Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
Pee-Wee Harris on the Trail
Pee-Wee Harris on the Trail

Chapter XXX

Cover illustration for Pee-Wee Harris on the Trail
Context Illustration Reading 1/11 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
ALONE But there was one there who smiled almost fearfully, as if doubting his privilege of mirth in that gay, strange company.
He smiled, not as one of them, but in silent awe, and did not dare to laugh aloud.
He hoped that they would not notice him and tell him to go home.
He had dreamed of some day seeing such wondrous boys as these, and here they were before him, all about him, in their natty khaki, self-possessed, unabashed, merry, free.
Was not that enough for Peter Piper of Piper's Crossroads?
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Pee-Wee Harris on the Trail

Chapter XXX

Reading 1/11 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
ALONE But there was one there who smiled almost fearfully, as if doubting his privilege of mirth in that gay, strange company.
Line 2
He smiled, not as one of them, but in silent awe, and did not dare to laugh aloud.
Line 3
He hoped that they would not notice him and tell him to go home.
Line 4
He had dreamed of some day seeing such wondrous boys as these, and here they were before him, all about him, in their natty khaki, self-possessed, unabashed, merry, free.
Line 5
Was not that enough for Peter Piper of Piper's Crossroads?

Learner Dictionary

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

About preposition US /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “He had dreamed of some day seeing such wondrous boys as these, and here they were before him, all about him, in their natty khaki, self-possessed, unabashed, merry, free.”

ALONE noun US /alone/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “ALONE But there was one there who smiled almost fearfully, as if doubting his privilege of mirth in that gay, strange company.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “He had dreamed of some day seeing such wondrous boys as these, and here they were before him, all about him, in their natty khaki, self-possessed, unabashed, merry, free.”

Free adjective US /friː/

acting without enough restraint or discipline

From this reading “He had dreamed of some day seeing such wondrous boys as these, and here they were before him, all about him, in their natty khaki, self-possessed, unabashed, merry, free.”

Here noun US /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He had dreamed of some day seeing such wondrous boys as these, and here they were before him, all about him, in their natty khaki, self-possessed, unabashed, merry, free.”

Merry noun US /merry/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He had dreamed of some day seeing such wondrous boys as these, and here they were before him, all about him, in their natty khaki, self-possessed, unabashed, merry, free.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “ALONE But there was one there who smiled almost fearfully, as if doubting his privilege of mirth in that gay, strange company.”

Seeing noun US /seeing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He had dreamed of some day seeing such wondrous boys as these, and here they were before him, all about him, in their natty khaki, self-possessed, unabashed, merry, free.”

Tell noun US /tell/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He hoped that they would not notice him and tell him to go home.”

These determiner US /ðiːz/

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

From this reading “He had dreamed of some day seeing such wondrous boys as these, and here they were before him, all about him, in their natty khaki, self-possessed, unabashed, merry, free.”

Wondrous adjective US /ˈwʌndrəs/

strange, beautiful, and impressive

From this reading “He had dreamed of some day seeing such wondrous boys as these, and here they were before him, all about him, in their natty khaki, self-possessed, unabashed, merry, free.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “He hoped that they would not notice him and tell him to go home.”

All words in this reading · 67

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

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading He had dreamed of some day seeing such wondrous boys as these, and here they were before him, all about him, in their natty khaki, self-possessed, unabashed, merry, free.

all

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

From this reading He had dreamed of some day seeing such wondrous boys as these, and here they were before him, all about him, in their natty khaki, self-possessed, unabashed, merry, free.

almost

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

From this reading ALONE But there was one there who smiled almost fearfully, as if doubting his privilege of mirth in that gay, strange company.

ALONEnounUS /alone/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ALONE But there was one there who smiled almost fearfully, as if doubting his privilege of mirth in that gay, strange company.

aloud

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

From this reading He smiled, not as one of them, but in silent awe, and did not dare to laugh aloud.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading He smiled, not as one of them, but in silent awe, and did not dare to laugh aloud.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading ALONE But there was one there who smiled almost fearfully, as if doubting his privilege of mirth in that gay, strange company.

awe

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

From this reading He smiled, not as one of them, but in silent awe, and did not dare to laugh aloud.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading He had dreamed of some day seeing such wondrous boys as these, and here they were before him, all about him, in their natty khaki, self-possessed, unabashed, merry, free.

boys

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

From this reading He had dreamed of some day seeing such wondrous boys as these, and here they were before him, all about him, in their natty khaki, self-possessed, unabashed, merry, free.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading ALONE But there was one there who smiled almost fearfully, as if doubting his privilege of mirth in that gay, strange company.

company

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

From this reading ALONE But there was one there who smiled almost fearfully, as if doubting his privilege of mirth in that gay, strange company.

Crossroads

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

From this reading Was not that enough for Peter Piper of Piper's Crossroads?

dare

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

From this reading He smiled, not as one of them, but in silent awe, and did not dare to laugh aloud.

day

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

From this reading He had dreamed of some day seeing such wondrous boys as these, and here they were before him, all about him, in their natty khaki, self-possessed, unabashed, merry, free.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

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

From this reading He smiled, not as one of them, but in silent awe, and did not dare to laugh aloud.

doubting

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

From this reading ALONE But there was one there who smiled almost fearfully, as if doubting his privilege of mirth in that gay, strange company.

dreamed

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

From this reading He had dreamed of some day seeing such wondrous boys as these, and here they were before him, all about him, in their natty khaki, self-possessed, unabashed, merry, free.

enough

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

From this reading Was not that enough for Peter Piper of Piper's Crossroads?

fearfully

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

From this reading ALONE But there was one there who smiled almost fearfully, as if doubting his privilege of mirth in that gay, strange company.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Was not that enough for Peter Piper of Piper's Crossroads?

