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The Colossus: A Novel
The Colossus: A Novel

Chapter XXI

Cover illustration for The Colossus: A Novel
Context Illustration Reading 1/23 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
A HELPLESS OLD WOMAN.
In Kansas City was arrested a suspicious-looking man, who, upon being taken to jail, confessed that his name was Dare Kittymunks and owned that he had killed old man Colton.
Thus was ended the search for the murderer, the newspapers said, and the vigilance of the Kansas City police was praised.
But it soon transpired that the prisoner had been a street preacher in Topeka at the time when the murder was committed, that he had on that day created a sensation by announcing himself John the Baptist and swearing that all other Johns the Baptist were base impostors.
The fellow was taken to an asylum for the insane, and the search for Dave Kittymunks was resumed.
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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 Colossus: A Novel

Chapter XXI

Reading 1/23 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
A HELPLESS OLD WOMAN.
Line 2
In Kansas City was arrested a suspicious-looking man, who, upon being taken to jail, confessed that his name was Dare Kittymunks and owned that he had killed old man Colton.
Line 3
Thus was ended the search for the murderer, the newspapers said, and the vigilance of the Kansas City police was praised.
Line 4
But it soon transpired that the prisoner had been a street preacher in Topeka at the time when the murder was committed, that he had on that day created a sensation by announcing himself John the Baptist and swearing that all other Johns the Baptist were base impostors.
Line 5
The fellow was taken to an asylum for the insane, and the search for Dave Kittymunks was resumed.

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 it soon transpired that the prisoner had been a street preacher in Topeka at the time when the murder was committed, that he had on that day created a sensation by announcing himself John the Baptist and swearing that all other Johns the Baptist were base impostors.”

Being auxiliary verb US /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading “In Kansas City was arrested a suspicious-looking man, who, upon being taken to jail, confessed that his name was Dare Kittymunks and owned that he had killed old man Colton.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading “But it soon transpired that the prisoner had been a street preacher in Topeka at the time when the murder was committed, that he had on that day created a sensation by announcing himself John the Baptist and swearing that all other Johns the Baptist were base impostors.”

John noun US /john/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But it soon transpired that the prisoner had been a street preacher in Topeka at the time when the murder was committed, that he had on that day created a sensation by announcing himself John the Baptist and swearing that all other Johns the Baptist were base impostors.”

Name noun US /name/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “In Kansas City was arrested a suspicious-looking man, who, upon being taken to jail, confessed that his name was Dare Kittymunks and owned that he had killed old man Colton.”

Resumed noun US /ˈresumed/

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

From this reading “The fellow was taken to an asylum for the insane, and the search for Dave Kittymunks was resumed.”

Soon noun US /soon/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But it soon transpired that the prisoner had been a street preacher in Topeka at the time when the murder was committed, that he had on that day created a sensation by announcing himself John the Baptist and swearing that all other Johns the Baptist were base impostors.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But it soon transpired that the prisoner had been a street preacher in Topeka at the time when the murder was committed, that he had on that day created a sensation by announcing himself John the Baptist and swearing that all other Johns the Baptist were base impostors.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “In Kansas City was arrested a suspicious-looking man, who, upon being taken to jail, confessed that his name was Dare Kittymunks and owned that he had killed old man Colton.”

All words in this reading · 77

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 A HELPLESS OLD WOMAN.

all

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

From this reading But it soon transpired that the prisoner had been a street preacher in Topeka at the time when the murder was committed, that he had on that day created a sensation by announcing himself John the Baptist and swearing that all other Johns the Baptist were base impostors.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading The fellow was taken to an asylum for the insane, and the search for Dave Kittymunks was resumed.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading In Kansas City was arrested a suspicious-looking man, who, upon being taken to jail, confessed that his name was Dare Kittymunks and owned that he had killed old man Colton.

announcing

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

From this reading But it soon transpired that the prisoner had been a street preacher in Topeka at the time when the murder was committed, that he had on that day created a sensation by announcing himself John the Baptist and swearing that all other Johns the Baptist were base impostors.

arrested

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

From this reading In Kansas City was arrested a suspicious-looking man, who, upon being taken to jail, confessed that his name was Dare Kittymunks and owned that he had killed old man Colton.

asylum

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

From this reading The fellow was taken to an asylum for the insane, and the search for Dave Kittymunks was resumed.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading But it soon transpired that the prisoner had been a street preacher in Topeka at the time when the murder was committed, that he had on that day created a sensation by announcing himself John the Baptist and swearing that all other Johns the Baptist were base impostors.

