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Who Was Paul Grayson?
Who Was Paul Grayson?

Chapter X

Cover illustration for Who Was Paul Grayson?
Context Illustration Reading 1/14 · 5 lines
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_RECAPTURED._ ON the morning after Benny Mallow’s party hardly a boy started for the brook or the woods.
This was not because the dissipation of the previous night had made them over-weary, or too heavy and late a supper had induced headaches, or the party itself had to be talked over.
Each of these reasons might have kept a boy or two at home, but the real cause that prevented the majority going about their usual diversions was fear of meeting the escaped counterfeiter.
Where the information came from no one thought to inquire; but the report was circulated among the boys quite early in the morning that the criminal was armed with two heavy revolvers that some secret confederate had passed through the window to him, and that he would on no account allow himself to be captured alive.
This story justified the stoutest-hearted boy, even if he owned a rifle, in preferring to keep away from any and all places in which such a person might hide; but the story seemed afterward to have been only half told, for as it passed through Napoleon Nott’s lips a bowie-knife, a sword-cane, a bottle of poison, and a long piece of a prison chain were neatly added to the bad man’s armament; so no boy felt ashamed to confess to any other boy that he really was afraid to venture beyond the edge of the town.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Who Was Paul Grayson?

Chapter X

Reading 1/14 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
_RECAPTURED._ ON the morning after Benny Mallow’s party hardly a boy started for the brook or the woods.
Line 2
This was not because the dissipation of the previous night had made them over-weary, or too heavy and late a supper had induced headaches, or the party itself had to be talked over.
Line 3
Each of these reasons might have kept a boy or two at home, but the real cause that prevented the majority going about their usual diversions was fear of meeting the escaped counterfeiter.
Line 4
Where the information came from no one thought to inquire; but the report was circulated among the boys quite early in the morning that the criminal was armed with two heavy revolvers that some secret confederate had passed through the window to him, and that he would on no account allow himself to be captured alive.
Line 5
This story justified the stoutest-hearted boy, even if he owned a rifle, in preferring to keep away from any and all places in which such a person might hide; but the story seemed afterward to have been only half told, for as it passed through Napoleon Nott’s lips a bowie-knife, a sword-cane, a bottle of poison, and a long piece of a prison chain were neatly added to the bad man’s armament; so no boy felt ashamed to confess to any other boy that he really was afraid to venture beyond the edge of the town.

Learner Dictionary

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

About preposition US /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “Each of these reasons might have kept a boy or two at home, but the real cause that prevented the majority going about their usual diversions was fear of meeting the escaped counterfeiter.”

Added noun US /added/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “This story justified the stoutest-hearted boy, even if he owned a rifle, in preferring to keep away from any and all places in which such a person might hide; but the story seemed afterward to have been only half told, for as it passed through Napoleon Nott’s lips a bowie-knife, a sword-cane, a bottle of poison, and a long piece of a prison chain were neatly added to the bad man’s armament; so no boy felt ashamed to confess to any other boy that he really was afraid to venture beyond the edge of the town.”

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “_RECAPTURED._ ON the morning after Benny Mallow’s party hardly a boy started for the brook or the woods.”

Among preposition US /əˈmʌŋ/

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading “Where the information came from no one thought to inquire; but the report was circulated among the boys quite early in the morning that the criminal was armed with two heavy revolvers that some secret confederate had passed through the window to him, and that he would on no account allow himself to be captured alive.”

Ashamed adjective US /əˈʃeɪmd/

feeling guilt or embarrassment after doing something that causes embarrassment

From this reading “This story justified the stoutest-hearted boy, even if he owned a rifle, in preferring to keep away from any and all places in which such a person might hide; but the story seemed afterward to have been only half told, for as it passed through Napoleon Nott’s lips a bowie-knife, a sword-cane, a bottle of poison, and a long piece of a prison chain were neatly added to the bad man’s armament; so no boy felt ashamed to confess to any other boy that he really was afraid to venture beyond the edge of the town.”

Because conjunction US /bɪˈkɔːz/

for the reason that

From this reading “This was not because the dissipation of the previous night had made them over-weary, or too heavy and late a supper had induced headaches, or the party itself had to be talked over.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “This story justified the stoutest-hearted boy, even if he owned a rifle, in preferring to keep away from any and all places in which such a person might hide; but the story seemed afterward to have been only half told, for as it passed through Napoleon Nott’s lips a bowie-knife, a sword-cane, a bottle of poison, and a long piece of a prison chain were neatly added to the bad man’s armament; so no boy felt ashamed to confess to any other boy that he really was afraid to venture beyond the edge of the town.”

Beyond preposition US /bɪˈɑːnd/

on the far side of; further than

From this reading “This story justified the stoutest-hearted boy, even if he owned a rifle, in preferring to keep away from any and all places in which such a person might hide; but the story seemed afterward to have been only half told, for as it passed through Napoleon Nott’s lips a bowie-knife, a sword-cane, a bottle of poison, and a long piece of a prison chain were neatly added to the bad man’s armament; so no boy felt ashamed to confess to any other boy that he really was afraid to venture beyond the edge of the town.”

Even noun US /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “This story justified the stoutest-hearted boy, even if he owned a rifle, in preferring to keep away from any and all places in which such a person might hide; but the story seemed afterward to have been only half told, for as it passed through Napoleon Nott’s lips a bowie-knife, a sword-cane, a bottle of poison, and a long piece of a prison chain were neatly added to the bad man’s armament; so no boy felt ashamed to confess to any other boy that he really was afraid to venture beyond the edge of the town.”

Half noun US /half/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “This story justified the stoutest-hearted boy, even if he owned a rifle, in preferring to keep away from any and all places in which such a person might hide; but the story seemed afterward to have been only half told, for as it passed through Napoleon Nott’s lips a bowie-knife, a sword-cane, a bottle of poison, and a long piece of a prison chain were neatly added to the bad man’s armament; so no boy felt ashamed to confess to any other boy that he really was afraid to venture beyond the edge of the town.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “Each of these reasons might have kept a boy or two at home, but the real cause that prevented the majority going about their usual diversions was fear of meeting the escaped counterfeiter.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading “Where the information came from no one thought to inquire; but the report was circulated among the boys quite early in the morning that the criminal was armed with two heavy revolvers that some secret confederate had passed through the window to him, and that he would on no account allow himself to be captured alive.”