freeadjectiveUS /friː/

acting without enough restraint or discipline

From this reading He had dreamed of some day seeing such wondrous boys as these, and here they were before him, all about him, in their natty khaki, self-possessed, unabashed, merry, free.

gay

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

From this reading ALONE But there was one there who smiled almost fearfully, as if doubting his privilege of mirth in that gay, strange company.

go

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

From this reading He hoped that they would not notice him and tell him to go home.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading He had dreamed of some day seeing such wondrous boys as these, and here they were before him, all about him, in their natty khaki, self-possessed, unabashed, merry, free.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He smiled, not as one of them, but in silent awe, and did not dare to laugh aloud.

herenounUS /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He had dreamed of some day seeing such wondrous boys as these, and here they were before him, all about him, in their natty khaki, self-possessed, unabashed, merry, free.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading He hoped that they would not notice him and tell him to go home.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading ALONE But there was one there who smiled almost fearfully, as if doubting his privilege of mirth in that gay, strange company.

home

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

From this reading He hoped that they would not notice him and tell him to go home.

hoped

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

From this reading He hoped that they would not notice him and tell him to go home.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading ALONE But there was one there who smiled almost fearfully, as if doubting his privilege of mirth in that gay, strange company.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading ALONE But there was one there who smiled almost fearfully, as if doubting his privilege of mirth in that gay, strange company.

khaki

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

From this reading He had dreamed of some day seeing such wondrous boys as these, and here they were before him, all about him, in their natty khaki, self-possessed, unabashed, merry, free.

laugh

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

From this reading He smiled, not as one of them, but in silent awe, and did not dare to laugh aloud.

merry

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

From this reading He had dreamed of some day seeing such wondrous boys as these, and here they were before him, all about him, in their natty khaki, self-possessed, unabashed, merry, free.

mirth

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

From this reading ALONE But there was one there who smiled almost fearfully, as if doubting his privilege of mirth in that gay, strange company.

natty

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

From this reading He had dreamed of some day seeing such wondrous boys as these, and here they were before him, all about him, in their natty khaki, self-possessed, unabashed, merry, free.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading He smiled, not as one of them, but in silent awe, and did not dare to laugh aloud.

notice

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

From this reading He hoped that they would not notice him and tell him to go home.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading ALONE But there was one there who smiled almost fearfully, as if doubting his privilege of mirth in that gay, strange company.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading ALONE But there was one there who smiled almost fearfully, as if doubting his privilege of mirth in that gay, strange company.

Peter

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

From this reading Was not that enough for Peter Piper of Piper's Crossroads?

Piper

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

From this reading Was not that enough for Peter Piper of Piper's Crossroads?

Piper's

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

From this reading Was not that enough for Peter Piper of Piper's Crossroads?

privilege

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

From this reading ALONE But there was one there who smiled almost fearfully, as if doubting his privilege of mirth in that gay, strange company.

seeing

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

From this reading He had dreamed of some day seeing such wondrous boys as these, and here they were before him, all about him, in their natty khaki, self-possessed, unabashed, merry, free.

self-possessed

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

From this reading He had dreamed of some day seeing such wondrous boys as these, and here they were before him, all about him, in their natty khaki, self-possessed, unabashed, merry, free.

silent

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

From this reading He smiled, not as one of them, but in silent awe, and did not dare to laugh aloud.

smiled

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

From this reading ALONE But there was one there who smiled almost fearfully, as if doubting his privilege of mirth in that gay, strange company.

some

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

From this reading He had dreamed of some day seeing such wondrous boys as these, and here they were before him, all about him, in their natty khaki, self-possessed, unabashed, merry, free.

strange

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

From this reading ALONE But there was one there who smiled almost fearfully, as if doubting his privilege of mirth in that gay, strange company.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading He had dreamed of some day seeing such wondrous boys as these, and here they were before him, all about him, in their natty khaki, self-possessed, unabashed, merry, free.

tellnounUS /tell/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He hoped that they would not notice him and tell him to go home.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading ALONE But there was one there who smiled almost fearfully, as if doubting his privilege of mirth in that gay, strange company.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading He had dreamed of some day seeing such wondrous boys as these, and here they were before him, all about him, in their natty khaki, self-possessed, unabashed, merry, free.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading He smiled, not as one of them, but in silent awe, and did not dare to laugh aloud.

there

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

From this reading ALONE But there was one there who smiled almost fearfully, as if doubting his privilege of mirth in that gay, strange company.

thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

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

From this reading He had dreamed of some day seeing such wondrous boys as these, and here they were before him, all about him, in their natty khaki, self-possessed, unabashed, merry, free.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading He hoped that they would not notice him and tell him to go home.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading He smiled, not as one of them, but in silent awe, and did not dare to laugh aloud.

unabashed

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

From this reading He had dreamed of some day seeing such wondrous boys as these, and here they were before him, all about him, in their natty khaki, self-possessed, unabashed, merry, free.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading ALONE But there was one there who smiled almost fearfully, as if doubting his privilege of mirth in that gay, strange company.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading He had dreamed of some day seeing such wondrous boys as these, and here they were before him, all about him, in their natty khaki, self-possessed, unabashed, merry, free.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading ALONE But there was one there who smiled almost fearfully, as if doubting his privilege of mirth in that gay, strange company.

wondrousadjectiveUS /ˈwʌndrəs/

strange, beautiful, and impressive

From this reading He had dreamed of some day seeing such wondrous boys as these, and here they were before him, all about him, in their natty khaki, self-possessed, unabashed, merry, free.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading He hoped that they would not notice him and tell him to go home.