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An Amateur Fireman
An Amateur Fireman

Chapter XVI

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Context Illustration Reading 1/40 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
WINNING A MEDAL.
The struggles and screams of the child he was trying to save served to confuse Seth, and the smoke, which was growing more stifling each moment, bewildered at the same time that it choked him.
But for the lectures the boy had heard at headquarters, neither he nor the baby would have left the apartment alive.
He realized the vital necessity of keeping a "grip on himself," as Josh Fernald had expressed it, and, in order the better to do so, repeated again and again the words of the instructor.
During the first dozen seconds he tried to soothe the child, and then came the thought that the little one would suffocate more quickly by inhaling the smoke-laden atmosphere as she gasped and sobbed violently.
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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.

An Amateur Fireman

Chapter XVI

Reading 1/40 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
WINNING A MEDAL.
Line 2
The struggles and screams of the child he was trying to save served to confuse Seth, and the smoke, which was growing more stifling each moment, bewildered at the same time that it choked him.
Line 3
But for the lectures the boy had heard at headquarters, neither he nor the baby would have left the apartment alive.
Line 4
He realized the vital necessity of keeping a "grip on himself," as Josh Fernald had expressed it, and, in order the better to do so, repeated again and again the words of the instructor.
Line 5
During the first dozen seconds he tried to soothe the child, and then came the thought that the little one would suffocate more quickly by inhaling the smoke-laden atmosphere as she gasped and sobbed violently.

Learner Dictionary

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

Again noun US /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He realized the vital necessity of keeping a "grip on himself," as Josh Fernald had expressed it, and, in order the better to do so, repeated again and again the words of the instructor.”

Bewildered noun US /bewildered/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The struggles and screams of the child he was trying to save served to confuse Seth, and the smoke, which was growing more stifling each moment, bewildered at the same time that it choked him.”

During preposition US /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading “During the first dozen seconds he tried to soothe the child, and then came the thought that the little one would suffocate more quickly by inhaling the smoke-laden atmosphere as she gasped and sobbed violently.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “During the first dozen seconds he tried to soothe the child, and then came the thought that the little one would suffocate more quickly by inhaling the smoke-laden atmosphere as she gasped and sobbed violently.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “But for the lectures the boy had heard at headquarters, neither he nor the baby would have left the apartment alive.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading “He realized the vital necessity of keeping a "grip on himself," as Josh Fernald had expressed it, and, in order the better to do so, repeated again and again the words of the instructor.”

Left noun US /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But for the lectures the boy had heard at headquarters, neither he nor the baby would have left the apartment alive.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “During the first dozen seconds he tried to soothe the child, and then came the thought that the little one would suffocate more quickly by inhaling the smoke-laden atmosphere as she gasped and sobbed violently.”

Neither determiner US /ˈniːðər/

not one and not the other of two

From this reading “But for the lectures the boy had heard at headquarters, neither he nor the baby would have left the apartment alive.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “During the first dozen seconds he tried to soothe the child, and then came the thought that the little one would suffocate more quickly by inhaling the smoke-laden atmosphere as she gasped and sobbed violently.”

Order noun US /order/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He realized the vital necessity of keeping a "grip on himself," as Josh Fernald had expressed it, and, in order the better to do so, repeated again and again the words of the instructor.”

Repeated noun US /repeated/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He realized the vital necessity of keeping a "grip on himself," as Josh Fernald had expressed it, and, in order the better to do so, repeated again and again the words of the instructor.”

Same noun US /same/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The struggles and screams of the child he was trying to save served to confuse Seth, and the smoke, which was growing more stifling each moment, bewildered at the same time that it choked him.”

Save preposition US /seɪv/

except for; apart from

From this reading “The struggles and screams of the child he was trying to save served to confuse Seth, and the smoke, which was growing more stifling each moment, bewildered at the same time that it choked him.”

Thought noun US /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “During the first dozen seconds he tried to soothe the child, and then came the thought that the little one would suffocate more quickly by inhaling the smoke-laden atmosphere as she gasped and sobbed violently.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The struggles and screams of the child he was trying to save served to confuse Seth, and the smoke, which was growing more stifling each moment, bewildered at the same time that it choked him.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “But for the lectures the boy had heard at headquarters, neither he nor the baby would have left the apartment alive.”

