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Hempfield: A Novel
Hempfield: A Novel

Chapter XXVII

Cover illustration for Hempfield: A Novel
Context Illustration Reading 1/18 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE RETURN OF THE PRODIGAL Nevertheless, the flying-machine episode played its part in the history of the _Star_.
Facts are like that.
We refuse quite disdainfully to recognize them, even crying "Fudge!" and "Nonsense!" and decline to put them in the _Star_, or the _Sun_, or the _World_, or even in the sober _Journal of the Society for the Enlargement of Human Heads_, but they don't mind.
They circle around us, with the sunshine flashing on their wings, and all the simple and credulous people gaping up at them, and they don't in the least care for our excellent platforms, constitutions, and Bibles.
It was the flying-machine incident which was the immediate cause of the return of Norton Carr.
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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.

Hempfield: A Novel

Chapter XXVII

Reading 1/18 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE RETURN OF THE PRODIGAL Nevertheless, the flying-machine episode played its part in the history of the _Star_.
Line 2
Facts are like that.
Line 3
We refuse quite disdainfully to recognize them, even crying "Fudge!" and "Nonsense!" and decline to put them in the _Star_, or the _Sun_, or the _World_, or even in the sober _Journal of the Society for the Enlargement of Human Heads_, but they don't mind.
Line 4
They circle around us, with the sunshine flashing on their wings, and all the simple and credulous people gaping up at them, and they don't in the least care for our excellent platforms, constitutions, and Bibles.
Line 5
It was the flying-machine incident which was the immediate cause of the return of Norton Carr.

Learner Dictionary

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

Around preposition US /ərˈaʊnd/

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading “They circle around us, with the sunshine flashing on their wings, and all the simple and credulous people gaping up at them, and they don't in the least care for our excellent platforms, constitutions, and Bibles.”

Decline noun US /dɪˈklaɪn/

a gradual loss of health and strength

From this reading “We refuse quite disdainfully to recognize them, even crying "Fudge!" and "Nonsense!" and decline to put them in the _Star_, or the _Sun_, or the _World_, or even in the sober _Journal of the Society for the Enlargement of Human Heads_, but they don't mind.”

Even noun US /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “We refuse quite disdainfully to recognize them, even crying "Fudge!" and "Nonsense!" and decline to put them in the _Star_, or the _Sun_, or the _World_, or even in the sober _Journal of the Society for the Enlargement of Human Heads_, but they don't mind.”

Gaping adjective US /ˈɡeɪpɪŋ/

wide open

From this reading “They circle around us, with the sunshine flashing on their wings, and all the simple and credulous people gaping up at them, and they don't in the least care for our excellent platforms, constitutions, and Bibles.”

Least noun US /least/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “They circle around us, with the sunshine flashing on their wings, and all the simple and credulous people gaping up at them, and they don't in the least care for our excellent platforms, constitutions, and Bibles.”

Mind noun US /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “We refuse quite disdainfully to recognize them, even crying "Fudge!" and "Nonsense!" and decline to put them in the _Star_, or the _Sun_, or the _World_, or even in the sober _Journal of the Society for the Enlargement of Human Heads_, but they don't mind.”

Nevertheless adverb US /ˌnevərðəˈles/

in spite of what has just been said

From this reading “THE RETURN OF THE PRODIGAL Nevertheless, the flying-machine episode played its part in the history of the _Star_.”

Part noun US /part/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “THE RETURN OF THE PRODIGAL Nevertheless, the flying-machine episode played its part in the history of the _Star_.”

Quite noun US /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “We refuse quite disdainfully to recognize them, even crying "Fudge!" and "Nonsense!" and decline to put them in the _Star_, or the _Sun_, or the _World_, or even in the sober _Journal of the Society for the Enlargement of Human Heads_, but they don't mind.”

Sober adjective US /ˈsoʊbər/

not affected by alcohol

From this reading “We refuse quite disdainfully to recognize them, even crying "Fudge!" and "Nonsense!" and decline to put them in the _Star_, or the _Sun_, or the _World_, or even in the sober _Journal of the Society for the Enlargement of Human Heads_, but they don't mind.”

All words in this reading · 76

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

all

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

From this reading They circle around us, with the sunshine flashing on their wings, and all the simple and credulous people gaping up at them, and they don't in the least care for our excellent platforms, constitutions, and Bibles.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading We refuse quite disdainfully to recognize them, even crying "Fudge!" and "Nonsense!" and decline to put them in the _Star_, or the _Sun_, or the _World_, or even in the sober _Journal of the Society for the Enlargement of Human Heads_, but they don't mind.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading Facts are like that.

aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading They circle around us, with the sunshine flashing on their wings, and all the simple and credulous people gaping up at them, and they don't in the least care for our excellent platforms, constitutions, and Bibles.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading They circle around us, with the sunshine flashing on their wings, and all the simple and credulous people gaping up at them, and they don't in the least care for our excellent platforms, constitutions, and Bibles.

