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A Prisoner of Morro
A Prisoner of Morro

Chapter XXIV

Cover illustration for A Prisoner of Morro
Context Illustration Reading 1/21 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE CUBAN COURIER.
But the explosion never came.
The party waited breathlessly, expecting to hear a deafening sound from the shell, and to see the earth thrown up in showers about them.
From a safe place of vantage they felt it was a sight worth seeing and felt personally aggrieved when, after waiting an unconscionable time, all was quiet on the other side of the natural rampart of earth.
Clif had been surprised and puzzled in the first place to see the ship firing away from its antagonist instead of toward it, and was now more than ever perplexed.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

A Prisoner of Morro

Chapter XXIV

Reading 1/21 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE CUBAN COURIER.
Line 2
But the explosion never came.
Line 3
The party waited breathlessly, expecting to hear a deafening sound from the shell, and to see the earth thrown up in showers about them.
Line 4
From a safe place of vantage they felt it was a sight worth seeing and felt personally aggrieved when, after waiting an unconscionable time, all was quiet on the other side of the natural rampart of earth.
Line 5
Clif had been surprised and puzzled in the first place to see the ship firing away from its antagonist instead of toward it, and was now more than ever perplexed.

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 party waited breathlessly, expecting to hear a deafening sound from the shell, and to see the earth thrown up in showers about them.”

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “From a safe place of vantage they felt it was a sight worth seeing and felt personally aggrieved when, after waiting an unconscionable time, all was quiet on the other side of the natural rampart of earth.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “Clif had been surprised and puzzled in the first place to see the ship firing away from its antagonist instead of toward it, and was now more than ever perplexed.”

Ever noun US /ever/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Clif had been surprised and puzzled in the first place to see the ship firing away from its antagonist instead of toward it, and was now more than ever perplexed.”

Expecting verb US /ɪkˈspektɪŋ/

thinking that somebody or something will arrive

From this reading “The party waited breathlessly, expecting to hear a deafening sound from the shell, and to see the earth thrown up in showers about them.”

Explosion noun US /ɪkˈsploʊʒən/

a sudden violent burst of sound or force

From this reading “But the explosion never came.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Clif had been surprised and puzzled in the first place to see the ship firing away from its antagonist instead of toward it, and was now more than ever perplexed.”

Hear noun US /hear/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The party waited breathlessly, expecting to hear a deafening sound from the shell, and to see the earth thrown up in showers about them.”

Never noun US /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But the explosion never came.”

Party noun US /party/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The party waited breathlessly, expecting to hear a deafening sound from the shell, and to see the earth thrown up in showers about them.”

Seeing noun US /seeing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “From a safe place of vantage they felt it was a sight worth seeing and felt personally aggrieved when, after waiting an unconscionable time, all was quiet on the other side of the natural rampart of earth.”

Ship noun US /ship/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Clif had been surprised and puzzled in the first place to see the ship firing away from its antagonist instead of toward it, and was now more than ever perplexed.”

Surprised noun US /surprised/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Clif had been surprised and puzzled in the first place to see the ship firing away from its antagonist instead of toward it, and was now more than ever perplexed.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “From a safe place of vantage they felt it was a sight worth seeing and felt personally aggrieved when, after waiting an unconscionable time, all was quiet on the other side of the natural rampart of earth.”

Toward preposition US /təˈwɔːrd/

in the direction of

From this reading “Clif had been surprised and puzzled in the first place to see the ship firing away from its antagonist instead of toward it, and was now more than ever perplexed.”

Waiting noun US /ˈwaiting/

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

From this reading “From a safe place of vantage they felt it was a sight worth seeing and felt personally aggrieved when, after waiting an unconscionable time, all was quiet on the other side of the natural rampart of earth.”

All words in this reading · 71

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 party waited breathlessly, expecting to hear a deafening sound from the shell, and to see the earth thrown up in showers about them.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading The party waited breathlessly, expecting to hear a deafening sound from the shell, and to see the earth thrown up in showers about them.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading From a safe place of vantage they felt it was a sight worth seeing and felt personally aggrieved when, after waiting an unconscionable time, all was quiet on the other side of the natural rampart of earth.

aggrieved

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

From this reading From a safe place of vantage they felt it was a sight worth seeing and felt personally aggrieved when, after waiting an unconscionable time, all was quiet on the other side of the natural rampart of earth.

all

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

From this reading From a safe place of vantage they felt it was a sight worth seeing and felt personally aggrieved when, after waiting an unconscionable time, all was quiet on the other side of the natural rampart of earth.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading From a safe place of vantage they felt it was a sight worth seeing and felt personally aggrieved when, after waiting an unconscionable time, all was quiet on the other side of the natural rampart of earth.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The party waited breathlessly, expecting to hear a deafening sound from the shell, and to see the earth thrown up in showers about them.

