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Angling Sketches
Angling Sketches

Chapter II

Cover illustration for Angling Sketches
Context Illustration Reading 1/30 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
It was worth while to be a boy then in the south of Scotland, and to fish the waters haunted by old legends, musical with old songs, and renowned in the sporting essays of Christopher North and Stoddart.
Even then, thirty long years ago, the old stagers used to tell us that "the waiter was owr sair fished," and they grumbled about the system of draining the land, which makes a river a roaring torrent in floods, and a bed of grey stones with a few clear pools and shallows, during the rest of the year.
In times before the hills were drained, before the manufacturing towns were so populous, before pollution, netting, dynamiting, poisoning, sniggling, and the enormous increase of fair and unfair fishing, the border must have been the angler's paradise.
Still, it was not bad when we were boys.
We had Ettrick within a mile of us, and a finer natural trout-stream there is not in Scotland, though now the water only holds a sadly persecuted remnant.
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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.

Angling Sketches

Chapter II

Reading 1/30 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
It was worth while to be a boy then in the south of Scotland, and to fish the waters haunted by old legends, musical with old songs, and renowned in the sporting essays of Christopher North and Stoddart.
Line 2
Even then, thirty long years ago, the old stagers used to tell us that "the waiter was owr sair fished," and they grumbled about the system of draining the land, which makes a river a roaring torrent in floods, and a bed of grey stones with a few clear pools and shallows, during the rest of the year.
Line 3
In times before the hills were drained, before the manufacturing towns were so populous, before pollution, netting, dynamiting, poisoning, sniggling, and the enormous increase of fair and unfair fishing, the border must have been the angler's paradise.
Line 4
Still, it was not bad when we were boys.
Line 5
We had Ettrick within a mile of us, and a finer natural trout-stream there is not in Scotland, though now the water only holds a sadly persecuted remnant.

Learner Dictionary

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

About preposition US /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “Even then, thirty long years ago, the old stagers used to tell us that "the waiter was owr sair fished," and they grumbled about the system of draining the land, which makes a river a roaring torrent in floods, and a bed of grey stones with a few clear pools and shallows, during the rest of the year.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “In times before the hills were drained, before the manufacturing towns were so populous, before pollution, netting, dynamiting, poisoning, sniggling, and the enormous increase of fair and unfair fishing, the border must have been the angler's paradise.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “In times before the hills were drained, before the manufacturing towns were so populous, before pollution, netting, dynamiting, poisoning, sniggling, and the enormous increase of fair and unfair fishing, the border must have been the angler's paradise.”

During preposition US /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading “Even then, thirty long years ago, the old stagers used to tell us that "the waiter was owr sair fished," and they grumbled about the system of draining the land, which makes a river a roaring torrent in floods, and a bed of grey stones with a few clear pools and shallows, during the rest of the year.”

Even noun US /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Even then, thirty long years ago, the old stagers used to tell us that "the waiter was owr sair fished," and they grumbled about the system of draining the land, which makes a river a roaring torrent in floods, and a bed of grey stones with a few clear pools and shallows, during the rest of the year.”

Fair noun US /fair/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “In times before the hills were drained, before the manufacturing towns were so populous, before pollution, netting, dynamiting, poisoning, sniggling, and the enormous increase of fair and unfair fishing, the border must have been the angler's paradise.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “In times before the hills were drained, before the manufacturing towns were so populous, before pollution, netting, dynamiting, poisoning, sniggling, and the enormous increase of fair and unfair fishing, the border must have been the angler's paradise.”

Long noun US /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Even then, thirty long years ago, the old stagers used to tell us that "the waiter was owr sair fished," and they grumbled about the system of draining the land, which makes a river a roaring torrent in floods, and a bed of grey stones with a few clear pools and shallows, during the rest of the year.”

Must modal verb US /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading “In times before the hills were drained, before the manufacturing towns were so populous, before pollution, netting, dynamiting, poisoning, sniggling, and the enormous increase of fair and unfair fishing, the border must have been the angler's paradise.”

