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

Chapter VII

Cover illustration for The Prairie
Context Illustration Reading 1/34 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
What! fifty of my followers, at a clap!
—Lear.
The day had now fairly opened on the seemingly interminable waste of the prairie.
The entrance of Obed at such a moment into the camp, accompanied as it was by vociferous lamentations over his anticipated loss, did not fail to rouse the drowsy family of the squatter.
Ishmael and his sons, together with the forbidding looking brother of his wife, were all speedily afoot; and then, as the sun began to shed his light on the place, they became gradually apprised of the extent of their loss.
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 Prairie

Chapter VII

Reading 1/34 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
What! fifty of my followers, at a clap!
Line 2
—Lear.
Line 3
The day had now fairly opened on the seemingly interminable waste of the prairie.
Line 4
The entrance of Obed at such a moment into the camp, accompanied as it was by vociferous lamentations over his anticipated loss, did not fail to rouse the drowsy family of the squatter.
Line 5
Ishmael and his sons, together with the forbidding looking brother of his wife, were all speedily afoot; and then, as the sun began to shed his light on the place, they became gradually apprised of the extent of their loss.

Learner Dictionary

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

Began noun US /began/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Ishmael and his sons, together with the forbidding looking brother of his wife, were all speedily afoot; and then, as the sun began to shed his light on the place, they became gradually apprised of the extent of their loss.”

Camp noun US /camp/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The entrance of Obed at such a moment into the camp, accompanied as it was by vociferous lamentations over his anticipated loss, did not fail to rouse the drowsy family of the squatter.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “The entrance of Obed at such a moment into the camp, accompanied as it was by vociferous lamentations over his anticipated loss, did not fail to rouse the drowsy family of the squatter.”

Waste noun US /weɪst/

an empty, uncultivated area of land

From this reading “The day had now fairly opened on the seemingly interminable waste of the prairie.”

All words in this reading · 70

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 What! fifty of my followers, at a clap!

accompanied

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

From this reading The entrance of Obed at such a moment into the camp, accompanied as it was by vociferous lamentations over his anticipated loss, did not fail to rouse the drowsy family of the squatter.

afoot

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

From this reading Ishmael and his sons, together with the forbidding looking brother of his wife, were all speedily afoot; and then, as the sun began to shed his light on the place, they became gradually apprised of the extent of their loss.

all

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

From this reading Ishmael and his sons, together with the forbidding looking brother of his wife, were all speedily afoot; and then, as the sun began to shed his light on the place, they became gradually apprised of the extent of their loss.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Ishmael and his sons, together with the forbidding looking brother of his wife, were all speedily afoot; and then, as the sun began to shed his light on the place, they became gradually apprised of the extent of their loss.

anticipated

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

From this reading The entrance of Obed at such a moment into the camp, accompanied as it was by vociferous lamentations over his anticipated loss, did not fail to rouse the drowsy family of the squatter.

apprised

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

From this reading Ishmael and his sons, together with the forbidding looking brother of his wife, were all speedily afoot; and then, as the sun began to shed his light on the place, they became gradually apprised of the extent of their loss.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading The entrance of Obed at such a moment into the camp, accompanied as it was by vociferous lamentations over his anticipated loss, did not fail to rouse the drowsy family of the squatter.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading What! fifty of my followers, at a clap!

became

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

From this reading Ishmael and his sons, together with the forbidding looking brother of his wife, were all speedily afoot; and then, as the sun began to shed his light on the place, they became gradually apprised of the extent of their loss.

begannounUS /began/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Ishmael and his sons, together with the forbidding looking brother of his wife, were all speedily afoot; and then, as the sun began to shed his light on the place, they became gradually apprised of the extent of their loss.

brother

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

From this reading Ishmael and his sons, together with the forbidding looking brother of his wife, were all speedily afoot; and then, as the sun began to shed his light on the place, they became gradually apprised of the extent of their loss.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The entrance of Obed at such a moment into the camp, accompanied as it was by vociferous lamentations over his anticipated loss, did not fail to rouse the drowsy family of the squatter.

camp

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

From this reading The entrance of Obed at such a moment into the camp, accompanied as it was by vociferous lamentations over his anticipated loss, did not fail to rouse the drowsy family of the squatter.

