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Captain Chub
Captain Chub

Chapter V

Cover illustration for Captain Chub
Context Illustration Reading 1/23 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
A TRIP OF INSPECTION It turned out when they got there that the real host was not Dick, but Dick’s father.
Neither Roy nor Chub had met Mr. Somes before.
Like Mr. Cole he was a large man, but his size was rather a matter of breadth and thickness than height.
He had a round, clean-shaven, jovial face lighted by a pair of keen steel-gray eyes, and a deep, rumbly voice that seemed to come from the heavy-soled shoes he affected.
But he was kindness itself, and by the time they had gathered about the table beside the open window in the big hotel dining-room Roy and Chub were quite captivated.
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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.

Captain Chub

Chapter V

Reading 1/23 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
A TRIP OF INSPECTION It turned out when they got there that the real host was not Dick, but Dick’s father.
Line 2
Neither Roy nor Chub had met Mr. Somes before.
Line 3
Like Mr. Cole he was a large man, but his size was rather a matter of breadth and thickness than height.
Line 4
He had a round, clean-shaven, jovial face lighted by a pair of keen steel-gray eyes, and a deep, rumbly voice that seemed to come from the heavy-soled shoes he affected.
Line 5
But he was kindness itself, and by the time they had gathered about the table beside the open window in the big hotel dining-room Roy and Chub were quite captivated.

Learner Dictionary

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

About preposition US /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “But he was kindness itself, and by the time they had gathered about the table beside the open window in the big hotel dining-room Roy and Chub were quite captivated.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “Neither Roy nor Chub had met Mr. Somes before.”

Beside preposition US /bɪˈsaɪd/

next to; at the side of

From this reading “But he was kindness itself, and by the time they had gathered about the table beside the open window in the big hotel dining-room Roy and Chub were quite captivated.”

Come noun US /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He had a round, clean-shaven, jovial face lighted by a pair of keen steel-gray eyes, and a deep, rumbly voice that seemed to come from the heavy-soled shoes he affected.”

Dick noun US /dick/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A TRIP OF INSPECTION It turned out when they got there that the real host was not Dick, but Dick’s father.”

Itself pronoun US /ˌɪtˈself/

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading “But he was kindness itself, and by the time they had gathered about the table beside the open window in the big hotel dining-room Roy and Chub were quite captivated.”

Neither determiner US /ˈniːðər/

not one and not the other of two

From this reading “Neither Roy nor Chub had met Mr. Somes before.”

Open verb US /ˈoʊ.pən/

To move from a closed position.

From this reading “But he was kindness itself, and by the time they had gathered about the table beside the open window in the big hotel dining-room Roy and Chub were quite captivated.”

Quite noun US /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But he was kindness itself, and by the time they had gathered about the table beside the open window in the big hotel dining-room Roy and Chub were quite captivated.”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He had a round, clean-shaven, jovial face lighted by a pair of keen steel-gray eyes, and a deep, rumbly voice that seemed to come from the heavy-soled shoes he affected.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But he was kindness itself, and by the time they had gathered about the table beside the open window in the big hotel dining-room Roy and Chub were quite captivated.”

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 A TRIP OF INSPECTION It turned out when they got there that the real host was not Dick, but Dick’s father.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading But he was kindness itself, and by the time they had gathered about the table beside the open window in the big hotel dining-room Roy and Chub were quite captivated.

affected

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

From this reading He had a round, clean-shaven, jovial face lighted by a pair of keen steel-gray eyes, and a deep, rumbly voice that seemed to come from the heavy-soled shoes he affected.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Like Mr. Cole he was a large man, but his size was rather a matter of breadth and thickness than height.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Neither Roy nor Chub had met Mr. Somes before.

besideprepositionUS /bɪˈsaɪd/

next to; at the side of

From this reading But he was kindness itself, and by the time they had gathered about the table beside the open window in the big hotel dining-room Roy and Chub were quite captivated.

big

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

From this reading But he was kindness itself, and by the time they had gathered about the table beside the open window in the big hotel dining-room Roy and Chub were quite captivated.

breadth

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

From this reading Like Mr. Cole he was a large man, but his size was rather a matter of breadth and thickness than height.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading A TRIP OF INSPECTION It turned out when they got there that the real host was not Dick, but Dick’s father.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading He had a round, clean-shaven, jovial face lighted by a pair of keen steel-gray eyes, and a deep, rumbly voice that seemed to come from the heavy-soled shoes he affected.

captivated

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

From this reading But he was kindness itself, and by the time they had gathered about the table beside the open window in the big hotel dining-room Roy and Chub were quite captivated.

