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The Trees and the Axe
The Trees and the Axe

Chapter I · Act 01: The Discourse of The Trees and the Axe — The Origin & The Dilemma

Act 01: The Discourse of The Trees and the Axe — The Origin & The Dilemma, section 1: A MAN came into a forest and asked the Trees to provide him a handle for his axe. The Trees consented to his request and gave him a young ash-tree. No sooner had the man fitted a n
Context Illustration Reading 1/1 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
A MAN came into a forest and asked the Trees to provide him a handle for his axe.
The Trees consented to his request and gave him a young ash-tree.
No sooner had the man fitted a new handle to his axe from it, than he began to use it and quickly felled with his strokes the noblest giants of the forest.
An old oak, lamenting when too late the destruction of his companions, said to a neighboring cedar, “The first step has lost us all.
If we had not given up the rights of the ash, we might yet have retained our own privileges and have stood for ages.”
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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.

The Trees and the Axe

Chapter I · Act 01: The Discourse of The Trees and the Axe — The Origin & The Dilemma

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

Line 1
A MAN came into a forest and asked the Trees to provide him a handle for his axe.
Line 2
The Trees consented to his request and gave him a young ash-tree.
Line 3
No sooner had the man fitted a new handle to his axe from it, than he began to use it and quickly felled with his strokes the noblest giants of the forest.
Line 4
An old oak, lamenting when too late the destruction of his companions, said to a neighboring cedar, “The first step has lost us all.
Line 5
If we had not given up the rights of the ash, we might yet have retained our own privileges and have stood for ages.”

Learner Dictionary

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

came verb US /keɪm/

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading “A MAN came into a forest and asked the Trees to provide him a handle for his axe.”

Collocations
A MANA source-grounded phrase from this reading.
MAN cameA source-grounded phrase from this reading.
All words in this reading · 73

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 MAN came into a forest and asked the Trees to provide him a handle for his axe.

ages

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

From this reading If we had not given up the rights of the ash, we might yet have retained our own privileges and have stood for ages.”

all

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

From this reading An old oak, lamenting when too late the destruction of his companions, said to a neighboring cedar, “The first step has lost us all.

AndeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading An old oak, lamenting when too late the destruction of his companions, said to a neighboring cedar, “The first step has lost us all.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading A MAN came into a forest and asked the Trees to provide him a handle for his axe.

ash

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

From this reading If we had not given up the rights of the ash, we might yet have retained our own privileges and have stood for ages.”

ash-tree

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

From this reading The Trees consented to his request and gave him a young ash-tree.

askednounUS /asked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A MAN came into a forest and asked the Trees to provide him a handle for his axe.

axe

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

From this reading A MAN came into a forest and asked the Trees to provide him a handle for his axe.

begannounUS /began/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading No sooner had the man fitted a new handle to his axe from it, than he began to use it and quickly felled with his strokes the noblest giants of the forest.

cameverbUS /keɪm/

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading A MAN came into a forest and asked the Trees to provide him a handle for his axe.

cedar

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

From this reading An old oak, lamenting when too late the destruction of his companions, said to a neighboring cedar, “The first step has lost us all.

companions

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

From this reading An old oak, lamenting when too late the destruction of his companions, said to a neighboring cedar, “The first step has lost us all.

consented

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

From this reading The Trees consented to his request and gave him a young ash-tree.

destruction

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

From this reading An old oak, lamenting when too late the destruction of his companions, said to a neighboring cedar, “The first step has lost us all.

felled

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

From this reading No sooner had the man fitted a new handle to his axe from it, than he began to use it and quickly felled with his strokes the noblest giants of the forest.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading An old oak, lamenting when too late the destruction of his companions, said to a neighboring cedar, “The first step has lost us all.

fittedadjectiveUS /ˈfɪtɪd/

prepared and equipped for a particular purpose

From this reading No sooner had the man fitted a new handle to his axe from it, than he began to use it and quickly felled with his strokes the noblest giants of the forest.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading A MAN came into a forest and asked the Trees to provide him a handle for his axe.

forest

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

From this reading A MAN came into a forest and asked the Trees to provide him a handle for his axe.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading No sooner had the man fitted a new handle to his axe from it, than he began to use it and quickly felled with his strokes the noblest giants of the forest.

gave

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

From this reading The Trees consented to his request and gave him a young ash-tree.

giants

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

From this reading No sooner had the man fitted a new handle to his axe from it, than he began to use it and quickly felled with his strokes the noblest giants of the forest.

given

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

From this reading If we had not given up the rights of the ash, we might yet have retained our own privileges and have stood for ages.”

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading No sooner had the man fitted a new handle to his axe from it, than he began to use it and quickly felled with his strokes the noblest giants of the forest.

handle

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

From this reading A MAN came into a forest and asked the Trees to provide him a handle for his axe.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading An old oak, lamenting when too late the destruction of his companions, said to a neighboring cedar, “The first step has lost us all.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading If we had not given up the rights of the ash, we might yet have retained our own privileges and have stood for ages.”

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading No sooner had the man fitted a new handle to his axe from it, than he began to use it and quickly felled with his strokes the noblest giants of the forest.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading A MAN came into a forest and asked the Trees to provide him a handle for his axe.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading A MAN came into a forest and asked the Trees to provide him a handle for his axe.

IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading If we had not given up the rights of the ash, we might yet have retained our own privileges and have stood for ages.”

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading A MAN came into a forest and asked the Trees to provide him a handle for his axe.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading No sooner had the man fitted a new handle to his axe from it, than he began to use it and quickly felled with his strokes the noblest giants of the forest.

lamenting

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

From this reading An old oak, lamenting when too late the destruction of his companions, said to a neighboring cedar, “The first step has lost us all.

late

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

From this reading An old oak, lamenting when too late the destruction of his companions, said to a neighboring cedar, “The first step has lost us all.

lost

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

From this reading An old oak, lamenting when too late the destruction of his companions, said to a neighboring cedar, “The first step has lost us all.

MAN

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

From this reading A MAN came into a forest and asked the Trees to provide him a handle for his axe.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading If we had not given up the rights of the ash, we might yet have retained our own privileges and have stood for ages.”

neighboring

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

From this reading An old oak, lamenting when too late the destruction of his companions, said to a neighboring cedar, “The first step has lost us all.

new

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

From this reading No sooner had the man fitted a new handle to his axe from it, than he began to use it and quickly felled with his strokes the noblest giants of the forest.

NodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading No sooner had the man fitted a new handle to his axe from it, than he began to use it and quickly felled with his strokes the noblest giants of the forest.

noblest

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

From this reading No sooner had the man fitted a new handle to his axe from it, than he began to use it and quickly felled with his strokes the noblest giants of the forest.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading If we had not given up the rights of the ash, we might yet have retained our own privileges and have stood for ages.”

oak

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

From this reading An old oak, lamenting when too late the destruction of his companions, said to a neighboring cedar, “The first step has lost us all.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading No sooner had the man fitted a new handle to his axe from it, than he began to use it and quickly felled with his strokes the noblest giants of the forest.

old

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

From this reading An old oak, lamenting when too late the destruction of his companions, said to a neighboring cedar, “The first step has lost us all.

ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading If we had not given up the rights of the ash, we might yet have retained our own privileges and have stood for ages.”

own

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

From this reading If we had not given up the rights of the ash, we might yet have retained our own privileges and have stood for ages.”

privileges

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

From this reading If we had not given up the rights of the ash, we might yet have retained our own privileges and have stood for ages.”

provide

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

From this reading A MAN came into a forest and asked the Trees to provide him a handle for his axe.

quickly

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

From this reading No sooner had the man fitted a new handle to his axe from it, than he began to use it and quickly felled with his strokes the noblest giants of the forest.

request

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

From this reading The Trees consented to his request and gave him a young ash-tree.

retained

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

From this reading If we had not given up the rights of the ash, we might yet have retained our own privileges and have stood for ages.”

rights

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

From this reading If we had not given up the rights of the ash, we might yet have retained our own privileges and have stood for ages.”

said

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

From this reading An old oak, lamenting when too late the destruction of his companions, said to a neighboring cedar, “The first step has lost us all.

sooner

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

From this reading No sooner had the man fitted a new handle to his axe from it, than he began to use it and quickly felled with his strokes the noblest giants of the forest.

stepnounUS /step/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading An old oak, lamenting when too late the destruction of his companions, said to a neighboring cedar, “The first step has lost us all.

stoodnounUS /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading If we had not given up the rights of the ash, we might yet have retained our own privileges and have stood for ages.”

strokes

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

From this reading No sooner had the man fitted a new handle to his axe from it, than he began to use it and quickly felled with his strokes the noblest giants of the forest.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading No sooner had the man fitted a new handle to his axe from it, than he began to use it and quickly felled with his strokes the noblest giants of the forest.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading A MAN came into a forest and asked the Trees to provide him a handle for his axe.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading A MAN came into a forest and asked the Trees to provide him a handle for his axe.

too

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

From this reading An old oak, lamenting when too late the destruction of his companions, said to a neighboring cedar, “The first step has lost us all.

Trees

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

From this reading A MAN came into a forest and asked the Trees to provide him a handle for his axe.

up

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

From this reading If we had not given up the rights of the ash, we might yet have retained our own privileges and have stood for ages.”

uspronounUS /ʌs/

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading An old oak, lamenting when too late the destruction of his companions, said to a neighboring cedar, “The first step has lost us all.

use

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

From this reading No sooner had the man fitted a new handle to his axe from it, than he began to use it and quickly felled with his strokes the noblest giants of the forest.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading If we had not given up the rights of the ash, we might yet have retained our own privileges and have stood for ages.”

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading An old oak, lamenting when too late the destruction of his companions, said to a neighboring cedar, “The first step has lost us all.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading No sooner had the man fitted a new handle to his axe from it, than he began to use it and quickly felled with his strokes the noblest giants of the forest.

yetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading If we had not given up the rights of the ash, we might yet have retained our own privileges and have stood for ages.”

young

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

From this reading The Trees consented to his request and gave him a young ash-tree.

Chapter Quiz

What is the central philosophical inquiry and narrative progression in 'Act 01: The Discourse of The Trees and the Axe — The Origin & The Dilemma'?

How does the prose style reflect classical academic excellence?

What primary language acquisition value does this text offer advanced English scholars?