Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
The Defiant Agents
The Defiant Agents

Chapter VI

Cover illustration for The Defiant Agents
Context Illustration Reading 1/90 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
But Nolan had the final word: "This is not good," he echoed Jil-Lee's comment.
"If it was the Red machine at work, then we may all be swept into his net along with those he seeks.
Perhaps the longer one remains close to that thing, the more influence it gains over him.
We shall stay here until dawn.
If the enemy would reach the place they seek, then they must pass below us, for that is the easiest road.
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
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 Defiant Agents

Chapter VI

Reading 1/90 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
But Nolan had the final word: "This is not good," he echoed Jil-Lee's comment.
Line 2
"If it was the Red machine at work, then we may all be swept into his net along with those he seeks.
Line 3
Perhaps the longer one remains close to that thing, the more influence it gains over him.
Line 4
We shall stay here until dawn.
Line 5
If the enemy would reach the place they seek, then they must pass below us, for that is the easiest road.

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 it was the Red machine at work, then we may all be swept into his net along with those he seeks.”

Below preposition US /bɪˈloʊ/

at or to a lower level than something

From this reading “If the enemy would reach the place they seek, then they must pass below us, for that is the easiest road.”

Good noun US /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But Nolan had the final word: "This is not good," he echoed Jil-Lee's comment.”

Here noun US /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “We shall stay here until dawn.”

May modal verb US /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading “"If it was the Red machine at work, then we may all be swept into his net along with those he seeks.”

Must modal verb US /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading “If the enemy would reach the place they seek, then they must pass below us, for that is the easiest road.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “Perhaps the longer one remains close to that thing, the more influence it gains over him.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “Perhaps the longer one remains close to that thing, the more influence it gains over him.”

Perhaps noun US /perhaps/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Perhaps the longer one remains close to that thing, the more influence it gains over him.”

Shall modal verb US /ʃæl/

used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest

From this reading “We shall stay here until dawn.”

Thing noun US /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Perhaps the longer one remains close to that thing, the more influence it gains over him.”

Those determiner US /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading “"If it was the Red machine at work, then we may all be swept into his net along with those he seeks.”

Until preposition US /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading “We shall stay here until dawn.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “If the enemy would reach the place they seek, then they must pass below us, for that is the easiest road.”

All words in this reading · 65

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

all

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

From this reading "If it was the Red machine at work, then we may all be swept into his net along with those he seeks.

alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading "If it was the Red machine at work, then we may all be swept into his net along with those he seeks.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading "If it was the Red machine at work, then we may all be swept into his net along with those he seeks.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading "If it was the Red machine at work, then we may all be swept into his net along with those he seeks.

belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/

at or to a lower level than something

From this reading If the enemy would reach the place they seek, then they must pass below us, for that is the easiest road.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But Nolan had the final word: "This is not good," he echoed Jil-Lee's comment.

close

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

From this reading Perhaps the longer one remains close to that thing, the more influence it gains over him.

comment

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

From this reading But Nolan had the final word: "This is not good," he echoed Jil-Lee's comment.

dawn

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

From this reading We shall stay here until dawn.

easiest

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

From this reading If the enemy would reach the place they seek, then they must pass below us, for that is the easiest road.

echoed

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

From this reading But Nolan had the final word: "This is not good," he echoed Jil-Lee's comment.

enemy

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

From this reading If the enemy would reach the place they seek, then they must pass below us, for that is the easiest road.

final

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

From this reading But Nolan had the final word: "This is not good," he echoed Jil-Lee's comment.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading If the enemy would reach the place they seek, then they must pass below us, for that is the easiest road.

gains

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

From this reading Perhaps the longer one remains close to that thing, the more influence it gains over him.

goodnounUS /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But Nolan had the final word: "This is not good," he echoed Jil-Lee's comment.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading But Nolan had the final word: "This is not good," he echoed Jil-Lee's comment.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading But Nolan had the final word: "This is not good," he echoed Jil-Lee's comment.

herenounUS /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading We shall stay here until dawn.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading Perhaps the longer one remains close to that thing, the more influence it gains over him.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading "If it was the Red machine at work, then we may all be swept into his net along with those he seeks.

IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading "If it was the Red machine at work, then we may all be swept into his net along with those he seeks.

influence

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

From this reading Perhaps the longer one remains close to that thing, the more influence it gains over him.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading "If it was the Red machine at work, then we may all be swept into his net along with those he seeks.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading But Nolan had the final word: "This is not good," he echoed Jil-Lee's comment.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading "If it was the Red machine at work, then we may all be swept into his net along with those he seeks.

Jil-Lee's

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

From this reading But Nolan had the final word: "This is not good," he echoed Jil-Lee's comment.

longer

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

From this reading Perhaps the longer one remains close to that thing, the more influence it gains over him.

machine

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

From this reading "If it was the Red machine at work, then we may all be swept into his net along with those he seeks.

maymodal verbUS /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading "If it was the Red machine at work, then we may all be swept into his net along with those he seeks.

more

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

From this reading Perhaps the longer one remains close to that thing, the more influence it gains over him.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading If the enemy would reach the place they seek, then they must pass below us, for that is the easiest road.

net

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

From this reading "If it was the Red machine at work, then we may all be swept into his net along with those he seeks.

Nolan

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

From this reading But Nolan had the final word: "This is not good," he echoed Jil-Lee's comment.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading But Nolan had the final word: "This is not good," he echoed Jil-Lee's comment.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Perhaps the longer one remains close to that thing, the more influence it gains over him.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading Perhaps the longer one remains close to that thing, the more influence it gains over him.

pass

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

From this reading If the enemy would reach the place they seek, then they must pass below us, for that is the easiest road.

Perhaps

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

From this reading Perhaps the longer one remains close to that thing, the more influence it gains over him.

place

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

From this reading If the enemy would reach the place they seek, then they must pass below us, for that is the easiest road.

reach

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

From this reading If the enemy would reach the place they seek, then they must pass below us, for that is the easiest road.

Red

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

From this reading "If it was the Red machine at work, then we may all be swept into his net along with those he seeks.

remains

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

From this reading Perhaps the longer one remains close to that thing, the more influence it gains over him.

road

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

From this reading If the enemy would reach the place they seek, then they must pass below us, for that is the easiest road.

seek

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

From this reading If the enemy would reach the place they seek, then they must pass below us, for that is the easiest road.

seeks

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

From this reading "If it was the Red machine at work, then we may all be swept into his net along with those he seeks.

shallmodal verbUS /ʃæl/

used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest

From this reading We shall stay here until dawn.

stay

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

From this reading We shall stay here until dawn.

swept

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

From this reading "If it was the Red machine at work, then we may all be swept into his net along with those he seeks.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Perhaps the longer one remains close to that thing, the more influence it gains over him.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading But Nolan had the final word: "This is not good," he echoed Jil-Lee's comment.

then

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

From this reading "If it was the Red machine at work, then we may all be swept into his net along with those he seeks.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading If the enemy would reach the place they seek, then they must pass below us, for that is the easiest road.

thingnounUS /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Perhaps the longer one remains close to that thing, the more influence it gains over him.

ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading But Nolan had the final word: "This is not good," he echoed Jil-Lee's comment.

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading "If it was the Red machine at work, then we may all be swept into his net along with those he seeks.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Perhaps the longer one remains close to that thing, the more influence it gains over him.

untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading We shall stay here until dawn.

uspronounUS /ʌs/

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading If the enemy would reach the place they seek, then they must pass below us, for that is the easiest road.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading "If it was the Red machine at work, then we may all be swept into his net along with those he seeks.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading "If it was the Red machine at work, then we may all be swept into his net along with those he seeks.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading "If it was the Red machine at work, then we may all be swept into his net along with those he seeks.

word

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

From this reading But Nolan had the final word: "This is not good," he echoed Jil-Lee's comment.

work

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

From this reading "If it was the Red machine at work, then we may all be swept into his net along with those he seeks.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading If the enemy would reach the place they seek, then they must pass below us, for that is the easiest road.