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Excuse Me!
Excuse Me!

Chapter XXXVIII

Cover illustration for Excuse Me!
Context Illustration Reading 1/8 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
A HERO IN SPITE OF HIMSELF Passion sent Mallory into the unequal fight with two armed and desperate outlaws.
But reason had planned the way.
He had been studying the robber all the time, as if the villain were a war-map, studying his gestures, his way of turning, and how he held the revolver.
He had noted that the man, as he frisked the passengers, did not keep his finger on the trigger, but on the guard.
Marjorie's little battle threw the desperado off his balance a trifle; as he recovered, Mallory struck him, and swept him on over against the back of a seat.
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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.

Excuse Me!

Chapter XXXVIII

Reading 1/8 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
A HERO IN SPITE OF HIMSELF Passion sent Mallory into the unequal fight with two armed and desperate outlaws.
Line 2
But reason had planned the way.
Line 3
He had been studying the robber all the time, as if the villain were a war-map, studying his gestures, his way of turning, and how he held the revolver.
Line 4
He had noted that the man, as he frisked the passengers, did not keep his finger on the trigger, but on the guard.
Line 5
Marjorie's little battle threw the desperado off his balance a trifle; as he recovered, Mallory struck him, and swept him on over against the back of a seat.

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 “Marjorie's little battle threw the desperado off his balance a trifle; as he recovered, Mallory struck him, and swept him on over against the back of a seat.”

Balance noun US /ˈbalance/

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

From this reading “Marjorie's little battle threw the desperado off his balance a trifle; as he recovered, Mallory struck him, and swept him on over against the back of a seat.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “He had been studying the robber all the time, as if the villain were a war-map, studying his gestures, his way of turning, and how he held the revolver.”

HIMSELF pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading “A HERO IN SPITE OF HIMSELF Passion sent Mallory into the unequal fight with two armed and desperate outlaws.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Marjorie's little battle threw the desperado off his balance a trifle; as he recovered, Mallory struck him, and swept him on over against the back of a seat.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “Marjorie's little battle threw the desperado off his balance a trifle; as he recovered, Mallory struck him, and swept him on over against the back of a seat.”

Struck noun US /struck/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Marjorie's little battle threw the desperado off his balance a trifle; as he recovered, Mallory struck him, and swept him on over against the back of a seat.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He had been studying the robber all the time, as if the villain were a war-map, studying his gestures, his way of turning, and how he held the revolver.”

Trifle noun US /ˈtraɪfəl/

something that needs very little effort

From this reading “Marjorie's little battle threw the desperado off his balance a trifle; as he recovered, Mallory struck him, and swept him on over against the back of a seat.”

All words in this reading · 69

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 HERO IN SPITE OF HIMSELF Passion sent Mallory into the unequal fight with two armed and desperate outlaws.

againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading Marjorie's little battle threw the desperado off his balance a trifle; as he recovered, Mallory struck him, and swept him on over against the back of a seat.

all

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

From this reading He had been studying the robber all the time, as if the villain were a war-map, studying his gestures, his way of turning, and how he held the revolver.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading A HERO IN SPITE OF HIMSELF Passion sent Mallory into the unequal fight with two armed and desperate outlaws.

armed

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

From this reading A HERO IN SPITE OF HIMSELF Passion sent Mallory into the unequal fight with two armed and desperate outlaws.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading He had been studying the robber all the time, as if the villain were a war-map, studying his gestures, his way of turning, and how he held the revolver.

back

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

From this reading Marjorie's little battle threw the desperado off his balance a trifle; as he recovered, Mallory struck him, and swept him on over against the back of a seat.

balancenounUS /ˈbalance/

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

From this reading Marjorie's little battle threw the desperado off his balance a trifle; as he recovered, Mallory struck him, and swept him on over against the back of a seat.

battle

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

From this reading Marjorie's little battle threw the desperado off his balance a trifle; as he recovered, Mallory struck him, and swept him on over against the back of a seat.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading He had been studying the robber all the time, as if the villain were a war-map, studying his gestures, his way of turning, and how he held the revolver.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But reason had planned the way.

desperado

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

From this reading Marjorie's little battle threw the desperado off his balance a trifle; as he recovered, Mallory struck him, and swept him on over against the back of a seat.

desperate

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

From this reading A HERO IN SPITE OF HIMSELF Passion sent Mallory into the unequal fight with two armed and desperate outlaws.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

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

From this reading He had noted that the man, as he frisked the passengers, did not keep his finger on the trigger, but on the guard.

fight

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

From this reading A HERO IN SPITE OF HIMSELF Passion sent Mallory into the unequal fight with two armed and desperate outlaws.

finger

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

From this reading He had noted that the man, as he frisked the passengers, did not keep his finger on the trigger, but on the guard.

frisked

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

From this reading He had noted that the man, as he frisked the passengers, did not keep his finger on the trigger, but on the guard.

gestures

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

From this reading He had been studying the robber all the time, as if the villain were a war-map, studying his gestures, his way of turning, and how he held the revolver.

guard

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

From this reading He had noted that the man, as he frisked the passengers, did not keep his finger on the trigger, but on the guard.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading But reason had planned the way.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He had been studying the robber all the time, as if the villain were a war-map, studying his gestures, his way of turning, and how he held the revolver.

held

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

From this reading He had been studying the robber all the time, as if the villain were a war-map, studying his gestures, his way of turning, and how he held the revolver.

HERO

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

From this reading A HERO IN SPITE OF HIMSELF Passion sent Mallory into the unequal fight with two armed and desperate outlaws.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading Marjorie's little battle threw the desperado off his balance a trifle; as he recovered, Mallory struck him, and swept him on over against the back of a seat.

HIMSELFpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading A HERO IN SPITE OF HIMSELF Passion sent Mallory into the unequal fight with two armed and desperate outlaws.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading He had been studying the robber all the time, as if the villain were a war-map, studying his gestures, his way of turning, and how he held the revolver.

how

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

From this reading He had been studying the robber all the time, as if the villain were a war-map, studying his gestures, his way of turning, and how he held the revolver.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading He had been studying the robber all the time, as if the villain were a war-map, studying his gestures, his way of turning, and how he held the revolver.

INprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading A HERO IN SPITE OF HIMSELF Passion sent Mallory into the unequal fight with two armed and desperate outlaws.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading A HERO IN SPITE OF HIMSELF Passion sent Mallory into the unequal fight with two armed and desperate outlaws.

keep

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

From this reading He had noted that the man, as he frisked the passengers, did not keep his finger on the trigger, but on the guard.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Marjorie's little battle threw the desperado off his balance a trifle; as he recovered, Mallory struck him, and swept him on over against the back of a seat.

Mallory

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

From this reading A HERO IN SPITE OF HIMSELF Passion sent Mallory into the unequal fight with two armed and desperate outlaws.

man

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

From this reading He had noted that the man, as he frisked the passengers, did not keep his finger on the trigger, but on the guard.

Marjorie's

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

From this reading Marjorie's little battle threw the desperado off his balance a trifle; as he recovered, Mallory struck him, and swept him on over against the back of a seat.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading He had noted that the man, as he frisked the passengers, did not keep his finger on the trigger, but on the guard.

noted

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

From this reading He had noted that the man, as he frisked the passengers, did not keep his finger on the trigger, but on the guard.

OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading A HERO IN SPITE OF HIMSELF Passion sent Mallory into the unequal fight with two armed and desperate outlaws.

off

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

From this reading Marjorie's little battle threw the desperado off his balance a trifle; as he recovered, Mallory struck him, and swept him on over against the back of a seat.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading He had noted that the man, as he frisked the passengers, did not keep his finger on the trigger, but on the guard.

outlaws

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

From this reading A HERO IN SPITE OF HIMSELF Passion sent Mallory into the unequal fight with two armed and desperate outlaws.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading Marjorie's little battle threw the desperado off his balance a trifle; as he recovered, Mallory struck him, and swept him on over against the back of a seat.

passengers

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

From this reading He had noted that the man, as he frisked the passengers, did not keep his finger on the trigger, but on the guard.

Passion

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

From this reading A HERO IN SPITE OF HIMSELF Passion sent Mallory into the unequal fight with two armed and desperate outlaws.

planned

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

From this reading But reason had planned the way.

reason

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

From this reading But reason had planned the way.

recovered

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

From this reading Marjorie's little battle threw the desperado off his balance a trifle; as he recovered, Mallory struck him, and swept him on over against the back of a seat.

revolver

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

From this reading He had been studying the robber all the time, as if the villain were a war-map, studying his gestures, his way of turning, and how he held the revolver.

robber

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

From this reading He had been studying the robber all the time, as if the villain were a war-map, studying his gestures, his way of turning, and how he held the revolver.

seat

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

From this reading Marjorie's little battle threw the desperado off his balance a trifle; as he recovered, Mallory struck him, and swept him on over against the back of a seat.

sent

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

From this reading A HERO IN SPITE OF HIMSELF Passion sent Mallory into the unequal fight with two armed and desperate outlaws.

SPITE

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

From this reading A HERO IN SPITE OF HIMSELF Passion sent Mallory into the unequal fight with two armed and desperate outlaws.

strucknounUS /struck/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Marjorie's little battle threw the desperado off his balance a trifle; as he recovered, Mallory struck him, and swept him on over against the back of a seat.

studying

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

From this reading He had been studying the robber all the time, as if the villain were a war-map, studying his gestures, his way of turning, and how he held the revolver.

swept

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

From this reading Marjorie's little battle threw the desperado off his balance a trifle; as he recovered, Mallory struck him, and swept him on over against the back of a seat.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He had noted that the man, as he frisked the passengers, did not keep his finger on the trigger, but on the guard.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading A HERO IN SPITE OF HIMSELF Passion sent Mallory into the unequal fight with two armed and desperate outlaws.

threw

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

From this reading Marjorie's little battle threw the desperado off his balance a trifle; as he recovered, Mallory struck him, and swept him on over against the back of a seat.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He had been studying the robber all the time, as if the villain were a war-map, studying his gestures, his way of turning, and how he held the revolver.

triflenounUS /ˈtraɪfəl/

something that needs very little effort

From this reading Marjorie's little battle threw the desperado off his balance a trifle; as he recovered, Mallory struck him, and swept him on over against the back of a seat.

trigger

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

From this reading He had noted that the man, as he frisked the passengers, did not keep his finger on the trigger, but on the guard.

turning

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

From this reading He had been studying the robber all the time, as if the villain were a war-map, studying his gestures, his way of turning, and how he held the revolver.

two

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

From this reading A HERO IN SPITE OF HIMSELF Passion sent Mallory into the unequal fight with two armed and desperate outlaws.

unequal

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

From this reading A HERO IN SPITE OF HIMSELF Passion sent Mallory into the unequal fight with two armed and desperate outlaws.

villain

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

From this reading He had been studying the robber all the time, as if the villain were a war-map, studying his gestures, his way of turning, and how he held the revolver.

war-map

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

From this reading He had been studying the robber all the time, as if the villain were a war-map, studying his gestures, his way of turning, and how he held the revolver.

way

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

From this reading But reason had planned the way.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading He had been studying the robber all the time, as if the villain were a war-map, studying his gestures, his way of turning, and how he held the revolver.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading A HERO IN SPITE OF HIMSELF Passion sent Mallory into the unequal fight with two armed and desperate outlaws.