt on, an ivory-handled stick, a hat, a pile of chop-sticks, a bundle of red papers, and a cat slumbering serenely among the miscellaneous collection.
burnt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He saw three tea chests, which he guessed were empty, a couple of Chinese bowls, a vase with strange hideous dragons painted or burnt on, an ivory-handled stick, a hat, a pile of chop-sticks, a bundle of red papers, and a cat slumbering serenely among the miscellaneous collection.
business
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE CHINAMAN'S SHOP Bill Bigs met a good many Chinamen, and had dealings with them, always finding them keen business fellows, moderately honest, though some were arrant rogues.
cat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He saw three tea chests, which he guessed were empty, a couple of Chinese bowls, a vase with strange hideous dragons painted or burnt on, an ivory-handled stick, a hat, a pile of chop-sticks, a bundle of red papers, and a cat slumbering serenely among the miscellaneous collection.
chests
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He saw three tea chests, which he guessed were empty, a couple of Chinese bowls, a vase with strange hideous dragons painted or burnt on, an ivory-handled stick, a hat, a pile of chop-sticks, a bundle of red papers, and a cat slumbering serenely among the miscellaneous collection.
Chinaman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He went out of the coffee house to look round, and saw the fat Chinaman still standing in his doorway like a statue, as though he had not moved since they saw him before entering the house.
CHINAMAN'S
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE CHINAMAN'S SHOP Bill Bigs met a good many Chinamen, and had dealings with them, always finding them keen business fellows, moderately honest, though some were arrant rogues.
Chinamen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE CHINAMAN'S SHOP Bill Bigs met a good many Chinamen, and had dealings with them, always finding them keen business fellows, moderately honest, though some were arrant rogues.
Chinese
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He saw three tea chests, which he guessed were empty, a couple of Chinese bowls, a vase with strange hideous dragons painted or burnt on, an ivory-handled stick, a hat, a pile of chop-sticks, a bundle of red papers, and a cat slumbering serenely among the miscellaneous collection.
chop-sticks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He saw three tea chests, which he guessed were empty, a couple of Chinese bowls, a vase with strange hideous dragons painted or burnt on, an ivory-handled stick, a hat, a pile of chop-sticks, a bundle of red papers, and a cat slumbering serenely among the miscellaneous collection.
coffee
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He went out of the coffee house to look round, and saw the fat Chinaman still standing in his doorway like a statue, as though he had not moved since they saw him before entering the house.
collection
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He saw three tea chests, which he guessed were empty, a couple of Chinese bowls, a vase with strange hideous dragons painted or burnt on, an ivory-handled stick, a hat, a pile of chop-sticks, a bundle of red papers, and a cat slumbering serenely among the miscellaneous collection.
couplenounUS /ˈkʌpəl/
two people or things considered together
From this reading He saw three tea chests, which he guessed were empty, a couple of Chinese bowls, a vase with strange hideous dragons painted or burnt on, an ivory-handled stick, a hat, a pile of chop-sticks, a bundle of red papers, and a cat slumbering serenely among the miscellaneous collection.
cross
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Probably this was the name of the man at the door; at any rate something prompted Bill to cross the road and look in at the shop window.
dealings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE CHINAMAN'S SHOP Bill Bigs met a good many Chinamen, and had dealings with them, always finding them keen business fellows, moderately honest, though some were arrant rogues.
door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Probably this was the name of the man at the door; at any rate something prompted Bill to cross the road and look in at the shop window.
doorway
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He went out of the coffee house to look round, and saw the fat Chinaman still standing in his doorway like a statue, as though he had not moved since they saw him before entering the house.
dragons
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He saw three tea chests, which he guessed were empty, a couple of Chinese bowls, a vase with strange hideous dragons painted or burnt on, an ivory-handled stick, a hat, a pile of chop-sticks, a bundle of red papers, and a cat slumbering serenely among the miscellaneous collection.
empty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He saw three tea chests, which he guessed were empty, a couple of Chinese bowls, a vase with strange hideous dragons painted or burnt on, an ivory-handled stick, a hat, a pile of chop-sticks, a bundle of red papers, and a cat slumbering serenely among the miscellaneous collection.
