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The Ambulance Made Two Trips
The Ambulance Made Two Trips

Chapter I

Cover illustration for The Ambulance Made Two Trips
Context Illustration Reading 1/155 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
_If you should set a thief to catch a thief, what does it take to stop a racketeer...?_ Detective Sergeant Fitzgerald found a package before his door that morning, along with the milk.
He took it inside and opened it.
It was a remarkably fine meerschaum pipe, such as the sergeant had longed irrationally to own for many years.
There was no message with it, nor any card.
He swore bitterly.
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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.

The Ambulance Made Two Trips

Chapter I

Reading 1/155 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
_If you should set a thief to catch a thief, what does it take to stop a racketeer...?_ Detective Sergeant Fitzgerald found a package before his door that morning, along with the milk.
Line 2
He took it inside and opened it.
Line 3
It was a remarkably fine meerschaum pipe, such as the sergeant had longed irrationally to own for many years.
Line 4
There was no message with it, nor any card.
Line 5
He swore bitterly.

Learner Dictionary

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

Along preposition US /əˈlɔːŋ/

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading “_If you should set a thief to catch a thief, what does it take to stop a racketeer...?_ Detective Sergeant Fitzgerald found a package before his door that morning, along with the milk.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “_If you should set a thief to catch a thief, what does it take to stop a racketeer...?_ Detective Sergeant Fitzgerald found a package before his door that morning, along with the milk.”

Bitterly adverb US /ˈbɪtərli/

in a way that shows deep pain or grief

From this reading “He swore bitterly.”

Fine noun US /fine/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was a remarkably fine meerschaum pipe, such as the sergeant had longed irrationally to own for many years.”

Found noun US /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “_If you should set a thief to catch a thief, what does it take to stop a racketeer...?_ Detective Sergeant Fitzgerald found a package before his door that morning, along with the milk.”

Morning noun US /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “_If you should set a thief to catch a thief, what does it take to stop a racketeer...?_ Detective Sergeant Fitzgerald found a package before his door that morning, along with the milk.”

Pipe noun US /pipe/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was a remarkably fine meerschaum pipe, such as the sergeant had longed irrationally to own for many years.”

Take noun US /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “_If you should set a thief to catch a thief, what does it take to stop a racketeer...?_ Detective Sergeant Fitzgerald found a package before his door that morning, along with the milk.”

Took noun US /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He took it inside and opened it.”

All words in this reading · 55

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 _If you should set a thief to catch a thief, what does it take to stop a racketeer...?_ Detective Sergeant Fitzgerald found a package before his door that morning, along with the milk.

alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading _If you should set a thief to catch a thief, what does it take to stop a racketeer...?_ Detective Sergeant Fitzgerald found a package before his door that morning, along with the milk.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading He took it inside and opened it.

any

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

From this reading There was no message with it, nor any card.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading It was a remarkably fine meerschaum pipe, such as the sergeant had longed irrationally to own for many years.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading _If you should set a thief to catch a thief, what does it take to stop a racketeer...?_ Detective Sergeant Fitzgerald found a package before his door that morning, along with the milk.

bitterlyadverbUS /ˈbɪtərli/

in a way that shows deep pain or grief

From this reading He swore bitterly.

card

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

From this reading There was no message with it, nor any card.

catch

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

From this reading _If you should set a thief to catch a thief, what does it take to stop a racketeer...?_ Detective Sergeant Fitzgerald found a package before his door that morning, along with the milk.

Detective

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

From this reading _If you should set a thief to catch a thief, what does it take to stop a racketeer...?_ Detective Sergeant Fitzgerald found a package before his door that morning, along with the milk.

doesauxiliary verbUS /dʌz/

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

From this reading _If you should set a thief to catch a thief, what does it take to stop a racketeer...?_ Detective Sergeant Fitzgerald found a package before his door that morning, along with the milk.

door

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

From this reading _If you should set a thief to catch a thief, what does it take to stop a racketeer...?_ Detective Sergeant Fitzgerald found a package before his door that morning, along with the milk.

finenounUS /fine/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was a remarkably fine meerschaum pipe, such as the sergeant had longed irrationally to own for many years.

Fitzgerald

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

From this reading _If you should set a thief to catch a thief, what does it take to stop a racketeer...?_ Detective Sergeant Fitzgerald found a package before his door that morning, along with the milk.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading It was a remarkably fine meerschaum pipe, such as the sergeant had longed irrationally to own for many years.

foundnounUS /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading _If you should set a thief to catch a thief, what does it take to stop a racketeer...?_ Detective Sergeant Fitzgerald found a package before his door that morning, along with the milk.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading It was a remarkably fine meerschaum pipe, such as the sergeant had longed irrationally to own for many years.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He took it inside and opened it.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading _If you should set a thief to catch a thief, what does it take to stop a racketeer...?_ Detective Sergeant Fitzgerald found a package before his door that morning, along with the milk.

IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading _If you should set a thief to catch a thief, what does it take to stop a racketeer...?_ Detective Sergeant Fitzgerald found a package before his door that morning, along with the milk.

inside

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

From this reading He took it inside and opened it.

irrationally

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

From this reading It was a remarkably fine meerschaum pipe, such as the sergeant had longed irrationally to own for many years.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading _If you should set a thief to catch a thief, what does it take to stop a racketeer...?_ Detective Sergeant Fitzgerald found a package before his door that morning, along with the milk.

longed

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

From this reading It was a remarkably fine meerschaum pipe, such as the sergeant had longed irrationally to own for many years.

many

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

From this reading It was a remarkably fine meerschaum pipe, such as the sergeant had longed irrationally to own for many years.

meerschaum

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

From this reading It was a remarkably fine meerschaum pipe, such as the sergeant had longed irrationally to own for many years.

message

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

From this reading There was no message with it, nor any card.

milk

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

From this reading _If you should set a thief to catch a thief, what does it take to stop a racketeer...?_ Detective Sergeant Fitzgerald found a package before his door that morning, along with the milk.

morningnounUS /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading _If you should set a thief to catch a thief, what does it take to stop a racketeer...?_ Detective Sergeant Fitzgerald found a package before his door that morning, along with the milk.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading There was no message with it, nor any card.

norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/

and not; used after a negative to add a second negative

From this reading There was no message with it, nor any card.

opened

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

From this reading He took it inside and opened it.

own

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

From this reading It was a remarkably fine meerschaum pipe, such as the sergeant had longed irrationally to own for many years.

package

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

From this reading _If you should set a thief to catch a thief, what does it take to stop a racketeer...?_ Detective Sergeant Fitzgerald found a package before his door that morning, along with the milk.

pipe

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

From this reading It was a remarkably fine meerschaum pipe, such as the sergeant had longed irrationally to own for many years.

racketeer

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

From this reading _If you should set a thief to catch a thief, what does it take to stop a racketeer...?_ Detective Sergeant Fitzgerald found a package before his door that morning, along with the milk.

remarkably

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

From this reading It was a remarkably fine meerschaum pipe, such as the sergeant had longed irrationally to own for many years.

Sergeant

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

From this reading _If you should set a thief to catch a thief, what does it take to stop a racketeer...?_ Detective Sergeant Fitzgerald found a package before his door that morning, along with the milk.

set

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

From this reading _If you should set a thief to catch a thief, what does it take to stop a racketeer...?_ Detective Sergeant Fitzgerald found a package before his door that morning, along with the milk.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading _If you should set a thief to catch a thief, what does it take to stop a racketeer...?_ Detective Sergeant Fitzgerald found a package before his door that morning, along with the milk.

stop

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

From this reading _If you should set a thief to catch a thief, what does it take to stop a racketeer...?_ Detective Sergeant Fitzgerald found a package before his door that morning, along with the milk.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading It was a remarkably fine meerschaum pipe, such as the sergeant had longed irrationally to own for many years.

swore

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

From this reading He swore bitterly.

takenounUS /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading _If you should set a thief to catch a thief, what does it take to stop a racketeer...?_ Detective Sergeant Fitzgerald found a package before his door that morning, along with the milk.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading _If you should set a thief to catch a thief, what does it take to stop a racketeer...?_ Detective Sergeant Fitzgerald found a package before his door that morning, along with the milk.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading _If you should set a thief to catch a thief, what does it take to stop a racketeer...?_ Detective Sergeant Fitzgerald found a package before his door that morning, along with the milk.

There

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

From this reading There was no message with it, nor any card.

thief

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

From this reading _If you should set a thief to catch a thief, what does it take to stop a racketeer...?_ Detective Sergeant Fitzgerald found a package before his door that morning, along with the milk.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading _If you should set a thief to catch a thief, what does it take to stop a racketeer...?_ Detective Sergeant Fitzgerald found a package before his door that morning, along with the milk.

tooknounUS /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He took it inside and opened it.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading It was a remarkably fine meerschaum pipe, such as the sergeant had longed irrationally to own for many years.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading _If you should set a thief to catch a thief, what does it take to stop a racketeer...?_ Detective Sergeant Fitzgerald found a package before his door that morning, along with the milk.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading _If you should set a thief to catch a thief, what does it take to stop a racketeer...?_ Detective Sergeant Fitzgerald found a package before his door that morning, along with the milk.

years

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

From this reading It was a remarkably fine meerschaum pipe, such as the sergeant had longed irrationally to own for many years.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading _If you should set a thief to catch a thief, what does it take to stop a racketeer...?_ Detective Sergeant Fitzgerald found a package before his door that morning, along with the milk.