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Chapter XXI
While Aunt Penelope talked my heart beat very hard. From time to time I could not help glancing at Vernon. Was he guessing my thoughts--was he understanding? He stood with his back to us, looking out of the window. Once or twice he whistled a little, he whistled a bar of a popular melody; then he thrust his hands into his pockets, turned swiftly round, took up a newspaper, flung himself into a chair, and pretended to read.
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “From time to time I could not help glancing at Vernon.”
members of a ship’s crew
From this reading “Once or twice he whistled a little, he whistled a bar of a popular melody; then he thrust his hands into his pockets, turned swiftly round, took up a newspaper, flung himself into a chair, and pretended to read.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “From time to time I could not help glancing at Vernon.”
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading “Once or twice he whistled a little, he whistled a bar of a popular melody; then he thrust his hands into his pockets, turned swiftly round, took up a newspaper, flung himself into a chair, and pretended to read.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Once or twice he whistled a little, he whistled a bar of a popular melody; then he thrust his hands into his pockets, turned swiftly round, took up a newspaper, flung himself into a chair, and pretended to read.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Once or twice he whistled a little, he whistled a bar of a popular melody; then he thrust his hands into his pockets, turned swiftly round, took up a newspaper, flung himself into a chair, and pretended to read.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “He stood with his back to us, looking out of the window.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “From time to time I could not help glancing at Vernon.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Once or twice he whistled a little, he whistled a bar of a popular melody; then he thrust his hands into his pockets, turned swiftly round, took up a newspaper, flung himself into a chair, and pretended to read.”
during the time that
From this reading “While Aunt Penelope talked my heart beat very hard.”
Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Once or twice he whistled a little, he whistled a bar of a popular melody; then he thrust his hands into his pockets, turned swiftly round, took up a newspaper, flung himself into a chair, and pretended to read.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Once or twice he whistled a little, he whistled a bar of a popular melody; then he thrust his hands into his pockets, turned swiftly round, took up a newspaper, flung himself into a chair, and pretended to read.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading From time to time I could not help glancing at Vernon.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While Aunt Penelope talked my heart beat very hard.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood with his back to us, looking out of the window.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once or twice he whistled a little, he whistled a bar of a popular melody; then he thrust his hands into his pockets, turned swiftly round, took up a newspaper, flung himself into a chair, and pretended to read.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While Aunt Penelope talked my heart beat very hard.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once or twice he whistled a little, he whistled a bar of a popular melody; then he thrust his hands into his pockets, turned swiftly round, took up a newspaper, flung himself into a chair, and pretended to read.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading From time to time I could not help glancing at Vernon.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once or twice he whistled a little, he whistled a bar of a popular melody; then he thrust his hands into his pockets, turned swiftly round, took up a newspaper, flung himself into a chair, and pretended to read.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading From time to time I could not help glancing at Vernon.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From time to time I could not help glancing at Vernon.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was he guessing my thoughts--was he understanding?
members of a ship’s crew
From this reading Once or twice he whistled a little, he whistled a bar of a popular melody; then he thrust his hands into his pockets, turned swiftly round, took up a newspaper, flung himself into a chair, and pretended to read.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While Aunt Penelope talked my heart beat very hard.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Was he guessing my thoughts--was he understanding?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While Aunt Penelope talked my heart beat very hard.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading From time to time I could not help glancing at Vernon.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Once or twice he whistled a little, he whistled a bar of a popular melody; then he thrust his hands into his pockets, turned swiftly round, took up a newspaper, flung himself into a chair, and pretended to read.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He stood with his back to us, looking out of the window.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading From time to time I could not help glancing at Vernon.
