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Breaking Away
Breaking Away

Chapter XIII

Cover illustration for Breaking Away
Context Illustration Reading 1/26 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
IN WHICH ERNEST IS WAITED UPON BY A DEPUTY SHERIFF.
We had no means of knowing the object of Mr. Parasyte's visit to Camp Fair Play--whether he was coming to make a treaty of peace, or to declare and carry on the war.
The boat in which he was approaching was a hired one, rowed by the two men who worked for him.
His force was sufficient to do us a great deal of mischief; and the questions as to what he would, and what he could do, were full of interest to us.
Four men are a formidable force to any number of boys; and the fact that Sheriff Greene was one of the party added to the seriousness of the visitation.
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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.

Breaking Away

Chapter XIII

Reading 1/26 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
IN WHICH ERNEST IS WAITED UPON BY A DEPUTY SHERIFF.
Line 2
We had no means of knowing the object of Mr. Parasyte's visit to Camp Fair Play--whether he was coming to make a treaty of peace, or to declare and carry on the war.
Line 3
The boat in which he was approaching was a hired one, rowed by the two men who worked for him.
Line 4
His force was sufficient to do us a great deal of mischief; and the questions as to what he would, and what he could do, were full of interest to us.
Line 5
Four men are a formidable force to any number of boys; and the fact that Sheriff Greene was one of the party added to the seriousness of the visitation.

Learner Dictionary

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

Added noun US /added/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Four men are a formidable force to any number of boys; and the fact that Sheriff Greene was one of the party added to the seriousness of the visitation.”

Camp noun US /camp/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “We had no means of knowing the object of Mr. Parasyte's visit to Camp Fair Play--whether he was coming to make a treaty of peace, or to declare and carry on the war.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading “His force was sufficient to do us a great deal of mischief; and the questions as to what he would, and what he could do, were full of interest to us.”

Fair noun US /fair/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “We had no means of knowing the object of Mr. Parasyte's visit to Camp Fair Play--whether he was coming to make a treaty of peace, or to declare and carry on the war.”

Formidable adjective US /ˈfɔːrmɪdəbəl/

very difficult to deal with or overcome

From this reading “Four men are a formidable force to any number of boys; and the fact that Sheriff Greene was one of the party added to the seriousness of the visitation.”

Great noun US /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “His force was sufficient to do us a great deal of mischief; and the questions as to what he would, and what he could do, were full of interest to us.”

Make noun US /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “We had no means of knowing the object of Mr. Parasyte's visit to Camp Fair Play--whether he was coming to make a treaty of peace, or to declare and carry on the war.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “The boat in which he was approaching was a hired one, rowed by the two men who worked for him.”

Party noun US /party/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Four men are a formidable force to any number of boys; and the fact that Sheriff Greene was one of the party added to the seriousness of the visitation.”

UPON preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “IN WHICH ERNEST IS WAITED UPON BY A DEPUTY SHERIFF.”

Whether conjunction US /ˈweðər/

used to introduce two or more possibilities

From this reading “We had no means of knowing the object of Mr. Parasyte's visit to Camp Fair Play--whether he was coming to make a treaty of peace, or to declare and carry on the war.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “His force was sufficient to do us a great deal of mischief; and the questions as to what he would, and what he could do, were full of interest to us.”

All words in this reading · 78

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 IN WHICH ERNEST IS WAITED UPON BY A DEPUTY SHERIFF.

addednounUS /added/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Four men are a formidable force to any number of boys; and the fact that Sheriff Greene was one of the party added to the seriousness of the visitation.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading We had no means of knowing the object of Mr. Parasyte's visit to Camp Fair Play--whether he was coming to make a treaty of peace, or to declare and carry on the war.

any

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

From this reading Four men are a formidable force to any number of boys; and the fact that Sheriff Greene was one of the party added to the seriousness of the visitation.

approaching

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

From this reading The boat in which he was approaching was a hired one, rowed by the two men who worked for him.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading Four men are a formidable force to any number of boys; and the fact that Sheriff Greene was one of the party added to the seriousness of the visitation.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading His force was sufficient to do us a great deal of mischief; and the questions as to what he would, and what he could do, were full of interest to us.

boat

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

From this reading The boat in which he was approaching was a hired one, rowed by the two men who worked for him.

boys

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

From this reading Four men are a formidable force to any number of boys; and the fact that Sheriff Greene was one of the party added to the seriousness of the visitation.

BYprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading IN WHICH ERNEST IS WAITED UPON BY A DEPUTY SHERIFF.

