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Crofton Chums
Crofton Chums

Chapter XX

Cover illustration for Crofton Chums
Context Illustration Reading 1/30 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
AN EARLY MORNING PRACTICE Poke possessed the ability to awake in the morning at approximately whatever hour he had decided upon the night before, a most convenient gift that saved the price of an alarm clock.
On Saturday Poke made use of this ability and was out of bed long before any one else in the house was stirring and out of the house without having awakened even Gil.
It was fortunate that he had put a sweater on under his jacket, for the morning was cloudy and chill as he set off along the road toward the school and the river.
But early as he was, Sammy was ahead of him at the boat-house.
The latter was just unlocking when Poke arrived, and he displayed an unflattering surprise at his appearance.
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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.

Crofton Chums

Chapter XX

Reading 1/30 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
AN EARLY MORNING PRACTICE Poke possessed the ability to awake in the morning at approximately whatever hour he had decided upon the night before, a most convenient gift that saved the price of an alarm clock.
Line 2
On Saturday Poke made use of this ability and was out of bed long before any one else in the house was stirring and out of the house without having awakened even Gil.
Line 3
It was fortunate that he had put a sweater on under his jacket, for the morning was cloudy and chill as he set off along the road toward the school and the river.
Line 4
But early as he was, Sammy was ahead of him at the boat-house.
Line 5
The latter was just unlocking when Poke arrived, and he displayed an unflattering surprise at his appearance.

Learner Dictionary

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

Along preposition US /əˈlɔːŋ/

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading “It was fortunate that he had put a sweater on under his jacket, for the morning was cloudy and chill as he set off along the road toward the school and the river.”

Appearance noun US /ˈappearance/

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

From this reading “The latter was just unlocking when Poke arrived, and he displayed an unflattering surprise at his appearance.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “AN EARLY MORNING PRACTICE Poke possessed the ability to awake in the morning at approximately whatever hour he had decided upon the night before, a most convenient gift that saved the price of an alarm clock.”

Even noun US /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “On Saturday Poke made use of this ability and was out of bed long before any one else in the house was stirring and out of the house without having awakened even Gil.”

Having auxiliary verb US /ˈhævɪŋ/

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading “On Saturday Poke made use of this ability and was out of bed long before any one else in the house was stirring and out of the house without having awakened even Gil.”

Long noun US /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “On Saturday Poke made use of this ability and was out of bed long before any one else in the house was stirring and out of the house without having awakened even Gil.”

MORNING noun US /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “AN EARLY MORNING PRACTICE Poke possessed the ability to awake in the morning at approximately whatever hour he had decided upon the night before, a most convenient gift that saved the price of an alarm clock.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “On Saturday Poke made use of this ability and was out of bed long before any one else in the house was stirring and out of the house without having awakened even Gil.”

Saved noun US /saved/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “AN EARLY MORNING PRACTICE Poke possessed the ability to awake in the morning at approximately whatever hour he had decided upon the night before, a most convenient gift that saved the price of an alarm clock.”

Toward preposition US /təˈwɔːrd/

in the direction of

From this reading “It was fortunate that he had put a sweater on under his jacket, for the morning was cloudy and chill as he set off along the road toward the school and the river.”

Under preposition US /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading “It was fortunate that he had put a sweater on under his jacket, for the morning was cloudy and chill as he set off along the road toward the school and the river.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “AN EARLY MORNING PRACTICE Poke possessed the ability to awake in the morning at approximately whatever hour he had decided upon the night before, a most convenient gift that saved the price of an alarm clock.”

Whatever determiner US /ˌwʌˈtevər/

any or all of a kind, it does not matter which

From this reading “AN EARLY MORNING PRACTICE Poke possessed the ability to awake in the morning at approximately whatever hour he had decided upon the night before, a most convenient gift that saved the price of an alarm clock.”

Without preposition US /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading “On Saturday Poke made use of this ability and was out of bed long before any one else in the house was stirring and out of the house without having awakened even Gil.”