Baptist

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

From this reading But it soon transpired that the prisoner had been a street preacher in Topeka at the time when the murder was committed, that he had on that day created a sensation by announcing himself John the Baptist and swearing that all other Johns the Baptist were base impostors.

base

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

From this reading But it soon transpired that the prisoner had been a street preacher in Topeka at the time when the murder was committed, that he had on that day created a sensation by announcing himself John the Baptist and swearing that all other Johns the Baptist were base impostors.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading But it soon transpired that the prisoner had been a street preacher in Topeka at the time when the murder was committed, that he had on that day created a sensation by announcing himself John the Baptist and swearing that all other Johns the Baptist were base impostors.

beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading In Kansas City was arrested a suspicious-looking man, who, upon being taken to jail, confessed that his name was Dare Kittymunks and owned that he had killed old man Colton.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But it soon transpired that the prisoner had been a street preacher in Topeka at the time when the murder was committed, that he had on that day created a sensation by announcing himself John the Baptist and swearing that all other Johns the Baptist were base impostors.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading But it soon transpired that the prisoner had been a street preacher in Topeka at the time when the murder was committed, that he had on that day created a sensation by announcing himself John the Baptist and swearing that all other Johns the Baptist were base impostors.

City

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

From this reading In Kansas City was arrested a suspicious-looking man, who, upon being taken to jail, confessed that his name was Dare Kittymunks and owned that he had killed old man Colton.

Colton

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

From this reading In Kansas City was arrested a suspicious-looking man, who, upon being taken to jail, confessed that his name was Dare Kittymunks and owned that he had killed old man Colton.

committed

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

From this reading But it soon transpired that the prisoner had been a street preacher in Topeka at the time when the murder was committed, that he had on that day created a sensation by announcing himself John the Baptist and swearing that all other Johns the Baptist were base impostors.

confessed

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

From this reading In Kansas City was arrested a suspicious-looking man, who, upon being taken to jail, confessed that his name was Dare Kittymunks and owned that he had killed old man Colton.

created

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

From this reading But it soon transpired that the prisoner had been a street preacher in Topeka at the time when the murder was committed, that he had on that day created a sensation by announcing himself John the Baptist and swearing that all other Johns the Baptist were base impostors.

Dare

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

From this reading In Kansas City was arrested a suspicious-looking man, who, upon being taken to jail, confessed that his name was Dare Kittymunks and owned that he had killed old man Colton.

Dave

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

From this reading The fellow was taken to an asylum for the insane, and the search for Dave Kittymunks was resumed.

day

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

From this reading But it soon transpired that the prisoner had been a street preacher in Topeka at the time when the murder was committed, that he had on that day created a sensation by announcing himself John the Baptist and swearing that all other Johns the Baptist were base impostors.

ended

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

From this reading Thus was ended the search for the murderer, the newspapers said, and the vigilance of the Kansas City police was praised.

fellow

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

From this reading The fellow was taken to an asylum for the insane, and the search for Dave Kittymunks was resumed.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Thus was ended the search for the murderer, the newspapers said, and the vigilance of the Kansas City police was praised.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading In Kansas City was arrested a suspicious-looking man, who, upon being taken to jail, confessed that his name was Dare Kittymunks and owned that he had killed old man Colton.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading In Kansas City was arrested a suspicious-looking man, who, upon being taken to jail, confessed that his name was Dare Kittymunks and owned that he had killed old man Colton.

HELPLESS

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

From this reading A HELPLESS OLD WOMAN.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading But it soon transpired that the prisoner had been a street preacher in Topeka at the time when the murder was committed, that he had on that day created a sensation by announcing himself John the Baptist and swearing that all other Johns the Baptist were base impostors.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading In Kansas City was arrested a suspicious-looking man, who, upon being taken to jail, confessed that his name was Dare Kittymunks and owned that he had killed old man Colton.

impostors

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

From this reading But it soon transpired that the prisoner had been a street preacher in Topeka at the time when the murder was committed, that he had on that day created a sensation by announcing himself John the Baptist and swearing that all other Johns the Baptist were base impostors.

InprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading In Kansas City was arrested a suspicious-looking man, who, upon being taken to jail, confessed that his name was Dare Kittymunks and owned that he had killed old man Colton.

insane

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

From this reading The fellow was taken to an asylum for the insane, and the search for Dave Kittymunks was resumed.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading But it soon transpired that the prisoner had been a street preacher in Topeka at the time when the murder was committed, that he had on that day created a sensation by announcing himself John the Baptist and swearing that all other Johns the Baptist were base impostors.

jail

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

From this reading In Kansas City was arrested a suspicious-looking man, who, upon being taken to jail, confessed that his name was Dare Kittymunks and owned that he had killed old man Colton.

John

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

From this reading But it soon transpired that the prisoner had been a street preacher in Topeka at the time when the murder was committed, that he had on that day created a sensation by announcing himself John the Baptist and swearing that all other Johns the Baptist were base impostors.

Johns

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

From this reading But it soon transpired that the prisoner had been a street preacher in Topeka at the time when the murder was committed, that he had on that day created a sensation by announcing himself John the Baptist and swearing that all other Johns the Baptist were base impostors.

Kansas

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

From this reading In Kansas City was arrested a suspicious-looking man, who, upon being taken to jail, confessed that his name was Dare Kittymunks and owned that he had killed old man Colton.

killed

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

From this reading In Kansas City was arrested a suspicious-looking man, who, upon being taken to jail, confessed that his name was Dare Kittymunks and owned that he had killed old man Colton.

Kittymunks

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

From this reading In Kansas City was arrested a suspicious-looking man, who, upon being taken to jail, confessed that his name was Dare Kittymunks and owned that he had killed old man Colton.

man

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

From this reading In Kansas City was arrested a suspicious-looking man, who, upon being taken to jail, confessed that his name was Dare Kittymunks and owned that he had killed old man Colton.

murder

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

From this reading But it soon transpired that the prisoner had been a street preacher in Topeka at the time when the murder was committed, that he had on that day created a sensation by announcing himself John the Baptist and swearing that all other Johns the Baptist were base impostors.

murderer

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

From this reading Thus was ended the search for the murderer, the newspapers said, and the vigilance of the Kansas City police was praised.

namenounUS /name/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading In Kansas City was arrested a suspicious-looking man, who, upon being taken to jail, confessed that his name was Dare Kittymunks and owned that he had killed old man Colton.

newspapers

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

From this reading Thus was ended the search for the murderer, the newspapers said, and the vigilance of the Kansas City police was praised.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Thus was ended the search for the murderer, the newspapers said, and the vigilance of the Kansas City police was praised.

OLD

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

From this reading A HELPLESS OLD WOMAN.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading But it soon transpired that the prisoner had been a street preacher in Topeka at the time when the murder was committed, that he had on that day created a sensation by announcing himself John the Baptist and swearing that all other Johns the Baptist were base impostors.

other

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

From this reading But it soon transpired that the prisoner had been a street preacher in Topeka at the time when the murder was committed, that he had on that day created a sensation by announcing himself John the Baptist and swearing that all other Johns the Baptist were base impostors.

owned

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

From this reading In Kansas City was arrested a suspicious-looking man, who, upon being taken to jail, confessed that his name was Dare Kittymunks and owned that he had killed old man Colton.

police

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

From this reading Thus was ended the search for the murderer, the newspapers said, and the vigilance of the Kansas City police was praised.

praised

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

From this reading Thus was ended the search for the murderer, the newspapers said, and the vigilance of the Kansas City police was praised.

preacher

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

From this reading But it soon transpired that the prisoner had been a street preacher in Topeka at the time when the murder was committed, that he had on that day created a sensation by announcing himself John the Baptist and swearing that all other Johns the Baptist were base impostors.

