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No Defense, Volume 2.
No Defense, Volume 2.

Chapter V

Cover illustration for No Defense, Volume 2.
Context Illustration Reading 1/52 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
IN THE NICK OF TIME Perhaps no mutineer in the history of the world ever succeeded, as did Dyck Calhoun, in holding control over fellow-mutineers on the journey from the English Channel to the Caribbean Sea.
As a boy, Dyck had been an expert sailor, had studied the machinery of a man-of-war, and his love of the sea was innate and deep-seated; but his present success was based upon more than experience.
Quite apart from the honour of his nature, prison had deepened in him the hatred of injustice.
In soul he was bitter; in body he was healthy, powerful, and sane.
Slowly, sternly, yet tactfully, he had broken down the many customs of ship life injurious to the welfare of the men.
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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.

No Defense, Volume 2.

Chapter V

Reading 1/52 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
IN THE NICK OF TIME Perhaps no mutineer in the history of the world ever succeeded, as did Dyck Calhoun, in holding control over fellow-mutineers on the journey from the English Channel to the Caribbean Sea.
Line 2
As a boy, Dyck had been an expert sailor, had studied the machinery of a man-of-war, and his love of the sea was innate and deep-seated; but his present success was based upon more than experience.
Line 3
Quite apart from the honour of his nature, prison had deepened in him the hatred of injustice.
Line 4
In soul he was bitter; in body he was healthy, powerful, and sane.
Line 5
Slowly, sternly, yet tactfully, he had broken down the many customs of ship life injurious to the welfare of the men.

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 “As a boy, Dyck had been an expert sailor, had studied the machinery of a man-of-war, and his love of the sea was innate and deep-seated; but his present success was based upon more than experience.”

Body noun US /body/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “In soul he was bitter; in body he was healthy, powerful, and sane.”

Broken noun US /broken/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Slowly, sternly, yet tactfully, he had broken down the many customs of ship life injurious to the welfare of the men.”

Ever noun US /ever/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “IN THE NICK OF TIME Perhaps no mutineer in the history of the world ever succeeded, as did Dyck Calhoun, in holding control over fellow-mutineers on the journey from the English Channel to the Caribbean Sea.”

Journey noun US /ˈjourney/

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

From this reading “IN THE NICK OF TIME Perhaps no mutineer in the history of the world ever succeeded, as did Dyck Calhoun, in holding control over fellow-mutineers on the journey from the English Channel to the Caribbean Sea.”

Life noun US /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Slowly, sternly, yet tactfully, he had broken down the many customs of ship life injurious to the welfare of the men.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “IN THE NICK OF TIME Perhaps no mutineer in the history of the world ever succeeded, as did Dyck Calhoun, in holding control over fellow-mutineers on the journey from the English Channel to the Caribbean Sea.”

Perhaps noun US /perhaps/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “IN THE NICK OF TIME Perhaps no mutineer in the history of the world ever succeeded, as did Dyck Calhoun, in holding control over fellow-mutineers on the journey from the English Channel to the Caribbean Sea.”

Quite noun US /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Quite apart from the honour of his nature, prison had deepened in him the hatred of injustice.”

Ship noun US /ship/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Slowly, sternly, yet tactfully, he had broken down the many customs of ship life injurious to the welfare of the men.”

TIME noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “IN THE NICK OF TIME Perhaps no mutineer in the history of the world ever succeeded, as did Dyck Calhoun, in holding control over fellow-mutineers on the journey from the English Channel to the Caribbean Sea.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “As a boy, Dyck had been an expert sailor, had studied the machinery of a man-of-war, and his love of the sea was innate and deep-seated; but his present success was based upon more than experience.”

Yet conjunction US /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading “Slowly, sternly, yet tactfully, he had broken down the many customs of ship life injurious to the welfare of the men.”

