Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
A Far Country — Complete
A Far Country — Complete

Chapter XVI

Cover illustration for A Far Country — Complete
Context Illustration Reading 1/81 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
I was silent.
"Instead of starting my career in college, I started in jail," he went on, apparently ignoring any effect he may have produced.
So subtly, so dispassionately indeed was he delivering himself of these remarks that it was impossible to tell whether he meant their application to be personal, to me, or general, to my associates.
"I went to jail when I was fourteen because I wanted a knife to make kite sticks, and I stole a razor from a barber.
I was bitter when they steered me into a lockup in Hickory Street.
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
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 Far Country — Complete

Chapter XVI

Reading 1/81 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
I was silent.
Line 2
"Instead of starting my career in college, I started in jail," he went on, apparently ignoring any effect he may have produced.
Line 3
So subtly, so dispassionately indeed was he delivering himself of these remarks that it was impossible to tell whether he meant their application to be personal, to me, or general, to my associates.
Line 4
"I went to jail when I was fourteen because I wanted a knife to make kite sticks, and I stole a razor from a barber.
Line 5
I was bitter when they steered me into a lockup in Hickory Street.

Learner Dictionary

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

Because conjunction US /bɪˈkɔːz/

for the reason that

From this reading “"I went to jail when I was fourteen because I wanted a knife to make kite sticks, and I stole a razor from a barber.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “"Instead of starting my career in college, I started in jail," he went on, apparently ignoring any effect he may have produced.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading “So subtly, so dispassionately indeed was he delivering himself of these remarks that it was impossible to tell whether he meant their application to be personal, to me, or general, to my associates.”

Make noun US /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"I went to jail when I was fourteen because I wanted a knife to make kite sticks, and I stole a razor from a barber.”

May modal verb US /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading “"Instead of starting my career in college, I started in jail," he went on, apparently ignoring any effect he may have produced.”

Tell noun US /tell/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “So subtly, so dispassionately indeed was he delivering himself of these remarks that it was impossible to tell whether he meant their application to be personal, to me, or general, to my associates.”

These determiner US /ðiːz/

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

From this reading “So subtly, so dispassionately indeed was he delivering himself of these remarks that it was impossible to tell whether he meant their application to be personal, to me, or general, to my associates.”

Went noun US /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"Instead of starting my career in college, I started in jail," he went on, apparently ignoring any effect he may have produced.”

Whether conjunction US /ˈweðər/

used to introduce two or more possibilities

From this reading “So subtly, so dispassionately indeed was he delivering himself of these remarks that it was impossible to tell whether he meant their application to be personal, to me, or general, to my associates.”

All words in this reading · 66

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 "I went to jail when I was fourteen because I wanted a knife to make kite sticks, and I stole a razor from a barber.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading "I went to jail when I was fourteen because I wanted a knife to make kite sticks, and I stole a razor from a barber.

any

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

From this reading "Instead of starting my career in college, I started in jail," he went on, apparently ignoring any effect he may have produced.

apparently

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

From this reading "Instead of starting my career in college, I started in jail," he went on, apparently ignoring any effect he may have produced.

application

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

From this reading So subtly, so dispassionately indeed was he delivering himself of these remarks that it was impossible to tell whether he meant their application to be personal, to me, or general, to my associates.

associates

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

From this reading So subtly, so dispassionately indeed was he delivering himself of these remarks that it was impossible to tell whether he meant their application to be personal, to me, or general, to my associates.

barber

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

From this reading "I went to jail when I was fourteen because I wanted a knife to make kite sticks, and I stole a razor from a barber.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading So subtly, so dispassionately indeed was he delivering himself of these remarks that it was impossible to tell whether he meant their application to be personal, to me, or general, to my associates.

becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/

for the reason that

From this reading "I went to jail when I was fourteen because I wanted a knife to make kite sticks, and I stole a razor from a barber.

bitter

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

From this reading I was bitter when they steered me into a lockup in Hickory Street.

career

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

From this reading "Instead of starting my career in college, I started in jail," he went on, apparently ignoring any effect he may have produced.

college

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

From this reading "Instead of starting my career in college, I started in jail," he went on, apparently ignoring any effect he may have produced.

delivering

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

From this reading So subtly, so dispassionately indeed was he delivering himself of these remarks that it was impossible to tell whether he meant their application to be personal, to me, or general, to my associates.

dispassionately

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

From this reading So subtly, so dispassionately indeed was he delivering himself of these remarks that it was impossible to tell whether he meant their application to be personal, to me, or general, to my associates.

effect

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

From this reading "Instead of starting my career in college, I started in jail," he went on, apparently ignoring any effect he may have produced.

fourteen

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

From this reading "I went to jail when I was fourteen because I wanted a knife to make kite sticks, and I stole a razor from a barber.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading "I went to jail when I was fourteen because I wanted a knife to make kite sticks, and I stole a razor from a barber.

general

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

From this reading So subtly, so dispassionately indeed was he delivering himself of these remarks that it was impossible to tell whether he meant their application to be personal, to me, or general, to my associates.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading "Instead of starting my career in college, I started in jail," he went on, apparently ignoring any effect he may have produced.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading "Instead of starting my career in college, I started in jail," he went on, apparently ignoring any effect he may have produced.

