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The Rover Boys in the Jungle
The Rover Boys in the Jungle

Chapter XV

Cover illustration for The Rover Boys in the Jungle
Context Illustration Reading 1/26 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
CAPTAIN VILLAIRE'S LITTLE PLOT Dick was right: the boy in the reading-room' was indeed Dan Baxter, but so changed in appearance that for the minute neither Tom nor Sam recognized him.
In the past Baxter had always been used to fine clothing, which he had taken care should be in good repair.
Now his clothing was dilapidated and his shoes looked as if they were about ready to fall apart.
More than this, his face was hollow and careworn, and one eye looked as if it had suffered severe blow of some sort.
Altogether he was most wretched-looking specimen of humanity, and it was a wonder that he was allowed at the hotel.
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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 Rover Boys in the Jungle

Chapter XV

Reading 1/26 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
CAPTAIN VILLAIRE'S LITTLE PLOT Dick was right: the boy in the reading-room' was indeed Dan Baxter, but so changed in appearance that for the minute neither Tom nor Sam recognized him.
Line 2
In the past Baxter had always been used to fine clothing, which he had taken care should be in good repair.
Line 3
Now his clothing was dilapidated and his shoes looked as if they were about ready to fall apart.
Line 4
More than this, his face was hollow and careworn, and one eye looked as if it had suffered severe blow of some sort.
Line 5
Altogether he was most wretched-looking specimen of humanity, and it was a wonder that he was allowed at the hotel.

Learner Dictionary

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

About preposition US /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “Now his clothing was dilapidated and his shoes looked as if they were about ready to fall apart.”

Appearance noun US /ˈappearance/

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

From this reading “CAPTAIN VILLAIRE'S LITTLE PLOT Dick was right: the boy in the reading-room' was indeed Dan Baxter, but so changed in appearance that for the minute neither Tom nor Sam recognized him.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “In the past Baxter had always been used to fine clothing, which he had taken care should be in good repair.”

CAPTAIN noun US /ˈcaptain/

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

From this reading “CAPTAIN VILLAIRE'S LITTLE PLOT Dick was right: the boy in the reading-room' was indeed Dan Baxter, but so changed in appearance that for the minute neither Tom nor Sam recognized him.”

Dick noun US /dick/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “CAPTAIN VILLAIRE'S LITTLE PLOT Dick was right: the boy in the reading-room' was indeed Dan Baxter, but so changed in appearance that for the minute neither Tom nor Sam recognized him.”

Fine noun US /fine/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “In the past Baxter had always been used to fine clothing, which he had taken care should be in good repair.”

Good noun US /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “In the past Baxter had always been used to fine clothing, which he had taken care should be in good repair.”

LITTLE noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “CAPTAIN VILLAIRE'S LITTLE PLOT Dick was right: the boy in the reading-room' was indeed Dan Baxter, but so changed in appearance that for the minute neither Tom nor Sam recognized him.”

Looked noun US /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Now his clothing was dilapidated and his shoes looked as if they were about ready to fall apart.”

Neither determiner US /ˈniːðər/

not one and not the other of two

From this reading “CAPTAIN VILLAIRE'S LITTLE PLOT Dick was right: the boy in the reading-room' was indeed Dan Baxter, but so changed in appearance that for the minute neither Tom nor Sam recognized him.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “More than this, his face was hollow and careworn, and one eye looked as if it had suffered severe blow of some sort.”

Right noun US /right/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “CAPTAIN VILLAIRE'S LITTLE PLOT Dick was right: the boy in the reading-room' was indeed Dan Baxter, but so changed in appearance that for the minute neither Tom nor Sam recognized him.”

All words in this reading · 82

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 Altogether he was most wretched-looking specimen of humanity, and it was a wonder that he was allowed at the hotel.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Now his clothing was dilapidated and his shoes looked as if they were about ready to fall apart.

allowed

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

From this reading Altogether he was most wretched-looking specimen of humanity, and it was a wonder that he was allowed at the hotel.

