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Tennessee's Partner
Tennessee's Partner

Chapter I

Cover illustration for Tennessee's Partner
Context Illustration Reading 1/42 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
"Both were fearless types of a civilization that in the seventeenth century would have been called heroic, but in the nineteenth simply 'reckless.'"
Including An Introduction By William Dallam Armes.
When Marshall's discovery caused a sudden influx of thousands of adventurers from all classes and almost all countries, the conditions of government in California were almost the worst possible.
Though the Mexican system was unpopular and the Mexican law practically unknown, until other provision was made by congress, they had to continue in force.
But the free and slave states were equal in number; California would turn the scale; there was a battle royal as to which pan should descend, a battle that the congresses of 1848 and 1849 left unsettled on adjourning.
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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.

Tennessee's Partner

Chapter I

Reading 1/42 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
"Both were fearless types of a civilization that in the seventeenth century would have been called heroic, but in the nineteenth simply 'reckless.'"
Line 2
Including An Introduction By William Dallam Armes.
Line 3
When Marshall's discovery caused a sudden influx of thousands of adventurers from all classes and almost all countries, the conditions of government in California were almost the worst possible.
Line 4
Though the Mexican system was unpopular and the Mexican law practically unknown, until other provision was made by congress, they had to continue in force.
Line 5
But the free and slave states were equal in number; California would turn the scale; there was a battle royal as to which pan should descend, a battle that the congresses of 1848 and 1849 left unsettled on adjourning.

Learner Dictionary

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

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “"Both were fearless types of a civilization that in the seventeenth century would have been called heroic, but in the nineteenth simply 'reckless.'"”

Free adjective US /friː/

acting without enough restraint or discipline

From this reading “But the free and slave states were equal in number; California would turn the scale; there was a battle royal as to which pan should descend, a battle that the congresses of 1848 and 1849 left unsettled on adjourning.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “"Both were fearless types of a civilization that in the seventeenth century would have been called heroic, but in the nineteenth simply 'reckless.'"”

Left noun US /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But the free and slave states were equal in number; California would turn the scale; there was a battle royal as to which pan should descend, a battle that the congresses of 1848 and 1849 left unsettled on adjourning.”

Sudden noun US /sudden/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “When Marshall's discovery caused a sudden influx of thousands of adventurers from all classes and almost all countries, the conditions of government in California were almost the worst possible.”

Though conjunction US /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “Though the Mexican system was unpopular and the Mexican law practically unknown, until other provision was made by congress, they had to continue in force.”

Until preposition US /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading “Though the Mexican system was unpopular and the Mexican law practically unknown, until other provision was made by congress, they had to continue in force.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “"Both were fearless types of a civilization that in the seventeenth century would have been called heroic, but in the nineteenth simply 'reckless.'"”

All words in this reading · 87

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

1848

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

From this reading But the free and slave states were equal in number; California would turn the scale; there was a battle royal as to which pan should descend, a battle that the congresses of 1848 and 1849 left unsettled on adjourning.

1849

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

From this reading But the free and slave states were equal in number; California would turn the scale; there was a battle royal as to which pan should descend, a battle that the congresses of 1848 and 1849 left unsettled on adjourning.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading "Both were fearless types of a civilization that in the seventeenth century would have been called heroic, but in the nineteenth simply 'reckless.'"

adjourning

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

From this reading But the free and slave states were equal in number; California would turn the scale; there was a battle royal as to which pan should descend, a battle that the congresses of 1848 and 1849 left unsettled on adjourning.

adventurers

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

From this reading When Marshall's discovery caused a sudden influx of thousands of adventurers from all classes and almost all countries, the conditions of government in California were almost the worst possible.

all

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

From this reading When Marshall's discovery caused a sudden influx of thousands of adventurers from all classes and almost all countries, the conditions of government in California were almost the worst possible.

almost

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

From this reading When Marshall's discovery caused a sudden influx of thousands of adventurers from all classes and almost all countries, the conditions of government in California were almost the worst possible.

AndeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading Including An Introduction By William Dallam Armes.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading When Marshall's discovery caused a sudden influx of thousands of adventurers from all classes and almost all countries, the conditions of government in California were almost the worst possible.

Armes

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

From this reading Including An Introduction By William Dallam Armes.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading But the free and slave states were equal in number; California would turn the scale; there was a battle royal as to which pan should descend, a battle that the congresses of 1848 and 1849 left unsettled on adjourning.

battle

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

From this reading But the free and slave states were equal in number; California would turn the scale; there was a battle royal as to which pan should descend, a battle that the congresses of 1848 and 1849 left unsettled on adjourning.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading "Both were fearless types of a civilization that in the seventeenth century would have been called heroic, but in the nineteenth simply 'reckless.'"

BothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/

the two together, not just one

From this reading "Both were fearless types of a civilization that in the seventeenth century would have been called heroic, but in the nineteenth simply 'reckless.'"

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading "Both were fearless types of a civilization that in the seventeenth century would have been called heroic, but in the nineteenth simply 'reckless.'"

ByprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Including An Introduction By William Dallam Armes.

California

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

From this reading When Marshall's discovery caused a sudden influx of thousands of adventurers from all classes and almost all countries, the conditions of government in California were almost the worst possible.

called

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

From this reading "Both were fearless types of a civilization that in the seventeenth century would have been called heroic, but in the nineteenth simply 'reckless.'"

caused

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

From this reading When Marshall's discovery caused a sudden influx of thousands of adventurers from all classes and almost all countries, the conditions of government in California were almost the worst possible.

century

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

From this reading "Both were fearless types of a civilization that in the seventeenth century would have been called heroic, but in the nineteenth simply 'reckless.'"

civilization

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

From this reading "Both were fearless types of a civilization that in the seventeenth century would have been called heroic, but in the nineteenth simply 'reckless.'"

classes

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

From this reading When Marshall's discovery caused a sudden influx of thousands of adventurers from all classes and almost all countries, the conditions of government in California were almost the worst possible.

conditions

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

From this reading When Marshall's discovery caused a sudden influx of thousands of adventurers from all classes and almost all countries, the conditions of government in California were almost the worst possible.

congress

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

From this reading Though the Mexican system was unpopular and the Mexican law practically unknown, until other provision was made by congress, they had to continue in force.

congresses

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

From this reading But the free and slave states were equal in number; California would turn the scale; there was a battle royal as to which pan should descend, a battle that the congresses of 1848 and 1849 left unsettled on adjourning.

continue

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

From this reading Though the Mexican system was unpopular and the Mexican law practically unknown, until other provision was made by congress, they had to continue in force.

countries

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

From this reading When Marshall's discovery caused a sudden influx of thousands of adventurers from all classes and almost all countries, the conditions of government in California were almost the worst possible.

Dallam

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

From this reading Including An Introduction By William Dallam Armes.

descend

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

From this reading But the free and slave states were equal in number; California would turn the scale; there was a battle royal as to which pan should descend, a battle that the congresses of 1848 and 1849 left unsettled on adjourning.

discovery

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

From this reading When Marshall's discovery caused a sudden influx of thousands of adventurers from all classes and almost all countries, the conditions of government in California were almost the worst possible.

equal

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

From this reading But the free and slave states were equal in number; California would turn the scale; there was a battle royal as to which pan should descend, a battle that the congresses of 1848 and 1849 left unsettled on adjourning.

fearless

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

From this reading "Both were fearless types of a civilization that in the seventeenth century would have been called heroic, but in the nineteenth simply 'reckless.'"

force

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

From this reading Though the Mexican system was unpopular and the Mexican law practically unknown, until other provision was made by congress, they had to continue in force.

