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A Lincoln Conscript
A Lincoln Conscript

Chapter IV

Cover illustration for A Lincoln Conscript
Context Illustration Reading 1/46 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE DRAFTED COPPERHEAD Would he dare to tell his father about the draft?
The question kept repeating itself in Bob Bannister’s mind, and the answer to it grew more and more uncertain as he drew nearer to his home.
Already he could see the gabled roof of the house, and, back of it, dimly outlined against the gray sky, the white blades of the windmill, free from their lashing, whirling swiftly in the rising wind.
The windmill did the work of three men for Rhett Bannister.
It sawed his wood, pumped his water, churned his milk, threshed his grain, and drove the machinery by which he manufactured his stock in trade.
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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 Lincoln Conscript

Chapter IV

Reading 1/46 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE DRAFTED COPPERHEAD Would he dare to tell his father about the draft?
Line 2
The question kept repeating itself in Bob Bannister’s mind, and the answer to it grew more and more uncertain as he drew nearer to his home.
Line 3
Already he could see the gabled roof of the house, and, back of it, dimly outlined against the gray sky, the white blades of the windmill, free from their lashing, whirling swiftly in the rising wind.
Line 4
The windmill did the work of three men for Rhett Bannister.
Line 5
It sawed his wood, pumped his water, churned his milk, threshed his grain, and drove the machinery by which he manufactured his stock in trade.

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 “THE DRAFTED COPPERHEAD Would he dare to tell his father about the draft?”

Against preposition US /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading “Already he could see the gabled roof of the house, and, back of it, dimly outlined against the gray sky, the white blades of the windmill, free from their lashing, whirling swiftly in the rising wind.”

Already noun US /already/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Already he could see the gabled roof of the house, and, back of it, dimly outlined against the gray sky, the white blades of the windmill, free from their lashing, whirling swiftly in the rising wind.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “Already he could see the gabled roof of the house, and, back of it, dimly outlined against the gray sky, the white blades of the windmill, free from their lashing, whirling swiftly in the rising wind.”

Drew noun US /drew/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The question kept repeating itself in Bob Bannister’s mind, and the answer to it grew more and more uncertain as he drew nearer to his home.”

Free adjective US /friː/

acting without enough restraint or discipline

From this reading “Already he could see the gabled roof of the house, and, back of it, dimly outlined against the gray sky, the white blades of the windmill, free from their lashing, whirling swiftly in the rising wind.”

Itself pronoun US /ˌɪtˈself/

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading “The question kept repeating itself in Bob Bannister’s mind, and the answer to it grew more and more uncertain as he drew nearer to his home.”

Mind noun US /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The question kept repeating itself in Bob Bannister’s mind, and the answer to it grew more and more uncertain as he drew nearer to his home.”

Question noun US /ˈquestion/

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

From this reading “The question kept repeating itself in Bob Bannister’s mind, and the answer to it grew more and more uncertain as he drew nearer to his home.”

Tell noun US /tell/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “THE DRAFTED COPPERHEAD Would he dare to tell his father about the draft?”

Wind noun US /wind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Already he could see the gabled roof of the house, and, back of it, dimly outlined against the gray sky, the white blades of the windmill, free from their lashing, whirling swiftly in the rising wind.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “THE DRAFTED COPPERHEAD Would he dare to tell his father about the draft?”

All words in this reading · 76

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

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading THE DRAFTED COPPERHEAD Would he dare to tell his father about the draft?

againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading Already he could see the gabled roof of the house, and, back of it, dimly outlined against the gray sky, the white blades of the windmill, free from their lashing, whirling swiftly in the rising wind.

AlreadynounUS /already/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Already he could see the gabled roof of the house, and, back of it, dimly outlined against the gray sky, the white blades of the windmill, free from their lashing, whirling swiftly in the rising wind.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The question kept repeating itself in Bob Bannister’s mind, and the answer to it grew more and more uncertain as he drew nearer to his home.

answer

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

From this reading The question kept repeating itself in Bob Bannister’s mind, and the answer to it grew more and more uncertain as he drew nearer to his home.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading The question kept repeating itself in Bob Bannister’s mind, and the answer to it grew more and more uncertain as he drew nearer to his home.

back

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

From this reading Already he could see the gabled roof of the house, and, back of it, dimly outlined against the gray sky, the white blades of the windmill, free from their lashing, whirling swiftly in the rising wind.

Bannister

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

From this reading The windmill did the work of three men for Rhett Bannister.

Bannister's

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

From this reading The question kept repeating itself in Bob Bannister’s mind, and the answer to it grew more and more uncertain as he drew nearer to his home.

blades

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

From this reading Already he could see the gabled roof of the house, and, back of it, dimly outlined against the gray sky, the white blades of the windmill, free from their lashing, whirling swiftly in the rising wind.

