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Billy Whiskers' Adventures
Billy Whiskers' Adventures

Chapter XII

Cover illustration for Billy Whiskers' Adventures
Context Illustration Reading 1/17 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
BILLY WHISKERS' FAMILY START FOR CHICAGO Two weeks from the time the old crow took the message from Billy, he delivered it to Nannie early one morning when she had just awakened from a sound sleep on the top of a straw stack.
It was her usual resting place, for from this vantage point she could get a view of all the country roundabout as the stack stood on the top of a high hill.
Here she spent most of her time night and day when Billy was away, looking for him to return.
From here she could see not only the country roads, but also the railroad as well as the meadows and woodland.
Consequently from whichever direction Billy might come she would be the first to see him.
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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.

Billy Whiskers' Adventures

Chapter XII

Reading 1/17 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
BILLY WHISKERS' FAMILY START FOR CHICAGO Two weeks from the time the old crow took the message from Billy, he delivered it to Nannie early one morning when she had just awakened from a sound sleep on the top of a straw stack.
Line 2
It was her usual resting place, for from this vantage point she could get a view of all the country roundabout as the stack stood on the top of a high hill.
Line 3
Here she spent most of her time night and day when Billy was away, looking for him to return.
Line 4
From here she could see not only the country roads, but also the railroad as well as the meadows and woodland.
Line 5
Consequently from whichever direction Billy might come she would be the first to see him.

Learner Dictionary

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

Come noun US /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Consequently from whichever direction Billy might come she would be the first to see him.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “It was her usual resting place, for from this vantage point she could get a view of all the country roundabout as the stack stood on the top of a high hill.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Consequently from whichever direction Billy might come she would be the first to see him.”

Here noun US /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Here she spent most of her time night and day when Billy was away, looking for him to return.”

Might modal verb US /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading “Consequently from whichever direction Billy might come she would be the first to see him.”

Morning noun US /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “BILLY WHISKERS' FAMILY START FOR CHICAGO Two weeks from the time the old crow took the message from Billy, he delivered it to Nannie early one morning when she had just awakened from a sound sleep on the top of a straw stack.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “BILLY WHISKERS' FAMILY START FOR CHICAGO Two weeks from the time the old crow took the message from Billy, he delivered it to Nannie early one morning when she had just awakened from a sound sleep on the top of a straw stack.”

Point noun US /pɔɪnt/

the main matter or purpose being discussed

From this reading “It was her usual resting place, for from this vantage point she could get a view of all the country roundabout as the stack stood on the top of a high hill.”

Resting noun US /ˈresting/

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

From this reading “It was her usual resting place, for from this vantage point she could get a view of all the country roundabout as the stack stood on the top of a high hill.”

START noun US /start/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “BILLY WHISKERS' FAMILY START FOR CHICAGO Two weeks from the time the old crow took the message from Billy, he delivered it to Nannie early one morning when she had just awakened from a sound sleep on the top of a straw stack.”

Stood noun US /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was her usual resting place, for from this vantage point she could get a view of all the country roundabout as the stack stood on the top of a high hill.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “BILLY WHISKERS' FAMILY START FOR CHICAGO Two weeks from the time the old crow took the message from Billy, he delivered it to Nannie early one morning when she had just awakened from a sound sleep on the top of a straw stack.”

Took noun US /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “BILLY WHISKERS' FAMILY START FOR CHICAGO Two weeks from the time the old crow took the message from Billy, he delivered it to Nannie early one morning when she had just awakened from a sound sleep on the top of a straw stack.”

Well noun US /well/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “From here she could see not only the country roads, but also the railroad as well as the meadows and woodland.”

Whichever determiner US /wɪˈtʃevər/

any one of a set, it does not matter which

From this reading “Consequently from whichever direction Billy might come she would be the first to see him.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “Consequently from whichever direction Billy might come she would be the first to see him.”

