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Chapter XVI

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Context Illustration Reading 1/30 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
BOB FIGHTS FOR HIS LIBERTY.
To say that the fisher-boy was astonished at what had taken place, would not half express his feelings.
He had never imagined Sam to be so desperate a character, and never, until then, had he felt in the least afraid of him.
He had always believed himself to be able to beat the bully at any of his games; but he now had learned that he had to deal with one who was quite as smart as himself.
Being taken prisoner, and confined like a felon, were new chapters in his experience.
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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.

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Chapter XVI

Reading 1/30 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
BOB FIGHTS FOR HIS LIBERTY.
Line 2
To say that the fisher-boy was astonished at what had taken place, would not half express his feelings.
Line 3
He had never imagined Sam to be so desperate a character, and never, until then, had he felt in the least afraid of him.
Line 4
He had always believed himself to be able to beat the bully at any of his games; but he now had learned that he had to deal with one who was quite as smart as himself.
Line 5
Being taken prisoner, and confined like a felon, were new chapters in his experience.

Learner Dictionary

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

Astonished adjective US /əˈstɑːnɪʃt/

very surprised

From this reading “To say that the fisher-boy was astonished at what had taken place, would not half express his feelings.”

Being auxiliary verb US /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading “Being taken prisoner, and confined like a felon, were new chapters in his experience.”

Express verb US /ɪkˈspres/

to show or communicate a feeling or idea

From this reading “To say that the fisher-boy was astonished at what had taken place, would not half express his feelings.”

Half noun US /half/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “To say that the fisher-boy was astonished at what had taken place, would not half express his feelings.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading “He had always believed himself to be able to beat the bully at any of his games; but he now had learned that he had to deal with one who was quite as smart as himself.”

Least noun US /least/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He had never imagined Sam to be so desperate a character, and never, until then, had he felt in the least afraid of him.”

LIBERTY noun US /ˈlɪb.ər.ti/

The state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions on one's way of life.

From this reading “BOB FIGHTS FOR HIS LIBERTY.”

Never noun US /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He had never imagined Sam to be so desperate a character, and never, until then, had he felt in the least afraid of him.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “He had always believed himself to be able to beat the bully at any of his games; but he now had learned that he had to deal with one who was quite as smart as himself.”

Quite noun US /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He had always believed himself to be able to beat the bully at any of his games; but he now had learned that he had to deal with one who was quite as smart as himself.”

Until preposition US /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading “He had never imagined Sam to be so desperate a character, and never, until then, had he felt in the least afraid of him.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “To say that the fisher-boy was astonished at what had taken place, would not half express his feelings.”

All words in this reading · 67

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 He had never imagined Sam to be so desperate a character, and never, until then, had he felt in the least afraid of him.

able

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

From this reading He had always believed himself to be able to beat the bully at any of his games; but he now had learned that he had to deal with one who was quite as smart as himself.

afraid

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

From this reading He had never imagined Sam to be so desperate a character, and never, until then, had he felt in the least afraid of him.

always

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

From this reading He had always believed himself to be able to beat the bully at any of his games; but he now had learned that he had to deal with one who was quite as smart as himself.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading He had never imagined Sam to be so desperate a character, and never, until then, had he felt in the least afraid of him.

any

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

From this reading He had always believed himself to be able to beat the bully at any of his games; but he now had learned that he had to deal with one who was quite as smart as himself.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading He had always believed himself to be able to beat the bully at any of his games; but he now had learned that he had to deal with one who was quite as smart as himself.

astonishedadjectiveUS /əˈstɑːnɪʃt/

very surprised

From this reading To say that the fisher-boy was astonished at what had taken place, would not half express his feelings.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading To say that the fisher-boy was astonished at what had taken place, would not half express his feelings.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading He had never imagined Sam to be so desperate a character, and never, until then, had he felt in the least afraid of him.

beat

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

From this reading He had always believed himself to be able to beat the bully at any of his games; but he now had learned that he had to deal with one who was quite as smart as himself.

Beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading Being taken prisoner, and confined like a felon, were new chapters in his experience.

believed

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

From this reading He had always believed himself to be able to beat the bully at any of his games; but he now had learned that he had to deal with one who was quite as smart as himself.

BOB

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

From this reading BOB FIGHTS FOR HIS LIBERTY.

bully

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

From this reading He had always believed himself to be able to beat the bully at any of his games; but he now had learned that he had to deal with one who was quite as smart as himself.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading He had always believed himself to be able to beat the bully at any of his games; but he now had learned that he had to deal with one who was quite as smart as himself.

chapters

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

From this reading Being taken prisoner, and confined like a felon, were new chapters in his experience.

character

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

From this reading He had never imagined Sam to be so desperate a character, and never, until then, had he felt in the least afraid of him.

confined

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

From this reading Being taken prisoner, and confined like a felon, were new chapters in his experience.

deal

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

From this reading He had always believed himself to be able to beat the bully at any of his games; but he now had learned that he had to deal with one who was quite as smart as himself.

desperate

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

From this reading He had never imagined Sam to be so desperate a character, and never, until then, had he felt in the least afraid of him.

experience

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

From this reading Being taken prisoner, and confined like a felon, were new chapters in his experience.

expressverbUS /ɪkˈspres/

to show or communicate a feeling or idea

From this reading To say that the fisher-boy was astonished at what had taken place, would not half express his feelings.

feelings

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

From this reading To say that the fisher-boy was astonished at what had taken place, would not half express his feelings.

felon

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

From this reading Being taken prisoner, and confined like a felon, were new chapters in his experience.

felt

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

From this reading He had never imagined Sam to be so desperate a character, and never, until then, had he felt in the least afraid of him.

