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Down the Ravine
Down the Ravine

Chapter IX

Cover illustration for Down the Ravine
Context Illustration Reading 1/28 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
This grave, eager gaze Rufe returned with the gayest audacity.
"Been skeered by old Mis' Price's harnt lately?" he once more chirped out gleefully.
He was comical enough, as he sat on the top of the wood-pile, hugging his knees with both arms, his old, bent, wool hat perched on the back of his tow head, and all his jagged squirrel teeth showing themselves, unabashed, in a wide grin.
Jubal Perkins laughed lazily, as he looked at him.
Then, with that indulgence which Rufe always met at the tanyard, and which served to make him so pert and forward, the tanner said, humoring the privileged character, "What be you-uns a-talkin' 'bout, boy?
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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.

Down the Ravine

Chapter IX

Reading 1/28 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
This grave, eager gaze Rufe returned with the gayest audacity.
Line 2
"Been skeered by old Mis' Price's harnt lately?" he once more chirped out gleefully.
Line 3
He was comical enough, as he sat on the top of the wood-pile, hugging his knees with both arms, his old, bent, wool hat perched on the back of his tow head, and all his jagged squirrel teeth showing themselves, unabashed, in a wide grin.
Line 4
Jubal Perkins laughed lazily, as he looked at him.
Line 5
Then, with that indulgence which Rufe always met at the tanyard, and which served to make him so pert and forward, the tanner said, humoring the privileged character, "What be you-uns a-talkin' 'bout, boy?

Learner Dictionary

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

Audacity noun US /ɑːˈdæs.ə.t̬i/

A willingness to take bold risks; insolent and daring boldness that defies all authority.

From this reading “This grave, eager gaze Rufe returned with the gayest audacity.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “"Been skeered by old Mis' Price's harnt lately?" he once more chirped out gleefully.”

Forward noun US /forward/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Then, with that indulgence which Rufe always met at the tanyard, and which served to make him so pert and forward, the tanner said, humoring the privileged character, "What be you-uns a-talkin' 'bout, boy?”

Looked noun US /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Jubal Perkins laughed lazily, as he looked at him.”

Make noun US /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Then, with that indulgence which Rufe always met at the tanyard, and which served to make him so pert and forward, the tanner said, humoring the privileged character, "What be you-uns a-talkin' 'bout, boy?”

Once noun US /once/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"Been skeered by old Mis' Price's harnt lately?" he once more chirped out gleefully.”

Returned noun US /ˈreturned/

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

From this reading “This grave, eager gaze Rufe returned with the gayest audacity.”

Themselves pronoun US /ðemˈselvz/

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading “He was comical enough, as he sat on the top of the wood-pile, hugging his knees with both arms, his old, bent, wool hat perched on the back of his tow head, and all his jagged squirrel teeth showing themselves, unabashed, in a wide grin.”

All words in this reading · 88

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 He was comical enough, as he sat on the top of the wood-pile, hugging his knees with both arms, his old, bent, wool hat perched on the back of his tow head, and all his jagged squirrel teeth showing themselves, unabashed, in a wide grin.

a-talkin

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

From this reading Then, with that indulgence which Rufe always met at the tanyard, and which served to make him so pert and forward, the tanner said, humoring the privileged character, "What be you-uns a-talkin' 'bout, boy?

all

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

From this reading He was comical enough, as he sat on the top of the wood-pile, hugging his knees with both arms, his old, bent, wool hat perched on the back of his tow head, and all his jagged squirrel teeth showing themselves, unabashed, in a wide grin.

always

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

From this reading Then, with that indulgence which Rufe always met at the tanyard, and which served to make him so pert and forward, the tanner said, humoring the privileged character, "What be you-uns a-talkin' 'bout, boy?

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading He was comical enough, as he sat on the top of the wood-pile, hugging his knees with both arms, his old, bent, wool hat perched on the back of his tow head, and all his jagged squirrel teeth showing themselves, unabashed, in a wide grin.

arms

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

From this reading He was comical enough, as he sat on the top of the wood-pile, hugging his knees with both arms, his old, bent, wool hat perched on the back of his tow head, and all his jagged squirrel teeth showing themselves, unabashed, in a wide grin.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading He was comical enough, as he sat on the top of the wood-pile, hugging his knees with both arms, his old, bent, wool hat perched on the back of his tow head, and all his jagged squirrel teeth showing themselves, unabashed, in a wide grin.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Jubal Perkins laughed lazily, as he looked at him.

audacitynounUS /ɑːˈdæs.ə.t̬i/

A willingness to take bold risks; insolent and daring boldness that defies all authority.

