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The Broken Road
The Broken Road

Chapter III

Cover illustration for The Broken Road
Context Illustration Reading 1/51 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
LUFFE LOOKS FORWARD It was the mine underneath the North Tower which brought the career of Luffe to an end.
The garrison, indeed, had lived in fear of this peril ever since the siege began.
But inasmuch as no attempt to mine had been made during the first month, the fear had grown dim.
It was revived during the fifth week.
The officers were at mess at nine o'clock in the evening, when a havildar of Sikhs burst into the courtyard with the news that the sound of a pick could be heard from the chamber of the tower.
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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 Broken Road

Chapter III

Reading 1/51 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
LUFFE LOOKS FORWARD It was the mine underneath the North Tower which brought the career of Luffe to an end.
Line 2
The garrison, indeed, had lived in fear of this peril ever since the siege began.
Line 3
But inasmuch as no attempt to mine had been made during the first month, the fear had grown dim.
Line 4
It was revived during the fifth week.
Line 5
The officers were at mess at nine o'clock in the evening, when a havildar of Sikhs burst into the courtyard with the news that the sound of a pick could be heard from the chamber of the tower.

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 “But inasmuch as no attempt to mine had been made during the first month, the fear had grown dim.”

Began noun US /began/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The garrison, indeed, had lived in fear of this peril ever since the siege began.”

Brought noun US /ˈbrought/

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

From this reading “LUFFE LOOKS FORWARD It was the mine underneath the North Tower which brought the career of Luffe to an end.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading “The officers were at mess at nine o'clock in the evening, when a havildar of Sikhs burst into the courtyard with the news that the sound of a pick could be heard from the chamber of the tower.”

Courtyard noun US /ˈkɔːrtjɑːrd/

an open area surrounded by the walls of a building

From this reading “The officers were at mess at nine o'clock in the evening, when a havildar of Sikhs burst into the courtyard with the news that the sound of a pick could be heard from the chamber of the tower.”

During preposition US /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading “But inasmuch as no attempt to mine had been made during the first month, the fear had grown dim.”

Ever noun US /ever/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The garrison, indeed, had lived in fear of this peril ever since the siege began.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But inasmuch as no attempt to mine had been made during the first month, the fear had grown dim.”

FORWARD noun US /forward/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “LUFFE LOOKS FORWARD It was the mine underneath the North Tower which brought the career of Luffe to an end.”

Garrison noun US /ˈɡærəsən/

a group stationed to defend a place

From this reading “The garrison, indeed, had lived in fear of this peril ever since the siege began.”

Mine pronoun US /maɪn/

the one or ones belonging to the person speaking

From this reading “LUFFE LOOKS FORWARD It was the mine underneath the North Tower which brought the career of Luffe to an end.”

Since preposition US /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading “The garrison, indeed, had lived in fear of this peril ever since the siege began.”

Underneath preposition US /ˌʌndərˈniːθ/

directly under, often hidden by what is above

From this reading “LUFFE LOOKS FORWARD It was the mine underneath the North Tower which brought the career of Luffe to an end.”

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 The officers were at mess at nine o'clock in the evening, when a havildar of Sikhs burst into the courtyard with the news that the sound of a pick could be heard from the chamber of the tower.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading LUFFE LOOKS FORWARD It was the mine underneath the North Tower which brought the career of Luffe to an end.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading But inasmuch as no attempt to mine had been made during the first month, the fear had grown dim.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The officers were at mess at nine o'clock in the evening, when a havildar of Sikhs burst into the courtyard with the news that the sound of a pick could be heard from the chamber of the tower.

attempt

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

From this reading But inasmuch as no attempt to mine had been made during the first month, the fear had grown dim.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading The officers were at mess at nine o'clock in the evening, when a havildar of Sikhs burst into the courtyard with the news that the sound of a pick could be heard from the chamber of the tower.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading But inasmuch as no attempt to mine had been made during the first month, the fear had grown dim.

begannounUS /began/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The garrison, indeed, had lived in fear of this peril ever since the siege began.

