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Alarms and Discursions
Alarms and Discursions

Chapter II

Cover illustration for Alarms and Discursions
Context Illustration Reading 1/90 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
I will call him Simmons.
He was a tall, healthy figure, strong, but a little slouching, and there was in his walk something between a slight swagger and a seaman's roll; he commonly had his hands in his pockets.
His hair was dark, straight, and undistinguished; and his face, if one saw it after his figure, was something of a surprise.
For while the form might be called big and braggart, the face might have been called weak, and was certainly worried.
It was a hesitating face, which seemed to blink doubtfully in the daylight.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Alarms and Discursions

Chapter II

Reading 1/90 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
I will call him Simmons.
Line 2
He was a tall, healthy figure, strong, but a little slouching, and there was in his walk something between a slight swagger and a seaman's roll; he commonly had his hands in his pockets.
Line 3
His hair was dark, straight, and undistinguished; and his face, if one saw it after his figure, was something of a surprise.
Line 4
For while the form might be called big and braggart, the face might have been called weak, and was certainly worried.
Line 5
It was a hesitating face, which seemed to blink doubtfully in the daylight.

Learner Dictionary

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

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “His hair was dark, straight, and undistinguished; and his face, if one saw it after his figure, was something of a surprise.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “For while the form might be called big and braggart, the face might have been called weak, and was certainly worried.”

Between preposition US /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading “He was a tall, healthy figure, strong, but a little slouching, and there was in his walk something between a slight swagger and a seaman's roll; he commonly had his hands in his pockets.”

Hands plural noun US /hændz/

members of a ship’s crew

From this reading “He was a tall, healthy figure, strong, but a little slouching, and there was in his walk something between a slight swagger and a seaman's roll; he commonly had his hands in his pockets.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “For while the form might be called big and braggart, the face might have been called weak, and was certainly worried.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He was a tall, healthy figure, strong, but a little slouching, and there was in his walk something between a slight swagger and a seaman's roll; he commonly had his hands in his pockets.”

Might modal verb US /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading “For while the form might be called big and braggart, the face might have been called weak, and was certainly worried.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “His hair was dark, straight, and undistinguished; and his face, if one saw it after his figure, was something of a surprise.”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was a hesitating face, which seemed to blink doubtfully in the daylight.”

Something pronoun US /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading “He was a tall, healthy figure, strong, but a little slouching, and there was in his walk something between a slight swagger and a seaman's roll; he commonly had his hands in his pockets.”

While conjunction US /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading “For while the form might be called big and braggart, the face might have been called weak, and was certainly worried.”

All words in this reading · 63

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 He was a tall, healthy figure, strong, but a little slouching, and there was in his walk something between a slight swagger and a seaman's roll; he commonly had his hands in his pockets.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading His hair was dark, straight, and undistinguished; and his face, if one saw it after his figure, was something of a surprise.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading He was a tall, healthy figure, strong, but a little slouching, and there was in his walk something between a slight swagger and a seaman's roll; he commonly had his hands in his pockets.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading For while the form might be called big and braggart, the face might have been called weak, and was certainly worried.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading For while the form might be called big and braggart, the face might have been called weak, and was certainly worried.

betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading He was a tall, healthy figure, strong, but a little slouching, and there was in his walk something between a slight swagger and a seaman's roll; he commonly had his hands in his pockets.

big

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

From this reading For while the form might be called big and braggart, the face might have been called weak, and was certainly worried.

blink

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

From this reading It was a hesitating face, which seemed to blink doubtfully in the daylight.

braggart

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

From this reading For while the form might be called big and braggart, the face might have been called weak, and was certainly worried.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading He was a tall, healthy figure, strong, but a little slouching, and there was in his walk something between a slight swagger and a seaman's roll; he commonly had his hands in his pockets.

call

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

From this reading I will call him Simmons.

called

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

From this reading For while the form might be called big and braggart, the face might have been called weak, and was certainly worried.

certainly

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

From this reading For while the form might be called big and braggart, the face might have been called weak, and was certainly worried.

commonly

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

From this reading He was a tall, healthy figure, strong, but a little slouching, and there was in his walk something between a slight swagger and a seaman's roll; he commonly had his hands in his pockets.

dark

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

From this reading His hair was dark, straight, and undistinguished; and his face, if one saw it after his figure, was something of a surprise.

daylight

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

From this reading It was a hesitating face, which seemed to blink doubtfully in the daylight.

doubtfully

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

From this reading It was a hesitating face, which seemed to blink doubtfully in the daylight.

face

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

From this reading His hair was dark, straight, and undistinguished; and his face, if one saw it after his figure, was something of a surprise.

figure

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

From this reading He was a tall, healthy figure, strong, but a little slouching, and there was in his walk something between a slight swagger and a seaman's roll; he commonly had his hands in his pockets.

ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading For while the form might be called big and braggart, the face might have been called weak, and was certainly worried.

form

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

From this reading For while the form might be called big and braggart, the face might have been called weak, and was certainly worried.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading He was a tall, healthy figure, strong, but a little slouching, and there was in his walk something between a slight swagger and a seaman's roll; he commonly had his hands in his pockets.

hair

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

From this reading His hair was dark, straight, and undistinguished; and his face, if one saw it after his figure, was something of a surprise.

handsplural nounUS /hændz/

members of a ship’s crew

From this reading He was a tall, healthy figure, strong, but a little slouching, and there was in his walk something between a slight swagger and a seaman's roll; he commonly had his hands in his pockets.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading For while the form might be called big and braggart, the face might have been called weak, and was certainly worried.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He was a tall, healthy figure, strong, but a little slouching, and there was in his walk something between a slight swagger and a seaman's roll; he commonly had his hands in his pockets.

healthy

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

From this reading He was a tall, healthy figure, strong, but a little slouching, and there was in his walk something between a slight swagger and a seaman's roll; he commonly had his hands in his pockets.

hesitating

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

From this reading It was a hesitating face, which seemed to blink doubtfully in the daylight.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading I will call him Simmons.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading He was a tall, healthy figure, strong, but a little slouching, and there was in his walk something between a slight swagger and a seaman's roll; he commonly had his hands in his pockets.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading I will call him Simmons.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading His hair was dark, straight, and undistinguished; and his face, if one saw it after his figure, was something of a surprise.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading He was a tall, healthy figure, strong, but a little slouching, and there was in his walk something between a slight swagger and a seaman's roll; he commonly had his hands in his pockets.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading His hair was dark, straight, and undistinguished; and his face, if one saw it after his figure, was something of a surprise.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He was a tall, healthy figure, strong, but a little slouching, and there was in his walk something between a slight swagger and a seaman's roll; he commonly had his hands in his pockets.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading For while the form might be called big and braggart, the face might have been called weak, and was certainly worried.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading His hair was dark, straight, and undistinguished; and his face, if one saw it after his figure, was something of a surprise.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading His hair was dark, straight, and undistinguished; and his face, if one saw it after his figure, was something of a surprise.

pockets

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

From this reading He was a tall, healthy figure, strong, but a little slouching, and there was in his walk something between a slight swagger and a seaman's roll; he commonly had his hands in his pockets.

roll

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

From this reading He was a tall, healthy figure, strong, but a little slouching, and there was in his walk something between a slight swagger and a seaman's roll; he commonly had his hands in his pockets.

saw

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

From this reading His hair was dark, straight, and undistinguished; and his face, if one saw it after his figure, was something of a surprise.

seaman's

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

From this reading He was a tall, healthy figure, strong, but a little slouching, and there was in his walk something between a slight swagger and a seaman's roll; he commonly had his hands in his pockets.

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was a hesitating face, which seemed to blink doubtfully in the daylight.

Simmons

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

From this reading I will call him Simmons.

slight

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

From this reading He was a tall, healthy figure, strong, but a little slouching, and there was in his walk something between a slight swagger and a seaman's roll; he commonly had his hands in his pockets.

slouching

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

From this reading He was a tall, healthy figure, strong, but a little slouching, and there was in his walk something between a slight swagger and a seaman's roll; he commonly had his hands in his pockets.

somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading He was a tall, healthy figure, strong, but a little slouching, and there was in his walk something between a slight swagger and a seaman's roll; he commonly had his hands in his pockets.

straight

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

From this reading His hair was dark, straight, and undistinguished; and his face, if one saw it after his figure, was something of a surprise.

strong

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

From this reading He was a tall, healthy figure, strong, but a little slouching, and there was in his walk something between a slight swagger and a seaman's roll; he commonly had his hands in his pockets.

surprise

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

From this reading His hair was dark, straight, and undistinguished; and his face, if one saw it after his figure, was something of a surprise.

swagger

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

From this reading He was a tall, healthy figure, strong, but a little slouching, and there was in his walk something between a slight swagger and a seaman's roll; he commonly had his hands in his pockets.

tall

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

From this reading He was a tall, healthy figure, strong, but a little slouching, and there was in his walk something between a slight swagger and a seaman's roll; he commonly had his hands in his pockets.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading For while the form might be called big and braggart, the face might have been called weak, and was certainly worried.

there

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

From this reading He was a tall, healthy figure, strong, but a little slouching, and there was in his walk something between a slight swagger and a seaman's roll; he commonly had his hands in his pockets.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading It was a hesitating face, which seemed to blink doubtfully in the daylight.

undistinguished

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

From this reading His hair was dark, straight, and undistinguished; and his face, if one saw it after his figure, was something of a surprise.

walk

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

From this reading He was a tall, healthy figure, strong, but a little slouching, and there was in his walk something between a slight swagger and a seaman's roll; he commonly had his hands in his pockets.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading He was a tall, healthy figure, strong, but a little slouching, and there was in his walk something between a slight swagger and a seaman's roll; he commonly had his hands in his pockets.

weak

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

From this reading For while the form might be called big and braggart, the face might have been called weak, and was certainly worried.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading It was a hesitating face, which seemed to blink doubtfully in the daylight.

whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading For while the form might be called big and braggart, the face might have been called weak, and was certainly worried.

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading I will call him Simmons.

worried

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

From this reading For while the form might be called big and braggart, the face might have been called weak, and was certainly worried.