Bob

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

From this reading The question kept repeating itself in Bob Bannister’s mind, and the answer to it grew more and more uncertain as he drew nearer to his home.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading It sawed his wood, pumped his water, churned his milk, threshed his grain, and drove the machinery by which he manufactured his stock in trade.

churned

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

From this reading It sawed his wood, pumped his water, churned his milk, threshed his grain, and drove the machinery by which he manufactured his stock in trade.

COPPERHEAD

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

From this reading THE DRAFTED COPPERHEAD Would he dare to tell his father about the draft?

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading Already he could see the gabled roof of the house, and, back of it, dimly outlined against the gray sky, the white blades of the windmill, free from their lashing, whirling swiftly in the rising wind.

dare

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

From this reading THE DRAFTED COPPERHEAD Would he dare to tell his father about the draft?

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading The windmill did the work of three men for Rhett Bannister.

dimly

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

From this reading Already he could see the gabled roof of the house, and, back of it, dimly outlined against the gray sky, the white blades of the windmill, free from their lashing, whirling swiftly in the rising wind.

draft

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

From this reading THE DRAFTED COPPERHEAD Would he dare to tell his father about the draft?

DRAFTED

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

From this reading THE DRAFTED COPPERHEAD Would he dare to tell his father about the draft?

drewnounUS /drew/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The question kept repeating itself in Bob Bannister’s mind, and the answer to it grew more and more uncertain as he drew nearer to his home.

drove

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

From this reading It sawed his wood, pumped his water, churned his milk, threshed his grain, and drove the machinery by which he manufactured his stock in trade.

father

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

From this reading THE DRAFTED COPPERHEAD Would he dare to tell his father about the draft?

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The windmill did the work of three men for Rhett Bannister.

freeadjectiveUS /friː/

acting without enough restraint or discipline

From this reading Already he could see the gabled roof of the house, and, back of it, dimly outlined against the gray sky, the white blades of the windmill, free from their lashing, whirling swiftly in the rising wind.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Already he could see the gabled roof of the house, and, back of it, dimly outlined against the gray sky, the white blades of the windmill, free from their lashing, whirling swiftly in the rising wind.

gabled

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

From this reading Already he could see the gabled roof of the house, and, back of it, dimly outlined against the gray sky, the white blades of the windmill, free from their lashing, whirling swiftly in the rising wind.

grain

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

From this reading It sawed his wood, pumped his water, churned his milk, threshed his grain, and drove the machinery by which he manufactured his stock in trade.

gray

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

From this reading Already he could see the gabled roof of the house, and, back of it, dimly outlined against the gray sky, the white blades of the windmill, free from their lashing, whirling swiftly in the rising wind.

grew

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

From this reading The question kept repeating itself in Bob Bannister’s mind, and the answer to it grew more and more uncertain as he drew nearer to his home.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading THE DRAFTED COPPERHEAD Would he dare to tell his father about the draft?

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading THE DRAFTED COPPERHEAD Would he dare to tell his father about the draft?

home

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

From this reading The question kept repeating itself in Bob Bannister’s mind, and the answer to it grew more and more uncertain as he drew nearer to his home.

house

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

From this reading Already he could see the gabled roof of the house, and, back of it, dimly outlined against the gray sky, the white blades of the windmill, free from their lashing, whirling swiftly in the rising wind.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The question kept repeating itself in Bob Bannister’s mind, and the answer to it grew more and more uncertain as he drew nearer to his home.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading The question kept repeating itself in Bob Bannister’s mind, and the answer to it grew more and more uncertain as he drew nearer to his home.

itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading The question kept repeating itself in Bob Bannister’s mind, and the answer to it grew more and more uncertain as he drew nearer to his home.

kept

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

From this reading The question kept repeating itself in Bob Bannister’s mind, and the answer to it grew more and more uncertain as he drew nearer to his home.

lashing

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

From this reading Already he could see the gabled roof of the house, and, back of it, dimly outlined against the gray sky, the white blades of the windmill, free from their lashing, whirling swiftly in the rising wind.

machinery

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

From this reading It sawed his wood, pumped his water, churned his milk, threshed his grain, and drove the machinery by which he manufactured his stock in trade.

manufactured

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

From this reading It sawed his wood, pumped his water, churned his milk, threshed his grain, and drove the machinery by which he manufactured his stock in trade.

men

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

From this reading The windmill did the work of three men for Rhett Bannister.

milk

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

From this reading It sawed his wood, pumped his water, churned his milk, threshed his grain, and drove the machinery by which he manufactured his stock in trade.

mindnounUS /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The question kept repeating itself in Bob Bannister’s mind, and the answer to it grew more and more uncertain as he drew nearer to his home.

