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Fast Nine
Fast Nine

Chapter XIII

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Context Illustration Reading 1/24 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
STEALING THE SIGNALS.
"WHAT'S that you're talking about, Jasper?" demanded the pitcher, whirling on the smallest of the scouts, whose father kept a tailoring establishment in town and made the khaki suits worn by the Hickory Ridge troop.
Jasper was a very timid fellow as a rule.
His chums were often joking him about the truth of the old saying, to the effect that it took nine tailors to make a man, and that in consequence he had a heap to pick up.
But Jasper took these things in good part, because he knew his failings even though trying the best he could to overcome them.
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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.

Fast Nine

Chapter XIII

Reading 1/24 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
STEALING THE SIGNALS.
Line 2
"WHAT'S that you're talking about, Jasper?" demanded the pitcher, whirling on the smallest of the scouts, whose father kept a tailoring establishment in town and made the khaki suits worn by the Hickory Ridge troop.
Line 3
Jasper was a very timid fellow as a rule.
Line 4
His chums were often joking him about the truth of the old saying, to the effect that it took nine tailors to make a man, and that in consequence he had a heap to pick up.
Line 5
But Jasper took these things in good part, because he knew his failings even though trying the best he could to overcome them.

Learner Dictionary

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

About preposition US /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “"WHAT'S that you're talking about, Jasper?" demanded the pitcher, whirling on the smallest of the scouts, whose father kept a tailoring establishment in town and made the khaki suits worn by the Hickory Ridge troop.”

Because conjunction US /bɪˈkɔːz/

for the reason that

From this reading “But Jasper took these things in good part, because he knew his failings even though trying the best he could to overcome them.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading “But Jasper took these things in good part, because he knew his failings even though trying the best he could to overcome them.”

Even noun US /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But Jasper took these things in good part, because he knew his failings even though trying the best he could to overcome them.”

Good noun US /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But Jasper took these things in good part, because he knew his failings even though trying the best he could to overcome them.”

Make noun US /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “His chums were often joking him about the truth of the old saying, to the effect that it took nine tailors to make a man, and that in consequence he had a heap to pick up.”

Part noun US /part/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But Jasper took these things in good part, because he knew his failings even though trying the best he could to overcome them.”

Pitcher noun US /ˈpɪtʃər/

a container with a handle and a lip, used for holding and pouring liquids

From this reading “"WHAT'S that you're talking about, Jasper?" demanded the pitcher, whirling on the smallest of the scouts, whose father kept a tailoring establishment in town and made the khaki suits worn by the Hickory Ridge troop.”

These determiner US /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading “But Jasper took these things in good part, because he knew his failings even though trying the best he could to overcome them.”

Though conjunction US /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “But Jasper took these things in good part, because he knew his failings even though trying the best he could to overcome them.”

Took noun US /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “His chums were often joking him about the truth of the old saying, to the effect that it took nine tailors to make a man, and that in consequence he had a heap to pick up.”

Whose determiner US /huːz/

belonging to which person

From this reading “"WHAT'S that you're talking about, Jasper?" demanded the pitcher, whirling on the smallest of the scouts, whose father kept a tailoring establishment in town and made the khaki suits worn by the Hickory Ridge troop.”

Worn verb US /wɔːrn/

Damaged or thinned by continuous use.

From this reading “"WHAT'S that you're talking about, Jasper?" demanded the pitcher, whirling on the smallest of the scouts, whose father kept a tailoring establishment in town and made the khaki suits worn by the Hickory Ridge troop.”

