Chapter III
"We know. We have it from our fathers and our fathers' fathers. They came like lambs, speaking softly. Well might they speak softly, for we were many and strong, and all the islands were ours. As I say, they spoke softly.
The House of Pride, and Other Tales of Hawaii
Chapter III
English subtitles · tap any word to listen
1 / 5
"We
know.
We
have
it
from
our
fathers
and
our
fathers'
fathers.
They
came
like
lambs,
speaking
softly.
Well
might
they
speak
softly,
for
we
were
many
and
strong,
and
all
the
islands
were
ours.
As
I
say,
they
spoke
softly.
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
The House of Pride, and Other Tales of Hawaii
Chapter III
Reading 1/45 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
Line 1
"We
know.
/wiː know/
Line 2
We
have
it
from
our
fathers
and
our
fathers'
fathers.
Line 3
They
came
like
lambs,
speaking
softly.
Line 4
Well
might
they
speak
softly,
for
we
were
many
and
strong,
and
all
the
islands
were
ours.
Line 5
As
I
say,
they
spoke
softly.
Learner Dictionary
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
Have
auxiliary verb
US /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “We have it from our fathers and our fathers' fathers.”
Know
noun
US /know/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “"We know.”
Might
modal verb
US /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading “Well might they speak softly, for we were many and strong, and all the islands were ours.”
Ours
pronoun
US /ˈaʊərz/
the one or ones belonging to us
From this reading “Well might they speak softly, for we were many and strong, and all the islands were ours.”
Speak
noun
US /speak/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Well might they speak softly, for we were many and strong, and all the islands were ours.”
Well
noun
US /well/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Well might they speak softly, for we were many and strong, and all the islands were ours.”
All words in this reading · 29
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 Well might they speak softly, for we were many and strong, and all the islands were ours.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading We have it from our fathers and our fathers' fathers.
AsconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As I say, they spoke softly.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They came like lambs, speaking softly.
fathers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We have it from our fathers and our fathers' fathers.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Well might they speak softly, for we were many and strong, and all the islands were ours.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading We have it from our fathers and our fathers' fathers.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading We have it from our fathers and our fathers' fathers.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading As I say, they spoke softly.
islands
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Well might they speak softly, for we were many and strong, and all the islands were ours.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading We have it from our fathers and our fathers' fathers.
knownounUS /know/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "We know.
lambs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They came like lambs, speaking softly.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They came like lambs, speaking softly.
many
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Well might they speak softly, for we were many and strong, and all the islands were ours.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Well might they speak softly, for we were many and strong, and all the islands were ours.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading We have it from our fathers and our fathers' fathers.
ourspronounUS /ˈaʊərz/
the one or ones belonging to us
From this reading Well might they speak softly, for we were many and strong, and all the islands were ours.
say
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As I say, they spoke softly.
softly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They came like lambs, speaking softly.
speak
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Well might they speak softly, for we were many and strong, and all the islands were ours.
speaking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They came like lambs, speaking softly.
spoke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As I say, they spoke softly.
strong
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Well might they speak softly, for we were many and strong, and all the islands were ours.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Well might they speak softly, for we were many and strong, and all the islands were ours.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They came like lambs, speaking softly.
WepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "We know.
Well
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Well might they speak softly, for we were many and strong, and all the islands were ours.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Well might they speak softly, for we were many and strong, and all the islands were ours.