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A Man Four-Square
A Man Four-Square

Chapter XXXIII

Cover illustration for A Man Four-Square
Context Illustration Reading 1/38 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Jim Takes a Prisoner After Goodheart left the room where his prisoner was confined, Clanton waited a few moments till the sound of his footsteps had died away.
He rose, moved noiselessly across the floor, and raised the trapdoor slowly.
The creaking of the rusty hinges seemed to Jim to be shouting aloud the news of his escape.
The young fellow descended into the cellar and stood there without moving till his eyes became accustomed to the darkness.
He groped his way to the door, which Pauline had left open an inch or two.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

A Man Four-Square

Chapter XXXIII

Reading 1/38 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Jim Takes a Prisoner After Goodheart left the room where his prisoner was confined, Clanton waited a few moments till the sound of his footsteps had died away.
Line 2
He rose, moved noiselessly across the floor, and raised the trapdoor slowly.
Line 3
The creaking of the rusty hinges seemed to Jim to be shouting aloud the news of his escape.
Line 4
The young fellow descended into the cellar and stood there without moving till his eyes became accustomed to the darkness.
Line 5
He groped his way to the door, which Pauline had left open an inch or two.

Learner Dictionary

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

Across preposition US /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading “He rose, moved noiselessly across the floor, and raised the trapdoor slowly.”

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “Jim Takes a Prisoner After Goodheart left the room where his prisoner was confined, Clanton waited a few moments till the sound of his footsteps had died away.”

Descended noun US /ˈdescended/

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

From this reading “The young fellow descended into the cellar and stood there without moving till his eyes became accustomed to the darkness.”

Left noun US /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Jim Takes a Prisoner After Goodheart left the room where his prisoner was confined, Clanton waited a few moments till the sound of his footsteps had died away.”

Open verb US /ˈoʊ.pən/

To move from a closed position.

From this reading “He groped his way to the door, which Pauline had left open an inch or two.”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The creaking of the rusty hinges seemed to Jim to be shouting aloud the news of his escape.”

Stood noun US /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The young fellow descended into the cellar and stood there without moving till his eyes became accustomed to the darkness.”

Till preposition US /tɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading “Jim Takes a Prisoner After Goodheart left the room where his prisoner was confined, Clanton waited a few moments till the sound of his footsteps had died away.”

Without preposition US /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading “The young fellow descended into the cellar and stood there without moving till his eyes became accustomed to the darkness.”

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 Jim Takes a Prisoner After Goodheart left the room where his prisoner was confined, Clanton waited a few moments till the sound of his footsteps had died away.

accustomed

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

From this reading The young fellow descended into the cellar and stood there without moving till his eyes became accustomed to the darkness.

acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading He rose, moved noiselessly across the floor, and raised the trapdoor slowly.

AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading Jim Takes a Prisoner After Goodheart left the room where his prisoner was confined, Clanton waited a few moments till the sound of his footsteps had died away.

aloud

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

From this reading The creaking of the rusty hinges seemed to Jim to be shouting aloud the news of his escape.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading He groped his way to the door, which Pauline had left open an inch or two.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading He rose, moved noiselessly across the floor, and raised the trapdoor slowly.

away

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

From this reading Jim Takes a Prisoner After Goodheart left the room where his prisoner was confined, Clanton waited a few moments till the sound of his footsteps had died away.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading The creaking of the rusty hinges seemed to Jim to be shouting aloud the news of his escape.

became

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

From this reading The young fellow descended into the cellar and stood there without moving till his eyes became accustomed to the darkness.

cellar

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

From this reading The young fellow descended into the cellar and stood there without moving till his eyes became accustomed to the darkness.

Clanton

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

From this reading Jim Takes a Prisoner After Goodheart left the room where his prisoner was confined, Clanton waited a few moments till the sound of his footsteps had died away.

confined

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

From this reading Jim Takes a Prisoner After Goodheart left the room where his prisoner was confined, Clanton waited a few moments till the sound of his footsteps had died away.

creaking

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

From this reading The creaking of the rusty hinges seemed to Jim to be shouting aloud the news of his escape.

darkness

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

From this reading The young fellow descended into the cellar and stood there without moving till his eyes became accustomed to the darkness.

descendednounUS /ˈdescended/

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

From this reading The young fellow descended into the cellar and stood there without moving till his eyes became accustomed to the darkness.

died

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

From this reading Jim Takes a Prisoner After Goodheart left the room where his prisoner was confined, Clanton waited a few moments till the sound of his footsteps had died away.

door

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

From this reading He groped his way to the door, which Pauline had left open an inch or two.

escape

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

From this reading The creaking of the rusty hinges seemed to Jim to be shouting aloud the news of his escape.

eyes

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

From this reading The young fellow descended into the cellar and stood there without moving till his eyes became accustomed to the darkness.

fellow

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

From this reading The young fellow descended into the cellar and stood there without moving till his eyes became accustomed to the darkness.

few

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

From this reading Jim Takes a Prisoner After Goodheart left the room where his prisoner was confined, Clanton waited a few moments till the sound of his footsteps had died away.

floor

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

From this reading He rose, moved noiselessly across the floor, and raised the trapdoor slowly.

footsteps

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

From this reading Jim Takes a Prisoner After Goodheart left the room where his prisoner was confined, Clanton waited a few moments till the sound of his footsteps had died away.

