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Scientific Sprague
Scientific Sprague

Chapter X

Cover illustration for Scientific Sprague
Context Illustration Reading 1/81 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
After he was left alone, Sprague shouldered a path through the crowd in the lobby and had himself lifted to his rooms.
When he came down a few minutes later he had changed his business clothes for the field rig which he wore on his soil-collecting expeditions.
He had scarcely worked his way through the throng to the comparative freedom of the porch when Maxwell came hurrying across from the railroad building.
“Bad luck,” said the superintendent, with brittle emphasis.
“There’s a freight-train off the steel half-way between Corona and Timanyoni, this side of the canyon, and the track is blocked.”
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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.

Scientific Sprague

Chapter X

Reading 1/81 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
After he was left alone, Sprague shouldered a path through the crowd in the lobby and had himself lifted to his rooms.
Line 2
When he came down a few minutes later he had changed his business clothes for the field rig which he wore on his soil-collecting expeditions.
Line 3
He had scarcely worked his way through the throng to the comparative freedom of the porch when Maxwell came hurrying across from the railroad building.
Line 4
“Bad luck,” said the superintendent, with brittle emphasis.
Line 5
“There’s a freight-train off the steel half-way between Corona and Timanyoni, this side of the canyon, and the track is blocked.”

Learner Dictionary

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

Across preposition US /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading “He had scarcely worked his way through the throng to the comparative freedom of the porch when Maxwell came hurrying across from the railroad building.”

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “After he was left alone, Sprague shouldered a path through the crowd in the lobby and had himself lifted to his rooms.”

Alone noun US /alone/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “After he was left alone, Sprague shouldered a path through the crowd in the lobby and had himself lifted to his rooms.”

Between preposition US /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading ““There’s a freight-train off the steel half-way between Corona and Timanyoni, this side of the canyon, and the track is blocked.””

Brittle adjective US /ˈbrɪtəl/

hard but easily broken

From this reading ““Bad luck,” said the superintendent, with brittle emphasis.”

Half-way noun US /half-way/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““There’s a freight-train off the steel half-way between Corona and Timanyoni, this side of the canyon, and the track is blocked.””

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading “After he was left alone, Sprague shouldered a path through the crowd in the lobby and had himself lifted to his rooms.”

Left noun US /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “After he was left alone, Sprague shouldered a path through the crowd in the lobby and had himself lifted to his rooms.”

Through noun US /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading “After he was left alone, Sprague shouldered a path through the crowd in the lobby and had himself lifted to his rooms.”

Track noun US /træk/

a route or signs showing the way someone went

From this reading ““There’s a freight-train off the steel half-way between Corona and Timanyoni, this side of the canyon, and the track is blocked.””

All words in this reading · 73

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 After he was left alone, Sprague shouldered a path through the crowd in the lobby and had himself lifted to his rooms.

acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading He had scarcely worked his way through the throng to the comparative freedom of the porch when Maxwell came hurrying across from the railroad building.

AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading After he was left alone, Sprague shouldered a path through the crowd in the lobby and had himself lifted to his rooms.

alonenounUS /alone/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading After he was left alone, Sprague shouldered a path through the crowd in the lobby and had himself lifted to his rooms.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading After he was left alone, Sprague shouldered a path through the crowd in the lobby and had himself lifted to his rooms.

Bad

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

From this reading “Bad luck,” said the superintendent, with brittle emphasis.

betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading “There’s a freight-train off the steel half-way between Corona and Timanyoni, this side of the canyon, and the track is blocked.”

blocked

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

From this reading “There’s a freight-train off the steel half-way between Corona and Timanyoni, this side of the canyon, and the track is blocked.”

brittleadjectiveUS /ˈbrɪtəl/

hard but easily broken

From this reading “Bad luck,” said the superintendent, with brittle emphasis.

building

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

From this reading He had scarcely worked his way through the throng to the comparative freedom of the porch when Maxwell came hurrying across from the railroad building.

