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Curlie Carson Listens In
Curlie Carson Listens In

Chapter XVI

Cover illustration for Curlie Carson Listens In
Context Illustration Reading 1/27 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
A CONFESSION For an hour Curlie Carson had been seated in the radiophone cabin of the _Kittlewake_.
During that time his delicately adjusted amplifier and his wonderful ears had enabled him to pick up many weird and unusual messages.
Listening in at sea before a great storm is like wandering on the beach after that same storm; you never can tell what you may pick up.
But though fragments of many messages had come to him, not one of any importance to the _Kittlewake_ had reached his ears.
If during that time any message from the _Stormy Petrel_ had been sent out, it had been lost in the crash and snap of static which now kept up a constant din in his ears.
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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.

Curlie Carson Listens In

Chapter XVI

Reading 1/27 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
A CONFESSION For an hour Curlie Carson had been seated in the radiophone cabin of the _Kittlewake_.
Line 2
During that time his delicately adjusted amplifier and his wonderful ears had enabled him to pick up many weird and unusual messages.
Line 3
Listening in at sea before a great storm is like wandering on the beach after that same storm; you never can tell what you may pick up.
Line 4
But though fragments of many messages had come to him, not one of any importance to the _Kittlewake_ had reached his ears.
Line 5
If during that time any message from the _Stormy Petrel_ had been sent out, it had been lost in the crash and snap of static which now kept up a constant din in his ears.

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 “Listening in at sea before a great storm is like wandering on the beach after that same storm; you never can tell what you may pick up.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “A CONFESSION For an hour Curlie Carson had been seated in the radiophone cabin of the _Kittlewake_.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “Listening in at sea before a great storm is like wandering on the beach after that same storm; you never can tell what you may pick up.”

Come noun US /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But though fragments of many messages had come to him, not one of any importance to the _Kittlewake_ had reached his ears.”

During preposition US /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading “During that time his delicately adjusted amplifier and his wonderful ears had enabled him to pick up many weird and unusual messages.”

Great noun US /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Listening in at sea before a great storm is like wandering on the beach after that same storm; you never can tell what you may pick up.”

May modal verb US /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading “Listening in at sea before a great storm is like wandering on the beach after that same storm; you never can tell what you may pick up.”

Never noun US /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Listening in at sea before a great storm is like wandering on the beach after that same storm; you never can tell what you may pick up.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “But though fragments of many messages had come to him, not one of any importance to the _Kittlewake_ had reached his ears.”

Same noun US /same/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Listening in at sea before a great storm is like wandering on the beach after that same storm; you never can tell what you may pick up.”

Tell noun US /tell/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Listening in at sea before a great storm is like wandering on the beach after that same storm; you never can tell what you may pick up.”

Though conjunction US /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “But though fragments of many messages had come to him, not one of any importance to the _Kittlewake_ had reached his ears.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “During that time his delicately adjusted amplifier and his wonderful ears had enabled him to pick up many weird and unusual messages.”

Wonderful noun US /ˈwonderful/

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

From this reading “During that time his delicately adjusted amplifier and his wonderful ears had enabled him to pick up many weird and unusual messages.”

All words in this reading · 80

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 A CONFESSION For an hour Curlie Carson had been seated in the radiophone cabin of the _Kittlewake_.

adjusted

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

From this reading During that time his delicately adjusted amplifier and his wonderful ears had enabled him to pick up many weird and unusual messages.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading Listening in at sea before a great storm is like wandering on the beach after that same storm; you never can tell what you may pick up.

amplifier

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

From this reading During that time his delicately adjusted amplifier and his wonderful ears had enabled him to pick up many weird and unusual messages.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading A CONFESSION For an hour Curlie Carson had been seated in the radiophone cabin of the _Kittlewake_.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading During that time his delicately adjusted amplifier and his wonderful ears had enabled him to pick up many weird and unusual messages.

any

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

From this reading But though fragments of many messages had come to him, not one of any importance to the _Kittlewake_ had reached his ears.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Listening in at sea before a great storm is like wandering on the beach after that same storm; you never can tell what you may pick up.

beach

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

From this reading Listening in at sea before a great storm is like wandering on the beach after that same storm; you never can tell what you may pick up.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading A CONFESSION For an hour Curlie Carson had been seated in the radiophone cabin of the _Kittlewake_.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Listening in at sea before a great storm is like wandering on the beach after that same storm; you never can tell what you may pick up.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But though fragments of many messages had come to him, not one of any importance to the _Kittlewake_ had reached his ears.

cabin

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

From this reading A CONFESSION For an hour Curlie Carson had been seated in the radiophone cabin of the _Kittlewake_.

canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading Listening in at sea before a great storm is like wandering on the beach after that same storm; you never can tell what you may pick up.