prisoner

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

From this reading But it soon transpired that the prisoner had been a street preacher in Topeka at the time when the murder was committed, that he had on that day created a sensation by announcing himself John the Baptist and swearing that all other Johns the Baptist were base impostors.

resumednounUS /ˈresumed/

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

From this reading The fellow was taken to an asylum for the insane, and the search for Dave Kittymunks was resumed.

said

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

From this reading Thus was ended the search for the murderer, the newspapers said, and the vigilance of the Kansas City police was praised.

search

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

From this reading Thus was ended the search for the murderer, the newspapers said, and the vigilance of the Kansas City police was praised.

sensation

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

From this reading But it soon transpired that the prisoner had been a street preacher in Topeka at the time when the murder was committed, that he had on that day created a sensation by announcing himself John the Baptist and swearing that all other Johns the Baptist were base impostors.

soon

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

From this reading But it soon transpired that the prisoner had been a street preacher in Topeka at the time when the murder was committed, that he had on that day created a sensation by announcing himself John the Baptist and swearing that all other Johns the Baptist were base impostors.

street

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

From this reading But it soon transpired that the prisoner had been a street preacher in Topeka at the time when the murder was committed, that he had on that day created a sensation by announcing himself John the Baptist and swearing that all other Johns the Baptist were base impostors.

suspicious-looking

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

From this reading In Kansas City was arrested a suspicious-looking man, who, upon being taken to jail, confessed that his name was Dare Kittymunks and owned that he had killed old man Colton.

swearing

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

From this reading But it soon transpired that the prisoner had been a street preacher in Topeka at the time when the murder was committed, that he had on that day created a sensation by announcing himself John the Baptist and swearing that all other Johns the Baptist were base impostors.

taken

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

From this reading In Kansas City was arrested a suspicious-looking man, who, upon being taken to jail, confessed that his name was Dare Kittymunks and owned that he had killed old man Colton.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading In Kansas City was arrested a suspicious-looking man, who, upon being taken to jail, confessed that his name was Dare Kittymunks and owned that he had killed old man Colton.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Thus was ended the search for the murderer, the newspapers said, and the vigilance of the Kansas City police was praised.

Thus

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

From this reading Thus was ended the search for the murderer, the newspapers said, and the vigilance of the Kansas City police was praised.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But it soon transpired that the prisoner had been a street preacher in Topeka at the time when the murder was committed, that he had on that day created a sensation by announcing himself John the Baptist and swearing that all other Johns the Baptist were base impostors.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading In Kansas City was arrested a suspicious-looking man, who, upon being taken to jail, confessed that his name was Dare Kittymunks and owned that he had killed old man Colton.

Topeka

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

From this reading But it soon transpired that the prisoner had been a street preacher in Topeka at the time when the murder was committed, that he had on that day created a sensation by announcing himself John the Baptist and swearing that all other Johns the Baptist were base impostors.

transpired

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

From this reading But it soon transpired that the prisoner had been a street preacher in Topeka at the time when the murder was committed, that he had on that day created a sensation by announcing himself John the Baptist and swearing that all other Johns the Baptist were base impostors.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading In Kansas City was arrested a suspicious-looking man, who, upon being taken to jail, confessed that his name was Dare Kittymunks and owned that he had killed old man Colton.

vigilance

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

From this reading Thus was ended the search for the murderer, the newspapers said, and the vigilance of the Kansas City police was praised.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading In Kansas City was arrested a suspicious-looking man, who, upon being taken to jail, confessed that his name was Dare Kittymunks and owned that he had killed old man Colton.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading But it soon transpired that the prisoner had been a street preacher in Topeka at the time when the murder was committed, that he had on that day created a sensation by announcing himself John the Baptist and swearing that all other Johns the Baptist were base impostors.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading But it soon transpired that the prisoner had been a street preacher in Topeka at the time when the murder was committed, that he had on that day created a sensation by announcing himself John the Baptist and swearing that all other Johns the Baptist were base impostors.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading In Kansas City was arrested a suspicious-looking man, who, upon being taken to jail, confessed that his name was Dare Kittymunks and owned that he had killed old man Colton.

WOMAN

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

From this reading A HELPLESS OLD WOMAN.