Rest noun US /rest/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Even then, thirty long years ago, the old stagers used to tell us that "the waiter was owr sair fished," and they grumbled about the system of draining the land, which makes a river a roaring torrent in floods, and a bed of grey stones with a few clear pools and shallows, during the rest of the year.”

Still noun US /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Still, it was not bad when we were boys.”

Tell noun US /tell/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Even then, thirty long years ago, the old stagers used to tell us that "the waiter was owr sair fished," and they grumbled about the system of draining the land, which makes a river a roaring torrent in floods, and a bed of grey stones with a few clear pools and shallows, during the rest of the year.”

Though conjunction US /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “We had Ettrick within a mile of us, and a finer natural trout-stream there is not in Scotland, though now the water only holds a sadly persecuted remnant.”

While conjunction US /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading “It was worth while to be a boy then in the south of Scotland, and to fish the waters haunted by old legends, musical with old songs, and renowned in the sporting essays of Christopher North and Stoddart.”

Within preposition US /wɪˈðɪn/

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading “We had Ettrick within a mile of us, and a finer natural trout-stream there is not in Scotland, though now the water only holds a sadly persecuted remnant.”

All words in this reading · 114

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 It was worth while to be a boy then in the south of Scotland, and to fish the waters haunted by old legends, musical with old songs, and renowned in the sporting essays of Christopher North and Stoddart.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Even then, thirty long years ago, the old stagers used to tell us that "the waiter was owr sair fished," and they grumbled about the system of draining the land, which makes a river a roaring torrent in floods, and a bed of grey stones with a few clear pools and shallows, during the rest of the year.

ago

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

From this reading Even then, thirty long years ago, the old stagers used to tell us that "the waiter was owr sair fished," and they grumbled about the system of draining the land, which makes a river a roaring torrent in floods, and a bed of grey stones with a few clear pools and shallows, during the rest of the year.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading It was worth while to be a boy then in the south of Scotland, and to fish the waters haunted by old legends, musical with old songs, and renowned in the sporting essays of Christopher North and Stoddart.

angler's

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

From this reading In times before the hills were drained, before the manufacturing towns were so populous, before pollution, netting, dynamiting, poisoning, sniggling, and the enormous increase of fair and unfair fishing, the border must have been the angler's paradise.

bad

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

From this reading Still, it was not bad when we were boys.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading It was worth while to be a boy then in the south of Scotland, and to fish the waters haunted by old legends, musical with old songs, and renowned in the sporting essays of Christopher North and Stoddart.

bed

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

From this reading Even then, thirty long years ago, the old stagers used to tell us that "the waiter was owr sair fished," and they grumbled about the system of draining the land, which makes a river a roaring torrent in floods, and a bed of grey stones with a few clear pools and shallows, during the rest of the year.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading In times before the hills were drained, before the manufacturing towns were so populous, before pollution, netting, dynamiting, poisoning, sniggling, and the enormous increase of fair and unfair fishing, the border must have been the angler's paradise.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading In times before the hills were drained, before the manufacturing towns were so populous, before pollution, netting, dynamiting, poisoning, sniggling, and the enormous increase of fair and unfair fishing, the border must have been the angler's paradise.

border

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

From this reading In times before the hills were drained, before the manufacturing towns were so populous, before pollution, netting, dynamiting, poisoning, sniggling, and the enormous increase of fair and unfair fishing, the border must have been the angler's paradise.

boy

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

From this reading It was worth while to be a boy then in the south of Scotland, and to fish the waters haunted by old legends, musical with old songs, and renowned in the sporting essays of Christopher North and Stoddart.

boys

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

From this reading Still, it was not bad when we were boys.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading It was worth while to be a boy then in the south of Scotland, and to fish the waters haunted by old legends, musical with old songs, and renowned in the sporting essays of Christopher North and Stoddart.

