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What Men Live By, and Other Tales
What Men Live By, and Other Tales

Chapter II

Cover illustration for What Men Live By, and Other Tales
Context Illustration Reading 1/82 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
When the boy said that, Michael dropped his work, turned to the window, and looked out into the street.
Simon was surprised.
Michael never used to look out into the street, but now he pressed against the window, staring at something.
Simon also looked out, and saw that a well-dressed woman was really coming to his hut, leading by the hand two little girls in fur coats and woolen shawls.
The girls could hardly be told one from the other, except that one of them was crippled in her left leg and walked with a limp.
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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.

What Men Live By, and Other Tales

Chapter II

Reading 1/82 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
When the boy said that, Michael dropped his work, turned to the window, and looked out into the street.
Line 2
Simon was surprised.
Line 3
Michael never used to look out into the street, but now he pressed against the window, staring at something.
Line 4
Simon also looked out, and saw that a well-dressed woman was really coming to his hut, leading by the hand two little girls in fur coats and woolen shawls.
Line 5
The girls could hardly be told one from the other, except that one of them was crippled in her left leg and walked with a limp.

Learner Dictionary

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

Against preposition US /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading “Michael never used to look out into the street, but now he pressed against the window, staring at something.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “The girls could hardly be told one from the other, except that one of them was crippled in her left leg and walked with a limp.”

Except preposition US /ɪkˈsept/

apart from; not including

From this reading “The girls could hardly be told one from the other, except that one of them was crippled in her left leg and walked with a limp.”

Hand noun US /hand/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Simon also looked out, and saw that a well-dressed woman was really coming to his hut, leading by the hand two little girls in fur coats and woolen shawls.”

Left noun US /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The girls could hardly be told one from the other, except that one of them was crippled in her left leg and walked with a limp.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Simon also looked out, and saw that a well-dressed woman was really coming to his hut, leading by the hand two little girls in fur coats and woolen shawls.”

Look noun US /look/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Michael never used to look out into the street, but now he pressed against the window, staring at something.”

Looked noun US /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “When the boy said that, Michael dropped his work, turned to the window, and looked out into the street.”

Never noun US /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Michael never used to look out into the street, but now he pressed against the window, staring at something.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “The girls could hardly be told one from the other, except that one of them was crippled in her left leg and walked with a limp.”

Something pronoun US /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading “Michael never used to look out into the street, but now he pressed against the window, staring at something.”

Surprised noun US /surprised/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Simon was surprised.”

Told noun US /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The girls could hardly be told one from the other, except that one of them was crippled in her left leg and walked with a limp.”

All words in this reading · 67

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 Simon also looked out, and saw that a well-dressed woman was really coming to his hut, leading by the hand two little girls in fur coats and woolen shawls.

againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading Michael never used to look out into the street, but now he pressed against the window, staring at something.

also

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

From this reading Simon also looked out, and saw that a well-dressed woman was really coming to his hut, leading by the hand two little girls in fur coats and woolen shawls.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading When the boy said that, Michael dropped his work, turned to the window, and looked out into the street.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Michael never used to look out into the street, but now he pressed against the window, staring at something.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading The girls could hardly be told one from the other, except that one of them was crippled in her left leg and walked with a limp.

boy

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

From this reading When the boy said that, Michael dropped his work, turned to the window, and looked out into the street.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Michael never used to look out into the street, but now he pressed against the window, staring at something.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Simon also looked out, and saw that a well-dressed woman was really coming to his hut, leading by the hand two little girls in fur coats and woolen shawls.

coats

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

From this reading Simon also looked out, and saw that a well-dressed woman was really coming to his hut, leading by the hand two little girls in fur coats and woolen shawls.

coming

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

From this reading Simon also looked out, and saw that a well-dressed woman was really coming to his hut, leading by the hand two little girls in fur coats and woolen shawls.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading The girls could hardly be told one from the other, except that one of them was crippled in her left leg and walked with a limp.

crippled

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

From this reading The girls could hardly be told one from the other, except that one of them was crippled in her left leg and walked with a limp.

dropped

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

From this reading When the boy said that, Michael dropped his work, turned to the window, and looked out into the street.

exceptprepositionUS /ɪkˈsept/

apart from; not including

From this reading The girls could hardly be told one from the other, except that one of them was crippled in her left leg and walked with a limp.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The girls could hardly be told one from the other, except that one of them was crippled in her left leg and walked with a limp.

fur

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

From this reading Simon also looked out, and saw that a well-dressed woman was really coming to his hut, leading by the hand two little girls in fur coats and woolen shawls.

girls

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

From this reading Simon also looked out, and saw that a well-dressed woman was really coming to his hut, leading by the hand two little girls in fur coats and woolen shawls.

hand

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

From this reading Simon also looked out, and saw that a well-dressed woman was really coming to his hut, leading by the hand two little girls in fur coats and woolen shawls.

