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Aces Up
Aces Up

Chapter IV

Cover illustration for Aces Up
Context Illustration Reading 1/69 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Victory McGee, holding up the nose of his Camel at an angle that gave the motor every ounce it would stand, was thinking the same alarming thought that had just run through Larkin's mind.
It would be just his luck to be spotted by the searchlight crew and held in its beam.
If so, would they recognize him?
Would they see the ringed cockades on his wings, or would eager anti-aircraft gunners start blazing away?
Even if they recognized the plane, his whole plan would be knocked into a cocked hat should that telltale streamer of light point him out to the enemy planes above who must now be looking sharp.
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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.

Aces Up

Chapter IV

Reading 1/69 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Victory McGee, holding up the nose of his Camel at an angle that gave the motor every ounce it would stand, was thinking the same alarming thought that had just run through Larkin's mind.
Line 2
It would be just his luck to be spotted by the searchlight crew and held in its beam.
Line 3
If so, would they recognize him?
Line 4
Would they see the ringed cockades on his wings, or would eager anti-aircraft gunners start blazing away?
Line 5
Even if they recognized the plane, his whole plan would be knocked into a cocked hat should that telltale streamer of light point him out to the enemy planes above who must now be looking sharp.

Learner Dictionary

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

Above preposition US /əˈbʌv/

higher than, or over, something

From this reading “Even if they recognized the plane, his whole plan would be knocked into a cocked hat should that telltale streamer of light point him out to the enemy planes above who must now be looking sharp.”

Crew noun US /crew/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It would be just his luck to be spotted by the searchlight crew and held in its beam.”

Even noun US /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Even if they recognized the plane, his whole plan would be knocked into a cocked hat should that telltale streamer of light point him out to the enemy planes above who must now be looking sharp.”

Every determiner US /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading “Victory McGee, holding up the nose of his Camel at an angle that gave the motor every ounce it would stand, was thinking the same alarming thought that had just run through Larkin's mind.”

Mind noun US /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Victory McGee, holding up the nose of his Camel at an angle that gave the motor every ounce it would stand, was thinking the same alarming thought that had just run through Larkin's mind.”

Must modal verb US /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading “Even if they recognized the plane, his whole plan would be knocked into a cocked hat should that telltale streamer of light point him out to the enemy planes above who must now be looking sharp.”

Point noun US /pɔɪnt/

the main matter or purpose being discussed

From this reading “Even if they recognized the plane, his whole plan would be knocked into a cocked hat should that telltale streamer of light point him out to the enemy planes above who must now be looking sharp.”

Same noun US /same/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Victory McGee, holding up the nose of his Camel at an angle that gave the motor every ounce it would stand, was thinking the same alarming thought that had just run through Larkin's mind.”

Stand noun US /stand/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Victory McGee, holding up the nose of his Camel at an angle that gave the motor every ounce it would stand, was thinking the same alarming thought that had just run through Larkin's mind.”

Start noun US /start/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Would they see the ringed cockades on his wings, or would eager anti-aircraft gunners start blazing away?”

Thinking noun US /thinking/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Victory McGee, holding up the nose of his Camel at an angle that gave the motor every ounce it would stand, was thinking the same alarming thought that had just run through Larkin's mind.”

Thought noun US /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Victory McGee, holding up the nose of his Camel at an angle that gave the motor every ounce it would stand, was thinking the same alarming thought that had just run through Larkin's mind.”

Through noun US /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading “Victory McGee, holding up the nose of his Camel at an angle that gave the motor every ounce it would stand, was thinking the same alarming thought that had just run through Larkin's mind.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “Victory McGee, holding up the nose of his Camel at an angle that gave the motor every ounce it would stand, was thinking the same alarming thought that had just run through Larkin's mind.”

