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A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court

Chapter X

Cover illustration for A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court
Context Illustration Reading 1/28 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE YANKEE IN SEARCH OF ADVENTURES There never was such a country for wandering liars; and they were of both sexes.
Hardly a month went by without one of these tramps arriving; and generally loaded with a tale about some princess or other wanting help to get her out of some far-away castle where she was held in captivity by a lawless scoundrel, usually a giant.
Now you would think that the first thing the king would do after listening to such a novelette from an entire stranger, would be to ask for credentials--yes, and a pointer or two as to locality of castle, best route to it, and so on.
But nobody ever thought of so simple and common-sense a thing at that.
No, everybody swallowed these people's lies whole, and never asked a question of any sort or about anything.
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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.

A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court

Chapter X

Reading 1/28 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE YANKEE IN SEARCH OF ADVENTURES There never was such a country for wandering liars; and they were of both sexes.
Line 2
Hardly a month went by without one of these tramps arriving; and generally loaded with a tale about some princess or other wanting help to get her out of some far-away castle where she was held in captivity by a lawless scoundrel, usually a giant.
Line 3
Now you would think that the first thing the king would do after listening to such a novelette from an entire stranger, would be to ask for credentials--yes, and a pointer or two as to locality of castle, best route to it, and so on.
Line 4
But nobody ever thought of so simple and common-sense a thing at that.
Line 5
No, everybody swallowed these people's lies whole, and never asked a question of any sort or about anything.

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 “Hardly a month went by without one of these tramps arriving; and generally loaded with a tale about some princess or other wanting help to get her out of some far-away castle where she was held in captivity by a lawless scoundrel, usually a giant.”

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “Now you would think that the first thing the king would do after listening to such a novelette from an entire stranger, would be to ask for credentials--yes, and a pointer or two as to locality of castle, best route to it, and so on.”

Anything pronoun US /ˈeniθɪŋ/

any thing at all

From this reading “No, everybody swallowed these people's lies whole, and never asked a question of any sort or about anything.”

Asked noun US /asked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “No, everybody swallowed these people's lies whole, and never asked a question of any sort or about anything.”

Ever noun US /ever/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But nobody ever thought of so simple and common-sense a thing at that.”

Everybody pronoun US /ˈevribɑːdi/

every person

From this reading “No, everybody swallowed these people's lies whole, and never asked a question of any sort or about anything.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Now you would think that the first thing the king would do after listening to such a novelette from an entire stranger, would be to ask for credentials--yes, and a pointer or two as to locality of castle, best route to it, and so on.”

Help noun US /help/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Hardly a month went by without one of these tramps arriving; and generally loaded with a tale about some princess or other wanting help to get her out of some far-away castle where she was held in captivity by a lawless scoundrel, usually a giant.”

Never noun US /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “THE YANKEE IN SEARCH OF ADVENTURES There never was such a country for wandering liars; and they were of both sexes.”

Nobody pronoun US /ˈnoʊbɑːdiː/

no person; not anyone

From this reading “But nobody ever thought of so simple and common-sense a thing at that.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “Hardly a month went by without one of these tramps arriving; and generally loaded with a tale about some princess or other wanting help to get her out of some far-away castle where she was held in captivity by a lawless scoundrel, usually a giant.”

Princess noun US /ˈprɪn.ses/

The daughter of a monarch; a female member of a royal family.

From this reading “Hardly a month went by without one of these tramps arriving; and generally loaded with a tale about some princess or other wanting help to get her out of some far-away castle where she was held in captivity by a lawless scoundrel, usually a giant.”

Question noun US /ˈquestion/

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

From this reading “No, everybody swallowed these people's lies whole, and never asked a question of any sort or about anything.”

Scoundrel noun US /ˈskaʊndrəl/

a dishonest or unscrupulous person

From this reading “Hardly a month went by without one of these tramps arriving; and generally loaded with a tale about some princess or other wanting help to get her out of some far-away castle where she was held in captivity by a lawless scoundrel, usually a giant.”

These determiner US /ðiːz/

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

From this reading “Hardly a month went by without one of these tramps arriving; and generally loaded with a tale about some princess or other wanting help to get her out of some far-away castle where she was held in captivity by a lawless scoundrel, usually a giant.”

Thing noun US /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Now you would think that the first thing the king would do after listening to such a novelette from an entire stranger, would be to ask for credentials--yes, and a pointer or two as to locality of castle, best route to it, and so on.”