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Once or twice he whistled a little, he whistled a bar of a popular melody; then he thrust his hands into his pockets, turned swiftly round, took up a newspaper, flung himself into a chair, and pretended to read.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Once or twice he whistled a little, he whistled a bar of a popular melody; then he thrust his hands into his pockets, turned swiftly round, took up a newspaper, flung himself into a chair, and pretended to read.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood with his back to us, looking out of the window.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once or twice he whistled a little, he whistled a bar of a popular melody; then he thrust his hands into his pockets, turned swiftly round, took up a newspaper, flung himself into a chair, and pretended to read.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading While Aunt Penelope talked my heart beat very hard.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once or twice he whistled a little, he whistled a bar of a popular melody; then he thrust his hands into his pockets, turned swiftly round, took up a newspaper, flung himself into a chair, and pretended to read.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading From time to time I could not help glancing at Vernon.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He stood with his back to us, looking out of the window.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once or twice he whistled a little, he whistled a bar of a popular melody; then he thrust his hands into his pockets, turned swiftly round, took up a newspaper, flung himself into a chair, and pretended to read.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Once or twice he whistled a little, he whistled a bar of a popular melody; then he thrust his hands into his pockets, turned swiftly round, took up a newspaper, flung himself into a chair, and pretended to read.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood with his back to us, looking out of the window.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While Aunt Penelope talked my heart beat very hard.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once or twice he whistled a little, he whistled a bar of a popular melody; then he thrust his hands into his pockets, turned swiftly round, took up a newspaper, flung himself into a chair, and pretended to read.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once or twice he whistled a little, he whistled a bar of a popular melody; then he thrust his hands into his pockets, turned swiftly round, took up a newspaper, flung himself into a chair, and pretended to read.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once or twice he whistled a little, he whistled a bar of a popular melody; then he thrust his hands into his pockets, turned swiftly round, took up a newspaper, flung himself into a chair, and pretended to read.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once or twice he whistled a little, he whistled a bar of a popular melody; then he thrust his hands into his pockets, turned swiftly round, took up a newspaper, flung himself into a chair, and pretended to read.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once or twice he whistled a little, he whistled a bar of a popular melody; then he thrust his hands into his pockets, turned swiftly round, took up a newspaper, flung himself into a chair, and pretended to read.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He stood with his back to us, looking out of the window.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once or twice he whistled a little, he whistled a bar of a popular melody; then he thrust his hands into his pockets, turned swiftly round, took up a newspaper, flung himself into a chair, and pretended to read.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While Aunt Penelope talked my heart beat very hard.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He stood with his back to us, looking out of the window.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once or twice he whistled a little, he whistled a bar of a popular melody; then he thrust his hands into his pockets, turned swiftly round, took up a newspaper, flung himself into a chair, and pretended to read.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was he guessing my thoughts--was he understanding?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once or twice he whistled a little, he whistled a bar of a popular melody; then he thrust his hands into his pockets, turned swiftly round, took up a newspaper, flung himself into a chair, and pretended to read.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading From time to time I could not help glancing at Vernon.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading From time to time I could not help glancing at Vernon.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Once or twice he whistled a little, he whistled a bar of a popular melody; then he thrust his hands into his pockets, turned swiftly round, took up a newspaper, flung himself into a chair, and pretended to read.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once or twice he whistled a little, he whistled a bar of a popular melody; then he thrust his hands into his pockets, turned swiftly round, took up a newspaper, flung himself into a chair, and pretended to read.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once or twice he whistled a little, he whistled a bar of a popular melody; then he thrust his hands into his pockets, turned swiftly round, took up a newspaper, flung himself into a chair, and pretended to read.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Was he guessing my thoughts--was he understanding?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once or twice he whistled a little, he whistled a bar of a popular melody; then he thrust his hands into his pockets, turned swiftly round, took up a newspaper, flung himself into a chair, and pretended to read.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He stood with his back to us, looking out of the window.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From time to time I could not help glancing at Vernon.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While Aunt Penelope talked my heart beat very hard.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Was he guessing my thoughts--was he understanding?
during the time that
From this reading While Aunt Penelope talked my heart beat very hard.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Once or twice he whistled a little, he whistled a bar of a popular melody; then he thrust his hands into his pockets, turned swiftly round, took up a newspaper, flung himself into a chair, and pretended to read.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood with his back to us, looking out of the window.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He stood with his back to us, looking out of the window.