All words in this reading · 84

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

adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading Even if they recognized the plane, his whole plan would be knocked into a cocked hat should that telltale streamer of light point him out to the enemy planes above who must now be looking sharp.

aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/

higher than, or over, something

From this reading Even if they recognized the plane, his whole plan would be knocked into a cocked hat should that telltale streamer of light point him out to the enemy planes above who must now be looking sharp.

alarming

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

From this reading Victory McGee, holding up the nose of his Camel at an angle that gave the motor every ounce it would stand, was thinking the same alarming thought that had just run through Larkin's mind.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading Victory McGee, holding up the nose of his Camel at an angle that gave the motor every ounce it would stand, was thinking the same alarming thought that had just run through Larkin's mind.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading It would be just his luck to be spotted by the searchlight crew and held in its beam.

angle

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

From this reading Victory McGee, holding up the nose of his Camel at an angle that gave the motor every ounce it would stand, was thinking the same alarming thought that had just run through Larkin's mind.

anti-aircraft

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

From this reading Would they see the ringed cockades on his wings, or would eager anti-aircraft gunners start blazing away?

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Victory McGee, holding up the nose of his Camel at an angle that gave the motor every ounce it would stand, was thinking the same alarming thought that had just run through Larkin's mind.

away

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

From this reading Would they see the ringed cockades on his wings, or would eager anti-aircraft gunners start blazing away?

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading It would be just his luck to be spotted by the searchlight crew and held in its beam.

beam

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

From this reading It would be just his luck to be spotted by the searchlight crew and held in its beam.

blazing

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

From this reading Would they see the ringed cockades on his wings, or would eager anti-aircraft gunners start blazing away?

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading It would be just his luck to be spotted by the searchlight crew and held in its beam.

Camel

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

From this reading Victory McGee, holding up the nose of his Camel at an angle that gave the motor every ounce it would stand, was thinking the same alarming thought that had just run through Larkin's mind.

cockades

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

From this reading Would they see the ringed cockades on his wings, or would eager anti-aircraft gunners start blazing away?

cocked

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

From this reading Even if they recognized the plane, his whole plan would be knocked into a cocked hat should that telltale streamer of light point him out to the enemy planes above who must now be looking sharp.

crewnounUS /crew/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It would be just his luck to be spotted by the searchlight crew and held in its beam.

eager

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

From this reading Would they see the ringed cockades on his wings, or would eager anti-aircraft gunners start blazing away?

enemy

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

From this reading Even if they recognized the plane, his whole plan would be knocked into a cocked hat should that telltale streamer of light point him out to the enemy planes above who must now be looking sharp.

EvennounUS /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Even if they recognized the plane, his whole plan would be knocked into a cocked hat should that telltale streamer of light point him out to the enemy planes above who must now be looking sharp.

everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading Victory McGee, holding up the nose of his Camel at an angle that gave the motor every ounce it would stand, was thinking the same alarming thought that had just run through Larkin's mind.

gave

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

From this reading Victory McGee, holding up the nose of his Camel at an angle that gave the motor every ounce it would stand, was thinking the same alarming thought that had just run through Larkin's mind.

gunners

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

From this reading Would they see the ringed cockades on his wings, or would eager anti-aircraft gunners start blazing away?

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Victory McGee, holding up the nose of his Camel at an angle that gave the motor every ounce it would stand, was thinking the same alarming thought that had just run through Larkin's mind.

hat

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

From this reading Even if they recognized the plane, his whole plan would be knocked into a cocked hat should that telltale streamer of light point him out to the enemy planes above who must now be looking sharp.

held

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

From this reading It would be just his luck to be spotted by the searchlight crew and held in its beam.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading If so, would they recognize him?

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Victory McGee, holding up the nose of his Camel at an angle that gave the motor every ounce it would stand, was thinking the same alarming thought that had just run through Larkin's mind.

holding

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

From this reading Victory McGee, holding up the nose of his Camel at an angle that gave the motor every ounce it would stand, was thinking the same alarming thought that had just run through Larkin's mind.

IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading If so, would they recognize him?

