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Free Joe and Other Georgian Sketches
Free Joe and Other Georgian Sketches

Chapter I

Cover illustration for Free Joe and Other Georgian Sketches
Context Illustration Reading 1/82 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
AUTHOR OF "UNCLE REMUS," ETC., ETC.
THE name of Free Joe strikes humorously upon the ear of memory.
It is impossible to say why, for he was the humblest, the simplest, and the most serious of all God's living creatures, sadly lacking in all those elements that suggest the humorous.
It is certain, moreover, that in 1850 the sober-minded citizens of the little Georgian village of Hillsborough were not inclined to take a humorous view of Free Joe, and neither his name nor his presence provoked a smile.
He was a black atom, drifting hither and thither without an owner, blown about by all the winds of circumstance, and given over to shiftlessness.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Free Joe and Other Georgian Sketches

Chapter I

Reading 1/82 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
AUTHOR OF "UNCLE REMUS," ETC., ETC.
Line 2
THE name of Free Joe strikes humorously upon the ear of memory.
Line 3
It is impossible to say why, for he was the humblest, the simplest, and the most serious of all God's living creatures, sadly lacking in all those elements that suggest the humorous.
Line 4
It is certain, moreover, that in 1850 the sober-minded citizens of the little Georgian village of Hillsborough were not inclined to take a humorous view of Free Joe, and neither his name nor his presence provoked a smile.
Line 5
He was a black atom, drifting hither and thither without an owner, blown about by all the winds of circumstance, and given over to shiftlessness.

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 “He was a black atom, drifting hither and thither without an owner, blown about by all the winds of circumstance, and given over to shiftlessness.”

Free adjective US /friː/

acting without enough restraint or discipline

From this reading “THE name of Free Joe strikes humorously upon the ear of memory.”

Hither adverb US /ˈhɪðər/

an old word meaning “to this place”

From this reading “He was a black atom, drifting hither and thither without an owner, blown about by all the winds of circumstance, and given over to shiftlessness.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It is certain, moreover, that in 1850 the sober-minded citizens of the little Georgian village of Hillsborough were not inclined to take a humorous view of Free Joe, and neither his name nor his presence provoked a smile.”

Memory noun US /ˈmem.ər.i/

The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.

From this reading “THE name of Free Joe strikes humorously upon the ear of memory.”

Moreover adverb US /mɔːˈroʊvər/

in addition to what has just been said

From this reading “It is certain, moreover, that in 1850 the sober-minded citizens of the little Georgian village of Hillsborough were not inclined to take a humorous view of Free Joe, and neither his name nor his presence provoked a smile.”

Name noun US /name/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “THE name of Free Joe strikes humorously upon the ear of memory.”

Neither determiner US /ˈniːðər/

not one and not the other of two

From this reading “It is certain, moreover, that in 1850 the sober-minded citizens of the little Georgian village of Hillsborough were not inclined to take a humorous view of Free Joe, and neither his name nor his presence provoked a smile.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “He was a black atom, drifting hither and thither without an owner, blown about by all the winds of circumstance, and given over to shiftlessness.”

Take noun US /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It is certain, moreover, that in 1850 the sober-minded citizens of the little Georgian village of Hillsborough were not inclined to take a humorous view of Free Joe, and neither his name nor his presence provoked a smile.”

Thither adverb US /ˈðɪθɜːr/

an old word meaning “to that place”

From this reading “He was a black atom, drifting hither and thither without an owner, blown about by all the winds of circumstance, and given over to shiftlessness.”

Those determiner US /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading “It is impossible to say why, for he was the humblest, the simplest, and the most serious of all God's living creatures, sadly lacking in all those elements that suggest the humorous.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “THE name of Free Joe strikes humorously upon the ear of memory.”

Without preposition US /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading “He was a black atom, drifting hither and thither without an owner, blown about by all the winds of circumstance, and given over to shiftlessness.”

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.

