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Young Captain Jack
Young Captain Jack

Chapter VII

Cover illustration for Young Captain Jack
Context Illustration Reading 1/29 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE HOME GUARDS OF OLDVILLE.
The week to follow the events recorded in the last chapter was a trying one for the inhabitants of Oldville, as the district around the Ruthvens' plantation was called.
The army of the North had pressed the army of the South back steadily day after day, until the Confederates were encamped less than four miles away from Jack's home.
For two days the cannon-firing could be distinctly heard, and the women folks were filled with dread, thinking the invaders from the North were about to swoop down upon their homes and pillage them.
"Oh, Jack! do you think they will come here?" was the question Marion asked at least a dozen times.
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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.

Young Captain Jack

Chapter VII

Reading 1/29 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE HOME GUARDS OF OLDVILLE.
Line 2
The week to follow the events recorded in the last chapter was a trying one for the inhabitants of Oldville, as the district around the Ruthvens' plantation was called.
Line 3
The army of the North had pressed the army of the South back steadily day after day, until the Confederates were encamped less than four miles away from Jack's home.
Line 4
For two days the cannon-firing could be distinctly heard, and the women folks were filled with dread, thinking the invaders from the North were about to swoop down upon their homes and pillage them.
Line 5
"Oh, Jack! do you think they will come here?" was the question Marion asked at least a dozen times.

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 “For two days the cannon-firing could be distinctly heard, and the women folks were filled with dread, thinking the invaders from the North were about to swoop down upon their homes and pillage them.”

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “The army of the North had pressed the army of the South back steadily day after day, until the Confederates were encamped less than four miles away from Jack's home.”

Around preposition US /ərˈaʊnd/

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading “The week to follow the events recorded in the last chapter was a trying one for the inhabitants of Oldville, as the district around the Ruthvens' plantation was called.”

Asked noun US /asked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"Oh, Jack! do you think they will come here?" was the question Marion asked at least a dozen times.”

Come noun US /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"Oh, Jack! do you think they will come here?" was the question Marion asked at least a dozen times.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “For two days the cannon-firing could be distinctly heard, and the women folks were filled with dread, thinking the invaders from the North were about to swoop down upon their homes and pillage them.”

Here noun US /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"Oh, Jack! do you think they will come here?" was the question Marion asked at least a dozen times.”

Last noun US /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The week to follow the events recorded in the last chapter was a trying one for the inhabitants of Oldville, as the district around the Ruthvens' plantation was called.”

Least noun US /least/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"Oh, Jack! do you think they will come here?" was the question Marion asked at least a dozen times.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “The week to follow the events recorded in the last chapter was a trying one for the inhabitants of Oldville, as the district around the Ruthvens' plantation was called.”

Question noun US /ˈquestion/

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

From this reading “"Oh, Jack! do you think they will come here?" was the question Marion asked at least a dozen times.”

Think noun US /think/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"Oh, Jack! do you think they will come here?" was the question Marion asked at least a dozen times.”

Thinking noun US /thinking/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “For two days the cannon-firing could be distinctly heard, and the women folks were filled with dread, thinking the invaders from the North were about to swoop down upon their homes and pillage them.”

Until preposition US /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading “The army of the North had pressed the army of the South back steadily day after day, until the Confederates were encamped less than four miles away from Jack's home.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “For two days the cannon-firing could be distinctly heard, and the women folks were filled with dread, thinking the invaders from the North were about to swoop down upon their homes and pillage them.”

All words in this reading · 84

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

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading The week to follow the events recorded in the last chapter was a trying one for the inhabitants of Oldville, as the district around the Ruthvens' plantation was called.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading For two days the cannon-firing could be distinctly heard, and the women folks were filled with dread, thinking the invaders from the North were about to swoop down upon their homes and pillage them.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading The army of the North had pressed the army of the South back steadily day after day, until the Confederates were encamped less than four miles away from Jack's home.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading For two days the cannon-firing could be distinctly heard, and the women folks were filled with dread, thinking the invaders from the North were about to swoop down upon their homes and pillage them.

army

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

From this reading The army of the North had pressed the army of the South back steadily day after day, until the Confederates were encamped less than four miles away from Jack's home.

aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading The week to follow the events recorded in the last chapter was a trying one for the inhabitants of Oldville, as the district around the Ruthvens' plantation was called.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading The week to follow the events recorded in the last chapter was a trying one for the inhabitants of Oldville, as the district around the Ruthvens' plantation was called.

askednounUS /asked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "Oh, Jack! do you think they will come here?" was the question Marion asked at least a dozen times.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading "Oh, Jack! do you think they will come here?" was the question Marion asked at least a dozen times.

away

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

From this reading The army of the North had pressed the army of the South back steadily day after day, until the Confederates were encamped less than four miles away from Jack's home.

back

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

From this reading The army of the North had pressed the army of the South back steadily day after day, until the Confederates were encamped less than four miles away from Jack's home.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading For two days the cannon-firing could be distinctly heard, and the women folks were filled with dread, thinking the invaders from the North were about to swoop down upon their homes and pillage them.

called

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

From this reading The week to follow the events recorded in the last chapter was a trying one for the inhabitants of Oldville, as the district around the Ruthvens' plantation was called.

cannon-firing

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

From this reading For two days the cannon-firing could be distinctly heard, and the women folks were filled with dread, thinking the invaders from the North were about to swoop down upon their homes and pillage them.

chapter

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

From this reading The week to follow the events recorded in the last chapter was a trying one for the inhabitants of Oldville, as the district around the Ruthvens' plantation was called.

comenounUS /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "Oh, Jack! do you think they will come here?" was the question Marion asked at least a dozen times.