Christopher

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

From this reading It was worth while to be a boy then in the south of Scotland, and to fish the waters haunted by old legends, musical with old songs, and renowned in the sporting essays of Christopher North and Stoddart.

clear

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

From this reading Even then, thirty long years ago, the old stagers used to tell us that "the waiter was owr sair fished," and they grumbled about the system of draining the land, which makes a river a roaring torrent in floods, and a bed of grey stones with a few clear pools and shallows, during the rest of the year.

drained

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

From this reading In times before the hills were drained, before the manufacturing towns were so populous, before pollution, netting, dynamiting, poisoning, sniggling, and the enormous increase of fair and unfair fishing, the border must have been the angler's paradise.

draining

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

From this reading Even then, thirty long years ago, the old stagers used to tell us that "the waiter was owr sair fished," and they grumbled about the system of draining the land, which makes a river a roaring torrent in floods, and a bed of grey stones with a few clear pools and shallows, during the rest of the year.

duringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading Even then, thirty long years ago, the old stagers used to tell us that "the waiter was owr sair fished," and they grumbled about the system of draining the land, which makes a river a roaring torrent in floods, and a bed of grey stones with a few clear pools and shallows, during the rest of the year.

dynamiting

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

From this reading In times before the hills were drained, before the manufacturing towns were so populous, before pollution, netting, dynamiting, poisoning, sniggling, and the enormous increase of fair and unfair fishing, the border must have been the angler's paradise.

enormous

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

From this reading In times before the hills were drained, before the manufacturing towns were so populous, before pollution, netting, dynamiting, poisoning, sniggling, and the enormous increase of fair and unfair fishing, the border must have been the angler's paradise.

essays

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

From this reading It was worth while to be a boy then in the south of Scotland, and to fish the waters haunted by old legends, musical with old songs, and renowned in the sporting essays of Christopher North and Stoddart.

Ettrick

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

From this reading We had Ettrick within a mile of us, and a finer natural trout-stream there is not in Scotland, though now the water only holds a sadly persecuted remnant.

EvennounUS /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Even then, thirty long years ago, the old stagers used to tell us that "the waiter was owr sair fished," and they grumbled about the system of draining the land, which makes a river a roaring torrent in floods, and a bed of grey stones with a few clear pools and shallows, during the rest of the year.

fairnounUS /fair/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading In times before the hills were drained, before the manufacturing towns were so populous, before pollution, netting, dynamiting, poisoning, sniggling, and the enormous increase of fair and unfair fishing, the border must have been the angler's paradise.

few

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

From this reading Even then, thirty long years ago, the old stagers used to tell us that "the waiter was owr sair fished," and they grumbled about the system of draining the land, which makes a river a roaring torrent in floods, and a bed of grey stones with a few clear pools and shallows, during the rest of the year.

finer

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

From this reading We had Ettrick within a mile of us, and a finer natural trout-stream there is not in Scotland, though now the water only holds a sadly persecuted remnant.

fish

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

From this reading It was worth while to be a boy then in the south of Scotland, and to fish the waters haunted by old legends, musical with old songs, and renowned in the sporting essays of Christopher North and Stoddart.

fished

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

From this reading Even then, thirty long years ago, the old stagers used to tell us that "the waiter was owr sair fished," and they grumbled about the system of draining the land, which makes a river a roaring torrent in floods, and a bed of grey stones with a few clear pools and shallows, during the rest of the year.

fishing

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

From this reading In times before the hills were drained, before the manufacturing towns were so populous, before pollution, netting, dynamiting, poisoning, sniggling, and the enormous increase of fair and unfair fishing, the border must have been the angler's paradise.

floods

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

From this reading Even then, thirty long years ago, the old stagers used to tell us that "the waiter was owr sair fished," and they grumbled about the system of draining the land, which makes a river a roaring torrent in floods, and a bed of grey stones with a few clear pools and shallows, during the rest of the year.

grey

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

From this reading Even then, thirty long years ago, the old stagers used to tell us that "the waiter was owr sair fished," and they grumbled about the system of draining the land, which makes a river a roaring torrent in floods, and a bed of grey stones with a few clear pools and shallows, during the rest of the year.

grumbled

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

From this reading Even then, thirty long years ago, the old stagers used to tell us that "the waiter was owr sair fished," and they grumbled about the system of draining the land, which makes a river a roaring torrent in floods, and a bed of grey stones with a few clear pools and shallows, during the rest of the year.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading We had Ettrick within a mile of us, and a finer natural trout-stream there is not in Scotland, though now the water only holds a sadly persecuted remnant.

