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Drift from Two Shores
Drift from Two Shores

Chapter II

Cover illustration for Drift from Two Shores
Context Illustration Reading 1/21 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
It was a quiet New England village.
Nowhere in the valley of the Connecticut the autumn sun shone upon a more peaceful, pastoral, manufacturing community.
The wooden nutmegs were slowly ripening on the trees, and the white pine hams for Western consumption were gradually rounding into form under the deft manipulation of the hardy American artisan.
The honest Connecticut farmer was quietly gathering from his threshing floor the shoe-pegs, which, when intermixed with a fair proportion of oats, offered a pleasing substitute for fodder to the effete civilizations of Europe.
An almost Sabbath-like stillness prevailed.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
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A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Drift from Two Shores

Chapter II

Reading 1/21 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
It was a quiet New England village.
Line 2
Nowhere in the valley of the Connecticut the autumn sun shone upon a more peaceful, pastoral, manufacturing community.
Line 3
The wooden nutmegs were slowly ripening on the trees, and the white pine hams for Western consumption were gradually rounding into form under the deft manipulation of the hardy American artisan.
Line 4
The honest Connecticut farmer was quietly gathering from his threshing floor the shoe-pegs, which, when intermixed with a fair proportion of oats, offered a pleasing substitute for fodder to the effete civilizations of Europe.
Line 5
An almost Sabbath-like stillness prevailed.

Learner Dictionary

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

Fair noun US /fair/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The honest Connecticut farmer was quietly gathering from his threshing floor the shoe-pegs, which, when intermixed with a fair proportion of oats, offered a pleasing substitute for fodder to the effete civilizations of Europe.”

Honest adjective US /ˈɑnɪst/

truthful and trustworthy

From this reading “The honest Connecticut farmer was quietly gathering from his threshing floor the shoe-pegs, which, when intermixed with a fair proportion of oats, offered a pleasing substitute for fodder to the effete civilizations of Europe.”

Under preposition US /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading “The wooden nutmegs were slowly ripening on the trees, and the white pine hams for Western consumption were gradually rounding into form under the deft manipulation of the hardy American artisan.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “Nowhere in the valley of the Connecticut the autumn sun shone upon a more peaceful, pastoral, manufacturing community.”

All words in this reading · 75

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 It was a quiet New England village.

almost

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

From this reading An almost Sabbath-like stillness prevailed.

American

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

From this reading The wooden nutmegs were slowly ripening on the trees, and the white pine hams for Western consumption were gradually rounding into form under the deft manipulation of the hardy American artisan.

AndeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading An almost Sabbath-like stillness prevailed.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The wooden nutmegs were slowly ripening on the trees, and the white pine hams for Western consumption were gradually rounding into form under the deft manipulation of the hardy American artisan.

artisan

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

From this reading The wooden nutmegs were slowly ripening on the trees, and the white pine hams for Western consumption were gradually rounding into form under the deft manipulation of the hardy American artisan.

autumn

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

From this reading Nowhere in the valley of the Connecticut the autumn sun shone upon a more peaceful, pastoral, manufacturing community.

civilizations

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

From this reading The honest Connecticut farmer was quietly gathering from his threshing floor the shoe-pegs, which, when intermixed with a fair proportion of oats, offered a pleasing substitute for fodder to the effete civilizations of Europe.

community

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

From this reading Nowhere in the valley of the Connecticut the autumn sun shone upon a more peaceful, pastoral, manufacturing community.

Connecticut

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

From this reading Nowhere in the valley of the Connecticut the autumn sun shone upon a more peaceful, pastoral, manufacturing community.

consumption

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

From this reading The wooden nutmegs were slowly ripening on the trees, and the white pine hams for Western consumption were gradually rounding into form under the deft manipulation of the hardy American artisan.

deft

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

From this reading The wooden nutmegs were slowly ripening on the trees, and the white pine hams for Western consumption were gradually rounding into form under the deft manipulation of the hardy American artisan.

effete

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

From this reading The honest Connecticut farmer was quietly gathering from his threshing floor the shoe-pegs, which, when intermixed with a fair proportion of oats, offered a pleasing substitute for fodder to the effete civilizations of Europe.

England

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

From this reading It was a quiet New England village.