All words in this reading · 81

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 As a boy, Dyck had been an expert sailor, had studied the machinery of a man-of-war, and his love of the sea was innate and deep-seated; but his present success was based upon more than experience.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading As a boy, Dyck had been an expert sailor, had studied the machinery of a man-of-war, and his love of the sea was innate and deep-seated; but his present success was based upon more than experience.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading As a boy, Dyck had been an expert sailor, had studied the machinery of a man-of-war, and his love of the sea was innate and deep-seated; but his present success was based upon more than experience.

apart

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

From this reading Quite apart from the honour of his nature, prison had deepened in him the hatred of injustice.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading IN THE NICK OF TIME Perhaps no mutineer in the history of the world ever succeeded, as did Dyck Calhoun, in holding control over fellow-mutineers on the journey from the English Channel to the Caribbean Sea.

based

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

From this reading As a boy, Dyck had been an expert sailor, had studied the machinery of a man-of-war, and his love of the sea was innate and deep-seated; but his present success was based upon more than experience.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading As a boy, Dyck had been an expert sailor, had studied the machinery of a man-of-war, and his love of the sea was innate and deep-seated; but his present success was based upon more than experience.

bitter

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

From this reading In soul he was bitter; in body he was healthy, powerful, and sane.

bodynounUS /body/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading In soul he was bitter; in body he was healthy, powerful, and sane.

boy

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

From this reading As a boy, Dyck had been an expert sailor, had studied the machinery of a man-of-war, and his love of the sea was innate and deep-seated; but his present success was based upon more than experience.

brokennounUS /broken/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Slowly, sternly, yet tactfully, he had broken down the many customs of ship life injurious to the welfare of the men.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading As a boy, Dyck had been an expert sailor, had studied the machinery of a man-of-war, and his love of the sea was innate and deep-seated; but his present success was based upon more than experience.

Calhoun

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

From this reading IN THE NICK OF TIME Perhaps no mutineer in the history of the world ever succeeded, as did Dyck Calhoun, in holding control over fellow-mutineers on the journey from the English Channel to the Caribbean Sea.

Caribbean

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

From this reading IN THE NICK OF TIME Perhaps no mutineer in the history of the world ever succeeded, as did Dyck Calhoun, in holding control over fellow-mutineers on the journey from the English Channel to the Caribbean Sea.

Channel

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

From this reading IN THE NICK OF TIME Perhaps no mutineer in the history of the world ever succeeded, as did Dyck Calhoun, in holding control over fellow-mutineers on the journey from the English Channel to the Caribbean Sea.

control

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

From this reading IN THE NICK OF TIME Perhaps no mutineer in the history of the world ever succeeded, as did Dyck Calhoun, in holding control over fellow-mutineers on the journey from the English Channel to the Caribbean Sea.

customs

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

From this reading Slowly, sternly, yet tactfully, he had broken down the many customs of ship life injurious to the welfare of the men.

deep-seated

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

From this reading As a boy, Dyck had been an expert sailor, had studied the machinery of a man-of-war, and his love of the sea was innate and deep-seated; but his present success was based upon more than experience.

deepened

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

From this reading Quite apart from the honour of his nature, prison had deepened in him the hatred of injustice.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

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

From this reading IN THE NICK OF TIME Perhaps no mutineer in the history of the world ever succeeded, as did Dyck Calhoun, in holding control over fellow-mutineers on the journey from the English Channel to the Caribbean Sea.

down

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

From this reading Slowly, sternly, yet tactfully, he had broken down the many customs of ship life injurious to the welfare of the men.

Dyck

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

From this reading IN THE NICK OF TIME Perhaps no mutineer in the history of the world ever succeeded, as did Dyck Calhoun, in holding control over fellow-mutineers on the journey from the English Channel to the Caribbean Sea.

English

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

From this reading IN THE NICK OF TIME Perhaps no mutineer in the history of the world ever succeeded, as did Dyck Calhoun, in holding control over fellow-mutineers on the journey from the English Channel to the Caribbean Sea.

evernounUS /ever/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading IN THE NICK OF TIME Perhaps no mutineer in the history of the world ever succeeded, as did Dyck Calhoun, in holding control over fellow-mutineers on the journey from the English Channel to the Caribbean Sea.

experience

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

From this reading As a boy, Dyck had been an expert sailor, had studied the machinery of a man-of-war, and his love of the sea was innate and deep-seated; but his present success was based upon more than experience.

expert

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

From this reading As a boy, Dyck had been an expert sailor, had studied the machinery of a man-of-war, and his love of the sea was innate and deep-seated; but his present success was based upon more than experience.

fellow-mutineers

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

From this reading IN THE NICK OF TIME Perhaps no mutineer in the history of the world ever succeeded, as did Dyck Calhoun, in holding control over fellow-mutineers on the journey from the English Channel to the Caribbean Sea.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading IN THE NICK OF TIME Perhaps no mutineer in the history of the world ever succeeded, as did Dyck Calhoun, in holding control over fellow-mutineers on the journey from the English Channel to the Caribbean Sea.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading As a boy, Dyck had been an expert sailor, had studied the machinery of a man-of-war, and his love of the sea was innate and deep-seated; but his present success was based upon more than experience.

