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Down the River
Down the River

Chapter XIII

Cover illustration for Down the River
Context Illustration Reading 1/27 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
NEAR UNTO DEATH.
Although I was abundantly able to take care of myself in the water, and even to do a little more than that, I was really afraid to approach Sim Gwynn, he struggled so violently.
I was satisfied, if I did so, that he would swamp me as well as himself.
We were both floating down the stream with the current, and all the chances seemed to be against us.
Sim had struggled till his strength was in a measure wasted.
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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 River

Chapter XIII

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

Line 1
NEAR UNTO DEATH.
Line 2
Although I was abundantly able to take care of myself in the water, and even to do a little more than that, I was really afraid to approach Sim Gwynn, he struggled so violently.
Line 3
I was satisfied, if I did so, that he would swamp me as well as himself.
Line 4
We were both floating down the stream with the current, and all the chances seemed to be against us.
Line 5
Sim had struggled till his strength was in a measure wasted.

Learner Dictionary

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

Against preposition US /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading “We were both floating down the stream with the current, and all the chances seemed to be against us.”

Although noun US /ˈalthough/

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

From this reading “Although I was abundantly able to take care of myself in the water, and even to do a little more than that, I was really afraid to approach Sim Gwynn, he struggled so violently.”

Current noun US /ˈcurrent/

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

From this reading “We were both floating down the stream with the current, and all the chances seemed to be against us.”

Even noun US /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Although I was abundantly able to take care of myself in the water, and even to do a little more than that, I was really afraid to approach Sim Gwynn, he struggled so violently.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading “I was satisfied, if I did so, that he would swamp me as well as himself.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Although I was abundantly able to take care of myself in the water, and even to do a little more than that, I was really afraid to approach Sim Gwynn, he struggled so violently.”

Myself pronoun US /ˌmaɪˈself/

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading “Although I was abundantly able to take care of myself in the water, and even to do a little more than that, I was really afraid to approach Sim Gwynn, he struggled so violently.”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “We were both floating down the stream with the current, and all the chances seemed to be against us.”

Strength noun US /ˈstrength/

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

From this reading “Sim had struggled till his strength was in a measure wasted.”

Take noun US /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Although I was abundantly able to take care of myself in the water, and even to do a little more than that, I was really afraid to approach Sim Gwynn, he struggled so violently.”

Till preposition US /tɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading “Sim had struggled till his strength was in a measure wasted.”

UNTO preposition US /ˈʌntuː/

an old word for “to”

From this reading “NEAR UNTO DEATH.”

Well noun US /well/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I was satisfied, if I did so, that he would swamp me as well as himself.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “I was satisfied, if I did so, that he would swamp me as well as himself.”

All words in this reading · 62

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 Although I was abundantly able to take care of myself in the water, and even to do a little more than that, I was really afraid to approach Sim Gwynn, he struggled so violently.

able

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

From this reading Although I was abundantly able to take care of myself in the water, and even to do a little more than that, I was really afraid to approach Sim Gwynn, he struggled so violently.

abundantly

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

From this reading Although I was abundantly able to take care of myself in the water, and even to do a little more than that, I was really afraid to approach Sim Gwynn, he struggled so violently.

afraid

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

From this reading Although I was abundantly able to take care of myself in the water, and even to do a little more than that, I was really afraid to approach Sim Gwynn, he struggled so violently.

againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading We were both floating down the stream with the current, and all the chances seemed to be against us.

all

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

From this reading We were both floating down the stream with the current, and all the chances seemed to be against us.

AlthoughnounUS /ˈalthough/

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

From this reading Although I was abundantly able to take care of myself in the water, and even to do a little more than that, I was really afraid to approach Sim Gwynn, he struggled so violently.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Although I was abundantly able to take care of myself in the water, and even to do a little more than that, I was really afraid to approach Sim Gwynn, he struggled so violently.

approach

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

From this reading Although I was abundantly able to take care of myself in the water, and even to do a little more than that, I was really afraid to approach Sim Gwynn, he struggled so violently.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading I was satisfied, if I did so, that he would swamp me as well as himself.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading We were both floating down the stream with the current, and all the chances seemed to be against us.

bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/

the two together, not just one

From this reading We were both floating down the stream with the current, and all the chances seemed to be against us.

care

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

From this reading Although I was abundantly able to take care of myself in the water, and even to do a little more than that, I was really afraid to approach Sim Gwynn, he struggled so violently.

chances

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

From this reading We were both floating down the stream with the current, and all the chances seemed to be against us.

currentnounUS /ˈcurrent/

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

From this reading We were both floating down the stream with the current, and all the chances seemed to be against us.

DEATH

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

From this reading NEAR UNTO DEATH.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading I was satisfied, if I did so, that he would swamp me as well as himself.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading Although I was abundantly able to take care of myself in the water, and even to do a little more than that, I was really afraid to approach Sim Gwynn, he struggled so violently.

down

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

From this reading We were both floating down the stream with the current, and all the chances seemed to be against us.

evennounUS /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Although I was abundantly able to take care of myself in the water, and even to do a little more than that, I was really afraid to approach Sim Gwynn, he struggled so violently.

floating

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

From this reading We were both floating down the stream with the current, and all the chances seemed to be against us.

