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Old Mortality, Complete
Old Mortality, Complete

Chapter XVII

Cover illustration for Old Mortality, Complete
Context Illustration Reading 1/33 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
With many a stout thwack and many a bang, Hard crab-tree and old iron rang.
Hudibras.
Cornet Richard Grahame descended the hill, bearing in his hand the extempore flag of truce, and making his managed horse keep time by bounds and curvets to the tune which he whistled.
The trumpeter followed.
Five or six horsemen, having something the appearance of officers, detached themselves from each flank of the Presbyterian army, and, meeting in the centre, approached the ditch which divided the hollow as near as the morass would permit.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Old Mortality, Complete

Chapter XVII

Reading 1/33 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
With many a stout thwack and many a bang, Hard crab-tree and old iron rang.
Line 2
Hudibras.
Line 3
Cornet Richard Grahame descended the hill, bearing in his hand the extempore flag of truce, and making his managed horse keep time by bounds and curvets to the tune which he whistled.
Line 4
The trumpeter followed.
Line 5
Five or six horsemen, having something the appearance of officers, detached themselves from each flank of the Presbyterian army, and, meeting in the centre, approached the ditch which divided the hollow as near as the morass would permit.

Learner Dictionary

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

Appearance noun US /ˈappearance/

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

From this reading “Five or six horsemen, having something the appearance of officers, detached themselves from each flank of the Presbyterian army, and, meeting in the centre, approached the ditch which divided the hollow as near as the morass would permit.”

Descended noun US /ˈdescended/

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

From this reading “Cornet Richard Grahame descended the hill, bearing in his hand the extempore flag of truce, and making his managed horse keep time by bounds and curvets to the tune which he whistled.”

Divided noun US /ˈdivided/

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

From this reading “Five or six horsemen, having something the appearance of officers, detached themselves from each flank of the Presbyterian army, and, meeting in the centre, approached the ditch which divided the hollow as near as the morass would permit.”

Hand noun US /hand/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Cornet Richard Grahame descended the hill, bearing in his hand the extempore flag of truce, and making his managed horse keep time by bounds and curvets to the tune which he whistled.”

Having auxiliary verb US /ˈhævɪŋ/

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading “Five or six horsemen, having something the appearance of officers, detached themselves from each flank of the Presbyterian army, and, meeting in the centre, approached the ditch which divided the hollow as near as the morass would permit.”

Something pronoun US /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading “Five or six horsemen, having something the appearance of officers, detached themselves from each flank of the Presbyterian army, and, meeting in the centre, approached the ditch which divided the hollow as near as the morass would permit.”

Themselves pronoun US /ðemˈselvz/

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading “Five or six horsemen, having something the appearance of officers, detached themselves from each flank of the Presbyterian army, and, meeting in the centre, approached the ditch which divided the hollow as near as the morass would permit.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Cornet Richard Grahame descended the hill, bearing in his hand the extempore flag of truce, and making his managed horse keep time by bounds and curvets to the tune which he whistled.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “Five or six horsemen, having something the appearance of officers, detached themselves from each flank of the Presbyterian army, and, meeting in the centre, approached the ditch which divided the hollow as near as the morass would permit.”

All words in this reading · 68

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 With many a stout thwack and many a bang, Hard crab-tree and old iron rang.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading With many a stout thwack and many a bang, Hard crab-tree and old iron rang.

appearancenounUS /ˈappearance/

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

From this reading Five or six horsemen, having something the appearance of officers, detached themselves from each flank of the Presbyterian army, and, meeting in the centre, approached the ditch which divided the hollow as near as the morass would permit.

approached

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

From this reading Five or six horsemen, having something the appearance of officers, detached themselves from each flank of the Presbyterian army, and, meeting in the centre, approached the ditch which divided the hollow as near as the morass would permit.

army

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

From this reading Five or six horsemen, having something the appearance of officers, detached themselves from each flank of the Presbyterian army, and, meeting in the centre, approached the ditch which divided the hollow as near as the morass would permit.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Five or six horsemen, having something the appearance of officers, detached themselves from each flank of the Presbyterian army, and, meeting in the centre, approached the ditch which divided the hollow as near as the morass would permit.

bang

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

From this reading With many a stout thwack and many a bang, Hard crab-tree and old iron rang.

bearing

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

From this reading Cornet Richard Grahame descended the hill, bearing in his hand the extempore flag of truce, and making his managed horse keep time by bounds and curvets to the tune which he whistled.

bounds

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

From this reading Cornet Richard Grahame descended the hill, bearing in his hand the extempore flag of truce, and making his managed horse keep time by bounds and curvets to the tune which he whistled.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Cornet Richard Grahame descended the hill, bearing in his hand the extempore flag of truce, and making his managed horse keep time by bounds and curvets to the tune which he whistled.

centre

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

From this reading Five or six horsemen, having something the appearance of officers, detached themselves from each flank of the Presbyterian army, and, meeting in the centre, approached the ditch which divided the hollow as near as the morass would permit.