hardly

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

From this reading The girls could hardly be told one from the other, except that one of them was crippled in her left leg and walked with a limp.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Michael never used to look out into the street, but now he pressed against the window, staring at something.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading The girls could hardly be told one from the other, except that one of them was crippled in her left leg and walked with a limp.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading When the boy said that, Michael dropped his work, turned to the window, and looked out into the street.

hut

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

From this reading Simon also looked out, and saw that a well-dressed woman was really coming to his hut, leading by the hand two little girls in fur coats and woolen shawls.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Simon also looked out, and saw that a well-dressed woman was really coming to his hut, leading by the hand two little girls in fur coats and woolen shawls.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading When the boy said that, Michael dropped his work, turned to the window, and looked out into the street.

leading

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

From this reading Simon also looked out, and saw that a well-dressed woman was really coming to his hut, leading by the hand two little girls in fur coats and woolen shawls.

leftnounUS /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The girls could hardly be told one from the other, except that one of them was crippled in her left leg and walked with a limp.

leg

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

From this reading The girls could hardly be told one from the other, except that one of them was crippled in her left leg and walked with a limp.

limp

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

From this reading The girls could hardly be told one from the other, except that one of them was crippled in her left leg and walked with a limp.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Simon also looked out, and saw that a well-dressed woman was really coming to his hut, leading by the hand two little girls in fur coats and woolen shawls.

looknounUS /look/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Michael never used to look out into the street, but now he pressed against the window, staring at something.

lookednounUS /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading When the boy said that, Michael dropped his work, turned to the window, and looked out into the street.

Michael

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

From this reading When the boy said that, Michael dropped his work, turned to the window, and looked out into the street.

nevernounUS /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Michael never used to look out into the street, but now he pressed against the window, staring at something.

now

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

From this reading Michael never used to look out into the street, but now he pressed against the window, staring at something.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The girls could hardly be told one from the other, except that one of them was crippled in her left leg and walked with a limp.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading The girls could hardly be told one from the other, except that one of them was crippled in her left leg and walked with a limp.

other

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

From this reading The girls could hardly be told one from the other, except that one of them was crippled in her left leg and walked with a limp.

out

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

From this reading When the boy said that, Michael dropped his work, turned to the window, and looked out into the street.

pressed

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

From this reading Michael never used to look out into the street, but now he pressed against the window, staring at something.

really

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

From this reading Simon also looked out, and saw that a well-dressed woman was really coming to his hut, leading by the hand two little girls in fur coats and woolen shawls.

said

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

From this reading When the boy said that, Michael dropped his work, turned to the window, and looked out into the street.

saw

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

From this reading Simon also looked out, and saw that a well-dressed woman was really coming to his hut, leading by the hand two little girls in fur coats and woolen shawls.

shawls

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

From this reading Simon also looked out, and saw that a well-dressed woman was really coming to his hut, leading by the hand two little girls in fur coats and woolen shawls.

Simon

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

From this reading Simon was surprised.

somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading Michael never used to look out into the street, but now he pressed against the window, staring at something.

staring

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

From this reading Michael never used to look out into the street, but now he pressed against the window, staring at something.

street

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

From this reading When the boy said that, Michael dropped his work, turned to the window, and looked out into the street.

surprisednounUS /surprised/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Simon was surprised.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading When the boy said that, Michael dropped his work, turned to the window, and looked out into the street.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading When the boy said that, Michael dropped his work, turned to the window, and looked out into the street.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading The girls could hardly be told one from the other, except that one of them was crippled in her left leg and walked with a limp.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading When the boy said that, Michael dropped his work, turned to the window, and looked out into the street.

toldnounUS /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The girls could hardly be told one from the other, except that one of them was crippled in her left leg and walked with a limp.

turned

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

From this reading When the boy said that, Michael dropped his work, turned to the window, and looked out into the street.

two

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

From this reading Simon also looked out, and saw that a well-dressed woman was really coming to his hut, leading by the hand two little girls in fur coats and woolen shawls.

used

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

From this reading Michael never used to look out into the street, but now he pressed against the window, staring at something.

walked

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

From this reading The girls could hardly be told one from the other, except that one of them was crippled in her left leg and walked with a limp.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Simon was surprised.

well-dressed

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

From this reading Simon also looked out, and saw that a well-dressed woman was really coming to his hut, leading by the hand two little girls in fur coats and woolen shawls.

WhenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading When the boy said that, Michael dropped his work, turned to the window, and looked out into the street.

window

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

From this reading When the boy said that, Michael dropped his work, turned to the window, and looked out into the street.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The girls could hardly be told one from the other, except that one of them was crippled in her left leg and walked with a limp.

woman

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

From this reading Simon also looked out, and saw that a well-dressed woman was really coming to his hut, leading by the hand two little girls in fur coats and woolen shawls.

woolen

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

From this reading Simon also looked out, and saw that a well-dressed woman was really coming to his hut, leading by the hand two little girls in fur coats and woolen shawls.

work

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

From this reading When the boy said that, Michael dropped his work, turned to the window, and looked out into the street.