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Tom Grogan
Tom Grogan

Chapter II

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Context Illustration Reading 1/39 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Lathers's friend proved to be a short, big-boned, square-shouldered Irishman, about forty years of age, dressed in a once black broadcloth suit with frayed buttonholes, the lapels and vest covered with grease-spots.
Around his collar, which had done service for several days, was twisted a red tie decorated with a glass pin.
His face was spattered with blue powder-marks, as if from some quarry explosion.
A lump of a mustache dyed dark brown concealed his upper lip, making all the more conspicuous the bushy, sandy-colored eyebrows that shaded a pair of treacherous eyes.
His mouth was coarse and filled with teeth half worn off, like those of an old horse.
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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.

Tom Grogan

Chapter II

Reading 1/39 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Lathers's friend proved to be a short, big-boned, square-shouldered Irishman, about forty years of age, dressed in a once black broadcloth suit with frayed buttonholes, the lapels and vest covered with grease-spots.
Line 2
Around his collar, which had done service for several days, was twisted a red tie decorated with a glass pin.
Line 3
His face was spattered with blue powder-marks, as if from some quarry explosion.
Line 4
A lump of a mustache dyed dark brown concealed his upper lip, making all the more conspicuous the bushy, sandy-colored eyebrows that shaded a pair of treacherous eyes.
Line 5
His mouth was coarse and filled with teeth half worn off, like those of an old horse.

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 “Lathers's friend proved to be a short, big-boned, square-shouldered Irishman, about forty years of age, dressed in a once black broadcloth suit with frayed buttonholes, the lapels and vest covered with grease-spots.”

Around preposition US /ərˈaʊnd/

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading “Around his collar, which had done service for several days, was twisted a red tie decorated with a glass pin.”

Done noun US /done/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Around his collar, which had done service for several days, was twisted a red tie decorated with a glass pin.”

Explosion noun US /ɪkˈsploʊʒən/

a sudden violent burst of sound or force

From this reading “His face was spattered with blue powder-marks, as if from some quarry explosion.”

Half noun US /half/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “His mouth was coarse and filled with teeth half worn off, like those of an old horse.”

Once noun US /once/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Lathers's friend proved to be a short, big-boned, square-shouldered Irishman, about forty years of age, dressed in a once black broadcloth suit with frayed buttonholes, the lapels and vest covered with grease-spots.”

Several noun US /ˈseveral/

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

From this reading “Around his collar, which had done service for several days, was twisted a red tie decorated with a glass pin.”

Short adjective US /ʃɔrt/

brief or direct in expression

From this reading “Lathers's friend proved to be a short, big-boned, square-shouldered Irishman, about forty years of age, dressed in a once black broadcloth suit with frayed buttonholes, the lapels and vest covered with grease-spots.”

Those determiner US /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading “His mouth was coarse and filled with teeth half worn off, like those of an old horse.”

Worn verb US /wɔːrn/

Damaged or thinned by continuous use.

From this reading “His mouth was coarse and filled with teeth half worn off, like those of an old horse.”

All words in this reading · 89

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 Lathers's friend proved to be a short, big-boned, square-shouldered Irishman, about forty years of age, dressed in a once black broadcloth suit with frayed buttonholes, the lapels and vest covered with grease-spots.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Lathers's friend proved to be a short, big-boned, square-shouldered Irishman, about forty years of age, dressed in a once black broadcloth suit with frayed buttonholes, the lapels and vest covered with grease-spots.

age

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

From this reading Lathers's friend proved to be a short, big-boned, square-shouldered Irishman, about forty years of age, dressed in a once black broadcloth suit with frayed buttonholes, the lapels and vest covered with grease-spots.

all

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

From this reading A lump of a mustache dyed dark brown concealed his upper lip, making all the more conspicuous the bushy, sandy-colored eyebrows that shaded a pair of treacherous eyes.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading His mouth was coarse and filled with teeth half worn off, like those of an old horse.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Lathers's friend proved to be a short, big-boned, square-shouldered Irishman, about forty years of age, dressed in a once black broadcloth suit with frayed buttonholes, the lapels and vest covered with grease-spots.

AroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading Around his collar, which had done service for several days, was twisted a red tie decorated with a glass pin.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading His face was spattered with blue powder-marks, as if from some quarry explosion.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading Lathers's friend proved to be a short, big-boned, square-shouldered Irishman, about forty years of age, dressed in a once black broadcloth suit with frayed buttonholes, the lapels and vest covered with grease-spots.

big-boned

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

From this reading Lathers's friend proved to be a short, big-boned, square-shouldered Irishman, about forty years of age, dressed in a once black broadcloth suit with frayed buttonholes, the lapels and vest covered with grease-spots.

black

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

From this reading Lathers's friend proved to be a short, big-boned, square-shouldered Irishman, about forty years of age, dressed in a once black broadcloth suit with frayed buttonholes, the lapels and vest covered with grease-spots.

blue

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

From this reading His face was spattered with blue powder-marks, as if from some quarry explosion.

broadcloth

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

From this reading Lathers's friend proved to be a short, big-boned, square-shouldered Irishman, about forty years of age, dressed in a once black broadcloth suit with frayed buttonholes, the lapels and vest covered with grease-spots.

brown

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

From this reading A lump of a mustache dyed dark brown concealed his upper lip, making all the more conspicuous the bushy, sandy-colored eyebrows that shaded a pair of treacherous eyes.

bushy

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

From this reading A lump of a mustache dyed dark brown concealed his upper lip, making all the more conspicuous the bushy, sandy-colored eyebrows that shaded a pair of treacherous eyes.

buttonholes

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

From this reading Lathers's friend proved to be a short, big-boned, square-shouldered Irishman, about forty years of age, dressed in a once black broadcloth suit with frayed buttonholes, the lapels and vest covered with grease-spots.

coarse

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

From this reading His mouth was coarse and filled with teeth half worn off, like those of an old horse.

collar

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

From this reading Around his collar, which had done service for several days, was twisted a red tie decorated with a glass pin.

concealed

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

From this reading A lump of a mustache dyed dark brown concealed his upper lip, making all the more conspicuous the bushy, sandy-colored eyebrows that shaded a pair of treacherous eyes.

conspicuous

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

From this reading A lump of a mustache dyed dark brown concealed his upper lip, making all the more conspicuous the bushy, sandy-colored eyebrows that shaded a pair of treacherous eyes.

covered

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

From this reading Lathers's friend proved to be a short, big-boned, square-shouldered Irishman, about forty years of age, dressed in a once black broadcloth suit with frayed buttonholes, the lapels and vest covered with grease-spots.

dark

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

From this reading A lump of a mustache dyed dark brown concealed his upper lip, making all the more conspicuous the bushy, sandy-colored eyebrows that shaded a pair of treacherous eyes.

days

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

From this reading Around his collar, which had done service for several days, was twisted a red tie decorated with a glass pin.

decorated

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

From this reading Around his collar, which had done service for several days, was twisted a red tie decorated with a glass pin.

donenounUS /done/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Around his collar, which had done service for several days, was twisted a red tie decorated with a glass pin.

dressed

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

From this reading Lathers's friend proved to be a short, big-boned, square-shouldered Irishman, about forty years of age, dressed in a once black broadcloth suit with frayed buttonholes, the lapels and vest covered with grease-spots.

dyed

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

From this reading A lump of a mustache dyed dark brown concealed his upper lip, making all the more conspicuous the bushy, sandy-colored eyebrows that shaded a pair of treacherous eyes.

explosionnounUS /ɪkˈsploʊʒən/

a sudden violent burst of sound or force

From this reading His face was spattered with blue powder-marks, as if from some quarry explosion.

eyebrows

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

From this reading A lump of a mustache dyed dark brown concealed his upper lip, making all the more conspicuous the bushy, sandy-colored eyebrows that shaded a pair of treacherous eyes.

eyes

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

From this reading A lump of a mustache dyed dark brown concealed his upper lip, making all the more conspicuous the bushy, sandy-colored eyebrows that shaded a pair of treacherous eyes.

face

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

From this reading His face was spattered with blue powder-marks, as if from some quarry explosion.

filled

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

From this reading His mouth was coarse and filled with teeth half worn off, like those of an old horse.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Around his collar, which had done service for several days, was twisted a red tie decorated with a glass pin.

forty

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

From this reading Lathers's friend proved to be a short, big-boned, square-shouldered Irishman, about forty years of age, dressed in a once black broadcloth suit with frayed buttonholes, the lapels and vest covered with grease-spots.