All words in this reading · 88

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 WINNING A MEDAL.

againnounUS /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He realized the vital necessity of keeping a "grip on himself," as Josh Fernald had expressed it, and, in order the better to do so, repeated again and again the words of the instructor.

alive

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

From this reading But for the lectures the boy had heard at headquarters, neither he nor the baby would have left the apartment alive.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The struggles and screams of the child he was trying to save served to confuse Seth, and the smoke, which was growing more stifling each moment, bewildered at the same time that it choked him.

apartment

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

From this reading But for the lectures the boy had heard at headquarters, neither he nor the baby would have left the apartment alive.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading He realized the vital necessity of keeping a "grip on himself," as Josh Fernald had expressed it, and, in order the better to do so, repeated again and again the words of the instructor.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The struggles and screams of the child he was trying to save served to confuse Seth, and the smoke, which was growing more stifling each moment, bewildered at the same time that it choked him.

atmosphere

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

From this reading During the first dozen seconds he tried to soothe the child, and then came the thought that the little one would suffocate more quickly by inhaling the smoke-laden atmosphere as she gasped and sobbed violently.

baby

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

From this reading But for the lectures the boy had heard at headquarters, neither he nor the baby would have left the apartment alive.

better

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

From this reading He realized the vital necessity of keeping a "grip on himself," as Josh Fernald had expressed it, and, in order the better to do so, repeated again and again the words of the instructor.

bewilderednounUS /bewildered/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The struggles and screams of the child he was trying to save served to confuse Seth, and the smoke, which was growing more stifling each moment, bewildered at the same time that it choked him.

boy

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

From this reading But for the lectures the boy had heard at headquarters, neither he nor the baby would have left the apartment alive.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But for the lectures the boy had heard at headquarters, neither he nor the baby would have left the apartment alive.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading During the first dozen seconds he tried to soothe the child, and then came the thought that the little one would suffocate more quickly by inhaling the smoke-laden atmosphere as she gasped and sobbed violently.

came

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

From this reading During the first dozen seconds he tried to soothe the child, and then came the thought that the little one would suffocate more quickly by inhaling the smoke-laden atmosphere as she gasped and sobbed violently.

child

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

From this reading The struggles and screams of the child he was trying to save served to confuse Seth, and the smoke, which was growing more stifling each moment, bewildered at the same time that it choked him.

choked

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

From this reading The struggles and screams of the child he was trying to save served to confuse Seth, and the smoke, which was growing more stifling each moment, bewildered at the same time that it choked him.

confuse

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

From this reading The struggles and screams of the child he was trying to save served to confuse Seth, and the smoke, which was growing more stifling each moment, bewildered at the same time that it choked him.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading He realized the vital necessity of keeping a "grip on himself," as Josh Fernald had expressed it, and, in order the better to do so, repeated again and again the words of the instructor.

dozen

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

From this reading During the first dozen seconds he tried to soothe the child, and then came the thought that the little one would suffocate more quickly by inhaling the smoke-laden atmosphere as she gasped and sobbed violently.

DuringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading During the first dozen seconds he tried to soothe the child, and then came the thought that the little one would suffocate more quickly by inhaling the smoke-laden atmosphere as she gasped and sobbed violently.

eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading The struggles and screams of the child he was trying to save served to confuse Seth, and the smoke, which was growing more stifling each moment, bewildered at the same time that it choked him.

expressed

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

From this reading He realized the vital necessity of keeping a "grip on himself," as Josh Fernald had expressed it, and, in order the better to do so, repeated again and again the words of the instructor.

Fernald

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

From this reading He realized the vital necessity of keeping a "grip on himself," as Josh Fernald had expressed it, and, in order the better to do so, repeated again and again the words of the instructor.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading During the first dozen seconds he tried to soothe the child, and then came the thought that the little one would suffocate more quickly by inhaling the smoke-laden atmosphere as she gasped and sobbed violently.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading But for the lectures the boy had heard at headquarters, neither he nor the baby would have left the apartment alive.

gasped

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

From this reading During the first dozen seconds he tried to soothe the child, and then came the thought that the little one would suffocate more quickly by inhaling the smoke-laden atmosphere as she gasped and sobbed violently.

grip

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

From this reading He realized the vital necessity of keeping a "grip on himself," as Josh Fernald had expressed it, and, in order the better to do so, repeated again and again the words of the instructor.

growing

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

From this reading The struggles and screams of the child he was trying to save served to confuse Seth, and the smoke, which was growing more stifling each moment, bewildered at the same time that it choked him.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading But for the lectures the boy had heard at headquarters, neither he nor the baby would have left the apartment alive.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading But for the lectures the boy had heard at headquarters, neither he nor the baby would have left the apartment alive.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading The struggles and screams of the child he was trying to save served to confuse Seth, and the smoke, which was growing more stifling each moment, bewildered at the same time that it choked him.

