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Ben's Nugget
Ben's Nugget

Chapter XXXII

Cover illustration for Ben's Nugget
Context Illustration Reading 1/12 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE HOUSE IS MORTGAGED.
Job Stanton would not have been more utterly overwhelmed if he had seen his treasured home reduced to ashes before his eyes.
That he should be responsible for a debt of five hundred dollars seemed to him almost incredible.
The trader's representation that indorsing the note was only a matter of form he had accepted as strictly true.
"Well, what are you going to do about it?" asked the major, impatiently.
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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 XXXII

Reading 1/12 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE HOUSE IS MORTGAGED.
Line 2
Job Stanton would not have been more utterly overwhelmed if he had seen his treasured home reduced to ashes before his eyes.
Line 3
That he should be responsible for a debt of five hundred dollars seemed to him almost incredible.
Line 4
The trader's representation that indorsing the note was only a matter of form he had accepted as strictly true.
Line 5
"Well, what are you going to do about it?" asked the major, impatiently.

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 “"Well, what are you going to do about it?" asked the major, impatiently.”

Ashes noun US /ˈæʃ.ɪz/

The powdery residue left after the burning of a substance.

From this reading “Job Stanton would not have been more utterly overwhelmed if he had seen his treasured home reduced to ashes before his eyes.”

Asked noun US /asked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"Well, what are you going to do about it?" asked the major, impatiently.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “Job Stanton would not have been more utterly overwhelmed if he had seen his treasured home reduced to ashes before his eyes.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “Job Stanton would not have been more utterly overwhelmed if he had seen his treasured home reduced to ashes before his eyes.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “Job Stanton would not have been more utterly overwhelmed if he had seen his treasured home reduced to ashes before his eyes.”

Responsible adjective US /rɪˈspɑnsəbəl/

having a duty to protect or manage something

From this reading “That he should be responsible for a debt of five hundred dollars seemed to him almost incredible.”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “That he should be responsible for a debt of five hundred dollars seemed to him almost incredible.”

Well noun US /well/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"Well, what are you going to do about it?" asked the major, impatiently.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “Job Stanton would not have been more utterly overwhelmed if he had seen his treasured home reduced to ashes before his eyes.”

All words in this reading · 63

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

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading That he should be responsible for a debt of five hundred dollars seemed to him almost incredible.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading "Well, what are you going to do about it?" asked the major, impatiently.

accepted

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

From this reading The trader's representation that indorsing the note was only a matter of form he had accepted as strictly true.

almost

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

From this reading That he should be responsible for a debt of five hundred dollars seemed to him almost incredible.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading "Well, what are you going to do about it?" asked the major, impatiently.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading The trader's representation that indorsing the note was only a matter of form he had accepted as strictly true.

ashesnounUS /ˈæʃ.ɪz/

The powdery residue left after the burning of a substance.

From this reading Job Stanton would not have been more utterly overwhelmed if he had seen his treasured home reduced to ashes before his eyes.

askednounUS /asked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "Well, what are you going to do about it?" asked the major, impatiently.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading That he should be responsible for a debt of five hundred dollars seemed to him almost incredible.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Job Stanton would not have been more utterly overwhelmed if he had seen his treasured home reduced to ashes before his eyes.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Job Stanton would not have been more utterly overwhelmed if he had seen his treasured home reduced to ashes before his eyes.

debt

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

From this reading That he should be responsible for a debt of five hundred dollars seemed to him almost incredible.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading "Well, what are you going to do about it?" asked the major, impatiently.

dollars

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

From this reading That he should be responsible for a debt of five hundred dollars seemed to him almost incredible.

eyes

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

From this reading Job Stanton would not have been more utterly overwhelmed if he had seen his treasured home reduced to ashes before his eyes.

five

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

From this reading That he should be responsible for a debt of five hundred dollars seemed to him almost incredible.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading That he should be responsible for a debt of five hundred dollars seemed to him almost incredible.

form

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

From this reading The trader's representation that indorsing the note was only a matter of form he had accepted as strictly true.

going

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

From this reading "Well, what are you going to do about it?" asked the major, impatiently.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Job Stanton would not have been more utterly overwhelmed if he had seen his treasured home reduced to ashes before his eyes.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Job Stanton would not have been more utterly overwhelmed if he had seen his treasured home reduced to ashes before his eyes.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Job Stanton would not have been more utterly overwhelmed if he had seen his treasured home reduced to ashes before his eyes.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading That he should be responsible for a debt of five hundred dollars seemed to him almost incredible.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Job Stanton would not have been more utterly overwhelmed if he had seen his treasured home reduced to ashes before his eyes.

home

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

From this reading Job Stanton would not have been more utterly overwhelmed if he had seen his treasured home reduced to ashes before his eyes.