From this reading This grave, eager gaze Rufe returned with the gayest audacity.

back

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

From this reading He was comical enough, as he sat on the top of the wood-pile, hugging his knees with both arms, his old, bent, wool hat perched on the back of his tow head, and all his jagged squirrel teeth showing themselves, unabashed, in a wide grin.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading Then, with that indulgence which Rufe always met at the tanyard, and which served to make him so pert and forward, the tanner said, humoring the privileged character, "What be you-uns a-talkin' 'bout, boy?

Beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading "Been skeered by old Mis' Price's harnt lately?" he once more chirped out gleefully.

bent

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

From this reading He was comical enough, as he sat on the top of the wood-pile, hugging his knees with both arms, his old, bent, wool hat perched on the back of his tow head, and all his jagged squirrel teeth showing themselves, unabashed, in a wide grin.

bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/

the two together, not just one

From this reading He was comical enough, as he sat on the top of the wood-pile, hugging his knees with both arms, his old, bent, wool hat perched on the back of his tow head, and all his jagged squirrel teeth showing themselves, unabashed, in a wide grin.

bout

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

From this reading Then, with that indulgence which Rufe always met at the tanyard, and which served to make him so pert and forward, the tanner said, humoring the privileged character, "What be you-uns a-talkin' 'bout, boy?

boy

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

From this reading Then, with that indulgence which Rufe always met at the tanyard, and which served to make him so pert and forward, the tanner said, humoring the privileged character, "What be you-uns a-talkin' 'bout, boy?

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading "Been skeered by old Mis' Price's harnt lately?" he once more chirped out gleefully.

character

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

From this reading Then, with that indulgence which Rufe always met at the tanyard, and which served to make him so pert and forward, the tanner said, humoring the privileged character, "What be you-uns a-talkin' 'bout, boy?

chirped

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

From this reading "Been skeered by old Mis' Price's harnt lately?" he once more chirped out gleefully.

comical

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

From this reading He was comical enough, as he sat on the top of the wood-pile, hugging his knees with both arms, his old, bent, wool hat perched on the back of his tow head, and all his jagged squirrel teeth showing themselves, unabashed, in a wide grin.

eager

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

From this reading This grave, eager gaze Rufe returned with the gayest audacity.

enough

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

From this reading He was comical enough, as he sat on the top of the wood-pile, hugging his knees with both arms, his old, bent, wool hat perched on the back of his tow head, and all his jagged squirrel teeth showing themselves, unabashed, in a wide grin.

forwardnounUS /forward/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Then, with that indulgence which Rufe always met at the tanyard, and which served to make him so pert and forward, the tanner said, humoring the privileged character, "What be you-uns a-talkin' 'bout, boy?

gayest

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

From this reading This grave, eager gaze Rufe returned with the gayest audacity.

gaze

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

From this reading This grave, eager gaze Rufe returned with the gayest audacity.

gleefully

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

From this reading "Been skeered by old Mis' Price's harnt lately?" he once more chirped out gleefully.

grave

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

From this reading This grave, eager gaze Rufe returned with the gayest audacity.

grin

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

From this reading He was comical enough, as he sat on the top of the wood-pile, hugging his knees with both arms, his old, bent, wool hat perched on the back of his tow head, and all his jagged squirrel teeth showing themselves, unabashed, in a wide grin.

harnt

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

From this reading "Been skeered by old Mis' Price's harnt lately?" he once more chirped out gleefully.

hat

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

From this reading He was comical enough, as he sat on the top of the wood-pile, hugging his knees with both arms, his old, bent, wool hat perched on the back of his tow head, and all his jagged squirrel teeth showing themselves, unabashed, in a wide grin.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading "Been skeered by old Mis' Price's harnt lately?" he once more chirped out gleefully.

head

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

From this reading He was comical enough, as he sat on the top of the wood-pile, hugging his knees with both arms, his old, bent, wool hat perched on the back of his tow head, and all his jagged squirrel teeth showing themselves, unabashed, in a wide grin.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading Jubal Perkins laughed lazily, as he looked at him.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading He was comical enough, as he sat on the top of the wood-pile, hugging his knees with both arms, his old, bent, wool hat perched on the back of his tow head, and all his jagged squirrel teeth showing themselves, unabashed, in a wide grin.

hugging

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

From this reading He was comical enough, as he sat on the top of the wood-pile, hugging his knees with both arms, his old, bent, wool hat perched on the back of his tow head, and all his jagged squirrel teeth showing themselves, unabashed, in a wide grin.

humoring

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

From this reading Then, with that indulgence which Rufe always met at the tanyard, and which served to make him so pert and forward, the tanner said, humoring the privileged character, "What be you-uns a-talkin' 'bout, boy?

