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Billy Whiskers Out for Fun
Billy Whiskers Out for Fun

Chapter XVI

Cover illustration for Billy Whiskers Out for Fun
Context Illustration Reading 1/14 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE CIRCUS BREAKS CAMP That night after the performance the circus broke camp and the friends were separated, the elephant, camel, monkey and parrot going to Bismarck while the moose, zebra, giraffe and sacred bull went to Duluth.
But this was not the worst division that was made.
Billy was to be sent to Duluth and Stubby and Button to Bismarck.
Now here was an unforeseen catastrophe and the circus people, having observed the close companionship of the four, took precaution to lock Billy and Nannie in a cage by themselves and Stubby and Button in another.
“Never mind,” counseled Billy.
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.

Billy Whiskers Out for Fun

Chapter XVI

Reading 1/14 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE CIRCUS BREAKS CAMP That night after the performance the circus broke camp and the friends were separated, the elephant, camel, monkey and parrot going to Bismarck while the moose, zebra, giraffe and sacred bull went to Duluth.
Line 2
But this was not the worst division that was made.
Line 3
Billy was to be sent to Duluth and Stubby and Button to Bismarck.
Line 4
Now here was an unforeseen catastrophe and the circus people, having observed the close companionship of the four, took precaution to lock Billy and Nannie in a cage by themselves and Stubby and Button in another.
Line 5
“Never mind,” counseled Billy.

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 “THE CIRCUS BREAKS CAMP That night after the performance the circus broke camp and the friends were separated, the elephant, camel, monkey and parrot going to Bismarck while the moose, zebra, giraffe and sacred bull went to Duluth.”

Another noun US /ˈanother/

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

From this reading “Now here was an unforeseen catastrophe and the circus people, having observed the close companionship of the four, took precaution to lock Billy and Nannie in a cage by themselves and Stubby and Button in another.”

CAMP noun US /camp/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “THE CIRCUS BREAKS CAMP That night after the performance the circus broke camp and the friends were separated, the elephant, camel, monkey and parrot going to Bismarck while the moose, zebra, giraffe and sacred bull went to Duluth.”

Having auxiliary verb US /ˈhævɪŋ/

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading “Now here was an unforeseen catastrophe and the circus people, having observed the close companionship of the four, took precaution to lock Billy and Nannie in a cage by themselves and Stubby and Button in another.”

Here noun US /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Now here was an unforeseen catastrophe and the circus people, having observed the close companionship of the four, took precaution to lock Billy and Nannie in a cage by themselves and Stubby and Button in another.”

Mind noun US /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““Never mind,” counseled Billy.”

Never noun US /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““Never mind,” counseled Billy.”

Themselves pronoun US /ðemˈselvz/

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading “Now here was an unforeseen catastrophe and the circus people, having observed the close companionship of the four, took precaution to lock Billy and Nannie in a cage by themselves and Stubby and Button in another.”

Took noun US /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Now here was an unforeseen catastrophe and the circus people, having observed the close companionship of the four, took precaution to lock Billy and Nannie in a cage by themselves and Stubby and Button in another.”

Went noun US /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “THE CIRCUS BREAKS CAMP That night after the performance the circus broke camp and the friends were separated, the elephant, camel, monkey and parrot going to Bismarck while the moose, zebra, giraffe and sacred bull went to Duluth.”

While conjunction US /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading “THE CIRCUS BREAKS CAMP That night after the performance the circus broke camp and the friends were separated, the elephant, camel, monkey and parrot going to Bismarck while the moose, zebra, giraffe and sacred bull went to Duluth.”

All words in this reading · 65

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 Now here was an unforeseen catastrophe and the circus people, having observed the close companionship of the four, took precaution to lock Billy and Nannie in a cage by themselves and Stubby and Button in another.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading THE CIRCUS BREAKS CAMP That night after the performance the circus broke camp and the friends were separated, the elephant, camel, monkey and parrot going to Bismarck while the moose, zebra, giraffe and sacred bull went to Duluth.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading Now here was an unforeseen catastrophe and the circus people, having observed the close companionship of the four, took precaution to lock Billy and Nannie in a cage by themselves and Stubby and Button in another.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading THE CIRCUS BREAKS CAMP That night after the performance the circus broke camp and the friends were separated, the elephant, camel, monkey and parrot going to Bismarck while the moose, zebra, giraffe and sacred bull went to Duluth.

anothernounUS /ˈanother/

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

From this reading Now here was an unforeseen catastrophe and the circus people, having observed the close companionship of the four, took precaution to lock Billy and Nannie in a cage by themselves and Stubby and Button in another.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading Billy was to be sent to Duluth and Stubby and Button to Bismarck.

Billy

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

From this reading Billy was to be sent to Duluth and Stubby and Button to Bismarck.

Bismarck

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

From this reading THE CIRCUS BREAKS CAMP That night after the performance the circus broke camp and the friends were separated, the elephant, camel, monkey and parrot going to Bismarck while the moose, zebra, giraffe and sacred bull went to Duluth.