clap

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

From this reading What! fifty of my followers, at a clap!

day

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

From this reading The day had now fairly opened on the seemingly interminable waste of the prairie.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading The entrance of Obed at such a moment into the camp, accompanied as it was by vociferous lamentations over his anticipated loss, did not fail to rouse the drowsy family of the squatter.

drowsy

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

From this reading The entrance of Obed at such a moment into the camp, accompanied as it was by vociferous lamentations over his anticipated loss, did not fail to rouse the drowsy family of the squatter.

entrance

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

From this reading The entrance of Obed at such a moment into the camp, accompanied as it was by vociferous lamentations over his anticipated loss, did not fail to rouse the drowsy family of the squatter.

extent

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

From this reading Ishmael and his sons, together with the forbidding looking brother of his wife, were all speedily afoot; and then, as the sun began to shed his light on the place, they became gradually apprised of the extent of their loss.

fail

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

From this reading The entrance of Obed at such a moment into the camp, accompanied as it was by vociferous lamentations over his anticipated loss, did not fail to rouse the drowsy family of the squatter.

fairly

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

From this reading The day had now fairly opened on the seemingly interminable waste of the prairie.

family

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

From this reading The entrance of Obed at such a moment into the camp, accompanied as it was by vociferous lamentations over his anticipated loss, did not fail to rouse the drowsy family of the squatter.

fifty

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

From this reading What! fifty of my followers, at a clap!

followers

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

From this reading What! fifty of my followers, at a clap!

forbidding

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

From this reading Ishmael and his sons, together with the forbidding looking brother of his wife, were all speedily afoot; and then, as the sun began to shed his light on the place, they became gradually apprised of the extent of their loss.

gradually

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

From this reading Ishmael and his sons, together with the forbidding looking brother of his wife, were all speedily afoot; and then, as the sun began to shed his light on the place, they became gradually apprised of the extent of their loss.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading The day had now fairly opened on the seemingly interminable waste of the prairie.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading The entrance of Obed at such a moment into the camp, accompanied as it was by vociferous lamentations over his anticipated loss, did not fail to rouse the drowsy family of the squatter.

interminable

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

From this reading The day had now fairly opened on the seemingly interminable waste of the prairie.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading The entrance of Obed at such a moment into the camp, accompanied as it was by vociferous lamentations over his anticipated loss, did not fail to rouse the drowsy family of the squatter.

Ishmael

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

From this reading Ishmael and his sons, together with the forbidding looking brother of his wife, were all speedily afoot; and then, as the sun began to shed his light on the place, they became gradually apprised of the extent of their loss.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading The entrance of Obed at such a moment into the camp, accompanied as it was by vociferous lamentations over his anticipated loss, did not fail to rouse the drowsy family of the squatter.

lamentations

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

From this reading The entrance of Obed at such a moment into the camp, accompanied as it was by vociferous lamentations over his anticipated loss, did not fail to rouse the drowsy family of the squatter.

Lear

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

From this reading —Lear.

light

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

From this reading Ishmael and his sons, together with the forbidding looking brother of his wife, were all speedily afoot; and then, as the sun began to shed his light on the place, they became gradually apprised of the extent of their loss.

looking

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

From this reading Ishmael and his sons, together with the forbidding looking brother of his wife, were all speedily afoot; and then, as the sun began to shed his light on the place, they became gradually apprised of the extent of their loss.

loss

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

From this reading The entrance of Obed at such a moment into the camp, accompanied as it was by vociferous lamentations over his anticipated loss, did not fail to rouse the drowsy family of the squatter.

moment

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

From this reading The entrance of Obed at such a moment into the camp, accompanied as it was by vociferous lamentations over his anticipated loss, did not fail to rouse the drowsy family of the squatter.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading What! fifty of my followers, at a clap!

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading The entrance of Obed at such a moment into the camp, accompanied as it was by vociferous lamentations over his anticipated loss, did not fail to rouse the drowsy family of the squatter.

now

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

From this reading The day had now fairly opened on the seemingly interminable waste of the prairie.

Obed

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

From this reading The entrance of Obed at such a moment into the camp, accompanied as it was by vociferous lamentations over his anticipated loss, did not fail to rouse the drowsy family of the squatter.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading What! fifty of my followers, at a clap!

