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Cease Firing
Cease Firing

Chapter II · Cape Jessamine

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Context Illustration Reading 1/67 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The two came from beneath the dripping trees out upon the cleared bank of the Mississippi, and into a glare of pine torches.
The rain had lessened, the fitful wind beat the flames sideways, but failed to conquer them.
There was, too, a tar barrel burning.
The light was strong and red enough, a pulsing heart of light shading at its edges into smoky bronze and copper, then, a little further, lost in the wild night.
The river curved like a scimitar, and the glare showed the turbulent edge of it and the swirling cross-current that was setting a tooth into the Cape Jessamine levee.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
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A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Cease Firing

Chapter II · Cape Jessamine

Reading 1/67 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The two came from beneath the dripping trees out upon the cleared bank of the Mississippi, and into a glare of pine torches.
Line 2
The rain had lessened, the fitful wind beat the flames sideways, but failed to conquer them.
Line 3
There was, too, a tar barrel burning.
Line 4
The light was strong and red enough, a pulsing heart of light shading at its edges into smoky bronze and copper, then, a little further, lost in the wild night.
Line 5
The river curved like a scimitar, and the glare showed the turbulent edge of it and the swirling cross-current that was setting a tooth into the Cape Jessamine levee.

Learner Dictionary

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

Beneath preposition US /bɪˈniːθ/

Directly under; in or to a lower position than.

From this reading “The two came from beneath the dripping trees out upon the cleared bank of the Mississippi, and into a glare of pine torches.”

Glare noun US /glare/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The two came from beneath the dripping trees out upon the cleared bank of the Mississippi, and into a glare of pine torches.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The light was strong and red enough, a pulsing heart of light shading at its edges into smoky bronze and copper, then, a little further, lost in the wild night.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “The two came from beneath the dripping trees out upon the cleared bank of the Mississippi, and into a glare of pine torches.”

Wind noun US /wind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The rain had lessened, the fitful wind beat the flames sideways, but failed to conquer them.”

All words in this reading · 74

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 The two came from beneath the dripping trees out upon the cleared bank of the Mississippi, and into a glare of pine torches.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The two came from beneath the dripping trees out upon the cleared bank of the Mississippi, and into a glare of pine torches.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The light was strong and red enough, a pulsing heart of light shading at its edges into smoky bronze and copper, then, a little further, lost in the wild night.

bank

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

From this reading The two came from beneath the dripping trees out upon the cleared bank of the Mississippi, and into a glare of pine torches.

barrel

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

From this reading There was, too, a tar barrel burning.

beat

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

From this reading The rain had lessened, the fitful wind beat the flames sideways, but failed to conquer them.

beneathprepositionUS /bɪˈniːθ/

Directly under; in or to a lower position than.

From this reading The two came from beneath the dripping trees out upon the cleared bank of the Mississippi, and into a glare of pine torches.

bronze

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

From this reading The light was strong and red enough, a pulsing heart of light shading at its edges into smoky bronze and copper, then, a little further, lost in the wild night.

burning

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

From this reading There was, too, a tar barrel burning.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading The rain had lessened, the fitful wind beat the flames sideways, but failed to conquer them.

came

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

From this reading The two came from beneath the dripping trees out upon the cleared bank of the Mississippi, and into a glare of pine torches.

Cape

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

From this reading The river curved like a scimitar, and the glare showed the turbulent edge of it and the swirling cross-current that was setting a tooth into the Cape Jessamine levee.

cleared

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

From this reading The two came from beneath the dripping trees out upon the cleared bank of the Mississippi, and into a glare of pine torches.

conquer

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

From this reading The rain had lessened, the fitful wind beat the flames sideways, but failed to conquer them.

copper

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

From this reading The light was strong and red enough, a pulsing heart of light shading at its edges into smoky bronze and copper, then, a little further, lost in the wild night.

cross-current

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

From this reading The river curved like a scimitar, and the glare showed the turbulent edge of it and the swirling cross-current that was setting a tooth into the Cape Jessamine levee.

curved

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

From this reading The river curved like a scimitar, and the glare showed the turbulent edge of it and the swirling cross-current that was setting a tooth into the Cape Jessamine levee.

dripping

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

From this reading The two came from beneath the dripping trees out upon the cleared bank of the Mississippi, and into a glare of pine torches.

edge

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

From this reading The river curved like a scimitar, and the glare showed the turbulent edge of it and the swirling cross-current that was setting a tooth into the Cape Jessamine levee.

edges

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

From this reading The light was strong and red enough, a pulsing heart of light shading at its edges into smoky bronze and copper, then, a little further, lost in the wild night.

enough

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

From this reading The light was strong and red enough, a pulsing heart of light shading at its edges into smoky bronze and copper, then, a little further, lost in the wild night.

failed

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

From this reading The rain had lessened, the fitful wind beat the flames sideways, but failed to conquer them.

fitful

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

From this reading The rain had lessened, the fitful wind beat the flames sideways, but failed to conquer them.

flames

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

From this reading The rain had lessened, the fitful wind beat the flames sideways, but failed to conquer them.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The two came from beneath the dripping trees out upon the cleared bank of the Mississippi, and into a glare of pine torches.

further

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

From this reading The light was strong and red enough, a pulsing heart of light shading at its edges into smoky bronze and copper, then, a little further, lost in the wild night.

glarenounUS /glare/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The two came from beneath the dripping trees out upon the cleared bank of the Mississippi, and into a glare of pine torches.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading The rain had lessened, the fitful wind beat the flames sideways, but failed to conquer them.

heart

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

From this reading The light was strong and red enough, a pulsing heart of light shading at its edges into smoky bronze and copper, then, a little further, lost in the wild night.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The light was strong and red enough, a pulsing heart of light shading at its edges into smoky bronze and copper, then, a little further, lost in the wild night.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading The two came from beneath the dripping trees out upon the cleared bank of the Mississippi, and into a glare of pine torches.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading The river curved like a scimitar, and the glare showed the turbulent edge of it and the swirling cross-current that was setting a tooth into the Cape Jessamine levee.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading The light was strong and red enough, a pulsing heart of light shading at its edges into smoky bronze and copper, then, a little further, lost in the wild night.