BREAKS

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

From this reading THE CIRCUS BREAKS CAMP That night after the performance the circus broke camp and the friends were separated, the elephant, camel, monkey and parrot going to Bismarck while the moose, zebra, giraffe and sacred bull went to Duluth.

broke

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

From this reading THE CIRCUS BREAKS CAMP That night after the performance the circus broke camp and the friends were separated, the elephant, camel, monkey and parrot going to Bismarck while the moose, zebra, giraffe and sacred bull went to Duluth.

bull

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

From this reading THE CIRCUS BREAKS CAMP That night after the performance the circus broke camp and the friends were separated, the elephant, camel, monkey and parrot going to Bismarck while the moose, zebra, giraffe and sacred bull went to Duluth.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But this was not the worst division that was made.

Button

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

From this reading Billy was to be sent to Duluth and Stubby and Button to Bismarck.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Now here was an unforeseen catastrophe and the circus people, having observed the close companionship of the four, took precaution to lock Billy and Nannie in a cage by themselves and Stubby and Button in another.

cage

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

From this reading Now here was an unforeseen catastrophe and the circus people, having observed the close companionship of the four, took precaution to lock Billy and Nannie in a cage by themselves and Stubby and Button in another.

camel

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

From this reading THE CIRCUS BREAKS CAMP That night after the performance the circus broke camp and the friends were separated, the elephant, camel, monkey and parrot going to Bismarck while the moose, zebra, giraffe and sacred bull went to Duluth.

CAMP

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

From this reading THE CIRCUS BREAKS CAMP That night after the performance the circus broke camp and the friends were separated, the elephant, camel, monkey and parrot going to Bismarck while the moose, zebra, giraffe and sacred bull went to Duluth.

catastrophe

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

From this reading Now here was an unforeseen catastrophe and the circus people, having observed the close companionship of the four, took precaution to lock Billy and Nannie in a cage by themselves and Stubby and Button in another.

CIRCUS

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

From this reading THE CIRCUS BREAKS CAMP That night after the performance the circus broke camp and the friends were separated, the elephant, camel, monkey and parrot going to Bismarck while the moose, zebra, giraffe and sacred bull went to Duluth.

close

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

From this reading Now here was an unforeseen catastrophe and the circus people, having observed the close companionship of the four, took precaution to lock Billy and Nannie in a cage by themselves and Stubby and Button in another.

companionship

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

From this reading Now here was an unforeseen catastrophe and the circus people, having observed the close companionship of the four, took precaution to lock Billy and Nannie in a cage by themselves and Stubby and Button in another.

counseled

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

From this reading “Never mind,” counseled Billy.

division

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

From this reading But this was not the worst division that was made.

Duluth

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

From this reading THE CIRCUS BREAKS CAMP That night after the performance the circus broke camp and the friends were separated, the elephant, camel, monkey and parrot going to Bismarck while the moose, zebra, giraffe and sacred bull went to Duluth.

elephant

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

From this reading THE CIRCUS BREAKS CAMP That night after the performance the circus broke camp and the friends were separated, the elephant, camel, monkey and parrot going to Bismarck while the moose, zebra, giraffe and sacred bull went to Duluth.

four

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

From this reading Now here was an unforeseen catastrophe and the circus people, having observed the close companionship of the four, took precaution to lock Billy and Nannie in a cage by themselves and Stubby and Button in another.

friends

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

From this reading THE CIRCUS BREAKS CAMP That night after the performance the circus broke camp and the friends were separated, the elephant, camel, monkey and parrot going to Bismarck while the moose, zebra, giraffe and sacred bull went to Duluth.

giraffe

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

From this reading THE CIRCUS BREAKS CAMP That night after the performance the circus broke camp and the friends were separated, the elephant, camel, monkey and parrot going to Bismarck while the moose, zebra, giraffe and sacred bull went to Duluth.

going

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

From this reading THE CIRCUS BREAKS CAMP That night after the performance the circus broke camp and the friends were separated, the elephant, camel, monkey and parrot going to Bismarck while the moose, zebra, giraffe and sacred bull went to Duluth.

havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading Now here was an unforeseen catastrophe and the circus people, having observed the close companionship of the four, took precaution to lock Billy and Nannie in a cage by themselves and Stubby and Button in another.

herenounUS /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Now here was an unforeseen catastrophe and the circus people, having observed the close companionship of the four, took precaution to lock Billy and Nannie in a cage by themselves and Stubby and Button in another.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Now here was an unforeseen catastrophe and the circus people, having observed the close companionship of the four, took precaution to lock Billy and Nannie in a cage by themselves and Stubby and Button in another.

lock

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

From this reading Now here was an unforeseen catastrophe and the circus people, having observed the close companionship of the four, took precaution to lock Billy and Nannie in a cage by themselves and Stubby and Button in another.

made

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

From this reading But this was not the worst division that was made.

mindnounUS /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Never mind,” counseled Billy.

monkey

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

From this reading THE CIRCUS BREAKS CAMP That night after the performance the circus broke camp and the friends were separated, the elephant, camel, monkey and parrot going to Bismarck while the moose, zebra, giraffe and sacred bull went to Duluth.

moose

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

From this reading THE CIRCUS BREAKS CAMP That night after the performance the circus broke camp and the friends were separated, the elephant, camel, monkey and parrot going to Bismarck while the moose, zebra, giraffe and sacred bull went to Duluth.

