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Blackbeard: Buccaneer
Blackbeard: Buccaneer

Chapter II

Cover illustration for Blackbeard: Buccaneer
Context Illustration Reading 1/65 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE MERCHANT TRADER, _PLYMOUTH ADVENTURE_ RUBBING his ear which Mr. Peter Arbuthnot Forbes had soundly boxed before releasing him, Jack marched along in gloomy silence until he was conducted into his small, unplastered room.
His uncle stalked out and shot the ponderous bolt behind him.
Passing through the kitchen, he halted to scold the black cook as a lazy slattern and then sat himself down to a lonely meal.
Jack was a problem which the finicky, middle-aged bachelor had been unable to solve.
He had undertaken the care of the boy after his parents had died in the same week of a mysterious fever which ravaged the settlement.
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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.

Blackbeard: Buccaneer

Chapter II

Reading 1/65 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE MERCHANT TRADER, _PLYMOUTH ADVENTURE_ RUBBING his ear which Mr. Peter Arbuthnot Forbes had soundly boxed before releasing him, Jack marched along in gloomy silence until he was conducted into his small, unplastered room.
Line 2
His uncle stalked out and shot the ponderous bolt behind him.
Line 3
Passing through the kitchen, he halted to scold the black cook as a lazy slattern and then sat himself down to a lonely meal.
Line 4
Jack was a problem which the finicky, middle-aged bachelor had been unable to solve.
Line 5
He had undertaken the care of the boy after his parents had died in the same week of a mysterious fever which ravaged the settlement.

Learner Dictionary

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

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “He had undertaken the care of the boy after his parents had died in the same week of a mysterious fever which ravaged the settlement.”

Along preposition US /əˈlɔːŋ/

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading “THE MERCHANT TRADER, _PLYMOUTH ADVENTURE_ RUBBING his ear which Mr. Peter Arbuthnot Forbes had soundly boxed before releasing him, Jack marched along in gloomy silence until he was conducted into his small, unplastered room.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “Jack was a problem which the finicky, middle-aged bachelor had been unable to solve.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “THE MERCHANT TRADER, _PLYMOUTH ADVENTURE_ RUBBING his ear which Mr. Peter Arbuthnot Forbes had soundly boxed before releasing him, Jack marched along in gloomy silence until he was conducted into his small, unplastered room.”

Behind preposition US /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading “His uncle stalked out and shot the ponderous bolt behind him.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading “Passing through the kitchen, he halted to scold the black cook as a lazy slattern and then sat himself down to a lonely meal.”

MERCHANT noun US /ˈmɜːr.tʃənt/

A person or company involved in wholesale trade, especially with foreign countries.

From this reading “THE MERCHANT TRADER, _PLYMOUTH ADVENTURE_ RUBBING his ear which Mr. Peter Arbuthnot Forbes had soundly boxed before releasing him, Jack marched along in gloomy silence until he was conducted into his small, unplastered room.”

Mysterious adjective US /mɪˈstɪriəs/

difficult to explain or understand

From this reading “He had undertaken the care of the boy after his parents had died in the same week of a mysterious fever which ravaged the settlement.”

Same noun US /same/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He had undertaken the care of the boy after his parents had died in the same week of a mysterious fever which ravaged the settlement.”

Silence noun US /ˈsaɪ.ləns/

Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.

From this reading “THE MERCHANT TRADER, _PLYMOUTH ADVENTURE_ RUBBING his ear which Mr. Peter Arbuthnot Forbes had soundly boxed before releasing him, Jack marched along in gloomy silence until he was conducted into his small, unplastered room.”

Through noun US /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading “Passing through the kitchen, he halted to scold the black cook as a lazy slattern and then sat himself down to a lonely meal.”

Until preposition US /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading “THE MERCHANT TRADER, _PLYMOUTH ADVENTURE_ RUBBING his ear which Mr. Peter Arbuthnot Forbes had soundly boxed before releasing him, Jack marched along in gloomy silence until he was conducted into his small, unplastered room.”

All words in this reading · 79

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 Passing through the kitchen, he halted to scold the black cook as a lazy slattern and then sat himself down to a lonely meal.

ADVENTURE

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

From this reading THE MERCHANT TRADER, _PLYMOUTH ADVENTURE_ RUBBING his ear which Mr. Peter Arbuthnot Forbes had soundly boxed before releasing him, Jack marched along in gloomy silence until he was conducted into his small, unplastered room.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading He had undertaken the care of the boy after his parents had died in the same week of a mysterious fever which ravaged the settlement.

alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading THE MERCHANT TRADER, _PLYMOUTH ADVENTURE_ RUBBING his ear which Mr. Peter Arbuthnot Forbes had soundly boxed before releasing him, Jack marched along in gloomy silence until he was conducted into his small, unplastered room.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading His uncle stalked out and shot the ponderous bolt behind him.

