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The Stillwater Tragedy
The Stillwater Tragedy

Chapter V

Cover illustration for The Stillwater Tragedy
Context Illustration Reading 1/85 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
"Let them alone," said Durgin.
The flat steel flashed again in the sunlight, but fell harmlessly, and before the blow could be repeated, Richard had knitted his fingers in Torrini's neckerchief and twisted it so tightly that the man gasped.
Holding him by this, Richard dragged Torrini across the yard, and let him drop on the sidewalk outside the gate, where he lay in a heap, inert.
"That was nate," said Michael Hennessey, sententiously.
Richard stood leaning on the gate-post to recover he breath.
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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 Stillwater Tragedy

Chapter V

Reading 1/85 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
"Let them alone," said Durgin.
Line 2
The flat steel flashed again in the sunlight, but fell harmlessly, and before the blow could be repeated, Richard had knitted his fingers in Torrini's neckerchief and twisted it so tightly that the man gasped.
Line 3
Holding him by this, Richard dragged Torrini across the yard, and let him drop on the sidewalk outside the gate, where he lay in a heap, inert.
Line 4
"That was nate," said Michael Hennessey, sententiously.
Line 5
Richard stood leaning on the gate-post to recover he breath.

Learner Dictionary

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

Across preposition US /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading “Holding him by this, Richard dragged Torrini across the yard, and let him drop on the sidewalk outside the gate, where he lay in a heap, inert.”

Again noun US /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The flat steel flashed again in the sunlight, but fell harmlessly, and before the blow could be repeated, Richard had knitted his fingers in Torrini's neckerchief and twisted it so tightly that the man gasped.”

Alone noun US /alone/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"Let them alone," said Durgin.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “The flat steel flashed again in the sunlight, but fell harmlessly, and before the blow could be repeated, Richard had knitted his fingers in Torrini's neckerchief and twisted it so tightly that the man gasped.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading “The flat steel flashed again in the sunlight, but fell harmlessly, and before the blow could be repeated, Richard had knitted his fingers in Torrini's neckerchief and twisted it so tightly that the man gasped.”

Let auxiliary verb US /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading “"Let them alone," said Durgin.”

Outside noun US /ˈoutside/

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

From this reading “Holding him by this, Richard dragged Torrini across the yard, and let him drop on the sidewalk outside the gate, where he lay in a heap, inert.”

Repeated noun US /repeated/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The flat steel flashed again in the sunlight, but fell harmlessly, and before the blow could be repeated, Richard had knitted his fingers in Torrini's neckerchief and twisted it so tightly that the man gasped.”

Stood noun US /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Richard stood leaning on the gate-post to recover he breath.”

All words in this reading · 65

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 Holding him by this, Richard dragged Torrini across the yard, and let him drop on the sidewalk outside the gate, where he lay in a heap, inert.

acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading Holding him by this, Richard dragged Torrini across the yard, and let him drop on the sidewalk outside the gate, where he lay in a heap, inert.

againnounUS /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The flat steel flashed again in the sunlight, but fell harmlessly, and before the blow could be repeated, Richard had knitted his fingers in Torrini's neckerchief and twisted it so tightly that the man gasped.

alonenounUS /alone/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "Let them alone," said Durgin.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The flat steel flashed again in the sunlight, but fell harmlessly, and before the blow could be repeated, Richard had knitted his fingers in Torrini's neckerchief and twisted it so tightly that the man gasped.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading The flat steel flashed again in the sunlight, but fell harmlessly, and before the blow could be repeated, Richard had knitted his fingers in Torrini's neckerchief and twisted it so tightly that the man gasped.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading The flat steel flashed again in the sunlight, but fell harmlessly, and before the blow could be repeated, Richard had knitted his fingers in Torrini's neckerchief and twisted it so tightly that the man gasped.

blow

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

From this reading The flat steel flashed again in the sunlight, but fell harmlessly, and before the blow could be repeated, Richard had knitted his fingers in Torrini's neckerchief and twisted it so tightly that the man gasped.