Nannie

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

From this reading Now here was an unforeseen catastrophe and the circus people, having observed the close companionship of the four, took precaution to lock Billy and Nannie in a cage by themselves and Stubby and Button in another.

NevernounUS /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Never mind,” counseled Billy.

night

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

From this reading THE CIRCUS BREAKS CAMP That night after the performance the circus broke camp and the friends were separated, the elephant, camel, monkey and parrot going to Bismarck while the moose, zebra, giraffe and sacred bull went to Duluth.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading But this was not the worst division that was made.

Now

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

From this reading Now here was an unforeseen catastrophe and the circus people, having observed the close companionship of the four, took precaution to lock Billy and Nannie in a cage by themselves and Stubby and Button in another.

observed

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

From this reading Now here was an unforeseen catastrophe and the circus people, having observed the close companionship of the four, took precaution to lock Billy and Nannie in a cage by themselves and Stubby and Button in another.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Now here was an unforeseen catastrophe and the circus people, having observed the close companionship of the four, took precaution to lock Billy and Nannie in a cage by themselves and Stubby and Button in another.

parrot

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

From this reading THE CIRCUS BREAKS CAMP That night after the performance the circus broke camp and the friends were separated, the elephant, camel, monkey and parrot going to Bismarck while the moose, zebra, giraffe and sacred bull went to Duluth.

people

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

From this reading Now here was an unforeseen catastrophe and the circus people, having observed the close companionship of the four, took precaution to lock Billy and Nannie in a cage by themselves and Stubby and Button in another.

performance

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

From this reading THE CIRCUS BREAKS CAMP That night after the performance the circus broke camp and the friends were separated, the elephant, camel, monkey and parrot going to Bismarck while the moose, zebra, giraffe and sacred bull went to Duluth.

precaution

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

From this reading Now here was an unforeseen catastrophe and the circus people, having observed the close companionship of the four, took precaution to lock Billy and Nannie in a cage by themselves and Stubby and Button in another.

sacred

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

From this reading THE CIRCUS BREAKS CAMP That night after the performance the circus broke camp and the friends were separated, the elephant, camel, monkey and parrot going to Bismarck while the moose, zebra, giraffe and sacred bull went to Duluth.

sent

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

From this reading Billy was to be sent to Duluth and Stubby and Button to Bismarck.

separated

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

From this reading THE CIRCUS BREAKS CAMP That night after the performance the circus broke camp and the friends were separated, the elephant, camel, monkey and parrot going to Bismarck while the moose, zebra, giraffe and sacred bull went to Duluth.

Stubby

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

From this reading Billy was to be sent to Duluth and Stubby and Button to Bismarck.

ThatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading THE CIRCUS BREAKS CAMP That night after the performance the circus broke camp and the friends were separated, the elephant, camel, monkey and parrot going to Bismarck while the moose, zebra, giraffe and sacred bull went to Duluth.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE CIRCUS BREAKS CAMP That night after the performance the circus broke camp and the friends were separated, the elephant, camel, monkey and parrot going to Bismarck while the moose, zebra, giraffe and sacred bull went to Duluth.

themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading Now here was an unforeseen catastrophe and the circus people, having observed the close companionship of the four, took precaution to lock Billy and Nannie in a cage by themselves and Stubby and Button in another.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading But this was not the worst division that was made.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading THE CIRCUS BREAKS CAMP That night after the performance the circus broke camp and the friends were separated, the elephant, camel, monkey and parrot going to Bismarck while the moose, zebra, giraffe and sacred bull went to Duluth.

tooknounUS /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Now here was an unforeseen catastrophe and the circus people, having observed the close companionship of the four, took precaution to lock Billy and Nannie in a cage by themselves and Stubby and Button in another.

unforeseen

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

From this reading Now here was an unforeseen catastrophe and the circus people, having observed the close companionship of the four, took precaution to lock Billy and Nannie in a cage by themselves and Stubby and Button in another.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading But this was not the worst division that was made.

wentnounUS /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading THE CIRCUS BREAKS CAMP That night after the performance the circus broke camp and the friends were separated, the elephant, camel, monkey and parrot going to Bismarck while the moose, zebra, giraffe and sacred bull went to Duluth.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading THE CIRCUS BREAKS CAMP That night after the performance the circus broke camp and the friends were separated, the elephant, camel, monkey and parrot going to Bismarck while the moose, zebra, giraffe and sacred bull went to Duluth.

whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading THE CIRCUS BREAKS CAMP That night after the performance the circus broke camp and the friends were separated, the elephant, camel, monkey and parrot going to Bismarck while the moose, zebra, giraffe and sacred bull went to Duluth.

worst

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

From this reading But this was not the worst division that was made.

zebra

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

From this reading THE CIRCUS BREAKS CAMP That night after the performance the circus broke camp and the friends were separated, the elephant, camel, monkey and parrot going to Bismarck while the moose, zebra, giraffe and sacred bull went to Duluth.