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

Chapter V

Cover illustration for The Spinners
Context Illustration Reading 1/110 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
A WALK The Carding Machine was a squat and noisy monster.
Mr. Best confessed that it had put him in mind of a passage from Holy Writ, for it seemed to be all eyes, behind and before.
The eyes were wheels, and beneath, the mass of the carder opened its mouth--a thin and hungry slit into which wound an endless band.
Spread upon this leathern roller was the hemp tow--that mass of short material which Levi Baggs, the hackler, pruned away from his long strides.
As for the minder, Sally Groves, she seemed built and born to tend a Carding Machine.
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 Spinners

Chapter V

Reading 1/110 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
A WALK The Carding Machine was a squat and noisy monster.
Line 2
Mr. Best confessed that it had put him in mind of a passage from Holy Writ, for it seemed to be all eyes, behind and before.
Line 3
The eyes were wheels, and beneath, the mass of the carder opened its mouth--a thin and hungry slit into which wound an endless band.
Line 4
Spread upon this leathern roller was the hemp tow--that mass of short material which Levi Baggs, the hackler, pruned away from his long strides.
Line 5
As for the minder, Sally Groves, she seemed built and born to tend a Carding Machine.

Learner Dictionary

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

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “Mr. Best confessed that it had put him in mind of a passage from Holy Writ, for it seemed to be all eyes, behind and before.”

Behind preposition US /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading “Mr. Best confessed that it had put him in mind of a passage from Holy Writ, for it seemed to be all eyes, behind and before.”

Beneath preposition US /bɪˈniːθ/

Directly under; in or to a lower position than.

From this reading “The eyes were wheels, and beneath, the mass of the carder opened its mouth--a thin and hungry slit into which wound an endless band.”

Born noun US /born/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “As for the minder, Sally Groves, she seemed built and born to tend a Carding Machine.”

Long noun US /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Spread upon this leathern roller was the hemp tow--that mass of short material which Levi Baggs, the hackler, pruned away from his long strides.”

Mind noun US /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Mr. Best confessed that it had put him in mind of a passage from Holy Writ, for it seemed to be all eyes, behind and before.”

Passage noun US /ˈpassage/

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

From this reading “Mr. Best confessed that it had put him in mind of a passage from Holy Writ, for it seemed to be all eyes, behind and before.”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Mr. Best confessed that it had put him in mind of a passage from Holy Writ, for it seemed to be all eyes, behind and before.”

Short adjective US /ʃɔrt/

brief or direct in expression

From this reading “Spread upon this leathern roller was the hemp tow--that mass of short material which Levi Baggs, the hackler, pruned away from his long strides.”

Thin adjective US /θɪn/

Having little thickness or extent.

From this reading “The eyes were wheels, and beneath, the mass of the carder opened its mouth--a thin and hungry slit into which wound an endless band.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “Spread upon this leathern roller was the hemp tow--that mass of short material which Levi Baggs, the hackler, pruned away from his long strides.”

All words in this reading · 75

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 A WALK The Carding Machine was a squat and noisy monster.

all

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

From this reading Mr. Best confessed that it had put him in mind of a passage from Holy Writ, for it seemed to be all eyes, behind and before.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading The eyes were wheels, and beneath, the mass of the carder opened its mouth--a thin and hungry slit into which wound an endless band.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading A WALK The Carding Machine was a squat and noisy monster.

AsconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading As for the minder, Sally Groves, she seemed built and born to tend a Carding Machine.

away

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

From this reading Spread upon this leathern roller was the hemp tow--that mass of short material which Levi Baggs, the hackler, pruned away from his long strides.

Baggs

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

From this reading Spread upon this leathern roller was the hemp tow--that mass of short material which Levi Baggs, the hackler, pruned away from his long strides.

band

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

From this reading The eyes were wheels, and beneath, the mass of the carder opened its mouth--a thin and hungry slit into which wound an endless band.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading Mr. Best confessed that it had put him in mind of a passage from Holy Writ, for it seemed to be all eyes, behind and before.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Mr. Best confessed that it had put him in mind of a passage from Holy Writ, for it seemed to be all eyes, behind and before.

behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading Mr. Best confessed that it had put him in mind of a passage from Holy Writ, for it seemed to be all eyes, behind and before.

beneathprepositionUS /bɪˈniːθ/

Directly under; in or to a lower position than.