Bibles

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

From this reading They circle around us, with the sunshine flashing on their wings, and all the simple and credulous people gaping up at them, and they don't in the least care for our excellent platforms, constitutions, and Bibles.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading We refuse quite disdainfully to recognize them, even crying "Fudge!" and "Nonsense!" and decline to put them in the _Star_, or the _Sun_, or the _World_, or even in the sober _Journal of the Society for the Enlargement of Human Heads_, but they don't mind.

care

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

From this reading They circle around us, with the sunshine flashing on their wings, and all the simple and credulous people gaping up at them, and they don't in the least care for our excellent platforms, constitutions, and Bibles.

Carr

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

From this reading It was the flying-machine incident which was the immediate cause of the return of Norton Carr.

cause

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

From this reading It was the flying-machine incident which was the immediate cause of the return of Norton Carr.

circle

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

From this reading They circle around us, with the sunshine flashing on their wings, and all the simple and credulous people gaping up at them, and they don't in the least care for our excellent platforms, constitutions, and Bibles.

constitutions

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

From this reading They circle around us, with the sunshine flashing on their wings, and all the simple and credulous people gaping up at them, and they don't in the least care for our excellent platforms, constitutions, and Bibles.

credulous

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

From this reading They circle around us, with the sunshine flashing on their wings, and all the simple and credulous people gaping up at them, and they don't in the least care for our excellent platforms, constitutions, and Bibles.

crying

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

From this reading We refuse quite disdainfully to recognize them, even crying "Fudge!" and "Nonsense!" and decline to put them in the _Star_, or the _Sun_, or the _World_, or even in the sober _Journal of the Society for the Enlargement of Human Heads_, but they don't mind.

declinenounUS /dɪˈklaɪn/

a gradual loss of health and strength

From this reading We refuse quite disdainfully to recognize them, even crying "Fudge!" and "Nonsense!" and decline to put them in the _Star_, or the _Sun_, or the _World_, or even in the sober _Journal of the Society for the Enlargement of Human Heads_, but they don't mind.

disdainfully

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

From this reading We refuse quite disdainfully to recognize them, even crying "Fudge!" and "Nonsense!" and decline to put them in the _Star_, or the _Sun_, or the _World_, or even in the sober _Journal of the Society for the Enlargement of Human Heads_, but they don't mind.

don't

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

From this reading We refuse quite disdainfully to recognize them, even crying "Fudge!" and "Nonsense!" and decline to put them in the _Star_, or the _Sun_, or the _World_, or even in the sober _Journal of the Society for the Enlargement of Human Heads_, but they don't mind.

Enlargement

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

From this reading We refuse quite disdainfully to recognize them, even crying "Fudge!" and "Nonsense!" and decline to put them in the _Star_, or the _Sun_, or the _World_, or even in the sober _Journal of the Society for the Enlargement of Human Heads_, but they don't mind.

episode

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

From this reading THE RETURN OF THE PRODIGAL Nevertheless, the flying-machine episode played its part in the history of the _Star_.

evennounUS /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading We refuse quite disdainfully to recognize them, even crying "Fudge!" and "Nonsense!" and decline to put them in the _Star_, or the _Sun_, or the _World_, or even in the sober _Journal of the Society for the Enlargement of Human Heads_, but they don't mind.

excellent

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

From this reading They circle around us, with the sunshine flashing on their wings, and all the simple and credulous people gaping up at them, and they don't in the least care for our excellent platforms, constitutions, and Bibles.

Facts

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

From this reading Facts are like that.

flashing

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

From this reading They circle around us, with the sunshine flashing on their wings, and all the simple and credulous people gaping up at them, and they don't in the least care for our excellent platforms, constitutions, and Bibles.

flying-machine

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

From this reading THE RETURN OF THE PRODIGAL Nevertheless, the flying-machine episode played its part in the history of the _Star_.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading We refuse quite disdainfully to recognize them, even crying "Fudge!" and "Nonsense!" and decline to put them in the _Star_, or the _Sun_, or the _World_, or even in the sober _Journal of the Society for the Enlargement of Human Heads_, but they don't mind.

Fudge

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

From this reading We refuse quite disdainfully to recognize them, even crying "Fudge!" and "Nonsense!" and decline to put them in the _Star_, or the _Sun_, or the _World_, or even in the sober _Journal of the Society for the Enlargement of Human Heads_, but they don't mind.

gapingadjectiveUS /ˈɡeɪpɪŋ/

wide open

From this reading They circle around us, with the sunshine flashing on their wings, and all the simple and credulous people gaping up at them, and they don't in the least care for our excellent platforms, constitutions, and Bibles.

