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Square and Compasses
Square and Compasses

Chapter XXVII

Cover illustration for Square and Compasses
Context Illustration Reading 1/20 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE INTERVIEW BETWEEN THE TWO PRINCIPALS.
As the Sylph and the tow had been in motion all the time during the battle on the caisson, they were within a few rods of the point.
Tom Topover wanted Oscar Chester to put him on board of the Racer, but the request was denied.
The second pilot also refused to unbind him and his companions when he landed them, for he would incur no risk.
The tow-lines had been adjusted, and the steamer was again making her way up the river when the boat returned.
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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.

Square and Compasses

Chapter XXVII

Reading 1/20 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE INTERVIEW BETWEEN THE TWO PRINCIPALS.
Line 2
As the Sylph and the tow had been in motion all the time during the battle on the caisson, they were within a few rods of the point.
Line 3
Tom Topover wanted Oscar Chester to put him on board of the Racer, but the request was denied.
Line 4
The second pilot also refused to unbind him and his companions when he landed them, for he would incur no risk.
Line 5
The tow-lines had been adjusted, and the steamer was again making her way up the river when the boat returned.

Learner Dictionary

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

Again noun US /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The tow-lines had been adjusted, and the steamer was again making her way up the river when the boat returned.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “As the Sylph and the tow had been in motion all the time during the battle on the caisson, they were within a few rods of the point.”

BETWEEN preposition US /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading “THE INTERVIEW BETWEEN THE TWO PRINCIPALS.”

During preposition US /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading “As the Sylph and the tow had been in motion all the time during the battle on the caisson, they were within a few rods of the point.”

Point noun US /pɔɪnt/

the main matter or purpose being discussed

From this reading “As the Sylph and the tow had been in motion all the time during the battle on the caisson, they were within a few rods of the point.”

Returned noun US /ˈreturned/

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

From this reading “The tow-lines had been adjusted, and the steamer was again making her way up the river when the boat returned.”

Second noun US /second/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The second pilot also refused to unbind him and his companions when he landed them, for he would incur no risk.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “As the Sylph and the tow had been in motion all the time during the battle on the caisson, they were within a few rods of the point.”

Within preposition US /wɪˈðɪn/

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading “As the Sylph and the tow had been in motion all the time during the battle on the caisson, they were within a few rods of the point.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “The second pilot also refused to unbind him and his companions when he landed them, for he would incur no risk.”

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 As the Sylph and the tow had been in motion all the time during the battle on the caisson, they were within a few rods of the point.

adjusted

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

From this reading The tow-lines had been adjusted, and the steamer was again making her way up the river when the boat returned.

againnounUS /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The tow-lines had been adjusted, and the steamer was again making her way up the river when the boat returned.

all

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

From this reading As the Sylph and the tow had been in motion all the time during the battle on the caisson, they were within a few rods of the point.

also

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

From this reading The second pilot also refused to unbind him and his companions when he landed them, for he would incur no risk.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading As the Sylph and the tow had been in motion all the time during the battle on the caisson, they were within a few rods of the point.

AsconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading As the Sylph and the tow had been in motion all the time during the battle on the caisson, they were within a few rods of the point.

battle

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

From this reading As the Sylph and the tow had been in motion all the time during the battle on the caisson, they were within a few rods of the point.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading As the Sylph and the tow had been in motion all the time during the battle on the caisson, they were within a few rods of the point.

BETWEENprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading THE INTERVIEW BETWEEN THE TWO PRINCIPALS.

board

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

From this reading Tom Topover wanted Oscar Chester to put him on board of the Racer, but the request was denied.

boat

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

From this reading The tow-lines had been adjusted, and the steamer was again making her way up the river when the boat returned.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Tom Topover wanted Oscar Chester to put him on board of the Racer, but the request was denied.

caisson

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

From this reading As the Sylph and the tow had been in motion all the time during the battle on the caisson, they were within a few rods of the point.

Chester

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

From this reading Tom Topover wanted Oscar Chester to put him on board of the Racer, but the request was denied.

companions

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

From this reading The second pilot also refused to unbind him and his companions when he landed them, for he would incur no risk.

denied

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

From this reading Tom Topover wanted Oscar Chester to put him on board of the Racer, but the request was denied.

duringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading As the Sylph and the tow had been in motion all the time during the battle on the caisson, they were within a few rods of the point.

few

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

From this reading As the Sylph and the tow had been in motion all the time during the battle on the caisson, they were within a few rods of the point.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The second pilot also refused to unbind him and his companions when he landed them, for he would incur no risk.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading As the Sylph and the tow had been in motion all the time during the battle on the caisson, they were within a few rods of the point.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading The second pilot also refused to unbind him and his companions when he landed them, for he would incur no risk.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading The tow-lines had been adjusted, and the steamer was again making her way up the river when the boat returned.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading Tom Topover wanted Oscar Chester to put him on board of the Racer, but the request was denied.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading The second pilot also refused to unbind him and his companions when he landed them, for he would incur no risk.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading As the Sylph and the tow had been in motion all the time during the battle on the caisson, they were within a few rods of the point.

incur

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

From this reading The second pilot also refused to unbind him and his companions when he landed them, for he would incur no risk.