freeadjectiveUS /friː/

acting without enough restraint or discipline

From this reading But the free and slave states were equal in number; California would turn the scale; there was a battle royal as to which pan should descend, a battle that the congresses of 1848 and 1849 left unsettled on adjourning.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading When Marshall's discovery caused a sudden influx of thousands of adventurers from all classes and almost all countries, the conditions of government in California were almost the worst possible.

government

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

From this reading When Marshall's discovery caused a sudden influx of thousands of adventurers from all classes and almost all countries, the conditions of government in California were almost the worst possible.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Though the Mexican system was unpopular and the Mexican law practically unknown, until other provision was made by congress, they had to continue in force.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading "Both were fearless types of a civilization that in the seventeenth century would have been called heroic, but in the nineteenth simply 'reckless.'"

heroic

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

From this reading "Both were fearless types of a civilization that in the seventeenth century would have been called heroic, but in the nineteenth simply 'reckless.'"

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading "Both were fearless types of a civilization that in the seventeenth century would have been called heroic, but in the nineteenth simply 'reckless.'"

Including

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

From this reading Including An Introduction By William Dallam Armes.

influx

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

From this reading When Marshall's discovery caused a sudden influx of thousands of adventurers from all classes and almost all countries, the conditions of government in California were almost the worst possible.

Introduction

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

From this reading Including An Introduction By William Dallam Armes.

law

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

From this reading Though the Mexican system was unpopular and the Mexican law practically unknown, until other provision was made by congress, they had to continue in force.

leftnounUS /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But the free and slave states were equal in number; California would turn the scale; there was a battle royal as to which pan should descend, a battle that the congresses of 1848 and 1849 left unsettled on adjourning.

made

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

From this reading Though the Mexican system was unpopular and the Mexican law practically unknown, until other provision was made by congress, they had to continue in force.

Marshall's

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

From this reading When Marshall's discovery caused a sudden influx of thousands of adventurers from all classes and almost all countries, the conditions of government in California were almost the worst possible.

Mexican

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

From this reading Though the Mexican system was unpopular and the Mexican law practically unknown, until other provision was made by congress, they had to continue in force.

nineteenth

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

From this reading "Both were fearless types of a civilization that in the seventeenth century would have been called heroic, but in the nineteenth simply 'reckless.'"

number

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

From this reading But the free and slave states were equal in number; California would turn the scale; there was a battle royal as to which pan should descend, a battle that the congresses of 1848 and 1849 left unsettled on adjourning.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading "Both were fearless types of a civilization that in the seventeenth century would have been called heroic, but in the nineteenth simply 'reckless.'"

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading But the free and slave states were equal in number; California would turn the scale; there was a battle royal as to which pan should descend, a battle that the congresses of 1848 and 1849 left unsettled on adjourning.

other

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

From this reading Though the Mexican system was unpopular and the Mexican law practically unknown, until other provision was made by congress, they had to continue in force.

pan

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

From this reading But the free and slave states were equal in number; California would turn the scale; there was a battle royal as to which pan should descend, a battle that the congresses of 1848 and 1849 left unsettled on adjourning.

possible

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

From this reading When Marshall's discovery caused a sudden influx of thousands of adventurers from all classes and almost all countries, the conditions of government in California were almost the worst possible.

practically

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

From this reading Though the Mexican system was unpopular and the Mexican law practically unknown, until other provision was made by congress, they had to continue in force.

provision

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

From this reading Though the Mexican system was unpopular and the Mexican law practically unknown, until other provision was made by congress, they had to continue in force.

reckless

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

From this reading "Both were fearless types of a civilization that in the seventeenth century would have been called heroic, but in the nineteenth simply 'reckless.'"

royal

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

From this reading But the free and slave states were equal in number; California would turn the scale; there was a battle royal as to which pan should descend, a battle that the congresses of 1848 and 1849 left unsettled on adjourning.

scale

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

From this reading But the free and slave states were equal in number; California would turn the scale; there was a battle royal as to which pan should descend, a battle that the congresses of 1848 and 1849 left unsettled on adjourning.

seventeenth

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

From this reading "Both were fearless types of a civilization that in the seventeenth century would have been called heroic, but in the nineteenth simply 'reckless.'"

