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The Runaway Skyscraper
The Runaway Skyscraper

Chapter III

Cover illustration for The Runaway Skyscraper
Context Illustration Reading 1/80 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
They were in a barbarous world.
There was not, for example, a single sulfur match on the whole earth except those in the runaway skyscraper.
IX.
Arthur and Van Deventer, in turn with the others of the cooler heads, thundered at the apathetic people, trying to waken them to the necessity for work.
They showered promises of inevitable return to modern times, they pledged their honor to the belief that a way would ultimately be found by which they would all yet find themselves safely back home again.
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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 Runaway Skyscraper

Chapter III

Reading 1/80 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
They were in a barbarous world.
Line 2
There was not, for example, a single sulfur match on the whole earth except those in the runaway skyscraper.
Line 3
IX.
Line 4
Arthur and Van Deventer, in turn with the others of the cooler heads, thundered at the apathetic people, trying to waken them to the necessity for work.
Line 5
They showered promises of inevitable return to modern times, they pledged their honor to the belief that a way would ultimately be found by which they would all yet find themselves safely back home again.

Learner Dictionary

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

Again noun US /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “They showered promises of inevitable return to modern times, they pledged their honor to the belief that a way would ultimately be found by which they would all yet find themselves safely back home again.”

Except preposition US /ɪkˈsept/

apart from; not including

From this reading “There was not, for example, a single sulfur match on the whole earth except those in the runaway skyscraper.”

Found noun US /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “They showered promises of inevitable return to modern times, they pledged their honor to the belief that a way would ultimately be found by which they would all yet find themselves safely back home again.”

Sulfur noun US /ˈsʌl.fər/

A yellow nonmetallic element with a pungent odor.

From this reading “There was not, for example, a single sulfur match on the whole earth except those in the runaway skyscraper.”

Themselves pronoun US /ðemˈselvz/

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading “They showered promises of inevitable return to modern times, they pledged their honor to the belief that a way would ultimately be found by which they would all yet find themselves safely back home again.”

Those determiner US /ðoʊz/

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

From this reading “There was not, for example, a single sulfur match on the whole earth except those in the runaway skyscraper.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “They showered promises of inevitable return to modern times, they pledged their honor to the belief that a way would ultimately be found by which they would all yet find themselves safely back home again.”

Yet conjunction US /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading “They showered promises of inevitable return to modern times, they pledged their honor to the belief that a way would ultimately be found by which they would all yet find themselves safely back home again.”

All words in this reading · 69

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 They were in a barbarous world.

againnounUS /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading They showered promises of inevitable return to modern times, they pledged their honor to the belief that a way would ultimately be found by which they would all yet find themselves safely back home again.

all

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

From this reading They showered promises of inevitable return to modern times, they pledged their honor to the belief that a way would ultimately be found by which they would all yet find themselves safely back home again.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Arthur and Van Deventer, in turn with the others of the cooler heads, thundered at the apathetic people, trying to waken them to the necessity for work.

apathetic

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

From this reading Arthur and Van Deventer, in turn with the others of the cooler heads, thundered at the apathetic people, trying to waken them to the necessity for work.

Arthur

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

From this reading Arthur and Van Deventer, in turn with the others of the cooler heads, thundered at the apathetic people, trying to waken them to the necessity for work.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Arthur and Van Deventer, in turn with the others of the cooler heads, thundered at the apathetic people, trying to waken them to the necessity for work.

back

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

From this reading They showered promises of inevitable return to modern times, they pledged their honor to the belief that a way would ultimately be found by which they would all yet find themselves safely back home again.

barbarous

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

From this reading They were in a barbarous world.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading They showered promises of inevitable return to modern times, they pledged their honor to the belief that a way would ultimately be found by which they would all yet find themselves safely back home again.

belief

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

From this reading They showered promises of inevitable return to modern times, they pledged their honor to the belief that a way would ultimately be found by which they would all yet find themselves safely back home again.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading They showered promises of inevitable return to modern times, they pledged their honor to the belief that a way would ultimately be found by which they would all yet find themselves safely back home again.

cooler

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

From this reading Arthur and Van Deventer, in turn with the others of the cooler heads, thundered at the apathetic people, trying to waken them to the necessity for work.

Deventer

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

From this reading Arthur and Van Deventer, in turn with the others of the cooler heads, thundered at the apathetic people, trying to waken them to the necessity for work.

earth

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

From this reading There was not, for example, a single sulfur match on the whole earth except those in the runaway skyscraper.

example

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

From this reading There was not, for example, a single sulfur match on the whole earth except those in the runaway skyscraper.

exceptprepositionUS /ɪkˈsept/

apart from; not including

From this reading There was not, for example, a single sulfur match on the whole earth except those in the runaway skyscraper.

find

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

From this reading They showered promises of inevitable return to modern times, they pledged their honor to the belief that a way would ultimately be found by which they would all yet find themselves safely back home again.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading There was not, for example, a single sulfur match on the whole earth except those in the runaway skyscraper.

foundnounUS /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading They showered promises of inevitable return to modern times, they pledged their honor to the belief that a way would ultimately be found by which they would all yet find themselves safely back home again.

heads

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

From this reading Arthur and Van Deventer, in turn with the others of the cooler heads, thundered at the apathetic people, trying to waken them to the necessity for work.

home

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

From this reading They showered promises of inevitable return to modern times, they pledged their honor to the belief that a way would ultimately be found by which they would all yet find themselves safely back home again.

honor

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

From this reading They showered promises of inevitable return to modern times, they pledged their honor to the belief that a way would ultimately be found by which they would all yet find themselves safely back home again.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading They were in a barbarous world.

inevitable

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

From this reading They showered promises of inevitable return to modern times, they pledged their honor to the belief that a way would ultimately be found by which they would all yet find themselves safely back home again.

