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Windy McPherson's Son
Windy McPherson's Son

Chapter III

Cover illustration for Windy McPherson's Son
Context Illustration Reading 1/65 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
John Telfer’s friendship was a formative influence upon Sam McPherson.
His father’s worthlessness and the growing realisation of the hardship of his mother’s position had given life a bitter taste in his mouth, and Telfer sweetened it.
He entered with zeal into Sam’s thoughts and dreams, and tried valiantly to arouse in the quiet, industrious, money-making boy some of his own love of life and beauty.
At night, as the two walked down country roads, the man would stop and, waving his arms about, quote Poe or Browning or, in another mood, would compel Sam’s attention to the rare smell of a hayfield or to a moonlit stretch of meadow.
Before people gathered on the streets he teased the boy, calling him a little money grubber and saying, “He is like a little mole that works underground.
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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.

Windy McPherson's Son

Chapter III

Reading 1/65 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
John Telfer’s friendship was a formative influence upon Sam McPherson.
Line 2
His father’s worthlessness and the growing realisation of the hardship of his mother’s position had given life a bitter taste in his mouth, and Telfer sweetened it.
Line 3
He entered with zeal into Sam’s thoughts and dreams, and tried valiantly to arouse in the quiet, industrious, money-making boy some of his own love of life and beauty.
Line 4
At night, as the two walked down country roads, the man would stop and, waving his arms about, quote Poe or Browning or, in another mood, would compel Sam’s attention to the rare smell of a hayfield or to a moonlit stretch of meadow.
Line 5
Before people gathered on the streets he teased the boy, calling him a little money grubber and saying, “He is like a little mole that works underground.

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 “At night, as the two walked down country roads, the man would stop and, waving his arms about, quote Poe or Browning or, in another mood, would compel Sam’s attention to the rare smell of a hayfield or to a moonlit stretch of meadow.”

Another noun US /ˈanother/

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

From this reading “At night, as the two walked down country roads, the man would stop and, waving his arms about, quote Poe or Browning or, in another mood, would compel Sam’s attention to the rare smell of a hayfield or to a moonlit stretch of meadow.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “Before people gathered on the streets he teased the boy, calling him a little money grubber and saying, “He is like a little mole that works underground.”

John noun US /john/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “John Telfer’s friendship was a formative influence upon Sam McPherson.”

Life noun US /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “His father’s worthlessness and the growing realisation of the hardship of his mother’s position had given life a bitter taste in his mouth, and Telfer sweetened it.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Before people gathered on the streets he teased the boy, calling him a little money grubber and saying, “He is like a little mole that works underground.”

Taste verb US /teɪst/

To perceive flavor through the mouth.

From this reading “His father’s worthlessness and the growing realisation of the hardship of his mother’s position had given life a bitter taste in his mouth, and Telfer sweetened it.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “John Telfer’s friendship was a formative influence upon Sam McPherson.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading “At night, as the two walked down country roads, the man would stop and, waving his arms about, quote Poe or Browning or, in another mood, would compel Sam’s attention to the rare smell of a hayfield or to a moonlit stretch of meadow.”

All words in this reading · 97

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 John Telfer’s friendship was a formative influence upon Sam McPherson.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading At night, as the two walked down country roads, the man would stop and, waving his arms about, quote Poe or Browning or, in another mood, would compel Sam’s attention to the rare smell of a hayfield or to a moonlit stretch of meadow.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading His father’s worthlessness and the growing realisation of the hardship of his mother’s position had given life a bitter taste in his mouth, and Telfer sweetened it.

anothernounUS /ˈanother/

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

From this reading At night, as the two walked down country roads, the man would stop and, waving his arms about, quote Poe or Browning or, in another mood, would compel Sam’s attention to the rare smell of a hayfield or to a moonlit stretch of meadow.

arms

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

From this reading At night, as the two walked down country roads, the man would stop and, waving his arms about, quote Poe or Browning or, in another mood, would compel Sam’s attention to the rare smell of a hayfield or to a moonlit stretch of meadow.

arouse

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

From this reading He entered with zeal into Sam’s thoughts and dreams, and tried valiantly to arouse in the quiet, industrious, money-making boy some of his own love of life and beauty.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading At night, as the two walked down country roads, the man would stop and, waving his arms about, quote Poe or Browning or, in another mood, would compel Sam’s attention to the rare smell of a hayfield or to a moonlit stretch of meadow.

AtprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading At night, as the two walked down country roads, the man would stop and, waving his arms about, quote Poe or Browning or, in another mood, would compel Sam’s attention to the rare smell of a hayfield or to a moonlit stretch of meadow.

attention

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

From this reading At night, as the two walked down country roads, the man would stop and, waving his arms about, quote Poe or Browning or, in another mood, would compel Sam’s attention to the rare smell of a hayfield or to a moonlit stretch of meadow.

beauty

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

From this reading He entered with zeal into Sam’s thoughts and dreams, and tried valiantly to arouse in the quiet, industrious, money-making boy some of his own love of life and beauty.

BeforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Before people gathered on the streets he teased the boy, calling him a little money grubber and saying, “He is like a little mole that works underground.

bitter

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

From this reading His father’s worthlessness and the growing realisation of the hardship of his mother’s position had given life a bitter taste in his mouth, and Telfer sweetened it.

boy

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

From this reading He entered with zeal into Sam’s thoughts and dreams, and tried valiantly to arouse in the quiet, industrious, money-making boy some of his own love of life and beauty.

Browning

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

From this reading At night, as the two walked down country roads, the man would stop and, waving his arms about, quote Poe or Browning or, in another mood, would compel Sam’s attention to the rare smell of a hayfield or to a moonlit stretch of meadow.

calling

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

From this reading Before people gathered on the streets he teased the boy, calling him a little money grubber and saying, “He is like a little mole that works underground.

compel

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

From this reading At night, as the two walked down country roads, the man would stop and, waving his arms about, quote Poe or Browning or, in another mood, would compel Sam’s attention to the rare smell of a hayfield or to a moonlit stretch of meadow.

country

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

From this reading At night, as the two walked down country roads, the man would stop and, waving his arms about, quote Poe or Browning or, in another mood, would compel Sam’s attention to the rare smell of a hayfield or to a moonlit stretch of meadow.

down

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

From this reading At night, as the two walked down country roads, the man would stop and, waving his arms about, quote Poe or Browning or, in another mood, would compel Sam’s attention to the rare smell of a hayfield or to a moonlit stretch of meadow.

dreams

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

From this reading He entered with zeal into Sam’s thoughts and dreams, and tried valiantly to arouse in the quiet, industrious, money-making boy some of his own love of life and beauty.

entered

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

From this reading He entered with zeal into Sam’s thoughts and dreams, and tried valiantly to arouse in the quiet, industrious, money-making boy some of his own love of life and beauty.

father's

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

From this reading His father’s worthlessness and the growing realisation of the hardship of his mother’s position had given life a bitter taste in his mouth, and Telfer sweetened it.

formative

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

From this reading John Telfer’s friendship was a formative influence upon Sam McPherson.

friendship

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

From this reading John Telfer’s friendship was a formative influence upon Sam McPherson.

gathered

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

From this reading Before people gathered on the streets he teased the boy, calling him a little money grubber and saying, “He is like a little mole that works underground.

given

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

From this reading His father’s worthlessness and the growing realisation of the hardship of his mother’s position had given life a bitter taste in his mouth, and Telfer sweetened it.

growing

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

From this reading His father’s worthlessness and the growing realisation of the hardship of his mother’s position had given life a bitter taste in his mouth, and Telfer sweetened it.