frayed

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

From this reading Lathers's friend proved to be a short, big-boned, square-shouldered Irishman, about forty years of age, dressed in a once black broadcloth suit with frayed buttonholes, the lapels and vest covered with grease-spots.

friend

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

From this reading Lathers's friend proved to be a short, big-boned, square-shouldered Irishman, about forty years of age, dressed in a once black broadcloth suit with frayed buttonholes, the lapels and vest covered with grease-spots.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading His face was spattered with blue powder-marks, as if from some quarry explosion.

glass

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

From this reading Around his collar, which had done service for several days, was twisted a red tie decorated with a glass pin.

grease-spots

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

From this reading Lathers's friend proved to be a short, big-boned, square-shouldered Irishman, about forty years of age, dressed in a once black broadcloth suit with frayed buttonholes, the lapels and vest covered with grease-spots.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Around his collar, which had done service for several days, was twisted a red tie decorated with a glass pin.

halfnounUS /half/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading His mouth was coarse and filled with teeth half worn off, like those of an old horse.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Around his collar, which had done service for several days, was twisted a red tie decorated with a glass pin.

horse

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

From this reading His mouth was coarse and filled with teeth half worn off, like those of an old horse.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading His face was spattered with blue powder-marks, as if from some quarry explosion.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Lathers's friend proved to be a short, big-boned, square-shouldered Irishman, about forty years of age, dressed in a once black broadcloth suit with frayed buttonholes, the lapels and vest covered with grease-spots.

Irishman

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

From this reading Lathers's friend proved to be a short, big-boned, square-shouldered Irishman, about forty years of age, dressed in a once black broadcloth suit with frayed buttonholes, the lapels and vest covered with grease-spots.

lapels

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

From this reading Lathers's friend proved to be a short, big-boned, square-shouldered Irishman, about forty years of age, dressed in a once black broadcloth suit with frayed buttonholes, the lapels and vest covered with grease-spots.

Lathers's

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

From this reading Lathers's friend proved to be a short, big-boned, square-shouldered Irishman, about forty years of age, dressed in a once black broadcloth suit with frayed buttonholes, the lapels and vest covered with grease-spots.

like

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

From this reading His mouth was coarse and filled with teeth half worn off, like those of an old horse.

lip

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

From this reading A lump of a mustache dyed dark brown concealed his upper lip, making all the more conspicuous the bushy, sandy-colored eyebrows that shaded a pair of treacherous eyes.

lump

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

From this reading A lump of a mustache dyed dark brown concealed his upper lip, making all the more conspicuous the bushy, sandy-colored eyebrows that shaded a pair of treacherous eyes.

making

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

From this reading A lump of a mustache dyed dark brown concealed his upper lip, making all the more conspicuous the bushy, sandy-colored eyebrows that shaded a pair of treacherous eyes.

more

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

From this reading A lump of a mustache dyed dark brown concealed his upper lip, making all the more conspicuous the bushy, sandy-colored eyebrows that shaded a pair of treacherous eyes.

mouth

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

From this reading His mouth was coarse and filled with teeth half worn off, like those of an old horse.

mustache

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

From this reading A lump of a mustache dyed dark brown concealed his upper lip, making all the more conspicuous the bushy, sandy-colored eyebrows that shaded a pair of treacherous eyes.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Lathers's friend proved to be a short, big-boned, square-shouldered Irishman, about forty years of age, dressed in a once black broadcloth suit with frayed buttonholes, the lapels and vest covered with grease-spots.

off

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

From this reading His mouth was coarse and filled with teeth half worn off, like those of an old horse.

old

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

From this reading His mouth was coarse and filled with teeth half worn off, like those of an old horse.

once

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

From this reading Lathers's friend proved to be a short, big-boned, square-shouldered Irishman, about forty years of age, dressed in a once black broadcloth suit with frayed buttonholes, the lapels and vest covered with grease-spots.

pair

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

From this reading A lump of a mustache dyed dark brown concealed his upper lip, making all the more conspicuous the bushy, sandy-colored eyebrows that shaded a pair of treacherous eyes.

pin

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

From this reading Around his collar, which had done service for several days, was twisted a red tie decorated with a glass pin.