IX

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

From this reading IX.

match

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

From this reading There was not, for example, a single sulfur match on the whole earth except those in the runaway skyscraper.

modern

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

From this reading They showered promises of inevitable return to modern times, they pledged their honor to the belief that a way would ultimately be found by which they would all yet find themselves safely back home again.

necessity

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

From this reading Arthur and Van Deventer, in turn with the others of the cooler heads, thundered at the apathetic people, trying to waken them to the necessity for work.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading There was not, for example, a single sulfur match on the whole earth except those in the runaway skyscraper.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Arthur and Van Deventer, in turn with the others of the cooler heads, thundered at the apathetic people, trying to waken them to the necessity for work.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading There was not, for example, a single sulfur match on the whole earth except those in the runaway skyscraper.

others

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

From this reading Arthur and Van Deventer, in turn with the others of the cooler heads, thundered at the apathetic people, trying to waken them to the necessity for work.

people

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

From this reading Arthur and Van Deventer, in turn with the others of the cooler heads, thundered at the apathetic people, trying to waken them to the necessity for work.

pledged

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

From this reading They showered promises of inevitable return to modern times, they pledged their honor to the belief that a way would ultimately be found by which they would all yet find themselves safely back home again.

promises

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

From this reading They showered promises of inevitable return to modern times, they pledged their honor to the belief that a way would ultimately be found by which they would all yet find themselves safely back home again.

return

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

From this reading They showered promises of inevitable return to modern times, they pledged their honor to the belief that a way would ultimately be found by which they would all yet find themselves safely back home again.

runaway

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

From this reading There was not, for example, a single sulfur match on the whole earth except those in the runaway skyscraper.

safely

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

From this reading They showered promises of inevitable return to modern times, they pledged their honor to the belief that a way would ultimately be found by which they would all yet find themselves safely back home again.

showered

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

From this reading They showered promises of inevitable return to modern times, they pledged their honor to the belief that a way would ultimately be found by which they would all yet find themselves safely back home again.

single

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

From this reading There was not, for example, a single sulfur match on the whole earth except those in the runaway skyscraper.

skyscraper

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

From this reading There was not, for example, a single sulfur match on the whole earth except those in the runaway skyscraper.

sulfurnounUS /ˈsʌl.fər/

A yellow nonmetallic element with a pungent odor.

From this reading There was not, for example, a single sulfur match on the whole earth except those in the runaway skyscraper.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading They showered promises of inevitable return to modern times, they pledged their honor to the belief that a way would ultimately be found by which they would all yet find themselves safely back home again.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading There was not, for example, a single sulfur match on the whole earth except those in the runaway skyscraper.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading They showered promises of inevitable return to modern times, they pledged their honor to the belief that a way would ultimately be found by which they would all yet find themselves safely back home again.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Arthur and Van Deventer, in turn with the others of the cooler heads, thundered at the apathetic people, trying to waken them to the necessity for work.

themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading They showered promises of inevitable return to modern times, they pledged their honor to the belief that a way would ultimately be found by which they would all yet find themselves safely back home again.

There

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

From this reading There was not, for example, a single sulfur match on the whole earth except those in the runaway skyscraper.

TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading They were in a barbarous world.

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

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

From this reading There was not, for example, a single sulfur match on the whole earth except those in the runaway skyscraper.

thundered

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

From this reading Arthur and Van Deventer, in turn with the others of the cooler heads, thundered at the apathetic people, trying to waken them to the necessity for work.

times

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

From this reading They showered promises of inevitable return to modern times, they pledged their honor to the belief that a way would ultimately be found by which they would all yet find themselves safely back home again.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Arthur and Van Deventer, in turn with the others of the cooler heads, thundered at the apathetic people, trying to waken them to the necessity for work.

trying

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

From this reading Arthur and Van Deventer, in turn with the others of the cooler heads, thundered at the apathetic people, trying to waken them to the necessity for work.

turn

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

From this reading Arthur and Van Deventer, in turn with the others of the cooler heads, thundered at the apathetic people, trying to waken them to the necessity for work.

ultimately

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

From this reading They showered promises of inevitable return to modern times, they pledged their honor to the belief that a way would ultimately be found by which they would all yet find themselves safely back home again.

Van

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

From this reading Arthur and Van Deventer, in turn with the others of the cooler heads, thundered at the apathetic people, trying to waken them to the necessity for work.

waken

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

From this reading Arthur and Van Deventer, in turn with the others of the cooler heads, thundered at the apathetic people, trying to waken them to the necessity for work.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading There was not, for example, a single sulfur match on the whole earth except those in the runaway skyscraper.

way

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

From this reading They showered promises of inevitable return to modern times, they pledged their honor to the belief that a way would ultimately be found by which they would all yet find themselves safely back home again.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading They were in a barbarous world.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading They showered promises of inevitable return to modern times, they pledged their honor to the belief that a way would ultimately be found by which they would all yet find themselves safely back home again.

whole

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

From this reading There was not, for example, a single sulfur match on the whole earth except those in the runaway skyscraper.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Arthur and Van Deventer, in turn with the others of the cooler heads, thundered at the apathetic people, trying to waken them to the necessity for work.

work

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

From this reading Arthur and Van Deventer, in turn with the others of the cooler heads, thundered at the apathetic people, trying to waken them to the necessity for work.

world

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

From this reading They were in a barbarous world.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading They showered promises of inevitable return to modern times, they pledged their honor to the belief that a way would ultimately be found by which they would all yet find themselves safely back home again.

yetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading They showered promises of inevitable return to modern times, they pledged their honor to the belief that a way would ultimately be found by which they would all yet find themselves safely back home again.