haunted

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

From this reading It was worth while to be a boy then in the south of Scotland, and to fish the waters haunted by old legends, musical with old songs, and renowned in the sporting essays of Christopher North and Stoddart.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading In times before the hills were drained, before the manufacturing towns were so populous, before pollution, netting, dynamiting, poisoning, sniggling, and the enormous increase of fair and unfair fishing, the border must have been the angler's paradise.

hills

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

From this reading In times before the hills were drained, before the manufacturing towns were so populous, before pollution, netting, dynamiting, poisoning, sniggling, and the enormous increase of fair and unfair fishing, the border must have been the angler's paradise.

holds

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

From this reading We had Ettrick within a mile of us, and a finer natural trout-stream there is not in Scotland, though now the water only holds a sadly persecuted remnant.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading It was worth while to be a boy then in the south of Scotland, and to fish the waters haunted by old legends, musical with old songs, and renowned in the sporting essays of Christopher North and Stoddart.

increase

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

From this reading In times before the hills were drained, before the manufacturing towns were so populous, before pollution, netting, dynamiting, poisoning, sniggling, and the enormous increase of fair and unfair fishing, the border must have been the angler's paradise.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading We had Ettrick within a mile of us, and a finer natural trout-stream there is not in Scotland, though now the water only holds a sadly persecuted remnant.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was worth while to be a boy then in the south of Scotland, and to fish the waters haunted by old legends, musical with old songs, and renowned in the sporting essays of Christopher North and Stoddart.

land

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

From this reading Even then, thirty long years ago, the old stagers used to tell us that "the waiter was owr sair fished," and they grumbled about the system of draining the land, which makes a river a roaring torrent in floods, and a bed of grey stones with a few clear pools and shallows, during the rest of the year.

legends

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

From this reading It was worth while to be a boy then in the south of Scotland, and to fish the waters haunted by old legends, musical with old songs, and renowned in the sporting essays of Christopher North and Stoddart.

longnounUS /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Even then, thirty long years ago, the old stagers used to tell us that "the waiter was owr sair fished," and they grumbled about the system of draining the land, which makes a river a roaring torrent in floods, and a bed of grey stones with a few clear pools and shallows, during the rest of the year.

makes

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

From this reading Even then, thirty long years ago, the old stagers used to tell us that "the waiter was owr sair fished," and they grumbled about the system of draining the land, which makes a river a roaring torrent in floods, and a bed of grey stones with a few clear pools and shallows, during the rest of the year.

manufacturing

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

From this reading In times before the hills were drained, before the manufacturing towns were so populous, before pollution, netting, dynamiting, poisoning, sniggling, and the enormous increase of fair and unfair fishing, the border must have been the angler's paradise.

mile

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

From this reading We had Ettrick within a mile of us, and a finer natural trout-stream there is not in Scotland, though now the water only holds a sadly persecuted remnant.

musical

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

From this reading It was worth while to be a boy then in the south of Scotland, and to fish the waters haunted by old legends, musical with old songs, and renowned in the sporting essays of Christopher North and Stoddart.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading In times before the hills were drained, before the manufacturing towns were so populous, before pollution, netting, dynamiting, poisoning, sniggling, and the enormous increase of fair and unfair fishing, the border must have been the angler's paradise.

natural

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

From this reading We had Ettrick within a mile of us, and a finer natural trout-stream there is not in Scotland, though now the water only holds a sadly persecuted remnant.

netting

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

From this reading In times before the hills were drained, before the manufacturing towns were so populous, before pollution, netting, dynamiting, poisoning, sniggling, and the enormous increase of fair and unfair fishing, the border must have been the angler's paradise.

