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Chapter IV

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Context Illustration Reading 1/83 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The captain ascended to his place again.
A German shell, soaring over, burst with a loud _crump_ behind the trench.
The French signaler laughed and waved derisively towards the shell.
He leaned his head and body far to one side, straightened slowly, bent his head on a curve to the other side, and brought it up with a jerk, imitating, as he did so, the sound of the falling and bursting shell, "_sss-eee-aaa-ahah-aow-Wump_."
Another shell fell, and "_aow-Wump_," he cried again, shuffling his feet and laughing gayly.
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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.

Action Front

Chapter IV

Reading 1/83 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The captain ascended to his place again.
Line 2
A German shell, soaring over, burst with a loud _crump_ behind the trench.
Line 3
The French signaler laughed and waved derisively towards the shell.
Line 4
He leaned his head and body far to one side, straightened slowly, bent his head on a curve to the other side, and brought it up with a jerk, imitating, as he did so, the sound of the falling and bursting shell, "_sss-eee-aaa-ahah-aow-Wump_."
Line 5
Another shell fell, and "_aow-Wump_," he cried again, shuffling his feet and laughing gayly.

Learner Dictionary

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

Again noun US /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The captain ascended to his place again.”

Another noun US /ˈanother/

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

From this reading “Another shell fell, and "_aow-Wump_," he cried again, shuffling his feet and laughing gayly.”

Behind preposition US /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading “A German shell, soaring over, burst with a loud _crump_ behind the trench.”

Body noun US /body/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He leaned his head and body far to one side, straightened slowly, bent his head on a curve to the other side, and brought it up with a jerk, imitating, as he did so, the sound of the falling and bursting shell, "_sss-eee-aaa-ahah-aow-Wump_."”

Brought noun US /ˈbrought/

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

From this reading “He leaned his head and body far to one side, straightened slowly, bent his head on a curve to the other side, and brought it up with a jerk, imitating, as he did so, the sound of the falling and bursting shell, "_sss-eee-aaa-ahah-aow-Wump_."”

Captain noun US /ˈcaptain/

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

From this reading “The captain ascended to his place again.”

Cried noun US /cried/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Another shell fell, and "_aow-Wump_," he cried again, shuffling his feet and laughing gayly.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “He leaned his head and body far to one side, straightened slowly, bent his head on a curve to the other side, and brought it up with a jerk, imitating, as he did so, the sound of the falling and bursting shell, "_sss-eee-aaa-ahah-aow-Wump_."”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “A German shell, soaring over, burst with a loud _crump_ behind the trench.”

Towards preposition US /təˈwɔːrdz/

in the direction of

From this reading “The French signaler laughed and waved derisively towards the shell.”

All words in this reading · 59

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 A German shell, soaring over, burst with a loud _crump_ behind the trench.

againnounUS /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The captain ascended to his place again.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The French signaler laughed and waved derisively towards the shell.

AnothernounUS /ˈanother/

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

From this reading Another shell fell, and "_aow-Wump_," he cried again, shuffling his feet and laughing gayly.

aow-Wump

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

From this reading Another shell fell, and "_aow-Wump_," he cried again, shuffling his feet and laughing gayly.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading He leaned his head and body far to one side, straightened slowly, bent his head on a curve to the other side, and brought it up with a jerk, imitating, as he did so, the sound of the falling and bursting shell, "_sss-eee-aaa-ahah-aow-Wump_."

ascended

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

From this reading The captain ascended to his place again.

behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading A German shell, soaring over, burst with a loud _crump_ behind the trench.

bent

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

From this reading He leaned his head and body far to one side, straightened slowly, bent his head on a curve to the other side, and brought it up with a jerk, imitating, as he did so, the sound of the falling and bursting shell, "_sss-eee-aaa-ahah-aow-Wump_."

bodynounUS /body/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He leaned his head and body far to one side, straightened slowly, bent his head on a curve to the other side, and brought it up with a jerk, imitating, as he did so, the sound of the falling and bursting shell, "_sss-eee-aaa-ahah-aow-Wump_."