Jessamine

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

From this reading The river curved like a scimitar, and the glare showed the turbulent edge of it and the swirling cross-current that was setting a tooth into the Cape Jessamine levee.

lessened

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

From this reading The rain had lessened, the fitful wind beat the flames sideways, but failed to conquer them.

levee

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

From this reading The river curved like a scimitar, and the glare showed the turbulent edge of it and the swirling cross-current that was setting a tooth into the Cape Jessamine levee.

light

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

From this reading The light was strong and red enough, a pulsing heart of light shading at its edges into smoky bronze and copper, then, a little further, lost in the wild night.

like

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

From this reading The river curved like a scimitar, and the glare showed the turbulent edge of it and the swirling cross-current that was setting a tooth into the Cape Jessamine levee.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The light was strong and red enough, a pulsing heart of light shading at its edges into smoky bronze and copper, then, a little further, lost in the wild night.

lost

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

From this reading The light was strong and red enough, a pulsing heart of light shading at its edges into smoky bronze and copper, then, a little further, lost in the wild night.

Mississippi

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

From this reading The two came from beneath the dripping trees out upon the cleared bank of the Mississippi, and into a glare of pine torches.

night

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

From this reading The light was strong and red enough, a pulsing heart of light shading at its edges into smoky bronze and copper, then, a little further, lost in the wild night.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The two came from beneath the dripping trees out upon the cleared bank of the Mississippi, and into a glare of pine torches.

out

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

From this reading The two came from beneath the dripping trees out upon the cleared bank of the Mississippi, and into a glare of pine torches.

pine

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

From this reading The two came from beneath the dripping trees out upon the cleared bank of the Mississippi, and into a glare of pine torches.

pulsing

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

From this reading The light was strong and red enough, a pulsing heart of light shading at its edges into smoky bronze and copper, then, a little further, lost in the wild night.

rain

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

From this reading The rain had lessened, the fitful wind beat the flames sideways, but failed to conquer them.

red

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

From this reading The light was strong and red enough, a pulsing heart of light shading at its edges into smoky bronze and copper, then, a little further, lost in the wild night.

river

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

From this reading The river curved like a scimitar, and the glare showed the turbulent edge of it and the swirling cross-current that was setting a tooth into the Cape Jessamine levee.

scimitar

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

From this reading The river curved like a scimitar, and the glare showed the turbulent edge of it and the swirling cross-current that was setting a tooth into the Cape Jessamine levee.

setting

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

From this reading The river curved like a scimitar, and the glare showed the turbulent edge of it and the swirling cross-current that was setting a tooth into the Cape Jessamine levee.

shading

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

From this reading The light was strong and red enough, a pulsing heart of light shading at its edges into smoky bronze and copper, then, a little further, lost in the wild night.

showed

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

From this reading The river curved like a scimitar, and the glare showed the turbulent edge of it and the swirling cross-current that was setting a tooth into the Cape Jessamine levee.

sideways

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

From this reading The rain had lessened, the fitful wind beat the flames sideways, but failed to conquer them.

smoky

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

From this reading The light was strong and red enough, a pulsing heart of light shading at its edges into smoky bronze and copper, then, a little further, lost in the wild night.

strong

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

From this reading The light was strong and red enough, a pulsing heart of light shading at its edges into smoky bronze and copper, then, a little further, lost in the wild night.

swirling

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

From this reading The river curved like a scimitar, and the glare showed the turbulent edge of it and the swirling cross-current that was setting a tooth into the Cape Jessamine levee.

tar

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

From this reading There was, too, a tar barrel burning.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The river curved like a scimitar, and the glare showed the turbulent edge of it and the swirling cross-current that was setting a tooth into the Cape Jessamine levee.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The two came from beneath the dripping trees out upon the cleared bank of the Mississippi, and into a glare of pine torches.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading The rain had lessened, the fitful wind beat the flames sideways, but failed to conquer them.

then

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

From this reading The light was strong and red enough, a pulsing heart of light shading at its edges into smoky bronze and copper, then, a little further, lost in the wild night.

There

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

From this reading There was, too, a tar barrel burning.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The rain had lessened, the fitful wind beat the flames sideways, but failed to conquer them.

too

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

From this reading There was, too, a tar barrel burning.

tooth

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

From this reading The river curved like a scimitar, and the glare showed the turbulent edge of it and the swirling cross-current that was setting a tooth into the Cape Jessamine levee.

torches

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

From this reading The two came from beneath the dripping trees out upon the cleared bank of the Mississippi, and into a glare of pine torches.

trees

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

From this reading The two came from beneath the dripping trees out upon the cleared bank of the Mississippi, and into a glare of pine torches.

turbulent

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

From this reading The river curved like a scimitar, and the glare showed the turbulent edge of it and the swirling cross-current that was setting a tooth into the Cape Jessamine levee.

two

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

From this reading The two came from beneath the dripping trees out upon the cleared bank of the Mississippi, and into a glare of pine torches.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading The two came from beneath the dripping trees out upon the cleared bank of the Mississippi, and into a glare of pine torches.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading There was, too, a tar barrel burning.

wild

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

From this reading The light was strong and red enough, a pulsing heart of light shading at its edges into smoky bronze and copper, then, a little further, lost in the wild night.

windnounUS /wind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The rain had lessened, the fitful wind beat the flames sideways, but failed to conquer them.