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading He was comical enough, as he sat on the top of the wood-pile, hugging his knees with both arms, his old, bent, wool hat perched on the back of his tow head, and all his jagged squirrel teeth showing themselves, unabashed, in a wide grin.

indulgence

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

From this reading Then, with that indulgence which Rufe always met at the tanyard, and which served to make him so pert and forward, the tanner said, humoring the privileged character, "What be you-uns a-talkin' 'bout, boy?

jagged

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

From this reading He was comical enough, as he sat on the top of the wood-pile, hugging his knees with both arms, his old, bent, wool hat perched on the back of his tow head, and all his jagged squirrel teeth showing themselves, unabashed, in a wide grin.

Jubal

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

From this reading Jubal Perkins laughed lazily, as he looked at him.

knees

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

From this reading He was comical enough, as he sat on the top of the wood-pile, hugging his knees with both arms, his old, bent, wool hat perched on the back of his tow head, and all his jagged squirrel teeth showing themselves, unabashed, in a wide grin.

lately

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

From this reading "Been skeered by old Mis' Price's harnt lately?" he once more chirped out gleefully.

laughed

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

From this reading Jubal Perkins laughed lazily, as he looked at him.

lazily

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

From this reading Jubal Perkins laughed lazily, as he looked at him.

lookednounUS /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Jubal Perkins laughed lazily, as he looked at him.

makenounUS /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Then, with that indulgence which Rufe always met at the tanyard, and which served to make him so pert and forward, the tanner said, humoring the privileged character, "What be you-uns a-talkin' 'bout, boy?

met

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

From this reading Then, with that indulgence which Rufe always met at the tanyard, and which served to make him so pert and forward, the tanner said, humoring the privileged character, "What be you-uns a-talkin' 'bout, boy?

Mis

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

From this reading "Been skeered by old Mis' Price's harnt lately?" he once more chirped out gleefully.

more

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

From this reading "Been skeered by old Mis' Price's harnt lately?" he once more chirped out gleefully.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading He was comical enough, as he sat on the top of the wood-pile, hugging his knees with both arms, his old, bent, wool hat perched on the back of his tow head, and all his jagged squirrel teeth showing themselves, unabashed, in a wide grin.

old

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

From this reading "Been skeered by old Mis' Price's harnt lately?" he once more chirped out gleefully.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading He was comical enough, as he sat on the top of the wood-pile, hugging his knees with both arms, his old, bent, wool hat perched on the back of his tow head, and all his jagged squirrel teeth showing themselves, unabashed, in a wide grin.

once

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

From this reading "Been skeered by old Mis' Price's harnt lately?" he once more chirped out gleefully.

out

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

From this reading "Been skeered by old Mis' Price's harnt lately?" he once more chirped out gleefully.

perched

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

From this reading He was comical enough, as he sat on the top of the wood-pile, hugging his knees with both arms, his old, bent, wool hat perched on the back of his tow head, and all his jagged squirrel teeth showing themselves, unabashed, in a wide grin.

Perkins

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

From this reading Jubal Perkins laughed lazily, as he looked at him.

pert

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

From this reading Then, with that indulgence which Rufe always met at the tanyard, and which served to make him so pert and forward, the tanner said, humoring the privileged character, "What be you-uns a-talkin' 'bout, boy?

Price's

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

From this reading "Been skeered by old Mis' Price's harnt lately?" he once more chirped out gleefully.

privileged

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

From this reading Then, with that indulgence which Rufe always met at the tanyard, and which served to make him so pert and forward, the tanner said, humoring the privileged character, "What be you-uns a-talkin' 'bout, boy?

returnednounUS /ˈreturned/

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

From this reading This grave, eager gaze Rufe returned with the gayest audacity.

Rufe

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

From this reading This grave, eager gaze Rufe returned with the gayest audacity.

said

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

From this reading Then, with that indulgence which Rufe always met at the tanyard, and which served to make him so pert and forward, the tanner said, humoring the privileged character, "What be you-uns a-talkin' 'bout, boy?

sat

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

From this reading He was comical enough, as he sat on the top of the wood-pile, hugging his knees with both arms, his old, bent, wool hat perched on the back of his tow head, and all his jagged squirrel teeth showing themselves, unabashed, in a wide grin.

served

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

From this reading Then, with that indulgence which Rufe always met at the tanyard, and which served to make him so pert and forward, the tanner said, humoring the privileged character, "What be you-uns a-talkin' 'bout, boy?