headquarters

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

From this reading But for the lectures the boy had heard at headquarters, neither he nor the baby would have left the apartment alive.

heard

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

From this reading But for the lectures the boy had heard at headquarters, neither he nor the baby would have left the apartment alive.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading The struggles and screams of the child he was trying to save served to confuse Seth, and the smoke, which was growing more stifling each moment, bewildered at the same time that it choked him.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading He realized the vital necessity of keeping a "grip on himself," as Josh Fernald had expressed it, and, in order the better to do so, repeated again and again the words of the instructor.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading He realized the vital necessity of keeping a "grip on himself," as Josh Fernald had expressed it, and, in order the better to do so, repeated again and again the words of the instructor.

inhaling

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

From this reading During the first dozen seconds he tried to soothe the child, and then came the thought that the little one would suffocate more quickly by inhaling the smoke-laden atmosphere as she gasped and sobbed violently.

instructor

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

From this reading He realized the vital necessity of keeping a "grip on himself," as Josh Fernald had expressed it, and, in order the better to do so, repeated again and again the words of the instructor.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading The struggles and screams of the child he was trying to save served to confuse Seth, and the smoke, which was growing more stifling each moment, bewildered at the same time that it choked him.

Josh

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

From this reading He realized the vital necessity of keeping a "grip on himself," as Josh Fernald had expressed it, and, in order the better to do so, repeated again and again the words of the instructor.

keeping

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

From this reading He realized the vital necessity of keeping a "grip on himself," as Josh Fernald had expressed it, and, in order the better to do so, repeated again and again the words of the instructor.

lectures

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

From this reading But for the lectures the boy had heard at headquarters, neither he nor the baby would have left the apartment alive.

leftnounUS /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But for the lectures the boy had heard at headquarters, neither he nor the baby would have left the apartment alive.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading During the first dozen seconds he tried to soothe the child, and then came the thought that the little one would suffocate more quickly by inhaling the smoke-laden atmosphere as she gasped and sobbed violently.

MEDAL

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

From this reading WINNING A MEDAL.

moment

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

From this reading The struggles and screams of the child he was trying to save served to confuse Seth, and the smoke, which was growing more stifling each moment, bewildered at the same time that it choked him.

more

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

From this reading The struggles and screams of the child he was trying to save served to confuse Seth, and the smoke, which was growing more stifling each moment, bewildered at the same time that it choked him.

necessity

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

From this reading He realized the vital necessity of keeping a "grip on himself," as Josh Fernald had expressed it, and, in order the better to do so, repeated again and again the words of the instructor.

neitherdeterminerUS /ˈniːðər/

not one and not the other of two

From this reading But for the lectures the boy had heard at headquarters, neither he nor the baby would have left the apartment alive.

norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/

and not; used after a negative to add a second negative

From this reading But for the lectures the boy had heard at headquarters, neither he nor the baby would have left the apartment alive.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The struggles and screams of the child he was trying to save served to confuse Seth, and the smoke, which was growing more stifling each moment, bewildered at the same time that it choked him.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading He realized the vital necessity of keeping a "grip on himself," as Josh Fernald had expressed it, and, in order the better to do so, repeated again and again the words of the instructor.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading During the first dozen seconds he tried to soothe the child, and then came the thought that the little one would suffocate more quickly by inhaling the smoke-laden atmosphere as she gasped and sobbed violently.

ordernounUS /order/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He realized the vital necessity of keeping a "grip on himself," as Josh Fernald had expressed it, and, in order the better to do so, repeated again and again the words of the instructor.

quickly

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

From this reading During the first dozen seconds he tried to soothe the child, and then came the thought that the little one would suffocate more quickly by inhaling the smoke-laden atmosphere as she gasped and sobbed violently.

realized

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

From this reading He realized the vital necessity of keeping a "grip on himself," as Josh Fernald had expressed it, and, in order the better to do so, repeated again and again the words of the instructor.

repeatednounUS /repeated/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He realized the vital necessity of keeping a "grip on himself," as Josh Fernald had expressed it, and, in order the better to do so, repeated again and again the words of the instructor.

samenounUS /same/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The struggles and screams of the child he was trying to save served to confuse Seth, and the smoke, which was growing more stifling each moment, bewildered at the same time that it choked him.

saveprepositionUS /seɪv/

except for; apart from

From this reading The struggles and screams of the child he was trying to save served to confuse Seth, and the smoke, which was growing more stifling each moment, bewildered at the same time that it choked him.

screams

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

From this reading The struggles and screams of the child he was trying to save served to confuse Seth, and the smoke, which was growing more stifling each moment, bewildered at the same time that it choked him.

seconds

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

From this reading During the first dozen seconds he tried to soothe the child, and then came the thought that the little one would suffocate more quickly by inhaling the smoke-laden atmosphere as she gasped and sobbed violently.

served

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

From this reading The struggles and screams of the child he was trying to save served to confuse Seth, and the smoke, which was growing more stifling each moment, bewildered at the same time that it choked him.