Chub

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

From this reading Neither Roy nor Chub had met Mr. Somes before.

clean-shaven

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

From this reading He had a round, clean-shaven, jovial face lighted by a pair of keen steel-gray eyes, and a deep, rumbly voice that seemed to come from the heavy-soled shoes he affected.

Cole

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

From this reading Like Mr. Cole he was a large man, but his size was rather a matter of breadth and thickness than height.

comenounUS /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He had a round, clean-shaven, jovial face lighted by a pair of keen steel-gray eyes, and a deep, rumbly voice that seemed to come from the heavy-soled shoes he affected.

deep

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

From this reading He had a round, clean-shaven, jovial face lighted by a pair of keen steel-gray eyes, and a deep, rumbly voice that seemed to come from the heavy-soled shoes he affected.

Dick

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

From this reading A TRIP OF INSPECTION It turned out when they got there that the real host was not Dick, but Dick’s father.

Dick's

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

From this reading A TRIP OF INSPECTION It turned out when they got there that the real host was not Dick, but Dick’s father.

dining-room

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

From this reading But he was kindness itself, and by the time they had gathered about the table beside the open window in the big hotel dining-room Roy and Chub were quite captivated.

eyes

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

From this reading He had a round, clean-shaven, jovial face lighted by a pair of keen steel-gray eyes, and a deep, rumbly voice that seemed to come from the heavy-soled shoes he affected.

face

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

From this reading He had a round, clean-shaven, jovial face lighted by a pair of keen steel-gray eyes, and a deep, rumbly voice that seemed to come from the heavy-soled shoes he affected.

father

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

From this reading A TRIP OF INSPECTION It turned out when they got there that the real host was not Dick, but Dick’s father.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading He had a round, clean-shaven, jovial face lighted by a pair of keen steel-gray eyes, and a deep, rumbly voice that seemed to come from the heavy-soled shoes he affected.

gathered

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

From this reading But he was kindness itself, and by the time they had gathered about the table beside the open window in the big hotel dining-room Roy and Chub were quite captivated.

got

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

From this reading A TRIP OF INSPECTION It turned out when they got there that the real host was not Dick, but Dick’s father.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Neither Roy nor Chub had met Mr. Somes before.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Like Mr. Cole he was a large man, but his size was rather a matter of breadth and thickness than height.

heavy-soled

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

From this reading He had a round, clean-shaven, jovial face lighted by a pair of keen steel-gray eyes, and a deep, rumbly voice that seemed to come from the heavy-soled shoes he affected.

height

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

From this reading Like Mr. Cole he was a large man, but his size was rather a matter of breadth and thickness than height.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Like Mr. Cole he was a large man, but his size was rather a matter of breadth and thickness than height.

host

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

From this reading A TRIP OF INSPECTION It turned out when they got there that the real host was not Dick, but Dick’s father.

hotel

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

From this reading But he was kindness itself, and by the time they had gathered about the table beside the open window in the big hotel dining-room Roy and Chub were quite captivated.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading But he was kindness itself, and by the time they had gathered about the table beside the open window in the big hotel dining-room Roy and Chub were quite captivated.

INSPECTION

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

From this reading A TRIP OF INSPECTION It turned out when they got there that the real host was not Dick, but Dick’s father.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading A TRIP OF INSPECTION It turned out when they got there that the real host was not Dick, but Dick’s father.

itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading But he was kindness itself, and by the time they had gathered about the table beside the open window in the big hotel dining-room Roy and Chub were quite captivated.

jovial

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

From this reading He had a round, clean-shaven, jovial face lighted by a pair of keen steel-gray eyes, and a deep, rumbly voice that seemed to come from the heavy-soled shoes he affected.

keen

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

From this reading He had a round, clean-shaven, jovial face lighted by a pair of keen steel-gray eyes, and a deep, rumbly voice that seemed to come from the heavy-soled shoes he affected.

kindness

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

From this reading But he was kindness itself, and by the time they had gathered about the table beside the open window in the big hotel dining-room Roy and Chub were quite captivated.

large

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

From this reading Like Mr. Cole he was a large man, but his size was rather a matter of breadth and thickness than height.

lighted

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

From this reading He had a round, clean-shaven, jovial face lighted by a pair of keen steel-gray eyes, and a deep, rumbly voice that seemed to come from the heavy-soled shoes he affected.

Like

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

From this reading Like Mr. Cole he was a large man, but his size was rather a matter of breadth and thickness than height.

man

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

From this reading Like Mr. Cole he was a large man, but his size was rather a matter of breadth and thickness than height.

matter

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

From this reading Like Mr. Cole he was a large man, but his size was rather a matter of breadth and thickness than height.

met

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

From this reading Neither Roy nor Chub had met Mr. Somes before.