Confederates

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

From this reading The army of the North had pressed the army of the South back steadily day after day, until the Confederates were encamped less than four miles away from Jack's home.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading For two days the cannon-firing could be distinctly heard, and the women folks were filled with dread, thinking the invaders from the North were about to swoop down upon their homes and pillage them.

day

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

From this reading The army of the North had pressed the army of the South back steadily day after day, until the Confederates were encamped less than four miles away from Jack's home.

days

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

From this reading For two days the cannon-firing could be distinctly heard, and the women folks were filled with dread, thinking the invaders from the North were about to swoop down upon their homes and pillage them.

distinctly

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

From this reading For two days the cannon-firing could be distinctly heard, and the women folks were filled with dread, thinking the invaders from the North were about to swoop down upon their homes and pillage them.

district

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

From this reading The week to follow the events recorded in the last chapter was a trying one for the inhabitants of Oldville, as the district around the Ruthvens' plantation was called.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading "Oh, Jack! do you think they will come here?" was the question Marion asked at least a dozen times.

down

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

From this reading For two days the cannon-firing could be distinctly heard, and the women folks were filled with dread, thinking the invaders from the North were about to swoop down upon their homes and pillage them.

dozen

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

From this reading "Oh, Jack! do you think they will come here?" was the question Marion asked at least a dozen times.

dread

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

From this reading For two days the cannon-firing could be distinctly heard, and the women folks were filled with dread, thinking the invaders from the North were about to swoop down upon their homes and pillage them.

encamped

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

From this reading The army of the North had pressed the army of the South back steadily day after day, until the Confederates were encamped less than four miles away from Jack's home.

events

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

From this reading The week to follow the events recorded in the last chapter was a trying one for the inhabitants of Oldville, as the district around the Ruthvens' plantation was called.

filled

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

From this reading For two days the cannon-firing could be distinctly heard, and the women folks were filled with dread, thinking the invaders from the North were about to swoop down upon their homes and pillage them.

folks

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

From this reading For two days the cannon-firing could be distinctly heard, and the women folks were filled with dread, thinking the invaders from the North were about to swoop down upon their homes and pillage them.

follow

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

From this reading The week to follow the events recorded in the last chapter was a trying one for the inhabitants of Oldville, as the district around the Ruthvens' plantation was called.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The week to follow the events recorded in the last chapter was a trying one for the inhabitants of Oldville, as the district around the Ruthvens' plantation was called.

four

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

From this reading The army of the North had pressed the army of the South back steadily day after day, until the Confederates were encamped less than four miles away from Jack's home.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The army of the North had pressed the army of the South back steadily day after day, until the Confederates were encamped less than four miles away from Jack's home.

GUARDS

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

From this reading THE HOME GUARDS OF OLDVILLE.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading The army of the North had pressed the army of the South back steadily day after day, until the Confederates were encamped less than four miles away from Jack's home.

heard

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

From this reading For two days the cannon-firing could be distinctly heard, and the women folks were filled with dread, thinking the invaders from the North were about to swoop down upon their homes and pillage them.

herenounUS /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "Oh, Jack! do you think they will come here?" was the question Marion asked at least a dozen times.

HOME

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

From this reading THE HOME GUARDS OF OLDVILLE.

homes

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

From this reading For two days the cannon-firing could be distinctly heard, and the women folks were filled with dread, thinking the invaders from the North were about to swoop down upon their homes and pillage them.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The week to follow the events recorded in the last chapter was a trying one for the inhabitants of Oldville, as the district around the Ruthvens' plantation was called.

inhabitants

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

From this reading The week to follow the events recorded in the last chapter was a trying one for the inhabitants of Oldville, as the district around the Ruthvens' plantation was called.

invaders

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

From this reading For two days the cannon-firing could be distinctly heard, and the women folks were filled with dread, thinking the invaders from the North were about to swoop down upon their homes and pillage them.

Jack

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

From this reading "Oh, Jack! do you think they will come here?" was the question Marion asked at least a dozen times.

Jack's

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

From this reading The army of the North had pressed the army of the South back steadily day after day, until the Confederates were encamped less than four miles away from Jack's home.

lastnounUS /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The week to follow the events recorded in the last chapter was a trying one for the inhabitants of Oldville, as the district around the Ruthvens' plantation was called.

leastnounUS /least/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "Oh, Jack! do you think they will come here?" was the question Marion asked at least a dozen times.

less

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

From this reading The army of the North had pressed the army of the South back steadily day after day, until the Confederates were encamped less than four miles away from Jack's home.

