Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
Arcturus Times Three
Arcturus Times Three

Chapter II

Cover illustration for Arcturus Times Three
Context Illustration Reading 1/81 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
"Incredible!" thought Jerry.
"To decompose so damned fast!
But it certainly explains why Junior brought me that thing still alive and kicking.
It didn't last more than a few minutes after it died--_Ugh!_" The sickly retch boiled out from his stomach with a painful expansion, and he scented the same foul odor on his breath as arose from the liquid that now lay drying in the burning sunlight.
"The damn thing's going rotten _inside_ me!" he said to himself, feeling the first wave of illness shake him from horn to tail-tip.
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Arcturus Times Three

Chapter II

Reading 1/81 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
"Incredible!" thought Jerry.
Line 2
"To decompose so damned fast!
Line 3
But it certainly explains why Junior brought me that thing still alive and kicking.
Line 4
It didn't last more than a few minutes after it died--_Ugh!_" The sickly retch boiled out from his stomach with a painful expansion, and he scented the same foul odor on his breath as arose from the liquid that now lay drying in the burning sunlight.
Line 5
"The damn thing's going rotten _inside_ me!" he said to himself, feeling the first wave of illness shake him from horn to tail-tip.

Learner Dictionary

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

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “It didn't last more than a few minutes after it died--_Ugh!_" The sickly retch boiled out from his stomach with a painful expansion, and he scented the same foul odor on his breath as arose from the liquid that now lay drying in the burning sunlight.”

Brought noun US /ˈbrought/

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

From this reading “But it certainly explains why Junior brought me that thing still alive and kicking.”

Feeling noun US /ˈfeeling/

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

From this reading “"The damn thing's going rotten _inside_ me!" he said to himself, feeling the first wave of illness shake him from horn to tail-tip.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"The damn thing's going rotten _inside_ me!" he said to himself, feeling the first wave of illness shake him from horn to tail-tip.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading “"The damn thing's going rotten _inside_ me!" he said to himself, feeling the first wave of illness shake him from horn to tail-tip.”

Last noun US /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It didn't last more than a few minutes after it died--_Ugh!_" The sickly retch boiled out from his stomach with a painful expansion, and he scented the same foul odor on his breath as arose from the liquid that now lay drying in the burning sunlight.”

Same noun US /same/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It didn't last more than a few minutes after it died--_Ugh!_" The sickly retch boiled out from his stomach with a painful expansion, and he scented the same foul odor on his breath as arose from the liquid that now lay drying in the burning sunlight.”

Still noun US /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But it certainly explains why Junior brought me that thing still alive and kicking.”

Thing noun US /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But it certainly explains why Junior brought me that thing still alive and kicking.”

Thought noun US /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"Incredible!" thought Jerry.”

All words in this reading · 75

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 It didn't last more than a few minutes after it died--_Ugh!_" The sickly retch boiled out from his stomach with a painful expansion, and he scented the same foul odor on his breath as arose from the liquid that now lay drying in the burning sunlight.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading It didn't last more than a few minutes after it died--_Ugh!_" The sickly retch boiled out from his stomach with a painful expansion, and he scented the same foul odor on his breath as arose from the liquid that now lay drying in the burning sunlight.

alive

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

From this reading But it certainly explains why Junior brought me that thing still alive and kicking.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading But it certainly explains why Junior brought me that thing still alive and kicking.

arose

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

From this reading It didn't last more than a few minutes after it died--_Ugh!_" The sickly retch boiled out from his stomach with a painful expansion, and he scented the same foul odor on his breath as arose from the liquid that now lay drying in the burning sunlight.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading It didn't last more than a few minutes after it died--_Ugh!_" The sickly retch boiled out from his stomach with a painful expansion, and he scented the same foul odor on his breath as arose from the liquid that now lay drying in the burning sunlight.

boiled

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

From this reading It didn't last more than a few minutes after it died--_Ugh!_" The sickly retch boiled out from his stomach with a painful expansion, and he scented the same foul odor on his breath as arose from the liquid that now lay drying in the burning sunlight.

breath

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

From this reading It didn't last more than a few minutes after it died--_Ugh!_" The sickly retch boiled out from his stomach with a painful expansion, and he scented the same foul odor on his breath as arose from the liquid that now lay drying in the burning sunlight.

broughtnounUS /ˈbrought/

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

From this reading But it certainly explains why Junior brought me that thing still alive and kicking.

burning

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

From this reading It didn't last more than a few minutes after it died--_Ugh!_" The sickly retch boiled out from his stomach with a painful expansion, and he scented the same foul odor on his breath as arose from the liquid that now lay drying in the burning sunlight.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But it certainly explains why Junior brought me that thing still alive and kicking.

certainly

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

From this reading But it certainly explains why Junior brought me that thing still alive and kicking.

damn

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

From this reading "The damn thing's going rotten _inside_ me!" he said to himself, feeling the first wave of illness shake him from horn to tail-tip.

damned

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

From this reading "To decompose so damned fast!

decompose

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

From this reading "To decompose so damned fast!