Seth

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

From this reading The struggles and screams of the child he was trying to save served to confuse Seth, and the smoke, which was growing more stifling each moment, bewildered at the same time that it choked him.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading During the first dozen seconds he tried to soothe the child, and then came the thought that the little one would suffocate more quickly by inhaling the smoke-laden atmosphere as she gasped and sobbed violently.

smoke

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

From this reading The struggles and screams of the child he was trying to save served to confuse Seth, and the smoke, which was growing more stifling each moment, bewildered at the same time that it choked him.

smoke-laden

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

From this reading During the first dozen seconds he tried to soothe the child, and then came the thought that the little one would suffocate more quickly by inhaling the smoke-laden atmosphere as she gasped and sobbed violently.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading He realized the vital necessity of keeping a "grip on himself," as Josh Fernald had expressed it, and, in order the better to do so, repeated again and again the words of the instructor.

sobbed

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

From this reading During the first dozen seconds he tried to soothe the child, and then came the thought that the little one would suffocate more quickly by inhaling the smoke-laden atmosphere as she gasped and sobbed violently.

soothe

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

From this reading During the first dozen seconds he tried to soothe the child, and then came the thought that the little one would suffocate more quickly by inhaling the smoke-laden atmosphere as she gasped and sobbed violently.

stifling

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

From this reading The struggles and screams of the child he was trying to save served to confuse Seth, and the smoke, which was growing more stifling each moment, bewildered at the same time that it choked him.

struggles

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

From this reading The struggles and screams of the child he was trying to save served to confuse Seth, and the smoke, which was growing more stifling each moment, bewildered at the same time that it choked him.

suffocate

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

From this reading During the first dozen seconds he tried to soothe the child, and then came the thought that the little one would suffocate more quickly by inhaling the smoke-laden atmosphere as she gasped and sobbed violently.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The struggles and screams of the child he was trying to save served to confuse Seth, and the smoke, which was growing more stifling each moment, bewildered at the same time that it choked him.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The struggles and screams of the child he was trying to save served to confuse Seth, and the smoke, which was growing more stifling each moment, bewildered at the same time that it choked him.

then

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

From this reading During the first dozen seconds he tried to soothe the child, and then came the thought that the little one would suffocate more quickly by inhaling the smoke-laden atmosphere as she gasped and sobbed violently.

thoughtnounUS /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading During the first dozen seconds he tried to soothe the child, and then came the thought that the little one would suffocate more quickly by inhaling the smoke-laden atmosphere as she gasped and sobbed violently.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The struggles and screams of the child he was trying to save served to confuse Seth, and the smoke, which was growing more stifling each moment, bewildered at the same time that it choked him.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The struggles and screams of the child he was trying to save served to confuse Seth, and the smoke, which was growing more stifling each moment, bewildered at the same time that it choked him.

tried

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

From this reading During the first dozen seconds he tried to soothe the child, and then came the thought that the little one would suffocate more quickly by inhaling the smoke-laden atmosphere as she gasped and sobbed violently.

trying

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

From this reading The struggles and screams of the child he was trying to save served to confuse Seth, and the smoke, which was growing more stifling each moment, bewildered at the same time that it choked him.

violently

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

From this reading During the first dozen seconds he tried to soothe the child, and then came the thought that the little one would suffocate more quickly by inhaling the smoke-laden atmosphere as she gasped and sobbed violently.

vital

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

From this reading He realized the vital necessity of keeping a "grip on himself," as Josh Fernald had expressed it, and, in order the better to do so, repeated again and again the words of the instructor.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The struggles and screams of the child he was trying to save served to confuse Seth, and the smoke, which was growing more stifling each moment, bewildered at the same time that it choked him.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading The struggles and screams of the child he was trying to save served to confuse Seth, and the smoke, which was growing more stifling each moment, bewildered at the same time that it choked him.

WINNING

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

From this reading WINNING A MEDAL.

words

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

From this reading He realized the vital necessity of keeping a "grip on himself," as Josh Fernald had expressed it, and, in order the better to do so, repeated again and again the words of the instructor.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading But for the lectures the boy had heard at headquarters, neither he nor the baby would have left the apartment alive.