Gwynn

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

From this reading Although I was abundantly able to take care of myself in the water, and even to do a little more than that, I was really afraid to approach Sim Gwynn, he struggled so violently.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Sim had struggled till his strength was in a measure wasted.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Although I was abundantly able to take care of myself in the water, and even to do a little more than that, I was really afraid to approach Sim Gwynn, he struggled so violently.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading I was satisfied, if I did so, that he would swamp me as well as himself.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Sim had struggled till his strength was in a measure wasted.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading Although I was abundantly able to take care of myself in the water, and even to do a little more than that, I was really afraid to approach Sim Gwynn, he struggled so violently.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading I was satisfied, if I did so, that he would swamp me as well as himself.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Although I was abundantly able to take care of myself in the water, and even to do a little more than that, I was really afraid to approach Sim Gwynn, he struggled so violently.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Although I was abundantly able to take care of myself in the water, and even to do a little more than that, I was really afraid to approach Sim Gwynn, he struggled so violently.

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading I was satisfied, if I did so, that he would swamp me as well as himself.

measure

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

From this reading Sim had struggled till his strength was in a measure wasted.

more

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

From this reading Although I was abundantly able to take care of myself in the water, and even to do a little more than that, I was really afraid to approach Sim Gwynn, he struggled so violently.

myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading Although I was abundantly able to take care of myself in the water, and even to do a little more than that, I was really afraid to approach Sim Gwynn, he struggled so violently.

NEAR

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

From this reading NEAR UNTO DEATH.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Although I was abundantly able to take care of myself in the water, and even to do a little more than that, I was really afraid to approach Sim Gwynn, he struggled so violently.

really

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

From this reading Although I was abundantly able to take care of myself in the water, and even to do a little more than that, I was really afraid to approach Sim Gwynn, he struggled so violently.

satisfied

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

From this reading I was satisfied, if I did so, that he would swamp me as well as himself.

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading We were both floating down the stream with the current, and all the chances seemed to be against us.

Sim

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

From this reading Although I was abundantly able to take care of myself in the water, and even to do a little more than that, I was really afraid to approach Sim Gwynn, he struggled so violently.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Although I was abundantly able to take care of myself in the water, and even to do a little more than that, I was really afraid to approach Sim Gwynn, he struggled so violently.

stream

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

From this reading We were both floating down the stream with the current, and all the chances seemed to be against us.

strengthnounUS /ˈstrength/

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

From this reading Sim had struggled till his strength was in a measure wasted.

struggled

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

From this reading Although I was abundantly able to take care of myself in the water, and even to do a little more than that, I was really afraid to approach Sim Gwynn, he struggled so violently.

swamp

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

From this reading I was satisfied, if I did so, that he would swamp me as well as himself.

takenounUS /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Although I was abundantly able to take care of myself in the water, and even to do a little more than that, I was really afraid to approach Sim Gwynn, he struggled so violently.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading Although I was abundantly able to take care of myself in the water, and even to do a little more than that, I was really afraid to approach Sim Gwynn, he struggled so violently.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Although I was abundantly able to take care of myself in the water, and even to do a little more than that, I was really afraid to approach Sim Gwynn, he struggled so violently.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Although I was abundantly able to take care of myself in the water, and even to do a little more than that, I was really afraid to approach Sim Gwynn, he struggled so violently.

tillprepositionUS /tɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading Sim had struggled till his strength was in a measure wasted.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Although I was abundantly able to take care of myself in the water, and even to do a little more than that, I was really afraid to approach Sim Gwynn, he struggled so violently.

UNTOprepositionUS /ˈʌntuː/

an old word for “to”

From this reading NEAR UNTO DEATH.

uspronounUS /ʌs/

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

From this reading We were both floating down the stream with the current, and all the chances seemed to be against us.

violently

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

From this reading Although I was abundantly able to take care of myself in the water, and even to do a little more than that, I was really afraid to approach Sim Gwynn, he struggled so violently.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Although I was abundantly able to take care of myself in the water, and even to do a little more than that, I was really afraid to approach Sim Gwynn, he struggled so violently.

wasted

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

From this reading Sim had struggled till his strength was in a measure wasted.

water

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

From this reading Although I was abundantly able to take care of myself in the water, and even to do a little more than that, I was really afraid to approach Sim Gwynn, he struggled so violently.

WepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading We were both floating down the stream with the current, and all the chances seemed to be against us.

well

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

From this reading I was satisfied, if I did so, that he would swamp me as well as himself.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading We were both floating down the stream with the current, and all the chances seemed to be against us.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading We were both floating down the stream with the current, and all the chances seemed to be against us.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading I was satisfied, if I did so, that he would swamp me as well as himself.