Europe

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

From this reading The honest Connecticut farmer was quietly gathering from his threshing floor the shoe-pegs, which, when intermixed with a fair proportion of oats, offered a pleasing substitute for fodder to the effete civilizations of Europe.

fairnounUS /fair/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The honest Connecticut farmer was quietly gathering from his threshing floor the shoe-pegs, which, when intermixed with a fair proportion of oats, offered a pleasing substitute for fodder to the effete civilizations of Europe.

farmer

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

From this reading The honest Connecticut farmer was quietly gathering from his threshing floor the shoe-pegs, which, when intermixed with a fair proportion of oats, offered a pleasing substitute for fodder to the effete civilizations of Europe.

floor

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

From this reading The honest Connecticut farmer was quietly gathering from his threshing floor the shoe-pegs, which, when intermixed with a fair proportion of oats, offered a pleasing substitute for fodder to the effete civilizations of Europe.

fodder

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

From this reading The honest Connecticut farmer was quietly gathering from his threshing floor the shoe-pegs, which, when intermixed with a fair proportion of oats, offered a pleasing substitute for fodder to the effete civilizations of Europe.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The wooden nutmegs were slowly ripening on the trees, and the white pine hams for Western consumption were gradually rounding into form under the deft manipulation of the hardy American artisan.

form

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

From this reading The wooden nutmegs were slowly ripening on the trees, and the white pine hams for Western consumption were gradually rounding into form under the deft manipulation of the hardy American artisan.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The honest Connecticut farmer was quietly gathering from his threshing floor the shoe-pegs, which, when intermixed with a fair proportion of oats, offered a pleasing substitute for fodder to the effete civilizations of Europe.

gathering

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

From this reading The honest Connecticut farmer was quietly gathering from his threshing floor the shoe-pegs, which, when intermixed with a fair proportion of oats, offered a pleasing substitute for fodder to the effete civilizations of Europe.

gradually

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

From this reading The wooden nutmegs were slowly ripening on the trees, and the white pine hams for Western consumption were gradually rounding into form under the deft manipulation of the hardy American artisan.

hams

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

From this reading The wooden nutmegs were slowly ripening on the trees, and the white pine hams for Western consumption were gradually rounding into form under the deft manipulation of the hardy American artisan.

hardy

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

From this reading The wooden nutmegs were slowly ripening on the trees, and the white pine hams for Western consumption were gradually rounding into form under the deft manipulation of the hardy American artisan.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading The honest Connecticut farmer was quietly gathering from his threshing floor the shoe-pegs, which, when intermixed with a fair proportion of oats, offered a pleasing substitute for fodder to the effete civilizations of Europe.

honestadjectiveUS /ˈɑnɪst/

truthful and trustworthy

From this reading The honest Connecticut farmer was quietly gathering from his threshing floor the shoe-pegs, which, when intermixed with a fair proportion of oats, offered a pleasing substitute for fodder to the effete civilizations of Europe.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Nowhere in the valley of the Connecticut the autumn sun shone upon a more peaceful, pastoral, manufacturing community.

intermixed

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

From this reading The honest Connecticut farmer was quietly gathering from his threshing floor the shoe-pegs, which, when intermixed with a fair proportion of oats, offered a pleasing substitute for fodder to the effete civilizations of Europe.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading The wooden nutmegs were slowly ripening on the trees, and the white pine hams for Western consumption were gradually rounding into form under the deft manipulation of the hardy American artisan.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was a quiet New England village.

manipulation

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

From this reading The wooden nutmegs were slowly ripening on the trees, and the white pine hams for Western consumption were gradually rounding into form under the deft manipulation of the hardy American artisan.

manufacturing

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

From this reading Nowhere in the valley of the Connecticut the autumn sun shone upon a more peaceful, pastoral, manufacturing community.

more

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

From this reading Nowhere in the valley of the Connecticut the autumn sun shone upon a more peaceful, pastoral, manufacturing community.

New

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

From this reading It was a quiet New England village.

Nowhere

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

From this reading Nowhere in the valley of the Connecticut the autumn sun shone upon a more peaceful, pastoral, manufacturing community.

nutmegs

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

From this reading The wooden nutmegs were slowly ripening on the trees, and the white pine hams for Western consumption were gradually rounding into form under the deft manipulation of the hardy American artisan.

oats

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

From this reading The honest Connecticut farmer was quietly gathering from his threshing floor the shoe-pegs, which, when intermixed with a fair proportion of oats, offered a pleasing substitute for fodder to the effete civilizations of Europe.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Nowhere in the valley of the Connecticut the autumn sun shone upon a more peaceful, pastoral, manufacturing community.

offered

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

From this reading The honest Connecticut farmer was quietly gathering from his threshing floor the shoe-pegs, which, when intermixed with a fair proportion of oats, offered a pleasing substitute for fodder to the effete civilizations of Europe.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The wooden nutmegs were slowly ripening on the trees, and the white pine hams for Western consumption were gradually rounding into form under the deft manipulation of the hardy American artisan.

pastoral

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

From this reading Nowhere in the valley of the Connecticut the autumn sun shone upon a more peaceful, pastoral, manufacturing community.

peaceful

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

From this reading Nowhere in the valley of the Connecticut the autumn sun shone upon a more peaceful, pastoral, manufacturing community.

pine

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

From this reading The wooden nutmegs were slowly ripening on the trees, and the white pine hams for Western consumption were gradually rounding into form under the deft manipulation of the hardy American artisan.