All words in this reading · 82

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 BILLY WHISKERS' FAMILY START FOR CHICAGO Two weeks from the time the old crow took the message from Billy, he delivered it to Nannie early one morning when she had just awakened from a sound sleep on the top of a straw stack.

all

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

From this reading It was her usual resting place, for from this vantage point she could get a view of all the country roundabout as the stack stood on the top of a high hill.

also

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

From this reading From here she could see not only the country roads, but also the railroad as well as the meadows and woodland.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Here she spent most of her time night and day when Billy was away, looking for him to return.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading It was her usual resting place, for from this vantage point she could get a view of all the country roundabout as the stack stood on the top of a high hill.

awakened

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

From this reading BILLY WHISKERS' FAMILY START FOR CHICAGO Two weeks from the time the old crow took the message from Billy, he delivered it to Nannie early one morning when she had just awakened from a sound sleep on the top of a straw stack.

away

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

From this reading Here she spent most of her time night and day when Billy was away, looking for him to return.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading Consequently from whichever direction Billy might come she would be the first to see him.

BILLY

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

From this reading BILLY WHISKERS' FAMILY START FOR CHICAGO Two weeks from the time the old crow took the message from Billy, he delivered it to Nannie early one morning when she had just awakened from a sound sleep on the top of a straw stack.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading From here she could see not only the country roads, but also the railroad as well as the meadows and woodland.

CHICAGO

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

From this reading BILLY WHISKERS' FAMILY START FOR CHICAGO Two weeks from the time the old crow took the message from Billy, he delivered it to Nannie early one morning when she had just awakened from a sound sleep on the top of a straw stack.

comenounUS /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Consequently from whichever direction Billy might come she would be the first to see him.

Consequently

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

From this reading Consequently from whichever direction Billy might come she would be the first to see him.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading It was her usual resting place, for from this vantage point she could get a view of all the country roundabout as the stack stood on the top of a high hill.

country

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

From this reading It was her usual resting place, for from this vantage point she could get a view of all the country roundabout as the stack stood on the top of a high hill.

crow

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

From this reading BILLY WHISKERS' FAMILY START FOR CHICAGO Two weeks from the time the old crow took the message from Billy, he delivered it to Nannie early one morning when she had just awakened from a sound sleep on the top of a straw stack.

day

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

From this reading Here she spent most of her time night and day when Billy was away, looking for him to return.

delivered

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

From this reading BILLY WHISKERS' FAMILY START FOR CHICAGO Two weeks from the time the old crow took the message from Billy, he delivered it to Nannie early one morning when she had just awakened from a sound sleep on the top of a straw stack.

direction

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

From this reading Consequently from whichever direction Billy might come she would be the first to see him.

early

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

From this reading BILLY WHISKERS' FAMILY START FOR CHICAGO Two weeks from the time the old crow took the message from Billy, he delivered it to Nannie early one morning when she had just awakened from a sound sleep on the top of a straw stack.

FAMILY

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

From this reading BILLY WHISKERS' FAMILY START FOR CHICAGO Two weeks from the time the old crow took the message from Billy, he delivered it to Nannie early one morning when she had just awakened from a sound sleep on the top of a straw stack.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Consequently from whichever direction Billy might come she would be the first to see him.

FORprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading BILLY WHISKERS' FAMILY START FOR CHICAGO Two weeks from the time the old crow took the message from Billy, he delivered it to Nannie early one morning when she had just awakened from a sound sleep on the top of a straw stack.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading BILLY WHISKERS' FAMILY START FOR CHICAGO Two weeks from the time the old crow took the message from Billy, he delivered it to Nannie early one morning when she had just awakened from a sound sleep on the top of a straw stack.

get

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

From this reading It was her usual resting place, for from this vantage point she could get a view of all the country roundabout as the stack stood on the top of a high hill.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading BILLY WHISKERS' FAMILY START FOR CHICAGO Two weeks from the time the old crow took the message from Billy, he delivered it to Nannie early one morning when she had just awakened from a sound sleep on the top of a straw stack.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading BILLY WHISKERS' FAMILY START FOR CHICAGO Two weeks from the time the old crow took the message from Billy, he delivered it to Nannie early one morning when she had just awakened from a sound sleep on the top of a straw stack.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading It was her usual resting place, for from this vantage point she could get a view of all the country roundabout as the stack stood on the top of a high hill.