Altogether

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

From this reading Altogether he was most wretched-looking specimen of humanity, and it was a wonder that he was allowed at the hotel.

always

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

From this reading In the past Baxter had always been used to fine clothing, which he had taken care should be in good repair.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Now his clothing was dilapidated and his shoes looked as if they were about ready to fall apart.

apart

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

From this reading Now his clothing was dilapidated and his shoes looked as if they were about ready to fall apart.

appearancenounUS /ˈappearance/

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

From this reading CAPTAIN VILLAIRE'S LITTLE PLOT Dick was right: the boy in the reading-room' was indeed Dan Baxter, but so changed in appearance that for the minute neither Tom nor Sam recognized him.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Now his clothing was dilapidated and his shoes looked as if they were about ready to fall apart.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Altogether he was most wretched-looking specimen of humanity, and it was a wonder that he was allowed at the hotel.

Baxter

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

From this reading CAPTAIN VILLAIRE'S LITTLE PLOT Dick was right: the boy in the reading-room' was indeed Dan Baxter, but so changed in appearance that for the minute neither Tom nor Sam recognized him.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading In the past Baxter had always been used to fine clothing, which he had taken care should be in good repair.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading In the past Baxter had always been used to fine clothing, which he had taken care should be in good repair.

blow

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

From this reading More than this, his face was hollow and careworn, and one eye looked as if it had suffered severe blow of some sort.

boy

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

From this reading CAPTAIN VILLAIRE'S LITTLE PLOT Dick was right: the boy in the reading-room' was indeed Dan Baxter, but so changed in appearance that for the minute neither Tom nor Sam recognized him.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading CAPTAIN VILLAIRE'S LITTLE PLOT Dick was right: the boy in the reading-room' was indeed Dan Baxter, but so changed in appearance that for the minute neither Tom nor Sam recognized him.

CAPTAINnounUS /ˈcaptain/

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

From this reading CAPTAIN VILLAIRE'S LITTLE PLOT Dick was right: the boy in the reading-room' was indeed Dan Baxter, but so changed in appearance that for the minute neither Tom nor Sam recognized him.

care

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

From this reading In the past Baxter had always been used to fine clothing, which he had taken care should be in good repair.

careworn

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

From this reading More than this, his face was hollow and careworn, and one eye looked as if it had suffered severe blow of some sort.

changed

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

From this reading CAPTAIN VILLAIRE'S LITTLE PLOT Dick was right: the boy in the reading-room' was indeed Dan Baxter, but so changed in appearance that for the minute neither Tom nor Sam recognized him.

clothing

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

From this reading In the past Baxter had always been used to fine clothing, which he had taken care should be in good repair.

Dan

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

From this reading CAPTAIN VILLAIRE'S LITTLE PLOT Dick was right: the boy in the reading-room' was indeed Dan Baxter, but so changed in appearance that for the minute neither Tom nor Sam recognized him.

Dick

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

From this reading CAPTAIN VILLAIRE'S LITTLE PLOT Dick was right: the boy in the reading-room' was indeed Dan Baxter, but so changed in appearance that for the minute neither Tom nor Sam recognized him.

dilapidated

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

From this reading Now his clothing was dilapidated and his shoes looked as if they were about ready to fall apart.

eye

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

From this reading More than this, his face was hollow and careworn, and one eye looked as if it had suffered severe blow of some sort.

face

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

From this reading More than this, his face was hollow and careworn, and one eye looked as if it had suffered severe blow of some sort.

fall

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

From this reading Now his clothing was dilapidated and his shoes looked as if they were about ready to fall apart.

finenounUS /fine/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading In the past Baxter had always been used to fine clothing, which he had taken care should be in good repair.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading CAPTAIN VILLAIRE'S LITTLE PLOT Dick was right: the boy in the reading-room' was indeed Dan Baxter, but so changed in appearance that for the minute neither Tom nor Sam recognized him.