North

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

From this reading It was worth while to be a boy then in the south of Scotland, and to fish the waters haunted by old legends, musical with old songs, and renowned in the sporting essays of Christopher North and Stoddart.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Still, it was not bad when we were boys.

now

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

From this reading We had Ettrick within a mile of us, and a finer natural trout-stream there is not in Scotland, though now the water only holds a sadly persecuted remnant.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading It was worth while to be a boy then in the south of Scotland, and to fish the waters haunted by old legends, musical with old songs, and renowned in the sporting essays of Christopher North and Stoddart.

old

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

From this reading It was worth while to be a boy then in the south of Scotland, and to fish the waters haunted by old legends, musical with old songs, and renowned in the sporting essays of Christopher North and Stoddart.

only

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

From this reading We had Ettrick within a mile of us, and a finer natural trout-stream there is not in Scotland, though now the water only holds a sadly persecuted remnant.

owr

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

From this reading Even then, thirty long years ago, the old stagers used to tell us that "the waiter was owr sair fished," and they grumbled about the system of draining the land, which makes a river a roaring torrent in floods, and a bed of grey stones with a few clear pools and shallows, during the rest of the year.

paradise

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

From this reading In times before the hills were drained, before the manufacturing towns were so populous, before pollution, netting, dynamiting, poisoning, sniggling, and the enormous increase of fair and unfair fishing, the border must have been the angler's paradise.

persecuted

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

From this reading We had Ettrick within a mile of us, and a finer natural trout-stream there is not in Scotland, though now the water only holds a sadly persecuted remnant.

poisoning

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

From this reading In times before the hills were drained, before the manufacturing towns were so populous, before pollution, netting, dynamiting, poisoning, sniggling, and the enormous increase of fair and unfair fishing, the border must have been the angler's paradise.

pollution

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

From this reading In times before the hills were drained, before the manufacturing towns were so populous, before pollution, netting, dynamiting, poisoning, sniggling, and the enormous increase of fair and unfair fishing, the border must have been the angler's paradise.

pools

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

From this reading Even then, thirty long years ago, the old stagers used to tell us that "the waiter was owr sair fished," and they grumbled about the system of draining the land, which makes a river a roaring torrent in floods, and a bed of grey stones with a few clear pools and shallows, during the rest of the year.

populous

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

From this reading In times before the hills were drained, before the manufacturing towns were so populous, before pollution, netting, dynamiting, poisoning, sniggling, and the enormous increase of fair and unfair fishing, the border must have been the angler's paradise.

remnant

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

From this reading We had Ettrick within a mile of us, and a finer natural trout-stream there is not in Scotland, though now the water only holds a sadly persecuted remnant.

renowned

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

From this reading It was worth while to be a boy then in the south of Scotland, and to fish the waters haunted by old legends, musical with old songs, and renowned in the sporting essays of Christopher North and Stoddart.

restnounUS /rest/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Even then, thirty long years ago, the old stagers used to tell us that "the waiter was owr sair fished," and they grumbled about the system of draining the land, which makes a river a roaring torrent in floods, and a bed of grey stones with a few clear pools and shallows, during the rest of the year.

river

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

From this reading Even then, thirty long years ago, the old stagers used to tell us that "the waiter was owr sair fished," and they grumbled about the system of draining the land, which makes a river a roaring torrent in floods, and a bed of grey stones with a few clear pools and shallows, during the rest of the year.

roaring

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

From this reading Even then, thirty long years ago, the old stagers used to tell us that "the waiter was owr sair fished," and they grumbled about the system of draining the land, which makes a river a roaring torrent in floods, and a bed of grey stones with a few clear pools and shallows, during the rest of the year.

sadly

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

From this reading We had Ettrick within a mile of us, and a finer natural trout-stream there is not in Scotland, though now the water only holds a sadly persecuted remnant.

sair

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

From this reading Even then, thirty long years ago, the old stagers used to tell us that "the waiter was owr sair fished," and they grumbled about the system of draining the land, which makes a river a roaring torrent in floods, and a bed of grey stones with a few clear pools and shallows, during the rest of the year.