Goodheart

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

From this reading Jim Takes a Prisoner After Goodheart left the room where his prisoner was confined, Clanton waited a few moments till the sound of his footsteps had died away.

groped

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

From this reading He groped his way to the door, which Pauline had left open an inch or two.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Jim Takes a Prisoner After Goodheart left the room where his prisoner was confined, Clanton waited a few moments till the sound of his footsteps had died away.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He rose, moved noiselessly across the floor, and raised the trapdoor slowly.

hinges

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

From this reading The creaking of the rusty hinges seemed to Jim to be shouting aloud the news of his escape.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Jim Takes a Prisoner After Goodheart left the room where his prisoner was confined, Clanton waited a few moments till the sound of his footsteps had died away.

inch

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

From this reading He groped his way to the door, which Pauline had left open an inch or two.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading The young fellow descended into the cellar and stood there without moving till his eyes became accustomed to the darkness.

Jim

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

From this reading Jim Takes a Prisoner After Goodheart left the room where his prisoner was confined, Clanton waited a few moments till the sound of his footsteps had died away.

leftnounUS /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Jim Takes a Prisoner After Goodheart left the room where his prisoner was confined, Clanton waited a few moments till the sound of his footsteps had died away.

moments

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

From this reading Jim Takes a Prisoner After Goodheart left the room where his prisoner was confined, Clanton waited a few moments till the sound of his footsteps had died away.

moved

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

From this reading He rose, moved noiselessly across the floor, and raised the trapdoor slowly.

moving

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

From this reading The young fellow descended into the cellar and stood there without moving till his eyes became accustomed to the darkness.

news

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

From this reading The creaking of the rusty hinges seemed to Jim to be shouting aloud the news of his escape.

noiselessly

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

From this reading He rose, moved noiselessly across the floor, and raised the trapdoor slowly.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Jim Takes a Prisoner After Goodheart left the room where his prisoner was confined, Clanton waited a few moments till the sound of his footsteps had died away.

openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/

To move from a closed position.

From this reading He groped his way to the door, which Pauline had left open an inch or two.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading He groped his way to the door, which Pauline had left open an inch or two.

Pauline

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

From this reading He groped his way to the door, which Pauline had left open an inch or two.

Prisoner

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

From this reading Jim Takes a Prisoner After Goodheart left the room where his prisoner was confined, Clanton waited a few moments till the sound of his footsteps had died away.

raised

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

From this reading He rose, moved noiselessly across the floor, and raised the trapdoor slowly.

room

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

From this reading Jim Takes a Prisoner After Goodheart left the room where his prisoner was confined, Clanton waited a few moments till the sound of his footsteps had died away.

rose

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

From this reading He rose, moved noiselessly across the floor, and raised the trapdoor slowly.

rusty

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

From this reading The creaking of the rusty hinges seemed to Jim to be shouting aloud the news of his escape.

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The creaking of the rusty hinges seemed to Jim to be shouting aloud the news of his escape.

shouting

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

From this reading The creaking of the rusty hinges seemed to Jim to be shouting aloud the news of his escape.

slowly

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

From this reading He rose, moved noiselessly across the floor, and raised the trapdoor slowly.

sound

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

From this reading Jim Takes a Prisoner After Goodheart left the room where his prisoner was confined, Clanton waited a few moments till the sound of his footsteps had died away.

stoodnounUS /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The young fellow descended into the cellar and stood there without moving till his eyes became accustomed to the darkness.

Takes

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

From this reading Jim Takes a Prisoner After Goodheart left the room where his prisoner was confined, Clanton waited a few moments till the sound of his footsteps had died away.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Jim Takes a Prisoner After Goodheart left the room where his prisoner was confined, Clanton waited a few moments till the sound of his footsteps had died away.

there

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

From this reading The young fellow descended into the cellar and stood there without moving till his eyes became accustomed to the darkness.

tillprepositionUS /tɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading Jim Takes a Prisoner After Goodheart left the room where his prisoner was confined, Clanton waited a few moments till the sound of his footsteps had died away.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The creaking of the rusty hinges seemed to Jim to be shouting aloud the news of his escape.

trapdoor

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

From this reading He rose, moved noiselessly across the floor, and raised the trapdoor slowly.

two

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

From this reading He groped his way to the door, which Pauline had left open an inch or two.

waited

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

From this reading Jim Takes a Prisoner After Goodheart left the room where his prisoner was confined, Clanton waited a few moments till the sound of his footsteps had died away.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Jim Takes a Prisoner After Goodheart left the room where his prisoner was confined, Clanton waited a few moments till the sound of his footsteps had died away.

way

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

From this reading He groped his way to the door, which Pauline had left open an inch or two.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading Jim Takes a Prisoner After Goodheart left the room where his prisoner was confined, Clanton waited a few moments till the sound of his footsteps had died away.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading He groped his way to the door, which Pauline had left open an inch or two.

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading The young fellow descended into the cellar and stood there without moving till his eyes became accustomed to the darkness.

young

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

From this reading The young fellow descended into the cellar and stood there without moving till his eyes became accustomed to the darkness.