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The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

Chapter XXI · Chapter 21: CHAPTER XXI

Vacation was approaching.

Chapter 21: CHAPTER XXI, section 1: Vacation was approaching. The schoolmaster, always severe, grew severer and more exacting than ever, for he wanted the school to make a good showing on “Examination” day. His rod a
Context Illustration Reading 1/20 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Vacation was approaching.
The schoolmaster, always severe, grew severer and more exacting than ever, for he wanted the school to make a good showing on “Examination” day.
His rod and his ferule were seldom idle now—at least among the smaller pupils.
Only the biggest boys, and young ladies of eighteen and twenty, escaped lashing.
Mr. Dobbins’ lashings were very vigorous ones, too; for although he carried, under his wig, a perfectly bald and shiny head, he had only reached middle age, and there was no sign of feebleness in his muscle.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

Chapter XXI · Chapter 21: CHAPTER XXI

Reading 1/20 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Vacation was approaching.
Line 2
The schoolmaster, always severe, grew severer and more exacting than ever, for he wanted the school to make a good showing on “Examination” day.
Line 3
His rod and his ferule were seldom idle now—at least among the smaller pupils.
Line 4
Only the biggest boys, and young ladies of eighteen and twenty, escaped lashing.
Line 5
Mr. Dobbins’ lashings were very vigorous ones, too; for although he carried, under his wig, a perfectly bald and shiny head, he had only reached middle age, and there was no sign of feebleness in his muscle.

Learner Dictionary

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

approaching noun US /əˈproʊtʃɪŋ/

the event of one object coming closer to another

From this reading “Vacation was approaching.”

Collocations
Vacation wasA source-grounded phrase from this reading.
was approachingA source-grounded phrase from this reading.
All words in this reading · 73

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 The schoolmaster, always severe, grew severer and more exacting than ever, for he wanted the school to make a good showing on “Examination” day.

age

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

From this reading Mr. Dobbins’ lashings were very vigorous ones, too; for although he carried, under his wig, a perfectly bald and shiny head, he had only reached middle age, and there was no sign of feebleness in his muscle.

althoughnounUS /ˈalthough/

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

From this reading Mr. Dobbins’ lashings were very vigorous ones, too; for although he carried, under his wig, a perfectly bald and shiny head, he had only reached middle age, and there was no sign of feebleness in his muscle.

always

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

From this reading The schoolmaster, always severe, grew severer and more exacting than ever, for he wanted the school to make a good showing on “Examination” day.

amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading His rod and his ferule were seldom idle now—at least among the smaller pupils.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The schoolmaster, always severe, grew severer and more exacting than ever, for he wanted the school to make a good showing on “Examination” day.

approachingnounUS /əˈproʊtʃɪŋ/

the event of one object coming closer to another

From this reading Vacation was approaching.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading His rod and his ferule were seldom idle now—at least among the smaller pupils.

bald

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

From this reading Mr. Dobbins’ lashings were very vigorous ones, too; for although he carried, under his wig, a perfectly bald and shiny head, he had only reached middle age, and there was no sign of feebleness in his muscle.

biggest

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

From this reading Only the biggest boys, and young ladies of eighteen and twenty, escaped lashing.

boys

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

From this reading Only the biggest boys, and young ladies of eighteen and twenty, escaped lashing.

carried

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

From this reading Mr. Dobbins’ lashings were very vigorous ones, too; for although he carried, under his wig, a perfectly bald and shiny head, he had only reached middle age, and there was no sign of feebleness in his muscle.

day

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

From this reading The schoolmaster, always severe, grew severer and more exacting than ever, for he wanted the school to make a good showing on “Examination” day.

Dobbins

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

From this reading Mr. Dobbins’ lashings were very vigorous ones, too; for although he carried, under his wig, a perfectly bald and shiny head, he had only reached middle age, and there was no sign of feebleness in his muscle.

eighteen

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

From this reading Only the biggest boys, and young ladies of eighteen and twenty, escaped lashing.

escaped

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

From this reading Only the biggest boys, and young ladies of eighteen and twenty, escaped lashing.

evernounUS /ever/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The schoolmaster, always severe, grew severer and more exacting than ever, for he wanted the school to make a good showing on “Examination” day.

exacting

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

From this reading The schoolmaster, always severe, grew severer and more exacting than ever, for he wanted the school to make a good showing on “Examination” day.