1850

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

From this reading It is certain, moreover, that in 1850 the sober-minded citizens of the little Georgian village of Hillsborough were not inclined to take a humorous view of Free Joe, and neither his name nor his presence provoked a smile.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading It is certain, moreover, that in 1850 the sober-minded citizens of the little Georgian village of Hillsborough were not inclined to take a humorous view of Free Joe, and neither his name nor his presence provoked a smile.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading He was a black atom, drifting hither and thither without an owner, blown about by all the winds of circumstance, and given over to shiftlessness.

all

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

From this reading It is impossible to say why, for he was the humblest, the simplest, and the most serious of all God's living creatures, sadly lacking in all those elements that suggest the humorous.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading He was a black atom, drifting hither and thither without an owner, blown about by all the winds of circumstance, and given over to shiftlessness.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading It is impossible to say why, for he was the humblest, the simplest, and the most serious of all God's living creatures, sadly lacking in all those elements that suggest the humorous.

atom

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

From this reading He was a black atom, drifting hither and thither without an owner, blown about by all the winds of circumstance, and given over to shiftlessness.

AUTHOR

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

From this reading AUTHOR OF "UNCLE REMUS," ETC., ETC.

black

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

From this reading He was a black atom, drifting hither and thither without an owner, blown about by all the winds of circumstance, and given over to shiftlessness.

blown

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

From this reading He was a black atom, drifting hither and thither without an owner, blown about by all the winds of circumstance, and given over to shiftlessness.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading He was a black atom, drifting hither and thither without an owner, blown about by all the winds of circumstance, and given over to shiftlessness.

certain

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

From this reading It is certain, moreover, that in 1850 the sober-minded citizens of the little Georgian village of Hillsborough were not inclined to take a humorous view of Free Joe, and neither his name nor his presence provoked a smile.

circumstance

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

From this reading He was a black atom, drifting hither and thither without an owner, blown about by all the winds of circumstance, and given over to shiftlessness.

citizens

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

From this reading It is certain, moreover, that in 1850 the sober-minded citizens of the little Georgian village of Hillsborough were not inclined to take a humorous view of Free Joe, and neither his name nor his presence provoked a smile.

creatures

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

From this reading It is impossible to say why, for he was the humblest, the simplest, and the most serious of all God's living creatures, sadly lacking in all those elements that suggest the humorous.

drifting

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

From this reading He was a black atom, drifting hither and thither without an owner, blown about by all the winds of circumstance, and given over to shiftlessness.

ear

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

From this reading THE name of Free Joe strikes humorously upon the ear of memory.

elements

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

From this reading It is impossible to say why, for he was the humblest, the simplest, and the most serious of all God's living creatures, sadly lacking in all those elements that suggest the humorous.

ETC

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

From this reading AUTHOR OF "UNCLE REMUS," ETC., ETC.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading It is impossible to say why, for he was the humblest, the simplest, and the most serious of all God's living creatures, sadly lacking in all those elements that suggest the humorous.

FreeadjectiveUS /friː/

acting without enough restraint or discipline

From this reading THE name of Free Joe strikes humorously upon the ear of memory.

Georgian

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

From this reading It is certain, moreover, that in 1850 the sober-minded citizens of the little Georgian village of Hillsborough were not inclined to take a humorous view of Free Joe, and neither his name nor his presence provoked a smile.

given

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

From this reading He was a black atom, drifting hither and thither without an owner, blown about by all the winds of circumstance, and given over to shiftlessness.

God's

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

From this reading It is impossible to say why, for he was the humblest, the simplest, and the most serious of all God's living creatures, sadly lacking in all those elements that suggest the humorous.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading It is impossible to say why, for he was the humblest, the simplest, and the most serious of all God's living creatures, sadly lacking in all those elements that suggest the humorous.