broughtnounUS /ˈbrought/

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

From this reading LUFFE LOOKS FORWARD It was the mine underneath the North Tower which brought the career of Luffe to an end.

burst

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

From this reading The officers were at mess at nine o'clock in the evening, when a havildar of Sikhs burst into the courtyard with the news that the sound of a pick could be heard from the chamber of the tower.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But inasmuch as no attempt to mine had been made during the first month, the fear had grown dim.

career

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

From this reading LUFFE LOOKS FORWARD It was the mine underneath the North Tower which brought the career of Luffe to an end.

chamber

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

From this reading The officers were at mess at nine o'clock in the evening, when a havildar of Sikhs burst into the courtyard with the news that the sound of a pick could be heard from the chamber of the tower.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading The officers were at mess at nine o'clock in the evening, when a havildar of Sikhs burst into the courtyard with the news that the sound of a pick could be heard from the chamber of the tower.

courtyardnounUS /ˈkɔːrtjɑːrd/

an open area surrounded by the walls of a building

From this reading The officers were at mess at nine o'clock in the evening, when a havildar of Sikhs burst into the courtyard with the news that the sound of a pick could be heard from the chamber of the tower.

dim

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

From this reading But inasmuch as no attempt to mine had been made during the first month, the fear had grown dim.

duringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading But inasmuch as no attempt to mine had been made during the first month, the fear had grown dim.

end

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

From this reading LUFFE LOOKS FORWARD It was the mine underneath the North Tower which brought the career of Luffe to an end.

evening

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

From this reading The officers were at mess at nine o'clock in the evening, when a havildar of Sikhs burst into the courtyard with the news that the sound of a pick could be heard from the chamber of the tower.

evernounUS /ever/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The garrison, indeed, had lived in fear of this peril ever since the siege began.

fear

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

From this reading The garrison, indeed, had lived in fear of this peril ever since the siege began.

fifth

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

From this reading It was revived during the fifth week.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But inasmuch as no attempt to mine had been made during the first month, the fear had grown dim.

FORWARDnounUS /forward/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading LUFFE LOOKS FORWARD It was the mine underneath the North Tower which brought the career of Luffe to an end.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The officers were at mess at nine o'clock in the evening, when a havildar of Sikhs burst into the courtyard with the news that the sound of a pick could be heard from the chamber of the tower.

garrisonnounUS /ˈɡærəsən/

a group stationed to defend a place

From this reading The garrison, indeed, had lived in fear of this peril ever since the siege began.

grown

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

From this reading But inasmuch as no attempt to mine had been made during the first month, the fear had grown dim.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading The garrison, indeed, had lived in fear of this peril ever since the siege began.

havildar

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

From this reading The officers were at mess at nine o'clock in the evening, when a havildar of Sikhs burst into the courtyard with the news that the sound of a pick could be heard from the chamber of the tower.

heard

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

From this reading The officers were at mess at nine o'clock in the evening, when a havildar of Sikhs burst into the courtyard with the news that the sound of a pick could be heard from the chamber of the tower.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The garrison, indeed, had lived in fear of this peril ever since the siege began.

inasmuch

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

From this reading But inasmuch as no attempt to mine had been made during the first month, the fear had grown dim.

indeed

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

From this reading The garrison, indeed, had lived in fear of this peril ever since the siege began.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading The officers were at mess at nine o'clock in the evening, when a havildar of Sikhs burst into the courtyard with the news that the sound of a pick could be heard from the chamber of the tower.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading LUFFE LOOKS FORWARD It was the mine underneath the North Tower which brought the career of Luffe to an end.

lived

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

From this reading The garrison, indeed, had lived in fear of this peril ever since the siege began.

LOOKS

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

From this reading LUFFE LOOKS FORWARD It was the mine underneath the North Tower which brought the career of Luffe to an end.