breath

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

From this reading Richard stood leaning on the gate-post to recover he breath.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading The flat steel flashed again in the sunlight, but fell harmlessly, and before the blow could be repeated, Richard had knitted his fingers in Torrini's neckerchief and twisted it so tightly that the man gasped.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Holding him by this, Richard dragged Torrini across the yard, and let him drop on the sidewalk outside the gate, where he lay in a heap, inert.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading The flat steel flashed again in the sunlight, but fell harmlessly, and before the blow could be repeated, Richard had knitted his fingers in Torrini's neckerchief and twisted it so tightly that the man gasped.

dragged

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

From this reading Holding him by this, Richard dragged Torrini across the yard, and let him drop on the sidewalk outside the gate, where he lay in a heap, inert.

drop

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

From this reading Holding him by this, Richard dragged Torrini across the yard, and let him drop on the sidewalk outside the gate, where he lay in a heap, inert.

Durgin

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

From this reading "Let them alone," said Durgin.

fell

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

From this reading The flat steel flashed again in the sunlight, but fell harmlessly, and before the blow could be repeated, Richard had knitted his fingers in Torrini's neckerchief and twisted it so tightly that the man gasped.

fingers

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

From this reading The flat steel flashed again in the sunlight, but fell harmlessly, and before the blow could be repeated, Richard had knitted his fingers in Torrini's neckerchief and twisted it so tightly that the man gasped.

flashed

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

From this reading The flat steel flashed again in the sunlight, but fell harmlessly, and before the blow could be repeated, Richard had knitted his fingers in Torrini's neckerchief and twisted it so tightly that the man gasped.

flat

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

From this reading The flat steel flashed again in the sunlight, but fell harmlessly, and before the blow could be repeated, Richard had knitted his fingers in Torrini's neckerchief and twisted it so tightly that the man gasped.

gasped

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

From this reading The flat steel flashed again in the sunlight, but fell harmlessly, and before the blow could be repeated, Richard had knitted his fingers in Torrini's neckerchief and twisted it so tightly that the man gasped.

gate

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

From this reading Holding him by this, Richard dragged Torrini across the yard, and let him drop on the sidewalk outside the gate, where he lay in a heap, inert.

gate-post

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

From this reading Richard stood leaning on the gate-post to recover he breath.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading The flat steel flashed again in the sunlight, but fell harmlessly, and before the blow could be repeated, Richard had knitted his fingers in Torrini's neckerchief and twisted it so tightly that the man gasped.

harmlessly

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

From this reading The flat steel flashed again in the sunlight, but fell harmlessly, and before the blow could be repeated, Richard had knitted his fingers in Torrini's neckerchief and twisted it so tightly that the man gasped.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Holding him by this, Richard dragged Torrini across the yard, and let him drop on the sidewalk outside the gate, where he lay in a heap, inert.

heap

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

From this reading Holding him by this, Richard dragged Torrini across the yard, and let him drop on the sidewalk outside the gate, where he lay in a heap, inert.

Hennessey

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

From this reading "That was nate," said Michael Hennessey, sententiously.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading Holding him by this, Richard dragged Torrini across the yard, and let him drop on the sidewalk outside the gate, where he lay in a heap, inert.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading The flat steel flashed again in the sunlight, but fell harmlessly, and before the blow could be repeated, Richard had knitted his fingers in Torrini's neckerchief and twisted it so tightly that the man gasped.

Holding

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

From this reading Holding him by this, Richard dragged Torrini across the yard, and let him drop on the sidewalk outside the gate, where he lay in a heap, inert.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The flat steel flashed again in the sunlight, but fell harmlessly, and before the blow could be repeated, Richard had knitted his fingers in Torrini's neckerchief and twisted it so tightly that the man gasped.

inert

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

From this reading Holding him by this, Richard dragged Torrini across the yard, and let him drop on the sidewalk outside the gate, where he lay in a heap, inert.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading The flat steel flashed again in the sunlight, but fell harmlessly, and before the blow could be repeated, Richard had knitted his fingers in Torrini's neckerchief and twisted it so tightly that the man gasped.

knitted

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

From this reading The flat steel flashed again in the sunlight, but fell harmlessly, and before the blow could be repeated, Richard had knitted his fingers in Torrini's neckerchief and twisted it so tightly that the man gasped.

lay

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

From this reading Holding him by this, Richard dragged Torrini across the yard, and let him drop on the sidewalk outside the gate, where he lay in a heap, inert.

leaning

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

From this reading Richard stood leaning on the gate-post to recover he breath.