entering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He went out of the coffee house to look round, and saw the fat Chinaman still standing in his doorway like a statue, as though he had not moved since they saw him before entering the house.
fat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He went out of the coffee house to look round, and saw the fat Chinaman still standing in his doorway like a statue, as though he had not moved since they saw him before entering the house.
fellows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE CHINAMAN'S SHOP Bill Bigs met a good many Chinamen, and had dealings with them, always finding them keen business fellows, moderately honest, though some were arrant rogues.
finding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE CHINAMAN'S SHOP Bill Bigs met a good many Chinamen, and had dealings with them, always finding them keen business fellows, moderately honest, though some were arrant rogues.
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE CHINAMAN'S SHOP Bill Bigs met a good many Chinamen, and had dealings with them, always finding them keen business fellows, moderately honest, though some were arrant rogues.
guessed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He saw three tea chests, which he guessed were empty, a couple of Chinese bowls, a vase with strange hideous dragons painted or burnt on, an ivory-handled stick, a hat, a pile of chop-sticks, a bundle of red papers, and a cat slumbering serenely among the miscellaneous collection.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE CHINAMAN'S SHOP Bill Bigs met a good many Chinamen, and had dealings with them, always finding them keen business fellows, moderately honest, though some were arrant rogues.
hat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He saw three tea chests, which he guessed were empty, a couple of Chinese bowls, a vase with strange hideous dragons painted or burnt on, an ivory-handled stick, a hat, a pile of chop-sticks, a bundle of red papers, and a cat slumbering serenely among the miscellaneous collection.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He went out of the coffee house to look round, and saw the fat Chinaman still standing in his doorway like a statue, as though he had not moved since they saw him before entering the house.
hideous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He saw three tea chests, which he guessed were empty, a couple of Chinese bowls, a vase with strange hideous dragons painted or burnt on, an ivory-handled stick, a hat, a pile of chop-sticks, a bundle of red papers, and a cat slumbering serenely among the miscellaneous collection.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He went out of the coffee house to look round, and saw the fat Chinaman still standing in his doorway like a statue, as though he had not moved since they saw him before entering the house.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He went out of the coffee house to look round, and saw the fat Chinaman still standing in his doorway like a statue, as though he had not moved since they saw him before entering the house.
honestadjectiveUS /ˈɑnɪst/
truthful and trustworthy
From this reading THE CHINAMAN'S SHOP Bill Bigs met a good many Chinamen, and had dealings with them, always finding them keen business fellows, moderately honest, though some were arrant rogues.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He went out of the coffee house to look round, and saw the fat Chinaman still standing in his doorway like a statue, as though he had not moved since they saw him before entering the house.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He went out of the coffee house to look round, and saw the fat Chinaman still standing in his doorway like a statue, as though he had not moved since they saw him before entering the house.
ivory-handled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He saw three tea chests, which he guessed were empty, a couple of Chinese bowls, a vase with strange hideous dragons painted or burnt on, an ivory-handled stick, a hat, a pile of chop-sticks, a bundle of red papers, and a cat slumbering serenely among the miscellaneous collection.
keen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE CHINAMAN'S SHOP Bill Bigs met a good many Chinamen, and had dealings with them, always finding them keen business fellows, moderately honest, though some were arrant rogues.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He went out of the coffee house to look round, and saw the fat Chinaman still standing in his doorway like a statue, as though he had not moved since they saw him before entering the house.
Lin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The name on the shop was Lin Soo.
looknounUS /look/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He went out of the coffee house to look round, and saw the fat Chinaman still standing in his doorway like a statue, as though he had not moved since they saw him before entering the house.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Probably this was the name of the man at the door; at any rate something prompted Bill to cross the road and look in at the shop window.
many
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE CHINAMAN'S SHOP Bill Bigs met a good many Chinamen, and had dealings with them, always finding them keen business fellows, moderately honest, though some were arrant rogues.
met
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE CHINAMAN'S SHOP Bill Bigs met a good many Chinamen, and had dealings with them, always finding them keen business fellows, moderately honest, though some were arrant rogues.