Arbuthnot

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

From this reading THE MERCHANT TRADER, _PLYMOUTH ADVENTURE_ RUBBING his ear which Mr. Peter Arbuthnot Forbes had soundly boxed before releasing him, Jack marched along in gloomy silence until he was conducted into his small, unplastered room.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Passing through the kitchen, he halted to scold the black cook as a lazy slattern and then sat himself down to a lonely meal.

bachelor

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

From this reading Jack was a problem which the finicky, middle-aged bachelor had been unable to solve.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Jack was a problem which the finicky, middle-aged bachelor had been unable to solve.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading THE MERCHANT TRADER, _PLYMOUTH ADVENTURE_ RUBBING his ear which Mr. Peter Arbuthnot Forbes had soundly boxed before releasing him, Jack marched along in gloomy silence until he was conducted into his small, unplastered room.

behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading His uncle stalked out and shot the ponderous bolt behind him.

black

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

From this reading Passing through the kitchen, he halted to scold the black cook as a lazy slattern and then sat himself down to a lonely meal.

bolt

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

From this reading His uncle stalked out and shot the ponderous bolt behind him.

boxed

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

From this reading THE MERCHANT TRADER, _PLYMOUTH ADVENTURE_ RUBBING his ear which Mr. Peter Arbuthnot Forbes had soundly boxed before releasing him, Jack marched along in gloomy silence until he was conducted into his small, unplastered room.

boy

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

From this reading He had undertaken the care of the boy after his parents had died in the same week of a mysterious fever which ravaged the settlement.

care

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

From this reading He had undertaken the care of the boy after his parents had died in the same week of a mysterious fever which ravaged the settlement.

conducted

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

From this reading THE MERCHANT TRADER, _PLYMOUTH ADVENTURE_ RUBBING his ear which Mr. Peter Arbuthnot Forbes had soundly boxed before releasing him, Jack marched along in gloomy silence until he was conducted into his small, unplastered room.

cook

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

From this reading Passing through the kitchen, he halted to scold the black cook as a lazy slattern and then sat himself down to a lonely meal.

died

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

From this reading He had undertaken the care of the boy after his parents had died in the same week of a mysterious fever which ravaged the settlement.

down

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

From this reading Passing through the kitchen, he halted to scold the black cook as a lazy slattern and then sat himself down to a lonely meal.

ear

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

From this reading THE MERCHANT TRADER, _PLYMOUTH ADVENTURE_ RUBBING his ear which Mr. Peter Arbuthnot Forbes had soundly boxed before releasing him, Jack marched along in gloomy silence until he was conducted into his small, unplastered room.

fever

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

From this reading He had undertaken the care of the boy after his parents had died in the same week of a mysterious fever which ravaged the settlement.

finicky

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

From this reading Jack was a problem which the finicky, middle-aged bachelor had been unable to solve.

Forbes

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

From this reading THE MERCHANT TRADER, _PLYMOUTH ADVENTURE_ RUBBING his ear which Mr. Peter Arbuthnot Forbes had soundly boxed before releasing him, Jack marched along in gloomy silence until he was conducted into his small, unplastered room.

gloomy

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

From this reading THE MERCHANT TRADER, _PLYMOUTH ADVENTURE_ RUBBING his ear which Mr. Peter Arbuthnot Forbes had soundly boxed before releasing him, Jack marched along in gloomy silence until he was conducted into his small, unplastered room.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading THE MERCHANT TRADER, _PLYMOUTH ADVENTURE_ RUBBING his ear which Mr. Peter Arbuthnot Forbes had soundly boxed before releasing him, Jack marched along in gloomy silence until he was conducted into his small, unplastered room.