HOUSE

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

From this reading THE HOUSE IS MORTGAGED.

hundred

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

From this reading That he should be responsible for a debt of five hundred dollars seemed to him almost incredible.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading Job Stanton would not have been more utterly overwhelmed if he had seen his treasured home reduced to ashes before his eyes.

impatiently

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

From this reading "Well, what are you going to do about it?" asked the major, impatiently.

incredible

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

From this reading That he should be responsible for a debt of five hundred dollars seemed to him almost incredible.

indorsing

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

From this reading The trader's representation that indorsing the note was only a matter of form he had accepted as strictly true.

ISauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading THE HOUSE IS MORTGAGED.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading "Well, what are you going to do about it?" asked the major, impatiently.

Job

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

From this reading Job Stanton would not have been more utterly overwhelmed if he had seen his treasured home reduced to ashes before his eyes.

major

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

From this reading "Well, what are you going to do about it?" asked the major, impatiently.

matter

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

From this reading The trader's representation that indorsing the note was only a matter of form he had accepted as strictly true.

more

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

From this reading Job Stanton would not have been more utterly overwhelmed if he had seen his treasured home reduced to ashes before his eyes.

MORTGAGED

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

From this reading THE HOUSE IS MORTGAGED.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Job Stanton would not have been more utterly overwhelmed if he had seen his treasured home reduced to ashes before his eyes.

note

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

From this reading The trader's representation that indorsing the note was only a matter of form he had accepted as strictly true.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading That he should be responsible for a debt of five hundred dollars seemed to him almost incredible.

only

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

From this reading The trader's representation that indorsing the note was only a matter of form he had accepted as strictly true.

overwhelmed

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

From this reading Job Stanton would not have been more utterly overwhelmed if he had seen his treasured home reduced to ashes before his eyes.

reduced

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

From this reading Job Stanton would not have been more utterly overwhelmed if he had seen his treasured home reduced to ashes before his eyes.

representation

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

From this reading The trader's representation that indorsing the note was only a matter of form he had accepted as strictly true.

responsibleadjectiveUS /rɪˈspɑnsəbəl/

having a duty to protect or manage something

From this reading That he should be responsible for a debt of five hundred dollars seemed to him almost incredible.

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading That he should be responsible for a debt of five hundred dollars seemed to him almost incredible.

seen

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

From this reading Job Stanton would not have been more utterly overwhelmed if he had seen his treasured home reduced to ashes before his eyes.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading That he should be responsible for a debt of five hundred dollars seemed to him almost incredible.

Stanton

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

From this reading Job Stanton would not have been more utterly overwhelmed if he had seen his treasured home reduced to ashes before his eyes.

strictly

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

From this reading The trader's representation that indorsing the note was only a matter of form he had accepted as strictly true.

ThatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading That he should be responsible for a debt of five hundred dollars seemed to him almost incredible.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE HOUSE IS MORTGAGED.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Job Stanton would not have been more utterly overwhelmed if he had seen his treasured home reduced to ashes before his eyes.

trader's

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

From this reading The trader's representation that indorsing the note was only a matter of form he had accepted as strictly true.

treasured

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

From this reading Job Stanton would not have been more utterly overwhelmed if he had seen his treasured home reduced to ashes before his eyes.

true

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

From this reading The trader's representation that indorsing the note was only a matter of form he had accepted as strictly true.

utterly

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

From this reading Job Stanton would not have been more utterly overwhelmed if he had seen his treasured home reduced to ashes before his eyes.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The trader's representation that indorsing the note was only a matter of form he had accepted as strictly true.

Well

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

From this reading "Well, what are you going to do about it?" asked the major, impatiently.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading "Well, what are you going to do about it?" asked the major, impatiently.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading Job Stanton would not have been more utterly overwhelmed if he had seen his treasured home reduced to ashes before his eyes.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "Well, what are you going to do about it?" asked the major, impatiently.