Heads

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

From this reading We refuse quite disdainfully to recognize them, even crying "Fudge!" and "Nonsense!" and decline to put them in the _Star_, or the _Sun_, or the _World_, or even in the sober _Journal of the Society for the Enlargement of Human Heads_, but they don't mind.

history

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

From this reading THE RETURN OF THE PRODIGAL Nevertheless, the flying-machine episode played its part in the history of the _Star_.

Human

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

From this reading We refuse quite disdainfully to recognize them, even crying "Fudge!" and "Nonsense!" and decline to put them in the _Star_, or the _Sun_, or the _World_, or even in the sober _Journal of the Society for the Enlargement of Human Heads_, but they don't mind.

immediate

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

From this reading It was the flying-machine incident which was the immediate cause of the return of Norton Carr.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading THE RETURN OF THE PRODIGAL Nevertheless, the flying-machine episode played its part in the history of the _Star_.

incident

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

From this reading It was the flying-machine incident which was the immediate cause of the return of Norton Carr.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was the flying-machine incident which was the immediate cause of the return of Norton Carr.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading THE RETURN OF THE PRODIGAL Nevertheless, the flying-machine episode played its part in the history of the _Star_.

Journal

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

From this reading We refuse quite disdainfully to recognize them, even crying "Fudge!" and "Nonsense!" and decline to put them in the _Star_, or the _Sun_, or the _World_, or even in the sober _Journal of the Society for the Enlargement of Human Heads_, but they don't mind.

leastnounUS /least/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading They circle around us, with the sunshine flashing on their wings, and all the simple and credulous people gaping up at them, and they don't in the least care for our excellent platforms, constitutions, and Bibles.

like

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

From this reading Facts are like that.

mindnounUS /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading We refuse quite disdainfully to recognize them, even crying "Fudge!" and "Nonsense!" and decline to put them in the _Star_, or the _Sun_, or the _World_, or even in the sober _Journal of the Society for the Enlargement of Human Heads_, but they don't mind.

NeverthelessadverbUS /ˌnevərðəˈles/

in spite of what has just been said

From this reading THE RETURN OF THE PRODIGAL Nevertheless, the flying-machine episode played its part in the history of the _Star_.

Nonsense

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

From this reading We refuse quite disdainfully to recognize them, even crying "Fudge!" and "Nonsense!" and decline to put them in the _Star_, or the _Sun_, or the _World_, or even in the sober _Journal of the Society for the Enlargement of Human Heads_, but they don't mind.

Norton

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

From this reading It was the flying-machine incident which was the immediate cause of the return of Norton Carr.

OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE RETURN OF THE PRODIGAL Nevertheless, the flying-machine episode played its part in the history of the _Star_.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading They circle around us, with the sunshine flashing on their wings, and all the simple and credulous people gaping up at them, and they don't in the least care for our excellent platforms, constitutions, and Bibles.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading We refuse quite disdainfully to recognize them, even crying "Fudge!" and "Nonsense!" and decline to put them in the _Star_, or the _Sun_, or the _World_, or even in the sober _Journal of the Society for the Enlargement of Human Heads_, but they don't mind.

ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading They circle around us, with the sunshine flashing on their wings, and all the simple and credulous people gaping up at them, and they don't in the least care for our excellent platforms, constitutions, and Bibles.

partnounUS /part/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading THE RETURN OF THE PRODIGAL Nevertheless, the flying-machine episode played its part in the history of the _Star_.

people

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

From this reading They circle around us, with the sunshine flashing on their wings, and all the simple and credulous people gaping up at them, and they don't in the least care for our excellent platforms, constitutions, and Bibles.

platforms

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

From this reading They circle around us, with the sunshine flashing on their wings, and all the simple and credulous people gaping up at them, and they don't in the least care for our excellent platforms, constitutions, and Bibles.

played

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

From this reading THE RETURN OF THE PRODIGAL Nevertheless, the flying-machine episode played its part in the history of the _Star_.