Scotland

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

From this reading It was worth while to be a boy then in the south of Scotland, and to fish the waters haunted by old legends, musical with old songs, and renowned in the sporting essays of Christopher North and Stoddart.

shallows

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

From this reading Even then, thirty long years ago, the old stagers used to tell us that "the waiter was owr sair fished," and they grumbled about the system of draining the land, which makes a river a roaring torrent in floods, and a bed of grey stones with a few clear pools and shallows, during the rest of the year.

sniggling

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

From this reading In times before the hills were drained, before the manufacturing towns were so populous, before pollution, netting, dynamiting, poisoning, sniggling, and the enormous increase of fair and unfair fishing, the border must have been the angler's paradise.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading In times before the hills were drained, before the manufacturing towns were so populous, before pollution, netting, dynamiting, poisoning, sniggling, and the enormous increase of fair and unfair fishing, the border must have been the angler's paradise.

songs

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

From this reading It was worth while to be a boy then in the south of Scotland, and to fish the waters haunted by old legends, musical with old songs, and renowned in the sporting essays of Christopher North and Stoddart.

south

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

From this reading It was worth while to be a boy then in the south of Scotland, and to fish the waters haunted by old legends, musical with old songs, and renowned in the sporting essays of Christopher North and Stoddart.

sporting

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

From this reading It was worth while to be a boy then in the south of Scotland, and to fish the waters haunted by old legends, musical with old songs, and renowned in the sporting essays of Christopher North and Stoddart.

stagers

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

From this reading Even then, thirty long years ago, the old stagers used to tell us that "the waiter was owr sair fished," and they grumbled about the system of draining the land, which makes a river a roaring torrent in floods, and a bed of grey stones with a few clear pools and shallows, during the rest of the year.

StillnounUS /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Still, it was not bad when we were boys.

Stoddart

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

From this reading It was worth while to be a boy then in the south of Scotland, and to fish the waters haunted by old legends, musical with old songs, and renowned in the sporting essays of Christopher North and Stoddart.

stones

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

From this reading Even then, thirty long years ago, the old stagers used to tell us that "the waiter was owr sair fished," and they grumbled about the system of draining the land, which makes a river a roaring torrent in floods, and a bed of grey stones with a few clear pools and shallows, during the rest of the year.

system

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

From this reading Even then, thirty long years ago, the old stagers used to tell us that "the waiter was owr sair fished," and they grumbled about the system of draining the land, which makes a river a roaring torrent in floods, and a bed of grey stones with a few clear pools and shallows, during the rest of the year.

tellnounUS /tell/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Even then, thirty long years ago, the old stagers used to tell us that "the waiter was owr sair fished," and they grumbled about the system of draining the land, which makes a river a roaring torrent in floods, and a bed of grey stones with a few clear pools and shallows, during the rest of the year.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Even then, thirty long years ago, the old stagers used to tell us that "the waiter was owr sair fished," and they grumbled about the system of draining the land, which makes a river a roaring torrent in floods, and a bed of grey stones with a few clear pools and shallows, during the rest of the year.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading It was worth while to be a boy then in the south of Scotland, and to fish the waters haunted by old legends, musical with old songs, and renowned in the sporting essays of Christopher North and Stoddart.

then

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

From this reading It was worth while to be a boy then in the south of Scotland, and to fish the waters haunted by old legends, musical with old songs, and renowned in the sporting essays of Christopher North and Stoddart.

there

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

From this reading We had Ettrick within a mile of us, and a finer natural trout-stream there is not in Scotland, though now the water only holds a sadly persecuted remnant.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading Even then, thirty long years ago, the old stagers used to tell us that "the waiter was owr sair fished," and they grumbled about the system of draining the land, which makes a river a roaring torrent in floods, and a bed of grey stones with a few clear pools and shallows, during the rest of the year.

thirty

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

From this reading Even then, thirty long years ago, the old stagers used to tell us that "the waiter was owr sair fished," and they grumbled about the system of draining the land, which makes a river a roaring torrent in floods, and a bed of grey stones with a few clear pools and shallows, during the rest of the year.

