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Brother Billy
Brother Billy

Chapter VII · Minnavavana's Braves

Cover illustration for Brother Billy
Context Illustration Reading 1/20 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The north wind is no respecter of persons.
He wasn't invited to Betty's lawn party, but he came at dawn and stayed until dark the day she chose to entertain her dearest friends.
Billy was glad of it.
He said that girls' parties were silly, anyway, and he hoped the whole flock would have to stay in the house.
He declared that Betty needn't expect to see him at the party: he would rather hide in the cellar all day than be the only boy among so many girls.
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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.

Brother Billy

Chapter VII · Minnavavana's Braves

Reading 1/20 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The north wind is no respecter of persons.
Line 2
He wasn't invited to Betty's lawn party, but he came at dawn and stayed until dark the day she chose to entertain her dearest friends.
Line 3
Billy was glad of it.
Line 4
He said that girls' parties were silly, anyway, and he hoped the whole flock would have to stay in the house.
Line 5
He declared that Betty needn't expect to see him at the party: he would rather hide in the cellar all day than be the only boy among so many girls.

Learner Dictionary

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

Among preposition US /əˈmʌŋ/

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading “He declared that Betty needn't expect to see him at the party: he would rather hide in the cellar all day than be the only boy among so many girls.”

Expect verb US /ɪkˈspekt/

to think that something will happen

From this reading “He declared that Betty needn't expect to see him at the party: he would rather hide in the cellar all day than be the only boy among so many girls.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “He said that girls' parties were silly, anyway, and he hoped the whole flock would have to stay in the house.”

Party noun US /party/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He wasn't invited to Betty's lawn party, but he came at dawn and stayed until dark the day she chose to entertain her dearest friends.”

Until preposition US /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading “He wasn't invited to Betty's lawn party, but he came at dawn and stayed until dark the day she chose to entertain her dearest friends.”

Wind noun US /wind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The north wind is no respecter of persons.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “He said that girls' parties were silly, anyway, and he hoped the whole flock would have to stay in the house.”

All words in this reading · 66

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

all

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

From this reading He declared that Betty needn't expect to see him at the party: he would rather hide in the cellar all day than be the only boy among so many girls.

amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading He declared that Betty needn't expect to see him at the party: he would rather hide in the cellar all day than be the only boy among so many girls.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading He wasn't invited to Betty's lawn party, but he came at dawn and stayed until dark the day she chose to entertain her dearest friends.

anyway

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

From this reading He said that girls' parties were silly, anyway, and he hoped the whole flock would have to stay in the house.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading He wasn't invited to Betty's lawn party, but he came at dawn and stayed until dark the day she chose to entertain her dearest friends.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading He declared that Betty needn't expect to see him at the party: he would rather hide in the cellar all day than be the only boy among so many girls.

Betty

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

From this reading He declared that Betty needn't expect to see him at the party: he would rather hide in the cellar all day than be the only boy among so many girls.

Betty's

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

From this reading He wasn't invited to Betty's lawn party, but he came at dawn and stayed until dark the day she chose to entertain her dearest friends.

Billy

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

From this reading Billy was glad of it.

boy

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

From this reading He declared that Betty needn't expect to see him at the party: he would rather hide in the cellar all day than be the only boy among so many girls.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading He wasn't invited to Betty's lawn party, but he came at dawn and stayed until dark the day she chose to entertain her dearest friends.

came

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

From this reading He wasn't invited to Betty's lawn party, but he came at dawn and stayed until dark the day she chose to entertain her dearest friends.

cellar

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

From this reading He declared that Betty needn't expect to see him at the party: he would rather hide in the cellar all day than be the only boy among so many girls.

chose

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

From this reading He wasn't invited to Betty's lawn party, but he came at dawn and stayed until dark the day she chose to entertain her dearest friends.

dark

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

From this reading He wasn't invited to Betty's lawn party, but he came at dawn and stayed until dark the day she chose to entertain her dearest friends.

dawn

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

From this reading He wasn't invited to Betty's lawn party, but he came at dawn and stayed until dark the day she chose to entertain her dearest friends.

day

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

From this reading He wasn't invited to Betty's lawn party, but he came at dawn and stayed until dark the day she chose to entertain her dearest friends.

dearest

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

From this reading He wasn't invited to Betty's lawn party, but he came at dawn and stayed until dark the day she chose to entertain her dearest friends.

declared

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

From this reading He declared that Betty needn't expect to see him at the party: he would rather hide in the cellar all day than be the only boy among so many girls.

entertain

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

From this reading He wasn't invited to Betty's lawn party, but he came at dawn and stayed until dark the day she chose to entertain her dearest friends.