broughtnounUS /ˈbrought/

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

From this reading He leaned his head and body far to one side, straightened slowly, bent his head on a curve to the other side, and brought it up with a jerk, imitating, as he did so, the sound of the falling and bursting shell, "_sss-eee-aaa-ahah-aow-Wump_."

burst

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

From this reading A German shell, soaring over, burst with a loud _crump_ behind the trench.

bursting

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

From this reading He leaned his head and body far to one side, straightened slowly, bent his head on a curve to the other side, and brought it up with a jerk, imitating, as he did so, the sound of the falling and bursting shell, "_sss-eee-aaa-ahah-aow-Wump_."

captainnounUS /ˈcaptain/

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

From this reading The captain ascended to his place again.

criednounUS /cried/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Another shell fell, and "_aow-Wump_," he cried again, shuffling his feet and laughing gayly.

crump

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

From this reading A German shell, soaring over, burst with a loud _crump_ behind the trench.

curve

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

From this reading He leaned his head and body far to one side, straightened slowly, bent his head on a curve to the other side, and brought it up with a jerk, imitating, as he did so, the sound of the falling and bursting shell, "_sss-eee-aaa-ahah-aow-Wump_."

derisively

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

From this reading The French signaler laughed and waved derisively towards the shell.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

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

From this reading He leaned his head and body far to one side, straightened slowly, bent his head on a curve to the other side, and brought it up with a jerk, imitating, as he did so, the sound of the falling and bursting shell, "_sss-eee-aaa-ahah-aow-Wump_."

falling

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

From this reading He leaned his head and body far to one side, straightened slowly, bent his head on a curve to the other side, and brought it up with a jerk, imitating, as he did so, the sound of the falling and bursting shell, "_sss-eee-aaa-ahah-aow-Wump_."

far

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

From this reading He leaned his head and body far to one side, straightened slowly, bent his head on a curve to the other side, and brought it up with a jerk, imitating, as he did so, the sound of the falling and bursting shell, "_sss-eee-aaa-ahah-aow-Wump_."

feet

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

From this reading Another shell fell, and "_aow-Wump_," he cried again, shuffling his feet and laughing gayly.

fell

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

From this reading Another shell fell, and "_aow-Wump_," he cried again, shuffling his feet and laughing gayly.

French

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

From this reading The French signaler laughed and waved derisively towards the shell.

gayly

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

From this reading Another shell fell, and "_aow-Wump_," he cried again, shuffling his feet and laughing gayly.

German

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

From this reading A German shell, soaring over, burst with a loud _crump_ behind the trench.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He leaned his head and body far to one side, straightened slowly, bent his head on a curve to the other side, and brought it up with a jerk, imitating, as he did so, the sound of the falling and bursting shell, "_sss-eee-aaa-ahah-aow-Wump_."

head

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

From this reading He leaned his head and body far to one side, straightened slowly, bent his head on a curve to the other side, and brought it up with a jerk, imitating, as he did so, the sound of the falling and bursting shell, "_sss-eee-aaa-ahah-aow-Wump_."

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading The captain ascended to his place again.

imitating

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

From this reading He leaned his head and body far to one side, straightened slowly, bent his head on a curve to the other side, and brought it up with a jerk, imitating, as he did so, the sound of the falling and bursting shell, "_sss-eee-aaa-ahah-aow-Wump_."

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading He leaned his head and body far to one side, straightened slowly, bent his head on a curve to the other side, and brought it up with a jerk, imitating, as he did so, the sound of the falling and bursting shell, "_sss-eee-aaa-ahah-aow-Wump_."

jerk

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

From this reading He leaned his head and body far to one side, straightened slowly, bent his head on a curve to the other side, and brought it up with a jerk, imitating, as he did so, the sound of the falling and bursting shell, "_sss-eee-aaa-ahah-aow-Wump_."

laughed

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

From this reading The French signaler laughed and waved derisively towards the shell.

laughing

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

From this reading Another shell fell, and "_aow-Wump_," he cried again, shuffling his feet and laughing gayly.

leaned

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

From this reading He leaned his head and body far to one side, straightened slowly, bent his head on a curve to the other side, and brought it up with a jerk, imitating, as he did so, the sound of the falling and bursting shell, "_sss-eee-aaa-ahah-aow-Wump_."

loud

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

From this reading A German shell, soaring over, burst with a loud _crump_ behind the trench.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading He leaned his head and body far to one side, straightened slowly, bent his head on a curve to the other side, and brought it up with a jerk, imitating, as he did so, the sound of the falling and bursting shell, "_sss-eee-aaa-ahah-aow-Wump_."