miscellaneous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He saw three tea chests, which he guessed were empty, a couple of Chinese bowls, a vase with strange hideous dragons painted or burnt on, an ivory-handled stick, a hat, a pile of chop-sticks, a bundle of red papers, and a cat slumbering serenely among the miscellaneous collection.
moderately
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE CHINAMAN'S SHOP Bill Bigs met a good many Chinamen, and had dealings with them, always finding them keen business fellows, moderately honest, though some were arrant rogues.
moved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He went out of the coffee house to look round, and saw the fat Chinaman still standing in his doorway like a statue, as though he had not moved since they saw him before entering the house.
namenounUS /name/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The name on the shop was Lin Soo.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He went out of the coffee house to look round, and saw the fat Chinaman still standing in his doorway like a statue, as though he had not moved since they saw him before entering the house.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He went out of the coffee house to look round, and saw the fat Chinaman still standing in his doorway like a statue, as though he had not moved since they saw him before entering the house.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The name on the shop was Lin Soo.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading He saw three tea chests, which he guessed were empty, a couple of Chinese bowls, a vase with strange hideous dragons painted or burnt on, an ivory-handled stick, a hat, a pile of chop-sticks, a bundle of red papers, and a cat slumbering serenely among the miscellaneous collection.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He went out of the coffee house to look round, and saw the fat Chinaman still standing in his doorway like a statue, as though he had not moved since they saw him before entering the house.
painted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He saw three tea chests, which he guessed were empty, a couple of Chinese bowls, a vase with strange hideous dragons painted or burnt on, an ivory-handled stick, a hat, a pile of chop-sticks, a bundle of red papers, and a cat slumbering serenely among the miscellaneous collection.
papers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He saw three tea chests, which he guessed were empty, a couple of Chinese bowls, a vase with strange hideous dragons painted or burnt on, an ivory-handled stick, a hat, a pile of chop-sticks, a bundle of red papers, and a cat slumbering serenely among the miscellaneous collection.
pile
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He saw three tea chests, which he guessed were empty, a couple of Chinese bowls, a vase with strange hideous dragons painted or burnt on, an ivory-handled stick, a hat, a pile of chop-sticks, a bundle of red papers, and a cat slumbering serenely among the miscellaneous collection.
Probably
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Probably this was the name of the man at the door; at any rate something prompted Bill to cross the road and look in at the shop window.
prompted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Probably this was the name of the man at the door; at any rate something prompted Bill to cross the road and look in at the shop window.
rate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Probably this was the name of the man at the door; at any rate something prompted Bill to cross the road and look in at the shop window.
red
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He saw three tea chests, which he guessed were empty, a couple of Chinese bowls, a vase with strange hideous dragons painted or burnt on, an ivory-handled stick, a hat, a pile of chop-sticks, a bundle of red papers, and a cat slumbering serenely among the miscellaneous collection.
road
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Probably this was the name of the man at the door; at any rate something prompted Bill to cross the road and look in at the shop window.
rogues
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE CHINAMAN'S SHOP Bill Bigs met a good many Chinamen, and had dealings with them, always finding them keen business fellows, moderately honest, though some were arrant rogues.
round
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He went out of the coffee house to look round, and saw the fat Chinaman still standing in his doorway like a statue, as though he had not moved since they saw him before entering the house.
saw
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He went out of the coffee house to look round, and saw the fat Chinaman still standing in his doorway like a statue, as though he had not moved since they saw him before entering the house.
serenely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He saw three tea chests, which he guessed were empty, a couple of Chinese bowls, a vase with strange hideous dragons painted or burnt on, an ivory-handled stick, a hat, a pile of chop-sticks, a bundle of red papers, and a cat slumbering serenely among the miscellaneous collection.
SHOP
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE CHINAMAN'S SHOP Bill Bigs met a good many Chinamen, and had dealings with them, always finding them keen business fellows, moderately honest, though some were arrant rogues.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading He went out of the coffee house to look round, and saw the fat Chinaman still standing in his doorway like a statue, as though he had not moved since they saw him before entering the house.
slumbering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He saw three tea chests, which he guessed were empty, a couple of Chinese bowls, a vase with strange hideous dragons painted or burnt on, an ivory-handled stick, a hat, a pile of chop-sticks, a bundle of red papers, and a cat slumbering serenely among the miscellaneous collection.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE CHINAMAN'S SHOP Bill Bigs met a good many Chinamen, and had dealings with them, always finding them keen business fellows, moderately honest, though some were arrant rogues.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Probably this was the name of the man at the door; at any rate something prompted Bill to cross the road and look in at the shop window.