Itself pronoun US /ˌɪtˈself/

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading “This was not because the dissipation of the previous night had made them over-weary, or too heavy and late a supper had induced headaches, or the party itself had to be talked over.”

Long noun US /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “This story justified the stoutest-hearted boy, even if he owned a rifle, in preferring to keep away from any and all places in which such a person might hide; but the story seemed afterward to have been only half told, for as it passed through Napoleon Nott’s lips a bowie-knife, a sword-cane, a bottle of poison, and a long piece of a prison chain were neatly added to the bad man’s armament; so no boy felt ashamed to confess to any other boy that he really was afraid to venture beyond the edge of the town.”

Might modal verb US /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading “Each of these reasons might have kept a boy or two at home, but the real cause that prevented the majority going about their usual diversions was fear of meeting the escaped counterfeiter.”

Morning noun US /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “_RECAPTURED._ ON the morning after Benny Mallow’s party hardly a boy started for the brook or the woods.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “Where the information came from no one thought to inquire; but the report was circulated among the boys quite early in the morning that the criminal was armed with two heavy revolvers that some secret confederate had passed through the window to him, and that he would on no account allow himself to be captured alive.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “This was not because the dissipation of the previous night had made them over-weary, or too heavy and late a supper had induced headaches, or the party itself had to be talked over.”

Party noun US /party/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “_RECAPTURED._ ON the morning after Benny Mallow’s party hardly a boy started for the brook or the woods.”

Passed noun US /passed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Where the information came from no one thought to inquire; but the report was circulated among the boys quite early in the morning that the criminal was armed with two heavy revolvers that some secret confederate had passed through the window to him, and that he would on no account allow himself to be captured alive.”

Quite noun US /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Where the information came from no one thought to inquire; but the report was circulated among the boys quite early in the morning that the criminal was armed with two heavy revolvers that some secret confederate had passed through the window to him, and that he would on no account allow himself to be captured alive.”

Reasons noun US /ˈreasons/

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

From this reading “Each of these reasons might have kept a boy or two at home, but the real cause that prevented the majority going about their usual diversions was fear of meeting the escaped counterfeiter.”

Secret noun US /ˈsiː.krət/

Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.

From this reading “Where the information came from no one thought to inquire; but the report was circulated among the boys quite early in the morning that the criminal was armed with two heavy revolvers that some secret confederate had passed through the window to him, and that he would on no account allow himself to be captured alive.”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “This story justified the stoutest-hearted boy, even if he owned a rifle, in preferring to keep away from any and all places in which such a person might hide; but the story seemed afterward to have been only half told, for as it passed through Napoleon Nott’s lips a bowie-knife, a sword-cane, a bottle of poison, and a long piece of a prison chain were neatly added to the bad man’s armament; so no boy felt ashamed to confess to any other boy that he really was afraid to venture beyond the edge of the town.”

These determiner US /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading “Each of these reasons might have kept a boy or two at home, but the real cause that prevented the majority going about their usual diversions was fear of meeting the escaped counterfeiter.”

Thought noun US /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Where the information came from no one thought to inquire; but the report was circulated among the boys quite early in the morning that the criminal was armed with two heavy revolvers that some secret confederate had passed through the window to him, and that he would on no account allow himself to be captured alive.”

Through noun US /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading “Where the information came from no one thought to inquire; but the report was circulated among the boys quite early in the morning that the criminal was armed with two heavy revolvers that some secret confederate had passed through the window to him, and that he would on no account allow himself to be captured alive.”

Told noun US /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “This story justified the stoutest-hearted boy, even if he owned a rifle, in preferring to keep away from any and all places in which such a person might hide; but the story seemed afterward to have been only half told, for as it passed through Napoleon Nott’s lips a bowie-knife, a sword-cane, a bottle of poison, and a long piece of a prison chain were neatly added to the bad man’s armament; so no boy felt ashamed to confess to any other boy that he really was afraid to venture beyond the edge of the town.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “Where the information came from no one thought to inquire; but the report was circulated among the boys quite early in the morning that the criminal was armed with two heavy revolvers that some secret confederate had passed through the window to him, and that he would on no account allow himself to be captured alive.”

All words in this reading · 150

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 _RECAPTURED._ ON the morning after Benny Mallow’s party hardly a boy started for the brook or the woods.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Each of these reasons might have kept a boy or two at home, but the real cause that prevented the majority going about their usual diversions was fear of meeting the escaped counterfeiter.

account

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

From this reading Where the information came from no one thought to inquire; but the report was circulated among the boys quite early in the morning that the criminal was armed with two heavy revolvers that some secret confederate had passed through the window to him, and that he would on no account allow himself to be captured alive.

addednounUS /added/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading This story justified the stoutest-hearted boy, even if he owned a rifle, in preferring to keep away from any and all places in which such a person might hide; but the story seemed afterward to have been only half told, for as it passed through Napoleon Nott’s lips a bowie-knife, a sword-cane, a bottle of poison, and a long piece of a prison chain were neatly added to the bad man’s armament; so no boy felt ashamed to confess to any other boy that he really was afraid to venture beyond the edge of the town.

afraid

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

From this reading This story justified the stoutest-hearted boy, even if he owned a rifle, in preferring to keep away from any and all places in which such a person might hide; but the story seemed afterward to have been only half told, for as it passed through Napoleon Nott’s lips a bowie-knife, a sword-cane, a bottle of poison, and a long piece of a prison chain were neatly added to the bad man’s armament; so no boy felt ashamed to confess to any other boy that he really was afraid to venture beyond the edge of the town.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading _RECAPTURED._ ON the morning after Benny Mallow’s party hardly a boy started for the brook or the woods.

afterward

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

From this reading This story justified the stoutest-hearted boy, even if he owned a rifle, in preferring to keep away from any and all places in which such a person might hide; but the story seemed afterward to have been only half told, for as it passed through Napoleon Nott’s lips a bowie-knife, a sword-cane, a bottle of poison, and a long piece of a prison chain were neatly added to the bad man’s armament; so no boy felt ashamed to confess to any other boy that he really was afraid to venture beyond the edge of the town.

alive

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

From this reading Where the information came from no one thought to inquire; but the report was circulated among the boys quite early in the morning that the criminal was armed with two heavy revolvers that some secret confederate had passed through the window to him, and that he would on no account allow himself to be captured alive.