halted

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

From this reading Passing through the kitchen, he halted to scold the black cook as a lazy slattern and then sat himself down to a lonely meal.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading THE MERCHANT TRADER, _PLYMOUTH ADVENTURE_ RUBBING his ear which Mr. Peter Arbuthnot Forbes had soundly boxed before releasing him, Jack marched along in gloomy silence until he was conducted into his small, unplastered room.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading THE MERCHANT TRADER, _PLYMOUTH ADVENTURE_ RUBBING his ear which Mr. Peter Arbuthnot Forbes had soundly boxed before releasing him, Jack marched along in gloomy silence until he was conducted into his small, unplastered room.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading Passing through the kitchen, he halted to scold the black cook as a lazy slattern and then sat himself down to a lonely meal.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading THE MERCHANT TRADER, _PLYMOUTH ADVENTURE_ RUBBING his ear which Mr. Peter Arbuthnot Forbes had soundly boxed before releasing him, Jack marched along in gloomy silence until he was conducted into his small, unplastered room.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading THE MERCHANT TRADER, _PLYMOUTH ADVENTURE_ RUBBING his ear which Mr. Peter Arbuthnot Forbes had soundly boxed before releasing him, Jack marched along in gloomy silence until he was conducted into his small, unplastered room.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading THE MERCHANT TRADER, _PLYMOUTH ADVENTURE_ RUBBING his ear which Mr. Peter Arbuthnot Forbes had soundly boxed before releasing him, Jack marched along in gloomy silence until he was conducted into his small, unplastered room.

Jack

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

From this reading THE MERCHANT TRADER, _PLYMOUTH ADVENTURE_ RUBBING his ear which Mr. Peter Arbuthnot Forbes had soundly boxed before releasing him, Jack marched along in gloomy silence until he was conducted into his small, unplastered room.

kitchen

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

From this reading Passing through the kitchen, he halted to scold the black cook as a lazy slattern and then sat himself down to a lonely meal.

lazy

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

From this reading Passing through the kitchen, he halted to scold the black cook as a lazy slattern and then sat himself down to a lonely meal.

lonely

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

From this reading Passing through the kitchen, he halted to scold the black cook as a lazy slattern and then sat himself down to a lonely meal.

marched

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

From this reading THE MERCHANT TRADER, _PLYMOUTH ADVENTURE_ RUBBING his ear which Mr. Peter Arbuthnot Forbes had soundly boxed before releasing him, Jack marched along in gloomy silence until he was conducted into his small, unplastered room.

meal

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

From this reading Passing through the kitchen, he halted to scold the black cook as a lazy slattern and then sat himself down to a lonely meal.

MERCHANTnounUS /ˈmɜːr.tʃənt/

A person or company involved in wholesale trade, especially with foreign countries.

From this reading THE MERCHANT TRADER, _PLYMOUTH ADVENTURE_ RUBBING his ear which Mr. Peter Arbuthnot Forbes had soundly boxed before releasing him, Jack marched along in gloomy silence until he was conducted into his small, unplastered room.

middle-aged

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

From this reading Jack was a problem which the finicky, middle-aged bachelor had been unable to solve.

Mr

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

From this reading THE MERCHANT TRADER, _PLYMOUTH ADVENTURE_ RUBBING his ear which Mr. Peter Arbuthnot Forbes had soundly boxed before releasing him, Jack marched along in gloomy silence until he was conducted into his small, unplastered room.

mysteriousadjectiveUS /mɪˈstɪriəs/

difficult to explain or understand

From this reading He had undertaken the care of the boy after his parents had died in the same week of a mysterious fever which ravaged the settlement.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading He had undertaken the care of the boy after his parents had died in the same week of a mysterious fever which ravaged the settlement.

out

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

From this reading His uncle stalked out and shot the ponderous bolt behind him.

parents

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

From this reading He had undertaken the care of the boy after his parents had died in the same week of a mysterious fever which ravaged the settlement.

Passing

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

From this reading Passing through the kitchen, he halted to scold the black cook as a lazy slattern and then sat himself down to a lonely meal.

Peter

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

From this reading THE MERCHANT TRADER, _PLYMOUTH ADVENTURE_ RUBBING his ear which Mr. Peter Arbuthnot Forbes had soundly boxed before releasing him, Jack marched along in gloomy silence until he was conducted into his small, unplastered room.

PLYMOUTH

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

From this reading THE MERCHANT TRADER, _PLYMOUTH ADVENTURE_ RUBBING his ear which Mr. Peter Arbuthnot Forbes had soundly boxed before releasing him, Jack marched along in gloomy silence until he was conducted into his small, unplastered room.

ponderous

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

From this reading His uncle stalked out and shot the ponderous bolt behind him.

problem

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

From this reading Jack was a problem which the finicky, middle-aged bachelor had been unable to solve.

ravaged

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

From this reading He had undertaken the care of the boy after his parents had died in the same week of a mysterious fever which ravaged the settlement.

releasing

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

From this reading THE MERCHANT TRADER, _PLYMOUTH ADVENTURE_ RUBBING his ear which Mr. Peter Arbuthnot Forbes had soundly boxed before releasing him, Jack marched along in gloomy silence until he was conducted into his small, unplastered room.

room

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

From this reading THE MERCHANT TRADER, _PLYMOUTH ADVENTURE_ RUBBING his ear which Mr. Peter Arbuthnot Forbes had soundly boxed before releasing him, Jack marched along in gloomy silence until he was conducted into his small, unplastered room.