didn't

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

From this reading It didn't last more than a few minutes after it died--_Ugh!_" The sickly retch boiled out from his stomach with a painful expansion, and he scented the same foul odor on his breath as arose from the liquid that now lay drying in the burning sunlight.

died

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

From this reading It didn't last more than a few minutes after it died--_Ugh!_" The sickly retch boiled out from his stomach with a painful expansion, and he scented the same foul odor on his breath as arose from the liquid that now lay drying in the burning sunlight.

drying

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

From this reading It didn't last more than a few minutes after it died--_Ugh!_" The sickly retch boiled out from his stomach with a painful expansion, and he scented the same foul odor on his breath as arose from the liquid that now lay drying in the burning sunlight.

expansion

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

From this reading It didn't last more than a few minutes after it died--_Ugh!_" The sickly retch boiled out from his stomach with a painful expansion, and he scented the same foul odor on his breath as arose from the liquid that now lay drying in the burning sunlight.

explains

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

From this reading But it certainly explains why Junior brought me that thing still alive and kicking.

fast

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

From this reading "To decompose so damned fast!

feelingnounUS /ˈfeeling/

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

From this reading "The damn thing's going rotten _inside_ me!" he said to himself, feeling the first wave of illness shake him from horn to tail-tip.

few

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

From this reading It didn't last more than a few minutes after it died--_Ugh!_" The sickly retch boiled out from his stomach with a painful expansion, and he scented the same foul odor on his breath as arose from the liquid that now lay drying in the burning sunlight.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "The damn thing's going rotten _inside_ me!" he said to himself, feeling the first wave of illness shake him from horn to tail-tip.

foul

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

From this reading It didn't last more than a few minutes after it died--_Ugh!_" The sickly retch boiled out from his stomach with a painful expansion, and he scented the same foul odor on his breath as arose from the liquid that now lay drying in the burning sunlight.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading It didn't last more than a few minutes after it died--_Ugh!_" The sickly retch boiled out from his stomach with a painful expansion, and he scented the same foul odor on his breath as arose from the liquid that now lay drying in the burning sunlight.

going

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

From this reading "The damn thing's going rotten _inside_ me!" he said to himself, feeling the first wave of illness shake him from horn to tail-tip.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading It didn't last more than a few minutes after it died--_Ugh!_" The sickly retch boiled out from his stomach with a painful expansion, and he scented the same foul odor on his breath as arose from the liquid that now lay drying in the burning sunlight.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading "The damn thing's going rotten _inside_ me!" he said to himself, feeling the first wave of illness shake him from horn to tail-tip.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading "The damn thing's going rotten _inside_ me!" he said to himself, feeling the first wave of illness shake him from horn to tail-tip.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading It didn't last more than a few minutes after it died--_Ugh!_" The sickly retch boiled out from his stomach with a painful expansion, and he scented the same foul odor on his breath as arose from the liquid that now lay drying in the burning sunlight.

horn

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

From this reading "The damn thing's going rotten _inside_ me!" he said to himself, feeling the first wave of illness shake him from horn to tail-tip.

illness

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

From this reading "The damn thing's going rotten _inside_ me!" he said to himself, feeling the first wave of illness shake him from horn to tail-tip.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading It didn't last more than a few minutes after it died--_Ugh!_" The sickly retch boiled out from his stomach with a painful expansion, and he scented the same foul odor on his breath as arose from the liquid that now lay drying in the burning sunlight.

Incredible

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

From this reading "Incredible!" thought Jerry.

inside

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

From this reading "The damn thing's going rotten _inside_ me!" he said to himself, feeling the first wave of illness shake him from horn to tail-tip.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading But it certainly explains why Junior brought me that thing still alive and kicking.

Jerry

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

From this reading "Incredible!" thought Jerry.

Junior

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

From this reading But it certainly explains why Junior brought me that thing still alive and kicking.

kicking

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

From this reading But it certainly explains why Junior brought me that thing still alive and kicking.

lastnounUS /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It didn't last more than a few minutes after it died--_Ugh!_" The sickly retch boiled out from his stomach with a painful expansion, and he scented the same foul odor on his breath as arose from the liquid that now lay drying in the burning sunlight.

lay

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

From this reading It didn't last more than a few minutes after it died--_Ugh!_" The sickly retch boiled out from his stomach with a painful expansion, and he scented the same foul odor on his breath as arose from the liquid that now lay drying in the burning sunlight.

liquid

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

From this reading It didn't last more than a few minutes after it died--_Ugh!_" The sickly retch boiled out from his stomach with a painful expansion, and he scented the same foul odor on his breath as arose from the liquid that now lay drying in the burning sunlight.