all

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

From this reading This story justified the stoutest-hearted boy, even if he owned a rifle, in preferring to keep away from any and all places in which such a person might hide; but the story seemed afterward to have been only half told, for as it passed through Napoleon Nott’s lips a bowie-knife, a sword-cane, a bottle of poison, and a long piece of a prison chain were neatly added to the bad man’s armament; so no boy felt ashamed to confess to any other boy that he really was afraid to venture beyond the edge of the town.

allow

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

From this reading Where the information came from no one thought to inquire; but the report was circulated among the boys quite early in the morning that the criminal was armed with two heavy revolvers that some secret confederate had passed through the window to him, and that he would on no account allow himself to be captured alive.

amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading Where the information came from no one thought to inquire; but the report was circulated among the boys quite early in the morning that the criminal was armed with two heavy revolvers that some secret confederate had passed through the window to him, and that he would on no account allow himself to be captured alive.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading This was not because the dissipation of the previous night had made them over-weary, or too heavy and late a supper had induced headaches, or the party itself had to be talked over.

any

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

From this reading This story justified the stoutest-hearted boy, even if he owned a rifle, in preferring to keep away from any and all places in which such a person might hide; but the story seemed afterward to have been only half told, for as it passed through Napoleon Nott’s lips a bowie-knife, a sword-cane, a bottle of poison, and a long piece of a prison chain were neatly added to the bad man’s armament; so no boy felt ashamed to confess to any other boy that he really was afraid to venture beyond the edge of the town.

armament

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

From this reading This story justified the stoutest-hearted boy, even if he owned a rifle, in preferring to keep away from any and all places in which such a person might hide; but the story seemed afterward to have been only half told, for as it passed through Napoleon Nott’s lips a bowie-knife, a sword-cane, a bottle of poison, and a long piece of a prison chain were neatly added to the bad man’s armament; so no boy felt ashamed to confess to any other boy that he really was afraid to venture beyond the edge of the town.

armed

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

From this reading Where the information came from no one thought to inquire; but the report was circulated among the boys quite early in the morning that the criminal was armed with two heavy revolvers that some secret confederate had passed through the window to him, and that he would on no account allow himself to be captured alive.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading This story justified the stoutest-hearted boy, even if he owned a rifle, in preferring to keep away from any and all places in which such a person might hide; but the story seemed afterward to have been only half told, for as it passed through Napoleon Nott’s lips a bowie-knife, a sword-cane, a bottle of poison, and a long piece of a prison chain were neatly added to the bad man’s armament; so no boy felt ashamed to confess to any other boy that he really was afraid to venture beyond the edge of the town.

ashamedadjectiveUS /əˈʃeɪmd/

feeling guilt or embarrassment after doing something that causes embarrassment

From this reading This story justified the stoutest-hearted boy, even if he owned a rifle, in preferring to keep away from any and all places in which such a person might hide; but the story seemed afterward to have been only half told, for as it passed through Napoleon Nott’s lips a bowie-knife, a sword-cane, a bottle of poison, and a long piece of a prison chain were neatly added to the bad man’s armament; so no boy felt ashamed to confess to any other boy that he really was afraid to venture beyond the edge of the town.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Each of these reasons might have kept a boy or two at home, but the real cause that prevented the majority going about their usual diversions was fear of meeting the escaped counterfeiter.

away

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

From this reading This story justified the stoutest-hearted boy, even if he owned a rifle, in preferring to keep away from any and all places in which such a person might hide; but the story seemed afterward to have been only half told, for as it passed through Napoleon Nott’s lips a bowie-knife, a sword-cane, a bottle of poison, and a long piece of a prison chain were neatly added to the bad man’s armament; so no boy felt ashamed to confess to any other boy that he really was afraid to venture beyond the edge of the town.

bad

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

From this reading This story justified the stoutest-hearted boy, even if he owned a rifle, in preferring to keep away from any and all places in which such a person might hide; but the story seemed afterward to have been only half told, for as it passed through Napoleon Nott’s lips a bowie-knife, a sword-cane, a bottle of poison, and a long piece of a prison chain were neatly added to the bad man’s armament; so no boy felt ashamed to confess to any other boy that he really was afraid to venture beyond the edge of the town.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading This was not because the dissipation of the previous night had made them over-weary, or too heavy and late a supper had induced headaches, or the party itself had to be talked over.

becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/

for the reason that

From this reading This was not because the dissipation of the previous night had made them over-weary, or too heavy and late a supper had induced headaches, or the party itself had to be talked over.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading This story justified the stoutest-hearted boy, even if he owned a rifle, in preferring to keep away from any and all places in which such a person might hide; but the story seemed afterward to have been only half told, for as it passed through Napoleon Nott’s lips a bowie-knife, a sword-cane, a bottle of poison, and a long piece of a prison chain were neatly added to the bad man’s armament; so no boy felt ashamed to confess to any other boy that he really was afraid to venture beyond the edge of the town.

Benny

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

From this reading _RECAPTURED._ ON the morning after Benny Mallow’s party hardly a boy started for the brook or the woods.

beyondprepositionUS /bɪˈɑːnd/

on the far side of; further than

From this reading This story justified the stoutest-hearted boy, even if he owned a rifle, in preferring to keep away from any and all places in which such a person might hide; but the story seemed afterward to have been only half told, for as it passed through Napoleon Nott’s lips a bowie-knife, a sword-cane, a bottle of poison, and a long piece of a prison chain were neatly added to the bad man’s armament; so no boy felt ashamed to confess to any other boy that he really was afraid to venture beyond the edge of the town.

bottle

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

From this reading This story justified the stoutest-hearted boy, even if he owned a rifle, in preferring to keep away from any and all places in which such a person might hide; but the story seemed afterward to have been only half told, for as it passed through Napoleon Nott’s lips a bowie-knife, a sword-cane, a bottle of poison, and a long piece of a prison chain were neatly added to the bad man’s armament; so no boy felt ashamed to confess to any other boy that he really was afraid to venture beyond the edge of the town.

bowie-knife

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

From this reading This story justified the stoutest-hearted boy, even if he owned a rifle, in preferring to keep away from any and all places in which such a person might hide; but the story seemed afterward to have been only half told, for as it passed through Napoleon Nott’s lips a bowie-knife, a sword-cane, a bottle of poison, and a long piece of a prison chain were neatly added to the bad man’s armament; so no boy felt ashamed to confess to any other boy that he really was afraid to venture beyond the edge of the town.

