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Captain Chap
Captain Chap

Chapter XXIV

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Context Illustration Reading 1/10 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
COOT BREWER TAKES THE HELM.
The boys did not start for Lowper’s Creek and the alligators as soon as they expected.
They found that a good deal of talk, and a good many preparations were necessary before they could get off.
The colonel did not altogether approve of the plan, but when he was assured that the boys could all swim, he said he reckoned no harm would come to them, and that they might as well be off on a trip of this kind as lounging around the hotel.
He called Bob, and gave orders than an abundance of provisions, enough to last the party till the following afternoon, should be immediately got ready.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Captain Chap

Chapter XXIV

Reading 1/10 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
COOT BREWER TAKES THE HELM.
Line 2
The boys did not start for Lowper’s Creek and the alligators as soon as they expected.
Line 3
They found that a good deal of talk, and a good many preparations were necessary before they could get off.
Line 4
The colonel did not altogether approve of the plan, but when he was assured that the boys could all swim, he said he reckoned no harm would come to them, and that they might as well be off on a trip of this kind as lounging around the hotel.
Line 5
He called Bob, and gave orders than an abundance of provisions, enough to last the party till the following afternoon, should be immediately got ready.

Learner Dictionary

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

Afternoon noun US /ˈafternoon/

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

From this reading “He called Bob, and gave orders than an abundance of provisions, enough to last the party till the following afternoon, should be immediately got ready.”

Around preposition US /ərˈaʊnd/

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading “The colonel did not altogether approve of the plan, but when he was assured that the boys could all swim, he said he reckoned no harm would come to them, and that they might as well be off on a trip of this kind as lounging around the hotel.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “They found that a good deal of talk, and a good many preparations were necessary before they could get off.”

Come noun US /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The colonel did not altogether approve of the plan, but when he was assured that the boys could all swim, he said he reckoned no harm would come to them, and that they might as well be off on a trip of this kind as lounging around the hotel.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “They found that a good deal of talk, and a good many preparations were necessary before they could get off.”

Found noun US /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “They found that a good deal of talk, and a good many preparations were necessary before they could get off.”

Good noun US /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “They found that a good deal of talk, and a good many preparations were necessary before they could get off.”

Last noun US /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He called Bob, and gave orders than an abundance of provisions, enough to last the party till the following afternoon, should be immediately got ready.”

Might modal verb US /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading “The colonel did not altogether approve of the plan, but when he was assured that the boys could all swim, he said he reckoned no harm would come to them, and that they might as well be off on a trip of this kind as lounging around the hotel.”

Party noun US /party/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He called Bob, and gave orders than an abundance of provisions, enough to last the party till the following afternoon, should be immediately got ready.”

Soon noun US /soon/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The boys did not start for Lowper’s Creek and the alligators as soon as they expected.”

Start noun US /start/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The boys did not start for Lowper’s Creek and the alligators as soon as they expected.”

Till preposition US /tɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading “He called Bob, and gave orders than an abundance of provisions, enough to last the party till the following afternoon, should be immediately got ready.”

Well noun US /well/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The colonel did not altogether approve of the plan, but when he was assured that the boys could all swim, he said he reckoned no harm would come to them, and that they might as well be off on a trip of this kind as lounging around the hotel.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “The colonel did not altogether approve of the plan, but when he was assured that the boys could all swim, he said he reckoned no harm would come to them, and that they might as well be off on a trip of this kind as lounging around the hotel.”

All words in this reading · 80

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 They found that a good deal of talk, and a good many preparations were necessary before they could get off.

abundance

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

From this reading He called Bob, and gave orders than an abundance of provisions, enough to last the party till the following afternoon, should be immediately got ready.

afternoonnounUS /ˈafternoon/

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

From this reading He called Bob, and gave orders than an abundance of provisions, enough to last the party till the following afternoon, should be immediately got ready.

all

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

From this reading The colonel did not altogether approve of the plan, but when he was assured that the boys could all swim, he said he reckoned no harm would come to them, and that they might as well be off on a trip of this kind as lounging around the hotel.

alligators

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

From this reading The boys did not start for Lowper’s Creek and the alligators as soon as they expected.

altogether

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

From this reading The colonel did not altogether approve of the plan, but when he was assured that the boys could all swim, he said he reckoned no harm would come to them, and that they might as well be off on a trip of this kind as lounging around the hotel.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading He called Bob, and gave orders than an abundance of provisions, enough to last the party till the following afternoon, should be immediately got ready.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The boys did not start for Lowper’s Creek and the alligators as soon as they expected.

approve

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

From this reading The colonel did not altogether approve of the plan, but when he was assured that the boys could all swim, he said he reckoned no harm would come to them, and that they might as well be off on a trip of this kind as lounging around the hotel.

aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading The colonel did not altogether approve of the plan, but when he was assured that the boys could all swim, he said he reckoned no harm would come to them, and that they might as well be off on a trip of this kind as lounging around the hotel.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading The boys did not start for Lowper’s Creek and the alligators as soon as they expected.

assured

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

From this reading The colonel did not altogether approve of the plan, but when he was assured that the boys could all swim, he said he reckoned no harm would come to them, and that they might as well be off on a trip of this kind as lounging around the hotel.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading The colonel did not altogether approve of the plan, but when he was assured that the boys could all swim, he said he reckoned no harm would come to them, and that they might as well be off on a trip of this kind as lounging around the hotel.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading They found that a good deal of talk, and a good many preparations were necessary before they could get off.

