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Carette of Sark
Carette of Sark

Chapter XXVII

Cover illustration for Carette of Sark
Context Illustration Reading 1/41 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
HOW WE WALKED INTO THE TIGER'S MOUTH Cherbourg was at that time a town of mean-looking houses and narrow streets, ill-paved, ill-lighted, a rookery for blackbirds of every breed.
It was a great centre for smuggling and privateering, the fleet brought many hangers-on, and the building of the great digue drew thither rough toilers who could find, or were fitted for, no other employment.
Low-class wine-shops, and their spawn of quarrellings and sudden deaths, abounded.
Crime, in fact, attracted little attention so long as it held no menace to the public peace.
Life had been so very cheap, and blood had flowed so freely, that the public ear had dulled to its cry.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Carette of Sark

Chapter XXVII

Reading 1/41 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
HOW WE WALKED INTO THE TIGER'S MOUTH Cherbourg was at that time a town of mean-looking houses and narrow streets, ill-paved, ill-lighted, a rookery for blackbirds of every breed.
Line 2
It was a great centre for smuggling and privateering, the fleet brought many hangers-on, and the building of the great digue drew thither rough toilers who could find, or were fitted for, no other employment.
Line 3
Low-class wine-shops, and their spawn of quarrellings and sudden deaths, abounded.
Line 4
Crime, in fact, attracted little attention so long as it held no menace to the public peace.
Line 5
Life had been so very cheap, and blood had flowed so freely, that the public ear had dulled to its cry.

Learner Dictionary

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

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “Life had been so very cheap, and blood had flowed so freely, that the public ear had dulled to its cry.”

Blood noun US /blood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Life had been so very cheap, and blood had flowed so freely, that the public ear had dulled to its cry.”

Brought noun US /ˈbrought/

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

From this reading “It was a great centre for smuggling and privateering, the fleet brought many hangers-on, and the building of the great digue drew thither rough toilers who could find, or were fitted for, no other employment.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “It was a great centre for smuggling and privateering, the fleet brought many hangers-on, and the building of the great digue drew thither rough toilers who could find, or were fitted for, no other employment.”

Drew noun US /drew/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was a great centre for smuggling and privateering, the fleet brought many hangers-on, and the building of the great digue drew thither rough toilers who could find, or were fitted for, no other employment.”

Every determiner US /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading “HOW WE WALKED INTO THE TIGER'S MOUTH Cherbourg was at that time a town of mean-looking houses and narrow streets, ill-paved, ill-lighted, a rookery for blackbirds of every breed.”

Fitted adjective US /ˈfɪtɪd/

prepared and equipped for a particular purpose

From this reading “It was a great centre for smuggling and privateering, the fleet brought many hangers-on, and the building of the great digue drew thither rough toilers who could find, or were fitted for, no other employment.”

Great noun US /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was a great centre for smuggling and privateering, the fleet brought many hangers-on, and the building of the great digue drew thither rough toilers who could find, or were fitted for, no other employment.”

Life noun US /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Life had been so very cheap, and blood had flowed so freely, that the public ear had dulled to its cry.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Crime, in fact, attracted little attention so long as it held no menace to the public peace.”

Long noun US /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Crime, in fact, attracted little attention so long as it held no menace to the public peace.”

Sudden noun US /sudden/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Low-class wine-shops, and their spawn of quarrellings and sudden deaths, abounded.”

Thither adverb US /ˈðɪθɜːr/

an old word meaning “to that place”

From this reading “It was a great centre for smuggling and privateering, the fleet brought many hangers-on, and the building of the great digue drew thither rough toilers who could find, or were fitted for, no other employment.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “HOW WE WALKED INTO THE TIGER'S MOUTH Cherbourg was at that time a town of mean-looking houses and narrow streets, ill-paved, ill-lighted, a rookery for blackbirds of every breed.”