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading We had Ettrick within a mile of us, and a finer natural trout-stream there is not in Scotland, though now the water only holds a sadly persecuted remnant.

times

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

From this reading In times before the hills were drained, before the manufacturing towns were so populous, before pollution, netting, dynamiting, poisoning, sniggling, and the enormous increase of fair and unfair fishing, the border must have been the angler's paradise.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading It was worth while to be a boy then in the south of Scotland, and to fish the waters haunted by old legends, musical with old songs, and renowned in the sporting essays of Christopher North and Stoddart.

torrent

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

From this reading Even then, thirty long years ago, the old stagers used to tell us that "the waiter was owr sair fished," and they grumbled about the system of draining the land, which makes a river a roaring torrent in floods, and a bed of grey stones with a few clear pools and shallows, during the rest of the year.

towns

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

From this reading In times before the hills were drained, before the manufacturing towns were so populous, before pollution, netting, dynamiting, poisoning, sniggling, and the enormous increase of fair and unfair fishing, the border must have been the angler's paradise.

trout-stream

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

From this reading We had Ettrick within a mile of us, and a finer natural trout-stream there is not in Scotland, though now the water only holds a sadly persecuted remnant.

unfair

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

From this reading In times before the hills were drained, before the manufacturing towns were so populous, before pollution, netting, dynamiting, poisoning, sniggling, and the enormous increase of fair and unfair fishing, the border must have been the angler's paradise.

uspronounUS /ʌs/

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Even then, thirty long years ago, the old stagers used to tell us that "the waiter was owr sair fished," and they grumbled about the system of draining the land, which makes a river a roaring torrent in floods, and a bed of grey stones with a few clear pools and shallows, during the rest of the year.

used

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

From this reading Even then, thirty long years ago, the old stagers used to tell us that "the waiter was owr sair fished," and they grumbled about the system of draining the land, which makes a river a roaring torrent in floods, and a bed of grey stones with a few clear pools and shallows, during the rest of the year.

waiter

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

From this reading Even then, thirty long years ago, the old stagers used to tell us that "the waiter was owr sair fished," and they grumbled about the system of draining the land, which makes a river a roaring torrent in floods, and a bed of grey stones with a few clear pools and shallows, during the rest of the year.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading It was worth while to be a boy then in the south of Scotland, and to fish the waters haunted by old legends, musical with old songs, and renowned in the sporting essays of Christopher North and Stoddart.

water

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

From this reading We had Ettrick within a mile of us, and a finer natural trout-stream there is not in Scotland, though now the water only holds a sadly persecuted remnant.

waters

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

From this reading It was worth while to be a boy then in the south of Scotland, and to fish the waters haunted by old legends, musical with old songs, and renowned in the sporting essays of Christopher North and Stoddart.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading Still, it was not bad when we were boys.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading In times before the hills were drained, before the manufacturing towns were so populous, before pollution, netting, dynamiting, poisoning, sniggling, and the enormous increase of fair and unfair fishing, the border must have been the angler's paradise.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading Still, it was not bad when we were boys.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading Even then, thirty long years ago, the old stagers used to tell us that "the waiter was owr sair fished," and they grumbled about the system of draining the land, which makes a river a roaring torrent in floods, and a bed of grey stones with a few clear pools and shallows, during the rest of the year.

whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading It was worth while to be a boy then in the south of Scotland, and to fish the waters haunted by old legends, musical with old songs, and renowned in the sporting essays of Christopher North and Stoddart.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading It was worth while to be a boy then in the south of Scotland, and to fish the waters haunted by old legends, musical with old songs, and renowned in the sporting essays of Christopher North and Stoddart.

withinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading We had Ettrick within a mile of us, and a finer natural trout-stream there is not in Scotland, though now the water only holds a sadly persecuted remnant.

worth

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

From this reading It was worth while to be a boy then in the south of Scotland, and to fish the waters haunted by old legends, musical with old songs, and renowned in the sporting essays of Christopher North and Stoddart.

year

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

From this reading Even then, thirty long years ago, the old stagers used to tell us that "the waiter was owr sair fished," and they grumbled about the system of draining the land, which makes a river a roaring torrent in floods, and a bed of grey stones with a few clear pools and shallows, during the rest of the year.

years

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

From this reading Even then, thirty long years ago, the old stagers used to tell us that "the waiter was owr sair fished," and they grumbled about the system of draining the land, which makes a river a roaring torrent in floods, and a bed of grey stones with a few clear pools and shallows, during the rest of the year.