Soo
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The name on the shop was Lin Soo.
standingnounUS /ˈstanding/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading He went out of the coffee house to look round, and saw the fat Chinaman still standing in his doorway like a statue, as though he had not moved since they saw him before entering the house.
statue
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He went out of the coffee house to look round, and saw the fat Chinaman still standing in his doorway like a statue, as though he had not moved since they saw him before entering the house.
stick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He saw three tea chests, which he guessed were empty, a couple of Chinese bowls, a vase with strange hideous dragons painted or burnt on, an ivory-handled stick, a hat, a pile of chop-sticks, a bundle of red papers, and a cat slumbering serenely among the miscellaneous collection.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He went out of the coffee house to look round, and saw the fat Chinaman still standing in his doorway like a statue, as though he had not moved since they saw him before entering the house.
strange
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He saw three tea chests, which he guessed were empty, a couple of Chinese bowls, a vase with strange hideous dragons painted or burnt on, an ivory-handled stick, a hat, a pile of chop-sticks, a bundle of red papers, and a cat slumbering serenely among the miscellaneous collection.
tea
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He saw three tea chests, which he guessed were empty, a couple of Chinese bowls, a vase with strange hideous dragons painted or burnt on, an ivory-handled stick, a hat, a pile of chop-sticks, a bundle of red papers, and a cat slumbering serenely among the miscellaneous collection.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE CHINAMAN'S SHOP Bill Bigs met a good many Chinamen, and had dealings with them, always finding them keen business fellows, moderately honest, though some were arrant rogues.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading THE CHINAMAN'S SHOP Bill Bigs met a good many Chinamen, and had dealings with them, always finding them keen business fellows, moderately honest, though some were arrant rogues.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He went out of the coffee house to look round, and saw the fat Chinaman still standing in his doorway like a statue, as though he had not moved since they saw him before entering the house.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Probably this was the name of the man at the door; at any rate something prompted Bill to cross the road and look in at the shop window.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading THE CHINAMAN'S SHOP Bill Bigs met a good many Chinamen, and had dealings with them, always finding them keen business fellows, moderately honest, though some were arrant rogues.
three
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He saw three tea chests, which he guessed were empty, a couple of Chinese bowls, a vase with strange hideous dragons painted or burnt on, an ivory-handled stick, a hat, a pile of chop-sticks, a bundle of red papers, and a cat slumbering serenely among the miscellaneous collection.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He went out of the coffee house to look round, and saw the fat Chinaman still standing in his doorway like a statue, as though he had not moved since they saw him before entering the house.
vase
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He saw three tea chests, which he guessed were empty, a couple of Chinese bowls, a vase with strange hideous dragons painted or burnt on, an ivory-handled stick, a hat, a pile of chop-sticks, a bundle of red papers, and a cat slumbering serenely among the miscellaneous collection.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The name on the shop was Lin Soo.
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He went out of the coffee house to look round, and saw the fat Chinaman still standing in his doorway like a statue, as though he had not moved since they saw him before entering the house.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading THE CHINAMAN'S SHOP Bill Bigs met a good many Chinamen, and had dealings with them, always finding them keen business fellows, moderately honest, though some were arrant rogues.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He saw three tea chests, which he guessed were empty, a couple of Chinese bowls, a vase with strange hideous dragons painted or burnt on, an ivory-handled stick, a hat, a pile of chop-sticks, a bundle of red papers, and a cat slumbering serenely among the miscellaneous collection.
window
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Probably this was the name of the man at the door; at any rate something prompted Bill to cross the road and look in at the shop window.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading THE CHINAMAN'S SHOP Bill Bigs met a good many Chinamen, and had dealings with them, always finding them keen business fellows, moderately honest, though some were arrant rogues.