All words in this reading · 77

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 "WHAT'S that you're talking about, Jasper?" demanded the pitcher, whirling on the smallest of the scouts, whose father kept a tailoring establishment in town and made the khaki suits worn by the Hickory Ridge troop.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading "WHAT'S that you're talking about, Jasper?" demanded the pitcher, whirling on the smallest of the scouts, whose father kept a tailoring establishment in town and made the khaki suits worn by the Hickory Ridge troop.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading "WHAT'S that you're talking about, Jasper?" demanded the pitcher, whirling on the smallest of the scouts, whose father kept a tailoring establishment in town and made the khaki suits worn by the Hickory Ridge troop.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Jasper was a very timid fellow as a rule.

becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/

for the reason that

From this reading But Jasper took these things in good part, because he knew his failings even though trying the best he could to overcome them.

best

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

From this reading But Jasper took these things in good part, because he knew his failings even though trying the best he could to overcome them.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But Jasper took these things in good part, because he knew his failings even though trying the best he could to overcome them.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading "WHAT'S that you're talking about, Jasper?" demanded the pitcher, whirling on the smallest of the scouts, whose father kept a tailoring establishment in town and made the khaki suits worn by the Hickory Ridge troop.

chums

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

From this reading His chums were often joking him about the truth of the old saying, to the effect that it took nine tailors to make a man, and that in consequence he had a heap to pick up.

consequence

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

From this reading His chums were often joking him about the truth of the old saying, to the effect that it took nine tailors to make a man, and that in consequence he had a heap to pick up.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading But Jasper took these things in good part, because he knew his failings even though trying the best he could to overcome them.

demanded

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

From this reading "WHAT'S that you're talking about, Jasper?" demanded the pitcher, whirling on the smallest of the scouts, whose father kept a tailoring establishment in town and made the khaki suits worn by the Hickory Ridge troop.

effect

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

From this reading His chums were often joking him about the truth of the old saying, to the effect that it took nine tailors to make a man, and that in consequence he had a heap to pick up.

establishment

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

From this reading "WHAT'S that you're talking about, Jasper?" demanded the pitcher, whirling on the smallest of the scouts, whose father kept a tailoring establishment in town and made the khaki suits worn by the Hickory Ridge troop.

evennounUS /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But Jasper took these things in good part, because he knew his failings even though trying the best he could to overcome them.

failings

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

From this reading But Jasper took these things in good part, because he knew his failings even though trying the best he could to overcome them.

father

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

From this reading "WHAT'S that you're talking about, Jasper?" demanded the pitcher, whirling on the smallest of the scouts, whose father kept a tailoring establishment in town and made the khaki suits worn by the Hickory Ridge troop.

fellow

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

From this reading Jasper was a very timid fellow as a rule.

goodnounUS /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But Jasper took these things in good part, because he knew his failings even though trying the best he could to overcome them.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading His chums were often joking him about the truth of the old saying, to the effect that it took nine tailors to make a man, and that in consequence he had a heap to pick up.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading His chums were often joking him about the truth of the old saying, to the effect that it took nine tailors to make a man, and that in consequence he had a heap to pick up.

heap

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

From this reading His chums were often joking him about the truth of the old saying, to the effect that it took nine tailors to make a man, and that in consequence he had a heap to pick up.

Hickory

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

From this reading "WHAT'S that you're talking about, Jasper?" demanded the pitcher, whirling on the smallest of the scouts, whose father kept a tailoring establishment in town and made the khaki suits worn by the Hickory Ridge troop.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading His chums were often joking him about the truth of the old saying, to the effect that it took nine tailors to make a man, and that in consequence he had a heap to pick up.

HisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading His chums were often joking him about the truth of the old saying, to the effect that it took nine tailors to make a man, and that in consequence he had a heap to pick up.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading "WHAT'S that you're talking about, Jasper?" demanded the pitcher, whirling on the smallest of the scouts, whose father kept a tailoring establishment in town and made the khaki suits worn by the Hickory Ridge troop.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading His chums were often joking him about the truth of the old saying, to the effect that it took nine tailors to make a man, and that in consequence he had a heap to pick up.