Bob

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

From this reading He called Bob, and gave orders than an abundance of provisions, enough to last the party till the following afternoon, should be immediately got ready.

boys

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

From this reading The boys did not start for Lowper’s Creek and the alligators as soon as they expected.

BREWER

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

From this reading COOT BREWER TAKES THE HELM.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading The colonel did not altogether approve of the plan, but when he was assured that the boys could all swim, he said he reckoned no harm would come to them, and that they might as well be off on a trip of this kind as lounging around the hotel.

called

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

From this reading He called Bob, and gave orders than an abundance of provisions, enough to last the party till the following afternoon, should be immediately got ready.

colonel

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

From this reading The colonel did not altogether approve of the plan, but when he was assured that the boys could all swim, he said he reckoned no harm would come to them, and that they might as well be off on a trip of this kind as lounging around the hotel.

comenounUS /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The colonel did not altogether approve of the plan, but when he was assured that the boys could all swim, he said he reckoned no harm would come to them, and that they might as well be off on a trip of this kind as lounging around the hotel.

COOT

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

From this reading COOT BREWER TAKES THE HELM.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading They found that a good deal of talk, and a good many preparations were necessary before they could get off.

Creek

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

From this reading The boys did not start for Lowper’s Creek and the alligators as soon as they expected.

deal

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

From this reading They found that a good deal of talk, and a good many preparations were necessary before they could get off.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading The boys did not start for Lowper’s Creek and the alligators as soon as they expected.

enough

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

From this reading He called Bob, and gave orders than an abundance of provisions, enough to last the party till the following afternoon, should be immediately got ready.

expected

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

From this reading The boys did not start for Lowper’s Creek and the alligators as soon as they expected.

following

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

From this reading He called Bob, and gave orders than an abundance of provisions, enough to last the party till the following afternoon, should be immediately got ready.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The boys did not start for Lowper’s Creek and the alligators as soon as they expected.

foundnounUS /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading They found that a good deal of talk, and a good many preparations were necessary before they could get off.

gave

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

From this reading He called Bob, and gave orders than an abundance of provisions, enough to last the party till the following afternoon, should be immediately got ready.

get

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

From this reading They found that a good deal of talk, and a good many preparations were necessary before they could get off.

goodnounUS /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading They found that a good deal of talk, and a good many preparations were necessary before they could get off.

got

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

From this reading He called Bob, and gave orders than an abundance of provisions, enough to last the party till the following afternoon, should be immediately got ready.

harm

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

From this reading The colonel did not altogether approve of the plan, but when he was assured that the boys could all swim, he said he reckoned no harm would come to them, and that they might as well be off on a trip of this kind as lounging around the hotel.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading The colonel did not altogether approve of the plan, but when he was assured that the boys could all swim, he said he reckoned no harm would come to them, and that they might as well be off on a trip of this kind as lounging around the hotel.

HELM

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

From this reading COOT BREWER TAKES THE HELM.

hotel

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

From this reading The colonel did not altogether approve of the plan, but when he was assured that the boys could all swim, he said he reckoned no harm would come to them, and that they might as well be off on a trip of this kind as lounging around the hotel.

immediately

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

From this reading He called Bob, and gave orders than an abundance of provisions, enough to last the party till the following afternoon, should be immediately got ready.

kind

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

From this reading The colonel did not altogether approve of the plan, but when he was assured that the boys could all swim, he said he reckoned no harm would come to them, and that they might as well be off on a trip of this kind as lounging around the hotel.

lastnounUS /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He called Bob, and gave orders than an abundance of provisions, enough to last the party till the following afternoon, should be immediately got ready.

lounging

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

From this reading The colonel did not altogether approve of the plan, but when he was assured that the boys could all swim, he said he reckoned no harm would come to them, and that they might as well be off on a trip of this kind as lounging around the hotel.