Think noun US /think/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Now you would think that the first thing the king would do after listening to such a novelette from an entire stranger, would be to ask for credentials--yes, and a pointer or two as to locality of castle, best route to it, and so on.”

Thought noun US /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But nobody ever thought of so simple and common-sense a thing at that.”

Went noun US /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Hardly a month went by without one of these tramps arriving; and generally loaded with a tale about some princess or other wanting help to get her out of some far-away castle where she was held in captivity by a lawless scoundrel, usually a giant.”

Without preposition US /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading “Hardly a month went by without one of these tramps arriving; and generally loaded with a tale about some princess or other wanting help to get her out of some far-away castle where she was held in captivity by a lawless scoundrel, usually a giant.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “Now you would think that the first thing the king would do after listening to such a novelette from an entire stranger, would be to ask for credentials--yes, and a pointer or two as to locality of castle, best route to it, and so on.”

All words in this reading · 101

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 YANKEE IN SEARCH OF ADVENTURES There never was such a country for wandering liars; and they were of both sexes.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Hardly a month went by without one of these tramps arriving; and generally loaded with a tale about some princess or other wanting help to get her out of some far-away castle where she was held in captivity by a lawless scoundrel, usually a giant.

ADVENTURES

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

From this reading THE YANKEE IN SEARCH OF ADVENTURES There never was such a country for wandering liars; and they were of both sexes.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading Now you would think that the first thing the king would do after listening to such a novelette from an entire stranger, would be to ask for credentials--yes, and a pointer or two as to locality of castle, best route to it, and so on.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading Now you would think that the first thing the king would do after listening to such a novelette from an entire stranger, would be to ask for credentials--yes, and a pointer or two as to locality of castle, best route to it, and so on.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading THE YANKEE IN SEARCH OF ADVENTURES There never was such a country for wandering liars; and they were of both sexes.

any

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

From this reading No, everybody swallowed these people's lies whole, and never asked a question of any sort or about anything.

anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/

any thing at all

From this reading No, everybody swallowed these people's lies whole, and never asked a question of any sort or about anything.

arriving

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

From this reading Hardly a month went by without one of these tramps arriving; and generally loaded with a tale about some princess or other wanting help to get her out of some far-away castle where she was held in captivity by a lawless scoundrel, usually a giant.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Now you would think that the first thing the king would do after listening to such a novelette from an entire stranger, would be to ask for credentials--yes, and a pointer or two as to locality of castle, best route to it, and so on.

ask

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

From this reading Now you would think that the first thing the king would do after listening to such a novelette from an entire stranger, would be to ask for credentials--yes, and a pointer or two as to locality of castle, best route to it, and so on.

askednounUS /asked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading No, everybody swallowed these people's lies whole, and never asked a question of any sort or about anything.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading But nobody ever thought of so simple and common-sense a thing at that.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading Now you would think that the first thing the king would do after listening to such a novelette from an entire stranger, would be to ask for credentials--yes, and a pointer or two as to locality of castle, best route to it, and so on.

best

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

From this reading Now you would think that the first thing the king would do after listening to such a novelette from an entire stranger, would be to ask for credentials--yes, and a pointer or two as to locality of castle, best route to it, and so on.

bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/

the two together, not just one

From this reading THE YANKEE IN SEARCH OF ADVENTURES There never was such a country for wandering liars; and they were of both sexes.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But nobody ever thought of so simple and common-sense a thing at that.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Hardly a month went by without one of these tramps arriving; and generally loaded with a tale about some princess or other wanting help to get her out of some far-away castle where she was held in captivity by a lawless scoundrel, usually a giant.

captivity

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

From this reading Hardly a month went by without one of these tramps arriving; and generally loaded with a tale about some princess or other wanting help to get her out of some far-away castle where she was held in captivity by a lawless scoundrel, usually a giant.

castle

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

From this reading Hardly a month went by without one of these tramps arriving; and generally loaded with a tale about some princess or other wanting help to get her out of some far-away castle where she was held in captivity by a lawless scoundrel, usually a giant.

common-sense

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

From this reading But nobody ever thought of so simple and common-sense a thing at that.

country

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

From this reading THE YANKEE IN SEARCH OF ADVENTURES There never was such a country for wandering liars; and they were of both sexes.

credentials

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

From this reading Now you would think that the first thing the king would do after listening to such a novelette from an entire stranger, would be to ask for credentials--yes, and a pointer or two as to locality of castle, best route to it, and so on.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading Now you would think that the first thing the king would do after listening to such a novelette from an entire stranger, would be to ask for credentials--yes, and a pointer or two as to locality of castle, best route to it, and so on.