Marion

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

From this reading "Oh, Jack! do you think they will come here?" was the question Marion asked at least a dozen times.

miles

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

From this reading The army of the North had pressed the army of the South back steadily day after day, until the Confederates were encamped less than four miles away from Jack's home.

North

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

From this reading The army of the North had pressed the army of the South back steadily day after day, until the Confederates were encamped less than four miles away from Jack's home.

OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE HOME GUARDS OF OLDVILLE.

Oh

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

From this reading "Oh, Jack! do you think they will come here?" was the question Marion asked at least a dozen times.

OLDVILLE

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

From this reading THE HOME GUARDS OF OLDVILLE.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading The week to follow the events recorded in the last chapter was a trying one for the inhabitants of Oldville, as the district around the Ruthvens' plantation was called.

pillage

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

From this reading For two days the cannon-firing could be distinctly heard, and the women folks were filled with dread, thinking the invaders from the North were about to swoop down upon their homes and pillage them.

plantation

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

From this reading The week to follow the events recorded in the last chapter was a trying one for the inhabitants of Oldville, as the district around the Ruthvens' plantation was called.

pressed

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

From this reading The army of the North had pressed the army of the South back steadily day after day, until the Confederates were encamped less than four miles away from Jack's home.

questionnounUS /ˈquestion/

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

From this reading "Oh, Jack! do you think they will come here?" was the question Marion asked at least a dozen times.

recorded

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

From this reading The week to follow the events recorded in the last chapter was a trying one for the inhabitants of Oldville, as the district around the Ruthvens' plantation was called.

Ruthvens

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

From this reading The week to follow the events recorded in the last chapter was a trying one for the inhabitants of Oldville, as the district around the Ruthvens' plantation was called.

South

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

From this reading The army of the North had pressed the army of the South back steadily day after day, until the Confederates were encamped less than four miles away from Jack's home.

steadily

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

From this reading The army of the North had pressed the army of the South back steadily day after day, until the Confederates were encamped less than four miles away from Jack's home.

swoop

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

From this reading For two days the cannon-firing could be distinctly heard, and the women folks were filled with dread, thinking the invaders from the North were about to swoop down upon their homes and pillage them.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading The army of the North had pressed the army of the South back steadily day after day, until the Confederates were encamped less than four miles away from Jack's home.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE HOME GUARDS OF OLDVILLE.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading For two days the cannon-firing could be distinctly heard, and the women folks were filled with dread, thinking the invaders from the North were about to swoop down upon their homes and pillage them.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading For two days the cannon-firing could be distinctly heard, and the women folks were filled with dread, thinking the invaders from the North were about to swoop down upon their homes and pillage them.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading "Oh, Jack! do you think they will come here?" was the question Marion asked at least a dozen times.

thinknounUS /think/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "Oh, Jack! do you think they will come here?" was the question Marion asked at least a dozen times.

thinkingnounUS /thinking/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading For two days the cannon-firing could be distinctly heard, and the women folks were filled with dread, thinking the invaders from the North were about to swoop down upon their homes and pillage them.

times

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

From this reading "Oh, Jack! do you think they will come here?" was the question Marion asked at least a dozen times.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The week to follow the events recorded in the last chapter was a trying one for the inhabitants of Oldville, as the district around the Ruthvens' plantation was called.

trying

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

From this reading The week to follow the events recorded in the last chapter was a trying one for the inhabitants of Oldville, as the district around the Ruthvens' plantation was called.

two

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

From this reading For two days the cannon-firing could be distinctly heard, and the women folks were filled with dread, thinking the invaders from the North were about to swoop down upon their homes and pillage them.

untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading The army of the North had pressed the army of the South back steadily day after day, until the Confederates were encamped less than four miles away from Jack's home.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading For two days the cannon-firing could be distinctly heard, and the women folks were filled with dread, thinking the invaders from the North were about to swoop down upon their homes and pillage them.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The week to follow the events recorded in the last chapter was a trying one for the inhabitants of Oldville, as the district around the Ruthvens' plantation was called.

week

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

From this reading The week to follow the events recorded in the last chapter was a trying one for the inhabitants of Oldville, as the district around the Ruthvens' plantation was called.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading The army of the North had pressed the army of the South back steadily day after day, until the Confederates were encamped less than four miles away from Jack's home.

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading "Oh, Jack! do you think they will come here?" was the question Marion asked at least a dozen times.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading For two days the cannon-firing could be distinctly heard, and the women folks were filled with dread, thinking the invaders from the North were about to swoop down upon their homes and pillage them.

women

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

From this reading For two days the cannon-firing could be distinctly heard, and the women folks were filled with dread, thinking the invaders from the North were about to swoop down upon their homes and pillage them.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "Oh, Jack! do you think they will come here?" was the question Marion asked at least a dozen times.