All words in this reading · 85

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 HOW WE WALKED INTO THE TIGER'S MOUTH Cherbourg was at that time a town of mean-looking houses and narrow streets, ill-paved, ill-lighted, a rookery for blackbirds of every breed.

abounded

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

From this reading Low-class wine-shops, and their spawn of quarrellings and sudden deaths, abounded.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading HOW WE WALKED INTO THE TIGER'S MOUTH Cherbourg was at that time a town of mean-looking houses and narrow streets, ill-paved, ill-lighted, a rookery for blackbirds of every breed.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Crime, in fact, attracted little attention so long as it held no menace to the public peace.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading HOW WE WALKED INTO THE TIGER'S MOUTH Cherbourg was at that time a town of mean-looking houses and narrow streets, ill-paved, ill-lighted, a rookery for blackbirds of every breed.

attention

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

From this reading Crime, in fact, attracted little attention so long as it held no menace to the public peace.

attracted

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

From this reading Crime, in fact, attracted little attention so long as it held no menace to the public peace.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Life had been so very cheap, and blood had flowed so freely, that the public ear had dulled to its cry.

blackbirds

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

From this reading HOW WE WALKED INTO THE TIGER'S MOUTH Cherbourg was at that time a town of mean-looking houses and narrow streets, ill-paved, ill-lighted, a rookery for blackbirds of every breed.

bloodnounUS /blood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Life had been so very cheap, and blood had flowed so freely, that the public ear had dulled to its cry.

breed

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

From this reading HOW WE WALKED INTO THE TIGER'S MOUTH Cherbourg was at that time a town of mean-looking houses and narrow streets, ill-paved, ill-lighted, a rookery for blackbirds of every breed.

broughtnounUS /ˈbrought/

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

From this reading It was a great centre for smuggling and privateering, the fleet brought many hangers-on, and the building of the great digue drew thither rough toilers who could find, or were fitted for, no other employment.

building

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

From this reading It was a great centre for smuggling and privateering, the fleet brought many hangers-on, and the building of the great digue drew thither rough toilers who could find, or were fitted for, no other employment.

centre

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

From this reading It was a great centre for smuggling and privateering, the fleet brought many hangers-on, and the building of the great digue drew thither rough toilers who could find, or were fitted for, no other employment.

cheap

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

From this reading Life had been so very cheap, and blood had flowed so freely, that the public ear had dulled to its cry.

Cherbourg

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

From this reading HOW WE WALKED INTO THE TIGER'S MOUTH Cherbourg was at that time a town of mean-looking houses and narrow streets, ill-paved, ill-lighted, a rookery for blackbirds of every breed.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading It was a great centre for smuggling and privateering, the fleet brought many hangers-on, and the building of the great digue drew thither rough toilers who could find, or were fitted for, no other employment.

Crime

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

From this reading Crime, in fact, attracted little attention so long as it held no menace to the public peace.

cry

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

From this reading Life had been so very cheap, and blood had flowed so freely, that the public ear had dulled to its cry.

deaths

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

From this reading Low-class wine-shops, and their spawn of quarrellings and sudden deaths, abounded.

digue

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

From this reading It was a great centre for smuggling and privateering, the fleet brought many hangers-on, and the building of the great digue drew thither rough toilers who could find, or were fitted for, no other employment.

drewnounUS /drew/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was a great centre for smuggling and privateering, the fleet brought many hangers-on, and the building of the great digue drew thither rough toilers who could find, or were fitted for, no other employment.

dulled

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

From this reading Life had been so very cheap, and blood had flowed so freely, that the public ear had dulled to its cry.

ear

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

From this reading Life had been so very cheap, and blood had flowed so freely, that the public ear had dulled to its cry.

employment

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

From this reading It was a great centre for smuggling and privateering, the fleet brought many hangers-on, and the building of the great digue drew thither rough toilers who could find, or were fitted for, no other employment.

everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading HOW WE WALKED INTO THE TIGER'S MOUTH Cherbourg was at that time a town of mean-looking houses and narrow streets, ill-paved, ill-lighted, a rookery for blackbirds of every breed.

fact

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

From this reading Crime, in fact, attracted little attention so long as it held no menace to the public peace.

find

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

From this reading It was a great centre for smuggling and privateering, the fleet brought many hangers-on, and the building of the great digue drew thither rough toilers who could find, or were fitted for, no other employment.

fittedadjectiveUS /ˈfɪtɪd/

prepared and equipped for a particular purpose

From this reading It was a great centre for smuggling and privateering, the fleet brought many hangers-on, and the building of the great digue drew thither rough toilers who could find, or were fitted for, no other employment.

fleet

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

From this reading It was a great centre for smuggling and privateering, the fleet brought many hangers-on, and the building of the great digue drew thither rough toilers who could find, or were fitted for, no other employment.

flowed

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

From this reading Life had been so very cheap, and blood had flowed so freely, that the public ear had dulled to its cry.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading HOW WE WALKED INTO THE TIGER'S MOUTH Cherbourg was at that time a town of mean-looking houses and narrow streets, ill-paved, ill-lighted, a rookery for blackbirds of every breed.