entire

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

From this reading Now you would think that the first thing the king would do after listening to such a novelette from an entire stranger, would be to ask for credentials--yes, and a pointer or two as to locality of castle, best route to it, and so on.

evernounUS /ever/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But nobody ever thought of so simple and common-sense a thing at that.

everybodypronounUS /ˈevribɑːdi/

every person

From this reading No, everybody swallowed these people's lies whole, and never asked a question of any sort or about anything.

far-away

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

From this reading Hardly a month went by without one of these tramps arriving; and generally loaded with a tale about some princess or other wanting help to get her out of some far-away castle where she was held in captivity by a lawless scoundrel, usually a giant.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Now you would think that the first thing the king would do after listening to such a novelette from an entire stranger, would be to ask for credentials--yes, and a pointer or two as to locality of castle, best route to it, and so on.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading THE YANKEE IN SEARCH OF ADVENTURES There never was such a country for wandering liars; and they were of both sexes.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Now you would think that the first thing the king would do after listening to such a novelette from an entire stranger, would be to ask for credentials--yes, and a pointer or two as to locality of castle, best route to it, and so on.

generally

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

From this reading Hardly a month went by without one of these tramps arriving; and generally loaded with a tale about some princess or other wanting help to get her out of some far-away castle where she was held in captivity by a lawless scoundrel, usually a giant.

get

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

From this reading Hardly a month went by without one of these tramps arriving; and generally loaded with a tale about some princess or other wanting help to get her out of some far-away castle where she was held in captivity by a lawless scoundrel, usually a giant.

giant

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

From this reading Hardly a month went by without one of these tramps arriving; and generally loaded with a tale about some princess or other wanting help to get her out of some far-away castle where she was held in captivity by a lawless scoundrel, usually a giant.

Hardly

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

From this reading Hardly a month went by without one of these tramps arriving; and generally loaded with a tale about some princess or other wanting help to get her out of some far-away castle where she was held in captivity by a lawless scoundrel, usually a giant.

held

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

From this reading Hardly a month went by without one of these tramps arriving; and generally loaded with a tale about some princess or other wanting help to get her out of some far-away castle where she was held in captivity by a lawless scoundrel, usually a giant.

helpnounUS /help/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Hardly a month went by without one of these tramps arriving; and generally loaded with a tale about some princess or other wanting help to get her out of some far-away castle where she was held in captivity by a lawless scoundrel, usually a giant.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading Hardly a month went by without one of these tramps arriving; and generally loaded with a tale about some princess or other wanting help to get her out of some far-away castle where she was held in captivity by a lawless scoundrel, usually a giant.

INprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading THE YANKEE IN SEARCH OF ADVENTURES There never was such a country for wandering liars; and they were of both sexes.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Now you would think that the first thing the king would do after listening to such a novelette from an entire stranger, would be to ask for credentials--yes, and a pointer or two as to locality of castle, best route to it, and so on.

king

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

From this reading Now you would think that the first thing the king would do after listening to such a novelette from an entire stranger, would be to ask for credentials--yes, and a pointer or two as to locality of castle, best route to it, and so on.

lawless

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

From this reading Hardly a month went by without one of these tramps arriving; and generally loaded with a tale about some princess or other wanting help to get her out of some far-away castle where she was held in captivity by a lawless scoundrel, usually a giant.

liars

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

From this reading THE YANKEE IN SEARCH OF ADVENTURES There never was such a country for wandering liars; and they were of both sexes.

lies

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

From this reading No, everybody swallowed these people's lies whole, and never asked a question of any sort or about anything.

listening

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

From this reading Now you would think that the first thing the king would do after listening to such a novelette from an entire stranger, would be to ask for credentials--yes, and a pointer or two as to locality of castle, best route to it, and so on.

loaded

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

From this reading Hardly a month went by without one of these tramps arriving; and generally loaded with a tale about some princess or other wanting help to get her out of some far-away castle where she was held in captivity by a lawless scoundrel, usually a giant.

locality

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

From this reading Now you would think that the first thing the king would do after listening to such a novelette from an entire stranger, would be to ask for credentials--yes, and a pointer or two as to locality of castle, best route to it, and so on.

month

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

From this reading Hardly a month went by without one of these tramps arriving; and generally loaded with a tale about some princess or other wanting help to get her out of some far-away castle where she was held in captivity by a lawless scoundrel, usually a giant.

nevernounUS /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading THE YANKEE IN SEARCH OF ADVENTURES There never was such a country for wandering liars; and they were of both sexes.

NodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading No, everybody swallowed these people's lies whole, and never asked a question of any sort or about anything.

nobodypronounUS /ˈnoʊbɑːdiː/

no person; not anyone

From this reading But nobody ever thought of so simple and common-sense a thing at that.

novelette

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

From this reading Now you would think that the first thing the king would do after listening to such a novelette from an entire stranger, would be to ask for credentials--yes, and a pointer or two as to locality of castle, best route to it, and so on.

Now

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

From this reading Now you would think that the first thing the king would do after listening to such a novelette from an entire stranger, would be to ask for credentials--yes, and a pointer or two as to locality of castle, best route to it, and so on.

OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE YANKEE IN SEARCH OF ADVENTURES There never was such a country for wandering liars; and they were of both sexes.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Now you would think that the first thing the king would do after listening to such a novelette from an entire stranger, would be to ask for credentials--yes, and a pointer or two as to locality of castle, best route to it, and so on.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Hardly a month went by without one of these tramps arriving; and generally loaded with a tale about some princess or other wanting help to get her out of some far-away castle where she was held in captivity by a lawless scoundrel, usually a giant.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Hardly a month went by without one of these tramps arriving; and generally loaded with a tale about some princess or other wanting help to get her out of some far-away castle where she was held in captivity by a lawless scoundrel, usually a giant.

other

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

From this reading Hardly a month went by without one of these tramps arriving; and generally loaded with a tale about some princess or other wanting help to get her out of some far-away castle where she was held in captivity by a lawless scoundrel, usually a giant.

out

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

From this reading Hardly a month went by without one of these tramps arriving; and generally loaded with a tale about some princess or other wanting help to get her out of some far-away castle where she was held in captivity by a lawless scoundrel, usually a giant.

people's

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

From this reading No, everybody swallowed these people's lies whole, and never asked a question of any sort or about anything.

pointer

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

From this reading Now you would think that the first thing the king would do after listening to such a novelette from an entire stranger, would be to ask for credentials--yes, and a pointer or two as to locality of castle, best route to it, and so on.

princessnounUS /ˈprɪn.ses/

The daughter of a monarch; a female member of a royal family.

From this reading Hardly a month went by without one of these tramps arriving; and generally loaded with a tale about some princess or other wanting help to get her out of some far-away castle where she was held in captivity by a lawless scoundrel, usually a giant.

questionnounUS /ˈquestion/

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

From this reading No, everybody swallowed these people's lies whole, and never asked a question of any sort or about anything.

route

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

From this reading Now you would think that the first thing the king would do after listening to such a novelette from an entire stranger, would be to ask for credentials--yes, and a pointer or two as to locality of castle, best route to it, and so on.

scoundrelnounUS /ˈskaʊndrəl/

a dishonest or unscrupulous person

From this reading Hardly a month went by without one of these tramps arriving; and generally loaded with a tale about some princess or other wanting help to get her out of some far-away castle where she was held in captivity by a lawless scoundrel, usually a giant.

SEARCH

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

From this reading THE YANKEE IN SEARCH OF ADVENTURES There never was such a country for wandering liars; and they were of both sexes.

sexes

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

From this reading THE YANKEE IN SEARCH OF ADVENTURES There never was such a country for wandering liars; and they were of both sexes.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Hardly a month went by without one of these tramps arriving; and generally loaded with a tale about some princess or other wanting help to get her out of some far-away castle where she was held in captivity by a lawless scoundrel, usually a giant.

simple

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

From this reading But nobody ever thought of so simple and common-sense a thing at that.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Now you would think that the first thing the king would do after listening to such a novelette from an entire stranger, would be to ask for credentials--yes, and a pointer or two as to locality of castle, best route to it, and so on.

some

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

From this reading Hardly a month went by without one of these tramps arriving; and generally loaded with a tale about some princess or other wanting help to get her out of some far-away castle where she was held in captivity by a lawless scoundrel, usually a giant.

sort

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

From this reading No, everybody swallowed these people's lies whole, and never asked a question of any sort or about anything.

stranger

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

From this reading Now you would think that the first thing the king would do after listening to such a novelette from an entire stranger, would be to ask for credentials--yes, and a pointer or two as to locality of castle, best route to it, and so on.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading THE YANKEE IN SEARCH OF ADVENTURES There never was such a country for wandering liars; and they were of both sexes.

swallowed

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

From this reading No, everybody swallowed these people's lies whole, and never asked a question of any sort or about anything.

tale

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

From this reading Hardly a month went by without one of these tramps arriving; and generally loaded with a tale about some princess or other wanting help to get her out of some far-away castle where she was held in captivity by a lawless scoundrel, usually a giant.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Now you would think that the first thing the king would do after listening to such a novelette from an entire stranger, would be to ask for credentials--yes, and a pointer or two as to locality of castle, best route to it, and so on.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE YANKEE IN SEARCH OF ADVENTURES There never was such a country for wandering liars; and they were of both sexes.