business

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

From this reading When he came down a few minutes later he had changed his business clothes for the field rig which he wore on his soil-collecting expeditions.

came

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

From this reading When he came down a few minutes later he had changed his business clothes for the field rig which he wore on his soil-collecting expeditions.

canyon

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

From this reading “There’s a freight-train off the steel half-way between Corona and Timanyoni, this side of the canyon, and the track is blocked.”

changed

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

From this reading When he came down a few minutes later he had changed his business clothes for the field rig which he wore on his soil-collecting expeditions.

clothes

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

From this reading When he came down a few minutes later he had changed his business clothes for the field rig which he wore on his soil-collecting expeditions.

comparative

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

From this reading He had scarcely worked his way through the throng to the comparative freedom of the porch when Maxwell came hurrying across from the railroad building.

Corona

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

From this reading “There’s a freight-train off the steel half-way between Corona and Timanyoni, this side of the canyon, and the track is blocked.”

crowd

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

From this reading After he was left alone, Sprague shouldered a path through the crowd in the lobby and had himself lifted to his rooms.

down

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

From this reading When he came down a few minutes later he had changed his business clothes for the field rig which he wore on his soil-collecting expeditions.

emphasis

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

From this reading “Bad luck,” said the superintendent, with brittle emphasis.

expeditions

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

From this reading When he came down a few minutes later he had changed his business clothes for the field rig which he wore on his soil-collecting expeditions.

few

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

From this reading When he came down a few minutes later he had changed his business clothes for the field rig which he wore on his soil-collecting expeditions.

field

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

From this reading When he came down a few minutes later he had changed his business clothes for the field rig which he wore on his soil-collecting expeditions.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading When he came down a few minutes later he had changed his business clothes for the field rig which he wore on his soil-collecting expeditions.

freedom

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

From this reading He had scarcely worked his way through the throng to the comparative freedom of the porch when Maxwell came hurrying across from the railroad building.

freight-train

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

From this reading “There’s a freight-train off the steel half-way between Corona and Timanyoni, this side of the canyon, and the track is blocked.”

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading He had scarcely worked his way through the throng to the comparative freedom of the porch when Maxwell came hurrying across from the railroad building.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading After he was left alone, Sprague shouldered a path through the crowd in the lobby and had himself lifted to his rooms.

half-waynounUS /half-way/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “There’s a freight-train off the steel half-way between Corona and Timanyoni, this side of the canyon, and the track is blocked.”

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading After he was left alone, Sprague shouldered a path through the crowd in the lobby and had himself lifted to his rooms.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading After he was left alone, Sprague shouldered a path through the crowd in the lobby and had himself lifted to his rooms.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading After he was left alone, Sprague shouldered a path through the crowd in the lobby and had himself lifted to his rooms.

hurrying

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

From this reading He had scarcely worked his way through the throng to the comparative freedom of the porch when Maxwell came hurrying across from the railroad building.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading After he was left alone, Sprague shouldered a path through the crowd in the lobby and had himself lifted to his rooms.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading “There’s a freight-train off the steel half-way between Corona and Timanyoni, this side of the canyon, and the track is blocked.”

later

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

From this reading When he came down a few minutes later he had changed his business clothes for the field rig which he wore on his soil-collecting expeditions.

leftnounUS /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading After he was left alone, Sprague shouldered a path through the crowd in the lobby and had himself lifted to his rooms.

lifted

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

From this reading After he was left alone, Sprague shouldered a path through the crowd in the lobby and had himself lifted to his rooms.

lobby

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

From this reading After he was left alone, Sprague shouldered a path through the crowd in the lobby and had himself lifted to his rooms.

luck

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

From this reading “Bad luck,” said the superintendent, with brittle emphasis.