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading He leaned his head and body far to one side, straightened slowly, bent his head on a curve to the other side, and brought it up with a jerk, imitating, as he did so, the sound of the falling and bursting shell, "_sss-eee-aaa-ahah-aow-Wump_."

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading He leaned his head and body far to one side, straightened slowly, bent his head on a curve to the other side, and brought it up with a jerk, imitating, as he did so, the sound of the falling and bursting shell, "_sss-eee-aaa-ahah-aow-Wump_."

other

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

From this reading He leaned his head and body far to one side, straightened slowly, bent his head on a curve to the other side, and brought it up with a jerk, imitating, as he did so, the sound of the falling and bursting shell, "_sss-eee-aaa-ahah-aow-Wump_."

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading A German shell, soaring over, burst with a loud _crump_ behind the trench.

place

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

From this reading The captain ascended to his place again.

shell

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

From this reading A German shell, soaring over, burst with a loud _crump_ behind the trench.

shuffling

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

From this reading Another shell fell, and "_aow-Wump_," he cried again, shuffling his feet and laughing gayly.

side

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

From this reading He leaned his head and body far to one side, straightened slowly, bent his head on a curve to the other side, and brought it up with a jerk, imitating, as he did so, the sound of the falling and bursting shell, "_sss-eee-aaa-ahah-aow-Wump_."

signaler

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

From this reading The French signaler laughed and waved derisively towards the shell.

slowly

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

From this reading He leaned his head and body far to one side, straightened slowly, bent his head on a curve to the other side, and brought it up with a jerk, imitating, as he did so, the sound of the falling and bursting shell, "_sss-eee-aaa-ahah-aow-Wump_."

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading He leaned his head and body far to one side, straightened slowly, bent his head on a curve to the other side, and brought it up with a jerk, imitating, as he did so, the sound of the falling and bursting shell, "_sss-eee-aaa-ahah-aow-Wump_."

soaring

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

From this reading A German shell, soaring over, burst with a loud _crump_ behind the trench.

sound

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

From this reading He leaned his head and body far to one side, straightened slowly, bent his head on a curve to the other side, and brought it up with a jerk, imitating, as he did so, the sound of the falling and bursting shell, "_sss-eee-aaa-ahah-aow-Wump_."

sss-eee-aaa-ahah-aow-Wump

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

From this reading He leaned his head and body far to one side, straightened slowly, bent his head on a curve to the other side, and brought it up with a jerk, imitating, as he did so, the sound of the falling and bursting shell, "_sss-eee-aaa-ahah-aow-Wump_."

straightened

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

From this reading He leaned his head and body far to one side, straightened slowly, bent his head on a curve to the other side, and brought it up with a jerk, imitating, as he did so, the sound of the falling and bursting shell, "_sss-eee-aaa-ahah-aow-Wump_."

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The captain ascended to his place again.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The captain ascended to his place again.

towardsprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrdz/

in the direction of

From this reading The French signaler laughed and waved derisively towards the shell.

trench

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

From this reading A German shell, soaring over, burst with a loud _crump_ behind the trench.

up

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

From this reading He leaned his head and body far to one side, straightened slowly, bent his head on a curve to the other side, and brought it up with a jerk, imitating, as he did so, the sound of the falling and bursting shell, "_sss-eee-aaa-ahah-aow-Wump_."

waved

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

From this reading The French signaler laughed and waved derisively towards the shell.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading A German shell, soaring over, burst with a loud _crump_ behind the trench.