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Death Wish
Death Wish

Chapter I

Cover illustration for Death Wish
Context Illustration Reading 1/76 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Compared with a spaceship in distress, going to hell in a handbasket is roomy and slow!
The space freighter _Queen Dierdre_ was a great, squat, pockmarked vessel of the Earth-Mars run and she never gave anyone a bit of trouble.
That should have been sufficient warning to Mr. Watkins, her engineer.
Watkins was fond of saying that there are two kinds of equipment--the kind that fails bit by bit, and the kind that fails all at once.
Watkins was short and red-faced, magnificently mustached, and always a little out of breath.
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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.

Death Wish

Chapter I

Reading 1/76 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Compared with a spaceship in distress, going to hell in a handbasket is roomy and slow!
Line 2
The space freighter _Queen Dierdre_ was a great, squat, pockmarked vessel of the Earth-Mars run and she never gave anyone a bit of trouble.
Line 3
That should have been sufficient warning to Mr. Watkins, her engineer.
Line 4
Watkins was fond of saying that there are two kinds of equipment--the kind that fails bit by bit, and the kind that fails all at once.
Line 5
Watkins was short and red-faced, magnificently mustached, and always a little out of breath.

Learner Dictionary

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

Anyone pronoun US /ˈeniwʌn/

any person at all

From this reading “The space freighter _Queen Dierdre_ was a great, squat, pockmarked vessel of the Earth-Mars run and she never gave anyone a bit of trouble.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “That should have been sufficient warning to Mr. Watkins, her engineer.”

Distress noun US /dɪˈstrɛs/

extreme sadness or suffering

From this reading “Compared with a spaceship in distress, going to hell in a handbasket is roomy and slow!”

Great noun US /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The space freighter _Queen Dierdre_ was a great, squat, pockmarked vessel of the Earth-Mars run and she never gave anyone a bit of trouble.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “That should have been sufficient warning to Mr. Watkins, her engineer.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Watkins was short and red-faced, magnificently mustached, and always a little out of breath.”

Never noun US /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The space freighter _Queen Dierdre_ was a great, squat, pockmarked vessel of the Earth-Mars run and she never gave anyone a bit of trouble.”

Once noun US /once/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Watkins was fond of saying that there are two kinds of equipment--the kind that fails bit by bit, and the kind that fails all at once.”

Short adjective US /ʃɔrt/

brief or direct in expression

From this reading “Watkins was short and red-faced, magnificently mustached, and always a little out of breath.”

All words in this reading · 64

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 Compared with a spaceship in distress, going to hell in a handbasket is roomy and slow!

all

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

From this reading Watkins was fond of saying that there are two kinds of equipment--the kind that fails bit by bit, and the kind that fails all at once.

always

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

From this reading Watkins was short and red-faced, magnificently mustached, and always a little out of breath.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Compared with a spaceship in distress, going to hell in a handbasket is roomy and slow!

anyonepronounUS /ˈeniwʌn/

any person at all

From this reading The space freighter _Queen Dierdre_ was a great, squat, pockmarked vessel of the Earth-Mars run and she never gave anyone a bit of trouble.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading Watkins was fond of saying that there are two kinds of equipment--the kind that fails bit by bit, and the kind that fails all at once.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Watkins was fond of saying that there are two kinds of equipment--the kind that fails bit by bit, and the kind that fails all at once.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading That should have been sufficient warning to Mr. Watkins, her engineer.

bit

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

From this reading The space freighter _Queen Dierdre_ was a great, squat, pockmarked vessel of the Earth-Mars run and she never gave anyone a bit of trouble.

breath

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

From this reading Watkins was short and red-faced, magnificently mustached, and always a little out of breath.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Watkins was fond of saying that there are two kinds of equipment--the kind that fails bit by bit, and the kind that fails all at once.

Compared

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

From this reading Compared with a spaceship in distress, going to hell in a handbasket is roomy and slow!

Dierdre

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

From this reading The space freighter _Queen Dierdre_ was a great, squat, pockmarked vessel of the Earth-Mars run and she never gave anyone a bit of trouble.

distressnounUS /dɪˈstrɛs/

extreme sadness or suffering

From this reading Compared with a spaceship in distress, going to hell in a handbasket is roomy and slow!

Earth-Mars

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

From this reading The space freighter _Queen Dierdre_ was a great, squat, pockmarked vessel of the Earth-Mars run and she never gave anyone a bit of trouble.

engineer

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

From this reading That should have been sufficient warning to Mr. Watkins, her engineer.

equipment

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

From this reading Watkins was fond of saying that there are two kinds of equipment--the kind that fails bit by bit, and the kind that fails all at once.

fails

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

From this reading Watkins was fond of saying that there are two kinds of equipment--the kind that fails bit by bit, and the kind that fails all at once.

fond

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

From this reading Watkins was fond of saying that there are two kinds of equipment--the kind that fails bit by bit, and the kind that fails all at once.

freighter

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

From this reading The space freighter _Queen Dierdre_ was a great, squat, pockmarked vessel of the Earth-Mars run and she never gave anyone a bit of trouble.

gave

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

From this reading The space freighter _Queen Dierdre_ was a great, squat, pockmarked vessel of the Earth-Mars run and she never gave anyone a bit of trouble.

going

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

From this reading Compared with a spaceship in distress, going to hell in a handbasket is roomy and slow!

greatnounUS /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The space freighter _Queen Dierdre_ was a great, squat, pockmarked vessel of the Earth-Mars run and she never gave anyone a bit of trouble.

handbasket

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

From this reading Compared with a spaceship in distress, going to hell in a handbasket is roomy and slow!