From this reading The eyes were wheels, and beneath, the mass of the carder opened its mouth--a thin and hungry slit into which wound an endless band.

Best

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

From this reading Mr. Best confessed that it had put him in mind of a passage from Holy Writ, for it seemed to be all eyes, behind and before.

bornnounUS /born/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading As for the minder, Sally Groves, she seemed built and born to tend a Carding Machine.

built

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

From this reading As for the minder, Sally Groves, she seemed built and born to tend a Carding Machine.

carder

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

From this reading The eyes were wheels, and beneath, the mass of the carder opened its mouth--a thin and hungry slit into which wound an endless band.

Carding

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

From this reading A WALK The Carding Machine was a squat and noisy monster.

confessed

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

From this reading Mr. Best confessed that it had put him in mind of a passage from Holy Writ, for it seemed to be all eyes, behind and before.

endless

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

From this reading The eyes were wheels, and beneath, the mass of the carder opened its mouth--a thin and hungry slit into which wound an endless band.

eyes

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

From this reading Mr. Best confessed that it had put him in mind of a passage from Holy Writ, for it seemed to be all eyes, behind and before.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Mr. Best confessed that it had put him in mind of a passage from Holy Writ, for it seemed to be all eyes, behind and before.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Mr. Best confessed that it had put him in mind of a passage from Holy Writ, for it seemed to be all eyes, behind and before.

Groves

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

From this reading As for the minder, Sally Groves, she seemed built and born to tend a Carding Machine.

hackler

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

From this reading Spread upon this leathern roller was the hemp tow--that mass of short material which Levi Baggs, the hackler, pruned away from his long strides.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Mr. Best confessed that it had put him in mind of a passage from Holy Writ, for it seemed to be all eyes, behind and before.

hemp

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

From this reading Spread upon this leathern roller was the hemp tow--that mass of short material which Levi Baggs, the hackler, pruned away from his long strides.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading Mr. Best confessed that it had put him in mind of a passage from Holy Writ, for it seemed to be all eyes, behind and before.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Spread upon this leathern roller was the hemp tow--that mass of short material which Levi Baggs, the hackler, pruned away from his long strides.

Holy

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

From this reading Mr. Best confessed that it had put him in mind of a passage from Holy Writ, for it seemed to be all eyes, behind and before.

hungry

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

From this reading The eyes were wheels, and beneath, the mass of the carder opened its mouth--a thin and hungry slit into which wound an endless band.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Mr. Best confessed that it had put him in mind of a passage from Holy Writ, for it seemed to be all eyes, behind and before.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading The eyes were wheels, and beneath, the mass of the carder opened its mouth--a thin and hungry slit into which wound an endless band.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Mr. Best confessed that it had put him in mind of a passage from Holy Writ, for it seemed to be all eyes, behind and before.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading The eyes were wheels, and beneath, the mass of the carder opened its mouth--a thin and hungry slit into which wound an endless band.

leathern

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

From this reading Spread upon this leathern roller was the hemp tow--that mass of short material which Levi Baggs, the hackler, pruned away from his long strides.

Levi

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

From this reading Spread upon this leathern roller was the hemp tow--that mass of short material which Levi Baggs, the hackler, pruned away from his long strides.

longnounUS /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Spread upon this leathern roller was the hemp tow--that mass of short material which Levi Baggs, the hackler, pruned away from his long strides.

Machine

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

From this reading A WALK The Carding Machine was a squat and noisy monster.

mass

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

From this reading The eyes were wheels, and beneath, the mass of the carder opened its mouth--a thin and hungry slit into which wound an endless band.

material

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

From this reading Spread upon this leathern roller was the hemp tow--that mass of short material which Levi Baggs, the hackler, pruned away from his long strides.

mindnounUS /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Mr. Best confessed that it had put him in mind of a passage from Holy Writ, for it seemed to be all eyes, behind and before.

minder

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

From this reading As for the minder, Sally Groves, she seemed built and born to tend a Carding Machine.

monster

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

From this reading A WALK The Carding Machine was a squat and noisy monster.

mouth

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

From this reading The eyes were wheels, and beneath, the mass of the carder opened its mouth--a thin and hungry slit into which wound an endless band.