boy

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

From this reading _RECAPTURED._ ON the morning after Benny Mallow’s party hardly a boy started for the brook or the woods.

boys

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

From this reading Where the information came from no one thought to inquire; but the report was circulated among the boys quite early in the morning that the criminal was armed with two heavy revolvers that some secret confederate had passed through the window to him, and that he would on no account allow himself to be captured alive.

brook

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

From this reading _RECAPTURED._ ON the morning after Benny Mallow’s party hardly a boy started for the brook or the woods.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Each of these reasons might have kept a boy or two at home, but the real cause that prevented the majority going about their usual diversions was fear of meeting the escaped counterfeiter.

came

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

From this reading Where the information came from no one thought to inquire; but the report was circulated among the boys quite early in the morning that the criminal was armed with two heavy revolvers that some secret confederate had passed through the window to him, and that he would on no account allow himself to be captured alive.

captured

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

From this reading Where the information came from no one thought to inquire; but the report was circulated among the boys quite early in the morning that the criminal was armed with two heavy revolvers that some secret confederate had passed through the window to him, and that he would on no account allow himself to be captured alive.

cause

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

From this reading Each of these reasons might have kept a boy or two at home, but the real cause that prevented the majority going about their usual diversions was fear of meeting the escaped counterfeiter.

chain

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

From this reading This story justified the stoutest-hearted boy, even if he owned a rifle, in preferring to keep away from any and all places in which such a person might hide; but the story seemed afterward to have been only half told, for as it passed through Napoleon Nott’s lips a bowie-knife, a sword-cane, a bottle of poison, and a long piece of a prison chain were neatly added to the bad man’s armament; so no boy felt ashamed to confess to any other boy that he really was afraid to venture beyond the edge of the town.

circulated

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

From this reading Where the information came from no one thought to inquire; but the report was circulated among the boys quite early in the morning that the criminal was armed with two heavy revolvers that some secret confederate had passed through the window to him, and that he would on no account allow himself to be captured alive.

confederate

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

From this reading Where the information came from no one thought to inquire; but the report was circulated among the boys quite early in the morning that the criminal was armed with two heavy revolvers that some secret confederate had passed through the window to him, and that he would on no account allow himself to be captured alive.

confess

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

From this reading This story justified the stoutest-hearted boy, even if he owned a rifle, in preferring to keep away from any and all places in which such a person might hide; but the story seemed afterward to have been only half told, for as it passed through Napoleon Nott’s lips a bowie-knife, a sword-cane, a bottle of poison, and a long piece of a prison chain were neatly added to the bad man’s armament; so no boy felt ashamed to confess to any other boy that he really was afraid to venture beyond the edge of the town.

counterfeiter

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

From this reading Each of these reasons might have kept a boy or two at home, but the real cause that prevented the majority going about their usual diversions was fear of meeting the escaped counterfeiter.

criminal

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

From this reading Where the information came from no one thought to inquire; but the report was circulated among the boys quite early in the morning that the criminal was armed with two heavy revolvers that some secret confederate had passed through the window to him, and that he would on no account allow himself to be captured alive.

dissipation

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

From this reading This was not because the dissipation of the previous night had made them over-weary, or too heavy and late a supper had induced headaches, or the party itself had to be talked over.

diversions

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

From this reading Each of these reasons might have kept a boy or two at home, but the real cause that prevented the majority going about their usual diversions was fear of meeting the escaped counterfeiter.

EachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading Each of these reasons might have kept a boy or two at home, but the real cause that prevented the majority going about their usual diversions was fear of meeting the escaped counterfeiter.

early

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

From this reading Where the information came from no one thought to inquire; but the report was circulated among the boys quite early in the morning that the criminal was armed with two heavy revolvers that some secret confederate had passed through the window to him, and that he would on no account allow himself to be captured alive.

edge

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

From this reading This story justified the stoutest-hearted boy, even if he owned a rifle, in preferring to keep away from any and all places in which such a person might hide; but the story seemed afterward to have been only half told, for as it passed through Napoleon Nott’s lips a bowie-knife, a sword-cane, a bottle of poison, and a long piece of a prison chain were neatly added to the bad man’s armament; so no boy felt ashamed to confess to any other boy that he really was afraid to venture beyond the edge of the town.

escaped

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

From this reading Each of these reasons might have kept a boy or two at home, but the real cause that prevented the majority going about their usual diversions was fear of meeting the escaped counterfeiter.

evennounUS /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading This story justified the stoutest-hearted boy, even if he owned a rifle, in preferring to keep away from any and all places in which such a person might hide; but the story seemed afterward to have been only half told, for as it passed through Napoleon Nott’s lips a bowie-knife, a sword-cane, a bottle of poison, and a long piece of a prison chain were neatly added to the bad man’s armament; so no boy felt ashamed to confess to any other boy that he really was afraid to venture beyond the edge of the town.

fear

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

From this reading Each of these reasons might have kept a boy or two at home, but the real cause that prevented the majority going about their usual diversions was fear of meeting the escaped counterfeiter.

felt

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

From this reading This story justified the stoutest-hearted boy, even if he owned a rifle, in preferring to keep away from any and all places in which such a person might hide; but the story seemed afterward to have been only half told, for as it passed through Napoleon Nott’s lips a bowie-knife, a sword-cane, a bottle of poison, and a long piece of a prison chain were neatly added to the bad man’s armament; so no boy felt ashamed to confess to any other boy that he really was afraid to venture beyond the edge of the town.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading _RECAPTURED._ ON the morning after Benny Mallow’s party hardly a boy started for the brook or the woods.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Where the information came from no one thought to inquire; but the report was circulated among the boys quite early in the morning that the criminal was armed with two heavy revolvers that some secret confederate had passed through the window to him, and that he would on no account allow himself to be captured alive.

going

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

From this reading Each of these reasons might have kept a boy or two at home, but the real cause that prevented the majority going about their usual diversions was fear of meeting the escaped counterfeiter.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading This was not because the dissipation of the previous night had made them over-weary, or too heavy and late a supper had induced headaches, or the party itself had to be talked over.

halfnounUS /half/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading This story justified the stoutest-hearted boy, even if he owned a rifle, in preferring to keep away from any and all places in which such a person might hide; but the story seemed afterward to have been only half told, for as it passed through Napoleon Nott’s lips a bowie-knife, a sword-cane, a bottle of poison, and a long piece of a prison chain were neatly added to the bad man’s armament; so no boy felt ashamed to confess to any other boy that he really was afraid to venture beyond the edge of the town.