INTERVIEW

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

From this reading THE INTERVIEW BETWEEN THE TWO PRINCIPALS.

landed

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

From this reading The second pilot also refused to unbind him and his companions when he landed them, for he would incur no risk.

making

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

From this reading The tow-lines had been adjusted, and the steamer was again making her way up the river when the boat returned.

motion

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

From this reading As the Sylph and the tow had been in motion all the time during the battle on the caisson, they were within a few rods of the point.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading The second pilot also refused to unbind him and his companions when he landed them, for he would incur no risk.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading As the Sylph and the tow had been in motion all the time during the battle on the caisson, they were within a few rods of the point.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading As the Sylph and the tow had been in motion all the time during the battle on the caisson, they were within a few rods of the point.

Oscar

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

From this reading Tom Topover wanted Oscar Chester to put him on board of the Racer, but the request was denied.

pilot

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

From this reading The second pilot also refused to unbind him and his companions when he landed them, for he would incur no risk.

pointnounUS /pɔɪnt/

the main matter or purpose being discussed

From this reading As the Sylph and the tow had been in motion all the time during the battle on the caisson, they were within a few rods of the point.

PRINCIPALS

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

From this reading THE INTERVIEW BETWEEN THE TWO PRINCIPALS.

put

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

From this reading Tom Topover wanted Oscar Chester to put him on board of the Racer, but the request was denied.

Racer

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

From this reading Tom Topover wanted Oscar Chester to put him on board of the Racer, but the request was denied.

refused

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

From this reading The second pilot also refused to unbind him and his companions when he landed them, for he would incur no risk.

request

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

From this reading Tom Topover wanted Oscar Chester to put him on board of the Racer, but the request was denied.

returnednounUS /ˈreturned/

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

From this reading The tow-lines had been adjusted, and the steamer was again making her way up the river when the boat returned.

risk

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

From this reading The second pilot also refused to unbind him and his companions when he landed them, for he would incur no risk.

river

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

From this reading The tow-lines had been adjusted, and the steamer was again making her way up the river when the boat returned.

rods

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

From this reading As the Sylph and the tow had been in motion all the time during the battle on the caisson, they were within a few rods of the point.

second

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

From this reading The second pilot also refused to unbind him and his companions when he landed them, for he would incur no risk.

steamer

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

From this reading The tow-lines had been adjusted, and the steamer was again making her way up the river when the boat returned.

Sylph

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

From this reading As the Sylph and the tow had been in motion all the time during the battle on the caisson, they were within a few rods of the point.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE INTERVIEW BETWEEN THE TWO PRINCIPALS.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading The second pilot also refused to unbind him and his companions when he landed them, for he would incur no risk.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading As the Sylph and the tow had been in motion all the time during the battle on the caisson, they were within a few rods of the point.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading As the Sylph and the tow had been in motion all the time during the battle on the caisson, they were within a few rods of the point.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Tom Topover wanted Oscar Chester to put him on board of the Racer, but the request was denied.

Tom

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

From this reading Tom Topover wanted Oscar Chester to put him on board of the Racer, but the request was denied.

Topover

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

From this reading Tom Topover wanted Oscar Chester to put him on board of the Racer, but the request was denied.

tow

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

From this reading As the Sylph and the tow had been in motion all the time during the battle on the caisson, they were within a few rods of the point.

tow-lines

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

From this reading The tow-lines had been adjusted, and the steamer was again making her way up the river when the boat returned.

TWO

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

From this reading THE INTERVIEW BETWEEN THE TWO PRINCIPALS.

unbind

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

From this reading The second pilot also refused to unbind him and his companions when he landed them, for he would incur no risk.

up

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

From this reading The tow-lines had been adjusted, and the steamer was again making her way up the river when the boat returned.

wanted

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

From this reading Tom Topover wanted Oscar Chester to put him on board of the Racer, but the request was denied.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Tom Topover wanted Oscar Chester to put him on board of the Racer, but the request was denied.

way

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

From this reading The tow-lines had been adjusted, and the steamer was again making her way up the river when the boat returned.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading As the Sylph and the tow had been in motion all the time during the battle on the caisson, they were within a few rods of the point.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading The second pilot also refused to unbind him and his companions when he landed them, for he would incur no risk.

withinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading As the Sylph and the tow had been in motion all the time during the battle on the caisson, they were within a few rods of the point.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading The second pilot also refused to unbind him and his companions when he landed them, for he would incur no risk.