Maxwell

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

From this reading He had scarcely worked his way through the throng to the comparative freedom of the porch when Maxwell came hurrying across from the railroad building.

minutes

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

From this reading When he came down a few minutes later he had changed his business clothes for the field rig which he wore on his soil-collecting expeditions.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading He had scarcely worked his way through the throng to the comparative freedom of the porch when Maxwell came hurrying across from the railroad building.

off

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

From this reading “There’s a freight-train off the steel half-way between Corona and Timanyoni, this side of the canyon, and the track is blocked.”

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading When he came down a few minutes later he had changed his business clothes for the field rig which he wore on his soil-collecting expeditions.

path

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

From this reading After he was left alone, Sprague shouldered a path through the crowd in the lobby and had himself lifted to his rooms.

porch

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

From this reading He had scarcely worked his way through the throng to the comparative freedom of the porch when Maxwell came hurrying across from the railroad building.

railroad

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

From this reading He had scarcely worked his way through the throng to the comparative freedom of the porch when Maxwell came hurrying across from the railroad building.

rig

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

From this reading When he came down a few minutes later he had changed his business clothes for the field rig which he wore on his soil-collecting expeditions.

rooms

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

From this reading After he was left alone, Sprague shouldered a path through the crowd in the lobby and had himself lifted to his rooms.

said

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

From this reading “Bad luck,” said the superintendent, with brittle emphasis.

scarcely

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

From this reading He had scarcely worked his way through the throng to the comparative freedom of the porch when Maxwell came hurrying across from the railroad building.

shouldered

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

From this reading After he was left alone, Sprague shouldered a path through the crowd in the lobby and had himself lifted to his rooms.

side

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

From this reading “There’s a freight-train off the steel half-way between Corona and Timanyoni, this side of the canyon, and the track is blocked.”

soil-collecting

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

From this reading When he came down a few minutes later he had changed his business clothes for the field rig which he wore on his soil-collecting expeditions.

Sprague

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

From this reading After he was left alone, Sprague shouldered a path through the crowd in the lobby and had himself lifted to his rooms.

steel

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

From this reading “There’s a freight-train off the steel half-way between Corona and Timanyoni, this side of the canyon, and the track is blocked.”

superintendent

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

From this reading “Bad luck,” said the superintendent, with brittle emphasis.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading After he was left alone, Sprague shouldered a path through the crowd in the lobby and had himself lifted to his rooms.

There's

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

From this reading “There’s a freight-train off the steel half-way between Corona and Timanyoni, this side of the canyon, and the track is blocked.”

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading “There’s a freight-train off the steel half-way between Corona and Timanyoni, this side of the canyon, and the track is blocked.”

throng

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

From this reading He had scarcely worked his way through the throng to the comparative freedom of the porch when Maxwell came hurrying across from the railroad building.

throughnounUS /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading After he was left alone, Sprague shouldered a path through the crowd in the lobby and had himself lifted to his rooms.

Timanyoni

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

From this reading “There’s a freight-train off the steel half-way between Corona and Timanyoni, this side of the canyon, and the track is blocked.”

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading After he was left alone, Sprague shouldered a path through the crowd in the lobby and had himself lifted to his rooms.

tracknounUS /træk/

a route or signs showing the way someone went

From this reading “There’s a freight-train off the steel half-way between Corona and Timanyoni, this side of the canyon, and the track is blocked.”

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading After he was left alone, Sprague shouldered a path through the crowd in the lobby and had himself lifted to his rooms.

way

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

From this reading He had scarcely worked his way through the throng to the comparative freedom of the porch when Maxwell came hurrying across from the railroad building.

WhenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading When he came down a few minutes later he had changed his business clothes for the field rig which he wore on his soil-collecting expeditions.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading When he came down a few minutes later he had changed his business clothes for the field rig which he wore on his soil-collecting expeditions.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading “Bad luck,” said the superintendent, with brittle emphasis.

wore

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

From this reading When he came down a few minutes later he had changed his business clothes for the field rig which he wore on his soil-collecting expeditions.

worked

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

From this reading He had scarcely worked his way through the throng to the comparative freedom of the porch when Maxwell came hurrying across from the railroad building.