LUFFE

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

From this reading LUFFE LOOKS FORWARD It was the mine underneath the North Tower which brought the career of Luffe to an end.

made

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

From this reading But inasmuch as no attempt to mine had been made during the first month, the fear had grown dim.

mess

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

From this reading The officers were at mess at nine o'clock in the evening, when a havildar of Sikhs burst into the courtyard with the news that the sound of a pick could be heard from the chamber of the tower.

minepronounUS /maɪn/

the one or ones belonging to the person speaking

From this reading LUFFE LOOKS FORWARD It was the mine underneath the North Tower which brought the career of Luffe to an end.

month

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

From this reading But inasmuch as no attempt to mine had been made during the first month, the fear had grown dim.

news

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

From this reading The officers were at mess at nine o'clock in the evening, when a havildar of Sikhs burst into the courtyard with the news that the sound of a pick could be heard from the chamber of the tower.

nine

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

From this reading The officers were at mess at nine o'clock in the evening, when a havildar of Sikhs burst into the courtyard with the news that the sound of a pick could be heard from the chamber of the tower.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading But inasmuch as no attempt to mine had been made during the first month, the fear had grown dim.

North

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

From this reading LUFFE LOOKS FORWARD It was the mine underneath the North Tower which brought the career of Luffe to an end.

o'clock

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

From this reading The officers were at mess at nine o'clock in the evening, when a havildar of Sikhs burst into the courtyard with the news that the sound of a pick could be heard from the chamber of the tower.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading LUFFE LOOKS FORWARD It was the mine underneath the North Tower which brought the career of Luffe to an end.

officers

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

From this reading The officers were at mess at nine o'clock in the evening, when a havildar of Sikhs burst into the courtyard with the news that the sound of a pick could be heard from the chamber of the tower.

peril

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

From this reading The garrison, indeed, had lived in fear of this peril ever since the siege began.

pick

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

From this reading The officers were at mess at nine o'clock in the evening, when a havildar of Sikhs burst into the courtyard with the news that the sound of a pick could be heard from the chamber of the tower.

revived

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

From this reading It was revived during the fifth week.

siege

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

From this reading The garrison, indeed, had lived in fear of this peril ever since the siege began.

Sikhs

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

From this reading The officers were at mess at nine o'clock in the evening, when a havildar of Sikhs burst into the courtyard with the news that the sound of a pick could be heard from the chamber of the tower.

sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading The garrison, indeed, had lived in fear of this peril ever since the siege began.

sound

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

From this reading The officers were at mess at nine o'clock in the evening, when a havildar of Sikhs burst into the courtyard with the news that the sound of a pick could be heard from the chamber of the tower.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The officers were at mess at nine o'clock in the evening, when a havildar of Sikhs burst into the courtyard with the news that the sound of a pick could be heard from the chamber of the tower.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading LUFFE LOOKS FORWARD It was the mine underneath the North Tower which brought the career of Luffe to an end.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading The garrison, indeed, had lived in fear of this peril ever since the siege began.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading LUFFE LOOKS FORWARD It was the mine underneath the North Tower which brought the career of Luffe to an end.

Tower

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

From this reading LUFFE LOOKS FORWARD It was the mine underneath the North Tower which brought the career of Luffe to an end.

underneathprepositionUS /ˌʌndərˈniːθ/

directly under, often hidden by what is above

From this reading LUFFE LOOKS FORWARD It was the mine underneath the North Tower which brought the career of Luffe to an end.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading LUFFE LOOKS FORWARD It was the mine underneath the North Tower which brought the career of Luffe to an end.

week

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

From this reading It was revived during the fifth week.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading The officers were at mess at nine o'clock in the evening, when a havildar of Sikhs burst into the courtyard with the news that the sound of a pick could be heard from the chamber of the tower.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading The officers were at mess at nine o'clock in the evening, when a havildar of Sikhs burst into the courtyard with the news that the sound of a pick could be heard from the chamber of the tower.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading LUFFE LOOKS FORWARD It was the mine underneath the North Tower which brought the career of Luffe to an end.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The officers were at mess at nine o'clock in the evening, when a havildar of Sikhs burst into the courtyard with the news that the sound of a pick could be heard from the chamber of the tower.