Carson

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

From this reading A CONFESSION For an hour Curlie Carson had been seated in the radiophone cabin of the _Kittlewake_.

comenounUS /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But though fragments of many messages had come to him, not one of any importance to the _Kittlewake_ had reached his ears.

CONFESSION

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

From this reading A CONFESSION For an hour Curlie Carson had been seated in the radiophone cabin of the _Kittlewake_.

constant

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

From this reading If during that time any message from the _Stormy Petrel_ had been sent out, it had been lost in the crash and snap of static which now kept up a constant din in his ears.

crash

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

From this reading If during that time any message from the _Stormy Petrel_ had been sent out, it had been lost in the crash and snap of static which now kept up a constant din in his ears.

Curlie

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

From this reading A CONFESSION For an hour Curlie Carson had been seated in the radiophone cabin of the _Kittlewake_.

delicately

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

From this reading During that time his delicately adjusted amplifier and his wonderful ears had enabled him to pick up many weird and unusual messages.

din

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

From this reading If during that time any message from the _Stormy Petrel_ had been sent out, it had been lost in the crash and snap of static which now kept up a constant din in his ears.

DuringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading During that time his delicately adjusted amplifier and his wonderful ears had enabled him to pick up many weird and unusual messages.

ears

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

From this reading During that time his delicately adjusted amplifier and his wonderful ears had enabled him to pick up many weird and unusual messages.

enabled

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

From this reading During that time his delicately adjusted amplifier and his wonderful ears had enabled him to pick up many weird and unusual messages.

ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading A CONFESSION For an hour Curlie Carson had been seated in the radiophone cabin of the _Kittlewake_.

fragments

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

From this reading But though fragments of many messages had come to him, not one of any importance to the _Kittlewake_ had reached his ears.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading If during that time any message from the _Stormy Petrel_ had been sent out, it had been lost in the crash and snap of static which now kept up a constant din in his ears.

greatnounUS /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Listening in at sea before a great storm is like wandering on the beach after that same storm; you never can tell what you may pick up.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading A CONFESSION For an hour Curlie Carson had been seated in the radiophone cabin of the _Kittlewake_.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading During that time his delicately adjusted amplifier and his wonderful ears had enabled him to pick up many weird and unusual messages.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading During that time his delicately adjusted amplifier and his wonderful ears had enabled him to pick up many weird and unusual messages.

hour

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

From this reading A CONFESSION For an hour Curlie Carson had been seated in the radiophone cabin of the _Kittlewake_.

IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading If during that time any message from the _Stormy Petrel_ had been sent out, it had been lost in the crash and snap of static which now kept up a constant din in his ears.

importance

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

From this reading But though fragments of many messages had come to him, not one of any importance to the _Kittlewake_ had reached his ears.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading A CONFESSION For an hour Curlie Carson had been seated in the radiophone cabin of the _Kittlewake_.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading Listening in at sea before a great storm is like wandering on the beach after that same storm; you never can tell what you may pick up.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading If during that time any message from the _Stormy Petrel_ had been sent out, it had been lost in the crash and snap of static which now kept up a constant din in his ears.

kept

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

From this reading If during that time any message from the _Stormy Petrel_ had been sent out, it had been lost in the crash and snap of static which now kept up a constant din in his ears.

Kittlewake

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

From this reading A CONFESSION For an hour Curlie Carson had been seated in the radiophone cabin of the _Kittlewake_.

like

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

From this reading Listening in at sea before a great storm is like wandering on the beach after that same storm; you never can tell what you may pick up.

