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Driven Back to Eden
Driven Back to Eden

Chapter XXX

Cover illustration for Driven Back to Eden
Context Illustration Reading 1/22 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
GIVEN HIS CHOICE Junior had good reason for bringing Merton to a sudden halt in his impetuous and hostile advance.
The man coming up the lane, with a savage dog, was the father of the ill-nurtured children.
He had felt a little uneasy as to the results of their raid upon our fruit, and had walked across the fields to give them the encouragement of his presence, or to cover their retreat, which he now did effectually.
It took Junior but a moment to explain to my boy that they were no match "for the two brutes," as he expressed himself, adding, "The man is worse than the dog."
Merton, however, was almost reckless from anger and a sense of unprovoked wrong, and he darted into the house for his gun.
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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.

Driven Back to Eden

Chapter XXX

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

Line 1
GIVEN HIS CHOICE Junior had good reason for bringing Merton to a sudden halt in his impetuous and hostile advance.
Line 2
The man coming up the lane, with a savage dog, was the father of the ill-nurtured children.
Line 3
He had felt a little uneasy as to the results of their raid upon our fruit, and had walked across the fields to give them the encouragement of his presence, or to cover their retreat, which he now did effectually.
Line 4
It took Junior but a moment to explain to my boy that they were no match "for the two brutes," as he expressed himself, adding, "The man is worse than the dog."
Line 5
Merton, however, was almost reckless from anger and a sense of unprovoked wrong, and he darted into the house for his gun.

Learner Dictionary

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

Across preposition US /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading “He had felt a little uneasy as to the results of their raid upon our fruit, and had walked across the fields to give them the encouragement of his presence, or to cover their retreat, which he now did effectually.”

Good noun US /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “GIVEN HIS CHOICE Junior had good reason for bringing Merton to a sudden halt in his impetuous and hostile advance.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading “It took Junior but a moment to explain to my boy that they were no match "for the two brutes," as he expressed himself, adding, "The man is worse than the dog."”

However adverb US /ˌhaʊˈevər/

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading “Merton, however, was almost reckless from anger and a sense of unprovoked wrong, and he darted into the house for his gun.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He had felt a little uneasy as to the results of their raid upon our fruit, and had walked across the fields to give them the encouragement of his presence, or to cover their retreat, which he now did effectually.”

Sudden noun US /sudden/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “GIVEN HIS CHOICE Junior had good reason for bringing Merton to a sudden halt in his impetuous and hostile advance.”

Took noun US /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It took Junior but a moment to explain to my boy that they were no match "for the two brutes," as he expressed himself, adding, "The man is worse than the dog."”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “He had felt a little uneasy as to the results of their raid upon our fruit, and had walked across the fields to give them the encouragement of his presence, or to cover their retreat, which he now did effectually.”

All words in this reading · 89

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 GIVEN HIS CHOICE Junior had good reason for bringing Merton to a sudden halt in his impetuous and hostile advance.

acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading He had felt a little uneasy as to the results of their raid upon our fruit, and had walked across the fields to give them the encouragement of his presence, or to cover their retreat, which he now did effectually.

adding

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

From this reading It took Junior but a moment to explain to my boy that they were no match "for the two brutes," as he expressed himself, adding, "The man is worse than the dog."

advance

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

From this reading GIVEN HIS CHOICE Junior had good reason for bringing Merton to a sudden halt in his impetuous and hostile advance.

almost

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

From this reading Merton, however, was almost reckless from anger and a sense of unprovoked wrong, and he darted into the house for his gun.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading GIVEN HIS CHOICE Junior had good reason for bringing Merton to a sudden halt in his impetuous and hostile advance.

anger

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

From this reading Merton, however, was almost reckless from anger and a sense of unprovoked wrong, and he darted into the house for his gun.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading He had felt a little uneasy as to the results of their raid upon our fruit, and had walked across the fields to give them the encouragement of his presence, or to cover their retreat, which he now did effectually.

boy

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

From this reading It took Junior but a moment to explain to my boy that they were no match "for the two brutes," as he expressed himself, adding, "The man is worse than the dog."

bringing

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

From this reading GIVEN HIS CHOICE Junior had good reason for bringing Merton to a sudden halt in his impetuous and hostile advance.

brutes

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

From this reading It took Junior but a moment to explain to my boy that they were no match "for the two brutes," as he expressed himself, adding, "The man is worse than the dog."

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading It took Junior but a moment to explain to my boy that they were no match "for the two brutes," as he expressed himself, adding, "The man is worse than the dog."

children

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

From this reading The man coming up the lane, with a savage dog, was the father of the ill-nurtured children.

CHOICE

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

From this reading GIVEN HIS CHOICE Junior had good reason for bringing Merton to a sudden halt in his impetuous and hostile advance.

coming

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

From this reading The man coming up the lane, with a savage dog, was the father of the ill-nurtured children.

cover

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

From this reading He had felt a little uneasy as to the results of their raid upon our fruit, and had walked across the fields to give them the encouragement of his presence, or to cover their retreat, which he now did effectually.

darted

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

From this reading Merton, however, was almost reckless from anger and a sense of unprovoked wrong, and he darted into the house for his gun.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading He had felt a little uneasy as to the results of their raid upon our fruit, and had walked across the fields to give them the encouragement of his presence, or to cover their retreat, which he now did effectually.

dog

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

From this reading The man coming up the lane, with a savage dog, was the father of the ill-nurtured children.

