Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
Gordon Keith
Gordon Keith

Chapter V

Cover illustration for Gordon Keith
Context Illustration Reading 1/42 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE RIDGE COLLEGE The school over which Gordon had undertaken to preside was not a very advanced seminary of learning, and possibly the young teacher did not impart to his pupils a great deal of erudition.
His predecessors in the schoolmaster's chair had been, like their patrons, the product of a system hardly less conservative than that of the Locrians.
Any one who proposed an innovation would have done so with a rope about his neck, and woe to him if it proved unsuccessful.
When Gordon reported first to the squire, the old man was manifestly pleased.
"Why, you've growed considerable.
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Gordon Keith

Chapter V

Reading 1/42 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE RIDGE COLLEGE The school over which Gordon had undertaken to preside was not a very advanced seminary of learning, and possibly the young teacher did not impart to his pupils a great deal of erudition.
Line 2
His predecessors in the schoolmaster's chair had been, like their patrons, the product of a system hardly less conservative than that of the Locrians.
Line 3
Any one who proposed an innovation would have done so with a rope about his neck, and woe to him if it proved unsuccessful.
Line 4
When Gordon reported first to the squire, the old man was manifestly pleased.
Line 5
"Why, you've growed considerable.

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 “Any one who proposed an innovation would have done so with a rope about his neck, and woe to him if it proved unsuccessful.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “His predecessors in the schoolmaster's chair had been, like their patrons, the product of a system hardly less conservative than that of the Locrians.”

Done noun US /done/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Any one who proposed an innovation would have done so with a rope about his neck, and woe to him if it proved unsuccessful.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “When Gordon reported first to the squire, the old man was manifestly pleased.”

Great noun US /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “THE RIDGE COLLEGE The school over which Gordon had undertaken to preside was not a very advanced seminary of learning, and possibly the young teacher did not impart to his pupils a great deal of erudition.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “Any one who proposed an innovation would have done so with a rope about his neck, and woe to him if it proved unsuccessful.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “Any one who proposed an innovation would have done so with a rope about his neck, and woe to him if it proved unsuccessful.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “THE RIDGE COLLEGE The school over which Gordon had undertaken to preside was not a very advanced seminary of learning, and possibly the young teacher did not impart to his pupils a great deal of erudition.”

Pleased noun US /ˈpleased/

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

From this reading “When Gordon reported first to the squire, the old man was manifestly pleased.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “Any one who proposed an innovation would have done so with a rope about his neck, and woe to him if it proved unsuccessful.”

All words in this reading · 78

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 THE RIDGE COLLEGE The school over which Gordon had undertaken to preside was not a very advanced seminary of learning, and possibly the young teacher did not impart to his pupils a great deal of erudition.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Any one who proposed an innovation would have done so with a rope about his neck, and woe to him if it proved unsuccessful.

advanced

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

From this reading THE RIDGE COLLEGE The school over which Gordon had undertaken to preside was not a very advanced seminary of learning, and possibly the young teacher did not impart to his pupils a great deal of erudition.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading Any one who proposed an innovation would have done so with a rope about his neck, and woe to him if it proved unsuccessful.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading THE RIDGE COLLEGE The school over which Gordon had undertaken to preside was not a very advanced seminary of learning, and possibly the young teacher did not impart to his pupils a great deal of erudition.

Any

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

From this reading Any one who proposed an innovation would have done so with a rope about his neck, and woe to him if it proved unsuccessful.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading His predecessors in the schoolmaster's chair had been, like their patrons, the product of a system hardly less conservative than that of the Locrians.

chair

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

From this reading His predecessors in the schoolmaster's chair had been, like their patrons, the product of a system hardly less conservative than that of the Locrians.

COLLEGE

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

From this reading THE RIDGE COLLEGE The school over which Gordon had undertaken to preside was not a very advanced seminary of learning, and possibly the young teacher did not impart to his pupils a great deal of erudition.

conservative

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

From this reading His predecessors in the schoolmaster's chair had been, like their patrons, the product of a system hardly less conservative than that of the Locrians.

considerable

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

From this reading "Why, you've growed considerable.

deal

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

From this reading THE RIDGE COLLEGE The school over which Gordon had undertaken to preside was not a very advanced seminary of learning, and possibly the young teacher did not impart to his pupils a great deal of erudition.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

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

From this reading THE RIDGE COLLEGE The school over which Gordon had undertaken to preside was not a very advanced seminary of learning, and possibly the young teacher did not impart to his pupils a great deal of erudition.

donenounUS /done/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Any one who proposed an innovation would have done so with a rope about his neck, and woe to him if it proved unsuccessful.

erudition

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

From this reading THE RIDGE COLLEGE The school over which Gordon had undertaken to preside was not a very advanced seminary of learning, and possibly the young teacher did not impart to his pupils a great deal of erudition.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading When Gordon reported first to the squire, the old man was manifestly pleased.

