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Ben's Nugget
Ben's Nugget

Chapter VI

Cover illustration for Ben's Nugget
Context Illustration Reading 1/19 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
AN UNEQUAL CONTEST.
Bill Mosely was decidedly startled when the man whom he thought helpless sprang up so suddenly and approached him in a menacing manner.
He rose precipitately from the rude seat on which he had settled himself comfortably, his face wearing an expression of alarm.
Richard Dewey paused and confronted him.
A frown was on his face, and he appeared very much in earnest in the question he next asked.
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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.

Ben's Nugget

Chapter VI

Reading 1/19 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
AN UNEQUAL CONTEST.
Line 2
Bill Mosely was decidedly startled when the man whom he thought helpless sprang up so suddenly and approached him in a menacing manner.
Line 3
He rose precipitately from the rude seat on which he had settled himself comfortably, his face wearing an expression of alarm.
Line 4
Richard Dewey paused and confronted him.
Line 5
A frown was on his face, and he appeared very much in earnest in the question he next asked.

Learner Dictionary

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

Asked noun US /asked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A frown was on his face, and he appeared very much in earnest in the question he next asked.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading “He rose precipitately from the rude seat on which he had settled himself comfortably, his face wearing an expression of alarm.”

Next noun US /next/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A frown was on his face, and he appeared very much in earnest in the question he next asked.”

Question noun US /ˈquestion/

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

From this reading “A frown was on his face, and he appeared very much in earnest in the question he next asked.”

Suddenly noun US /ˈsuddenly/

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

From this reading “Bill Mosely was decidedly startled when the man whom he thought helpless sprang up so suddenly and approached him in a menacing manner.”

Thought noun US /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Bill Mosely was decidedly startled when the man whom he thought helpless sprang up so suddenly and approached him in a menacing manner.”

All words in this reading · 55

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 Bill Mosely was decidedly startled when the man whom he thought helpless sprang up so suddenly and approached him in a menacing manner.

alarm

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

From this reading He rose precipitately from the rude seat on which he had settled himself comfortably, his face wearing an expression of alarm.

ANdeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading AN UNEQUAL CONTEST.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Bill Mosely was decidedly startled when the man whom he thought helpless sprang up so suddenly and approached him in a menacing manner.

appeared

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

From this reading A frown was on his face, and he appeared very much in earnest in the question he next asked.

approached

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

From this reading Bill Mosely was decidedly startled when the man whom he thought helpless sprang up so suddenly and approached him in a menacing manner.

askednounUS /asked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A frown was on his face, and he appeared very much in earnest in the question he next asked.

Bill

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

From this reading Bill Mosely was decidedly startled when the man whom he thought helpless sprang up so suddenly and approached him in a menacing manner.

comfortably

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

From this reading He rose precipitately from the rude seat on which he had settled himself comfortably, his face wearing an expression of alarm.

confronted

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

From this reading Richard Dewey paused and confronted him.

CONTEST

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

From this reading AN UNEQUAL CONTEST.

decidedly

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

From this reading Bill Mosely was decidedly startled when the man whom he thought helpless sprang up so suddenly and approached him in a menacing manner.

Dewey

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

From this reading Richard Dewey paused and confronted him.

earnest

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

From this reading A frown was on his face, and he appeared very much in earnest in the question he next asked.

expression

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

From this reading He rose precipitately from the rude seat on which he had settled himself comfortably, his face wearing an expression of alarm.

face

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

From this reading He rose precipitately from the rude seat on which he had settled himself comfortably, his face wearing an expression of alarm.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading He rose precipitately from the rude seat on which he had settled himself comfortably, his face wearing an expression of alarm.

frown

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

From this reading A frown was on his face, and he appeared very much in earnest in the question he next asked.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading He rose precipitately from the rude seat on which he had settled himself comfortably, his face wearing an expression of alarm.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Bill Mosely was decidedly startled when the man whom he thought helpless sprang up so suddenly and approached him in a menacing manner.

