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The Young Bridge-Tender
The Young Bridge-Tender

Chapter XIII

Cover illustration for The Young Bridge-Tender
Context Illustration Reading 1/22 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
A STORMY TIME.
Like his father before him, Ralph had always liked the water.
He was perfectly familiar with the handling of all manner of small craft, and, had it paid, would have liked nothing better than to follow a life on the lakes.
But situations on the water which brought in a fair remuneration were scarce in the vicinity of Westville, and so the boy did not attempt a search for employment in that direction.
The half-day's job before him suited him exactly, and, after leaving Martinton, he settled back with his hand on the tiller and his eyes on the sails in great satisfaction.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Young Bridge-Tender

Chapter XIII

Reading 1/22 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
A STORMY TIME.
Line 2
Like his father before him, Ralph had always liked the water.
Line 3
He was perfectly familiar with the handling of all manner of small craft, and, had it paid, would have liked nothing better than to follow a life on the lakes.
Line 4
But situations on the water which brought in a fair remuneration were scarce in the vicinity of Westville, and so the boy did not attempt a search for employment in that direction.
Line 5
The half-day's job before him suited him exactly, and, after leaving Martinton, he settled back with his hand on the tiller and his eyes on the sails in great satisfaction.

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 “The half-day's job before him suited him exactly, and, after leaving Martinton, he settled back with his hand on the tiller and his eyes on the sails in great satisfaction.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “Like his father before him, Ralph had always liked the water.”

Brought noun US /ˈbrought/

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

From this reading “But situations on the water which brought in a fair remuneration were scarce in the vicinity of Westville, and so the boy did not attempt a search for employment in that direction.”

Craft noun US /kræft/

a boat or ship in this chapter’s sailing situation

From this reading “He was perfectly familiar with the handling of all manner of small craft, and, had it paid, would have liked nothing better than to follow a life on the lakes.”

Fair noun US /fair/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But situations on the water which brought in a fair remuneration were scarce in the vicinity of Westville, and so the boy did not attempt a search for employment in that direction.”

Great noun US /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The half-day's job before him suited him exactly, and, after leaving Martinton, he settled back with his hand on the tiller and his eyes on the sails in great satisfaction.”

Hand noun US /hand/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The half-day's job before him suited him exactly, and, after leaving Martinton, he settled back with his hand on the tiller and his eyes on the sails in great satisfaction.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “He was perfectly familiar with the handling of all manner of small craft, and, had it paid, would have liked nothing better than to follow a life on the lakes.”

Life noun US /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He was perfectly familiar with the handling of all manner of small craft, and, had it paid, would have liked nothing better than to follow a life on the lakes.”

Nothing pronoun US /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading “He was perfectly familiar with the handling of all manner of small craft, and, had it paid, would have liked nothing better than to follow a life on the lakes.”

Scarce adjective US /skɛrs/

hard to find or in short supply

From this reading “But situations on the water which brought in a fair remuneration were scarce in the vicinity of Westville, and so the boy did not attempt a search for employment in that direction.”

TIME noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A STORMY TIME.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “He was perfectly familiar with the handling of all manner of small craft, and, had it paid, would have liked nothing better than to follow a life on the lakes.”

All words in this reading · 74

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 STORMY TIME.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading The half-day's job before him suited him exactly, and, after leaving Martinton, he settled back with his hand on the tiller and his eyes on the sails in great satisfaction.

all

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

From this reading He was perfectly familiar with the handling of all manner of small craft, and, had it paid, would have liked nothing better than to follow a life on the lakes.

always

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

From this reading Like his father before him, Ralph had always liked the water.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading He was perfectly familiar with the handling of all manner of small craft, and, had it paid, would have liked nothing better than to follow a life on the lakes.

attempt

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

From this reading But situations on the water which brought in a fair remuneration were scarce in the vicinity of Westville, and so the boy did not attempt a search for employment in that direction.

back

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

From this reading The half-day's job before him suited him exactly, and, after leaving Martinton, he settled back with his hand on the tiller and his eyes on the sails in great satisfaction.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Like his father before him, Ralph had always liked the water.

better

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

From this reading He was perfectly familiar with the handling of all manner of small craft, and, had it paid, would have liked nothing better than to follow a life on the lakes.

boy

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

From this reading But situations on the water which brought in a fair remuneration were scarce in the vicinity of Westville, and so the boy did not attempt a search for employment in that direction.