antagonist

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

From this reading Clif had been surprised and puzzled in the first place to see the ship firing away from its antagonist instead of toward it, and was now more than ever perplexed.

away

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

From this reading Clif had been surprised and puzzled in the first place to see the ship firing away from its antagonist instead of toward it, and was now more than ever perplexed.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Clif had been surprised and puzzled in the first place to see the ship firing away from its antagonist instead of toward it, and was now more than ever perplexed.

breathlessly

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

From this reading The party waited breathlessly, expecting to hear a deafening sound from the shell, and to see the earth thrown up in showers about them.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But the explosion never came.

came

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

From this reading But the explosion never came.

Clif

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

From this reading Clif had been surprised and puzzled in the first place to see the ship firing away from its antagonist instead of toward it, and was now more than ever perplexed.

COURIER

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

From this reading THE CUBAN COURIER.

CUBAN

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

From this reading THE CUBAN COURIER.

deafening

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

From this reading The party waited breathlessly, expecting to hear a deafening sound from the shell, and to see the earth thrown up in showers about them.

earth

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

From this reading The party waited breathlessly, expecting to hear a deafening sound from the shell, and to see the earth thrown up in showers about them.

evernounUS /ever/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Clif had been surprised and puzzled in the first place to see the ship firing away from its antagonist instead of toward it, and was now more than ever perplexed.

expectingverbUS /ɪkˈspektɪŋ/

thinking that somebody or something will arrive

From this reading The party waited breathlessly, expecting to hear a deafening sound from the shell, and to see the earth thrown up in showers about them.

explosionnounUS /ɪkˈsploʊʒən/

a sudden violent burst of sound or force

From this reading But the explosion never came.

felt

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

From this reading From a safe place of vantage they felt it was a sight worth seeing and felt personally aggrieved when, after waiting an unconscionable time, all was quiet on the other side of the natural rampart of earth.

firing

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

From this reading Clif had been surprised and puzzled in the first place to see the ship firing away from its antagonist instead of toward it, and was now more than ever perplexed.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Clif had been surprised and puzzled in the first place to see the ship firing away from its antagonist instead of toward it, and was now more than ever perplexed.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The party waited breathlessly, expecting to hear a deafening sound from the shell, and to see the earth thrown up in showers about them.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Clif had been surprised and puzzled in the first place to see the ship firing away from its antagonist instead of toward it, and was now more than ever perplexed.

hearnounUS /hear/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The party waited breathlessly, expecting to hear a deafening sound from the shell, and to see the earth thrown up in showers about them.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The party waited breathlessly, expecting to hear a deafening sound from the shell, and to see the earth thrown up in showers about them.

instead

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

From this reading Clif had been surprised and puzzled in the first place to see the ship firing away from its antagonist instead of toward it, and was now more than ever perplexed.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading From a safe place of vantage they felt it was a sight worth seeing and felt personally aggrieved when, after waiting an unconscionable time, all was quiet on the other side of the natural rampart of earth.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Clif had been surprised and puzzled in the first place to see the ship firing away from its antagonist instead of toward it, and was now more than ever perplexed.

more

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

From this reading Clif had been surprised and puzzled in the first place to see the ship firing away from its antagonist instead of toward it, and was now more than ever perplexed.

natural

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

From this reading From a safe place of vantage they felt it was a sight worth seeing and felt personally aggrieved when, after waiting an unconscionable time, all was quiet on the other side of the natural rampart of earth.

nevernounUS /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But the explosion never came.

now

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

From this reading Clif had been surprised and puzzled in the first place to see the ship firing away from its antagonist instead of toward it, and was now more than ever perplexed.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading From a safe place of vantage they felt it was a sight worth seeing and felt personally aggrieved when, after waiting an unconscionable time, all was quiet on the other side of the natural rampart of earth.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading From a safe place of vantage they felt it was a sight worth seeing and felt personally aggrieved when, after waiting an unconscionable time, all was quiet on the other side of the natural rampart of earth.

other

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

From this reading From a safe place of vantage they felt it was a sight worth seeing and felt personally aggrieved when, after waiting an unconscionable time, all was quiet on the other side of the natural rampart of earth.

partynounUS /party/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The party waited breathlessly, expecting to hear a deafening sound from the shell, and to see the earth thrown up in showers about them.

perplexed

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

From this reading Clif had been surprised and puzzled in the first place to see the ship firing away from its antagonist instead of toward it, and was now more than ever perplexed.

personally

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

From this reading From a safe place of vantage they felt it was a sight worth seeing and felt personally aggrieved when, after waiting an unconscionable time, all was quiet on the other side of the natural rampart of earth.