All words in this reading · 83

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 AN EARLY MORNING PRACTICE Poke possessed the ability to awake in the morning at approximately whatever hour he had decided upon the night before, a most convenient gift that saved the price of an alarm clock.

ability

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

From this reading AN EARLY MORNING PRACTICE Poke possessed the ability to awake in the morning at approximately whatever hour he had decided upon the night before, a most convenient gift that saved the price of an alarm clock.

ahead

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

From this reading But early as he was, Sammy was ahead of him at the boat-house.

alarm

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

From this reading AN EARLY MORNING PRACTICE Poke possessed the ability to awake in the morning at approximately whatever hour he had decided upon the night before, a most convenient gift that saved the price of an alarm clock.

alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading It was fortunate that he had put a sweater on under his jacket, for the morning was cloudy and chill as he set off along the road toward the school and the river.

ANdeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading AN EARLY MORNING PRACTICE Poke possessed the ability to awake in the morning at approximately whatever hour he had decided upon the night before, a most convenient gift that saved the price of an alarm clock.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading On Saturday Poke made use of this ability and was out of bed long before any one else in the house was stirring and out of the house without having awakened even Gil.

any

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

From this reading On Saturday Poke made use of this ability and was out of bed long before any one else in the house was stirring and out of the house without having awakened even Gil.

appearancenounUS /ˈappearance/

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

From this reading The latter was just unlocking when Poke arrived, and he displayed an unflattering surprise at his appearance.

approximately

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

From this reading AN EARLY MORNING PRACTICE Poke possessed the ability to awake in the morning at approximately whatever hour he had decided upon the night before, a most convenient gift that saved the price of an alarm clock.

arrived

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

From this reading The latter was just unlocking when Poke arrived, and he displayed an unflattering surprise at his appearance.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading It was fortunate that he had put a sweater on under his jacket, for the morning was cloudy and chill as he set off along the road toward the school and the river.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading AN EARLY MORNING PRACTICE Poke possessed the ability to awake in the morning at approximately whatever hour he had decided upon the night before, a most convenient gift that saved the price of an alarm clock.

awake

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

From this reading AN EARLY MORNING PRACTICE Poke possessed the ability to awake in the morning at approximately whatever hour he had decided upon the night before, a most convenient gift that saved the price of an alarm clock.

awakened

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

From this reading On Saturday Poke made use of this ability and was out of bed long before any one else in the house was stirring and out of the house without having awakened even Gil.

bed

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

From this reading On Saturday Poke made use of this ability and was out of bed long before any one else in the house was stirring and out of the house without having awakened even Gil.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading AN EARLY MORNING PRACTICE Poke possessed the ability to awake in the morning at approximately whatever hour he had decided upon the night before, a most convenient gift that saved the price of an alarm clock.

boat-house

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

From this reading But early as he was, Sammy was ahead of him at the boat-house.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But early as he was, Sammy was ahead of him at the boat-house.

chill

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

From this reading It was fortunate that he had put a sweater on under his jacket, for the morning was cloudy and chill as he set off along the road toward the school and the river.

clock

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

From this reading AN EARLY MORNING PRACTICE Poke possessed the ability to awake in the morning at approximately whatever hour he had decided upon the night before, a most convenient gift that saved the price of an alarm clock.

cloudy

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

From this reading It was fortunate that he had put a sweater on under his jacket, for the morning was cloudy and chill as he set off along the road toward the school and the river.

convenient

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

From this reading AN EARLY MORNING PRACTICE Poke possessed the ability to awake in the morning at approximately whatever hour he had decided upon the night before, a most convenient gift that saved the price of an alarm clock.

decided

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

From this reading AN EARLY MORNING PRACTICE Poke possessed the ability to awake in the morning at approximately whatever hour he had decided upon the night before, a most convenient gift that saved the price of an alarm clock.

displayed

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

From this reading The latter was just unlocking when Poke arrived, and he displayed an unflattering surprise at his appearance.

EARLY

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

From this reading AN EARLY MORNING PRACTICE Poke possessed the ability to awake in the morning at approximately whatever hour he had decided upon the night before, a most convenient gift that saved the price of an alarm clock.

else

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

From this reading On Saturday Poke made use of this ability and was out of bed long before any one else in the house was stirring and out of the house without having awakened even Gil.

evennounUS /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading On Saturday Poke made use of this ability and was out of bed long before any one else in the house was stirring and out of the house without having awakened even Gil.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading It was fortunate that he had put a sweater on under his jacket, for the morning was cloudy and chill as he set off along the road toward the school and the river.

fortunate

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

From this reading It was fortunate that he had put a sweater on under his jacket, for the morning was cloudy and chill as he set off along the road toward the school and the river.

gift

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

From this reading AN EARLY MORNING PRACTICE Poke possessed the ability to awake in the morning at approximately whatever hour he had decided upon the night before, a most convenient gift that saved the price of an alarm clock.