grubber

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

From this reading Before people gathered on the streets he teased the boy, calling him a little money grubber and saying, “He is like a little mole that works underground.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading His father’s worthlessness and the growing realisation of the hardship of his mother’s position had given life a bitter taste in his mouth, and Telfer sweetened it.

hardship

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

From this reading His father’s worthlessness and the growing realisation of the hardship of his mother’s position had given life a bitter taste in his mouth, and Telfer sweetened it.

hayfield

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

From this reading At night, as the two walked down country roads, the man would stop and, waving his arms about, quote Poe or Browning or, in another mood, would compel Sam’s attention to the rare smell of a hayfield or to a moonlit stretch of meadow.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He entered with zeal into Sam’s thoughts and dreams, and tried valiantly to arouse in the quiet, industrious, money-making boy some of his own love of life and beauty.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Before people gathered on the streets he teased the boy, calling him a little money grubber and saying, “He is like a little mole that works underground.

HisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading His father’s worthlessness and the growing realisation of the hardship of his mother’s position had given life a bitter taste in his mouth, and Telfer sweetened it.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading His father’s worthlessness and the growing realisation of the hardship of his mother’s position had given life a bitter taste in his mouth, and Telfer sweetened it.

industrious

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

From this reading He entered with zeal into Sam’s thoughts and dreams, and tried valiantly to arouse in the quiet, industrious, money-making boy some of his own love of life and beauty.

influence

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

From this reading John Telfer’s friendship was a formative influence upon Sam McPherson.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading He entered with zeal into Sam’s thoughts and dreams, and tried valiantly to arouse in the quiet, industrious, money-making boy some of his own love of life and beauty.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading Before people gathered on the streets he teased the boy, calling him a little money grubber and saying, “He is like a little mole that works underground.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading His father’s worthlessness and the growing realisation of the hardship of his mother’s position had given life a bitter taste in his mouth, and Telfer sweetened it.

John

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

From this reading John Telfer’s friendship was a formative influence upon Sam McPherson.

lifenounUS /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading His father’s worthlessness and the growing realisation of the hardship of his mother’s position had given life a bitter taste in his mouth, and Telfer sweetened it.

like

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

From this reading Before people gathered on the streets he teased the boy, calling him a little money grubber and saying, “He is like a little mole that works underground.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Before people gathered on the streets he teased the boy, calling him a little money grubber and saying, “He is like a little mole that works underground.

love

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

From this reading He entered with zeal into Sam’s thoughts and dreams, and tried valiantly to arouse in the quiet, industrious, money-making boy some of his own love of life and beauty.

man

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

From this reading At night, as the two walked down country roads, the man would stop and, waving his arms about, quote Poe or Browning or, in another mood, would compel Sam’s attention to the rare smell of a hayfield or to a moonlit stretch of meadow.

McPherson

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

From this reading John Telfer’s friendship was a formative influence upon Sam McPherson.

meadow

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

From this reading At night, as the two walked down country roads, the man would stop and, waving his arms about, quote Poe or Browning or, in another mood, would compel Sam’s attention to the rare smell of a hayfield or to a moonlit stretch of meadow.

mole

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

From this reading Before people gathered on the streets he teased the boy, calling him a little money grubber and saying, “He is like a little mole that works underground.

money

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

From this reading Before people gathered on the streets he teased the boy, calling him a little money grubber and saying, “He is like a little mole that works underground.

money-making

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

From this reading He entered with zeal into Sam’s thoughts and dreams, and tried valiantly to arouse in the quiet, industrious, money-making boy some of his own love of life and beauty.

mood

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

From this reading At night, as the two walked down country roads, the man would stop and, waving his arms about, quote Poe or Browning or, in another mood, would compel Sam’s attention to the rare smell of a hayfield or to a moonlit stretch of meadow.

moonlit

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

From this reading At night, as the two walked down country roads, the man would stop and, waving his arms about, quote Poe or Browning or, in another mood, would compel Sam’s attention to the rare smell of a hayfield or to a moonlit stretch of meadow.