Letauxiliary verbUS /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading "Let them alone," said Durgin.

man

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

From this reading The flat steel flashed again in the sunlight, but fell harmlessly, and before the blow could be repeated, Richard had knitted his fingers in Torrini's neckerchief and twisted it so tightly that the man gasped.

Michael

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

From this reading "That was nate," said Michael Hennessey, sententiously.

nate

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

From this reading "That was nate," said Michael Hennessey, sententiously.

neckerchief

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

From this reading The flat steel flashed again in the sunlight, but fell harmlessly, and before the blow could be repeated, Richard had knitted his fingers in Torrini's neckerchief and twisted it so tightly that the man gasped.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Holding him by this, Richard dragged Torrini across the yard, and let him drop on the sidewalk outside the gate, where he lay in a heap, inert.

outsidenounUS /ˈoutside/

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

From this reading Holding him by this, Richard dragged Torrini across the yard, and let him drop on the sidewalk outside the gate, where he lay in a heap, inert.

recover

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

From this reading Richard stood leaning on the gate-post to recover he breath.

repeatednounUS /repeated/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The flat steel flashed again in the sunlight, but fell harmlessly, and before the blow could be repeated, Richard had knitted his fingers in Torrini's neckerchief and twisted it so tightly that the man gasped.

Richard

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

From this reading The flat steel flashed again in the sunlight, but fell harmlessly, and before the blow could be repeated, Richard had knitted his fingers in Torrini's neckerchief and twisted it so tightly that the man gasped.

said

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

From this reading "Let them alone," said Durgin.

sententiously

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

From this reading "That was nate," said Michael Hennessey, sententiously.

sidewalk

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

From this reading Holding him by this, Richard dragged Torrini across the yard, and let him drop on the sidewalk outside the gate, where he lay in a heap, inert.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading The flat steel flashed again in the sunlight, but fell harmlessly, and before the blow could be repeated, Richard had knitted his fingers in Torrini's neckerchief and twisted it so tightly that the man gasped.

steel

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

From this reading The flat steel flashed again in the sunlight, but fell harmlessly, and before the blow could be repeated, Richard had knitted his fingers in Torrini's neckerchief and twisted it so tightly that the man gasped.

stoodnounUS /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Richard stood leaning on the gate-post to recover he breath.

sunlight

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

From this reading The flat steel flashed again in the sunlight, but fell harmlessly, and before the blow could be repeated, Richard had knitted his fingers in Torrini's neckerchief and twisted it so tightly that the man gasped.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The flat steel flashed again in the sunlight, but fell harmlessly, and before the blow could be repeated, Richard had knitted his fingers in Torrini's neckerchief and twisted it so tightly that the man gasped.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The flat steel flashed again in the sunlight, but fell harmlessly, and before the blow could be repeated, Richard had knitted his fingers in Torrini's neckerchief and twisted it so tightly that the man gasped.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading "Let them alone," said Durgin.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading Holding him by this, Richard dragged Torrini across the yard, and let him drop on the sidewalk outside the gate, where he lay in a heap, inert.

tightly

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

From this reading The flat steel flashed again in the sunlight, but fell harmlessly, and before the blow could be repeated, Richard had knitted his fingers in Torrini's neckerchief and twisted it so tightly that the man gasped.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Richard stood leaning on the gate-post to recover he breath.

Torrini

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

From this reading Holding him by this, Richard dragged Torrini across the yard, and let him drop on the sidewalk outside the gate, where he lay in a heap, inert.

Torrini's

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

From this reading The flat steel flashed again in the sunlight, but fell harmlessly, and before the blow could be repeated, Richard had knitted his fingers in Torrini's neckerchief and twisted it so tightly that the man gasped.

twisted

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

From this reading The flat steel flashed again in the sunlight, but fell harmlessly, and before the blow could be repeated, Richard had knitted his fingers in Torrini's neckerchief and twisted it so tightly that the man gasped.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading "That was nate," said Michael Hennessey, sententiously.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading Holding him by this, Richard dragged Torrini across the yard, and let him drop on the sidewalk outside the gate, where he lay in a heap, inert.

yard

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

From this reading Holding him by this, Richard dragged Torrini across the yard, and let him drop on the sidewalk outside the gate, where he lay in a heap, inert.