Gordon

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

From this reading THE RIDGE COLLEGE The school over which Gordon had undertaken to preside was not a very advanced seminary of learning, and possibly the young teacher did not impart to his pupils a great deal of erudition.

greatnounUS /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading THE RIDGE COLLEGE The school over which Gordon had undertaken to preside was not a very advanced seminary of learning, and possibly the young teacher did not impart to his pupils a great deal of erudition.

growed

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

From this reading "Why, you've growed considerable.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading THE RIDGE COLLEGE The school over which Gordon had undertaken to preside was not a very advanced seminary of learning, and possibly the young teacher did not impart to his pupils a great deal of erudition.

hardly

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

From this reading His predecessors in the schoolmaster's chair had been, like their patrons, the product of a system hardly less conservative than that of the Locrians.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Any one who proposed an innovation would have done so with a rope about his neck, and woe to him if it proved unsuccessful.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading Any one who proposed an innovation would have done so with a rope about his neck, and woe to him if it proved unsuccessful.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading THE RIDGE COLLEGE The school over which Gordon had undertaken to preside was not a very advanced seminary of learning, and possibly the young teacher did not impart to his pupils a great deal of erudition.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading Any one who proposed an innovation would have done so with a rope about his neck, and woe to him if it proved unsuccessful.

impart

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

From this reading THE RIDGE COLLEGE The school over which Gordon had undertaken to preside was not a very advanced seminary of learning, and possibly the young teacher did not impart to his pupils a great deal of erudition.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading His predecessors in the schoolmaster's chair had been, like their patrons, the product of a system hardly less conservative than that of the Locrians.

innovation

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

From this reading Any one who proposed an innovation would have done so with a rope about his neck, and woe to him if it proved unsuccessful.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Any one who proposed an innovation would have done so with a rope about his neck, and woe to him if it proved unsuccessful.

learning

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

From this reading THE RIDGE COLLEGE The school over which Gordon had undertaken to preside was not a very advanced seminary of learning, and possibly the young teacher did not impart to his pupils a great deal of erudition.

less

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

From this reading His predecessors in the schoolmaster's chair had been, like their patrons, the product of a system hardly less conservative than that of the Locrians.

like

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

From this reading His predecessors in the schoolmaster's chair had been, like their patrons, the product of a system hardly less conservative than that of the Locrians.

Locrians

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

From this reading His predecessors in the schoolmaster's chair had been, like their patrons, the product of a system hardly less conservative than that of the Locrians.

man

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

From this reading When Gordon reported first to the squire, the old man was manifestly pleased.

manifestly

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

From this reading When Gordon reported first to the squire, the old man was manifestly pleased.

neck

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

From this reading Any one who proposed an innovation would have done so with a rope about his neck, and woe to him if it proved unsuccessful.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading THE RIDGE COLLEGE The school over which Gordon had undertaken to preside was not a very advanced seminary of learning, and possibly the young teacher did not impart to his pupils a great deal of erudition.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE RIDGE COLLEGE The school over which Gordon had undertaken to preside was not a very advanced seminary of learning, and possibly the young teacher did not impart to his pupils a great deal of erudition.

old

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

From this reading When Gordon reported first to the squire, the old man was manifestly pleased.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Any one who proposed an innovation would have done so with a rope about his neck, and woe to him if it proved unsuccessful.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading THE RIDGE COLLEGE The school over which Gordon had undertaken to preside was not a very advanced seminary of learning, and possibly the young teacher did not impart to his pupils a great deal of erudition.

patrons

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

From this reading His predecessors in the schoolmaster's chair had been, like their patrons, the product of a system hardly less conservative than that of the Locrians.

pleasednounUS /ˈpleased/

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

From this reading When Gordon reported first to the squire, the old man was manifestly pleased.

possibly

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

From this reading THE RIDGE COLLEGE The school over which Gordon had undertaken to preside was not a very advanced seminary of learning, and possibly the young teacher did not impart to his pupils a great deal of erudition.

predecessors

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

From this reading His predecessors in the schoolmaster's chair had been, like their patrons, the product of a system hardly less conservative than that of the Locrians.

preside

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

From this reading THE RIDGE COLLEGE The school over which Gordon had undertaken to preside was not a very advanced seminary of learning, and possibly the young teacher did not impart to his pupils a great deal of erudition.