broughtnounUS /ˈbrought/

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

From this reading But situations on the water which brought in a fair remuneration were scarce in the vicinity of Westville, and so the boy did not attempt a search for employment in that direction.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But situations on the water which brought in a fair remuneration were scarce in the vicinity of Westville, and so the boy did not attempt a search for employment in that direction.

craftnounUS /kræft/

a boat or ship in this chapter’s sailing situation

From this reading He was perfectly familiar with the handling of all manner of small craft, and, had it paid, would have liked nothing better than to follow a life on the lakes.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading But situations on the water which brought in a fair remuneration were scarce in the vicinity of Westville, and so the boy did not attempt a search for employment in that direction.

direction

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

From this reading But situations on the water which brought in a fair remuneration were scarce in the vicinity of Westville, and so the boy did not attempt a search for employment in that direction.

employment

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

From this reading But situations on the water which brought in a fair remuneration were scarce in the vicinity of Westville, and so the boy did not attempt a search for employment in that direction.

exactly

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

From this reading The half-day's job before him suited him exactly, and, after leaving Martinton, he settled back with his hand on the tiller and his eyes on the sails in great satisfaction.

eyes

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

From this reading The half-day's job before him suited him exactly, and, after leaving Martinton, he settled back with his hand on the tiller and his eyes on the sails in great satisfaction.

fairnounUS /fair/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But situations on the water which brought in a fair remuneration were scarce in the vicinity of Westville, and so the boy did not attempt a search for employment in that direction.

familiar

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

From this reading He was perfectly familiar with the handling of all manner of small craft, and, had it paid, would have liked nothing better than to follow a life on the lakes.

father

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

From this reading Like his father before him, Ralph had always liked the water.

follow

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

From this reading He was perfectly familiar with the handling of all manner of small craft, and, had it paid, would have liked nothing better than to follow a life on the lakes.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading But situations on the water which brought in a fair remuneration were scarce in the vicinity of Westville, and so the boy did not attempt a search for employment in that direction.

greatnounUS /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The half-day's job before him suited him exactly, and, after leaving Martinton, he settled back with his hand on the tiller and his eyes on the sails in great satisfaction.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Like his father before him, Ralph had always liked the water.

half-day's

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

From this reading The half-day's job before him suited him exactly, and, after leaving Martinton, he settled back with his hand on the tiller and his eyes on the sails in great satisfaction.

hand

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

From this reading The half-day's job before him suited him exactly, and, after leaving Martinton, he settled back with his hand on the tiller and his eyes on the sails in great satisfaction.

handling

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

From this reading He was perfectly familiar with the handling of all manner of small craft, and, had it paid, would have liked nothing better than to follow a life on the lakes.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading He was perfectly familiar with the handling of all manner of small craft, and, had it paid, would have liked nothing better than to follow a life on the lakes.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He was perfectly familiar with the handling of all manner of small craft, and, had it paid, would have liked nothing better than to follow a life on the lakes.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading Like his father before him, Ralph had always liked the water.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Like his father before him, Ralph had always liked the water.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading But situations on the water which brought in a fair remuneration were scarce in the vicinity of Westville, and so the boy did not attempt a search for employment in that direction.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading He was perfectly familiar with the handling of all manner of small craft, and, had it paid, would have liked nothing better than to follow a life on the lakes.

job

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

From this reading The half-day's job before him suited him exactly, and, after leaving Martinton, he settled back with his hand on the tiller and his eyes on the sails in great satisfaction.

lakes

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

From this reading He was perfectly familiar with the handling of all manner of small craft, and, had it paid, would have liked nothing better than to follow a life on the lakes.

leaving

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

From this reading The half-day's job before him suited him exactly, and, after leaving Martinton, he settled back with his hand on the tiller and his eyes on the sails in great satisfaction.

lifenounUS /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He was perfectly familiar with the handling of all manner of small craft, and, had it paid, would have liked nothing better than to follow a life on the lakes.

Like

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

From this reading Like his father before him, Ralph had always liked the water.

liked

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

From this reading Like his father before him, Ralph had always liked the water.

manner

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

From this reading He was perfectly familiar with the handling of all manner of small craft, and, had it paid, would have liked nothing better than to follow a life on the lakes.