Hillsborough

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

From this reading It is certain, moreover, that in 1850 the sober-minded citizens of the little Georgian village of Hillsborough were not inclined to take a humorous view of Free Joe, and neither his name nor his presence provoked a smile.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading It is certain, moreover, that in 1850 the sober-minded citizens of the little Georgian village of Hillsborough were not inclined to take a humorous view of Free Joe, and neither his name nor his presence provoked a smile.

hitheradverbUS /ˈhɪðər/

an old word meaning “to this place”

From this reading He was a black atom, drifting hither and thither without an owner, blown about by all the winds of circumstance, and given over to shiftlessness.

humblest

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

From this reading It is impossible to say why, for he was the humblest, the simplest, and the most serious of all God's living creatures, sadly lacking in all those elements that suggest the humorous.

humorous

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

From this reading It is impossible to say why, for he was the humblest, the simplest, and the most serious of all God's living creatures, sadly lacking in all those elements that suggest the humorous.

humorously

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

From this reading THE name of Free Joe strikes humorously upon the ear of memory.

impossible

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

From this reading It is impossible to say why, for he was the humblest, the simplest, and the most serious of all God's living creatures, sadly lacking in all those elements that suggest the humorous.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading It is impossible to say why, for he was the humblest, the simplest, and the most serious of all God's living creatures, sadly lacking in all those elements that suggest the humorous.

inclined

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

From this reading It is certain, moreover, that in 1850 the sober-minded citizens of the little Georgian village of Hillsborough were not inclined to take a humorous view of Free Joe, and neither his name nor his presence provoked a smile.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading It is impossible to say why, for he was the humblest, the simplest, and the most serious of all God's living creatures, sadly lacking in all those elements that suggest the humorous.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It is impossible to say why, for he was the humblest, the simplest, and the most serious of all God's living creatures, sadly lacking in all those elements that suggest the humorous.

Joe

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

From this reading THE name of Free Joe strikes humorously upon the ear of memory.

lacking

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

From this reading It is impossible to say why, for he was the humblest, the simplest, and the most serious of all God's living creatures, sadly lacking in all those elements that suggest the humorous.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It is certain, moreover, that in 1850 the sober-minded citizens of the little Georgian village of Hillsborough were not inclined to take a humorous view of Free Joe, and neither his name nor his presence provoked a smile.

living

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

From this reading It is impossible to say why, for he was the humblest, the simplest, and the most serious of all God's living creatures, sadly lacking in all those elements that suggest the humorous.

memorynounUS /ˈmem.ər.i/

The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.

From this reading THE name of Free Joe strikes humorously upon the ear of memory.

moreoveradverbUS /mɔːˈroʊvər/

in addition to what has just been said

From this reading It is certain, moreover, that in 1850 the sober-minded citizens of the little Georgian village of Hillsborough were not inclined to take a humorous view of Free Joe, and neither his name nor his presence provoked a smile.

most

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

From this reading It is impossible to say why, for he was the humblest, the simplest, and the most serious of all God's living creatures, sadly lacking in all those elements that suggest the humorous.

namenounUS /name/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading THE name of Free Joe strikes humorously upon the ear of memory.

neitherdeterminerUS /ˈniːðər/

not one and not the other of two

From this reading It is certain, moreover, that in 1850 the sober-minded citizens of the little Georgian village of Hillsborough were not inclined to take a humorous view of Free Joe, and neither his name nor his presence provoked a smile.

norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/

and not; used after a negative to add a second negative

From this reading It is certain, moreover, that in 1850 the sober-minded citizens of the little Georgian village of Hillsborough were not inclined to take a humorous view of Free Joe, and neither his name nor his presence provoked a smile.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading It is certain, moreover, that in 1850 the sober-minded citizens of the little Georgian village of Hillsborough were not inclined to take a humorous view of Free Joe, and neither his name nor his presence provoked a smile.

OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading AUTHOR OF "UNCLE REMUS," ETC., ETC.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading He was a black atom, drifting hither and thither without an owner, blown about by all the winds of circumstance, and given over to shiftlessness.

owner

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

From this reading He was a black atom, drifting hither and thither without an owner, blown about by all the winds of circumstance, and given over to shiftlessness.

presence

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

From this reading It is certain, moreover, that in 1850 the sober-minded citizens of the little Georgian village of Hillsborough were not inclined to take a humorous view of Free Joe, and neither his name nor his presence provoked a smile.

provoked

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

From this reading It is certain, moreover, that in 1850 the sober-minded citizens of the little Georgian village of Hillsborough were not inclined to take a humorous view of Free Joe, and neither his name nor his presence provoked a smile.