helpless

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

From this reading Bill Mosely was decidedly startled when the man whom he thought helpless sprang up so suddenly and approached him in a menacing manner.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading Bill Mosely was decidedly startled when the man whom he thought helpless sprang up so suddenly and approached him in a menacing manner.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading He rose precipitately from the rude seat on which he had settled himself comfortably, his face wearing an expression of alarm.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading He rose precipitately from the rude seat on which he had settled himself comfortably, his face wearing an expression of alarm.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Bill Mosely was decidedly startled when the man whom he thought helpless sprang up so suddenly and approached him in a menacing manner.

man

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

From this reading Bill Mosely was decidedly startled when the man whom he thought helpless sprang up so suddenly and approached him in a menacing manner.

manner

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

From this reading Bill Mosely was decidedly startled when the man whom he thought helpless sprang up so suddenly and approached him in a menacing manner.

menacing

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

From this reading Bill Mosely was decidedly startled when the man whom he thought helpless sprang up so suddenly and approached him in a menacing manner.

Mosely

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

From this reading Bill Mosely was decidedly startled when the man whom he thought helpless sprang up so suddenly and approached him in a menacing manner.

much

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

From this reading A frown was on his face, and he appeared very much in earnest in the question he next asked.

nextnounUS /next/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A frown was on his face, and he appeared very much in earnest in the question he next asked.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading He rose precipitately from the rude seat on which he had settled himself comfortably, his face wearing an expression of alarm.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading He rose precipitately from the rude seat on which he had settled himself comfortably, his face wearing an expression of alarm.

paused

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

From this reading Richard Dewey paused and confronted him.

precipitately

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

From this reading He rose precipitately from the rude seat on which he had settled himself comfortably, his face wearing an expression of alarm.

questionnounUS /ˈquestion/

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

From this reading A frown was on his face, and he appeared very much in earnest in the question he next asked.

Richard

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

From this reading Richard Dewey paused and confronted him.

rose

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

From this reading He rose precipitately from the rude seat on which he had settled himself comfortably, his face wearing an expression of alarm.

rude

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

From this reading He rose precipitately from the rude seat on which he had settled himself comfortably, his face wearing an expression of alarm.

seat

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

From this reading He rose precipitately from the rude seat on which he had settled himself comfortably, his face wearing an expression of alarm.

settled

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

From this reading He rose precipitately from the rude seat on which he had settled himself comfortably, his face wearing an expression of alarm.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Bill Mosely was decidedly startled when the man whom he thought helpless sprang up so suddenly and approached him in a menacing manner.

sprang

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

From this reading Bill Mosely was decidedly startled when the man whom he thought helpless sprang up so suddenly and approached him in a menacing manner.

startled

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

From this reading Bill Mosely was decidedly startled when the man whom he thought helpless sprang up so suddenly and approached him in a menacing manner.

suddenlynounUS /ˈsuddenly/

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

From this reading Bill Mosely was decidedly startled when the man whom he thought helpless sprang up so suddenly and approached him in a menacing manner.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Bill Mosely was decidedly startled when the man whom he thought helpless sprang up so suddenly and approached him in a menacing manner.

thoughtnounUS /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Bill Mosely was decidedly startled when the man whom he thought helpless sprang up so suddenly and approached him in a menacing manner.

UNEQUAL

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

From this reading AN UNEQUAL CONTEST.

up

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

From this reading Bill Mosely was decidedly startled when the man whom he thought helpless sprang up so suddenly and approached him in a menacing manner.

very

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

From this reading A frown was on his face, and he appeared very much in earnest in the question he next asked.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Bill Mosely was decidedly startled when the man whom he thought helpless sprang up so suddenly and approached him in a menacing manner.

wearing

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

From this reading He rose precipitately from the rude seat on which he had settled himself comfortably, his face wearing an expression of alarm.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading Bill Mosely was decidedly startled when the man whom he thought helpless sprang up so suddenly and approached him in a menacing manner.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading He rose precipitately from the rude seat on which he had settled himself comfortably, his face wearing an expression of alarm.

whompronounUS /huːm/

the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Bill Mosely was decidedly startled when the man whom he thought helpless sprang up so suddenly and approached him in a menacing manner.