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading That should have been sufficient warning to Mr. Watkins, her engineer.

hell

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

From this reading Compared with a spaceship in distress, going to hell in a handbasket is roomy and slow!

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading That should have been sufficient warning to Mr. Watkins, her engineer.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Compared with a spaceship in distress, going to hell in a handbasket is roomy and slow!

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading Compared with a spaceship in distress, going to hell in a handbasket is roomy and slow!

kind

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

From this reading Watkins was fond of saying that there are two kinds of equipment--the kind that fails bit by bit, and the kind that fails all at once.

kinds

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

From this reading Watkins was fond of saying that there are two kinds of equipment--the kind that fails bit by bit, and the kind that fails all at once.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Watkins was short and red-faced, magnificently mustached, and always a little out of breath.

magnificently

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

From this reading Watkins was short and red-faced, magnificently mustached, and always a little out of breath.

Mr

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

From this reading That should have been sufficient warning to Mr. Watkins, her engineer.

mustached

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

From this reading Watkins was short and red-faced, magnificently mustached, and always a little out of breath.

nevernounUS /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The space freighter _Queen Dierdre_ was a great, squat, pockmarked vessel of the Earth-Mars run and she never gave anyone a bit of trouble.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The space freighter _Queen Dierdre_ was a great, squat, pockmarked vessel of the Earth-Mars run and she never gave anyone a bit of trouble.

once

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

From this reading Watkins was fond of saying that there are two kinds of equipment--the kind that fails bit by bit, and the kind that fails all at once.

out

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

From this reading Watkins was short and red-faced, magnificently mustached, and always a little out of breath.

pockmarked

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

From this reading The space freighter _Queen Dierdre_ was a great, squat, pockmarked vessel of the Earth-Mars run and she never gave anyone a bit of trouble.

Queen

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

From this reading The space freighter _Queen Dierdre_ was a great, squat, pockmarked vessel of the Earth-Mars run and she never gave anyone a bit of trouble.

red-faced

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

From this reading Watkins was short and red-faced, magnificently mustached, and always a little out of breath.

roomy

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

From this reading Compared with a spaceship in distress, going to hell in a handbasket is roomy and slow!

run

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

From this reading The space freighter _Queen Dierdre_ was a great, squat, pockmarked vessel of the Earth-Mars run and she never gave anyone a bit of trouble.

saying

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

From this reading Watkins was fond of saying that there are two kinds of equipment--the kind that fails bit by bit, and the kind that fails all at once.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading The space freighter _Queen Dierdre_ was a great, squat, pockmarked vessel of the Earth-Mars run and she never gave anyone a bit of trouble.

shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔrt/

brief or direct in expression

From this reading Watkins was short and red-faced, magnificently mustached, and always a little out of breath.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading That should have been sufficient warning to Mr. Watkins, her engineer.

slow

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

From this reading Compared with a spaceship in distress, going to hell in a handbasket is roomy and slow!

space

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

From this reading The space freighter _Queen Dierdre_ was a great, squat, pockmarked vessel of the Earth-Mars run and she never gave anyone a bit of trouble.

spaceship

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

From this reading Compared with a spaceship in distress, going to hell in a handbasket is roomy and slow!

squat

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

From this reading The space freighter _Queen Dierdre_ was a great, squat, pockmarked vessel of the Earth-Mars run and she never gave anyone a bit of trouble.

sufficient

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

From this reading That should have been sufficient warning to Mr. Watkins, her engineer.

ThatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading That should have been sufficient warning to Mr. Watkins, her engineer.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The space freighter _Queen Dierdre_ was a great, squat, pockmarked vessel of the Earth-Mars run and she never gave anyone a bit of trouble.

there

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

From this reading Watkins was fond of saying that there are two kinds of equipment--the kind that fails bit by bit, and the kind that fails all at once.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Compared with a spaceship in distress, going to hell in a handbasket is roomy and slow!

trouble

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

From this reading The space freighter _Queen Dierdre_ was a great, squat, pockmarked vessel of the Earth-Mars run and she never gave anyone a bit of trouble.

two

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

From this reading Watkins was fond of saying that there are two kinds of equipment--the kind that fails bit by bit, and the kind that fails all at once.

vessel

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

From this reading The space freighter _Queen Dierdre_ was a great, squat, pockmarked vessel of the Earth-Mars run and she never gave anyone a bit of trouble.

warning

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

From this reading That should have been sufficient warning to Mr. Watkins, her engineer.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The space freighter _Queen Dierdre_ was a great, squat, pockmarked vessel of the Earth-Mars run and she never gave anyone a bit of trouble.

Watkins

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

From this reading That should have been sufficient warning to Mr. Watkins, her engineer.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Compared with a spaceship in distress, going to hell in a handbasket is roomy and slow!