product

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

From this reading His predecessors in the schoolmaster's chair had been, like their patrons, the product of a system hardly less conservative than that of the Locrians.

proposed

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

From this reading Any one who proposed an innovation would have done so with a rope about his neck, and woe to him if it proved unsuccessful.

proved

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

From this reading Any one who proposed an innovation would have done so with a rope about his neck, and woe to him if it proved unsuccessful.

pupils

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

From this reading THE RIDGE COLLEGE The school over which Gordon had undertaken to preside was not a very advanced seminary of learning, and possibly the young teacher did not impart to his pupils a great deal of erudition.

reported

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

From this reading When Gordon reported first to the squire, the old man was manifestly pleased.

RIDGE

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

From this reading THE RIDGE COLLEGE The school over which Gordon had undertaken to preside was not a very advanced seminary of learning, and possibly the young teacher did not impart to his pupils a great deal of erudition.

rope

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

From this reading Any one who proposed an innovation would have done so with a rope about his neck, and woe to him if it proved unsuccessful.

school

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

From this reading THE RIDGE COLLEGE The school over which Gordon had undertaken to preside was not a very advanced seminary of learning, and possibly the young teacher did not impart to his pupils a great deal of erudition.

schoolmaster's

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

From this reading His predecessors in the schoolmaster's chair had been, like their patrons, the product of a system hardly less conservative than that of the Locrians.

seminary

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

From this reading THE RIDGE COLLEGE The school over which Gordon had undertaken to preside was not a very advanced seminary of learning, and possibly the young teacher did not impart to his pupils a great deal of erudition.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Any one who proposed an innovation would have done so with a rope about his neck, and woe to him if it proved unsuccessful.

squire

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

From this reading When Gordon reported first to the squire, the old man was manifestly pleased.

system

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

From this reading His predecessors in the schoolmaster's chair had been, like their patrons, the product of a system hardly less conservative than that of the Locrians.

teacher

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

From this reading THE RIDGE COLLEGE The school over which Gordon had undertaken to preside was not a very advanced seminary of learning, and possibly the young teacher did not impart to his pupils a great deal of erudition.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading His predecessors in the schoolmaster's chair had been, like their patrons, the product of a system hardly less conservative than that of the Locrians.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading His predecessors in the schoolmaster's chair had been, like their patrons, the product of a system hardly less conservative than that of the Locrians.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE RIDGE COLLEGE The school over which Gordon had undertaken to preside was not a very advanced seminary of learning, and possibly the young teacher did not impart to his pupils a great deal of erudition.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading His predecessors in the schoolmaster's chair had been, like their patrons, the product of a system hardly less conservative than that of the Locrians.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading THE RIDGE COLLEGE The school over which Gordon had undertaken to preside was not a very advanced seminary of learning, and possibly the young teacher did not impart to his pupils a great deal of erudition.

undertaken

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

From this reading THE RIDGE COLLEGE The school over which Gordon had undertaken to preside was not a very advanced seminary of learning, and possibly the young teacher did not impart to his pupils a great deal of erudition.

unsuccessful

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

From this reading Any one who proposed an innovation would have done so with a rope about his neck, and woe to him if it proved unsuccessful.

very

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

From this reading THE RIDGE COLLEGE The school over which Gordon had undertaken to preside was not a very advanced seminary of learning, and possibly the young teacher did not impart to his pupils a great deal of erudition.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading THE RIDGE COLLEGE The school over which Gordon had undertaken to preside was not a very advanced seminary of learning, and possibly the young teacher did not impart to his pupils a great deal of erudition.

WhenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading When Gordon reported first to the squire, the old man was manifestly pleased.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading THE RIDGE COLLEGE The school over which Gordon had undertaken to preside was not a very advanced seminary of learning, and possibly the young teacher did not impart to his pupils a great deal of erudition.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading Any one who proposed an innovation would have done so with a rope about his neck, and woe to him if it proved unsuccessful.

Why

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

From this reading "Why, you've growed considerable.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Any one who proposed an innovation would have done so with a rope about his neck, and woe to him if it proved unsuccessful.

woe

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

From this reading Any one who proposed an innovation would have done so with a rope about his neck, and woe to him if it proved unsuccessful.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading Any one who proposed an innovation would have done so with a rope about his neck, and woe to him if it proved unsuccessful.

you've

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

From this reading "Why, you've growed considerable.

young

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

From this reading THE RIDGE COLLEGE The school over which Gordon had undertaken to preside was not a very advanced seminary of learning, and possibly the young teacher did not impart to his pupils a great deal of erudition.