Camp

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

From this reading We had no means of knowing the object of Mr. Parasyte's visit to Camp Fair Play--whether he was coming to make a treaty of peace, or to declare and carry on the war.

carry

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

From this reading We had no means of knowing the object of Mr. Parasyte's visit to Camp Fair Play--whether he was coming to make a treaty of peace, or to declare and carry on the war.

coming

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

From this reading We had no means of knowing the object of Mr. Parasyte's visit to Camp Fair Play--whether he was coming to make a treaty of peace, or to declare and carry on the war.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading His force was sufficient to do us a great deal of mischief; and the questions as to what he would, and what he could do, were full of interest to us.

deal

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

From this reading His force was sufficient to do us a great deal of mischief; and the questions as to what he would, and what he could do, were full of interest to us.

declare

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

From this reading We had no means of knowing the object of Mr. Parasyte's visit to Camp Fair Play--whether he was coming to make a treaty of peace, or to declare and carry on the war.

DEPUTY

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

From this reading IN WHICH ERNEST IS WAITED UPON BY A DEPUTY SHERIFF.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading His force was sufficient to do us a great deal of mischief; and the questions as to what he would, and what he could do, were full of interest to us.

ERNEST

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

From this reading IN WHICH ERNEST IS WAITED UPON BY A DEPUTY SHERIFF.

fact

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

From this reading Four men are a formidable force to any number of boys; and the fact that Sheriff Greene was one of the party added to the seriousness of the visitation.

FairnounUS /fair/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading We had no means of knowing the object of Mr. Parasyte's visit to Camp Fair Play--whether he was coming to make a treaty of peace, or to declare and carry on the war.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The boat in which he was approaching was a hired one, rowed by the two men who worked for him.

force

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

From this reading His force was sufficient to do us a great deal of mischief; and the questions as to what he would, and what he could do, were full of interest to us.

formidableadjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrmɪdəbəl/

very difficult to deal with or overcome

From this reading Four men are a formidable force to any number of boys; and the fact that Sheriff Greene was one of the party added to the seriousness of the visitation.

Four

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

From this reading Four men are a formidable force to any number of boys; and the fact that Sheriff Greene was one of the party added to the seriousness of the visitation.

full

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

From this reading His force was sufficient to do us a great deal of mischief; and the questions as to what he would, and what he could do, were full of interest to us.

greatnounUS /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading His force was sufficient to do us a great deal of mischief; and the questions as to what he would, and what he could do, were full of interest to us.

Greene

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

From this reading Four men are a formidable force to any number of boys; and the fact that Sheriff Greene was one of the party added to the seriousness of the visitation.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading We had no means of knowing the object of Mr. Parasyte's visit to Camp Fair Play--whether he was coming to make a treaty of peace, or to declare and carry on the war.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading We had no means of knowing the object of Mr. Parasyte's visit to Camp Fair Play--whether he was coming to make a treaty of peace, or to declare and carry on the war.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading The boat in which he was approaching was a hired one, rowed by the two men who worked for him.

hired

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

From this reading The boat in which he was approaching was a hired one, rowed by the two men who worked for him.

HisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading His force was sufficient to do us a great deal of mischief; and the questions as to what he would, and what he could do, were full of interest to us.

INprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading IN WHICH ERNEST IS WAITED UPON BY A DEPUTY SHERIFF.

interest

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

From this reading His force was sufficient to do us a great deal of mischief; and the questions as to what he would, and what he could do, were full of interest to us.

ISauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading IN WHICH ERNEST IS WAITED UPON BY A DEPUTY SHERIFF.

knowing

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

From this reading We had no means of knowing the object of Mr. Parasyte's visit to Camp Fair Play--whether he was coming to make a treaty of peace, or to declare and carry on the war.

makenounUS /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading We had no means of knowing the object of Mr. Parasyte's visit to Camp Fair Play--whether he was coming to make a treaty of peace, or to declare and carry on the war.

means

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

From this reading We had no means of knowing the object of Mr. Parasyte's visit to Camp Fair Play--whether he was coming to make a treaty of peace, or to declare and carry on the war.

men

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

From this reading The boat in which he was approaching was a hired one, rowed by the two men who worked for him.

mischief

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

From this reading His force was sufficient to do us a great deal of mischief; and the questions as to what he would, and what he could do, were full of interest to us.

Mr

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

From this reading We had no means of knowing the object of Mr. Parasyte's visit to Camp Fair Play--whether he was coming to make a treaty of peace, or to declare and carry on the war.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading We had no means of knowing the object of Mr. Parasyte's visit to Camp Fair Play--whether he was coming to make a treaty of peace, or to declare and carry on the war.

number

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

From this reading Four men are a formidable force to any number of boys; and the fact that Sheriff Greene was one of the party added to the seriousness of the visitation.

object

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

From this reading We had no means of knowing the object of Mr. Parasyte's visit to Camp Fair Play--whether he was coming to make a treaty of peace, or to declare and carry on the war.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading We had no means of knowing the object of Mr. Parasyte's visit to Camp Fair Play--whether he was coming to make a treaty of peace, or to declare and carry on the war.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading We had no means of knowing the object of Mr. Parasyte's visit to Camp Fair Play--whether he was coming to make a treaty of peace, or to declare and carry on the war.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading The boat in which he was approaching was a hired one, rowed by the two men who worked for him.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading We had no means of knowing the object of Mr. Parasyte's visit to Camp Fair Play--whether he was coming to make a treaty of peace, or to declare and carry on the war.