powder-marks

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

From this reading His face was spattered with blue powder-marks, as if from some quarry explosion.

proved

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

From this reading Lathers's friend proved to be a short, big-boned, square-shouldered Irishman, about forty years of age, dressed in a once black broadcloth suit with frayed buttonholes, the lapels and vest covered with grease-spots.

quarry

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

From this reading His face was spattered with blue powder-marks, as if from some quarry explosion.

red

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

From this reading Around his collar, which had done service for several days, was twisted a red tie decorated with a glass pin.

sandy-colored

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

From this reading A lump of a mustache dyed dark brown concealed his upper lip, making all the more conspicuous the bushy, sandy-colored eyebrows that shaded a pair of treacherous eyes.

service

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

From this reading Around his collar, which had done service for several days, was twisted a red tie decorated with a glass pin.

several

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

From this reading Around his collar, which had done service for several days, was twisted a red tie decorated with a glass pin.

shaded

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

From this reading A lump of a mustache dyed dark brown concealed his upper lip, making all the more conspicuous the bushy, sandy-colored eyebrows that shaded a pair of treacherous eyes.

shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔrt/

brief or direct in expression

From this reading Lathers's friend proved to be a short, big-boned, square-shouldered Irishman, about forty years of age, dressed in a once black broadcloth suit with frayed buttonholes, the lapels and vest covered with grease-spots.

some

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

From this reading His face was spattered with blue powder-marks, as if from some quarry explosion.

spattered

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

From this reading His face was spattered with blue powder-marks, as if from some quarry explosion.

square-shouldered

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

From this reading Lathers's friend proved to be a short, big-boned, square-shouldered Irishman, about forty years of age, dressed in a once black broadcloth suit with frayed buttonholes, the lapels and vest covered with grease-spots.

suit

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

From this reading Lathers's friend proved to be a short, big-boned, square-shouldered Irishman, about forty years of age, dressed in a once black broadcloth suit with frayed buttonholes, the lapels and vest covered with grease-spots.

teeth

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

From this reading His mouth was coarse and filled with teeth half worn off, like those of an old horse.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading A lump of a mustache dyed dark brown concealed his upper lip, making all the more conspicuous the bushy, sandy-colored eyebrows that shaded a pair of treacherous eyes.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Lathers's friend proved to be a short, big-boned, square-shouldered Irishman, about forty years of age, dressed in a once black broadcloth suit with frayed buttonholes, the lapels and vest covered with grease-spots.

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading His mouth was coarse and filled with teeth half worn off, like those of an old horse.

tie

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

From this reading Around his collar, which had done service for several days, was twisted a red tie decorated with a glass pin.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Lathers's friend proved to be a short, big-boned, square-shouldered Irishman, about forty years of age, dressed in a once black broadcloth suit with frayed buttonholes, the lapels and vest covered with grease-spots.

treacherous

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

From this reading A lump of a mustache dyed dark brown concealed his upper lip, making all the more conspicuous the bushy, sandy-colored eyebrows that shaded a pair of treacherous eyes.

twisted

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

From this reading Around his collar, which had done service for several days, was twisted a red tie decorated with a glass pin.

upper

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

From this reading A lump of a mustache dyed dark brown concealed his upper lip, making all the more conspicuous the bushy, sandy-colored eyebrows that shaded a pair of treacherous eyes.

vest

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

From this reading Lathers's friend proved to be a short, big-boned, square-shouldered Irishman, about forty years of age, dressed in a once black broadcloth suit with frayed buttonholes, the lapels and vest covered with grease-spots.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Around his collar, which had done service for several days, was twisted a red tie decorated with a glass pin.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading Around his collar, which had done service for several days, was twisted a red tie decorated with a glass pin.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Lathers's friend proved to be a short, big-boned, square-shouldered Irishman, about forty years of age, dressed in a once black broadcloth suit with frayed buttonholes, the lapels and vest covered with grease-spots.

wornverbUS /wɔːrn/

Damaged or thinned by continuous use.

From this reading His mouth was coarse and filled with teeth half worn off, like those of an old horse.

years

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

From this reading Lathers's friend proved to be a short, big-boned, square-shouldered Irishman, about forty years of age, dressed in a once black broadcloth suit with frayed buttonholes, the lapels and vest covered with grease-spots.