Listening

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

From this reading Listening in at sea before a great storm is like wandering on the beach after that same storm; you never can tell what you may pick up.

lost

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

From this reading If during that time any message from the _Stormy Petrel_ had been sent out, it had been lost in the crash and snap of static which now kept up a constant din in his ears.

many

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

From this reading During that time his delicately adjusted amplifier and his wonderful ears had enabled him to pick up many weird and unusual messages.

maymodal verbUS /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading Listening in at sea before a great storm is like wandering on the beach after that same storm; you never can tell what you may pick up.

message

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

From this reading If during that time any message from the _Stormy Petrel_ had been sent out, it had been lost in the crash and snap of static which now kept up a constant din in his ears.

messages

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

From this reading During that time his delicately adjusted amplifier and his wonderful ears had enabled him to pick up many weird and unusual messages.

nevernounUS /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Listening in at sea before a great storm is like wandering on the beach after that same storm; you never can tell what you may pick up.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading But though fragments of many messages had come to him, not one of any importance to the _Kittlewake_ had reached his ears.

now

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

From this reading If during that time any message from the _Stormy Petrel_ had been sent out, it had been lost in the crash and snap of static which now kept up a constant din in his ears.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading A CONFESSION For an hour Curlie Carson had been seated in the radiophone cabin of the _Kittlewake_.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Listening in at sea before a great storm is like wandering on the beach after that same storm; you never can tell what you may pick up.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading But though fragments of many messages had come to him, not one of any importance to the _Kittlewake_ had reached his ears.

out

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

From this reading If during that time any message from the _Stormy Petrel_ had been sent out, it had been lost in the crash and snap of static which now kept up a constant din in his ears.

Petrel

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

From this reading If during that time any message from the _Stormy Petrel_ had been sent out, it had been lost in the crash and snap of static which now kept up a constant din in his ears.

pick

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

From this reading During that time his delicately adjusted amplifier and his wonderful ears had enabled him to pick up many weird and unusual messages.

radiophone

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

From this reading A CONFESSION For an hour Curlie Carson had been seated in the radiophone cabin of the _Kittlewake_.

reached

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

From this reading But though fragments of many messages had come to him, not one of any importance to the _Kittlewake_ had reached his ears.

samenounUS /same/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Listening in at sea before a great storm is like wandering on the beach after that same storm; you never can tell what you may pick up.

sea

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

From this reading Listening in at sea before a great storm is like wandering on the beach after that same storm; you never can tell what you may pick up.

seated

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

From this reading A CONFESSION For an hour Curlie Carson had been seated in the radiophone cabin of the _Kittlewake_.

sent

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

From this reading If during that time any message from the _Stormy Petrel_ had been sent out, it had been lost in the crash and snap of static which now kept up a constant din in his ears.

snap

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

From this reading If during that time any message from the _Stormy Petrel_ had been sent out, it had been lost in the crash and snap of static which now kept up a constant din in his ears.

static

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

From this reading If during that time any message from the _Stormy Petrel_ had been sent out, it had been lost in the crash and snap of static which now kept up a constant din in his ears.

storm

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

From this reading Listening in at sea before a great storm is like wandering on the beach after that same storm; you never can tell what you may pick up.

Stormy

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

From this reading If during that time any message from the _Stormy Petrel_ had been sent out, it had been lost in the crash and snap of static which now kept up a constant din in his ears.

tellnounUS /tell/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Listening in at sea before a great storm is like wandering on the beach after that same storm; you never can tell what you may pick up.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading During that time his delicately adjusted amplifier and his wonderful ears had enabled him to pick up many weird and unusual messages.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading A CONFESSION For an hour Curlie Carson had been seated in the radiophone cabin of the _Kittlewake_.

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading But though fragments of many messages had come to him, not one of any importance to the _Kittlewake_ had reached his ears.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading During that time his delicately adjusted amplifier and his wonderful ears had enabled him to pick up many weird and unusual messages.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading During that time his delicately adjusted amplifier and his wonderful ears had enabled him to pick up many weird and unusual messages.

unusual

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

From this reading During that time his delicately adjusted amplifier and his wonderful ears had enabled him to pick up many weird and unusual messages.

up

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

From this reading During that time his delicately adjusted amplifier and his wonderful ears had enabled him to pick up many weird and unusual messages.

wandering

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

From this reading Listening in at sea before a great storm is like wandering on the beach after that same storm; you never can tell what you may pick up.

weird

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

From this reading During that time his delicately adjusted amplifier and his wonderful ears had enabled him to pick up many weird and unusual messages.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading Listening in at sea before a great storm is like wandering on the beach after that same storm; you never can tell what you may pick up.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading If during that time any message from the _Stormy Petrel_ had been sent out, it had been lost in the crash and snap of static which now kept up a constant din in his ears.

wonderfulnounUS /ˈwonderful/

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

From this reading During that time his delicately adjusted amplifier and his wonderful ears had enabled him to pick up many weird and unusual messages.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading Listening in at sea before a great storm is like wandering on the beach after that same storm; you never can tell what you may pick up.