RUBBING

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

From this reading THE MERCHANT TRADER, _PLYMOUTH ADVENTURE_ RUBBING his ear which Mr. Peter Arbuthnot Forbes had soundly boxed before releasing him, Jack marched along in gloomy silence until he was conducted into his small, unplastered room.

samenounUS /same/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He had undertaken the care of the boy after his parents had died in the same week of a mysterious fever which ravaged the settlement.

sat

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

From this reading Passing through the kitchen, he halted to scold the black cook as a lazy slattern and then sat himself down to a lonely meal.

scold

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

From this reading Passing through the kitchen, he halted to scold the black cook as a lazy slattern and then sat himself down to a lonely meal.

settlement

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

From this reading He had undertaken the care of the boy after his parents had died in the same week of a mysterious fever which ravaged the settlement.

shot

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

From this reading His uncle stalked out and shot the ponderous bolt behind him.

silencenounUS /ˈsaɪ.ləns/

Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.

From this reading THE MERCHANT TRADER, _PLYMOUTH ADVENTURE_ RUBBING his ear which Mr. Peter Arbuthnot Forbes had soundly boxed before releasing him, Jack marched along in gloomy silence until he was conducted into his small, unplastered room.

slattern

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

From this reading Passing through the kitchen, he halted to scold the black cook as a lazy slattern and then sat himself down to a lonely meal.

small

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

From this reading THE MERCHANT TRADER, _PLYMOUTH ADVENTURE_ RUBBING his ear which Mr. Peter Arbuthnot Forbes had soundly boxed before releasing him, Jack marched along in gloomy silence until he was conducted into his small, unplastered room.

solve

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

From this reading Jack was a problem which the finicky, middle-aged bachelor had been unable to solve.

soundly

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

From this reading THE MERCHANT TRADER, _PLYMOUTH ADVENTURE_ RUBBING his ear which Mr. Peter Arbuthnot Forbes had soundly boxed before releasing him, Jack marched along in gloomy silence until he was conducted into his small, unplastered room.

stalked

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

From this reading His uncle stalked out and shot the ponderous bolt behind him.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE MERCHANT TRADER, _PLYMOUTH ADVENTURE_ RUBBING his ear which Mr. Peter Arbuthnot Forbes had soundly boxed before releasing him, Jack marched along in gloomy silence until he was conducted into his small, unplastered room.

then

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

From this reading Passing through the kitchen, he halted to scold the black cook as a lazy slattern and then sat himself down to a lonely meal.

throughnounUS /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading Passing through the kitchen, he halted to scold the black cook as a lazy slattern and then sat himself down to a lonely meal.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Passing through the kitchen, he halted to scold the black cook as a lazy slattern and then sat himself down to a lonely meal.

TRADER

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

From this reading THE MERCHANT TRADER, _PLYMOUTH ADVENTURE_ RUBBING his ear which Mr. Peter Arbuthnot Forbes had soundly boxed before releasing him, Jack marched along in gloomy silence until he was conducted into his small, unplastered room.

unable

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

From this reading Jack was a problem which the finicky, middle-aged bachelor had been unable to solve.

uncle

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

From this reading His uncle stalked out and shot the ponderous bolt behind him.

undertaken

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

From this reading He had undertaken the care of the boy after his parents had died in the same week of a mysterious fever which ravaged the settlement.

unplastered

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

From this reading THE MERCHANT TRADER, _PLYMOUTH ADVENTURE_ RUBBING his ear which Mr. Peter Arbuthnot Forbes had soundly boxed before releasing him, Jack marched along in gloomy silence until he was conducted into his small, unplastered room.

untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading THE MERCHANT TRADER, _PLYMOUTH ADVENTURE_ RUBBING his ear which Mr. Peter Arbuthnot Forbes had soundly boxed before releasing him, Jack marched along in gloomy silence until he was conducted into his small, unplastered room.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading THE MERCHANT TRADER, _PLYMOUTH ADVENTURE_ RUBBING his ear which Mr. Peter Arbuthnot Forbes had soundly boxed before releasing him, Jack marched along in gloomy silence until he was conducted into his small, unplastered room.

week

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

From this reading He had undertaken the care of the boy after his parents had died in the same week of a mysterious fever which ravaged the settlement.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading THE MERCHANT TRADER, _PLYMOUTH ADVENTURE_ RUBBING his ear which Mr. Peter Arbuthnot Forbes had soundly boxed before releasing him, Jack marched along in gloomy silence until he was conducted into his small, unplastered room.