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Afar in the Forest
Afar in the Forest

Chapter VII

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Context Illustration Reading 1/87 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Reuben told me that many of the emigrants had become very anxious, and the account I had brought would make them still more so.
Could they venture back alone, he thought they would be willing to return to the settlement.
"For my own part, I like the wild sort of life we are leading; but I should be happier if I knew that Lily and my aunt were in safety, whereas they are exposed to as much danger as we are," I observed.
More than once I thought that we had gone wrong, as it was impossible to distinguish objects clearly in the gloom of night.
I fancied that we must have performed the distance; still I could nowhere see the waggon.
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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.

Afar in the Forest

Chapter VII

Reading 1/87 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Reuben told me that many of the emigrants had become very anxious, and the account I had brought would make them still more so.
Line 2
Could they venture back alone, he thought they would be willing to return to the settlement.
Line 3
"For my own part, I like the wild sort of life we are leading; but I should be happier if I knew that Lily and my aunt were in safety, whereas they are exposed to as much danger as we are," I observed.
Line 4
More than once I thought that we had gone wrong, as it was impossible to distinguish objects clearly in the gloom of night.
Line 5
I fancied that we must have performed the distance; still I could nowhere see the waggon.

Learner Dictionary

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

Alone noun US /alone/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Could they venture back alone, he thought they would be willing to return to the settlement.”

Brought noun US /ˈbrought/

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

From this reading “Reuben told me that many of the emigrants had become very anxious, and the account I had brought would make them still more so.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading “Could they venture back alone, he thought they would be willing to return to the settlement.”

Exposed adjective US /ɪkˈspəʊzd/

left open to danger or view left open to danger or public view

From this reading “"For my own part, I like the wild sort of life we are leading; but I should be happier if I knew that Lily and my aunt were in safety, whereas they are exposed to as much danger as we are," I observed.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “I fancied that we must have performed the distance; still I could nowhere see the waggon.”

Life noun US /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"For my own part, I like the wild sort of life we are leading; but I should be happier if I knew that Lily and my aunt were in safety, whereas they are exposed to as much danger as we are," I observed.”

Make noun US /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Reuben told me that many of the emigrants had become very anxious, and the account I had brought would make them still more so.”

Must modal verb US /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading “I fancied that we must have performed the distance; still I could nowhere see the waggon.”

Once noun US /once/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “More than once I thought that we had gone wrong, as it was impossible to distinguish objects clearly in the gloom of night.”

Part noun US /part/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"For my own part, I like the wild sort of life we are leading; but I should be happier if I knew that Lily and my aunt were in safety, whereas they are exposed to as much danger as we are," I observed.”

Still noun US /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Reuben told me that many of the emigrants had become very anxious, and the account I had brought would make them still more so.”

Thought noun US /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Could they venture back alone, he thought they would be willing to return to the settlement.”

Told noun US /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Reuben told me that many of the emigrants had become very anxious, and the account I had brought would make them still more so.”

Whereas conjunction US /weˈræz/

in contrast with the fact that

From this reading “"For my own part, I like the wild sort of life we are leading; but I should be happier if I knew that Lily and my aunt were in safety, whereas they are exposed to as much danger as we are," I observed.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “Reuben told me that many of the emigrants had become very anxious, and the account I had brought would make them still more so.”

All words in this reading · 81

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

account

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

From this reading Reuben told me that many of the emigrants had become very anxious, and the account I had brought would make them still more so.

alonenounUS /alone/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Could they venture back alone, he thought they would be willing to return to the settlement.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Reuben told me that many of the emigrants had become very anxious, and the account I had brought would make them still more so.

anxious

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

From this reading Reuben told me that many of the emigrants had become very anxious, and the account I had brought would make them still more so.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading "For my own part, I like the wild sort of life we are leading; but I should be happier if I knew that Lily and my aunt were in safety, whereas they are exposed to as much danger as we are," I observed.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading "For my own part, I like the wild sort of life we are leading; but I should be happier if I knew that Lily and my aunt were in safety, whereas they are exposed to as much danger as we are," I observed.

aunt

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

From this reading "For my own part, I like the wild sort of life we are leading; but I should be happier if I knew that Lily and my aunt were in safety, whereas they are exposed to as much danger as we are," I observed.

back

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

From this reading Could they venture back alone, he thought they would be willing to return to the settlement.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading Could they venture back alone, he thought they would be willing to return to the settlement.

become

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

From this reading Reuben told me that many of the emigrants had become very anxious, and the account I had brought would make them still more so.

broughtnounUS /ˈbrought/

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

From this reading Reuben told me that many of the emigrants had become very anxious, and the account I had brought would make them still more so.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading "For my own part, I like the wild sort of life we are leading; but I should be happier if I knew that Lily and my aunt were in safety, whereas they are exposed to as much danger as we are," I observed.

clearly

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

From this reading More than once I thought that we had gone wrong, as it was impossible to distinguish objects clearly in the gloom of night.

Couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading Could they venture back alone, he thought they would be willing to return to the settlement.

danger

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

From this reading "For my own part, I like the wild sort of life we are leading; but I should be happier if I knew that Lily and my aunt were in safety, whereas they are exposed to as much danger as we are," I observed.

distance

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

From this reading I fancied that we must have performed the distance; still I could nowhere see the waggon.

distinguish

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

From this reading More than once I thought that we had gone wrong, as it was impossible to distinguish objects clearly in the gloom of night.

emigrants

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

From this reading Reuben told me that many of the emigrants had become very anxious, and the account I had brought would make them still more so.

exposedadjectiveUS /ɪkˈspəʊzd/

left open to danger or view left open to danger or public view

From this reading "For my own part, I like the wild sort of life we are leading; but I should be happier if I knew that Lily and my aunt were in safety, whereas they are exposed to as much danger as we are," I observed.

fancied

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

From this reading I fancied that we must have performed the distance; still I could nowhere see the waggon.

ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading "For my own part, I like the wild sort of life we are leading; but I should be happier if I knew that Lily and my aunt were in safety, whereas they are exposed to as much danger as we are," I observed.

gloom

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

From this reading More than once I thought that we had gone wrong, as it was impossible to distinguish objects clearly in the gloom of night.

gone

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

From this reading More than once I thought that we had gone wrong, as it was impossible to distinguish objects clearly in the gloom of night.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Reuben told me that many of the emigrants had become very anxious, and the account I had brought would make them still more so.

happier

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

From this reading "For my own part, I like the wild sort of life we are leading; but I should be happier if I knew that Lily and my aunt were in safety, whereas they are exposed to as much danger as we are," I observed.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading I fancied that we must have performed the distance; still I could nowhere see the waggon.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Could they venture back alone, he thought they would be willing to return to the settlement.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading Reuben told me that many of the emigrants had become very anxious, and the account I had brought would make them still more so.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading "For my own part, I like the wild sort of life we are leading; but I should be happier if I knew that Lily and my aunt were in safety, whereas they are exposed to as much danger as we are," I observed.

impossible

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

From this reading More than once I thought that we had gone wrong, as it was impossible to distinguish objects clearly in the gloom of night.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading "For my own part, I like the wild sort of life we are leading; but I should be happier if I knew that Lily and my aunt were in safety, whereas they are exposed to as much danger as we are," I observed.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading More than once I thought that we had gone wrong, as it was impossible to distinguish objects clearly in the gloom of night.

knew

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

From this reading "For my own part, I like the wild sort of life we are leading; but I should be happier if I knew that Lily and my aunt were in safety, whereas they are exposed to as much danger as we are," I observed.

leading

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

From this reading "For my own part, I like the wild sort of life we are leading; but I should be happier if I knew that Lily and my aunt were in safety, whereas they are exposed to as much danger as we are," I observed.

lifenounUS /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "For my own part, I like the wild sort of life we are leading; but I should be happier if I knew that Lily and my aunt were in safety, whereas they are exposed to as much danger as we are," I observed.

like

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

From this reading "For my own part, I like the wild sort of life we are leading; but I should be happier if I knew that Lily and my aunt were in safety, whereas they are exposed to as much danger as we are," I observed.

Lily

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

From this reading "For my own part, I like the wild sort of life we are leading; but I should be happier if I knew that Lily and my aunt were in safety, whereas they are exposed to as much danger as we are," I observed.

makenounUS /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Reuben told me that many of the emigrants had become very anxious, and the account I had brought would make them still more so.

many

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

From this reading Reuben told me that many of the emigrants had become very anxious, and the account I had brought would make them still more so.