There

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

From this reading THE YANKEE IN SEARCH OF ADVENTURES There never was such a country for wandering liars; and they were of both sexes.

thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

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

From this reading Hardly a month went by without one of these tramps arriving; and generally loaded with a tale about some princess or other wanting help to get her out of some far-away castle where she was held in captivity by a lawless scoundrel, usually a giant.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading THE YANKEE IN SEARCH OF ADVENTURES There never was such a country for wandering liars; and they were of both sexes.

thingnounUS /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Now you would think that the first thing the king would do after listening to such a novelette from an entire stranger, would be to ask for credentials--yes, and a pointer or two as to locality of castle, best route to it, and so on.

thinknounUS /think/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Now you would think that the first thing the king would do after listening to such a novelette from an entire stranger, would be to ask for credentials--yes, and a pointer or two as to locality of castle, best route to it, and so on.

thoughtnounUS /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But nobody ever thought of so simple and common-sense a thing at that.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Hardly a month went by without one of these tramps arriving; and generally loaded with a tale about some princess or other wanting help to get her out of some far-away castle where she was held in captivity by a lawless scoundrel, usually a giant.

tramps

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

From this reading Hardly a month went by without one of these tramps arriving; and generally loaded with a tale about some princess or other wanting help to get her out of some far-away castle where she was held in captivity by a lawless scoundrel, usually a giant.

two

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

From this reading Now you would think that the first thing the king would do after listening to such a novelette from an entire stranger, would be to ask for credentials--yes, and a pointer or two as to locality of castle, best route to it, and so on.

usually

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

From this reading Hardly a month went by without one of these tramps arriving; and generally loaded with a tale about some princess or other wanting help to get her out of some far-away castle where she was held in captivity by a lawless scoundrel, usually a giant.

wandering

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

From this reading THE YANKEE IN SEARCH OF ADVENTURES There never was such a country for wandering liars; and they were of both sexes.

wanting

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

From this reading Hardly a month went by without one of these tramps arriving; and generally loaded with a tale about some princess or other wanting help to get her out of some far-away castle where she was held in captivity by a lawless scoundrel, usually a giant.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading THE YANKEE IN SEARCH OF ADVENTURES There never was such a country for wandering liars; and they were of both sexes.

wentnounUS /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Hardly a month went by without one of these tramps arriving; and generally loaded with a tale about some princess or other wanting help to get her out of some far-away castle where she was held in captivity by a lawless scoundrel, usually a giant.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading THE YANKEE IN SEARCH OF ADVENTURES There never was such a country for wandering liars; and they were of both sexes.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading Hardly a month went by without one of these tramps arriving; and generally loaded with a tale about some princess or other wanting help to get her out of some far-away castle where she was held in captivity by a lawless scoundrel, usually a giant.

whole

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

From this reading No, everybody swallowed these people's lies whole, and never asked a question of any sort or about anything.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Hardly a month went by without one of these tramps arriving; and generally loaded with a tale about some princess or other wanting help to get her out of some far-away castle where she was held in captivity by a lawless scoundrel, usually a giant.

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading Hardly a month went by without one of these tramps arriving; and generally loaded with a tale about some princess or other wanting help to get her out of some far-away castle where she was held in captivity by a lawless scoundrel, usually a giant.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading Now you would think that the first thing the king would do after listening to such a novelette from an entire stranger, would be to ask for credentials--yes, and a pointer or two as to locality of castle, best route to it, and so on.

YANKEE

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

From this reading THE YANKEE IN SEARCH OF ADVENTURES There never was such a country for wandering liars; and they were of both sexes.

yes

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

From this reading Now you would think that the first thing the king would do after listening to such a novelette from an entire stranger, would be to ask for credentials--yes, and a pointer or two as to locality of castle, best route to it, and so on.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading Now you would think that the first thing the king would do after listening to such a novelette from an entire stranger, would be to ask for credentials--yes, and a pointer or two as to locality of castle, best route to it, and so on.