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Leo the Circus Boy
Leo the Circus Boy

Chapter IX · The Mad Elephant

Cover illustration for Leo the Circus Boy
Context Illustration Reading 1/12 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
From Middletown the circus went to Dover, and then to Grasscannon.
At each of these places a big business was done, and at every performance Leo did better.
The young gymnast became a great favorite with all but two people in the “Greatest Show on Earth.”
These two people were Jack Snipper, who remained as overbearing as ever, and Jack Broxton, the fellow discharged for intoxication.
Broxton had been following up the circus ever since his discharge, in the vain hope of being reinstated.
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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.

Leo the Circus Boy

Chapter IX · The Mad Elephant

Reading 1/12 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
From Middletown the circus went to Dover, and then to Grasscannon.
Line 2
At each of these places a big business was done, and at every performance Leo did better.
Line 3
The young gymnast became a great favorite with all but two people in the “Greatest Show on Earth.”
Line 4
These two people were Jack Snipper, who remained as overbearing as ever, and Jack Broxton, the fellow discharged for intoxication.
Line 5
Broxton had been following up the circus ever since his discharge, in the vain hope of being reinstated.

Learner Dictionary

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

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “Broxton had been following up the circus ever since his discharge, in the vain hope of being reinstated.”

Being auxiliary verb US /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading “Broxton had been following up the circus ever since his discharge, in the vain hope of being reinstated.”

Discharged verb US /dɪsˈtʃɑrdʒd/

released from a duty or job

From this reading “These two people were Jack Snipper, who remained as overbearing as ever, and Jack Broxton, the fellow discharged for intoxication.”

Done noun US /done/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “At each of these places a big business was done, and at every performance Leo did better.”

Ever noun US /ever/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “These two people were Jack Snipper, who remained as overbearing as ever, and Jack Broxton, the fellow discharged for intoxication.”

Every determiner US /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading “At each of these places a big business was done, and at every performance Leo did better.”

Great noun US /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The young gymnast became a great favorite with all but two people in the “Greatest Show on Earth.””

Remained noun US /ˈremained/

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

From this reading “These two people were Jack Snipper, who remained as overbearing as ever, and Jack Broxton, the fellow discharged for intoxication.”

Since preposition US /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading “Broxton had been following up the circus ever since his discharge, in the vain hope of being reinstated.”

These determiner US /ðiːz/

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

From this reading “At each of these places a big business was done, and at every performance Leo did better.”

Went noun US /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “From Middletown the circus went to Dover, and then to Grasscannon.”

All words in this reading · 64

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 At each of these places a big business was done, and at every performance Leo did better.

all

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

From this reading The young gymnast became a great favorite with all but two people in the “Greatest Show on Earth.”

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading From Middletown the circus went to Dover, and then to Grasscannon.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading These two people were Jack Snipper, who remained as overbearing as ever, and Jack Broxton, the fellow discharged for intoxication.

AtprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading At each of these places a big business was done, and at every performance Leo did better.

became

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

From this reading The young gymnast became a great favorite with all but two people in the “Greatest Show on Earth.”

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Broxton had been following up the circus ever since his discharge, in the vain hope of being reinstated.

beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading Broxton had been following up the circus ever since his discharge, in the vain hope of being reinstated.

better

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

From this reading At each of these places a big business was done, and at every performance Leo did better.

big

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

From this reading At each of these places a big business was done, and at every performance Leo did better.

Broxton

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

From this reading These two people were Jack Snipper, who remained as overbearing as ever, and Jack Broxton, the fellow discharged for intoxication.

business

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

From this reading At each of these places a big business was done, and at every performance Leo did better.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading The young gymnast became a great favorite with all but two people in the “Greatest Show on Earth.”

circus

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

From this reading From Middletown the circus went to Dover, and then to Grasscannon.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

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

From this reading At each of these places a big business was done, and at every performance Leo did better.

discharge

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

From this reading Broxton had been following up the circus ever since his discharge, in the vain hope of being reinstated.

dischargedverbUS /dɪsˈtʃɑrdʒd/

released from a duty or job

From this reading These two people were Jack Snipper, who remained as overbearing as ever, and Jack Broxton, the fellow discharged for intoxication.

donenounUS /done/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading At each of these places a big business was done, and at every performance Leo did better.

Dover

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

From this reading From Middletown the circus went to Dover, and then to Grasscannon.

eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading At each of these places a big business was done, and at every performance Leo did better.