PRODIGAL

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

From this reading THE RETURN OF THE PRODIGAL Nevertheless, the flying-machine episode played its part in the history of the _Star_.

put

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

From this reading We refuse quite disdainfully to recognize them, even crying "Fudge!" and "Nonsense!" and decline to put them in the _Star_, or the _Sun_, or the _World_, or even in the sober _Journal of the Society for the Enlargement of Human Heads_, but they don't mind.

quitenounUS /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading We refuse quite disdainfully to recognize them, even crying "Fudge!" and "Nonsense!" and decline to put them in the _Star_, or the _Sun_, or the _World_, or even in the sober _Journal of the Society for the Enlargement of Human Heads_, but they don't mind.

recognize

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

From this reading We refuse quite disdainfully to recognize them, even crying "Fudge!" and "Nonsense!" and decline to put them in the _Star_, or the _Sun_, or the _World_, or even in the sober _Journal of the Society for the Enlargement of Human Heads_, but they don't mind.

refuse

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

From this reading We refuse quite disdainfully to recognize them, even crying "Fudge!" and "Nonsense!" and decline to put them in the _Star_, or the _Sun_, or the _World_, or even in the sober _Journal of the Society for the Enlargement of Human Heads_, but they don't mind.

RETURN

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

From this reading THE RETURN OF THE PRODIGAL Nevertheless, the flying-machine episode played its part in the history of the _Star_.

simple

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

From this reading They circle around us, with the sunshine flashing on their wings, and all the simple and credulous people gaping up at them, and they don't in the least care for our excellent platforms, constitutions, and Bibles.

soberadjectiveUS /ˈsoʊbər/

not affected by alcohol

From this reading We refuse quite disdainfully to recognize them, even crying "Fudge!" and "Nonsense!" and decline to put them in the _Star_, or the _Sun_, or the _World_, or even in the sober _Journal of the Society for the Enlargement of Human Heads_, but they don't mind.

Society

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

From this reading We refuse quite disdainfully to recognize them, even crying "Fudge!" and "Nonsense!" and decline to put them in the _Star_, or the _Sun_, or the _World_, or even in the sober _Journal of the Society for the Enlargement of Human Heads_, but they don't mind.

Star

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

From this reading THE RETURN OF THE PRODIGAL Nevertheless, the flying-machine episode played its part in the history of the _Star_.

Sun

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

From this reading We refuse quite disdainfully to recognize them, even crying "Fudge!" and "Nonsense!" and decline to put them in the _Star_, or the _Sun_, or the _World_, or even in the sober _Journal of the Society for the Enlargement of Human Heads_, but they don't mind.

sunshine

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

From this reading They circle around us, with the sunshine flashing on their wings, and all the simple and credulous people gaping up at them, and they don't in the least care for our excellent platforms, constitutions, and Bibles.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Facts are like that.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE RETURN OF THE PRODIGAL Nevertheless, the flying-machine episode played its part in the history of the _Star_.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading They circle around us, with the sunshine flashing on their wings, and all the simple and credulous people gaping up at them, and they don't in the least care for our excellent platforms, constitutions, and Bibles.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading We refuse quite disdainfully to recognize them, even crying "Fudge!" and "Nonsense!" and decline to put them in the _Star_, or the _Sun_, or the _World_, or even in the sober _Journal of the Society for the Enlargement of Human Heads_, but they don't mind.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading We refuse quite disdainfully to recognize them, even crying "Fudge!" and "Nonsense!" and decline to put them in the _Star_, or the _Sun_, or the _World_, or even in the sober _Journal of the Society for the Enlargement of Human Heads_, but they don't mind.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading We refuse quite disdainfully to recognize them, even crying "Fudge!" and "Nonsense!" and decline to put them in the _Star_, or the _Sun_, or the _World_, or even in the sober _Journal of the Society for the Enlargement of Human Heads_, but they don't mind.

up

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

From this reading They circle around us, with the sunshine flashing on their wings, and all the simple and credulous people gaping up at them, and they don't in the least care for our excellent platforms, constitutions, and Bibles.

uspronounUS /ʌs/

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading They circle around us, with the sunshine flashing on their wings, and all the simple and credulous people gaping up at them, and they don't in the least care for our excellent platforms, constitutions, and Bibles.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading It was the flying-machine incident which was the immediate cause of the return of Norton Carr.

WepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading We refuse quite disdainfully to recognize them, even crying "Fudge!" and "Nonsense!" and decline to put them in the _Star_, or the _Sun_, or the _World_, or even in the sober _Journal of the Society for the Enlargement of Human Heads_, but they don't mind.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading It was the flying-machine incident which was the immediate cause of the return of Norton Carr.

wings

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

From this reading They circle around us, with the sunshine flashing on their wings, and all the simple and credulous people gaping up at them, and they don't in the least care for our excellent platforms, constitutions, and Bibles.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading They circle around us, with the sunshine flashing on their wings, and all the simple and credulous people gaping up at them, and they don't in the least care for our excellent platforms, constitutions, and Bibles.

World

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

From this reading We refuse quite disdainfully to recognize them, even crying "Fudge!" and "Nonsense!" and decline to put them in the _Star_, or the _Sun_, or the _World_, or even in the sober _Journal of the Society for the Enlargement of Human Heads_, but they don't mind.