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading It would be just his luck to be spotted by the searchlight crew and held in its beam.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Even if they recognized the plane, his whole plan would be knocked into a cocked hat should that telltale streamer of light point him out to the enemy planes above who must now be looking sharp.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Victory McGee, holding up the nose of his Camel at an angle that gave the motor every ounce it would stand, was thinking the same alarming thought that had just run through Larkin's mind.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading It would be just his luck to be spotted by the searchlight crew and held in its beam.

just

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

From this reading Victory McGee, holding up the nose of his Camel at an angle that gave the motor every ounce it would stand, was thinking the same alarming thought that had just run through Larkin's mind.

knocked

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

From this reading Even if they recognized the plane, his whole plan would be knocked into a cocked hat should that telltale streamer of light point him out to the enemy planes above who must now be looking sharp.

Larkin's

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

From this reading Victory McGee, holding up the nose of his Camel at an angle that gave the motor every ounce it would stand, was thinking the same alarming thought that had just run through Larkin's mind.

light

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

From this reading Even if they recognized the plane, his whole plan would be knocked into a cocked hat should that telltale streamer of light point him out to the enemy planes above who must now be looking sharp.

looking

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

From this reading Even if they recognized the plane, his whole plan would be knocked into a cocked hat should that telltale streamer of light point him out to the enemy planes above who must now be looking sharp.

luck

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

From this reading It would be just his luck to be spotted by the searchlight crew and held in its beam.

McGee

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

From this reading Victory McGee, holding up the nose of his Camel at an angle that gave the motor every ounce it would stand, was thinking the same alarming thought that had just run through Larkin's mind.

mindnounUS /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Victory McGee, holding up the nose of his Camel at an angle that gave the motor every ounce it would stand, was thinking the same alarming thought that had just run through Larkin's mind.

motor

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

From this reading Victory McGee, holding up the nose of his Camel at an angle that gave the motor every ounce it would stand, was thinking the same alarming thought that had just run through Larkin's mind.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading Even if they recognized the plane, his whole plan would be knocked into a cocked hat should that telltale streamer of light point him out to the enemy planes above who must now be looking sharp.

nose

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

From this reading Victory McGee, holding up the nose of his Camel at an angle that gave the motor every ounce it would stand, was thinking the same alarming thought that had just run through Larkin's mind.

now

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

From this reading Even if they recognized the plane, his whole plan would be knocked into a cocked hat should that telltale streamer of light point him out to the enemy planes above who must now be looking sharp.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Victory McGee, holding up the nose of his Camel at an angle that gave the motor every ounce it would stand, was thinking the same alarming thought that had just run through Larkin's mind.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Would they see the ringed cockades on his wings, or would eager anti-aircraft gunners start blazing away?

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Would they see the ringed cockades on his wings, or would eager anti-aircraft gunners start blazing away?

ounce

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

From this reading Victory McGee, holding up the nose of his Camel at an angle that gave the motor every ounce it would stand, was thinking the same alarming thought that had just run through Larkin's mind.

out

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

From this reading Even if they recognized the plane, his whole plan would be knocked into a cocked hat should that telltale streamer of light point him out to the enemy planes above who must now be looking sharp.

plan

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

From this reading Even if they recognized the plane, his whole plan would be knocked into a cocked hat should that telltale streamer of light point him out to the enemy planes above who must now be looking sharp.

plane

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

From this reading Even if they recognized the plane, his whole plan would be knocked into a cocked hat should that telltale streamer of light point him out to the enemy planes above who must now be looking sharp.

planes

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

From this reading Even if they recognized the plane, his whole plan would be knocked into a cocked hat should that telltale streamer of light point him out to the enemy planes above who must now be looking sharp.

pointnounUS /pɔɪnt/

the main matter or purpose being discussed

From this reading Even if they recognized the plane, his whole plan would be knocked into a cocked hat should that telltale streamer of light point him out to the enemy planes above who must now be looking sharp.

recognize

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

From this reading If so, would they recognize him?

recognized

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

From this reading Even if they recognized the plane, his whole plan would be knocked into a cocked hat should that telltale streamer of light point him out to the enemy planes above who must now be looking sharp.

