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

Chapter XIX

Cover illustration for The Time Armada
Context Illustration Reading 1/24 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
He estimated that there would be five minutes at the most before the area was flooded with S-men.
The rest of the gamble hinged entirely on what they succeeded in doing, or failed to do, within the space of a few hundred heart-beats.
They made the roadside in little more than a minute after leaving the ship.
Terry and Mike lay prone in the wide drainage gutter, their swords drawn, their bodies camouflaged by a few handfuls of hastily hacked scrub brush.
Doug stood at the side of the superhighway, the power-pack at his feet, his shredded cloak in his hands to wave.
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 Time Armada

Chapter XIX

Reading 1/24 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
He estimated that there would be five minutes at the most before the area was flooded with S-men.
Line 2
The rest of the gamble hinged entirely on what they succeeded in doing, or failed to do, within the space of a few hundred heart-beats.
Line 3
They made the roadside in little more than a minute after leaving the ship.
Line 4
Terry and Mike lay prone in the wide drainage gutter, their swords drawn, their bodies camouflaged by a few handfuls of hastily hacked scrub brush.
Line 5
Doug stood at the side of the superhighway, the power-pack at his feet, his shredded cloak in his hands to wave.

Learner Dictionary

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

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “They made the roadside in little more than a minute after leaving the ship.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “He estimated that there would be five minutes at the most before the area was flooded with S-men.”

Entirely noun US /ˈentirely/

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

From this reading “The rest of the gamble hinged entirely on what they succeeded in doing, or failed to do, within the space of a few hundred heart-beats.”

Hands plural noun US /hændz/

members of a ship’s crew

From this reading “Doug stood at the side of the superhighway, the power-pack at his feet, his shredded cloak in his hands to wave.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “They made the roadside in little more than a minute after leaving the ship.”

Rest noun US /rest/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The rest of the gamble hinged entirely on what they succeeded in doing, or failed to do, within the space of a few hundred heart-beats.”

Ship noun US /ship/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “They made the roadside in little more than a minute after leaving the ship.”

Stood noun US /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Doug stood at the side of the superhighway, the power-pack at his feet, his shredded cloak in his hands to wave.”

Within preposition US /wɪˈðɪn/

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading “The rest of the gamble hinged entirely on what they succeeded in doing, or failed to do, within the space of a few hundred heart-beats.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “He estimated that there would be five minutes at the most before the area was flooded with S-men.”

All words in this reading · 77

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 The rest of the gamble hinged entirely on what they succeeded in doing, or failed to do, within the space of a few hundred heart-beats.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading They made the roadside in little more than a minute after leaving the ship.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Terry and Mike lay prone in the wide drainage gutter, their swords drawn, their bodies camouflaged by a few handfuls of hastily hacked scrub brush.

area

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

From this reading He estimated that there would be five minutes at the most before the area was flooded with S-men.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading He estimated that there would be five minutes at the most before the area was flooded with S-men.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading He estimated that there would be five minutes at the most before the area was flooded with S-men.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading He estimated that there would be five minutes at the most before the area was flooded with S-men.

bodies

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

From this reading Terry and Mike lay prone in the wide drainage gutter, their swords drawn, their bodies camouflaged by a few handfuls of hastily hacked scrub brush.

brush

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

From this reading Terry and Mike lay prone in the wide drainage gutter, their swords drawn, their bodies camouflaged by a few handfuls of hastily hacked scrub brush.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Terry and Mike lay prone in the wide drainage gutter, their swords drawn, their bodies camouflaged by a few handfuls of hastily hacked scrub brush.

camouflaged

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

From this reading Terry and Mike lay prone in the wide drainage gutter, their swords drawn, their bodies camouflaged by a few handfuls of hastily hacked scrub brush.

cloak

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

From this reading Doug stood at the side of the superhighway, the power-pack at his feet, his shredded cloak in his hands to wave.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading The rest of the gamble hinged entirely on what they succeeded in doing, or failed to do, within the space of a few hundred heart-beats.

doing

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

From this reading The rest of the gamble hinged entirely on what they succeeded in doing, or failed to do, within the space of a few hundred heart-beats.