freely

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

From this reading Life had been so very cheap, and blood had flowed so freely, that the public ear had dulled to its cry.

greatnounUS /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was a great centre for smuggling and privateering, the fleet brought many hangers-on, and the building of the great digue drew thither rough toilers who could find, or were fitted for, no other employment.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Life had been so very cheap, and blood had flowed so freely, that the public ear had dulled to its cry.

hangers-on

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

From this reading It was a great centre for smuggling and privateering, the fleet brought many hangers-on, and the building of the great digue drew thither rough toilers who could find, or were fitted for, no other employment.

held

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

From this reading Crime, in fact, attracted little attention so long as it held no menace to the public peace.

houses

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

From this reading HOW WE WALKED INTO THE TIGER'S MOUTH Cherbourg was at that time a town of mean-looking houses and narrow streets, ill-paved, ill-lighted, a rookery for blackbirds of every breed.

HOW

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

From this reading HOW WE WALKED INTO THE TIGER'S MOUTH Cherbourg was at that time a town of mean-looking houses and narrow streets, ill-paved, ill-lighted, a rookery for blackbirds of every breed.

ill-lighted

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

From this reading HOW WE WALKED INTO THE TIGER'S MOUTH Cherbourg was at that time a town of mean-looking houses and narrow streets, ill-paved, ill-lighted, a rookery for blackbirds of every breed.

ill-paved

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

From this reading HOW WE WALKED INTO THE TIGER'S MOUTH Cherbourg was at that time a town of mean-looking houses and narrow streets, ill-paved, ill-lighted, a rookery for blackbirds of every breed.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Crime, in fact, attracted little attention so long as it held no menace to the public peace.

INTOprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading HOW WE WALKED INTO THE TIGER'S MOUTH Cherbourg was at that time a town of mean-looking houses and narrow streets, ill-paved, ill-lighted, a rookery for blackbirds of every breed.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was a great centre for smuggling and privateering, the fleet brought many hangers-on, and the building of the great digue drew thither rough toilers who could find, or were fitted for, no other employment.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Life had been so very cheap, and blood had flowed so freely, that the public ear had dulled to its cry.

LifenounUS /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Life had been so very cheap, and blood had flowed so freely, that the public ear had dulled to its cry.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Crime, in fact, attracted little attention so long as it held no menace to the public peace.

longnounUS /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Crime, in fact, attracted little attention so long as it held no menace to the public peace.

Low-class

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

From this reading Low-class wine-shops, and their spawn of quarrellings and sudden deaths, abounded.

many

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

From this reading It was a great centre for smuggling and privateering, the fleet brought many hangers-on, and the building of the great digue drew thither rough toilers who could find, or were fitted for, no other employment.

mean-looking

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

From this reading HOW WE WALKED INTO THE TIGER'S MOUTH Cherbourg was at that time a town of mean-looking houses and narrow streets, ill-paved, ill-lighted, a rookery for blackbirds of every breed.

menace

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

From this reading Crime, in fact, attracted little attention so long as it held no menace to the public peace.

MOUTH

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

From this reading HOW WE WALKED INTO THE TIGER'S MOUTH Cherbourg was at that time a town of mean-looking houses and narrow streets, ill-paved, ill-lighted, a rookery for blackbirds of every breed.

narrow

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

From this reading HOW WE WALKED INTO THE TIGER'S MOUTH Cherbourg was at that time a town of mean-looking houses and narrow streets, ill-paved, ill-lighted, a rookery for blackbirds of every breed.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading It was a great centre for smuggling and privateering, the fleet brought many hangers-on, and the building of the great digue drew thither rough toilers who could find, or were fitted for, no other employment.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading HOW WE WALKED INTO THE TIGER'S MOUTH Cherbourg was at that time a town of mean-looking houses and narrow streets, ill-paved, ill-lighted, a rookery for blackbirds of every breed.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading It was a great centre for smuggling and privateering, the fleet brought many hangers-on, and the building of the great digue drew thither rough toilers who could find, or were fitted for, no other employment.

other

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

From this reading It was a great centre for smuggling and privateering, the fleet brought many hangers-on, and the building of the great digue drew thither rough toilers who could find, or were fitted for, no other employment.

peace

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

From this reading Crime, in fact, attracted little attention so long as it held no menace to the public peace.