ringed

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

From this reading Would they see the ringed cockades on his wings, or would eager anti-aircraft gunners start blazing away?

run

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

From this reading Victory McGee, holding up the nose of his Camel at an angle that gave the motor every ounce it would stand, was thinking the same alarming thought that had just run through Larkin's mind.

samenounUS /same/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Victory McGee, holding up the nose of his Camel at an angle that gave the motor every ounce it would stand, was thinking the same alarming thought that had just run through Larkin's mind.

searchlight

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

From this reading It would be just his luck to be spotted by the searchlight crew and held in its beam.

see

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

From this reading Would they see the ringed cockades on his wings, or would eager anti-aircraft gunners start blazing away?

sharp

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

From this reading Even if they recognized the plane, his whole plan would be knocked into a cocked hat should that telltale streamer of light point him out to the enemy planes above who must now be looking sharp.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading Even if they recognized the plane, his whole plan would be knocked into a cocked hat should that telltale streamer of light point him out to the enemy planes above who must now be looking sharp.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading If so, would they recognize him?

spotted

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

From this reading It would be just his luck to be spotted by the searchlight crew and held in its beam.

stand

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

From this reading Victory McGee, holding up the nose of his Camel at an angle that gave the motor every ounce it would stand, was thinking the same alarming thought that had just run through Larkin's mind.

startnounUS /start/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Would they see the ringed cockades on his wings, or would eager anti-aircraft gunners start blazing away?

streamer

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

From this reading Even if they recognized the plane, his whole plan would be knocked into a cocked hat should that telltale streamer of light point him out to the enemy planes above who must now be looking sharp.

telltale

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

From this reading Even if they recognized the plane, his whole plan would be knocked into a cocked hat should that telltale streamer of light point him out to the enemy planes above who must now be looking sharp.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Victory McGee, holding up the nose of his Camel at an angle that gave the motor every ounce it would stand, was thinking the same alarming thought that had just run through Larkin's mind.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Victory McGee, holding up the nose of his Camel at an angle that gave the motor every ounce it would stand, was thinking the same alarming thought that had just run through Larkin's mind.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading If so, would they recognize him?

thinkingnounUS /thinking/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Victory McGee, holding up the nose of his Camel at an angle that gave the motor every ounce it would stand, was thinking the same alarming thought that had just run through Larkin's mind.

thoughtnounUS /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Victory McGee, holding up the nose of his Camel at an angle that gave the motor every ounce it would stand, was thinking the same alarming thought that had just run through Larkin's mind.

throughnounUS /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading Victory McGee, holding up the nose of his Camel at an angle that gave the motor every ounce it would stand, was thinking the same alarming thought that had just run through Larkin's mind.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading It would be just his luck to be spotted by the searchlight crew and held in its beam.

up

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

From this reading Victory McGee, holding up the nose of his Camel at an angle that gave the motor every ounce it would stand, was thinking the same alarming thought that had just run through Larkin's mind.

Victory

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

From this reading Victory McGee, holding up the nose of his Camel at an angle that gave the motor every ounce it would stand, was thinking the same alarming thought that had just run through Larkin's mind.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Victory McGee, holding up the nose of his Camel at an angle that gave the motor every ounce it would stand, was thinking the same alarming thought that had just run through Larkin's mind.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading Even if they recognized the plane, his whole plan would be knocked into a cocked hat should that telltale streamer of light point him out to the enemy planes above who must now be looking sharp.

whole

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

From this reading Even if they recognized the plane, his whole plan would be knocked into a cocked hat should that telltale streamer of light point him out to the enemy planes above who must now be looking sharp.

wings

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

From this reading Would they see the ringed cockades on his wings, or would eager anti-aircraft gunners start blazing away?

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading Victory McGee, holding up the nose of his Camel at an angle that gave the motor every ounce it would stand, was thinking the same alarming thought that had just run through Larkin's mind.