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Down the River
Down the River

Chapter XXI

Cover illustration for Down the River
Context Illustration Reading 1/22 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
FLORA AND HER PATIENT.
There was no difficulty, in finding the River Queen No. 4, for she was the centre of a circle of melancholy interest, and a crowd of people had gathered on the levee to hear the latest tidings of woe from her cabin, now changed into a hospital.
I care not to dwell upon the sad scene which greeted my vision as I went on board of her, nor to describe the horror with which I glanced at the long row of ghastly corpses which had been taken from the water.
It was a sickening sight, and terrible were the groans and the wailings of the sufferers which resounded through the boat.
I learned that the captain of the ill-fated steamer was among the dead.
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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.

Down the River

Chapter XXI

Reading 1/22 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
FLORA AND HER PATIENT.
Line 2
There was no difficulty, in finding the River Queen No. 4, for she was the centre of a circle of melancholy interest, and a crowd of people had gathered on the levee to hear the latest tidings of woe from her cabin, now changed into a hospital.
Line 3
I care not to dwell upon the sad scene which greeted my vision as I went on board of her, nor to describe the horror with which I glanced at the long row of ghastly corpses which had been taken from the water.
Line 4
It was a sickening sight, and terrible were the groans and the wailings of the sufferers which resounded through the boat.
Line 5
I learned that the captain of the ill-fated steamer was among the dead.

Learner Dictionary

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

Among preposition US /əˈmʌŋ/

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading “I learned that the captain of the ill-fated steamer was among the dead.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “I care not to dwell upon the sad scene which greeted my vision as I went on board of her, nor to describe the horror with which I glanced at the long row of ghastly corpses which had been taken from the water.”

Captain noun US /ˈcaptain/

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

From this reading “I learned that the captain of the ill-fated steamer was among the dead.”

Dead noun US /dead/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I learned that the captain of the ill-fated steamer was among the dead.”

Hear noun US /hear/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “There was no difficulty, in finding the River Queen No. 4, for she was the centre of a circle of melancholy interest, and a crowd of people had gathered on the levee to hear the latest tidings of woe from her cabin, now changed into a hospital.”

Long noun US /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I care not to dwell upon the sad scene which greeted my vision as I went on board of her, nor to describe the horror with which I glanced at the long row of ghastly corpses which had been taken from the water.”

Terrible noun US /ˈterrible/

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

From this reading “It was a sickening sight, and terrible were the groans and the wailings of the sufferers which resounded through the boat.”

Through noun US /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading “It was a sickening sight, and terrible were the groans and the wailings of the sufferers which resounded through the boat.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “I care not to dwell upon the sad scene which greeted my vision as I went on board of her, nor to describe the horror with which I glanced at the long row of ghastly corpses which had been taken from the water.”

Went noun US /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I care not to dwell upon the sad scene which greeted my vision as I went on board of her, nor to describe the horror with which I glanced at the long row of ghastly corpses which had been taken from the water.”

All words in this reading · 84

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

4

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

From this reading There was no difficulty, in finding the River Queen No. 4, for she was the centre of a circle of melancholy interest, and a crowd of people had gathered on the levee to hear the latest tidings of woe from her cabin, now changed into a hospital.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading There was no difficulty, in finding the River Queen No. 4, for she was the centre of a circle of melancholy interest, and a crowd of people had gathered on the levee to hear the latest tidings of woe from her cabin, now changed into a hospital.

amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading I learned that the captain of the ill-fated steamer was among the dead.

ANDconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading FLORA AND HER PATIENT.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading I care not to dwell upon the sad scene which greeted my vision as I went on board of her, nor to describe the horror with which I glanced at the long row of ghastly corpses which had been taken from the water.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading I care not to dwell upon the sad scene which greeted my vision as I went on board of her, nor to describe the horror with which I glanced at the long row of ghastly corpses which had been taken from the water.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading I care not to dwell upon the sad scene which greeted my vision as I went on board of her, nor to describe the horror with which I glanced at the long row of ghastly corpses which had been taken from the water.

board

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

From this reading I care not to dwell upon the sad scene which greeted my vision as I went on board of her, nor to describe the horror with which I glanced at the long row of ghastly corpses which had been taken from the water.

boat

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

From this reading It was a sickening sight, and terrible were the groans and the wailings of the sufferers which resounded through the boat.

