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Tom, Dick and Harry
Tom, Dick and Harry

Chapter II

Cover illustration for Tom, Dick and Harry
Context Illustration Reading 1/87 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The bell began to ring before we had well completed the task.
"That ought to keep any more from running out," said Dicky.
"If we're lucky, the water will come in on its own hook at the other end."
The theory was not exactly scientific, for scientific men do not believe in luck.
Still, it was the best we could think of as we turned to go.
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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.

Tom, Dick and Harry

Chapter II

Reading 1/87 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The bell began to ring before we had well completed the task.
Line 2
"That ought to keep any more from running out," said Dicky.
Line 3
"If we're lucky, the water will come in on its own hook at the other end."
Line 4
The theory was not exactly scientific, for scientific men do not believe in luck.
Line 5
Still, it was the best we could think of as we turned to go.

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 “The bell began to ring before we had well completed the task.”

Began noun US /began/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The bell began to ring before we had well completed the task.”

Believe noun US /ˈbelieve/

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

From this reading “The theory was not exactly scientific, for scientific men do not believe in luck.”

Come noun US /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"If we're lucky, the water will come in on its own hook at the other end."”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “Still, it was the best we could think of as we turned to go.”

Ought modal verb US /ɔːt/

used with “to” to say what is right or advisable

From this reading “"That ought to keep any more from running out," said Dicky.”

Running noun US /ˈrunning/

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

From this reading “"That ought to keep any more from running out," said Dicky.”

Still noun US /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Still, it was the best we could think of as we turned to go.”

Think noun US /think/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Still, it was the best we could think of as we turned to go.”

Well noun US /well/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The bell began to ring before we had well completed the task.”

All words in this reading · 54

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

any

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

From this reading "That ought to keep any more from running out," said Dicky.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Still, it was the best we could think of as we turned to go.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading "If we're lucky, the water will come in on its own hook at the other end."

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading The bell began to ring before we had well completed the task.

begannounUS /began/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The bell began to ring before we had well completed the task.

believenounUS /ˈbelieve/

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

From this reading The theory was not exactly scientific, for scientific men do not believe in luck.

bell

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

From this reading The bell began to ring before we had well completed the task.

best

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

From this reading Still, it was the best we could think of as we turned to go.

comenounUS /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "If we're lucky, the water will come in on its own hook at the other end."

completed

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

From this reading The bell began to ring before we had well completed the task.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading Still, it was the best we could think of as we turned to go.

Dicky

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

From this reading "That ought to keep any more from running out," said Dicky.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading The theory was not exactly scientific, for scientific men do not believe in luck.

end

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

From this reading "If we're lucky, the water will come in on its own hook at the other end."

exactly

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

From this reading The theory was not exactly scientific, for scientific men do not believe in luck.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The theory was not exactly scientific, for scientific men do not believe in luck.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading "That ought to keep any more from running out," said Dicky.

go

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

From this reading Still, it was the best we could think of as we turned to go.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading The bell began to ring before we had well completed the task.

hook

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

From this reading "If we're lucky, the water will come in on its own hook at the other end."

IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading "If we're lucky, the water will come in on its own hook at the other end."

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading "If we're lucky, the water will come in on its own hook at the other end."

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Still, it was the best we could think of as we turned to go.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading "If we're lucky, the water will come in on its own hook at the other end."

keep

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

From this reading "That ought to keep any more from running out," said Dicky.

luck

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

From this reading The theory was not exactly scientific, for scientific men do not believe in luck.

lucky

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

From this reading "If we're lucky, the water will come in on its own hook at the other end."

men

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

From this reading The theory was not exactly scientific, for scientific men do not believe in luck.

more

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

From this reading "That ought to keep any more from running out," said Dicky.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading The theory was not exactly scientific, for scientific men do not believe in luck.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Still, it was the best we could think of as we turned to go.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading "If we're lucky, the water will come in on its own hook at the other end."

other

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

From this reading "If we're lucky, the water will come in on its own hook at the other end."

oughtmodal verbUS /ɔːt/

used with “to” to say what is right or advisable

From this reading "That ought to keep any more from running out," said Dicky.

out

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

From this reading "That ought to keep any more from running out," said Dicky.

own

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

From this reading "If we're lucky, the water will come in on its own hook at the other end."

ring

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

From this reading The bell began to ring before we had well completed the task.

runningnounUS /ˈrunning/

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

From this reading "That ought to keep any more from running out," said Dicky.

said

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

From this reading "That ought to keep any more from running out," said Dicky.

scientific

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

From this reading The theory was not exactly scientific, for scientific men do not believe in luck.

StillnounUS /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Still, it was the best we could think of as we turned to go.

task

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

From this reading The bell began to ring before we had well completed the task.

ThatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading "That ought to keep any more from running out," said Dicky.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The bell began to ring before we had well completed the task.

theory

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

From this reading The theory was not exactly scientific, for scientific men do not believe in luck.

thinknounUS /think/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Still, it was the best we could think of as we turned to go.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The bell began to ring before we had well completed the task.

turned

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

From this reading Still, it was the best we could think of as we turned to go.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The theory was not exactly scientific, for scientific men do not believe in luck.

water

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

From this reading "If we're lucky, the water will come in on its own hook at the other end."

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading The bell began to ring before we had well completed the task.

we're

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

From this reading "If we're lucky, the water will come in on its own hook at the other end."

well

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

From this reading The bell began to ring before we had well completed the task.

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading "If we're lucky, the water will come in on its own hook at the other end."