Cornet

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

From this reading Cornet Richard Grahame descended the hill, bearing in his hand the extempore flag of truce, and making his managed horse keep time by bounds and curvets to the tune which he whistled.

crab-tree

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

From this reading With many a stout thwack and many a bang, Hard crab-tree and old iron rang.

curvets

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

From this reading Cornet Richard Grahame descended the hill, bearing in his hand the extempore flag of truce, and making his managed horse keep time by bounds and curvets to the tune which he whistled.

descendednounUS /ˈdescended/

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

From this reading Cornet Richard Grahame descended the hill, bearing in his hand the extempore flag of truce, and making his managed horse keep time by bounds and curvets to the tune which he whistled.

detached

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

From this reading Five or six horsemen, having something the appearance of officers, detached themselves from each flank of the Presbyterian army, and, meeting in the centre, approached the ditch which divided the hollow as near as the morass would permit.

ditch

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

From this reading Five or six horsemen, having something the appearance of officers, detached themselves from each flank of the Presbyterian army, and, meeting in the centre, approached the ditch which divided the hollow as near as the morass would permit.

dividednounUS /ˈdivided/

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

From this reading Five or six horsemen, having something the appearance of officers, detached themselves from each flank of the Presbyterian army, and, meeting in the centre, approached the ditch which divided the hollow as near as the morass would permit.

eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/

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

From this reading Five or six horsemen, having something the appearance of officers, detached themselves from each flank of the Presbyterian army, and, meeting in the centre, approached the ditch which divided the hollow as near as the morass would permit.

extempore

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

From this reading Cornet Richard Grahame descended the hill, bearing in his hand the extempore flag of truce, and making his managed horse keep time by bounds and curvets to the tune which he whistled.

Five

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

From this reading Five or six horsemen, having something the appearance of officers, detached themselves from each flank of the Presbyterian army, and, meeting in the centre, approached the ditch which divided the hollow as near as the morass would permit.

flag

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

From this reading Cornet Richard Grahame descended the hill, bearing in his hand the extempore flag of truce, and making his managed horse keep time by bounds and curvets to the tune which he whistled.

flank

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

From this reading Five or six horsemen, having something the appearance of officers, detached themselves from each flank of the Presbyterian army, and, meeting in the centre, approached the ditch which divided the hollow as near as the morass would permit.

followed

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

From this reading The trumpeter followed.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Five or six horsemen, having something the appearance of officers, detached themselves from each flank of the Presbyterian army, and, meeting in the centre, approached the ditch which divided the hollow as near as the morass would permit.

Grahame

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

From this reading Cornet Richard Grahame descended the hill, bearing in his hand the extempore flag of truce, and making his managed horse keep time by bounds and curvets to the tune which he whistled.

hand

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

From this reading Cornet Richard Grahame descended the hill, bearing in his hand the extempore flag of truce, and making his managed horse keep time by bounds and curvets to the tune which he whistled.

Hard

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

From this reading With many a stout thwack and many a bang, Hard crab-tree and old iron rang.

havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading Five or six horsemen, having something the appearance of officers, detached themselves from each flank of the Presbyterian army, and, meeting in the centre, approached the ditch which divided the hollow as near as the morass would permit.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Cornet Richard Grahame descended the hill, bearing in his hand the extempore flag of truce, and making his managed horse keep time by bounds and curvets to the tune which he whistled.

hill

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

From this reading Cornet Richard Grahame descended the hill, bearing in his hand the extempore flag of truce, and making his managed horse keep time by bounds and curvets to the tune which he whistled.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Cornet Richard Grahame descended the hill, bearing in his hand the extempore flag of truce, and making his managed horse keep time by bounds and curvets to the tune which he whistled.

hollow

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

From this reading Five or six horsemen, having something the appearance of officers, detached themselves from each flank of the Presbyterian army, and, meeting in the centre, approached the ditch which divided the hollow as near as the morass would permit.

horse

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

From this reading Cornet Richard Grahame descended the hill, bearing in his hand the extempore flag of truce, and making his managed horse keep time by bounds and curvets to the tune which he whistled.

horsemen

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

From this reading Five or six horsemen, having something the appearance of officers, detached themselves from each flank of the Presbyterian army, and, meeting in the centre, approached the ditch which divided the hollow as near as the morass would permit.