hardly

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

From this reading _RECAPTURED._ ON the morning after Benny Mallow’s party hardly a boy started for the brook or the woods.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Each of these reasons might have kept a boy or two at home, but the real cause that prevented the majority going about their usual diversions was fear of meeting the escaped counterfeiter.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Where the information came from no one thought to inquire; but the report was circulated among the boys quite early in the morning that the criminal was armed with two heavy revolvers that some secret confederate had passed through the window to him, and that he would on no account allow himself to be captured alive.

headaches

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

From this reading This was not because the dissipation of the previous night had made them over-weary, or too heavy and late a supper had induced headaches, or the party itself had to be talked over.

heavy

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

From this reading This was not because the dissipation of the previous night had made them over-weary, or too heavy and late a supper had induced headaches, or the party itself had to be talked over.

hide

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

From this reading This story justified the stoutest-hearted boy, even if he owned a rifle, in preferring to keep away from any and all places in which such a person might hide; but the story seemed afterward to have been only half told, for as it passed through Napoleon Nott’s lips a bowie-knife, a sword-cane, a bottle of poison, and a long piece of a prison chain were neatly added to the bad man’s armament; so no boy felt ashamed to confess to any other boy that he really was afraid to venture beyond the edge of the town.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading Where the information came from no one thought to inquire; but the report was circulated among the boys quite early in the morning that the criminal was armed with two heavy revolvers that some secret confederate had passed through the window to him, and that he would on no account allow himself to be captured alive.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading Where the information came from no one thought to inquire; but the report was circulated among the boys quite early in the morning that the criminal was armed with two heavy revolvers that some secret confederate had passed through the window to him, and that he would on no account allow himself to be captured alive.

home

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

From this reading Each of these reasons might have kept a boy or two at home, but the real cause that prevented the majority going about their usual diversions was fear of meeting the escaped counterfeiter.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading This story justified the stoutest-hearted boy, even if he owned a rifle, in preferring to keep away from any and all places in which such a person might hide; but the story seemed afterward to have been only half told, for as it passed through Napoleon Nott’s lips a bowie-knife, a sword-cane, a bottle of poison, and a long piece of a prison chain were neatly added to the bad man’s armament; so no boy felt ashamed to confess to any other boy that he really was afraid to venture beyond the edge of the town.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Where the information came from no one thought to inquire; but the report was circulated among the boys quite early in the morning that the criminal was armed with two heavy revolvers that some secret confederate had passed through the window to him, and that he would on no account allow himself to be captured alive.

induced

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

From this reading This was not because the dissipation of the previous night had made them over-weary, or too heavy and late a supper had induced headaches, or the party itself had to be talked over.

information

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

From this reading Where the information came from no one thought to inquire; but the report was circulated among the boys quite early in the morning that the criminal was armed with two heavy revolvers that some secret confederate had passed through the window to him, and that he would on no account allow himself to be captured alive.

inquire

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

From this reading Where the information came from no one thought to inquire; but the report was circulated among the boys quite early in the morning that the criminal was armed with two heavy revolvers that some secret confederate had passed through the window to him, and that he would on no account allow himself to be captured alive.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading This story justified the stoutest-hearted boy, even if he owned a rifle, in preferring to keep away from any and all places in which such a person might hide; but the story seemed afterward to have been only half told, for as it passed through Napoleon Nott’s lips a bowie-knife, a sword-cane, a bottle of poison, and a long piece of a prison chain were neatly added to the bad man’s armament; so no boy felt ashamed to confess to any other boy that he really was afraid to venture beyond the edge of the town.

itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading This was not because the dissipation of the previous night had made them over-weary, or too heavy and late a supper had induced headaches, or the party itself had to be talked over.

justified

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

From this reading This story justified the stoutest-hearted boy, even if he owned a rifle, in preferring to keep away from any and all places in which such a person might hide; but the story seemed afterward to have been only half told, for as it passed through Napoleon Nott’s lips a bowie-knife, a sword-cane, a bottle of poison, and a long piece of a prison chain were neatly added to the bad man’s armament; so no boy felt ashamed to confess to any other boy that he really was afraid to venture beyond the edge of the town.

keep

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

From this reading This story justified the stoutest-hearted boy, even if he owned a rifle, in preferring to keep away from any and all places in which such a person might hide; but the story seemed afterward to have been only half told, for as it passed through Napoleon Nott’s lips a bowie-knife, a sword-cane, a bottle of poison, and a long piece of a prison chain were neatly added to the bad man’s armament; so no boy felt ashamed to confess to any other boy that he really was afraid to venture beyond the edge of the town.

kept

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

From this reading Each of these reasons might have kept a boy or two at home, but the real cause that prevented the majority going about their usual diversions was fear of meeting the escaped counterfeiter.

late

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

From this reading This was not because the dissipation of the previous night had made them over-weary, or too heavy and late a supper had induced headaches, or the party itself had to be talked over.

lips

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

From this reading This story justified the stoutest-hearted boy, even if he owned a rifle, in preferring to keep away from any and all places in which such a person might hide; but the story seemed afterward to have been only half told, for as it passed through Napoleon Nott’s lips a bowie-knife, a sword-cane, a bottle of poison, and a long piece of a prison chain were neatly added to the bad man’s armament; so no boy felt ashamed to confess to any other boy that he really was afraid to venture beyond the edge of the town.

longnounUS /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading This story justified the stoutest-hearted boy, even if he owned a rifle, in preferring to keep away from any and all places in which such a person might hide; but the story seemed afterward to have been only half told, for as it passed through Napoleon Nott’s lips a bowie-knife, a sword-cane, a bottle of poison, and a long piece of a prison chain were neatly added to the bad man’s armament; so no boy felt ashamed to confess to any other boy that he really was afraid to venture beyond the edge of the town.

made

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

From this reading This was not because the dissipation of the previous night had made them over-weary, or too heavy and late a supper had induced headaches, or the party itself had to be talked over.

majority

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

From this reading Each of these reasons might have kept a boy or two at home, but the real cause that prevented the majority going about their usual diversions was fear of meeting the escaped counterfeiter.