mother's

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

From this reading His father’s worthlessness and the growing realisation of the hardship of his mother’s position had given life a bitter taste in his mouth, and Telfer sweetened it.

mouth

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

From this reading His father’s worthlessness and the growing realisation of the hardship of his mother’s position had given life a bitter taste in his mouth, and Telfer sweetened it.

night

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

From this reading At night, as the two walked down country roads, the man would stop and, waving his arms about, quote Poe or Browning or, in another mood, would compel Sam’s attention to the rare smell of a hayfield or to a moonlit stretch of meadow.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading His father’s worthlessness and the growing realisation of the hardship of his mother’s position had given life a bitter taste in his mouth, and Telfer sweetened it.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Before people gathered on the streets he teased the boy, calling him a little money grubber and saying, “He is like a little mole that works underground.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading At night, as the two walked down country roads, the man would stop and, waving his arms about, quote Poe or Browning or, in another mood, would compel Sam’s attention to the rare smell of a hayfield or to a moonlit stretch of meadow.

own

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

From this reading He entered with zeal into Sam’s thoughts and dreams, and tried valiantly to arouse in the quiet, industrious, money-making boy some of his own love of life and beauty.

people

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

From this reading Before people gathered on the streets he teased the boy, calling him a little money grubber and saying, “He is like a little mole that works underground.

Poe

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

From this reading At night, as the two walked down country roads, the man would stop and, waving his arms about, quote Poe or Browning or, in another mood, would compel Sam’s attention to the rare smell of a hayfield or to a moonlit stretch of meadow.

position

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

From this reading His father’s worthlessness and the growing realisation of the hardship of his mother’s position had given life a bitter taste in his mouth, and Telfer sweetened it.

quiet

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

From this reading He entered with zeal into Sam’s thoughts and dreams, and tried valiantly to arouse in the quiet, industrious, money-making boy some of his own love of life and beauty.

quote

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

From this reading At night, as the two walked down country roads, the man would stop and, waving his arms about, quote Poe or Browning or, in another mood, would compel Sam’s attention to the rare smell of a hayfield or to a moonlit stretch of meadow.

rare

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

From this reading At night, as the two walked down country roads, the man would stop and, waving his arms about, quote Poe or Browning or, in another mood, would compel Sam’s attention to the rare smell of a hayfield or to a moonlit stretch of meadow.

realisation

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

From this reading His father’s worthlessness and the growing realisation of the hardship of his mother’s position had given life a bitter taste in his mouth, and Telfer sweetened it.

roads

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

From this reading At night, as the two walked down country roads, the man would stop and, waving his arms about, quote Poe or Browning or, in another mood, would compel Sam’s attention to the rare smell of a hayfield or to a moonlit stretch of meadow.

Sam

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

From this reading John Telfer’s friendship was a formative influence upon Sam McPherson.

Sam's

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

From this reading He entered with zeal into Sam’s thoughts and dreams, and tried valiantly to arouse in the quiet, industrious, money-making boy some of his own love of life and beauty.

saying

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

From this reading Before people gathered on the streets he teased the boy, calling him a little money grubber and saying, “He is like a little mole that works underground.

smell

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

From this reading At night, as the two walked down country roads, the man would stop and, waving his arms about, quote Poe or Browning or, in another mood, would compel Sam’s attention to the rare smell of a hayfield or to a moonlit stretch of meadow.

some

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

From this reading He entered with zeal into Sam’s thoughts and dreams, and tried valiantly to arouse in the quiet, industrious, money-making boy some of his own love of life and beauty.

stop

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

From this reading At night, as the two walked down country roads, the man would stop and, waving his arms about, quote Poe or Browning or, in another mood, would compel Sam’s attention to the rare smell of a hayfield or to a moonlit stretch of meadow.

streets

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

From this reading Before people gathered on the streets he teased the boy, calling him a little money grubber and saying, “He is like a little mole that works underground.

stretch

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

From this reading At night, as the two walked down country roads, the man would stop and, waving his arms about, quote Poe or Browning or, in another mood, would compel Sam’s attention to the rare smell of a hayfield or to a moonlit stretch of meadow.

sweetened

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

From this reading His father’s worthlessness and the growing realisation of the hardship of his mother’s position had given life a bitter taste in his mouth, and Telfer sweetened it.

tasteverbUS /teɪst/

To perceive flavor through the mouth.