goodnounUS /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading In the past Baxter had always been used to fine clothing, which he had taken care should be in good repair.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading In the past Baxter had always been used to fine clothing, which he had taken care should be in good repair.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading In the past Baxter had always been used to fine clothing, which he had taken care should be in good repair.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading CAPTAIN VILLAIRE'S LITTLE PLOT Dick was right: the boy in the reading-room' was indeed Dan Baxter, but so changed in appearance that for the minute neither Tom nor Sam recognized him.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Now his clothing was dilapidated and his shoes looked as if they were about ready to fall apart.

hollow

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

From this reading More than this, his face was hollow and careworn, and one eye looked as if it had suffered severe blow of some sort.

hotel

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

From this reading Altogether he was most wretched-looking specimen of humanity, and it was a wonder that he was allowed at the hotel.

humanity

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

From this reading Altogether he was most wretched-looking specimen of humanity, and it was a wonder that he was allowed at the hotel.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading Now his clothing was dilapidated and his shoes looked as if they were about ready to fall apart.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading CAPTAIN VILLAIRE'S LITTLE PLOT Dick was right: the boy in the reading-room' was indeed Dan Baxter, but so changed in appearance that for the minute neither Tom nor Sam recognized him.

indeed

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

From this reading CAPTAIN VILLAIRE'S LITTLE PLOT Dick was right: the boy in the reading-room' was indeed Dan Baxter, but so changed in appearance that for the minute neither Tom nor Sam recognized him.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading More than this, his face was hollow and careworn, and one eye looked as if it had suffered severe blow of some sort.

LITTLEnounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading CAPTAIN VILLAIRE'S LITTLE PLOT Dick was right: the boy in the reading-room' was indeed Dan Baxter, but so changed in appearance that for the minute neither Tom nor Sam recognized him.

lookednounUS /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Now his clothing was dilapidated and his shoes looked as if they were about ready to fall apart.

minute

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

From this reading CAPTAIN VILLAIRE'S LITTLE PLOT Dick was right: the boy in the reading-room' was indeed Dan Baxter, but so changed in appearance that for the minute neither Tom nor Sam recognized him.

More

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

From this reading More than this, his face was hollow and careworn, and one eye looked as if it had suffered severe blow of some sort.

most

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

From this reading Altogether he was most wretched-looking specimen of humanity, and it was a wonder that he was allowed at the hotel.

neitherdeterminerUS /ˈniːðər/

not one and not the other of two

From this reading CAPTAIN VILLAIRE'S LITTLE PLOT Dick was right: the boy in the reading-room' was indeed Dan Baxter, but so changed in appearance that for the minute neither Tom nor Sam recognized him.

norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/

and not; used after a negative to add a second negative

From this reading CAPTAIN VILLAIRE'S LITTLE PLOT Dick was right: the boy in the reading-room' was indeed Dan Baxter, but so changed in appearance that for the minute neither Tom nor Sam recognized him.

Now

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

From this reading Now his clothing was dilapidated and his shoes looked as if they were about ready to fall apart.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading More than this, his face was hollow and careworn, and one eye looked as if it had suffered severe blow of some sort.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading More than this, his face was hollow and careworn, and one eye looked as if it had suffered severe blow of some sort.

past

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

From this reading In the past Baxter had always been used to fine clothing, which he had taken care should be in good repair.

PLOT

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

From this reading CAPTAIN VILLAIRE'S LITTLE PLOT Dick was right: the boy in the reading-room' was indeed Dan Baxter, but so changed in appearance that for the minute neither Tom nor Sam recognized him.

reading-room

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

From this reading CAPTAIN VILLAIRE'S LITTLE PLOT Dick was right: the boy in the reading-room' was indeed Dan Baxter, but so changed in appearance that for the minute neither Tom nor Sam recognized him.

ready

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

From this reading Now his clothing was dilapidated and his shoes looked as if they were about ready to fall apart.

recognized

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

From this reading CAPTAIN VILLAIRE'S LITTLE PLOT Dick was right: the boy in the reading-room' was indeed Dan Baxter, but so changed in appearance that for the minute neither Tom nor Sam recognized him.

repair

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

From this reading In the past Baxter had always been used to fine clothing, which he had taken care should be in good repair.

rightnounUS /right/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading CAPTAIN VILLAIRE'S LITTLE PLOT Dick was right: the boy in the reading-room' was indeed Dan Baxter, but so changed in appearance that for the minute neither Tom nor Sam recognized him.