Lowper's

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

From this reading The boys did not start for Lowper’s Creek and the alligators as soon as they expected.

many

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

From this reading They found that a good deal of talk, and a good many preparations were necessary before they could get off.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading The colonel did not altogether approve of the plan, but when he was assured that the boys could all swim, he said he reckoned no harm would come to them, and that they might as well be off on a trip of this kind as lounging around the hotel.

necessary

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

From this reading They found that a good deal of talk, and a good many preparations were necessary before they could get off.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading The colonel did not altogether approve of the plan, but when he was assured that the boys could all swim, he said he reckoned no harm would come to them, and that they might as well be off on a trip of this kind as lounging around the hotel.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading The boys did not start for Lowper’s Creek and the alligators as soon as they expected.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading They found that a good deal of talk, and a good many preparations were necessary before they could get off.

off

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

From this reading They found that a good deal of talk, and a good many preparations were necessary before they could get off.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The colonel did not altogether approve of the plan, but when he was assured that the boys could all swim, he said he reckoned no harm would come to them, and that they might as well be off on a trip of this kind as lounging around the hotel.

orders

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

From this reading He called Bob, and gave orders than an abundance of provisions, enough to last the party till the following afternoon, should be immediately got ready.

partynounUS /party/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He called Bob, and gave orders than an abundance of provisions, enough to last the party till the following afternoon, should be immediately got ready.

plan

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

From this reading The colonel did not altogether approve of the plan, but when he was assured that the boys could all swim, he said he reckoned no harm would come to them, and that they might as well be off on a trip of this kind as lounging around the hotel.

preparations

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

From this reading They found that a good deal of talk, and a good many preparations were necessary before they could get off.

provisions

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

From this reading He called Bob, and gave orders than an abundance of provisions, enough to last the party till the following afternoon, should be immediately got ready.

ready

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

From this reading He called Bob, and gave orders than an abundance of provisions, enough to last the party till the following afternoon, should be immediately got ready.

reckoned

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

From this reading The colonel did not altogether approve of the plan, but when he was assured that the boys could all swim, he said he reckoned no harm would come to them, and that they might as well be off on a trip of this kind as lounging around the hotel.

said

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

From this reading The colonel did not altogether approve of the plan, but when he was assured that the boys could all swim, he said he reckoned no harm would come to them, and that they might as well be off on a trip of this kind as lounging around the hotel.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading He called Bob, and gave orders than an abundance of provisions, enough to last the party till the following afternoon, should be immediately got ready.

soon

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

From this reading The boys did not start for Lowper’s Creek and the alligators as soon as they expected.

startnounUS /start/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The boys did not start for Lowper’s Creek and the alligators as soon as they expected.

swim

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

From this reading The colonel did not altogether approve of the plan, but when he was assured that the boys could all swim, he said he reckoned no harm would come to them, and that they might as well be off on a trip of this kind as lounging around the hotel.

TAKES

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

From this reading COOT BREWER TAKES THE HELM.

talk

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

From this reading They found that a good deal of talk, and a good many preparations were necessary before they could get off.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading He called Bob, and gave orders than an abundance of provisions, enough to last the party till the following afternoon, should be immediately got ready.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading They found that a good deal of talk, and a good many preparations were necessary before they could get off.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading COOT BREWER TAKES THE HELM.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading The colonel did not altogether approve of the plan, but when he was assured that the boys could all swim, he said he reckoned no harm would come to them, and that they might as well be off on a trip of this kind as lounging around the hotel.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading The boys did not start for Lowper’s Creek and the alligators as soon as they expected.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading The colonel did not altogether approve of the plan, but when he was assured that the boys could all swim, he said he reckoned no harm would come to them, and that they might as well be off on a trip of this kind as lounging around the hotel.

tillprepositionUS /tɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading He called Bob, and gave orders than an abundance of provisions, enough to last the party till the following afternoon, should be immediately got ready.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The colonel did not altogether approve of the plan, but when he was assured that the boys could all swim, he said he reckoned no harm would come to them, and that they might as well be off on a trip of this kind as lounging around the hotel.

trip

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

From this reading The colonel did not altogether approve of the plan, but when he was assured that the boys could all swim, he said he reckoned no harm would come to them, and that they might as well be off on a trip of this kind as lounging around the hotel.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The colonel did not altogether approve of the plan, but when he was assured that the boys could all swim, he said he reckoned no harm would come to them, and that they might as well be off on a trip of this kind as lounging around the hotel.

well

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

From this reading The colonel did not altogether approve of the plan, but when he was assured that the boys could all swim, he said he reckoned no harm would come to them, and that they might as well be off on a trip of this kind as lounging around the hotel.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading They found that a good deal of talk, and a good many preparations were necessary before they could get off.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading The colonel did not altogether approve of the plan, but when he was assured that the boys could all swim, he said he reckoned no harm would come to them, and that they might as well be off on a trip of this kind as lounging around the hotel.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading The colonel did not altogether approve of the plan, but when he was assured that the boys could all swim, he said he reckoned no harm would come to them, and that they might as well be off on a trip of this kind as lounging around the hotel.