Gil

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

From this reading On Saturday Poke made use of this ability and was out of bed long before any one else in the house was stirring and out of the house without having awakened even Gil.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading AN EARLY MORNING PRACTICE Poke possessed the ability to awake in the morning at approximately whatever hour he had decided upon the night before, a most convenient gift that saved the price of an alarm clock.

havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading On Saturday Poke made use of this ability and was out of bed long before any one else in the house was stirring and out of the house without having awakened even Gil.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading AN EARLY MORNING PRACTICE Poke possessed the ability to awake in the morning at approximately whatever hour he had decided upon the night before, a most convenient gift that saved the price of an alarm clock.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading But early as he was, Sammy was ahead of him at the boat-house.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading It was fortunate that he had put a sweater on under his jacket, for the morning was cloudy and chill as he set off along the road toward the school and the river.

hour

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

From this reading AN EARLY MORNING PRACTICE Poke possessed the ability to awake in the morning at approximately whatever hour he had decided upon the night before, a most convenient gift that saved the price of an alarm clock.

house

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

From this reading On Saturday Poke made use of this ability and was out of bed long before any one else in the house was stirring and out of the house without having awakened even Gil.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading AN EARLY MORNING PRACTICE Poke possessed the ability to awake in the morning at approximately whatever hour he had decided upon the night before, a most convenient gift that saved the price of an alarm clock.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was fortunate that he had put a sweater on under his jacket, for the morning was cloudy and chill as he set off along the road toward the school and the river.

jacket

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

From this reading It was fortunate that he had put a sweater on under his jacket, for the morning was cloudy and chill as he set off along the road toward the school and the river.

just

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

From this reading The latter was just unlocking when Poke arrived, and he displayed an unflattering surprise at his appearance.

latter

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

From this reading The latter was just unlocking when Poke arrived, and he displayed an unflattering surprise at his appearance.

longnounUS /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading On Saturday Poke made use of this ability and was out of bed long before any one else in the house was stirring and out of the house without having awakened even Gil.

made

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

From this reading On Saturday Poke made use of this ability and was out of bed long before any one else in the house was stirring and out of the house without having awakened even Gil.

MORNINGnounUS /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading AN EARLY MORNING PRACTICE Poke possessed the ability to awake in the morning at approximately whatever hour he had decided upon the night before, a most convenient gift that saved the price of an alarm clock.

most

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

From this reading AN EARLY MORNING PRACTICE Poke possessed the ability to awake in the morning at approximately whatever hour he had decided upon the night before, a most convenient gift that saved the price of an alarm clock.

night

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

From this reading AN EARLY MORNING PRACTICE Poke possessed the ability to awake in the morning at approximately whatever hour he had decided upon the night before, a most convenient gift that saved the price of an alarm clock.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading AN EARLY MORNING PRACTICE Poke possessed the ability to awake in the morning at approximately whatever hour he had decided upon the night before, a most convenient gift that saved the price of an alarm clock.

off

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

From this reading It was fortunate that he had put a sweater on under his jacket, for the morning was cloudy and chill as he set off along the road toward the school and the river.

OnprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading On Saturday Poke made use of this ability and was out of bed long before any one else in the house was stirring and out of the house without having awakened even Gil.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading On Saturday Poke made use of this ability and was out of bed long before any one else in the house was stirring and out of the house without having awakened even Gil.

out

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

From this reading On Saturday Poke made use of this ability and was out of bed long before any one else in the house was stirring and out of the house without having awakened even Gil.

Poke

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

From this reading AN EARLY MORNING PRACTICE Poke possessed the ability to awake in the morning at approximately whatever hour he had decided upon the night before, a most convenient gift that saved the price of an alarm clock.

possessed

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

From this reading AN EARLY MORNING PRACTICE Poke possessed the ability to awake in the morning at approximately whatever hour he had decided upon the night before, a most convenient gift that saved the price of an alarm clock.

