Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
Down the Ravine
Down the Ravine

Chapter I

Cover illustration for Down the Ravine
Context Illustration Reading 1/26 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The new moon, a gleaming scimitar, cleft the gauzy mists above a rugged spur of the Cumberland Mountains.
The sky, still crimson and amber, stretched vast and lonely above the vast and lonely landscape.
A fox was barking in the laurel.
This was an imprudent proceeding on the part of the fox, considering the value of his head-gear.
A young mountaineer down the ravine was reminded, by the sharp, abrupt sound, of a premium offered by the State of Tennessee for the scalp and ears of the pestiferous red fox.
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Down the Ravine

Chapter I

Reading 1/26 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The new moon, a gleaming scimitar, cleft the gauzy mists above a rugged spur of the Cumberland Mountains.
Line 2
The sky, still crimson and amber, stretched vast and lonely above the vast and lonely landscape.
Line 3
A fox was barking in the laurel.
Line 4
This was an imprudent proceeding on the part of the fox, considering the value of his head-gear.
Line 5
A young mountaineer down the ravine was reminded, by the sharp, abrupt sound, of a premium offered by the State of Tennessee for the scalp and ears of the pestiferous red fox.

Learner Dictionary

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

Above preposition US /əˈbʌv/

higher than, or over, something

From this reading “The new moon, a gleaming scimitar, cleft the gauzy mists above a rugged spur of the Cumberland Mountains.”

Part noun US /part/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “This was an imprudent proceeding on the part of the fox, considering the value of his head-gear.”

Still noun US /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The sky, still crimson and amber, stretched vast and lonely above the vast and lonely landscape.”

All words in this reading · 57

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 new moon, a gleaming scimitar, cleft the gauzy mists above a rugged spur of the Cumberland Mountains.

aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/

higher than, or over, something

From this reading The new moon, a gleaming scimitar, cleft the gauzy mists above a rugged spur of the Cumberland Mountains.

abrupt

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

From this reading A young mountaineer down the ravine was reminded, by the sharp, abrupt sound, of a premium offered by the State of Tennessee for the scalp and ears of the pestiferous red fox.

amber

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

From this reading The sky, still crimson and amber, stretched vast and lonely above the vast and lonely landscape.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading This was an imprudent proceeding on the part of the fox, considering the value of his head-gear.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The sky, still crimson and amber, stretched vast and lonely above the vast and lonely landscape.

barking

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

From this reading A fox was barking in the laurel.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading A young mountaineer down the ravine was reminded, by the sharp, abrupt sound, of a premium offered by the State of Tennessee for the scalp and ears of the pestiferous red fox.

cleft

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

From this reading The new moon, a gleaming scimitar, cleft the gauzy mists above a rugged spur of the Cumberland Mountains.

considering

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

From this reading This was an imprudent proceeding on the part of the fox, considering the value of his head-gear.

crimson

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

From this reading The sky, still crimson and amber, stretched vast and lonely above the vast and lonely landscape.

Cumberland

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

From this reading The new moon, a gleaming scimitar, cleft the gauzy mists above a rugged spur of the Cumberland Mountains.

down

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

From this reading A young mountaineer down the ravine was reminded, by the sharp, abrupt sound, of a premium offered by the State of Tennessee for the scalp and ears of the pestiferous red fox.

ears

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

From this reading A young mountaineer down the ravine was reminded, by the sharp, abrupt sound, of a premium offered by the State of Tennessee for the scalp and ears of the pestiferous red fox.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading A young mountaineer down the ravine was reminded, by the sharp, abrupt sound, of a premium offered by the State of Tennessee for the scalp and ears of the pestiferous red fox.

fox

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

From this reading A fox was barking in the laurel.

gauzy

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

From this reading The new moon, a gleaming scimitar, cleft the gauzy mists above a rugged spur of the Cumberland Mountains.

gleaming

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

From this reading The new moon, a gleaming scimitar, cleft the gauzy mists above a rugged spur of the Cumberland Mountains.

head-gear

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

From this reading This was an imprudent proceeding on the part of the fox, considering the value of his head-gear.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading This was an imprudent proceeding on the part of the fox, considering the value of his head-gear.

imprudent

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

From this reading This was an imprudent proceeding on the part of the fox, considering the value of his head-gear.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading A fox was barking in the laurel.

landscape

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

From this reading The sky, still crimson and amber, stretched vast and lonely above the vast and lonely landscape.

laurel

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

From this reading A fox was barking in the laurel.

lonely

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

From this reading The sky, still crimson and amber, stretched vast and lonely above the vast and lonely landscape.

mists

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

From this reading The new moon, a gleaming scimitar, cleft the gauzy mists above a rugged spur of the Cumberland Mountains.

moon

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

From this reading The new moon, a gleaming scimitar, cleft the gauzy mists above a rugged spur of the Cumberland Mountains.

mountaineer

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

From this reading A young mountaineer down the ravine was reminded, by the sharp, abrupt sound, of a premium offered by the State of Tennessee for the scalp and ears of the pestiferous red fox.

