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Roughing It, Part 8.
Roughing It, Part 8.

Chapter I

Cover illustration for Roughing It, Part 8.
Context Illustration Reading 1/11 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
At four o'clock in the afternoon we were winding down a mountain of dreary and desolate lava to the sea, and closing our pleasant land journey.
This lava is the accumulation of ages; one torrent of fire after another has rolled down here in old times, and built up the island structure higher and higher.
Underneath, it is honey-combed with caves; it would be of no use to dig wells in such a place; they would not hold water--you would not find any for them to hold, for that matter.
Consequently, the planters depend upon cisterns.
The last lava flow occurred here so long ago that there are none now living who witnessed it.
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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.

Roughing It, Part 8.

Chapter I

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

Line 1
At four o'clock in the afternoon we were winding down a mountain of dreary and desolate lava to the sea, and closing our pleasant land journey.
Line 2
This lava is the accumulation of ages; one torrent of fire after another has rolled down here in old times, and built up the island structure higher and higher.
Line 3
Underneath, it is honey-combed with caves; it would be of no use to dig wells in such a place; they would not hold water--you would not find any for them to hold, for that matter.
Line 4
Consequently, the planters depend upon cisterns.
Line 5
The last lava flow occurred here so long ago that there are none now living who witnessed it.

Learner Dictionary

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

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “This lava is the accumulation of ages; one torrent of fire after another has rolled down here in old times, and built up the island structure higher and higher.”

Afternoon noun US /ˈafternoon/

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

From this reading “At four o'clock in the afternoon we were winding down a mountain of dreary and desolate lava to the sea, and closing our pleasant land journey.”

Another noun US /ˈanother/

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

From this reading “This lava is the accumulation of ages; one torrent of fire after another has rolled down here in old times, and built up the island structure higher and higher.”

Has auxiliary verb US /hæz/

the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading “This lava is the accumulation of ages; one torrent of fire after another has rolled down here in old times, and built up the island structure higher and higher.”

Here noun US /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “This lava is the accumulation of ages; one torrent of fire after another has rolled down here in old times, and built up the island structure higher and higher.”

Journey noun US /ˈjourney/

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

From this reading “At four o'clock in the afternoon we were winding down a mountain of dreary and desolate lava to the sea, and closing our pleasant land journey.”

Last noun US /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The last lava flow occurred here so long ago that there are none now living who witnessed it.”

Long noun US /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The last lava flow occurred here so long ago that there are none now living who witnessed it.”

None pronoun US /nʌn/

not one, and not any

From this reading “The last lava flow occurred here so long ago that there are none now living who witnessed it.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “This lava is the accumulation of ages; one torrent of fire after another has rolled down here in old times, and built up the island structure higher and higher.”

Pleasant noun US /pleasant/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “At four o'clock in the afternoon we were winding down a mountain of dreary and desolate lava to the sea, and closing our pleasant land journey.”

Underneath preposition US /ˌʌndərˈniːθ/

directly under, often hidden by what is above

From this reading “Underneath, it is honey-combed with caves; it would be of no use to dig wells in such a place; they would not hold water--you would not find any for them to hold, for that matter.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “Consequently, the planters depend upon cisterns.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “Underneath, it is honey-combed with caves; it would be of no use to dig wells in such a place; they would not hold water--you would not find any for them to hold, for that matter.”

All words in this reading · 85

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 four o'clock in the afternoon we were winding down a mountain of dreary and desolate lava to the sea, and closing our pleasant land journey.

accumulation

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

From this reading This lava is the accumulation of ages; one torrent of fire after another has rolled down here in old times, and built up the island structure higher and higher.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading This lava is the accumulation of ages; one torrent of fire after another has rolled down here in old times, and built up the island structure higher and higher.

afternoonnounUS /ˈafternoon/

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

From this reading At four o'clock in the afternoon we were winding down a mountain of dreary and desolate lava to the sea, and closing our pleasant land journey.

ages

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

From this reading This lava is the accumulation of ages; one torrent of fire after another has rolled down here in old times, and built up the island structure higher and higher.

ago

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

From this reading The last lava flow occurred here so long ago that there are none now living who witnessed it.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading At four o'clock in the afternoon we were winding down a mountain of dreary and desolate lava to the sea, and closing our pleasant land journey.

anothernounUS /ˈanother/

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

From this reading This lava is the accumulation of ages; one torrent of fire after another has rolled down here in old times, and built up the island structure higher and higher.

any

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

From this reading Underneath, it is honey-combed with caves; it would be of no use to dig wells in such a place; they would not hold water--you would not find any for them to hold, for that matter.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading The last lava flow occurred here so long ago that there are none now living who witnessed it.

AtprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading At four o'clock in the afternoon we were winding down a mountain of dreary and desolate lava to the sea, and closing our pleasant land journey.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading Underneath, it is honey-combed with caves; it would be of no use to dig wells in such a place; they would not hold water--you would not find any for them to hold, for that matter.

built

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

From this reading This lava is the accumulation of ages; one torrent of fire after another has rolled down here in old times, and built up the island structure higher and higher.

caves

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

From this reading Underneath, it is honey-combed with caves; it would be of no use to dig wells in such a place; they would not hold water--you would not find any for them to hold, for that matter.

cisterns

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

From this reading Consequently, the planters depend upon cisterns.

closing

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

From this reading At four o'clock in the afternoon we were winding down a mountain of dreary and desolate lava to the sea, and closing our pleasant land journey.

Consequently

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

From this reading Consequently, the planters depend upon cisterns.

depend

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

From this reading Consequently, the planters depend upon cisterns.

desolate

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

From this reading At four o'clock in the afternoon we were winding down a mountain of dreary and desolate lava to the sea, and closing our pleasant land journey.

dig

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

From this reading Underneath, it is honey-combed with caves; it would be of no use to dig wells in such a place; they would not hold water--you would not find any for them to hold, for that matter.

down

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

From this reading At four o'clock in the afternoon we were winding down a mountain of dreary and desolate lava to the sea, and closing our pleasant land journey.

dreary

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

From this reading At four o'clock in the afternoon we were winding down a mountain of dreary and desolate lava to the sea, and closing our pleasant land journey.

find

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

From this reading Underneath, it is honey-combed with caves; it would be of no use to dig wells in such a place; they would not hold water--you would not find any for them to hold, for that matter.

fire

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

From this reading This lava is the accumulation of ages; one torrent of fire after another has rolled down here in old times, and built up the island structure higher and higher.

flow

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

From this reading The last lava flow occurred here so long ago that there are none now living who witnessed it.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Underneath, it is honey-combed with caves; it would be of no use to dig wells in such a place; they would not hold water--you would not find any for them to hold, for that matter.

four

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

From this reading At four o'clock in the afternoon we were winding down a mountain of dreary and desolate lava to the sea, and closing our pleasant land journey.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading This lava is the accumulation of ages; one torrent of fire after another has rolled down here in old times, and built up the island structure higher and higher.

herenounUS /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading This lava is the accumulation of ages; one torrent of fire after another has rolled down here in old times, and built up the island structure higher and higher.

higher

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

From this reading This lava is the accumulation of ages; one torrent of fire after another has rolled down here in old times, and built up the island structure higher and higher.

hold

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

From this reading Underneath, it is honey-combed with caves; it would be of no use to dig wells in such a place; they would not hold water--you would not find any for them to hold, for that matter.

honey-combed

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

From this reading Underneath, it is honey-combed with caves; it would be of no use to dig wells in such a place; they would not hold water--you would not find any for them to hold, for that matter.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading At four o'clock in the afternoon we were winding down a mountain of dreary and desolate lava to the sea, and closing our pleasant land journey.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading This lava is the accumulation of ages; one torrent of fire after another has rolled down here in old times, and built up the island structure higher and higher.

island

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

From this reading This lava is the accumulation of ages; one torrent of fire after another has rolled down here in old times, and built up the island structure higher and higher.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Underneath, it is honey-combed with caves; it would be of no use to dig wells in such a place; they would not hold water--you would not find any for them to hold, for that matter.

journeynounUS /ˈjourney/

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

From this reading At four o'clock in the afternoon we were winding down a mountain of dreary and desolate lava to the sea, and closing our pleasant land journey.

land

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

From this reading At four o'clock in the afternoon we were winding down a mountain of dreary and desolate lava to the sea, and closing our pleasant land journey.

lastnounUS /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The last lava flow occurred here so long ago that there are none now living who witnessed it.

lava

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

From this reading At four o'clock in the afternoon we were winding down a mountain of dreary and desolate lava to the sea, and closing our pleasant land journey.

living

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

From this reading The last lava flow occurred here so long ago that there are none now living who witnessed it.

longnounUS /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The last lava flow occurred here so long ago that there are none now living who witnessed it.

matter

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

From this reading Underneath, it is honey-combed with caves; it would be of no use to dig wells in such a place; they would not hold water--you would not find any for them to hold, for that matter.

mountain

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

From this reading At four o'clock in the afternoon we were winding down a mountain of dreary and desolate lava to the sea, and closing our pleasant land journey.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading Underneath, it is honey-combed with caves; it would be of no use to dig wells in such a place; they would not hold water--you would not find any for them to hold, for that matter.

nonepronounUS /nʌn/

not one, and not any

From this reading The last lava flow occurred here so long ago that there are none now living who witnessed it.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Underneath, it is honey-combed with caves; it would be of no use to dig wells in such a place; they would not hold water--you would not find any for them to hold, for that matter.

now

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

From this reading The last lava flow occurred here so long ago that there are none now living who witnessed it.

o'clock

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

From this reading At four o'clock in the afternoon we were winding down a mountain of dreary and desolate lava to the sea, and closing our pleasant land journey.

occurred

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

From this reading The last lava flow occurred here so long ago that there are none now living who witnessed it.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading At four o'clock in the afternoon we were winding down a mountain of dreary and desolate lava to the sea, and closing our pleasant land journey.

old

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

From this reading This lava is the accumulation of ages; one torrent of fire after another has rolled down here in old times, and built up the island structure higher and higher.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading This lava is the accumulation of ages; one torrent of fire after another has rolled down here in old times, and built up the island structure higher and higher.

ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading At four o'clock in the afternoon we were winding down a mountain of dreary and desolate lava to the sea, and closing our pleasant land journey.

place

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

From this reading Underneath, it is honey-combed with caves; it would be of no use to dig wells in such a place; they would not hold water--you would not find any for them to hold, for that matter.

planters

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

From this reading Consequently, the planters depend upon cisterns.

pleasantnounUS /pleasant/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading At four o'clock in the afternoon we were winding down a mountain of dreary and desolate lava to the sea, and closing our pleasant land journey.

rolled

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

From this reading This lava is the accumulation of ages; one torrent of fire after another has rolled down here in old times, and built up the island structure higher and higher.

sea

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

From this reading At four o'clock in the afternoon we were winding down a mountain of dreary and desolate lava to the sea, and closing our pleasant land journey.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading The last lava flow occurred here so long ago that there are none now living who witnessed it.

structure

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

From this reading This lava is the accumulation of ages; one torrent of fire after another has rolled down here in old times, and built up the island structure higher and higher.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading Underneath, it is honey-combed with caves; it would be of no use to dig wells in such a place; they would not hold water--you would not find any for them to hold, for that matter.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Underneath, it is honey-combed with caves; it would be of no use to dig wells in such a place; they would not hold water--you would not find any for them to hold, for that matter.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading At four o'clock in the afternoon we were winding down a mountain of dreary and desolate lava to the sea, and closing our pleasant land journey.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Underneath, it is honey-combed with caves; it would be of no use to dig wells in such a place; they would not hold water--you would not find any for them to hold, for that matter.

there

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

From this reading The last lava flow occurred here so long ago that there are none now living who witnessed it.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading Underneath, it is honey-combed with caves; it would be of no use to dig wells in such a place; they would not hold water--you would not find any for them to hold, for that matter.

ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading This lava is the accumulation of ages; one torrent of fire after another has rolled down here in old times, and built up the island structure higher and higher.

times

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

From this reading This lava is the accumulation of ages; one torrent of fire after another has rolled down here in old times, and built up the island structure higher and higher.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading At four o'clock in the afternoon we were winding down a mountain of dreary and desolate lava to the sea, and closing our pleasant land journey.

torrent

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

From this reading This lava is the accumulation of ages; one torrent of fire after another has rolled down here in old times, and built up the island structure higher and higher.

UnderneathprepositionUS /ˌʌndərˈniːθ/

directly under, often hidden by what is above

From this reading Underneath, it is honey-combed with caves; it would be of no use to dig wells in such a place; they would not hold water--you would not find any for them to hold, for that matter.

up

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

From this reading This lava is the accumulation of ages; one torrent of fire after another has rolled down here in old times, and built up the island structure higher and higher.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Consequently, the planters depend upon cisterns.

use

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

From this reading Underneath, it is honey-combed with caves; it would be of no use to dig wells in such a place; they would not hold water--you would not find any for them to hold, for that matter.

water

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

From this reading Underneath, it is honey-combed with caves; it would be of no use to dig wells in such a place; they would not hold water--you would not find any for them to hold, for that matter.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading At four o'clock in the afternoon we were winding down a mountain of dreary and desolate lava to the sea, and closing our pleasant land journey.

wells

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

From this reading Underneath, it is honey-combed with caves; it would be of no use to dig wells in such a place; they would not hold water--you would not find any for them to hold, for that matter.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading At four o'clock in the afternoon we were winding down a mountain of dreary and desolate lava to the sea, and closing our pleasant land journey.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading The last lava flow occurred here so long ago that there are none now living who witnessed it.

winding

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

From this reading At four o'clock in the afternoon we were winding down a mountain of dreary and desolate lava to the sea, and closing our pleasant land journey.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Underneath, it is honey-combed with caves; it would be of no use to dig wells in such a place; they would not hold water--you would not find any for them to hold, for that matter.

witnessed

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

From this reading The last lava flow occurred here so long ago that there are none now living who witnessed it.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading Underneath, it is honey-combed with caves; it would be of no use to dig wells in such a place; they would not hold water--you would not find any for them to hold, for that matter.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading Underneath, it is honey-combed with caves; it would be of no use to dig wells in such a place; they would not hold water--you would not find any for them to hold, for that matter.