Doug

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

From this reading Doug stood at the side of the superhighway, the power-pack at his feet, his shredded cloak in his hands to wave.

drainage

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

From this reading Terry and Mike lay prone in the wide drainage gutter, their swords drawn, their bodies camouflaged by a few handfuls of hastily hacked scrub brush.

drawn

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

From this reading Terry and Mike lay prone in the wide drainage gutter, their swords drawn, their bodies camouflaged by a few handfuls of hastily hacked scrub brush.

entirelynounUS /ˈentirely/

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

From this reading The rest of the gamble hinged entirely on what they succeeded in doing, or failed to do, within the space of a few hundred heart-beats.

estimated

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

From this reading He estimated that there would be five minutes at the most before the area was flooded with S-men.

failed

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

From this reading The rest of the gamble hinged entirely on what they succeeded in doing, or failed to do, within the space of a few hundred heart-beats.

feet

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

From this reading Doug stood at the side of the superhighway, the power-pack at his feet, his shredded cloak in his hands to wave.

few

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

From this reading The rest of the gamble hinged entirely on what they succeeded in doing, or failed to do, within the space of a few hundred heart-beats.

five

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

From this reading He estimated that there would be five minutes at the most before the area was flooded with S-men.

flooded

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

From this reading He estimated that there would be five minutes at the most before the area was flooded with S-men.

gamble

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

From this reading The rest of the gamble hinged entirely on what they succeeded in doing, or failed to do, within the space of a few hundred heart-beats.

gutter

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

From this reading Terry and Mike lay prone in the wide drainage gutter, their swords drawn, their bodies camouflaged by a few handfuls of hastily hacked scrub brush.

hacked

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

From this reading Terry and Mike lay prone in the wide drainage gutter, their swords drawn, their bodies camouflaged by a few handfuls of hastily hacked scrub brush.

handfuls

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

From this reading Terry and Mike lay prone in the wide drainage gutter, their swords drawn, their bodies camouflaged by a few handfuls of hastily hacked scrub brush.

handsplural nounUS /hændz/

members of a ship’s crew

From this reading Doug stood at the side of the superhighway, the power-pack at his feet, his shredded cloak in his hands to wave.

hastily

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

From this reading Terry and Mike lay prone in the wide drainage gutter, their swords drawn, their bodies camouflaged by a few handfuls of hastily hacked scrub brush.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He estimated that there would be five minutes at the most before the area was flooded with S-men.

heart-beats

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

From this reading The rest of the gamble hinged entirely on what they succeeded in doing, or failed to do, within the space of a few hundred heart-beats.

hinged

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

From this reading The rest of the gamble hinged entirely on what they succeeded in doing, or failed to do, within the space of a few hundred heart-beats.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Doug stood at the side of the superhighway, the power-pack at his feet, his shredded cloak in his hands to wave.

hundred

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

From this reading The rest of the gamble hinged entirely on what they succeeded in doing, or failed to do, within the space of a few hundred heart-beats.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The rest of the gamble hinged entirely on what they succeeded in doing, or failed to do, within the space of a few hundred heart-beats.

lay

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

From this reading Terry and Mike lay prone in the wide drainage gutter, their swords drawn, their bodies camouflaged by a few handfuls of hastily hacked scrub brush.

leaving

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

From this reading They made the roadside in little more than a minute after leaving the ship.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading They made the roadside in little more than a minute after leaving the ship.

made

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

From this reading They made the roadside in little more than a minute after leaving the ship.