cabin

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

From this reading There was no difficulty, in finding the River Queen No. 4, for she was the centre of a circle of melancholy interest, and a crowd of people had gathered on the levee to hear the latest tidings of woe from her cabin, now changed into a hospital.

captainnounUS /ˈcaptain/

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

From this reading I learned that the captain of the ill-fated steamer was among the dead.

care

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

From this reading I care not to dwell upon the sad scene which greeted my vision as I went on board of her, nor to describe the horror with which I glanced at the long row of ghastly corpses which had been taken from the water.

centre

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

From this reading There was no difficulty, in finding the River Queen No. 4, for she was the centre of a circle of melancholy interest, and a crowd of people had gathered on the levee to hear the latest tidings of woe from her cabin, now changed into a hospital.

changed

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

From this reading There was no difficulty, in finding the River Queen No. 4, for she was the centre of a circle of melancholy interest, and a crowd of people had gathered on the levee to hear the latest tidings of woe from her cabin, now changed into a hospital.

circle

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

From this reading There was no difficulty, in finding the River Queen No. 4, for she was the centre of a circle of melancholy interest, and a crowd of people had gathered on the levee to hear the latest tidings of woe from her cabin, now changed into a hospital.

corpses

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

From this reading I care not to dwell upon the sad scene which greeted my vision as I went on board of her, nor to describe the horror with which I glanced at the long row of ghastly corpses which had been taken from the water.

crowd

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

From this reading There was no difficulty, in finding the River Queen No. 4, for she was the centre of a circle of melancholy interest, and a crowd of people had gathered on the levee to hear the latest tidings of woe from her cabin, now changed into a hospital.

deadnounUS /dead/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading I learned that the captain of the ill-fated steamer was among the dead.

describe

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

From this reading I care not to dwell upon the sad scene which greeted my vision as I went on board of her, nor to describe the horror with which I glanced at the long row of ghastly corpses which had been taken from the water.

difficulty

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

From this reading There was no difficulty, in finding the River Queen No. 4, for she was the centre of a circle of melancholy interest, and a crowd of people had gathered on the levee to hear the latest tidings of woe from her cabin, now changed into a hospital.

dwell

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

From this reading I care not to dwell upon the sad scene which greeted my vision as I went on board of her, nor to describe the horror with which I glanced at the long row of ghastly corpses which had been taken from the water.

finding

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

From this reading There was no difficulty, in finding the River Queen No. 4, for she was the centre of a circle of melancholy interest, and a crowd of people had gathered on the levee to hear the latest tidings of woe from her cabin, now changed into a hospital.

FLORA

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

From this reading FLORA AND HER PATIENT.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading There was no difficulty, in finding the River Queen No. 4, for she was the centre of a circle of melancholy interest, and a crowd of people had gathered on the levee to hear the latest tidings of woe from her cabin, now changed into a hospital.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading There was no difficulty, in finding the River Queen No. 4, for she was the centre of a circle of melancholy interest, and a crowd of people had gathered on the levee to hear the latest tidings of woe from her cabin, now changed into a hospital.

gathered

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

From this reading There was no difficulty, in finding the River Queen No. 4, for she was the centre of a circle of melancholy interest, and a crowd of people had gathered on the levee to hear the latest tidings of woe from her cabin, now changed into a hospital.

ghastly

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

From this reading I care not to dwell upon the sad scene which greeted my vision as I went on board of her, nor to describe the horror with which I glanced at the long row of ghastly corpses which had been taken from the water.

glanced

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

From this reading I care not to dwell upon the sad scene which greeted my vision as I went on board of her, nor to describe the horror with which I glanced at the long row of ghastly corpses which had been taken from the water.

greeted

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

From this reading I care not to dwell upon the sad scene which greeted my vision as I went on board of her, nor to describe the horror with which I glanced at the long row of ghastly corpses which had been taken from the water.

groans

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

From this reading It was a sickening sight, and terrible were the groans and the wailings of the sufferers which resounded through the boat.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading There was no difficulty, in finding the River Queen No. 4, for she was the centre of a circle of melancholy interest, and a crowd of people had gathered on the levee to hear the latest tidings of woe from her cabin, now changed into a hospital.

hearnounUS /hear/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading There was no difficulty, in finding the River Queen No. 4, for she was the centre of a circle of melancholy interest, and a crowd of people had gathered on the levee to hear the latest tidings of woe from her cabin, now changed into a hospital.

HERdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading FLORA AND HER PATIENT.

horror

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

From this reading I care not to dwell upon the sad scene which greeted my vision as I went on board of her, nor to describe the horror with which I glanced at the long row of ghastly corpses which had been taken from the water.

hospital

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

From this reading There was no difficulty, in finding the River Queen No. 4, for she was the centre of a circle of melancholy interest, and a crowd of people had gathered on the levee to hear the latest tidings of woe from her cabin, now changed into a hospital.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading I care not to dwell upon the sad scene which greeted my vision as I went on board of her, nor to describe the horror with which I glanced at the long row of ghastly corpses which had been taken from the water.

ill-fated

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

From this reading I learned that the captain of the ill-fated steamer was among the dead.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading There was no difficulty, in finding the River Queen No. 4, for she was the centre of a circle of melancholy interest, and a crowd of people had gathered on the levee to hear the latest tidings of woe from her cabin, now changed into a hospital.

interest

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

From this reading There was no difficulty, in finding the River Queen No. 4, for she was the centre of a circle of melancholy interest, and a crowd of people had gathered on the levee to hear the latest tidings of woe from her cabin, now changed into a hospital.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading There was no difficulty, in finding the River Queen No. 4, for she was the centre of a circle of melancholy interest, and a crowd of people had gathered on the levee to hear the latest tidings of woe from her cabin, now changed into a hospital.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was a sickening sight, and terrible were the groans and the wailings of the sufferers which resounded through the boat.

latest

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

From this reading There was no difficulty, in finding the River Queen No. 4, for she was the centre of a circle of melancholy interest, and a crowd of people had gathered on the levee to hear the latest tidings of woe from her cabin, now changed into a hospital.

learned

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

From this reading I learned that the captain of the ill-fated steamer was among the dead.

levee

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

From this reading There was no difficulty, in finding the River Queen No. 4, for she was the centre of a circle of melancholy interest, and a crowd of people had gathered on the levee to hear the latest tidings of woe from her cabin, now changed into a hospital.

longnounUS /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading I care not to dwell upon the sad scene which greeted my vision as I went on board of her, nor to describe the horror with which I glanced at the long row of ghastly corpses which had been taken from the water.

melancholy

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

From this reading There was no difficulty, in finding the River Queen No. 4, for she was the centre of a circle of melancholy interest, and a crowd of people had gathered on the levee to hear the latest tidings of woe from her cabin, now changed into a hospital.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading I care not to dwell upon the sad scene which greeted my vision as I went on board of her, nor to describe the horror with which I glanced at the long row of ghastly corpses which had been taken from the water.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading There was no difficulty, in finding the River Queen No. 4, for she was the centre of a circle of melancholy interest, and a crowd of people had gathered on the levee to hear the latest tidings of woe from her cabin, now changed into a hospital.

norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/

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

From this reading I care not to dwell upon the sad scene which greeted my vision as I went on board of her, nor to describe the horror with which I glanced at the long row of ghastly corpses which had been taken from the water.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading I care not to dwell upon the sad scene which greeted my vision as I went on board of her, nor to describe the horror with which I glanced at the long row of ghastly corpses which had been taken from the water.

now

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

From this reading There was no difficulty, in finding the River Queen No. 4, for she was the centre of a circle of melancholy interest, and a crowd of people had gathered on the levee to hear the latest tidings of woe from her cabin, now changed into a hospital.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading There was no difficulty, in finding the River Queen No. 4, for she was the centre of a circle of melancholy interest, and a crowd of people had gathered on the levee to hear the latest tidings of woe from her cabin, now changed into a hospital.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading There was no difficulty, in finding the River Queen No. 4, for she was the centre of a circle of melancholy interest, and a crowd of people had gathered on the levee to hear the latest tidings of woe from her cabin, now changed into a hospital.

PATIENT

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

From this reading FLORA AND HER PATIENT.

people

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

From this reading There was no difficulty, in finding the River Queen No. 4, for she was the centre of a circle of melancholy interest, and a crowd of people had gathered on the levee to hear the latest tidings of woe from her cabin, now changed into a hospital.

Queen

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

From this reading There was no difficulty, in finding the River Queen No. 4, for she was the centre of a circle of melancholy interest, and a crowd of people had gathered on the levee to hear the latest tidings of woe from her cabin, now changed into a hospital.

resounded

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

From this reading It was a sickening sight, and terrible were the groans and the wailings of the sufferers which resounded through the boat.