HerenounUS /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Here she spent most of her time night and day when Billy was away, looking for him to return.

high

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

From this reading It was her usual resting place, for from this vantage point she could get a view of all the country roundabout as the stack stood on the top of a high hill.

hill

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

From this reading It was her usual resting place, for from this vantage point she could get a view of all the country roundabout as the stack stood on the top of a high hill.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading Here she spent most of her time night and day when Billy was away, looking for him to return.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading BILLY WHISKERS' FAMILY START FOR CHICAGO Two weeks from the time the old crow took the message from Billy, he delivered it to Nannie early one morning when she had just awakened from a sound sleep on the top of a straw stack.

just

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

From this reading BILLY WHISKERS' FAMILY START FOR CHICAGO Two weeks from the time the old crow took the message from Billy, he delivered it to Nannie early one morning when she had just awakened from a sound sleep on the top of a straw stack.

looking

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

From this reading Here she spent most of her time night and day when Billy was away, looking for him to return.

meadows

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

From this reading From here she could see not only the country roads, but also the railroad as well as the meadows and woodland.

message

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

From this reading BILLY WHISKERS' FAMILY START FOR CHICAGO Two weeks from the time the old crow took the message from Billy, he delivered it to Nannie early one morning when she had just awakened from a sound sleep on the top of a straw stack.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading Consequently from whichever direction Billy might come she would be the first to see him.

morningnounUS /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading BILLY WHISKERS' FAMILY START FOR CHICAGO Two weeks from the time the old crow took the message from Billy, he delivered it to Nannie early one morning when she had just awakened from a sound sleep on the top of a straw stack.

most

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

From this reading Here she spent most of her time night and day when Billy was away, looking for him to return.

Nannie

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

From this reading BILLY WHISKERS' FAMILY START FOR CHICAGO Two weeks from the time the old crow took the message from Billy, he delivered it to Nannie early one morning when she had just awakened from a sound sleep on the top of a straw stack.

night

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

From this reading Here she spent most of her time night and day when Billy was away, looking for him to return.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading From here she could see not only the country roads, but also the railroad as well as the meadows and woodland.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading BILLY WHISKERS' FAMILY START FOR CHICAGO Two weeks from the time the old crow took the message from Billy, he delivered it to Nannie early one morning when she had just awakened from a sound sleep on the top of a straw stack.

old

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

From this reading BILLY WHISKERS' FAMILY START FOR CHICAGO Two weeks from the time the old crow took the message from Billy, he delivered it to Nannie early one morning when she had just awakened from a sound sleep on the top of a straw stack.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading BILLY WHISKERS' FAMILY START FOR CHICAGO Two weeks from the time the old crow took the message from Billy, he delivered it to Nannie early one morning when she had just awakened from a sound sleep on the top of a straw stack.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading BILLY WHISKERS' FAMILY START FOR CHICAGO Two weeks from the time the old crow took the message from Billy, he delivered it to Nannie early one morning when she had just awakened from a sound sleep on the top of a straw stack.

only

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

From this reading From here she could see not only the country roads, but also the railroad as well as the meadows and woodland.

place

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

From this reading It was her usual resting place, for from this vantage point she could get a view of all the country roundabout as the stack stood on the top of a high hill.

pointnounUS /pɔɪnt/

the main matter or purpose being discussed

From this reading It was her usual resting place, for from this vantage point she could get a view of all the country roundabout as the stack stood on the top of a high hill.

railroad

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

From this reading From here she could see not only the country roads, but also the railroad as well as the meadows and woodland.

restingnounUS /ˈresting/

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

From this reading It was her usual resting place, for from this vantage point she could get a view of all the country roundabout as the stack stood on the top of a high hill.

return

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

From this reading Here she spent most of her time night and day when Billy was away, looking for him to return.

roads

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

From this reading From here she could see not only the country roads, but also the railroad as well as the meadows and woodland.

roundabout

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

From this reading It was her usual resting place, for from this vantage point she could get a view of all the country roundabout as the stack stood on the top of a high hill.

see

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

From this reading From here she could see not only the country roads, but also the railroad as well as the meadows and woodland.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading BILLY WHISKERS' FAMILY START FOR CHICAGO Two weeks from the time the old crow took the message from Billy, he delivered it to Nannie early one morning when she had just awakened from a sound sleep on the top of a straw stack.

sleep

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

From this reading BILLY WHISKERS' FAMILY START FOR CHICAGO Two weeks from the time the old crow took the message from Billy, he delivered it to Nannie early one morning when she had just awakened from a sound sleep on the top of a straw stack.

sound

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

From this reading BILLY WHISKERS' FAMILY START FOR CHICAGO Two weeks from the time the old crow took the message from Billy, he delivered it to Nannie early one morning when she had just awakened from a sound sleep on the top of a straw stack.

spent

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

From this reading Here she spent most of her time night and day when Billy was away, looking for him to return.

stack

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

From this reading BILLY WHISKERS' FAMILY START FOR CHICAGO Two weeks from the time the old crow took the message from Billy, he delivered it to Nannie early one morning when she had just awakened from a sound sleep on the top of a straw stack.