Martinton

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

From this reading The half-day's job before him suited him exactly, and, after leaving Martinton, he settled back with his hand on the tiller and his eyes on the sails in great satisfaction.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading But situations on the water which brought in a fair remuneration were scarce in the vicinity of Westville, and so the boy did not attempt a search for employment in that direction.

nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading He was perfectly familiar with the handling of all manner of small craft, and, had it paid, would have liked nothing better than to follow a life on the lakes.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading He was perfectly familiar with the handling of all manner of small craft, and, had it paid, would have liked nothing better than to follow a life on the lakes.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading He was perfectly familiar with the handling of all manner of small craft, and, had it paid, would have liked nothing better than to follow a life on the lakes.

paid

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

From this reading He was perfectly familiar with the handling of all manner of small craft, and, had it paid, would have liked nothing better than to follow a life on the lakes.

perfectly

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

From this reading He was perfectly familiar with the handling of all manner of small craft, and, had it paid, would have liked nothing better than to follow a life on the lakes.

Ralph

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

From this reading Like his father before him, Ralph had always liked the water.

remuneration

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

From this reading But situations on the water which brought in a fair remuneration were scarce in the vicinity of Westville, and so the boy did not attempt a search for employment in that direction.

sails

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

From this reading The half-day's job before him suited him exactly, and, after leaving Martinton, he settled back with his hand on the tiller and his eyes on the sails in great satisfaction.

satisfaction

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

From this reading The half-day's job before him suited him exactly, and, after leaving Martinton, he settled back with his hand on the tiller and his eyes on the sails in great satisfaction.

scarceadjectiveUS /skɛrs/

hard to find or in short supply

From this reading But situations on the water which brought in a fair remuneration were scarce in the vicinity of Westville, and so the boy did not attempt a search for employment in that direction.

search

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

From this reading But situations on the water which brought in a fair remuneration were scarce in the vicinity of Westville, and so the boy did not attempt a search for employment in that direction.

settled

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

From this reading The half-day's job before him suited him exactly, and, after leaving Martinton, he settled back with his hand on the tiller and his eyes on the sails in great satisfaction.

situations

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

From this reading But situations on the water which brought in a fair remuneration were scarce in the vicinity of Westville, and so the boy did not attempt a search for employment in that direction.

small

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

From this reading He was perfectly familiar with the handling of all manner of small craft, and, had it paid, would have liked nothing better than to follow a life on the lakes.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading But situations on the water which brought in a fair remuneration were scarce in the vicinity of Westville, and so the boy did not attempt a search for employment in that direction.

STORMY

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

From this reading A STORMY TIME.

suited

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

From this reading The half-day's job before him suited him exactly, and, after leaving Martinton, he settled back with his hand on the tiller and his eyes on the sails in great satisfaction.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading He was perfectly familiar with the handling of all manner of small craft, and, had it paid, would have liked nothing better than to follow a life on the lakes.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading But situations on the water which brought in a fair remuneration were scarce in the vicinity of Westville, and so the boy did not attempt a search for employment in that direction.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Like his father before him, Ralph had always liked the water.

tiller

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

From this reading The half-day's job before him suited him exactly, and, after leaving Martinton, he settled back with his hand on the tiller and his eyes on the sails in great satisfaction.

TIMEnounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A STORMY TIME.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading He was perfectly familiar with the handling of all manner of small craft, and, had it paid, would have liked nothing better than to follow a life on the lakes.

vicinity

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

From this reading But situations on the water which brought in a fair remuneration were scarce in the vicinity of Westville, and so the boy did not attempt a search for employment in that direction.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading He was perfectly familiar with the handling of all manner of small craft, and, had it paid, would have liked nothing better than to follow a life on the lakes.

water

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

From this reading Like his father before him, Ralph had always liked the water.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading But situations on the water which brought in a fair remuneration were scarce in the vicinity of Westville, and so the boy did not attempt a search for employment in that direction.

Westville

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

From this reading But situations on the water which brought in a fair remuneration were scarce in the vicinity of Westville, and so the boy did not attempt a search for employment in that direction.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading But situations on the water which brought in a fair remuneration were scarce in the vicinity of Westville, and so the boy did not attempt a search for employment in that direction.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading He was perfectly familiar with the handling of all manner of small craft, and, had it paid, would have liked nothing better than to follow a life on the lakes.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading He was perfectly familiar with the handling of all manner of small craft, and, had it paid, would have liked nothing better than to follow a life on the lakes.