showing

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

From this reading He was comical enough, as he sat on the top of the wood-pile, hugging his knees with both arms, his old, bent, wool hat perched on the back of his tow head, and all his jagged squirrel teeth showing themselves, unabashed, in a wide grin.

skeered

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

From this reading "Been skeered by old Mis' Price's harnt lately?" he once more chirped out gleefully.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Then, with that indulgence which Rufe always met at the tanyard, and which served to make him so pert and forward, the tanner said, humoring the privileged character, "What be you-uns a-talkin' 'bout, boy?

squirrel

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

From this reading He was comical enough, as he sat on the top of the wood-pile, hugging his knees with both arms, his old, bent, wool hat perched on the back of his tow head, and all his jagged squirrel teeth showing themselves, unabashed, in a wide grin.

tanner

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

From this reading Then, with that indulgence which Rufe always met at the tanyard, and which served to make him so pert and forward, the tanner said, humoring the privileged character, "What be you-uns a-talkin' 'bout, boy?

tanyard

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

From this reading Then, with that indulgence which Rufe always met at the tanyard, and which served to make him so pert and forward, the tanner said, humoring the privileged character, "What be you-uns a-talkin' 'bout, boy?

teeth

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

From this reading He was comical enough, as he sat on the top of the wood-pile, hugging his knees with both arms, his old, bent, wool hat perched on the back of his tow head, and all his jagged squirrel teeth showing themselves, unabashed, in a wide grin.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Then, with that indulgence which Rufe always met at the tanyard, and which served to make him so pert and forward, the tanner said, humoring the privileged character, "What be you-uns a-talkin' 'bout, boy?

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading This grave, eager gaze Rufe returned with the gayest audacity.

themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading He was comical enough, as he sat on the top of the wood-pile, hugging his knees with both arms, his old, bent, wool hat perched on the back of his tow head, and all his jagged squirrel teeth showing themselves, unabashed, in a wide grin.

Then

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

From this reading Then, with that indulgence which Rufe always met at the tanyard, and which served to make him so pert and forward, the tanner said, humoring the privileged character, "What be you-uns a-talkin' 'bout, boy?

ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading This grave, eager gaze Rufe returned with the gayest audacity.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Then, with that indulgence which Rufe always met at the tanyard, and which served to make him so pert and forward, the tanner said, humoring the privileged character, "What be you-uns a-talkin' 'bout, boy?

top

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

From this reading He was comical enough, as he sat on the top of the wood-pile, hugging his knees with both arms, his old, bent, wool hat perched on the back of his tow head, and all his jagged squirrel teeth showing themselves, unabashed, in a wide grin.

tow

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

From this reading He was comical enough, as he sat on the top of the wood-pile, hugging his knees with both arms, his old, bent, wool hat perched on the back of his tow head, and all his jagged squirrel teeth showing themselves, unabashed, in a wide grin.

unabashed

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

From this reading He was comical enough, as he sat on the top of the wood-pile, hugging his knees with both arms, his old, bent, wool hat perched on the back of his tow head, and all his jagged squirrel teeth showing themselves, unabashed, in a wide grin.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading He was comical enough, as he sat on the top of the wood-pile, hugging his knees with both arms, his old, bent, wool hat perched on the back of his tow head, and all his jagged squirrel teeth showing themselves, unabashed, in a wide grin.

WhatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading Then, with that indulgence which Rufe always met at the tanyard, and which served to make him so pert and forward, the tanner said, humoring the privileged character, "What be you-uns a-talkin' 'bout, boy?

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading Then, with that indulgence which Rufe always met at the tanyard, and which served to make him so pert and forward, the tanner said, humoring the privileged character, "What be you-uns a-talkin' 'bout, boy?

wide

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

From this reading He was comical enough, as he sat on the top of the wood-pile, hugging his knees with both arms, his old, bent, wool hat perched on the back of his tow head, and all his jagged squirrel teeth showing themselves, unabashed, in a wide grin.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading This grave, eager gaze Rufe returned with the gayest audacity.

wood-pile

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

From this reading He was comical enough, as he sat on the top of the wood-pile, hugging his knees with both arms, his old, bent, wool hat perched on the back of his tow head, and all his jagged squirrel teeth showing themselves, unabashed, in a wide grin.

wool

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

From this reading He was comical enough, as he sat on the top of the wood-pile, hugging his knees with both arms, his old, bent, wool hat perched on the back of his tow head, and all his jagged squirrel teeth showing themselves, unabashed, in a wide grin.

you-uns

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

From this reading Then, with that indulgence which Rufe always met at the tanyard, and which served to make him so pert and forward, the tanner said, humoring the privileged character, "What be you-uns a-talkin' 'bout, boy?