Harry Potter AND THE SORCERER'S STONE_CHAPTER THREE. THE LETTERS FROM NO ONE

The escape of the Brazilian boa constrictor earned Harry his longest-ever punishment. boa constrictior : a large South American snake that kills animals for food by winding its long body tightly around themshe crossed Privet Drive on her crutches. :one of two long sticks that you put under your arms to help you walk after you have injured your leg or footThis was why Harry spent as much time as possible out of the house, wandering around and thinking about the end of the holydays. : to walk slowly around or to a place, often without any particular sense of purpose or directionAs he looked at Dudley in his new knickerbockers, Uncle Vernon said gruffly that it was the proudest moment of his life. : with a deep and rough voice, which often sounds unfriendlyThe tub was full of what looked likt dirty rags swimming in gray water. rag : a piece of old, often torn, cloth used especially for cleaning thingsHarry pick it up and stared at it, his heart twanging like a giant elastic band. twang : to make a sound like a tight wire or string being pulled and releasedThe envelope was thick and heavy, made of yellowish parchment. : material made from the skin of a sheep or goat, used in the past for writing onUncle Vernon ripped open the bill, snorted in disgust, and flipped over the postcard. : to make a loud sound by breathing air out noisily through your nose, especially to show that you are angry or think something is silly"Ate a funny whelk..." : a small shellfish that can be eaten"Who'd be writing on you?" sneered Uncle Vernon. : to show that you have no respect for somebody by the expression on your face or by the way you speak"Get out, both of you," croaked Uncle Vernon. : to make a rough low sound, like the sound a frog makesHe took both Harry and Dudley by the scruffs of their necks and threw them into the hall. : a dirty or untidy personHarry and Dudley promptly had a furious but slient fight over who would listen at the keyhole. :without delay, exactly at the correct time or at the time mentionedhis glasses dangling from one ear. dangle : to hang or move freely, to hold something so that it hangs or moves freelyHarry was thinking about this time yesterday and bitterly wishing he'd opened the letter