Earth

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

From this reading The young gymnast became a great favorite with all but two people in the “Greatest Show on Earth.”

evernounUS /ever/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading These two people were Jack Snipper, who remained as overbearing as ever, and Jack Broxton, the fellow discharged for intoxication.

everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading At each of these places a big business was done, and at every performance Leo did better.

favorite

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

From this reading The young gymnast became a great favorite with all but two people in the “Greatest Show on Earth.”

fellow

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

From this reading These two people were Jack Snipper, who remained as overbearing as ever, and Jack Broxton, the fellow discharged for intoxication.

following

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

From this reading Broxton had been following up the circus ever since his discharge, in the vain hope of being reinstated.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading These two people were Jack Snipper, who remained as overbearing as ever, and Jack Broxton, the fellow discharged for intoxication.

FromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading From Middletown the circus went to Dover, and then to Grasscannon.

Grasscannon

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

From this reading From Middletown the circus went to Dover, and then to Grasscannon.

greatnounUS /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The young gymnast became a great favorite with all but two people in the “Greatest Show on Earth.”

Greatest

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

From this reading The young gymnast became a great favorite with all but two people in the “Greatest Show on Earth.”

gymnast

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

From this reading The young gymnast became a great favorite with all but two people in the “Greatest Show on Earth.”

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Broxton had been following up the circus ever since his discharge, in the vain hope of being reinstated.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Broxton had been following up the circus ever since his discharge, in the vain hope of being reinstated.

hope

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

From this reading Broxton had been following up the circus ever since his discharge, in the vain hope of being reinstated.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The young gymnast became a great favorite with all but two people in the “Greatest Show on Earth.”

intoxication

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

From this reading These two people were Jack Snipper, who remained as overbearing as ever, and Jack Broxton, the fellow discharged for intoxication.

Jack

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

From this reading These two people were Jack Snipper, who remained as overbearing as ever, and Jack Broxton, the fellow discharged for intoxication.

Leo

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

From this reading At each of these places a big business was done, and at every performance Leo did better.

Middletown

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

From this reading From Middletown the circus went to Dover, and then to Grasscannon.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading At each of these places a big business was done, and at every performance Leo did better.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The young gymnast became a great favorite with all but two people in the “Greatest Show on Earth.”

overbearing

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

From this reading These two people were Jack Snipper, who remained as overbearing as ever, and Jack Broxton, the fellow discharged for intoxication.

people

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

From this reading The young gymnast became a great favorite with all but two people in the “Greatest Show on Earth.”

performance

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

From this reading At each of these places a big business was done, and at every performance Leo did better.

places

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

From this reading At each of these places a big business was done, and at every performance Leo did better.

reinstated

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

From this reading Broxton had been following up the circus ever since his discharge, in the vain hope of being reinstated.

remainednounUS /ˈremained/

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

From this reading These two people were Jack Snipper, who remained as overbearing as ever, and Jack Broxton, the fellow discharged for intoxication.

Show

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

From this reading The young gymnast became a great favorite with all but two people in the “Greatest Show on Earth.”

sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading Broxton had been following up the circus ever since his discharge, in the vain hope of being reinstated.

Snipper

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

From this reading These two people were Jack Snipper, who remained as overbearing as ever, and Jack Broxton, the fellow discharged for intoxication.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading From Middletown the circus went to Dover, and then to Grasscannon.

then

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

From this reading From Middletown the circus went to Dover, and then to Grasscannon.

thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

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

From this reading At each of these places a big business was done, and at every performance Leo did better.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading From Middletown the circus went to Dover, and then to Grasscannon.

two

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

From this reading The young gymnast became a great favorite with all but two people in the “Greatest Show on Earth.”

up

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

From this reading Broxton had been following up the circus ever since his discharge, in the vain hope of being reinstated.

vain

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

From this reading Broxton had been following up the circus ever since his discharge, in the vain hope of being reinstated.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading At each of these places a big business was done, and at every performance Leo did better.

wentnounUS /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading From Middletown the circus went to Dover, and then to Grasscannon.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading These two people were Jack Snipper, who remained as overbearing as ever, and Jack Broxton, the fellow discharged for intoxication.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading These two people were Jack Snipper, who remained as overbearing as ever, and Jack Broxton, the fellow discharged for intoxication.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The young gymnast became a great favorite with all but two people in the “Greatest Show on Earth.”

young

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

From this reading The young gymnast became a great favorite with all but two people in the “Greatest Show on Earth.”