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Andy Grant's Pluck
Andy Grant's Pluck

Chapter XXIX

Cover illustration for Andy Grant's Pluck
Context Illustration Reading 1/28 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE INTEREST IS PAID.
Andy was surprised by the squire's words.
He could not conjecture what business Squire Carter could have with him.
"First," said the squire, "may I ask, Mr. Grant, whether you can pay the interest on the mortgage which I hold when it comes due?"
"I have only twenty-five dollars at my command now, Squire Carter.
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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.

Andy Grant's Pluck

Chapter XXIX

Reading 1/28 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE INTEREST IS PAID.
Line 2
Andy was surprised by the squire's words.
Line 3
He could not conjecture what business Squire Carter could have with him.
Line 4
"First," said the squire, "may I ask, Mr. Grant, whether you can pay the interest on the mortgage which I hold when it comes due?"
Line 5
"I have only twenty-five dollars at my command now, Squire Carter.

Learner Dictionary

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

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “He could not conjecture what business Squire Carter could have with him.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"First," said the squire, "may I ask, Mr. Grant, whether you can pay the interest on the mortgage which I hold when it comes due?"”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “He could not conjecture what business Squire Carter could have with him.”

May modal verb US /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading “"First," said the squire, "may I ask, Mr. Grant, whether you can pay the interest on the mortgage which I hold when it comes due?"”

Surprised noun US /surprised/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Andy was surprised by the squire's words.”

Whether conjunction US /ˈweðər/

used to introduce two or more possibilities

From this reading “"First," said the squire, "may I ask, Mr. Grant, whether you can pay the interest on the mortgage which I hold when it comes due?"”

All words in this reading · 47

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

Andy

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

From this reading Andy was surprised by the squire's words.

ask

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

From this reading "First," said the squire, "may I ask, Mr. Grant, whether you can pay the interest on the mortgage which I hold when it comes due?"

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading "I have only twenty-five dollars at my command now, Squire Carter.

business

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

From this reading He could not conjecture what business Squire Carter could have with him.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Andy was surprised by the squire's words.

canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading "First," said the squire, "may I ask, Mr. Grant, whether you can pay the interest on the mortgage which I hold when it comes due?"

Carter

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

From this reading He could not conjecture what business Squire Carter could have with him.

comes

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

From this reading "First," said the squire, "may I ask, Mr. Grant, whether you can pay the interest on the mortgage which I hold when it comes due?"

command

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

From this reading "I have only twenty-five dollars at my command now, Squire Carter.

conjecture

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

From this reading He could not conjecture what business Squire Carter could have with him.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading He could not conjecture what business Squire Carter could have with him.

dollars

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

From this reading "I have only twenty-five dollars at my command now, Squire Carter.

due

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

From this reading "First," said the squire, "may I ask, Mr. Grant, whether you can pay the interest on the mortgage which I hold when it comes due?"

FirstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "First," said the squire, "may I ask, Mr. Grant, whether you can pay the interest on the mortgage which I hold when it comes due?"

Grant

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

From this reading "First," said the squire, "may I ask, Mr. Grant, whether you can pay the interest on the mortgage which I hold when it comes due?"

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading He could not conjecture what business Squire Carter could have with him.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He could not conjecture what business Squire Carter could have with him.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading He could not conjecture what business Squire Carter could have with him.

hold

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

From this reading "First," said the squire, "may I ask, Mr. Grant, whether you can pay the interest on the mortgage which I hold when it comes due?"

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading "First," said the squire, "may I ask, Mr. Grant, whether you can pay the interest on the mortgage which I hold when it comes due?"

INTEREST

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

From this reading THE INTEREST IS PAID.

ISauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading THE INTEREST IS PAID.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading "First," said the squire, "may I ask, Mr. Grant, whether you can pay the interest on the mortgage which I hold when it comes due?"

maymodal verbUS /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading "First," said the squire, "may I ask, Mr. Grant, whether you can pay the interest on the mortgage which I hold when it comes due?"

mortgage

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

From this reading "First," said the squire, "may I ask, Mr. Grant, whether you can pay the interest on the mortgage which I hold when it comes due?"

Mr

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

From this reading "First," said the squire, "may I ask, Mr. Grant, whether you can pay the interest on the mortgage which I hold when it comes due?"

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading "I have only twenty-five dollars at my command now, Squire Carter.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading He could not conjecture what business Squire Carter could have with him.

now

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

From this reading "I have only twenty-five dollars at my command now, Squire Carter.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading "First," said the squire, "may I ask, Mr. Grant, whether you can pay the interest on the mortgage which I hold when it comes due?"

only

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

From this reading "I have only twenty-five dollars at my command now, Squire Carter.

PAID

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

From this reading THE INTEREST IS PAID.

pay

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

From this reading "First," said the squire, "may I ask, Mr. Grant, whether you can pay the interest on the mortgage which I hold when it comes due?"

said

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

From this reading "First," said the squire, "may I ask, Mr. Grant, whether you can pay the interest on the mortgage which I hold when it comes due?"

Squire

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

From this reading He could not conjecture what business Squire Carter could have with him.

squire's

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

From this reading Andy was surprised by the squire's words.

surprisednounUS /surprised/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Andy was surprised by the squire's words.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE INTEREST IS PAID.

twenty-five

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

From this reading "I have only twenty-five dollars at my command now, Squire Carter.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Andy was surprised by the squire's words.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading He could not conjecture what business Squire Carter could have with him.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading "First," said the squire, "may I ask, Mr. Grant, whether you can pay the interest on the mortgage which I hold when it comes due?"

whetherconjunctionUS /ˈweðər/

used to introduce two or more possibilities

From this reading "First," said the squire, "may I ask, Mr. Grant, whether you can pay the interest on the mortgage which I hold when it comes due?"

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading "First," said the squire, "may I ask, Mr. Grant, whether you can pay the interest on the mortgage which I hold when it comes due?"

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading He could not conjecture what business Squire Carter could have with him.

words

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

From this reading Andy was surprised by the squire's words.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "First," said the squire, "may I ask, Mr. Grant, whether you can pay the interest on the mortgage which I hold when it comes due?"