Jasper

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

From this reading "WHAT'S that you're talking about, Jasper?" demanded the pitcher, whirling on the smallest of the scouts, whose father kept a tailoring establishment in town and made the khaki suits worn by the Hickory Ridge troop.

joking

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

From this reading His chums were often joking him about the truth of the old saying, to the effect that it took nine tailors to make a man, and that in consequence he had a heap to pick up.

kept

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

From this reading "WHAT'S that you're talking about, Jasper?" demanded the pitcher, whirling on the smallest of the scouts, whose father kept a tailoring establishment in town and made the khaki suits worn by the Hickory Ridge troop.

khaki

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

From this reading "WHAT'S that you're talking about, Jasper?" demanded the pitcher, whirling on the smallest of the scouts, whose father kept a tailoring establishment in town and made the khaki suits worn by the Hickory Ridge troop.

knew

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

From this reading But Jasper took these things in good part, because he knew his failings even though trying the best he could to overcome them.

made

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

From this reading "WHAT'S that you're talking about, Jasper?" demanded the pitcher, whirling on the smallest of the scouts, whose father kept a tailoring establishment in town and made the khaki suits worn by the Hickory Ridge troop.

makenounUS /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading His chums were often joking him about the truth of the old saying, to the effect that it took nine tailors to make a man, and that in consequence he had a heap to pick up.

man

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

From this reading His chums were often joking him about the truth of the old saying, to the effect that it took nine tailors to make a man, and that in consequence he had a heap to pick up.

nine

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

From this reading His chums were often joking him about the truth of the old saying, to the effect that it took nine tailors to make a man, and that in consequence he had a heap to pick up.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading "WHAT'S that you're talking about, Jasper?" demanded the pitcher, whirling on the smallest of the scouts, whose father kept a tailoring establishment in town and made the khaki suits worn by the Hickory Ridge troop.

often

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

From this reading His chums were often joking him about the truth of the old saying, to the effect that it took nine tailors to make a man, and that in consequence he had a heap to pick up.

old

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

From this reading His chums were often joking him about the truth of the old saying, to the effect that it took nine tailors to make a man, and that in consequence he had a heap to pick up.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading "WHAT'S that you're talking about, Jasper?" demanded the pitcher, whirling on the smallest of the scouts, whose father kept a tailoring establishment in town and made the khaki suits worn by the Hickory Ridge troop.

overcome

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

From this reading But Jasper took these things in good part, because he knew his failings even though trying the best he could to overcome them.

partnounUS /part/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But Jasper took these things in good part, because he knew his failings even though trying the best he could to overcome them.

pick

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

From this reading His chums were often joking him about the truth of the old saying, to the effect that it took nine tailors to make a man, and that in consequence he had a heap to pick up.

pitchernounUS /ˈpɪtʃər/

a container with a handle and a lip, used for holding and pouring liquids

From this reading "WHAT'S that you're talking about, Jasper?" demanded the pitcher, whirling on the smallest of the scouts, whose father kept a tailoring establishment in town and made the khaki suits worn by the Hickory Ridge troop.

Ridge

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

From this reading "WHAT'S that you're talking about, Jasper?" demanded the pitcher, whirling on the smallest of the scouts, whose father kept a tailoring establishment in town and made the khaki suits worn by the Hickory Ridge troop.

rule

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

From this reading Jasper was a very timid fellow as a rule.

saying

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

From this reading His chums were often joking him about the truth of the old saying, to the effect that it took nine tailors to make a man, and that in consequence he had a heap to pick up.

scouts

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

From this reading "WHAT'S that you're talking about, Jasper?" demanded the pitcher, whirling on the smallest of the scouts, whose father kept a tailoring establishment in town and made the khaki suits worn by the Hickory Ridge troop.

SIGNALS

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

From this reading STEALING THE SIGNALS.

smallest

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

From this reading "WHAT'S that you're talking about, Jasper?" demanded the pitcher, whirling on the smallest of the scouts, whose father kept a tailoring establishment in town and made the khaki suits worn by the Hickory Ridge troop.