hatred

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

From this reading Quite apart from the honour of his nature, prison had deepened in him the hatred of injustice.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading In soul he was bitter; in body he was healthy, powerful, and sane.

healthy

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

From this reading In soul he was bitter; in body he was healthy, powerful, and sane.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading Quite apart from the honour of his nature, prison had deepened in him the hatred of injustice.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading As a boy, Dyck had been an expert sailor, had studied the machinery of a man-of-war, and his love of the sea was innate and deep-seated; but his present success was based upon more than experience.

history

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

From this reading IN THE NICK OF TIME Perhaps no mutineer in the history of the world ever succeeded, as did Dyck Calhoun, in holding control over fellow-mutineers on the journey from the English Channel to the Caribbean Sea.

holding

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

From this reading IN THE NICK OF TIME Perhaps no mutineer in the history of the world ever succeeded, as did Dyck Calhoun, in holding control over fellow-mutineers on the journey from the English Channel to the Caribbean Sea.

honour

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

From this reading Quite apart from the honour of his nature, prison had deepened in him the hatred of injustice.

INprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading IN THE NICK OF TIME Perhaps no mutineer in the history of the world ever succeeded, as did Dyck Calhoun, in holding control over fellow-mutineers on the journey from the English Channel to the Caribbean Sea.

injurious

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

From this reading Slowly, sternly, yet tactfully, he had broken down the many customs of ship life injurious to the welfare of the men.

injustice

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

From this reading Quite apart from the honour of his nature, prison had deepened in him the hatred of injustice.

innate

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

From this reading As a boy, Dyck had been an expert sailor, had studied the machinery of a man-of-war, and his love of the sea was innate and deep-seated; but his present success was based upon more than experience.

journeynounUS /ˈjourney/

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

From this reading IN THE NICK OF TIME Perhaps no mutineer in the history of the world ever succeeded, as did Dyck Calhoun, in holding control over fellow-mutineers on the journey from the English Channel to the Caribbean Sea.

lifenounUS /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Slowly, sternly, yet tactfully, he had broken down the many customs of ship life injurious to the welfare of the men.

love

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

From this reading As a boy, Dyck had been an expert sailor, had studied the machinery of a man-of-war, and his love of the sea was innate and deep-seated; but his present success was based upon more than experience.

machinery

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

From this reading As a boy, Dyck had been an expert sailor, had studied the machinery of a man-of-war, and his love of the sea was innate and deep-seated; but his present success was based upon more than experience.

man-of-war

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

From this reading As a boy, Dyck had been an expert sailor, had studied the machinery of a man-of-war, and his love of the sea was innate and deep-seated; but his present success was based upon more than experience.

many

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

From this reading Slowly, sternly, yet tactfully, he had broken down the many customs of ship life injurious to the welfare of the men.

men

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

From this reading Slowly, sternly, yet tactfully, he had broken down the many customs of ship life injurious to the welfare of the men.

more

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

From this reading As a boy, Dyck had been an expert sailor, had studied the machinery of a man-of-war, and his love of the sea was innate and deep-seated; but his present success was based upon more than experience.

mutineer

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

From this reading IN THE NICK OF TIME Perhaps no mutineer in the history of the world ever succeeded, as did Dyck Calhoun, in holding control over fellow-mutineers on the journey from the English Channel to the Caribbean Sea.

nature

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

From this reading Quite apart from the honour of his nature, prison had deepened in him the hatred of injustice.

NICK

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

From this reading IN THE NICK OF TIME Perhaps no mutineer in the history of the world ever succeeded, as did Dyck Calhoun, in holding control over fellow-mutineers on the journey from the English Channel to the Caribbean Sea.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading IN THE NICK OF TIME Perhaps no mutineer in the history of the world ever succeeded, as did Dyck Calhoun, in holding control over fellow-mutineers on the journey from the English Channel to the Caribbean Sea.

OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading IN THE NICK OF TIME Perhaps no mutineer in the history of the world ever succeeded, as did Dyck Calhoun, in holding control over fellow-mutineers on the journey from the English Channel to the Caribbean Sea.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading IN THE NICK OF TIME Perhaps no mutineer in the history of the world ever succeeded, as did Dyck Calhoun, in holding control over fellow-mutineers on the journey from the English Channel to the Caribbean Sea.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading IN THE NICK OF TIME Perhaps no mutineer in the history of the world ever succeeded, as did Dyck Calhoun, in holding control over fellow-mutineers on the journey from the English Channel to the Caribbean Sea.

Perhaps

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

From this reading IN THE NICK OF TIME Perhaps no mutineer in the history of the world ever succeeded, as did Dyck Calhoun, in holding control over fellow-mutineers on the journey from the English Channel to the Caribbean Sea.

powerful

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

From this reading In soul he was bitter; in body he was healthy, powerful, and sane.

present

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

From this reading As a boy, Dyck had been an expert sailor, had studied the machinery of a man-of-war, and his love of the sea was innate and deep-seated; but his present success was based upon more than experience.

prison

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

From this reading Quite apart from the honour of his nature, prison had deepened in him the hatred of injustice.

QuitenounUS /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Quite apart from the honour of his nature, prison had deepened in him the hatred of injustice.

sailor

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

From this reading As a boy, Dyck had been an expert sailor, had studied the machinery of a man-of-war, and his love of the sea was innate and deep-seated; but his present success was based upon more than experience.

sane

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

From this reading In soul he was bitter; in body he was healthy, powerful, and sane.

Sea

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

From this reading IN THE NICK OF TIME Perhaps no mutineer in the history of the world ever succeeded, as did Dyck Calhoun, in holding control over fellow-mutineers on the journey from the English Channel to the Caribbean Sea.

shipnounUS /ship/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Slowly, sternly, yet tactfully, he had broken down the many customs of ship life injurious to the welfare of the men.

Slowly

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

From this reading Slowly, sternly, yet tactfully, he had broken down the many customs of ship life injurious to the welfare of the men.

soul

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

From this reading In soul he was bitter; in body he was healthy, powerful, and sane.

sternly

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

From this reading Slowly, sternly, yet tactfully, he had broken down the many customs of ship life injurious to the welfare of the men.

studied

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

From this reading As a boy, Dyck had been an expert sailor, had studied the machinery of a man-of-war, and his love of the sea was innate and deep-seated; but his present success was based upon more than experience.

succeeded

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

From this reading IN THE NICK OF TIME Perhaps no mutineer in the history of the world ever succeeded, as did Dyck Calhoun, in holding control over fellow-mutineers on the journey from the English Channel to the Caribbean Sea.

success

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

From this reading As a boy, Dyck had been an expert sailor, had studied the machinery of a man-of-war, and his love of the sea was innate and deep-seated; but his present success was based upon more than experience.

tactfully

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

From this reading Slowly, sternly, yet tactfully, he had broken down the many customs of ship life injurious to the welfare of the men.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading As a boy, Dyck had been an expert sailor, had studied the machinery of a man-of-war, and his love of the sea was innate and deep-seated; but his present success was based upon more than experience.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading IN THE NICK OF TIME Perhaps no mutineer in the history of the world ever succeeded, as did Dyck Calhoun, in holding control over fellow-mutineers on the journey from the English Channel to the Caribbean Sea.

TIMEnounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading IN THE NICK OF TIME Perhaps no mutineer in the history of the world ever succeeded, as did Dyck Calhoun, in holding control over fellow-mutineers on the journey from the English Channel to the Caribbean Sea.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading IN THE NICK OF TIME Perhaps no mutineer in the history of the world ever succeeded, as did Dyck Calhoun, in holding control over fellow-mutineers on the journey from the English Channel to the Caribbean Sea.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading As a boy, Dyck had been an expert sailor, had studied the machinery of a man-of-war, and his love of the sea was innate and deep-seated; but his present success was based upon more than experience.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading As a boy, Dyck had been an expert sailor, had studied the machinery of a man-of-war, and his love of the sea was innate and deep-seated; but his present success was based upon more than experience.

welfare

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

From this reading Slowly, sternly, yet tactfully, he had broken down the many customs of ship life injurious to the welfare of the men.

world

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

From this reading IN THE NICK OF TIME Perhaps no mutineer in the history of the world ever succeeded, as did Dyck Calhoun, in holding control over fellow-mutineers on the journey from the English Channel to the Caribbean Sea.

yetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading Slowly, sternly, yet tactfully, he had broken down the many customs of ship life injurious to the welfare of the men.