Examination

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

From this reading The schoolmaster, always severe, grew severer and more exacting than ever, for he wanted the school to make a good showing on “Examination” day.

feebleness

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

From this reading Mr. Dobbins’ lashings were very vigorous ones, too; for although he carried, under his wig, a perfectly bald and shiny head, he had only reached middle age, and there was no sign of feebleness in his muscle.

ferule

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

From this reading His rod and his ferule were seldom idle now—at least among the smaller pupils.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The schoolmaster, always severe, grew severer and more exacting than ever, for he wanted the school to make a good showing on “Examination” day.

goodnounUS /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The schoolmaster, always severe, grew severer and more exacting than ever, for he wanted the school to make a good showing on “Examination” day.

grew

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

From this reading The schoolmaster, always severe, grew severer and more exacting than ever, for he wanted the school to make a good showing on “Examination” day.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Mr. Dobbins’ lashings were very vigorous ones, too; for although he carried, under his wig, a perfectly bald and shiny head, he had only reached middle age, and there was no sign of feebleness in his muscle.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading The schoolmaster, always severe, grew severer and more exacting than ever, for he wanted the school to make a good showing on “Examination” day.

head

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

From this reading Mr. Dobbins’ lashings were very vigorous ones, too; for although he carried, under his wig, a perfectly bald and shiny head, he had only reached middle age, and there was no sign of feebleness in his muscle.

HisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading His rod and his ferule were seldom idle now—at least among the smaller pupils.

idle

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

From this reading His rod and his ferule were seldom idle now—at least among the smaller pupils.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Mr. Dobbins’ lashings were very vigorous ones, too; for although he carried, under his wig, a perfectly bald and shiny head, he had only reached middle age, and there was no sign of feebleness in his muscle.

ladies

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

From this reading Only the biggest boys, and young ladies of eighteen and twenty, escaped lashing.

lashing

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

From this reading Only the biggest boys, and young ladies of eighteen and twenty, escaped lashing.

lashings

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

From this reading Mr. Dobbins’ lashings were very vigorous ones, too; for although he carried, under his wig, a perfectly bald and shiny head, he had only reached middle age, and there was no sign of feebleness in his muscle.

leastnounUS /least/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading His rod and his ferule were seldom idle now—at least among the smaller pupils.

makenounUS /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The schoolmaster, always severe, grew severer and more exacting than ever, for he wanted the school to make a good showing on “Examination” day.

middle

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

From this reading Mr. Dobbins’ lashings were very vigorous ones, too; for although he carried, under his wig, a perfectly bald and shiny head, he had only reached middle age, and there was no sign of feebleness in his muscle.

more

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

From this reading The schoolmaster, always severe, grew severer and more exacting than ever, for he wanted the school to make a good showing on “Examination” day.

Mr

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

From this reading Mr. Dobbins’ lashings were very vigorous ones, too; for although he carried, under his wig, a perfectly bald and shiny head, he had only reached middle age, and there was no sign of feebleness in his muscle.

muscle

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

From this reading Mr. Dobbins’ lashings were very vigorous ones, too; for although he carried, under his wig, a perfectly bald and shiny head, he had only reached middle age, and there was no sign of feebleness in his muscle.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading Mr. Dobbins’ lashings were very vigorous ones, too; for although he carried, under his wig, a perfectly bald and shiny head, he had only reached middle age, and there was no sign of feebleness in his muscle.

now

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

From this reading His rod and his ferule were seldom idle now—at least among the smaller pupils.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Only the biggest boys, and young ladies of eighteen and twenty, escaped lashing.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The schoolmaster, always severe, grew severer and more exacting than ever, for he wanted the school to make a good showing on “Examination” day.

ones

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

From this reading Mr. Dobbins’ lashings were very vigorous ones, too; for although he carried, under his wig, a perfectly bald and shiny head, he had only reached middle age, and there was no sign of feebleness in his muscle.