Mr

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

From this reading Mr. Best confessed that it had put him in mind of a passage from Holy Writ, for it seemed to be all eyes, behind and before.

noisy

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

From this reading A WALK The Carding Machine was a squat and noisy monster.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Mr. Best confessed that it had put him in mind of a passage from Holy Writ, for it seemed to be all eyes, behind and before.

opened

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

From this reading The eyes were wheels, and beneath, the mass of the carder opened its mouth--a thin and hungry slit into which wound an endless band.

passagenounUS /ˈpassage/

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

From this reading Mr. Best confessed that it had put him in mind of a passage from Holy Writ, for it seemed to be all eyes, behind and before.

pruned

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

From this reading Spread upon this leathern roller was the hemp tow--that mass of short material which Levi Baggs, the hackler, pruned away from his long strides.

put

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

From this reading Mr. Best confessed that it had put him in mind of a passage from Holy Writ, for it seemed to be all eyes, behind and before.

roller

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

From this reading Spread upon this leathern roller was the hemp tow--that mass of short material which Levi Baggs, the hackler, pruned away from his long strides.

Sally

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

From this reading As for the minder, Sally Groves, she seemed built and born to tend a Carding Machine.

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Mr. Best confessed that it had put him in mind of a passage from Holy Writ, for it seemed to be all eyes, behind and before.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading As for the minder, Sally Groves, she seemed built and born to tend a Carding Machine.

shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔrt/

brief or direct in expression

From this reading Spread upon this leathern roller was the hemp tow--that mass of short material which Levi Baggs, the hackler, pruned away from his long strides.

slit

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

From this reading The eyes were wheels, and beneath, the mass of the carder opened its mouth--a thin and hungry slit into which wound an endless band.

Spread

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

From this reading Spread upon this leathern roller was the hemp tow--that mass of short material which Levi Baggs, the hackler, pruned away from his long strides.

squat

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

From this reading A WALK The Carding Machine was a squat and noisy monster.

strides

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

From this reading Spread upon this leathern roller was the hemp tow--that mass of short material which Levi Baggs, the hackler, pruned away from his long strides.

tend

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

From this reading As for the minder, Sally Groves, she seemed built and born to tend a Carding Machine.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Mr. Best confessed that it had put him in mind of a passage from Holy Writ, for it seemed to be all eyes, behind and before.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading A WALK The Carding Machine was a squat and noisy monster.

thinadjectiveUS /θɪn/

Having little thickness or extent.

From this reading The eyes were wheels, and beneath, the mass of the carder opened its mouth--a thin and hungry slit into which wound an endless band.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading Spread upon this leathern roller was the hemp tow--that mass of short material which Levi Baggs, the hackler, pruned away from his long strides.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Mr. Best confessed that it had put him in mind of a passage from Holy Writ, for it seemed to be all eyes, behind and before.

tow

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

From this reading Spread upon this leathern roller was the hemp tow--that mass of short material which Levi Baggs, the hackler, pruned away from his long strides.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Spread upon this leathern roller was the hemp tow--that mass of short material which Levi Baggs, the hackler, pruned away from his long strides.

WALK

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

From this reading A WALK The Carding Machine was a squat and noisy monster.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading A WALK The Carding Machine was a squat and noisy monster.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading The eyes were wheels, and beneath, the mass of the carder opened its mouth--a thin and hungry slit into which wound an endless band.

wheels

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

From this reading The eyes were wheels, and beneath, the mass of the carder opened its mouth--a thin and hungry slit into which wound an endless band.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading The eyes were wheels, and beneath, the mass of the carder opened its mouth--a thin and hungry slit into which wound an endless band.

wound

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

From this reading The eyes were wheels, and beneath, the mass of the carder opened its mouth--a thin and hungry slit into which wound an endless band.

Writ

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

From this reading Mr. Best confessed that it had put him in mind of a passage from Holy Writ, for it seemed to be all eyes, behind and before.