Mike

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

From this reading Terry and Mike lay prone in the wide drainage gutter, their swords drawn, their bodies camouflaged by a few handfuls of hastily hacked scrub brush.

minute

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

From this reading They made the roadside in little more than a minute after leaving the ship.

minutes

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

From this reading He estimated that there would be five minutes at the most before the area was flooded with S-men.

more

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

From this reading They made the roadside in little more than a minute after leaving the ship.

most

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

From this reading He estimated that there would be five minutes at the most before the area was flooded with S-men.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The rest of the gamble hinged entirely on what they succeeded in doing, or failed to do, within the space of a few hundred heart-beats.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The rest of the gamble hinged entirely on what they succeeded in doing, or failed to do, within the space of a few hundred heart-beats.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading The rest of the gamble hinged entirely on what they succeeded in doing, or failed to do, within the space of a few hundred heart-beats.

power-pack

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

From this reading Doug stood at the side of the superhighway, the power-pack at his feet, his shredded cloak in his hands to wave.

prone

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

From this reading Terry and Mike lay prone in the wide drainage gutter, their swords drawn, their bodies camouflaged by a few handfuls of hastily hacked scrub brush.

restnounUS /rest/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The rest of the gamble hinged entirely on what they succeeded in doing, or failed to do, within the space of a few hundred heart-beats.

roadside

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

From this reading They made the roadside in little more than a minute after leaving the ship.

S-men

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

From this reading He estimated that there would be five minutes at the most before the area was flooded with S-men.

scrub

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

From this reading Terry and Mike lay prone in the wide drainage gutter, their swords drawn, their bodies camouflaged by a few handfuls of hastily hacked scrub brush.

shipnounUS /ship/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading They made the roadside in little more than a minute after leaving the ship.

shredded

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

From this reading Doug stood at the side of the superhighway, the power-pack at his feet, his shredded cloak in his hands to wave.

side

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

From this reading Doug stood at the side of the superhighway, the power-pack at his feet, his shredded cloak in his hands to wave.

space

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

From this reading The rest of the gamble hinged entirely on what they succeeded in doing, or failed to do, within the space of a few hundred heart-beats.

stoodnounUS /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Doug stood at the side of the superhighway, the power-pack at his feet, his shredded cloak in his hands to wave.

succeeded

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

From this reading The rest of the gamble hinged entirely on what they succeeded in doing, or failed to do, within the space of a few hundred heart-beats.

superhighway

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

From this reading Doug stood at the side of the superhighway, the power-pack at his feet, his shredded cloak in his hands to wave.

swords

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

From this reading Terry and Mike lay prone in the wide drainage gutter, their swords drawn, their bodies camouflaged by a few handfuls of hastily hacked scrub brush.

Terry

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

From this reading Terry and Mike lay prone in the wide drainage gutter, their swords drawn, their bodies camouflaged by a few handfuls of hastily hacked scrub brush.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading They made the roadside in little more than a minute after leaving the ship.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He estimated that there would be five minutes at the most before the area was flooded with S-men.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading He estimated that there would be five minutes at the most before the area was flooded with S-men.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Terry and Mike lay prone in the wide drainage gutter, their swords drawn, their bodies camouflaged by a few handfuls of hastily hacked scrub brush.

there

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

From this reading He estimated that there would be five minutes at the most before the area was flooded with S-men.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading The rest of the gamble hinged entirely on what they succeeded in doing, or failed to do, within the space of a few hundred heart-beats.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The rest of the gamble hinged entirely on what they succeeded in doing, or failed to do, within the space of a few hundred heart-beats.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading He estimated that there would be five minutes at the most before the area was flooded with S-men.

wave

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

From this reading Doug stood at the side of the superhighway, the power-pack at his feet, his shredded cloak in his hands to wave.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading The rest of the gamble hinged entirely on what they succeeded in doing, or failed to do, within the space of a few hundred heart-beats.

wide

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

From this reading Terry and Mike lay prone in the wide drainage gutter, their swords drawn, their bodies camouflaged by a few handfuls of hastily hacked scrub brush.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading He estimated that there would be five minutes at the most before the area was flooded with S-men.

withinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading The rest of the gamble hinged entirely on what they succeeded in doing, or failed to do, within the space of a few hundred heart-beats.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading He estimated that there would be five minutes at the most before the area was flooded with S-men.