expectverbUS /ɪkˈspekt/

to think that something will happen

From this reading He declared that Betty needn't expect to see him at the party: he would rather hide in the cellar all day than be the only boy among so many girls.

flock

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

From this reading He said that girls' parties were silly, anyway, and he hoped the whole flock would have to stay in the house.

friends

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

From this reading He wasn't invited to Betty's lawn party, but he came at dawn and stayed until dark the day she chose to entertain her dearest friends.

girls

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

From this reading He said that girls' parties were silly, anyway, and he hoped the whole flock would have to stay in the house.

glad

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

From this reading Billy was glad of it.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading He said that girls' parties were silly, anyway, and he hoped the whole flock would have to stay in the house.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He wasn't invited to Betty's lawn party, but he came at dawn and stayed until dark the day she chose to entertain her dearest friends.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading He wasn't invited to Betty's lawn party, but he came at dawn and stayed until dark the day she chose to entertain her dearest friends.

hide

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

From this reading He declared that Betty needn't expect to see him at the party: he would rather hide in the cellar all day than be the only boy among so many girls.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading He declared that Betty needn't expect to see him at the party: he would rather hide in the cellar all day than be the only boy among so many girls.

hoped

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

From this reading He said that girls' parties were silly, anyway, and he hoped the whole flock would have to stay in the house.

house

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

From this reading He said that girls' parties were silly, anyway, and he hoped the whole flock would have to stay in the house.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading He said that girls' parties were silly, anyway, and he hoped the whole flock would have to stay in the house.

invited

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

From this reading He wasn't invited to Betty's lawn party, but he came at dawn and stayed until dark the day she chose to entertain her dearest friends.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading The north wind is no respecter of persons.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Billy was glad of it.

lawn

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

From this reading He wasn't invited to Betty's lawn party, but he came at dawn and stayed until dark the day she chose to entertain her dearest friends.

many

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

From this reading He declared that Betty needn't expect to see him at the party: he would rather hide in the cellar all day than be the only boy among so many girls.

needn't

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

From this reading He declared that Betty needn't expect to see him at the party: he would rather hide in the cellar all day than be the only boy among so many girls.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading The north wind is no respecter of persons.

north

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

From this reading The north wind is no respecter of persons.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The north wind is no respecter of persons.

only

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

From this reading He declared that Betty needn't expect to see him at the party: he would rather hide in the cellar all day than be the only boy among so many girls.

parties

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

From this reading He said that girls' parties were silly, anyway, and he hoped the whole flock would have to stay in the house.

partynounUS /party/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He wasn't invited to Betty's lawn party, but he came at dawn and stayed until dark the day she chose to entertain her dearest friends.

persons

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

From this reading The north wind is no respecter of persons.

rather

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

From this reading He declared that Betty needn't expect to see him at the party: he would rather hide in the cellar all day than be the only boy among so many girls.

respecter

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

From this reading The north wind is no respecter of persons.

said

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

From this reading He said that girls' parties were silly, anyway, and he hoped the whole flock would have to stay in the house.

see

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

From this reading He declared that Betty needn't expect to see him at the party: he would rather hide in the cellar all day than be the only boy among so many girls.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading He wasn't invited to Betty's lawn party, but he came at dawn and stayed until dark the day she chose to entertain her dearest friends.

silly

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

From this reading He said that girls' parties were silly, anyway, and he hoped the whole flock would have to stay in the house.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading He declared that Betty needn't expect to see him at the party: he would rather hide in the cellar all day than be the only boy among so many girls.

stay

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

From this reading He said that girls' parties were silly, anyway, and he hoped the whole flock would have to stay in the house.

stayed

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

From this reading He wasn't invited to Betty's lawn party, but he came at dawn and stayed until dark the day she chose to entertain her dearest friends.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading He declared that Betty needn't expect to see him at the party: he would rather hide in the cellar all day than be the only boy among so many girls.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He said that girls' parties were silly, anyway, and he hoped the whole flock would have to stay in the house.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The north wind is no respecter of persons.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading He wasn't invited to Betty's lawn party, but he came at dawn and stayed until dark the day she chose to entertain her dearest friends.

untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading He wasn't invited to Betty's lawn party, but he came at dawn and stayed until dark the day she chose to entertain her dearest friends.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Billy was glad of it.

wasn't

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

From this reading He wasn't invited to Betty's lawn party, but he came at dawn and stayed until dark the day she chose to entertain her dearest friends.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading He said that girls' parties were silly, anyway, and he hoped the whole flock would have to stay in the house.

whole

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

From this reading He said that girls' parties were silly, anyway, and he hoped the whole flock would have to stay in the house.

windnounUS /wind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The north wind is no respecter of persons.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading He said that girls' parties were silly, anyway, and he hoped the whole flock would have to stay in the house.