Hudibras

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

From this reading Hudibras.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Cornet Richard Grahame descended the hill, bearing in his hand the extempore flag of truce, and making his managed horse keep time by bounds and curvets to the tune which he whistled.

iron

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

From this reading With many a stout thwack and many a bang, Hard crab-tree and old iron rang.

keep

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

From this reading Cornet Richard Grahame descended the hill, bearing in his hand the extempore flag of truce, and making his managed horse keep time by bounds and curvets to the tune which he whistled.

making

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

From this reading Cornet Richard Grahame descended the hill, bearing in his hand the extempore flag of truce, and making his managed horse keep time by bounds and curvets to the tune which he whistled.

managed

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

From this reading Cornet Richard Grahame descended the hill, bearing in his hand the extempore flag of truce, and making his managed horse keep time by bounds and curvets to the tune which he whistled.

many

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

From this reading With many a stout thwack and many a bang, Hard crab-tree and old iron rang.

meeting

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

From this reading Five or six horsemen, having something the appearance of officers, detached themselves from each flank of the Presbyterian army, and, meeting in the centre, approached the ditch which divided the hollow as near as the morass would permit.

morass

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

From this reading Five or six horsemen, having something the appearance of officers, detached themselves from each flank of the Presbyterian army, and, meeting in the centre, approached the ditch which divided the hollow as near as the morass would permit.

near

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

From this reading Five or six horsemen, having something the appearance of officers, detached themselves from each flank of the Presbyterian army, and, meeting in the centre, approached the ditch which divided the hollow as near as the morass would permit.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Cornet Richard Grahame descended the hill, bearing in his hand the extempore flag of truce, and making his managed horse keep time by bounds and curvets to the tune which he whistled.

officers

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

From this reading Five or six horsemen, having something the appearance of officers, detached themselves from each flank of the Presbyterian army, and, meeting in the centre, approached the ditch which divided the hollow as near as the morass would permit.

old

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

From this reading With many a stout thwack and many a bang, Hard crab-tree and old iron rang.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Five or six horsemen, having something the appearance of officers, detached themselves from each flank of the Presbyterian army, and, meeting in the centre, approached the ditch which divided the hollow as near as the morass would permit.

permit

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

From this reading Five or six horsemen, having something the appearance of officers, detached themselves from each flank of the Presbyterian army, and, meeting in the centre, approached the ditch which divided the hollow as near as the morass would permit.

Presbyterian

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

From this reading Five or six horsemen, having something the appearance of officers, detached themselves from each flank of the Presbyterian army, and, meeting in the centre, approached the ditch which divided the hollow as near as the morass would permit.

rang

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

From this reading With many a stout thwack and many a bang, Hard crab-tree and old iron rang.

Richard

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

From this reading Cornet Richard Grahame descended the hill, bearing in his hand the extempore flag of truce, and making his managed horse keep time by bounds and curvets to the tune which he whistled.

six

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

From this reading Five or six horsemen, having something the appearance of officers, detached themselves from each flank of the Presbyterian army, and, meeting in the centre, approached the ditch which divided the hollow as near as the morass would permit.

somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading Five or six horsemen, having something the appearance of officers, detached themselves from each flank of the Presbyterian army, and, meeting in the centre, approached the ditch which divided the hollow as near as the morass would permit.

stout

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

From this reading With many a stout thwack and many a bang, Hard crab-tree and old iron rang.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Cornet Richard Grahame descended the hill, bearing in his hand the extempore flag of truce, and making his managed horse keep time by bounds and curvets to the tune which he whistled.

themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading Five or six horsemen, having something the appearance of officers, detached themselves from each flank of the Presbyterian army, and, meeting in the centre, approached the ditch which divided the hollow as near as the morass would permit.

thwack

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

From this reading With many a stout thwack and many a bang, Hard crab-tree and old iron rang.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Cornet Richard Grahame descended the hill, bearing in his hand the extempore flag of truce, and making his managed horse keep time by bounds and curvets to the tune which he whistled.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Cornet Richard Grahame descended the hill, bearing in his hand the extempore flag of truce, and making his managed horse keep time by bounds and curvets to the tune which he whistled.

truce

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

From this reading Cornet Richard Grahame descended the hill, bearing in his hand the extempore flag of truce, and making his managed horse keep time by bounds and curvets to the tune which he whistled.

trumpeter

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

From this reading The trumpeter followed.

tune

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

From this reading Cornet Richard Grahame descended the hill, bearing in his hand the extempore flag of truce, and making his managed horse keep time by bounds and curvets to the tune which he whistled.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading Cornet Richard Grahame descended the hill, bearing in his hand the extempore flag of truce, and making his managed horse keep time by bounds and curvets to the tune which he whistled.

whistled

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

From this reading Cornet Richard Grahame descended the hill, bearing in his hand the extempore flag of truce, and making his managed horse keep time by bounds and curvets to the tune which he whistled.

WithprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading With many a stout thwack and many a bang, Hard crab-tree and old iron rang.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading Five or six horsemen, having something the appearance of officers, detached themselves from each flank of the Presbyterian army, and, meeting in the centre, approached the ditch which divided the hollow as near as the morass would permit.