River

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

From this reading There was no difficulty, in finding the River Queen No. 4, for she was the centre of a circle of melancholy interest, and a crowd of people had gathered on the levee to hear the latest tidings of woe from her cabin, now changed into a hospital.

row

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

From this reading I care not to dwell upon the sad scene which greeted my vision as I went on board of her, nor to describe the horror with which I glanced at the long row of ghastly corpses which had been taken from the water.

sad

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

From this reading I care not to dwell upon the sad scene which greeted my vision as I went on board of her, nor to describe the horror with which I glanced at the long row of ghastly corpses which had been taken from the water.

scene

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

From this reading I care not to dwell upon the sad scene which greeted my vision as I went on board of her, nor to describe the horror with which I glanced at the long row of ghastly corpses which had been taken from the water.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading There was no difficulty, in finding the River Queen No. 4, for she was the centre of a circle of melancholy interest, and a crowd of people had gathered on the levee to hear the latest tidings of woe from her cabin, now changed into a hospital.

sickening

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

From this reading It was a sickening sight, and terrible were the groans and the wailings of the sufferers which resounded through the boat.

sight

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

From this reading It was a sickening sight, and terrible were the groans and the wailings of the sufferers which resounded through the boat.

steamer

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

From this reading I learned that the captain of the ill-fated steamer was among the dead.

sufferers

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

From this reading It was a sickening sight, and terrible were the groans and the wailings of the sufferers which resounded through the boat.

taken

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

From this reading I care not to dwell upon the sad scene which greeted my vision as I went on board of her, nor to describe the horror with which I glanced at the long row of ghastly corpses which had been taken from the water.

terriblenounUS /ˈterrible/

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

From this reading It was a sickening sight, and terrible were the groans and the wailings of the sufferers which resounded through the boat.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading I learned that the captain of the ill-fated steamer was among the dead.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading There was no difficulty, in finding the River Queen No. 4, for she was the centre of a circle of melancholy interest, and a crowd of people had gathered on the levee to hear the latest tidings of woe from her cabin, now changed into a hospital.

There

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

From this reading There was no difficulty, in finding the River Queen No. 4, for she was the centre of a circle of melancholy interest, and a crowd of people had gathered on the levee to hear the latest tidings of woe from her cabin, now changed into a hospital.

throughnounUS /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading It was a sickening sight, and terrible were the groans and the wailings of the sufferers which resounded through the boat.

tidings

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

From this reading There was no difficulty, in finding the River Queen No. 4, for she was the centre of a circle of melancholy interest, and a crowd of people had gathered on the levee to hear the latest tidings of woe from her cabin, now changed into a hospital.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading There was no difficulty, in finding the River Queen No. 4, for she was the centre of a circle of melancholy interest, and a crowd of people had gathered on the levee to hear the latest tidings of woe from her cabin, now changed into a hospital.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading I care not to dwell upon the sad scene which greeted my vision as I went on board of her, nor to describe the horror with which I glanced at the long row of ghastly corpses which had been taken from the water.

vision

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

From this reading I care not to dwell upon the sad scene which greeted my vision as I went on board of her, nor to describe the horror with which I glanced at the long row of ghastly corpses which had been taken from the water.

wailings

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

From this reading It was a sickening sight, and terrible were the groans and the wailings of the sufferers which resounded through the boat.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading There was no difficulty, in finding the River Queen No. 4, for she was the centre of a circle of melancholy interest, and a crowd of people had gathered on the levee to hear the latest tidings of woe from her cabin, now changed into a hospital.

water

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

From this reading I care not to dwell upon the sad scene which greeted my vision as I went on board of her, nor to describe the horror with which I glanced at the long row of ghastly corpses which had been taken from the water.

wentnounUS /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading I care not to dwell upon the sad scene which greeted my vision as I went on board of her, nor to describe the horror with which I glanced at the long row of ghastly corpses which had been taken from the water.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading It was a sickening sight, and terrible were the groans and the wailings of the sufferers which resounded through the boat.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading I care not to dwell upon the sad scene which greeted my vision as I went on board of her, nor to describe the horror with which I glanced at the long row of ghastly corpses which had been taken from the water.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading I care not to dwell upon the sad scene which greeted my vision as I went on board of her, nor to describe the horror with which I glanced at the long row of ghastly corpses which had been taken from the water.

woe

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

From this reading There was no difficulty, in finding the River Queen No. 4, for she was the centre of a circle of melancholy interest, and a crowd of people had gathered on the levee to hear the latest tidings of woe from her cabin, now changed into a hospital.