Hickory

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

From this reading I was bitter when they steered me into a lockup in Hickory Street.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading So subtly, so dispassionately indeed was he delivering himself of these remarks that it was impossible to tell whether he meant their application to be personal, to me, or general, to my associates.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading I was silent.

ignoring

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

From this reading "Instead of starting my career in college, I started in jail," he went on, apparently ignoring any effect he may have produced.

impossible

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

From this reading So subtly, so dispassionately indeed was he delivering himself of these remarks that it was impossible to tell whether he meant their application to be personal, to me, or general, to my associates.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading "Instead of starting my career in college, I started in jail," he went on, apparently ignoring any effect he may have produced.

indeed

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

From this reading So subtly, so dispassionately indeed was he delivering himself of these remarks that it was impossible to tell whether he meant their application to be personal, to me, or general, to my associates.

Instead

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

From this reading "Instead of starting my career in college, I started in jail," he went on, apparently ignoring any effect he may have produced.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading I was bitter when they steered me into a lockup in Hickory Street.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading So subtly, so dispassionately indeed was he delivering himself of these remarks that it was impossible to tell whether he meant their application to be personal, to me, or general, to my associates.

jail

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

From this reading "Instead of starting my career in college, I started in jail," he went on, apparently ignoring any effect he may have produced.

kite

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

From this reading "I went to jail when I was fourteen because I wanted a knife to make kite sticks, and I stole a razor from a barber.

knife

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

From this reading "I went to jail when I was fourteen because I wanted a knife to make kite sticks, and I stole a razor from a barber.

lockup

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

From this reading I was bitter when they steered me into a lockup in Hickory Street.

makenounUS /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "I went to jail when I was fourteen because I wanted a knife to make kite sticks, and I stole a razor from a barber.

maymodal verbUS /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading "Instead of starting my career in college, I started in jail," he went on, apparently ignoring any effect he may have produced.

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading So subtly, so dispassionately indeed was he delivering himself of these remarks that it was impossible to tell whether he meant their application to be personal, to me, or general, to my associates.

meant

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

From this reading So subtly, so dispassionately indeed was he delivering himself of these remarks that it was impossible to tell whether he meant their application to be personal, to me, or general, to my associates.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading "Instead of starting my career in college, I started in jail," he went on, apparently ignoring any effect he may have produced.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading "Instead of starting my career in college, I started in jail," he went on, apparently ignoring any effect he may have produced.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading "Instead of starting my career in college, I started in jail," he went on, apparently ignoring any effect he may have produced.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading So subtly, so dispassionately indeed was he delivering himself of these remarks that it was impossible to tell whether he meant their application to be personal, to me, or general, to my associates.

personal

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

From this reading So subtly, so dispassionately indeed was he delivering himself of these remarks that it was impossible to tell whether he meant their application to be personal, to me, or general, to my associates.

produced

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

From this reading "Instead of starting my career in college, I started in jail," he went on, apparently ignoring any effect he may have produced.

razor

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

From this reading "I went to jail when I was fourteen because I wanted a knife to make kite sticks, and I stole a razor from a barber.

remarks

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

From this reading So subtly, so dispassionately indeed was he delivering himself of these remarks that it was impossible to tell whether he meant their application to be personal, to me, or general, to my associates.

silent

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

From this reading I was silent.

SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading So subtly, so dispassionately indeed was he delivering himself of these remarks that it was impossible to tell whether he meant their application to be personal, to me, or general, to my associates.

started

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

From this reading "Instead of starting my career in college, I started in jail," he went on, apparently ignoring any effect he may have produced.

starting

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

From this reading "Instead of starting my career in college, I started in jail," he went on, apparently ignoring any effect he may have produced.

steered

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

From this reading I was bitter when they steered me into a lockup in Hickory Street.

sticks

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

From this reading "I went to jail when I was fourteen because I wanted a knife to make kite sticks, and I stole a razor from a barber.

stole

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

From this reading "I went to jail when I was fourteen because I wanted a knife to make kite sticks, and I stole a razor from a barber.

Street

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

From this reading I was bitter when they steered me into a lockup in Hickory Street.

subtly

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

From this reading So subtly, so dispassionately indeed was he delivering himself of these remarks that it was impossible to tell whether he meant their application to be personal, to me, or general, to my associates.

tellnounUS /tell/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading So subtly, so dispassionately indeed was he delivering himself of these remarks that it was impossible to tell whether he meant their application to be personal, to me, or general, to my associates.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading So subtly, so dispassionately indeed was he delivering himself of these remarks that it was impossible to tell whether he meant their application to be personal, to me, or general, to my associates.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading So subtly, so dispassionately indeed was he delivering himself of these remarks that it was impossible to tell whether he meant their application to be personal, to me, or general, to my associates.

thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

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

From this reading So subtly, so dispassionately indeed was he delivering himself of these remarks that it was impossible to tell whether he meant their application to be personal, to me, or general, to my associates.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading I was bitter when they steered me into a lockup in Hickory Street.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading So subtly, so dispassionately indeed was he delivering himself of these remarks that it was impossible to tell whether he meant their application to be personal, to me, or general, to my associates.

wanted

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

From this reading "I went to jail when I was fourteen because I wanted a knife to make kite sticks, and I stole a razor from a barber.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading I was silent.

wentnounUS /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "Instead of starting my career in college, I started in jail," he went on, apparently ignoring any effect he may have produced.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading "I went to jail when I was fourteen because I wanted a knife to make kite sticks, and I stole a razor from a barber.

whetherconjunctionUS /ˈweðər/

used to introduce two or more possibilities

From this reading So subtly, so dispassionately indeed was he delivering himself of these remarks that it was impossible to tell whether he meant their application to be personal, to me, or general, to my associates.