Only

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

From this reading Only the biggest boys, and young ladies of eighteen and twenty, escaped lashing.

perfectly

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

From this reading Mr. Dobbins’ lashings were very vigorous ones, too; for although he carried, under his wig, a perfectly bald and shiny head, he had only reached middle age, and there was no sign of feebleness in his muscle.

pupils

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

From this reading His rod and his ferule were seldom idle now—at least among the smaller pupils.

reached

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

From this reading Mr. Dobbins’ lashings were very vigorous ones, too; for although he carried, under his wig, a perfectly bald and shiny head, he had only reached middle age, and there was no sign of feebleness in his muscle.

rod

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

From this reading His rod and his ferule were seldom idle now—at least among the smaller pupils.

school

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

From this reading The schoolmaster, always severe, grew severer and more exacting than ever, for he wanted the school to make a good showing on “Examination” day.

schoolmaster

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

From this reading The schoolmaster, always severe, grew severer and more exacting than ever, for he wanted the school to make a good showing on “Examination” day.

seldom

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

From this reading His rod and his ferule were seldom idle now—at least among the smaller pupils.

severe

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

From this reading The schoolmaster, always severe, grew severer and more exacting than ever, for he wanted the school to make a good showing on “Examination” day.

severer

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

From this reading The schoolmaster, always severe, grew severer and more exacting than ever, for he wanted the school to make a good showing on “Examination” day.

shiny

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

From this reading Mr. Dobbins’ lashings were very vigorous ones, too; for although he carried, under his wig, a perfectly bald and shiny head, he had only reached middle age, and there was no sign of feebleness in his muscle.

showing

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

From this reading The schoolmaster, always severe, grew severer and more exacting than ever, for he wanted the school to make a good showing on “Examination” day.

sign

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

From this reading Mr. Dobbins’ lashings were very vigorous ones, too; for although he carried, under his wig, a perfectly bald and shiny head, he had only reached middle age, and there was no sign of feebleness in his muscle.

smaller

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

From this reading His rod and his ferule were seldom idle now—at least among the smaller pupils.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading The schoolmaster, always severe, grew severer and more exacting than ever, for he wanted the school to make a good showing on “Examination” day.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The schoolmaster, always severe, grew severer and more exacting than ever, for he wanted the school to make a good showing on “Examination” day.

there

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

From this reading Mr. Dobbins’ lashings were very vigorous ones, too; for although he carried, under his wig, a perfectly bald and shiny head, he had only reached middle age, and there was no sign of feebleness in his muscle.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The schoolmaster, always severe, grew severer and more exacting than ever, for he wanted the school to make a good showing on “Examination” day.

too

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

From this reading Mr. Dobbins’ lashings were very vigorous ones, too; for although he carried, under his wig, a perfectly bald and shiny head, he had only reached middle age, and there was no sign of feebleness in his muscle.

twenty

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

From this reading Only the biggest boys, and young ladies of eighteen and twenty, escaped lashing.

underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading Mr. Dobbins’ lashings were very vigorous ones, too; for although he carried, under his wig, a perfectly bald and shiny head, he had only reached middle age, and there was no sign of feebleness in his muscle.

Vacation

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

From this reading Vacation was approaching.

very

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

From this reading Mr. Dobbins’ lashings were very vigorous ones, too; for although he carried, under his wig, a perfectly bald and shiny head, he had only reached middle age, and there was no sign of feebleness in his muscle.

vigorous

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

From this reading Mr. Dobbins’ lashings were very vigorous ones, too; for although he carried, under his wig, a perfectly bald and shiny head, he had only reached middle age, and there was no sign of feebleness in his muscle.

wanted

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

From this reading The schoolmaster, always severe, grew severer and more exacting than ever, for he wanted the school to make a good showing on “Examination” day.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Vacation was approaching.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading His rod and his ferule were seldom idle now—at least among the smaller pupils.

wig

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

From this reading Mr. Dobbins’ lashings were very vigorous ones, too; for although he carried, under his wig, a perfectly bald and shiny head, he had only reached middle age, and there was no sign of feebleness in his muscle.

young

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

From this reading Only the biggest boys, and young ladies of eighteen and twenty, escaped lashing.

Chapter Quiz

What is the central narrative or theme conveyed in this section of Chapter 21?

Which core linguistic virtue or character attribute is emphasized in this passage?

According to the text: "CHAPTER XXXII....", what tone does the author establish?

Shadowing Practice

Narrator: CHAPTER XXXII.
Narrator: Tom tells the Story of their Escape—Tom’s Enemy in Safe