Mountains

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

From this reading The new moon, a gleaming scimitar, cleft the gauzy mists above a rugged spur of the Cumberland Mountains.

new

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

From this reading The new moon, a gleaming scimitar, cleft the gauzy mists above a rugged spur of the Cumberland Mountains.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The new moon, a gleaming scimitar, cleft the gauzy mists above a rugged spur of the Cumberland Mountains.

offered

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

From this reading A young mountaineer down the ravine was reminded, by the sharp, abrupt sound, of a premium offered by the State of Tennessee for the scalp and ears of the pestiferous red fox.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading This was an imprudent proceeding on the part of the fox, considering the value of his head-gear.

partnounUS /part/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading This was an imprudent proceeding on the part of the fox, considering the value of his head-gear.

pestiferous

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

From this reading A young mountaineer down the ravine was reminded, by the sharp, abrupt sound, of a premium offered by the State of Tennessee for the scalp and ears of the pestiferous red fox.

premium

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

From this reading A young mountaineer down the ravine was reminded, by the sharp, abrupt sound, of a premium offered by the State of Tennessee for the scalp and ears of the pestiferous red fox.

proceeding

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

From this reading This was an imprudent proceeding on the part of the fox, considering the value of his head-gear.

ravine

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

From this reading A young mountaineer down the ravine was reminded, by the sharp, abrupt sound, of a premium offered by the State of Tennessee for the scalp and ears of the pestiferous red fox.

red

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

From this reading A young mountaineer down the ravine was reminded, by the sharp, abrupt sound, of a premium offered by the State of Tennessee for the scalp and ears of the pestiferous red fox.

reminded

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

From this reading A young mountaineer down the ravine was reminded, by the sharp, abrupt sound, of a premium offered by the State of Tennessee for the scalp and ears of the pestiferous red fox.

rugged

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

From this reading The new moon, a gleaming scimitar, cleft the gauzy mists above a rugged spur of the Cumberland Mountains.

scalp

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

From this reading A young mountaineer down the ravine was reminded, by the sharp, abrupt sound, of a premium offered by the State of Tennessee for the scalp and ears of the pestiferous red fox.

scimitar

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

From this reading The new moon, a gleaming scimitar, cleft the gauzy mists above a rugged spur of the Cumberland Mountains.

sharp

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

From this reading A young mountaineer down the ravine was reminded, by the sharp, abrupt sound, of a premium offered by the State of Tennessee for the scalp and ears of the pestiferous red fox.

sky

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

From this reading The sky, still crimson and amber, stretched vast and lonely above the vast and lonely landscape.

sound

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

From this reading A young mountaineer down the ravine was reminded, by the sharp, abrupt sound, of a premium offered by the State of Tennessee for the scalp and ears of the pestiferous red fox.

spur

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

From this reading The new moon, a gleaming scimitar, cleft the gauzy mists above a rugged spur of the Cumberland Mountains.

State

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

From this reading A young mountaineer down the ravine was reminded, by the sharp, abrupt sound, of a premium offered by the State of Tennessee for the scalp and ears of the pestiferous red fox.

stillnounUS /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The sky, still crimson and amber, stretched vast and lonely above the vast and lonely landscape.

stretched

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

From this reading The sky, still crimson and amber, stretched vast and lonely above the vast and lonely landscape.

Tennessee

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

From this reading A young mountaineer down the ravine was reminded, by the sharp, abrupt sound, of a premium offered by the State of Tennessee for the scalp and ears of the pestiferous red fox.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The new moon, a gleaming scimitar, cleft the gauzy mists above a rugged spur of the Cumberland Mountains.

ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading This was an imprudent proceeding on the part of the fox, considering the value of his head-gear.

value

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

From this reading This was an imprudent proceeding on the part of the fox, considering the value of his head-gear.

vast

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

From this reading The sky, still crimson and amber, stretched vast and lonely above the vast and lonely landscape.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading A fox was barking in the laurel.

young

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

From this reading A young mountaineer down the ravine was reminded, by the sharp, abrupt sound, of a premium offered by the State of Tennessee for the scalp and ears of the pestiferous red fox.