STEALING

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

From this reading STEALING THE SIGNALS.

suits

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

From this reading "WHAT'S that you're talking about, Jasper?" demanded the pitcher, whirling on the smallest of the scouts, whose father kept a tailoring establishment in town and made the khaki suits worn by the Hickory Ridge troop.

tailoring

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

From this reading "WHAT'S that you're talking about, Jasper?" demanded the pitcher, whirling on the smallest of the scouts, whose father kept a tailoring establishment in town and made the khaki suits worn by the Hickory Ridge troop.

tailors

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

From this reading His chums were often joking him about the truth of the old saying, to the effect that it took nine tailors to make a man, and that in consequence he had a heap to pick up.

talking

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

From this reading "WHAT'S that you're talking about, Jasper?" demanded the pitcher, whirling on the smallest of the scouts, whose father kept a tailoring establishment in town and made the khaki suits worn by the Hickory Ridge troop.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading "WHAT'S that you're talking about, Jasper?" demanded the pitcher, whirling on the smallest of the scouts, whose father kept a tailoring establishment in town and made the khaki suits worn by the Hickory Ridge troop.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading STEALING THE SIGNALS.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading But Jasper took these things in good part, because he knew his failings even though trying the best he could to overcome them.

thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading But Jasper took these things in good part, because he knew his failings even though trying the best he could to overcome them.

things

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

From this reading But Jasper took these things in good part, because he knew his failings even though trying the best he could to overcome them.

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading But Jasper took these things in good part, because he knew his failings even though trying the best he could to overcome them.

timid

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

From this reading Jasper was a very timid fellow as a rule.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading His chums were often joking him about the truth of the old saying, to the effect that it took nine tailors to make a man, and that in consequence he had a heap to pick up.

tooknounUS /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading His chums were often joking him about the truth of the old saying, to the effect that it took nine tailors to make a man, and that in consequence he had a heap to pick up.

town

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

From this reading "WHAT'S that you're talking about, Jasper?" demanded the pitcher, whirling on the smallest of the scouts, whose father kept a tailoring establishment in town and made the khaki suits worn by the Hickory Ridge troop.

troop

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

From this reading "WHAT'S that you're talking about, Jasper?" demanded the pitcher, whirling on the smallest of the scouts, whose father kept a tailoring establishment in town and made the khaki suits worn by the Hickory Ridge troop.

truth

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

From this reading His chums were often joking him about the truth of the old saying, to the effect that it took nine tailors to make a man, and that in consequence he had a heap to pick up.

trying

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

From this reading But Jasper took these things in good part, because he knew his failings even though trying the best he could to overcome them.

up

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

From this reading His chums were often joking him about the truth of the old saying, to the effect that it took nine tailors to make a man, and that in consequence he had a heap to pick up.

very

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

From this reading Jasper was a very timid fellow as a rule.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Jasper was a very timid fellow as a rule.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading His chums were often joking him about the truth of the old saying, to the effect that it took nine tailors to make a man, and that in consequence he had a heap to pick up.

WHAT'S

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

From this reading "WHAT'S that you're talking about, Jasper?" demanded the pitcher, whirling on the smallest of the scouts, whose father kept a tailoring establishment in town and made the khaki suits worn by the Hickory Ridge troop.

whirling

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

From this reading "WHAT'S that you're talking about, Jasper?" demanded the pitcher, whirling on the smallest of the scouts, whose father kept a tailoring establishment in town and made the khaki suits worn by the Hickory Ridge troop.

whosedeterminerUS /huːz/

belonging to which person

From this reading "WHAT'S that you're talking about, Jasper?" demanded the pitcher, whirling on the smallest of the scouts, whose father kept a tailoring establishment in town and made the khaki suits worn by the Hickory Ridge troop.

wornverbUS /wɔːrn/

Damaged or thinned by continuous use.

From this reading "WHAT'S that you're talking about, Jasper?" demanded the pitcher, whirling on the smallest of the scouts, whose father kept a tailoring establishment in town and made the khaki suits worn by the Hickory Ridge troop.

you're

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

From this reading "WHAT'S that you're talking about, Jasper?" demanded the pitcher, whirling on the smallest of the scouts, whose father kept a tailoring establishment in town and made the khaki suits worn by the Hickory Ridge troop.