Mallow's

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

From this reading _RECAPTURED._ ON the morning after Benny Mallow’s party hardly a boy started for the brook or the woods.

man's

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

From this reading This story justified the stoutest-hearted boy, even if he owned a rifle, in preferring to keep away from any and all places in which such a person might hide; but the story seemed afterward to have been only half told, for as it passed through Napoleon Nott’s lips a bowie-knife, a sword-cane, a bottle of poison, and a long piece of a prison chain were neatly added to the bad man’s armament; so no boy felt ashamed to confess to any other boy that he really was afraid to venture beyond the edge of the town.

meeting

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

From this reading Each of these reasons might have kept a boy or two at home, but the real cause that prevented the majority going about their usual diversions was fear of meeting the escaped counterfeiter.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading Each of these reasons might have kept a boy or two at home, but the real cause that prevented the majority going about their usual diversions was fear of meeting the escaped counterfeiter.

morningnounUS /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading _RECAPTURED._ ON the morning after Benny Mallow’s party hardly a boy started for the brook or the woods.

Napoleon

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

From this reading This story justified the stoutest-hearted boy, even if he owned a rifle, in preferring to keep away from any and all places in which such a person might hide; but the story seemed afterward to have been only half told, for as it passed through Napoleon Nott’s lips a bowie-knife, a sword-cane, a bottle of poison, and a long piece of a prison chain were neatly added to the bad man’s armament; so no boy felt ashamed to confess to any other boy that he really was afraid to venture beyond the edge of the town.

neatly

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

From this reading This story justified the stoutest-hearted boy, even if he owned a rifle, in preferring to keep away from any and all places in which such a person might hide; but the story seemed afterward to have been only half told, for as it passed through Napoleon Nott’s lips a bowie-knife, a sword-cane, a bottle of poison, and a long piece of a prison chain were neatly added to the bad man’s armament; so no boy felt ashamed to confess to any other boy that he really was afraid to venture beyond the edge of the town.

night

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

From this reading This was not because the dissipation of the previous night had made them over-weary, or too heavy and late a supper had induced headaches, or the party itself had to be talked over.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading Where the information came from no one thought to inquire; but the report was circulated among the boys quite early in the morning that the criminal was armed with two heavy revolvers that some secret confederate had passed through the window to him, and that he would on no account allow himself to be captured alive.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading This was not because the dissipation of the previous night had made them over-weary, or too heavy and late a supper had induced headaches, or the party itself had to be talked over.

Nott's

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

From this reading This story justified the stoutest-hearted boy, even if he owned a rifle, in preferring to keep away from any and all places in which such a person might hide; but the story seemed afterward to have been only half told, for as it passed through Napoleon Nott’s lips a bowie-knife, a sword-cane, a bottle of poison, and a long piece of a prison chain were neatly added to the bad man’s armament; so no boy felt ashamed to confess to any other boy that he really was afraid to venture beyond the edge of the town.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading This was not because the dissipation of the previous night had made them over-weary, or too heavy and late a supper had induced headaches, or the party itself had to be talked over.

ONprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading _RECAPTURED._ ON the morning after Benny Mallow’s party hardly a boy started for the brook or the woods.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Where the information came from no one thought to inquire; but the report was circulated among the boys quite early in the morning that the criminal was armed with two heavy revolvers that some secret confederate had passed through the window to him, and that he would on no account allow himself to be captured alive.

only

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

From this reading This story justified the stoutest-hearted boy, even if he owned a rifle, in preferring to keep away from any and all places in which such a person might hide; but the story seemed afterward to have been only half told, for as it passed through Napoleon Nott’s lips a bowie-knife, a sword-cane, a bottle of poison, and a long piece of a prison chain were neatly added to the bad man’s armament; so no boy felt ashamed to confess to any other boy that he really was afraid to venture beyond the edge of the town.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading _RECAPTURED._ ON the morning after Benny Mallow’s party hardly a boy started for the brook or the woods.

other

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

From this reading This story justified the stoutest-hearted boy, even if he owned a rifle, in preferring to keep away from any and all places in which such a person might hide; but the story seemed afterward to have been only half told, for as it passed through Napoleon Nott’s lips a bowie-knife, a sword-cane, a bottle of poison, and a long piece of a prison chain were neatly added to the bad man’s armament; so no boy felt ashamed to confess to any other boy that he really was afraid to venture beyond the edge of the town.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading This was not because the dissipation of the previous night had made them over-weary, or too heavy and late a supper had induced headaches, or the party itself had to be talked over.

over-weary

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

From this reading This was not because the dissipation of the previous night had made them over-weary, or too heavy and late a supper had induced headaches, or the party itself had to be talked over.

owned

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

From this reading This story justified the stoutest-hearted boy, even if he owned a rifle, in preferring to keep away from any and all places in which such a person might hide; but the story seemed afterward to have been only half told, for as it passed through Napoleon Nott’s lips a bowie-knife, a sword-cane, a bottle of poison, and a long piece of a prison chain were neatly added to the bad man’s armament; so no boy felt ashamed to confess to any other boy that he really was afraid to venture beyond the edge of the town.

partynounUS /party/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading _RECAPTURED._ ON the morning after Benny Mallow’s party hardly a boy started for the brook or the woods.

passednounUS /passed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Where the information came from no one thought to inquire; but the report was circulated among the boys quite early in the morning that the criminal was armed with two heavy revolvers that some secret confederate had passed through the window to him, and that he would on no account allow himself to be captured alive.

person

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

From this reading This story justified the stoutest-hearted boy, even if he owned a rifle, in preferring to keep away from any and all places in which such a person might hide; but the story seemed afterward to have been only half told, for as it passed through Napoleon Nott’s lips a bowie-knife, a sword-cane, a bottle of poison, and a long piece of a prison chain were neatly added to the bad man’s armament; so no boy felt ashamed to confess to any other boy that he really was afraid to venture beyond the edge of the town.

piece

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

From this reading This story justified the stoutest-hearted boy, even if he owned a rifle, in preferring to keep away from any and all places in which such a person might hide; but the story seemed afterward to have been only half told, for as it passed through Napoleon Nott’s lips a bowie-knife, a sword-cane, a bottle of poison, and a long piece of a prison chain were neatly added to the bad man’s armament; so no boy felt ashamed to confess to any other boy that he really was afraid to venture beyond the edge of the town.

places

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

From this reading This story justified the stoutest-hearted boy, even if he owned a rifle, in preferring to keep away from any and all places in which such a person might hide; but the story seemed afterward to have been only half told, for as it passed through Napoleon Nott’s lips a bowie-knife, a sword-cane, a bottle of poison, and a long piece of a prison chain were neatly added to the bad man’s armament; so no boy felt ashamed to confess to any other boy that he really was afraid to venture beyond the edge of the town.