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading But the free and slave states were equal in number; California would turn the scale; there was a battle royal as to which pan should descend, a battle that the congresses of 1848 and 1849 left unsettled on adjourning.

simply

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

From this reading "Both were fearless types of a civilization that in the seventeenth century would have been called heroic, but in the nineteenth simply 'reckless.'"

slave

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

From this reading But the free and slave states were equal in number; California would turn the scale; there was a battle royal as to which pan should descend, a battle that the congresses of 1848 and 1849 left unsettled on adjourning.

states

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

From this reading But the free and slave states were equal in number; California would turn the scale; there was a battle royal as to which pan should descend, a battle that the congresses of 1848 and 1849 left unsettled on adjourning.

suddennounUS /sudden/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading When Marshall's discovery caused a sudden influx of thousands of adventurers from all classes and almost all countries, the conditions of government in California were almost the worst possible.

system

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

From this reading Though the Mexican system was unpopular and the Mexican law practically unknown, until other provision was made by congress, they had to continue in force.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading "Both were fearless types of a civilization that in the seventeenth century would have been called heroic, but in the nineteenth simply 'reckless.'"

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading "Both were fearless types of a civilization that in the seventeenth century would have been called heroic, but in the nineteenth simply 'reckless.'"

there

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

From this reading But the free and slave states were equal in number; California would turn the scale; there was a battle royal as to which pan should descend, a battle that the congresses of 1848 and 1849 left unsettled on adjourning.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading Though the Mexican system was unpopular and the Mexican law practically unknown, until other provision was made by congress, they had to continue in force.

ThoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading Though the Mexican system was unpopular and the Mexican law practically unknown, until other provision was made by congress, they had to continue in force.

thousands

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

From this reading When Marshall's discovery caused a sudden influx of thousands of adventurers from all classes and almost all countries, the conditions of government in California were almost the worst possible.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Though the Mexican system was unpopular and the Mexican law practically unknown, until other provision was made by congress, they had to continue in force.

turn

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

From this reading But the free and slave states were equal in number; California would turn the scale; there was a battle royal as to which pan should descend, a battle that the congresses of 1848 and 1849 left unsettled on adjourning.

types

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

From this reading "Both were fearless types of a civilization that in the seventeenth century would have been called heroic, but in the nineteenth simply 'reckless.'"

unknown

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

From this reading Though the Mexican system was unpopular and the Mexican law practically unknown, until other provision was made by congress, they had to continue in force.

unpopular

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

From this reading Though the Mexican system was unpopular and the Mexican law practically unknown, until other provision was made by congress, they had to continue in force.

unsettled

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

From this reading But the free and slave states were equal in number; California would turn the scale; there was a battle royal as to which pan should descend, a battle that the congresses of 1848 and 1849 left unsettled on adjourning.

untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading Though the Mexican system was unpopular and the Mexican law practically unknown, until other provision was made by congress, they had to continue in force.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Though the Mexican system was unpopular and the Mexican law practically unknown, until other provision was made by congress, they had to continue in force.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading "Both were fearless types of a civilization that in the seventeenth century would have been called heroic, but in the nineteenth simply 'reckless.'"

WhenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading When Marshall's discovery caused a sudden influx of thousands of adventurers from all classes and almost all countries, the conditions of government in California were almost the worst possible.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading But the free and slave states were equal in number; California would turn the scale; there was a battle royal as to which pan should descend, a battle that the congresses of 1848 and 1849 left unsettled on adjourning.

William

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

From this reading Including An Introduction By William Dallam Armes.

worst

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

From this reading When Marshall's discovery caused a sudden influx of thousands of adventurers from all classes and almost all countries, the conditions of government in California were almost the worst possible.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading "Both were fearless types of a civilization that in the seventeenth century would have been called heroic, but in the nineteenth simply 'reckless.'"