privateering

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

From this reading It was a great centre for smuggling and privateering, the fleet brought many hangers-on, and the building of the great digue drew thither rough toilers who could find, or were fitted for, no other employment.

public

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

From this reading Crime, in fact, attracted little attention so long as it held no menace to the public peace.

quarrellings

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

From this reading Low-class wine-shops, and their spawn of quarrellings and sudden deaths, abounded.

rookery

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

From this reading HOW WE WALKED INTO THE TIGER'S MOUTH Cherbourg was at that time a town of mean-looking houses and narrow streets, ill-paved, ill-lighted, a rookery for blackbirds of every breed.

rough

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

From this reading It was a great centre for smuggling and privateering, the fleet brought many hangers-on, and the building of the great digue drew thither rough toilers who could find, or were fitted for, no other employment.

smuggling

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

From this reading It was a great centre for smuggling and privateering, the fleet brought many hangers-on, and the building of the great digue drew thither rough toilers who could find, or were fitted for, no other employment.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Crime, in fact, attracted little attention so long as it held no menace to the public peace.

spawn

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

From this reading Low-class wine-shops, and their spawn of quarrellings and sudden deaths, abounded.

streets

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

From this reading HOW WE WALKED INTO THE TIGER'S MOUTH Cherbourg was at that time a town of mean-looking houses and narrow streets, ill-paved, ill-lighted, a rookery for blackbirds of every breed.

suddennounUS /sudden/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Low-class wine-shops, and their spawn of quarrellings and sudden deaths, abounded.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading HOW WE WALKED INTO THE TIGER'S MOUTH Cherbourg was at that time a town of mean-looking houses and narrow streets, ill-paved, ill-lighted, a rookery for blackbirds of every breed.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading HOW WE WALKED INTO THE TIGER'S MOUTH Cherbourg was at that time a town of mean-looking houses and narrow streets, ill-paved, ill-lighted, a rookery for blackbirds of every breed.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Low-class wine-shops, and their spawn of quarrellings and sudden deaths, abounded.

thitheradverbUS /ˈðɪθɜːr/

an old word meaning “to that place”

From this reading It was a great centre for smuggling and privateering, the fleet brought many hangers-on, and the building of the great digue drew thither rough toilers who could find, or were fitted for, no other employment.

TIGER'S

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

From this reading HOW WE WALKED INTO THE TIGER'S MOUTH Cherbourg was at that time a town of mean-looking houses and narrow streets, ill-paved, ill-lighted, a rookery for blackbirds of every breed.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading HOW WE WALKED INTO THE TIGER'S MOUTH Cherbourg was at that time a town of mean-looking houses and narrow streets, ill-paved, ill-lighted, a rookery for blackbirds of every breed.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Crime, in fact, attracted little attention so long as it held no menace to the public peace.

toilers

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

From this reading It was a great centre for smuggling and privateering, the fleet brought many hangers-on, and the building of the great digue drew thither rough toilers who could find, or were fitted for, no other employment.

town

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

From this reading HOW WE WALKED INTO THE TIGER'S MOUTH Cherbourg was at that time a town of mean-looking houses and narrow streets, ill-paved, ill-lighted, a rookery for blackbirds of every breed.

very

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

From this reading Life had been so very cheap, and blood had flowed so freely, that the public ear had dulled to its cry.

WALKED

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

From this reading HOW WE WALKED INTO THE TIGER'S MOUTH Cherbourg was at that time a town of mean-looking houses and narrow streets, ill-paved, ill-lighted, a rookery for blackbirds of every breed.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading HOW WE WALKED INTO THE TIGER'S MOUTH Cherbourg was at that time a town of mean-looking houses and narrow streets, ill-paved, ill-lighted, a rookery for blackbirds of every breed.

WEpronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading HOW WE WALKED INTO THE TIGER'S MOUTH Cherbourg was at that time a town of mean-looking houses and narrow streets, ill-paved, ill-lighted, a rookery for blackbirds of every breed.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading It was a great centre for smuggling and privateering, the fleet brought many hangers-on, and the building of the great digue drew thither rough toilers who could find, or were fitted for, no other employment.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading It was a great centre for smuggling and privateering, the fleet brought many hangers-on, and the building of the great digue drew thither rough toilers who could find, or were fitted for, no other employment.

wine-shops

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

From this reading Low-class wine-shops, and their spawn of quarrellings and sudden deaths, abounded.