REMUS

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

From this reading AUTHOR OF "UNCLE REMUS," ETC., ETC.

sadly

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

From this reading It is impossible to say why, for he was the humblest, the simplest, and the most serious of all God's living creatures, sadly lacking in all those elements that suggest the humorous.

say

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

From this reading It is impossible to say why, for he was the humblest, the simplest, and the most serious of all God's living creatures, sadly lacking in all those elements that suggest the humorous.

serious

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

From this reading It is impossible to say why, for he was the humblest, the simplest, and the most serious of all God's living creatures, sadly lacking in all those elements that suggest the humorous.

shiftlessness

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

From this reading He was a black atom, drifting hither and thither without an owner, blown about by all the winds of circumstance, and given over to shiftlessness.

simplest

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

From this reading It is impossible to say why, for he was the humblest, the simplest, and the most serious of all God's living creatures, sadly lacking in all those elements that suggest the humorous.

smile

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

From this reading It is certain, moreover, that in 1850 the sober-minded citizens of the little Georgian village of Hillsborough were not inclined to take a humorous view of Free Joe, and neither his name nor his presence provoked a smile.

sober-minded

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

From this reading It is certain, moreover, that in 1850 the sober-minded citizens of the little Georgian village of Hillsborough were not inclined to take a humorous view of Free Joe, and neither his name nor his presence provoked a smile.

strikes

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

From this reading THE name of Free Joe strikes humorously upon the ear of memory.

suggest

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

From this reading It is impossible to say why, for he was the humblest, the simplest, and the most serious of all God's living creatures, sadly lacking in all those elements that suggest the humorous.

takenounUS /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It is certain, moreover, that in 1850 the sober-minded citizens of the little Georgian village of Hillsborough were not inclined to take a humorous view of Free Joe, and neither his name nor his presence provoked a smile.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It is impossible to say why, for he was the humblest, the simplest, and the most serious of all God's living creatures, sadly lacking in all those elements that suggest the humorous.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE name of Free Joe strikes humorously upon the ear of memory.

thitheradverbUS /ˈðɪθɜːr/

an old word meaning “to that place”

From this reading He was a black atom, drifting hither and thither without an owner, blown about by all the winds of circumstance, and given over to shiftlessness.

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading It is impossible to say why, for he was the humblest, the simplest, and the most serious of all God's living creatures, sadly lacking in all those elements that suggest the humorous.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading It is impossible to say why, for he was the humblest, the simplest, and the most serious of all God's living creatures, sadly lacking in all those elements that suggest the humorous.

UNCLE

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

From this reading AUTHOR OF "UNCLE REMUS," ETC., ETC.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading THE name of Free Joe strikes humorously upon the ear of memory.

view

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

From this reading It is certain, moreover, that in 1850 the sober-minded citizens of the little Georgian village of Hillsborough were not inclined to take a humorous view of Free Joe, and neither his name nor his presence provoked a smile.

village

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

From this reading It is certain, moreover, that in 1850 the sober-minded citizens of the little Georgian village of Hillsborough were not inclined to take a humorous view of Free Joe, and neither his name nor his presence provoked a smile.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading It is impossible to say why, for he was the humblest, the simplest, and the most serious of all God's living creatures, sadly lacking in all those elements that suggest the humorous.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading It is certain, moreover, that in 1850 the sober-minded citizens of the little Georgian village of Hillsborough were not inclined to take a humorous view of Free Joe, and neither his name nor his presence provoked a smile.

why

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

From this reading It is impossible to say why, for he was the humblest, the simplest, and the most serious of all God's living creatures, sadly lacking in all those elements that suggest the humorous.

winds

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

From this reading He was a black atom, drifting hither and thither without an owner, blown about by all the winds of circumstance, and given over to shiftlessness.

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading He was a black atom, drifting hither and thither without an owner, blown about by all the winds of circumstance, and given over to shiftlessness.