From this reading His father’s worthlessness and the growing realisation of the hardship of his mother’s position had given life a bitter taste in his mouth, and Telfer sweetened it.

teased

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

From this reading Before people gathered on the streets he teased the boy, calling him a little money grubber and saying, “He is like a little mole that works underground.

Telfer

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

From this reading His father’s worthlessness and the growing realisation of the hardship of his mother’s position had given life a bitter taste in his mouth, and Telfer sweetened it.

Telfer's

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

From this reading John Telfer’s friendship was a formative influence upon Sam McPherson.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Before people gathered on the streets he teased the boy, calling him a little money grubber and saying, “He is like a little mole that works underground.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading His father’s worthlessness and the growing realisation of the hardship of his mother’s position had given life a bitter taste in his mouth, and Telfer sweetened it.

thoughts

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

From this reading He entered with zeal into Sam’s thoughts and dreams, and tried valiantly to arouse in the quiet, industrious, money-making boy some of his own love of life and beauty.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading He entered with zeal into Sam’s thoughts and dreams, and tried valiantly to arouse in the quiet, industrious, money-making boy some of his own love of life and beauty.

tried

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

From this reading He entered with zeal into Sam’s thoughts and dreams, and tried valiantly to arouse in the quiet, industrious, money-making boy some of his own love of life and beauty.

two

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

From this reading At night, as the two walked down country roads, the man would stop and, waving his arms about, quote Poe or Browning or, in another mood, would compel Sam’s attention to the rare smell of a hayfield or to a moonlit stretch of meadow.

underground

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

From this reading Before people gathered on the streets he teased the boy, calling him a little money grubber and saying, “He is like a little mole that works underground.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading John Telfer’s friendship was a formative influence upon Sam McPherson.

valiantly

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

From this reading He entered with zeal into Sam’s thoughts and dreams, and tried valiantly to arouse in the quiet, industrious, money-making boy some of his own love of life and beauty.

walked

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

From this reading At night, as the two walked down country roads, the man would stop and, waving his arms about, quote Poe or Browning or, in another mood, would compel Sam’s attention to the rare smell of a hayfield or to a moonlit stretch of meadow.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading John Telfer’s friendship was a formative influence upon Sam McPherson.

waving

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

From this reading At night, as the two walked down country roads, the man would stop and, waving his arms about, quote Poe or Browning or, in another mood, would compel Sam’s attention to the rare smell of a hayfield or to a moonlit stretch of meadow.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading He entered with zeal into Sam’s thoughts and dreams, and tried valiantly to arouse in the quiet, industrious, money-making boy some of his own love of life and beauty.

works

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

From this reading Before people gathered on the streets he teased the boy, calling him a little money grubber and saying, “He is like a little mole that works underground.

worthlessness

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

From this reading His father’s worthlessness and the growing realisation of the hardship of his mother’s position had given life a bitter taste in his mouth, and Telfer sweetened it.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading At night, as the two walked down country roads, the man would stop and, waving his arms about, quote Poe or Browning or, in another mood, would compel Sam’s attention to the rare smell of a hayfield or to a moonlit stretch of meadow.

zeal

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

From this reading He entered with zeal into Sam’s thoughts and dreams, and tried valiantly to arouse in the quiet, industrious, money-making boy some of his own love of life and beauty.