poison

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

From this reading This story justified the stoutest-hearted boy, even if he owned a rifle, in preferring to keep away from any and all places in which such a person might hide; but the story seemed afterward to have been only half told, for as it passed through Napoleon Nott’s lips a bowie-knife, a sword-cane, a bottle of poison, and a long piece of a prison chain were neatly added to the bad man’s armament; so no boy felt ashamed to confess to any other boy that he really was afraid to venture beyond the edge of the town.

preferring

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

From this reading This story justified the stoutest-hearted boy, even if he owned a rifle, in preferring to keep away from any and all places in which such a person might hide; but the story seemed afterward to have been only half told, for as it passed through Napoleon Nott’s lips a bowie-knife, a sword-cane, a bottle of poison, and a long piece of a prison chain were neatly added to the bad man’s armament; so no boy felt ashamed to confess to any other boy that he really was afraid to venture beyond the edge of the town.

prevented

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

From this reading Each of these reasons might have kept a boy or two at home, but the real cause that prevented the majority going about their usual diversions was fear of meeting the escaped counterfeiter.

previous

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

From this reading This was not because the dissipation of the previous night had made them over-weary, or too heavy and late a supper had induced headaches, or the party itself had to be talked over.

prison

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

From this reading This story justified the stoutest-hearted boy, even if he owned a rifle, in preferring to keep away from any and all places in which such a person might hide; but the story seemed afterward to have been only half told, for as it passed through Napoleon Nott’s lips a bowie-knife, a sword-cane, a bottle of poison, and a long piece of a prison chain were neatly added to the bad man’s armament; so no boy felt ashamed to confess to any other boy that he really was afraid to venture beyond the edge of the town.

quitenounUS /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Where the information came from no one thought to inquire; but the report was circulated among the boys quite early in the morning that the criminal was armed with two heavy revolvers that some secret confederate had passed through the window to him, and that he would on no account allow himself to be captured alive.

real

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

From this reading Each of these reasons might have kept a boy or two at home, but the real cause that prevented the majority going about their usual diversions was fear of meeting the escaped counterfeiter.

really

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

From this reading This story justified the stoutest-hearted boy, even if he owned a rifle, in preferring to keep away from any and all places in which such a person might hide; but the story seemed afterward to have been only half told, for as it passed through Napoleon Nott’s lips a bowie-knife, a sword-cane, a bottle of poison, and a long piece of a prison chain were neatly added to the bad man’s armament; so no boy felt ashamed to confess to any other boy that he really was afraid to venture beyond the edge of the town.

reasonsnounUS /ˈreasons/

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

From this reading Each of these reasons might have kept a boy or two at home, but the real cause that prevented the majority going about their usual diversions was fear of meeting the escaped counterfeiter.

RECAPTURED

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

From this reading _RECAPTURED._ ON the morning after Benny Mallow’s party hardly a boy started for the brook or the woods.

report

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

From this reading Where the information came from no one thought to inquire; but the report was circulated among the boys quite early in the morning that the criminal was armed with two heavy revolvers that some secret confederate had passed through the window to him, and that he would on no account allow himself to be captured alive.

revolvers

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

From this reading Where the information came from no one thought to inquire; but the report was circulated among the boys quite early in the morning that the criminal was armed with two heavy revolvers that some secret confederate had passed through the window to him, and that he would on no account allow himself to be captured alive.

rifle

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

From this reading This story justified the stoutest-hearted boy, even if he owned a rifle, in preferring to keep away from any and all places in which such a person might hide; but the story seemed afterward to have been only half told, for as it passed through Napoleon Nott’s lips a bowie-knife, a sword-cane, a bottle of poison, and a long piece of a prison chain were neatly added to the bad man’s armament; so no boy felt ashamed to confess to any other boy that he really was afraid to venture beyond the edge of the town.

secretnounUS /ˈsiː.krət/

Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.

From this reading Where the information came from no one thought to inquire; but the report was circulated among the boys quite early in the morning that the criminal was armed with two heavy revolvers that some secret confederate had passed through the window to him, and that he would on no account allow himself to be captured alive.

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading This story justified the stoutest-hearted boy, even if he owned a rifle, in preferring to keep away from any and all places in which such a person might hide; but the story seemed afterward to have been only half told, for as it passed through Napoleon Nott’s lips a bowie-knife, a sword-cane, a bottle of poison, and a long piece of a prison chain were neatly added to the bad man’s armament; so no boy felt ashamed to confess to any other boy that he really was afraid to venture beyond the edge of the town.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading This story justified the stoutest-hearted boy, even if he owned a rifle, in preferring to keep away from any and all places in which such a person might hide; but the story seemed afterward to have been only half told, for as it passed through Napoleon Nott’s lips a bowie-knife, a sword-cane, a bottle of poison, and a long piece of a prison chain were neatly added to the bad man’s armament; so no boy felt ashamed to confess to any other boy that he really was afraid to venture beyond the edge of the town.

some

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

From this reading Where the information came from no one thought to inquire; but the report was circulated among the boys quite early in the morning that the criminal was armed with two heavy revolvers that some secret confederate had passed through the window to him, and that he would on no account allow himself to be captured alive.

started

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

From this reading _RECAPTURED._ ON the morning after Benny Mallow’s party hardly a boy started for the brook or the woods.

story

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

From this reading This story justified the stoutest-hearted boy, even if he owned a rifle, in preferring to keep away from any and all places in which such a person might hide; but the story seemed afterward to have been only half told, for as it passed through Napoleon Nott’s lips a bowie-knife, a sword-cane, a bottle of poison, and a long piece of a prison chain were neatly added to the bad man’s armament; so no boy felt ashamed to confess to any other boy that he really was afraid to venture beyond the edge of the town.

stoutest-hearted

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

From this reading This story justified the stoutest-hearted boy, even if he owned a rifle, in preferring to keep away from any and all places in which such a person might hide; but the story seemed afterward to have been only half told, for as it passed through Napoleon Nott’s lips a bowie-knife, a sword-cane, a bottle of poison, and a long piece of a prison chain were neatly added to the bad man’s armament; so no boy felt ashamed to confess to any other boy that he really was afraid to venture beyond the edge of the town.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading This story justified the stoutest-hearted boy, even if he owned a rifle, in preferring to keep away from any and all places in which such a person might hide; but the story seemed afterward to have been only half told, for as it passed through Napoleon Nott’s lips a bowie-knife, a sword-cane, a bottle of poison, and a long piece of a prison chain were neatly added to the bad man’s armament; so no boy felt ashamed to confess to any other boy that he really was afraid to venture beyond the edge of the town.