PRACTICE

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

From this reading AN EARLY MORNING PRACTICE Poke possessed the ability to awake in the morning at approximately whatever hour he had decided upon the night before, a most convenient gift that saved the price of an alarm clock.

price

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

From this reading AN EARLY MORNING PRACTICE Poke possessed the ability to awake in the morning at approximately whatever hour he had decided upon the night before, a most convenient gift that saved the price of an alarm clock.

put

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

From this reading It was fortunate that he had put a sweater on under his jacket, for the morning was cloudy and chill as he set off along the road toward the school and the river.

river

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

From this reading It was fortunate that he had put a sweater on under his jacket, for the morning was cloudy and chill as he set off along the road toward the school and the river.

road

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

From this reading It was fortunate that he had put a sweater on under his jacket, for the morning was cloudy and chill as he set off along the road toward the school and the river.

Sammy

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

From this reading But early as he was, Sammy was ahead of him at the boat-house.

Saturday

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

From this reading On Saturday Poke made use of this ability and was out of bed long before any one else in the house was stirring and out of the house without having awakened even Gil.

savednounUS /saved/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading AN EARLY MORNING PRACTICE Poke possessed the ability to awake in the morning at approximately whatever hour he had decided upon the night before, a most convenient gift that saved the price of an alarm clock.

school

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

From this reading It was fortunate that he had put a sweater on under his jacket, for the morning was cloudy and chill as he set off along the road toward the school and the river.

set

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

From this reading It was fortunate that he had put a sweater on under his jacket, for the morning was cloudy and chill as he set off along the road toward the school and the river.

stirring

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

From this reading On Saturday Poke made use of this ability and was out of bed long before any one else in the house was stirring and out of the house without having awakened even Gil.

surprise

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

From this reading The latter was just unlocking when Poke arrived, and he displayed an unflattering surprise at his appearance.

sweater

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

From this reading It was fortunate that he had put a sweater on under his jacket, for the morning was cloudy and chill as he set off along the road toward the school and the river.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading AN EARLY MORNING PRACTICE Poke possessed the ability to awake in the morning at approximately whatever hour he had decided upon the night before, a most convenient gift that saved the price of an alarm clock.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading AN EARLY MORNING PRACTICE Poke possessed the ability to awake in the morning at approximately whatever hour he had decided upon the night before, a most convenient gift that saved the price of an alarm clock.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading On Saturday Poke made use of this ability and was out of bed long before any one else in the house was stirring and out of the house without having awakened even Gil.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading AN EARLY MORNING PRACTICE Poke possessed the ability to awake in the morning at approximately whatever hour he had decided upon the night before, a most convenient gift that saved the price of an alarm clock.

towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/

in the direction of

From this reading It was fortunate that he had put a sweater on under his jacket, for the morning was cloudy and chill as he set off along the road toward the school and the river.

underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading It was fortunate that he had put a sweater on under his jacket, for the morning was cloudy and chill as he set off along the road toward the school and the river.

unflattering

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

From this reading The latter was just unlocking when Poke arrived, and he displayed an unflattering surprise at his appearance.

unlocking

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

From this reading The latter was just unlocking when Poke arrived, and he displayed an unflattering surprise at his appearance.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading AN EARLY MORNING PRACTICE Poke possessed the ability to awake in the morning at approximately whatever hour he had decided upon the night before, a most convenient gift that saved the price of an alarm clock.

use

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

From this reading On Saturday Poke made use of this ability and was out of bed long before any one else in the house was stirring and out of the house without having awakened even Gil.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading On Saturday Poke made use of this ability and was out of bed long before any one else in the house was stirring and out of the house without having awakened even Gil.

whateverdeterminerUS /ˌwʌˈtevər/

any or all of a kind, it does not matter which

From this reading AN EARLY MORNING PRACTICE Poke possessed the ability to awake in the morning at approximately whatever hour he had decided upon the night before, a most convenient gift that saved the price of an alarm clock.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading The latter was just unlocking when Poke arrived, and he displayed an unflattering surprise at his appearance.

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading On Saturday Poke made use of this ability and was out of bed long before any one else in the house was stirring and out of the house without having awakened even Gil.