Mr

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

From this reading Neither Roy nor Chub had met Mr. Somes before.

NeitherdeterminerUS /ˈniːðər/

not one and not the other of two

From this reading Neither Roy nor Chub had met Mr. Somes before.

norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/

and not; used after a negative to add a second negative

From this reading Neither Roy nor Chub had met Mr. Somes before.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading A TRIP OF INSPECTION It turned out when they got there that the real host was not Dick, but Dick’s father.

OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading A TRIP OF INSPECTION It turned out when they got there that the real host was not Dick, but Dick’s father.

openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/

To move from a closed position.

From this reading But he was kindness itself, and by the time they had gathered about the table beside the open window in the big hotel dining-room Roy and Chub were quite captivated.

out

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

From this reading A TRIP OF INSPECTION It turned out when they got there that the real host was not Dick, but Dick’s father.

pair

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

From this reading He had a round, clean-shaven, jovial face lighted by a pair of keen steel-gray eyes, and a deep, rumbly voice that seemed to come from the heavy-soled shoes he affected.

quitenounUS /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But he was kindness itself, and by the time they had gathered about the table beside the open window in the big hotel dining-room Roy and Chub were quite captivated.

rather

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

From this reading Like Mr. Cole he was a large man, but his size was rather a matter of breadth and thickness than height.

real

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

From this reading A TRIP OF INSPECTION It turned out when they got there that the real host was not Dick, but Dick’s father.

round

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

From this reading He had a round, clean-shaven, jovial face lighted by a pair of keen steel-gray eyes, and a deep, rumbly voice that seemed to come from the heavy-soled shoes he affected.

Roy

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

From this reading Neither Roy nor Chub had met Mr. Somes before.

rumbly

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

From this reading He had a round, clean-shaven, jovial face lighted by a pair of keen steel-gray eyes, and a deep, rumbly voice that seemed to come from the heavy-soled shoes he affected.

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He had a round, clean-shaven, jovial face lighted by a pair of keen steel-gray eyes, and a deep, rumbly voice that seemed to come from the heavy-soled shoes he affected.

shoes

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

From this reading He had a round, clean-shaven, jovial face lighted by a pair of keen steel-gray eyes, and a deep, rumbly voice that seemed to come from the heavy-soled shoes he affected.

size

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

From this reading Like Mr. Cole he was a large man, but his size was rather a matter of breadth and thickness than height.

Somes

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

From this reading Neither Roy nor Chub had met Mr. Somes before.

steel-gray

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

From this reading He had a round, clean-shaven, jovial face lighted by a pair of keen steel-gray eyes, and a deep, rumbly voice that seemed to come from the heavy-soled shoes he affected.

table

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

From this reading But he was kindness itself, and by the time they had gathered about the table beside the open window in the big hotel dining-room Roy and Chub were quite captivated.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading Like Mr. Cole he was a large man, but his size was rather a matter of breadth and thickness than height.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading A TRIP OF INSPECTION It turned out when they got there that the real host was not Dick, but Dick’s father.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading A TRIP OF INSPECTION It turned out when they got there that the real host was not Dick, but Dick’s father.

there

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

From this reading A TRIP OF INSPECTION It turned out when they got there that the real host was not Dick, but Dick’s father.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading A TRIP OF INSPECTION It turned out when they got there that the real host was not Dick, but Dick’s father.

thickness

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

From this reading Like Mr. Cole he was a large man, but his size was rather a matter of breadth and thickness than height.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But he was kindness itself, and by the time they had gathered about the table beside the open window in the big hotel dining-room Roy and Chub were quite captivated.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading He had a round, clean-shaven, jovial face lighted by a pair of keen steel-gray eyes, and a deep, rumbly voice that seemed to come from the heavy-soled shoes he affected.

TRIP

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

From this reading A TRIP OF INSPECTION It turned out when they got there that the real host was not Dick, but Dick’s father.

turned

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

From this reading A TRIP OF INSPECTION It turned out when they got there that the real host was not Dick, but Dick’s father.

voice

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

From this reading He had a round, clean-shaven, jovial face lighted by a pair of keen steel-gray eyes, and a deep, rumbly voice that seemed to come from the heavy-soled shoes he affected.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading A TRIP OF INSPECTION It turned out when they got there that the real host was not Dick, but Dick’s father.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading But he was kindness itself, and by the time they had gathered about the table beside the open window in the big hotel dining-room Roy and Chub were quite captivated.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading A TRIP OF INSPECTION It turned out when they got there that the real host was not Dick, but Dick’s father.

window

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

From this reading But he was kindness itself, and by the time they had gathered about the table beside the open window in the big hotel dining-room Roy and Chub were quite captivated.