STARTnounUS /start/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading BILLY WHISKERS' FAMILY START FOR CHICAGO Two weeks from the time the old crow took the message from Billy, he delivered it to Nannie early one morning when she had just awakened from a sound sleep on the top of a straw stack.

stoodnounUS /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was her usual resting place, for from this vantage point she could get a view of all the country roundabout as the stack stood on the top of a high hill.

straw

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

From this reading BILLY WHISKERS' FAMILY START FOR CHICAGO Two weeks from the time the old crow took the message from Billy, he delivered it to Nannie early one morning when she had just awakened from a sound sleep on the top of a straw stack.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading BILLY WHISKERS' FAMILY START FOR CHICAGO Two weeks from the time the old crow took the message from Billy, he delivered it to Nannie early one morning when she had just awakened from a sound sleep on the top of a straw stack.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading It was her usual resting place, for from this vantage point she could get a view of all the country roundabout as the stack stood on the top of a high hill.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading BILLY WHISKERS' FAMILY START FOR CHICAGO Two weeks from the time the old crow took the message from Billy, he delivered it to Nannie early one morning when she had just awakened from a sound sleep on the top of a straw stack.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading BILLY WHISKERS' FAMILY START FOR CHICAGO Two weeks from the time the old crow took the message from Billy, he delivered it to Nannie early one morning when she had just awakened from a sound sleep on the top of a straw stack.

tooknounUS /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading BILLY WHISKERS' FAMILY START FOR CHICAGO Two weeks from the time the old crow took the message from Billy, he delivered it to Nannie early one morning when she had just awakened from a sound sleep on the top of a straw stack.

top

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

From this reading BILLY WHISKERS' FAMILY START FOR CHICAGO Two weeks from the time the old crow took the message from Billy, he delivered it to Nannie early one morning when she had just awakened from a sound sleep on the top of a straw stack.

Two

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

From this reading BILLY WHISKERS' FAMILY START FOR CHICAGO Two weeks from the time the old crow took the message from Billy, he delivered it to Nannie early one morning when she had just awakened from a sound sleep on the top of a straw stack.

usual

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

From this reading It was her usual resting place, for from this vantage point she could get a view of all the country roundabout as the stack stood on the top of a high hill.

vantage

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

From this reading It was her usual resting place, for from this vantage point she could get a view of all the country roundabout as the stack stood on the top of a high hill.

view

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

From this reading It was her usual resting place, for from this vantage point she could get a view of all the country roundabout as the stack stood on the top of a high hill.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading It was her usual resting place, for from this vantage point she could get a view of all the country roundabout as the stack stood on the top of a high hill.

weeks

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

From this reading BILLY WHISKERS' FAMILY START FOR CHICAGO Two weeks from the time the old crow took the message from Billy, he delivered it to Nannie early one morning when she had just awakened from a sound sleep on the top of a straw stack.

well

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

From this reading From here she could see not only the country roads, but also the railroad as well as the meadows and woodland.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading BILLY WHISKERS' FAMILY START FOR CHICAGO Two weeks from the time the old crow took the message from Billy, he delivered it to Nannie early one morning when she had just awakened from a sound sleep on the top of a straw stack.

whicheverdeterminerUS /wɪˈtʃevər/

any one of a set, it does not matter which

From this reading Consequently from whichever direction Billy might come she would be the first to see him.

WHISKERS

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

From this reading BILLY WHISKERS' FAMILY START FOR CHICAGO Two weeks from the time the old crow took the message from Billy, he delivered it to Nannie early one morning when she had just awakened from a sound sleep on the top of a straw stack.

woodland

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

From this reading From here she could see not only the country roads, but also the railroad as well as the meadows and woodland.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading Consequently from whichever direction Billy might come she would be the first to see him.