Parasyte's

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

From this reading We had no means of knowing the object of Mr. Parasyte's visit to Camp Fair Play--whether he was coming to make a treaty of peace, or to declare and carry on the war.

partynounUS /party/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Four men are a formidable force to any number of boys; and the fact that Sheriff Greene was one of the party added to the seriousness of the visitation.

peace

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

From this reading We had no means of knowing the object of Mr. Parasyte's visit to Camp Fair Play--whether he was coming to make a treaty of peace, or to declare and carry on the war.

Play

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

From this reading We had no means of knowing the object of Mr. Parasyte's visit to Camp Fair Play--whether he was coming to make a treaty of peace, or to declare and carry on the war.

questions

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

From this reading His force was sufficient to do us a great deal of mischief; and the questions as to what he would, and what he could do, were full of interest to us.

rowed

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

From this reading The boat in which he was approaching was a hired one, rowed by the two men who worked for him.

seriousness

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

From this reading Four men are a formidable force to any number of boys; and the fact that Sheriff Greene was one of the party added to the seriousness of the visitation.

SHERIFF

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

From this reading IN WHICH ERNEST IS WAITED UPON BY A DEPUTY SHERIFF.

sufficient

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

From this reading His force was sufficient to do us a great deal of mischief; and the questions as to what he would, and what he could do, were full of interest to us.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Four men are a formidable force to any number of boys; and the fact that Sheriff Greene was one of the party added to the seriousness of the visitation.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading We had no means of knowing the object of Mr. Parasyte's visit to Camp Fair Play--whether he was coming to make a treaty of peace, or to declare and carry on the war.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading We had no means of knowing the object of Mr. Parasyte's visit to Camp Fair Play--whether he was coming to make a treaty of peace, or to declare and carry on the war.

treaty

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

From this reading We had no means of knowing the object of Mr. Parasyte's visit to Camp Fair Play--whether he was coming to make a treaty of peace, or to declare and carry on the war.

two

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

From this reading The boat in which he was approaching was a hired one, rowed by the two men who worked for him.

UPONprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading IN WHICH ERNEST IS WAITED UPON BY A DEPUTY SHERIFF.

uspronounUS /ʌs/

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

From this reading His force was sufficient to do us a great deal of mischief; and the questions as to what he would, and what he could do, were full of interest to us.

visit

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

From this reading We had no means of knowing the object of Mr. Parasyte's visit to Camp Fair Play--whether he was coming to make a treaty of peace, or to declare and carry on the war.

visitation

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

From this reading Four men are a formidable force to any number of boys; and the fact that Sheriff Greene was one of the party added to the seriousness of the visitation.

WAITED

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

From this reading IN WHICH ERNEST IS WAITED UPON BY A DEPUTY SHERIFF.

war

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

From this reading We had no means of knowing the object of Mr. Parasyte's visit to Camp Fair Play--whether he was coming to make a treaty of peace, or to declare and carry on the war.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading We had no means of knowing the object of Mr. Parasyte's visit to Camp Fair Play--whether he was coming to make a treaty of peace, or to declare and carry on the war.

WepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading We had no means of knowing the object of Mr. Parasyte's visit to Camp Fair Play--whether he was coming to make a treaty of peace, or to declare and carry on the war.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading His force was sufficient to do us a great deal of mischief; and the questions as to what he would, and what he could do, were full of interest to us.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading His force was sufficient to do us a great deal of mischief; and the questions as to what he would, and what he could do, were full of interest to us.

whetherconjunctionUS /ˈweðər/

used to introduce two or more possibilities

From this reading We had no means of knowing the object of Mr. Parasyte's visit to Camp Fair Play--whether he was coming to make a treaty of peace, or to declare and carry on the war.

WHICHpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading IN WHICH ERNEST IS WAITED UPON BY A DEPUTY SHERIFF.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading The boat in which he was approaching was a hired one, rowed by the two men who worked for him.

worked

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

From this reading The boat in which he was approaching was a hired one, rowed by the two men who worked for him.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading His force was sufficient to do us a great deal of mischief; and the questions as to what he would, and what he could do, were full of interest to us.