FIGHTS

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

From this reading BOB FIGHTS FOR HIS LIBERTY.

fisher-boy

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

From this reading To say that the fisher-boy was astonished at what had taken place, would not half express his feelings.

FORprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading BOB FIGHTS FOR HIS LIBERTY.

games

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

From this reading He had always believed himself to be able to beat the bully at any of his games; but he now had learned that he had to deal with one who was quite as smart as himself.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading To say that the fisher-boy was astonished at what had taken place, would not half express his feelings.

halfnounUS /half/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading To say that the fisher-boy was astonished at what had taken place, would not half express his feelings.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He had never imagined Sam to be so desperate a character, and never, until then, had he felt in the least afraid of him.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading He had never imagined Sam to be so desperate a character, and never, until then, had he felt in the least afraid of him.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading He had always believed himself to be able to beat the bully at any of his games; but he now had learned that he had to deal with one who was quite as smart as himself.

HISdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading BOB FIGHTS FOR HIS LIBERTY.

imagined

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

From this reading He had never imagined Sam to be so desperate a character, and never, until then, had he felt in the least afraid of him.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading He had never imagined Sam to be so desperate a character, and never, until then, had he felt in the least afraid of him.

learned

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

From this reading He had always believed himself to be able to beat the bully at any of his games; but he now had learned that he had to deal with one who was quite as smart as himself.

leastnounUS /least/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He had never imagined Sam to be so desperate a character, and never, until then, had he felt in the least afraid of him.

LIBERTYnounUS /ˈlɪb.ər.ti/

The state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions on one's way of life.

From this reading BOB FIGHTS FOR HIS LIBERTY.

like

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

From this reading Being taken prisoner, and confined like a felon, were new chapters in his experience.

nevernounUS /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He had never imagined Sam to be so desperate a character, and never, until then, had he felt in the least afraid of him.

new

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

From this reading Being taken prisoner, and confined like a felon, were new chapters in his experience.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading To say that the fisher-boy was astonished at what had taken place, would not half express his feelings.

now

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

From this reading He had always believed himself to be able to beat the bully at any of his games; but he now had learned that he had to deal with one who was quite as smart as himself.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading He had never imagined Sam to be so desperate a character, and never, until then, had he felt in the least afraid of him.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading He had always believed himself to be able to beat the bully at any of his games; but he now had learned that he had to deal with one who was quite as smart as himself.

place

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

From this reading To say that the fisher-boy was astonished at what had taken place, would not half express his feelings.

prisoner

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

From this reading Being taken prisoner, and confined like a felon, were new chapters in his experience.

quitenounUS /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He had always believed himself to be able to beat the bully at any of his games; but he now had learned that he had to deal with one who was quite as smart as himself.

Sam

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

From this reading He had never imagined Sam to be so desperate a character, and never, until then, had he felt in the least afraid of him.

say

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

From this reading To say that the fisher-boy was astonished at what had taken place, would not half express his feelings.

smart

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

From this reading He had always believed himself to be able to beat the bully at any of his games; but he now had learned that he had to deal with one who was quite as smart as himself.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading He had never imagined Sam to be so desperate a character, and never, until then, had he felt in the least afraid of him.

taken

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

From this reading To say that the fisher-boy was astonished at what had taken place, would not half express his feelings.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading To say that the fisher-boy was astonished at what had taken place, would not half express his feelings.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading To say that the fisher-boy was astonished at what had taken place, would not half express his feelings.

then

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

From this reading He had never imagined Sam to be so desperate a character, and never, until then, had he felt in the least afraid of him.

ToparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading To say that the fisher-boy was astonished at what had taken place, would not half express his feelings.

untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading He had never imagined Sam to be so desperate a character, and never, until then, had he felt in the least afraid of him.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading To say that the fisher-boy was astonished at what had taken place, would not half express his feelings.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading Being taken prisoner, and confined like a felon, were new chapters in his experience.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading To say that the fisher-boy was astonished at what had taken place, would not half express his feelings.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading He had always believed himself to be able to beat the bully at any of his games; but he now had learned that he had to deal with one who was quite as smart as himself.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading He had always believed himself to be able to beat the bully at any of his games; but he now had learned that he had to deal with one who was quite as smart as himself.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading To say that the fisher-boy was astonished at what had taken place, would not half express his feelings.