more

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

From this reading The question kept repeating itself in Bob Bannister’s mind, and the answer to it grew more and more uncertain as he drew nearer to his home.

nearer

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

From this reading The question kept repeating itself in Bob Bannister’s mind, and the answer to it grew more and more uncertain as he drew nearer to his home.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Already he could see the gabled roof of the house, and, back of it, dimly outlined against the gray sky, the white blades of the windmill, free from their lashing, whirling swiftly in the rising wind.

outlined

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

From this reading Already he could see the gabled roof of the house, and, back of it, dimly outlined against the gray sky, the white blades of the windmill, free from their lashing, whirling swiftly in the rising wind.

pumped

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

From this reading It sawed his wood, pumped his water, churned his milk, threshed his grain, and drove the machinery by which he manufactured his stock in trade.

questionnounUS /ˈquestion/

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

From this reading The question kept repeating itself in Bob Bannister’s mind, and the answer to it grew more and more uncertain as he drew nearer to his home.

repeating

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

From this reading The question kept repeating itself in Bob Bannister’s mind, and the answer to it grew more and more uncertain as he drew nearer to his home.

Rhett

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

From this reading The windmill did the work of three men for Rhett Bannister.

rising

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

From this reading Already he could see the gabled roof of the house, and, back of it, dimly outlined against the gray sky, the white blades of the windmill, free from their lashing, whirling swiftly in the rising wind.

roof

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

From this reading Already he could see the gabled roof of the house, and, back of it, dimly outlined against the gray sky, the white blades of the windmill, free from their lashing, whirling swiftly in the rising wind.

sawed

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

From this reading It sawed his wood, pumped his water, churned his milk, threshed his grain, and drove the machinery by which he manufactured his stock in trade.

see

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

From this reading Already he could see the gabled roof of the house, and, back of it, dimly outlined against the gray sky, the white blades of the windmill, free from their lashing, whirling swiftly in the rising wind.

sky

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

From this reading Already he could see the gabled roof of the house, and, back of it, dimly outlined against the gray sky, the white blades of the windmill, free from their lashing, whirling swiftly in the rising wind.

stock

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

From this reading It sawed his wood, pumped his water, churned his milk, threshed his grain, and drove the machinery by which he manufactured his stock in trade.

swiftly

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

From this reading Already he could see the gabled roof of the house, and, back of it, dimly outlined against the gray sky, the white blades of the windmill, free from their lashing, whirling swiftly in the rising wind.

tellnounUS /tell/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading THE DRAFTED COPPERHEAD Would he dare to tell his father about the draft?

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE DRAFTED COPPERHEAD Would he dare to tell his father about the draft?

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Already he could see the gabled roof of the house, and, back of it, dimly outlined against the gray sky, the white blades of the windmill, free from their lashing, whirling swiftly in the rising wind.

three

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

From this reading The windmill did the work of three men for Rhett Bannister.

threshed

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

From this reading It sawed his wood, pumped his water, churned his milk, threshed his grain, and drove the machinery by which he manufactured his stock in trade.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading THE DRAFTED COPPERHEAD Would he dare to tell his father about the draft?

trade

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

From this reading It sawed his wood, pumped his water, churned his milk, threshed his grain, and drove the machinery by which he manufactured his stock in trade.

uncertain

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

From this reading The question kept repeating itself in Bob Bannister’s mind, and the answer to it grew more and more uncertain as he drew nearer to his home.

water

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

From this reading It sawed his wood, pumped his water, churned his milk, threshed his grain, and drove the machinery by which he manufactured his stock in trade.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading It sawed his wood, pumped his water, churned his milk, threshed his grain, and drove the machinery by which he manufactured his stock in trade.

whirling

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

From this reading Already he could see the gabled roof of the house, and, back of it, dimly outlined against the gray sky, the white blades of the windmill, free from their lashing, whirling swiftly in the rising wind.

white

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

From this reading Already he could see the gabled roof of the house, and, back of it, dimly outlined against the gray sky, the white blades of the windmill, free from their lashing, whirling swiftly in the rising wind.

windnounUS /wind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Already he could see the gabled roof of the house, and, back of it, dimly outlined against the gray sky, the white blades of the windmill, free from their lashing, whirling swiftly in the rising wind.

windmill

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

From this reading Already he could see the gabled roof of the house, and, back of it, dimly outlined against the gray sky, the white blades of the windmill, free from their lashing, whirling swiftly in the rising wind.

wood

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

From this reading It sawed his wood, pumped his water, churned his milk, threshed his grain, and drove the machinery by which he manufactured his stock in trade.

work

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

From this reading The windmill did the work of three men for Rhett Bannister.

Wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading THE DRAFTED COPPERHEAD Would he dare to tell his father about the draft?