Sam

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

From this reading CAPTAIN VILLAIRE'S LITTLE PLOT Dick was right: the boy in the reading-room' was indeed Dan Baxter, but so changed in appearance that for the minute neither Tom nor Sam recognized him.

severe

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

From this reading More than this, his face was hollow and careworn, and one eye looked as if it had suffered severe blow of some sort.

shoes

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

From this reading Now his clothing was dilapidated and his shoes looked as if they were about ready to fall apart.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading In the past Baxter had always been used to fine clothing, which he had taken care should be in good repair.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading CAPTAIN VILLAIRE'S LITTLE PLOT Dick was right: the boy in the reading-room' was indeed Dan Baxter, but so changed in appearance that for the minute neither Tom nor Sam recognized him.

some

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

From this reading More than this, his face was hollow and careworn, and one eye looked as if it had suffered severe blow of some sort.

sort

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

From this reading More than this, his face was hollow and careworn, and one eye looked as if it had suffered severe blow of some sort.

specimen

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

From this reading Altogether he was most wretched-looking specimen of humanity, and it was a wonder that he was allowed at the hotel.

suffered

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

From this reading More than this, his face was hollow and careworn, and one eye looked as if it had suffered severe blow of some sort.

taken

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

From this reading In the past Baxter had always been used to fine clothing, which he had taken care should be in good repair.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading More than this, his face was hollow and careworn, and one eye looked as if it had suffered severe blow of some sort.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading CAPTAIN VILLAIRE'S LITTLE PLOT Dick was right: the boy in the reading-room' was indeed Dan Baxter, but so changed in appearance that for the minute neither Tom nor Sam recognized him.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading CAPTAIN VILLAIRE'S LITTLE PLOT Dick was right: the boy in the reading-room' was indeed Dan Baxter, but so changed in appearance that for the minute neither Tom nor Sam recognized him.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading Now his clothing was dilapidated and his shoes looked as if they were about ready to fall apart.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading More than this, his face was hollow and careworn, and one eye looked as if it had suffered severe blow of some sort.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading In the past Baxter had always been used to fine clothing, which he had taken care should be in good repair.

Tom

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

From this reading CAPTAIN VILLAIRE'S LITTLE PLOT Dick was right: the boy in the reading-room' was indeed Dan Baxter, but so changed in appearance that for the minute neither Tom nor Sam recognized him.

used

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

From this reading In the past Baxter had always been used to fine clothing, which he had taken care should be in good repair.

VILLAIRE'S

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

From this reading CAPTAIN VILLAIRE'S LITTLE PLOT Dick was right: the boy in the reading-room' was indeed Dan Baxter, but so changed in appearance that for the minute neither Tom nor Sam recognized him.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading CAPTAIN VILLAIRE'S LITTLE PLOT Dick was right: the boy in the reading-room' was indeed Dan Baxter, but so changed in appearance that for the minute neither Tom nor Sam recognized him.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading Now his clothing was dilapidated and his shoes looked as if they were about ready to fall apart.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading In the past Baxter had always been used to fine clothing, which he had taken care should be in good repair.

wonder

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

From this reading Altogether he was most wretched-looking specimen of humanity, and it was a wonder that he was allowed at the hotel.

wretched-looking

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

From this reading Altogether he was most wretched-looking specimen of humanity, and it was a wonder that he was allowed at the hotel.