place

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

From this reading From a safe place of vantage they felt it was a sight worth seeing and felt personally aggrieved when, after waiting an unconscionable time, all was quiet on the other side of the natural rampart of earth.

puzzled

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

From this reading Clif had been surprised and puzzled in the first place to see the ship firing away from its antagonist instead of toward it, and was now more than ever perplexed.

quiet

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

From this reading From a safe place of vantage they felt it was a sight worth seeing and felt personally aggrieved when, after waiting an unconscionable time, all was quiet on the other side of the natural rampart of earth.

rampart

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

From this reading From a safe place of vantage they felt it was a sight worth seeing and felt personally aggrieved when, after waiting an unconscionable time, all was quiet on the other side of the natural rampart of earth.

safe

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

From this reading From a safe place of vantage they felt it was a sight worth seeing and felt personally aggrieved when, after waiting an unconscionable time, all was quiet on the other side of the natural rampart of earth.

see

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

From this reading The party waited breathlessly, expecting to hear a deafening sound from the shell, and to see the earth thrown up in showers about them.

seeing

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

From this reading From a safe place of vantage they felt it was a sight worth seeing and felt personally aggrieved when, after waiting an unconscionable time, all was quiet on the other side of the natural rampart of earth.

shell

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

From this reading The party waited breathlessly, expecting to hear a deafening sound from the shell, and to see the earth thrown up in showers about them.

shipnounUS /ship/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Clif had been surprised and puzzled in the first place to see the ship firing away from its antagonist instead of toward it, and was now more than ever perplexed.

showers

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

From this reading The party waited breathlessly, expecting to hear a deafening sound from the shell, and to see the earth thrown up in showers about them.

side

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

From this reading From a safe place of vantage they felt it was a sight worth seeing and felt personally aggrieved when, after waiting an unconscionable time, all was quiet on the other side of the natural rampart of earth.

sight

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

From this reading From a safe place of vantage they felt it was a sight worth seeing and felt personally aggrieved when, after waiting an unconscionable time, all was quiet on the other side of the natural rampart of earth.

sound

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

From this reading The party waited breathlessly, expecting to hear a deafening sound from the shell, and to see the earth thrown up in showers about them.

surprisednounUS /surprised/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Clif had been surprised and puzzled in the first place to see the ship firing away from its antagonist instead of toward it, and was now more than ever perplexed.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading Clif had been surprised and puzzled in the first place to see the ship firing away from its antagonist instead of toward it, and was now more than ever perplexed.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE CUBAN COURIER.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading The party waited breathlessly, expecting to hear a deafening sound from the shell, and to see the earth thrown up in showers about them.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading From a safe place of vantage they felt it was a sight worth seeing and felt personally aggrieved when, after waiting an unconscionable time, all was quiet on the other side of the natural rampart of earth.

thrown

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

From this reading The party waited breathlessly, expecting to hear a deafening sound from the shell, and to see the earth thrown up in showers about them.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading From a safe place of vantage they felt it was a sight worth seeing and felt personally aggrieved when, after waiting an unconscionable time, all was quiet on the other side of the natural rampart of earth.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The party waited breathlessly, expecting to hear a deafening sound from the shell, and to see the earth thrown up in showers about them.

towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/

in the direction of

From this reading Clif had been surprised and puzzled in the first place to see the ship firing away from its antagonist instead of toward it, and was now more than ever perplexed.

unconscionable

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

From this reading From a safe place of vantage they felt it was a sight worth seeing and felt personally aggrieved when, after waiting an unconscionable time, all was quiet on the other side of the natural rampart of earth.

up

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

From this reading The party waited breathlessly, expecting to hear a deafening sound from the shell, and to see the earth thrown up in showers about them.

vantage

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

From this reading From a safe place of vantage they felt it was a sight worth seeing and felt personally aggrieved when, after waiting an unconscionable time, all was quiet on the other side of the natural rampart of earth.

waited

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

From this reading The party waited breathlessly, expecting to hear a deafening sound from the shell, and to see the earth thrown up in showers about them.

waiting

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

From this reading From a safe place of vantage they felt it was a sight worth seeing and felt personally aggrieved when, after waiting an unconscionable time, all was quiet on the other side of the natural rampart of earth.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading From a safe place of vantage they felt it was a sight worth seeing and felt personally aggrieved when, after waiting an unconscionable time, all was quiet on the other side of the natural rampart of earth.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading From a safe place of vantage they felt it was a sight worth seeing and felt personally aggrieved when, after waiting an unconscionable time, all was quiet on the other side of the natural rampart of earth.

worth

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

From this reading From a safe place of vantage they felt it was a sight worth seeing and felt personally aggrieved when, after waiting an unconscionable time, all was quiet on the other side of the natural rampart of earth.