supper

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

From this reading This was not because the dissipation of the previous night had made them over-weary, or too heavy and late a supper had induced headaches, or the party itself had to be talked over.

sword-cane

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

From this reading This story justified the stoutest-hearted boy, even if he owned a rifle, in preferring to keep away from any and all places in which such a person might hide; but the story seemed afterward to have been only half told, for as it passed through Napoleon Nott’s lips a bowie-knife, a sword-cane, a bottle of poison, and a long piece of a prison chain were neatly added to the bad man’s armament; so no boy felt ashamed to confess to any other boy that he really was afraid to venture beyond the edge of the town.

talked

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

From this reading This was not because the dissipation of the previous night had made them over-weary, or too heavy and late a supper had induced headaches, or the party itself had to be talked over.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Each of these reasons might have kept a boy or two at home, but the real cause that prevented the majority going about their usual diversions was fear of meeting the escaped counterfeiter.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading _RECAPTURED._ ON the morning after Benny Mallow’s party hardly a boy started for the brook or the woods.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Each of these reasons might have kept a boy or two at home, but the real cause that prevented the majority going about their usual diversions was fear of meeting the escaped counterfeiter.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading This was not because the dissipation of the previous night had made them over-weary, or too heavy and late a supper had induced headaches, or the party itself had to be talked over.

thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading Each of these reasons might have kept a boy or two at home, but the real cause that prevented the majority going about their usual diversions was fear of meeting the escaped counterfeiter.

ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading This was not because the dissipation of the previous night had made them over-weary, or too heavy and late a supper had induced headaches, or the party itself had to be talked over.

thoughtnounUS /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Where the information came from no one thought to inquire; but the report was circulated among the boys quite early in the morning that the criminal was armed with two heavy revolvers that some secret confederate had passed through the window to him, and that he would on no account allow himself to be captured alive.

throughnounUS /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading Where the information came from no one thought to inquire; but the report was circulated among the boys quite early in the morning that the criminal was armed with two heavy revolvers that some secret confederate had passed through the window to him, and that he would on no account allow himself to be captured alive.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading This was not because the dissipation of the previous night had made them over-weary, or too heavy and late a supper had induced headaches, or the party itself had to be talked over.

toldnounUS /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading This story justified the stoutest-hearted boy, even if he owned a rifle, in preferring to keep away from any and all places in which such a person might hide; but the story seemed afterward to have been only half told, for as it passed through Napoleon Nott’s lips a bowie-knife, a sword-cane, a bottle of poison, and a long piece of a prison chain were neatly added to the bad man’s armament; so no boy felt ashamed to confess to any other boy that he really was afraid to venture beyond the edge of the town.

too

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

From this reading This was not because the dissipation of the previous night had made them over-weary, or too heavy and late a supper had induced headaches, or the party itself had to be talked over.

town

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

From this reading This story justified the stoutest-hearted boy, even if he owned a rifle, in preferring to keep away from any and all places in which such a person might hide; but the story seemed afterward to have been only half told, for as it passed through Napoleon Nott’s lips a bowie-knife, a sword-cane, a bottle of poison, and a long piece of a prison chain were neatly added to the bad man’s armament; so no boy felt ashamed to confess to any other boy that he really was afraid to venture beyond the edge of the town.

two

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

From this reading Each of these reasons might have kept a boy or two at home, but the real cause that prevented the majority going about their usual diversions was fear of meeting the escaped counterfeiter.

usual

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

From this reading Each of these reasons might have kept a boy or two at home, but the real cause that prevented the majority going about their usual diversions was fear of meeting the escaped counterfeiter.

venture

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

From this reading This story justified the stoutest-hearted boy, even if he owned a rifle, in preferring to keep away from any and all places in which such a person might hide; but the story seemed afterward to have been only half told, for as it passed through Napoleon Nott’s lips a bowie-knife, a sword-cane, a bottle of poison, and a long piece of a prison chain were neatly added to the bad man’s armament; so no boy felt ashamed to confess to any other boy that he really was afraid to venture beyond the edge of the town.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading This was not because the dissipation of the previous night had made them over-weary, or too heavy and late a supper had induced headaches, or the party itself had to be talked over.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading This story justified the stoutest-hearted boy, even if he owned a rifle, in preferring to keep away from any and all places in which such a person might hide; but the story seemed afterward to have been only half told, for as it passed through Napoleon Nott’s lips a bowie-knife, a sword-cane, a bottle of poison, and a long piece of a prison chain were neatly added to the bad man’s armament; so no boy felt ashamed to confess to any other boy that he really was afraid to venture beyond the edge of the town.

WhereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading Where the information came from no one thought to inquire; but the report was circulated among the boys quite early in the morning that the criminal was armed with two heavy revolvers that some secret confederate had passed through the window to him, and that he would on no account allow himself to be captured alive.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading This story justified the stoutest-hearted boy, even if he owned a rifle, in preferring to keep away from any and all places in which such a person might hide; but the story seemed afterward to have been only half told, for as it passed through Napoleon Nott’s lips a bowie-knife, a sword-cane, a bottle of poison, and a long piece of a prison chain were neatly added to the bad man’s armament; so no boy felt ashamed to confess to any other boy that he really was afraid to venture beyond the edge of the town.

window

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

From this reading Where the information came from no one thought to inquire; but the report was circulated among the boys quite early in the morning that the criminal was armed with two heavy revolvers that some secret confederate had passed through the window to him, and that he would on no account allow himself to be captured alive.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Where the information came from no one thought to inquire; but the report was circulated among the boys quite early in the morning that the criminal was armed with two heavy revolvers that some secret confederate had passed through the window to him, and that he would on no account allow himself to be captured alive.

woods

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

From this reading _RECAPTURED._ ON the morning after Benny Mallow’s party hardly a boy started for the brook or the woods.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading Where the information came from no one thought to inquire; but the report was circulated among the boys quite early in the morning that the criminal was armed with two heavy revolvers that some secret confederate had passed through the window to him, and that he would on no account allow himself to be captured alive.