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Reuben told me that many of the emigrants had become very anxious, and the account I had brought would make them still more so.

more

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

From this reading Reuben told me that many of the emigrants had become very anxious, and the account I had brought would make them still more so.

much

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

From this reading "For my own part, I like the wild sort of life we are leading; but I should be happier if I knew that Lily and my aunt were in safety, whereas they are exposed to as much danger as we are," I observed.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading I fancied that we must have performed the distance; still I could nowhere see the waggon.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading "For my own part, I like the wild sort of life we are leading; but I should be happier if I knew that Lily and my aunt were in safety, whereas they are exposed to as much danger as we are," I observed.

night

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

From this reading More than once I thought that we had gone wrong, as it was impossible to distinguish objects clearly in the gloom of night.

nowhere

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

From this reading I fancied that we must have performed the distance; still I could nowhere see the waggon.

objects

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

From this reading More than once I thought that we had gone wrong, as it was impossible to distinguish objects clearly in the gloom of night.

observed

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

From this reading "For my own part, I like the wild sort of life we are leading; but I should be happier if I knew that Lily and my aunt were in safety, whereas they are exposed to as much danger as we are," I observed.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Reuben told me that many of the emigrants had become very anxious, and the account I had brought would make them still more so.

once

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

From this reading More than once I thought that we had gone wrong, as it was impossible to distinguish objects clearly in the gloom of night.

own

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

From this reading "For my own part, I like the wild sort of life we are leading; but I should be happier if I knew that Lily and my aunt were in safety, whereas they are exposed to as much danger as we are," I observed.

partnounUS /part/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "For my own part, I like the wild sort of life we are leading; but I should be happier if I knew that Lily and my aunt were in safety, whereas they are exposed to as much danger as we are," I observed.

performed

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

From this reading I fancied that we must have performed the distance; still I could nowhere see the waggon.

return

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

From this reading Could they venture back alone, he thought they would be willing to return to the settlement.

Reuben

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

From this reading Reuben told me that many of the emigrants had become very anxious, and the account I had brought would make them still more so.

safety

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

From this reading "For my own part, I like the wild sort of life we are leading; but I should be happier if I knew that Lily and my aunt were in safety, whereas they are exposed to as much danger as we are," I observed.

see

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

From this reading I fancied that we must have performed the distance; still I could nowhere see the waggon.

settlement

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

From this reading Could they venture back alone, he thought they would be willing to return to the settlement.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading "For my own part, I like the wild sort of life we are leading; but I should be happier if I knew that Lily and my aunt were in safety, whereas they are exposed to as much danger as we are," I observed.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Reuben told me that many of the emigrants had become very anxious, and the account I had brought would make them still more so.

sort

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

From this reading "For my own part, I like the wild sort of life we are leading; but I should be happier if I knew that Lily and my aunt were in safety, whereas they are exposed to as much danger as we are," I observed.

stillnounUS /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Reuben told me that many of the emigrants had become very anxious, and the account I had brought would make them still more so.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading More than once I thought that we had gone wrong, as it was impossible to distinguish objects clearly in the gloom of night.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Reuben told me that many of the emigrants had become very anxious, and the account I had brought would make them still more so.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Reuben told me that many of the emigrants had become very anxious, and the account I had brought would make them still more so.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Reuben told me that many of the emigrants had become very anxious, and the account I had brought would make them still more so.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Could they venture back alone, he thought they would be willing to return to the settlement.

thoughtnounUS /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Could they venture back alone, he thought they would be willing to return to the settlement.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Could they venture back alone, he thought they would be willing to return to the settlement.

toldnounUS /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Reuben told me that many of the emigrants had become very anxious, and the account I had brought would make them still more so.

venture

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

From this reading Could they venture back alone, he thought they would be willing to return to the settlement.

very

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

From this reading Reuben told me that many of the emigrants had become very anxious, and the account I had brought would make them still more so.

waggon

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

From this reading I fancied that we must have performed the distance; still I could nowhere see the waggon.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading More than once I thought that we had gone wrong, as it was impossible to distinguish objects clearly in the gloom of night.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading "For my own part, I like the wild sort of life we are leading; but I should be happier if I knew that Lily and my aunt were in safety, whereas they are exposed to as much danger as we are," I observed.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading "For my own part, I like the wild sort of life we are leading; but I should be happier if I knew that Lily and my aunt were in safety, whereas they are exposed to as much danger as we are," I observed.

whereasconjunctionUS /weˈræz/

in contrast with the fact that

From this reading "For my own part, I like the wild sort of life we are leading; but I should be happier if I knew that Lily and my aunt were in safety, whereas they are exposed to as much danger as we are," I observed.

wild

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

From this reading "For my own part, I like the wild sort of life we are leading; but I should be happier if I knew that Lily and my aunt were in safety, whereas they are exposed to as much danger as we are," I observed.

willing

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

From this reading Could they venture back alone, he thought they would be willing to return to the settlement.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading Reuben told me that many of the emigrants had become very anxious, and the account I had brought would make them still more so.

wrong

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

From this reading More than once I thought that we had gone wrong, as it was impossible to distinguish objects clearly in the gloom of night.