pleasing

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

From this reading The honest Connecticut farmer was quietly gathering from his threshing floor the shoe-pegs, which, when intermixed with a fair proportion of oats, offered a pleasing substitute for fodder to the effete civilizations of Europe.

prevailed

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

From this reading An almost Sabbath-like stillness prevailed.

proportion

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

From this reading The honest Connecticut farmer was quietly gathering from his threshing floor the shoe-pegs, which, when intermixed with a fair proportion of oats, offered a pleasing substitute for fodder to the effete civilizations of Europe.

quiet

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

From this reading It was a quiet New England village.

quietly

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

From this reading The honest Connecticut farmer was quietly gathering from his threshing floor the shoe-pegs, which, when intermixed with a fair proportion of oats, offered a pleasing substitute for fodder to the effete civilizations of Europe.

ripening

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

From this reading The wooden nutmegs were slowly ripening on the trees, and the white pine hams for Western consumption were gradually rounding into form under the deft manipulation of the hardy American artisan.

rounding

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

From this reading The wooden nutmegs were slowly ripening on the trees, and the white pine hams for Western consumption were gradually rounding into form under the deft manipulation of the hardy American artisan.

Sabbath-like

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

From this reading An almost Sabbath-like stillness prevailed.

shoe-pegs

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

From this reading The honest Connecticut farmer was quietly gathering from his threshing floor the shoe-pegs, which, when intermixed with a fair proportion of oats, offered a pleasing substitute for fodder to the effete civilizations of Europe.

shone

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

From this reading Nowhere in the valley of the Connecticut the autumn sun shone upon a more peaceful, pastoral, manufacturing community.

slowly

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

From this reading The wooden nutmegs were slowly ripening on the trees, and the white pine hams for Western consumption were gradually rounding into form under the deft manipulation of the hardy American artisan.

stillness

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

From this reading An almost Sabbath-like stillness prevailed.

substitute

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

From this reading The honest Connecticut farmer was quietly gathering from his threshing floor the shoe-pegs, which, when intermixed with a fair proportion of oats, offered a pleasing substitute for fodder to the effete civilizations of Europe.

sun

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

From this reading Nowhere in the valley of the Connecticut the autumn sun shone upon a more peaceful, pastoral, manufacturing community.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Nowhere in the valley of the Connecticut the autumn sun shone upon a more peaceful, pastoral, manufacturing community.

threshing

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

From this reading The honest Connecticut farmer was quietly gathering from his threshing floor the shoe-pegs, which, when intermixed with a fair proportion of oats, offered a pleasing substitute for fodder to the effete civilizations of Europe.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The honest Connecticut farmer was quietly gathering from his threshing floor the shoe-pegs, which, when intermixed with a fair proportion of oats, offered a pleasing substitute for fodder to the effete civilizations of Europe.

trees

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

From this reading The wooden nutmegs were slowly ripening on the trees, and the white pine hams for Western consumption were gradually rounding into form under the deft manipulation of the hardy American artisan.

underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading The wooden nutmegs were slowly ripening on the trees, and the white pine hams for Western consumption were gradually rounding into form under the deft manipulation of the hardy American artisan.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Nowhere in the valley of the Connecticut the autumn sun shone upon a more peaceful, pastoral, manufacturing community.

valley

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

From this reading Nowhere in the valley of the Connecticut the autumn sun shone upon a more peaceful, pastoral, manufacturing community.

village

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

From this reading It was a quiet New England village.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading It was a quiet New England village.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading The wooden nutmegs were slowly ripening on the trees, and the white pine hams for Western consumption were gradually rounding into form under the deft manipulation of the hardy American artisan.

Western

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

From this reading The wooden nutmegs were slowly ripening on the trees, and the white pine hams for Western consumption were gradually rounding into form under the deft manipulation of the hardy American artisan.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading The honest Connecticut farmer was quietly gathering from his threshing floor the shoe-pegs, which, when intermixed with a fair proportion of oats, offered a pleasing substitute for fodder to the effete civilizations of Europe.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading The honest Connecticut farmer was quietly gathering from his threshing floor the shoe-pegs, which, when intermixed with a fair proportion of oats, offered a pleasing substitute for fodder to the effete civilizations of Europe.

white

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

From this reading The wooden nutmegs were slowly ripening on the trees, and the white pine hams for Western consumption were gradually rounding into form under the deft manipulation of the hardy American artisan.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The honest Connecticut farmer was quietly gathering from his threshing floor the shoe-pegs, which, when intermixed with a fair proportion of oats, offered a pleasing substitute for fodder to the effete civilizations of Europe.

wooden

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

From this reading The wooden nutmegs were slowly ripening on the trees, and the white pine hams for Western consumption were gradually rounding into form under the deft manipulation of the hardy American artisan.