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading But it certainly explains why Junior brought me that thing still alive and kicking.

minutes

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

From this reading It didn't last more than a few minutes after it died--_Ugh!_" The sickly retch boiled out from his stomach with a painful expansion, and he scented the same foul odor on his breath as arose from the liquid that now lay drying in the burning sunlight.

more

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

From this reading It didn't last more than a few minutes after it died--_Ugh!_" The sickly retch boiled out from his stomach with a painful expansion, and he scented the same foul odor on his breath as arose from the liquid that now lay drying in the burning sunlight.

now

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

From this reading It didn't last more than a few minutes after it died--_Ugh!_" The sickly retch boiled out from his stomach with a painful expansion, and he scented the same foul odor on his breath as arose from the liquid that now lay drying in the burning sunlight.

odor

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

From this reading It didn't last more than a few minutes after it died--_Ugh!_" The sickly retch boiled out from his stomach with a painful expansion, and he scented the same foul odor on his breath as arose from the liquid that now lay drying in the burning sunlight.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading "The damn thing's going rotten _inside_ me!" he said to himself, feeling the first wave of illness shake him from horn to tail-tip.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading It didn't last more than a few minutes after it died--_Ugh!_" The sickly retch boiled out from his stomach with a painful expansion, and he scented the same foul odor on his breath as arose from the liquid that now lay drying in the burning sunlight.

out

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

From this reading It didn't last more than a few minutes after it died--_Ugh!_" The sickly retch boiled out from his stomach with a painful expansion, and he scented the same foul odor on his breath as arose from the liquid that now lay drying in the burning sunlight.

painful

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

From this reading It didn't last more than a few minutes after it died--_Ugh!_" The sickly retch boiled out from his stomach with a painful expansion, and he scented the same foul odor on his breath as arose from the liquid that now lay drying in the burning sunlight.

retch

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

From this reading It didn't last more than a few minutes after it died--_Ugh!_" The sickly retch boiled out from his stomach with a painful expansion, and he scented the same foul odor on his breath as arose from the liquid that now lay drying in the burning sunlight.

rotten

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

From this reading "The damn thing's going rotten _inside_ me!" he said to himself, feeling the first wave of illness shake him from horn to tail-tip.

said

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

From this reading "The damn thing's going rotten _inside_ me!" he said to himself, feeling the first wave of illness shake him from horn to tail-tip.

samenounUS /same/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It didn't last more than a few minutes after it died--_Ugh!_" The sickly retch boiled out from his stomach with a painful expansion, and he scented the same foul odor on his breath as arose from the liquid that now lay drying in the burning sunlight.

scented

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

From this reading It didn't last more than a few minutes after it died--_Ugh!_" The sickly retch boiled out from his stomach with a painful expansion, and he scented the same foul odor on his breath as arose from the liquid that now lay drying in the burning sunlight.

shake

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

From this reading "The damn thing's going rotten _inside_ me!" he said to himself, feeling the first wave of illness shake him from horn to tail-tip.

sickly

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

From this reading It didn't last more than a few minutes after it died--_Ugh!_" The sickly retch boiled out from his stomach with a painful expansion, and he scented the same foul odor on his breath as arose from the liquid that now lay drying in the burning sunlight.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading "To decompose so damned fast!

stillnounUS /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But it certainly explains why Junior brought me that thing still alive and kicking.

stomach

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

From this reading It didn't last more than a few minutes after it died--_Ugh!_" The sickly retch boiled out from his stomach with a painful expansion, and he scented the same foul odor on his breath as arose from the liquid that now lay drying in the burning sunlight.

sunlight

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

From this reading It didn't last more than a few minutes after it died--_Ugh!_" The sickly retch boiled out from his stomach with a painful expansion, and he scented the same foul odor on his breath as arose from the liquid that now lay drying in the burning sunlight.

tail-tip

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

From this reading "The damn thing's going rotten _inside_ me!" he said to himself, feeling the first wave of illness shake him from horn to tail-tip.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading It didn't last more than a few minutes after it died--_Ugh!_" The sickly retch boiled out from his stomach with a painful expansion, and he scented the same foul odor on his breath as arose from the liquid that now lay drying in the burning sunlight.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading But it certainly explains why Junior brought me that thing still alive and kicking.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading It didn't last more than a few minutes after it died--_Ugh!_" The sickly retch boiled out from his stomach with a painful expansion, and he scented the same foul odor on his breath as arose from the liquid that now lay drying in the burning sunlight.

thingnounUS /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But it certainly explains why Junior brought me that thing still alive and kicking.

thing's

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

From this reading "The damn thing's going rotten _inside_ me!" he said to himself, feeling the first wave of illness shake him from horn to tail-tip.

thoughtnounUS /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "Incredible!" thought Jerry.

ToparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading "To decompose so damned fast!

Ugh

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

From this reading It didn't last more than a few minutes after it died--_Ugh!_" The sickly retch boiled out from his stomach with a painful expansion, and he scented the same foul odor on his breath as arose from the liquid that now lay drying in the burning sunlight.

wave

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

From this reading "The damn thing's going rotten _inside_ me!" he said to himself, feeling the first wave of illness shake him from horn to tail-tip.

why

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

From this reading But it certainly explains why Junior brought me that thing still alive and kicking.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading It didn't last more than a few minutes after it died--_Ugh!_" The sickly retch boiled out from his stomach with a painful expansion, and he scented the same foul odor on his breath as arose from the liquid that now lay drying in the burning sunlight.