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The day had now fairly opened on the seemingly interminable waste of the prairie.

opened

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

From this reading The day had now fairly opened on the seemingly interminable waste of the prairie.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading The entrance of Obed at such a moment into the camp, accompanied as it was by vociferous lamentations over his anticipated loss, did not fail to rouse the drowsy family of the squatter.

place

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

From this reading Ishmael and his sons, together with the forbidding looking brother of his wife, were all speedily afoot; and then, as the sun began to shed his light on the place, they became gradually apprised of the extent of their loss.

prairie

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

From this reading The day had now fairly opened on the seemingly interminable waste of the prairie.

rouse

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

From this reading The entrance of Obed at such a moment into the camp, accompanied as it was by vociferous lamentations over his anticipated loss, did not fail to rouse the drowsy family of the squatter.

seemingly

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

From this reading The day had now fairly opened on the seemingly interminable waste of the prairie.

shed

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

From this reading Ishmael and his sons, together with the forbidding looking brother of his wife, were all speedily afoot; and then, as the sun began to shed his light on the place, they became gradually apprised of the extent of their loss.

sons

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

From this reading Ishmael and his sons, together with the forbidding looking brother of his wife, were all speedily afoot; and then, as the sun began to shed his light on the place, they became gradually apprised of the extent of their loss.

speedily

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

From this reading Ishmael and his sons, together with the forbidding looking brother of his wife, were all speedily afoot; and then, as the sun began to shed his light on the place, they became gradually apprised of the extent of their loss.

squatter

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

From this reading The entrance of Obed at such a moment into the camp, accompanied as it was by vociferous lamentations over his anticipated loss, did not fail to rouse the drowsy family of the squatter.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading The entrance of Obed at such a moment into the camp, accompanied as it was by vociferous lamentations over his anticipated loss, did not fail to rouse the drowsy family of the squatter.

sun

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

From this reading Ishmael and his sons, together with the forbidding looking brother of his wife, were all speedily afoot; and then, as the sun began to shed his light on the place, they became gradually apprised of the extent of their loss.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The day had now fairly opened on the seemingly interminable waste of the prairie.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Ishmael and his sons, together with the forbidding looking brother of his wife, were all speedily afoot; and then, as the sun began to shed his light on the place, they became gradually apprised of the extent of their loss.

then

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

From this reading Ishmael and his sons, together with the forbidding looking brother of his wife, were all speedily afoot; and then, as the sun began to shed his light on the place, they became gradually apprised of the extent of their loss.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading Ishmael and his sons, together with the forbidding looking brother of his wife, were all speedily afoot; and then, as the sun began to shed his light on the place, they became gradually apprised of the extent of their loss.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The entrance of Obed at such a moment into the camp, accompanied as it was by vociferous lamentations over his anticipated loss, did not fail to rouse the drowsy family of the squatter.

together

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

From this reading Ishmael and his sons, together with the forbidding looking brother of his wife, were all speedily afoot; and then, as the sun began to shed his light on the place, they became gradually apprised of the extent of their loss.

vociferous

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

From this reading The entrance of Obed at such a moment into the camp, accompanied as it was by vociferous lamentations over his anticipated loss, did not fail to rouse the drowsy family of the squatter.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The entrance of Obed at such a moment into the camp, accompanied as it was by vociferous lamentations over his anticipated loss, did not fail to rouse the drowsy family of the squatter.

wastenounUS /weɪst/

an empty, uncultivated area of land

From this reading The day had now fairly opened on the seemingly interminable waste of the prairie.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading Ishmael and his sons, together with the forbidding looking brother of his wife, were all speedily afoot; and then, as the sun began to shed his light on the place, they became gradually apprised of the extent of their loss.

WhatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading What! fifty of my followers, at a clap!

wife

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

From this reading Ishmael and his sons, together with the forbidding looking brother of his wife, were all speedily afoot; and then, as the sun began to shed his light on the place, they became gradually apprised of the extent of their loss.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Ishmael and his sons, together with the forbidding looking brother of his wife, were all speedily afoot; and then, as the sun began to shed his light on the place, they became gradually apprised of the extent of their loss.