effectually

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

From this reading He had felt a little uneasy as to the results of their raid upon our fruit, and had walked across the fields to give them the encouragement of his presence, or to cover their retreat, which he now did effectually.

encouragement

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

From this reading He had felt a little uneasy as to the results of their raid upon our fruit, and had walked across the fields to give them the encouragement of his presence, or to cover their retreat, which he now did effectually.

explain

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

From this reading It took Junior but a moment to explain to my boy that they were no match "for the two brutes," as he expressed himself, adding, "The man is worse than the dog."

expressed

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

From this reading It took Junior but a moment to explain to my boy that they were no match "for the two brutes," as he expressed himself, adding, "The man is worse than the dog."

father

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

From this reading The man coming up the lane, with a savage dog, was the father of the ill-nurtured children.

felt

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

From this reading He had felt a little uneasy as to the results of their raid upon our fruit, and had walked across the fields to give them the encouragement of his presence, or to cover their retreat, which he now did effectually.

fields

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

From this reading He had felt a little uneasy as to the results of their raid upon our fruit, and had walked across the fields to give them the encouragement of his presence, or to cover their retreat, which he now did effectually.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading GIVEN HIS CHOICE Junior had good reason for bringing Merton to a sudden halt in his impetuous and hostile advance.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Merton, however, was almost reckless from anger and a sense of unprovoked wrong, and he darted into the house for his gun.

fruit

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

From this reading He had felt a little uneasy as to the results of their raid upon our fruit, and had walked across the fields to give them the encouragement of his presence, or to cover their retreat, which he now did effectually.

give

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

From this reading He had felt a little uneasy as to the results of their raid upon our fruit, and had walked across the fields to give them the encouragement of his presence, or to cover their retreat, which he now did effectually.

GIVEN

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

From this reading GIVEN HIS CHOICE Junior had good reason for bringing Merton to a sudden halt in his impetuous and hostile advance.

goodnounUS /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading GIVEN HIS CHOICE Junior had good reason for bringing Merton to a sudden halt in his impetuous and hostile advance.

gun

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

From this reading Merton, however, was almost reckless from anger and a sense of unprovoked wrong, and he darted into the house for his gun.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading GIVEN HIS CHOICE Junior had good reason for bringing Merton to a sudden halt in his impetuous and hostile advance.

halt

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

From this reading GIVEN HIS CHOICE Junior had good reason for bringing Merton to a sudden halt in his impetuous and hostile advance.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He had felt a little uneasy as to the results of their raid upon our fruit, and had walked across the fields to give them the encouragement of his presence, or to cover their retreat, which he now did effectually.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading It took Junior but a moment to explain to my boy that they were no match "for the two brutes," as he expressed himself, adding, "The man is worse than the dog."

HISdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading GIVEN HIS CHOICE Junior had good reason for bringing Merton to a sudden halt in his impetuous and hostile advance.

hostile

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

From this reading GIVEN HIS CHOICE Junior had good reason for bringing Merton to a sudden halt in his impetuous and hostile advance.

house

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

From this reading Merton, however, was almost reckless from anger and a sense of unprovoked wrong, and he darted into the house for his gun.

howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading Merton, however, was almost reckless from anger and a sense of unprovoked wrong, and he darted into the house for his gun.

ill-nurtured

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

From this reading The man coming up the lane, with a savage dog, was the father of the ill-nurtured children.

impetuous

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

From this reading GIVEN HIS CHOICE Junior had good reason for bringing Merton to a sudden halt in his impetuous and hostile advance.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading GIVEN HIS CHOICE Junior had good reason for bringing Merton to a sudden halt in his impetuous and hostile advance.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Merton, however, was almost reckless from anger and a sense of unprovoked wrong, and he darted into the house for his gun.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading It took Junior but a moment to explain to my boy that they were no match "for the two brutes," as he expressed himself, adding, "The man is worse than the dog."

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It took Junior but a moment to explain to my boy that they were no match "for the two brutes," as he expressed himself, adding, "The man is worse than the dog."

Junior

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

From this reading GIVEN HIS CHOICE Junior had good reason for bringing Merton to a sudden halt in his impetuous and hostile advance.

lane

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

From this reading The man coming up the lane, with a savage dog, was the father of the ill-nurtured children.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He had felt a little uneasy as to the results of their raid upon our fruit, and had walked across the fields to give them the encouragement of his presence, or to cover their retreat, which he now did effectually.

man

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

From this reading The man coming up the lane, with a savage dog, was the father of the ill-nurtured children.

match

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

From this reading It took Junior but a moment to explain to my boy that they were no match "for the two brutes," as he expressed himself, adding, "The man is worse than the dog."

Merton

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

From this reading GIVEN HIS CHOICE Junior had good reason for bringing Merton to a sudden halt in his impetuous and hostile advance.

moment

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

From this reading It took Junior but a moment to explain to my boy that they were no match "for the two brutes," as he expressed himself, adding, "The man is worse than the dog."

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading It took Junior but a moment to explain to my boy that they were no match "for the two brutes," as he expressed himself, adding, "The man is worse than the dog."

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading It took Junior but a moment to explain to my boy that they were no match "for the two brutes," as he expressed himself, adding, "The man is worse than the dog."

now

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

From this reading He had felt a little uneasy as to the results of their raid upon our fruit, and had walked across the fields to give them the encouragement of his presence, or to cover their retreat, which he now did effectually.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The man coming up the lane, with a savage dog, was the father of the ill-nurtured children.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading He had felt a little uneasy as to the results of their raid upon our fruit, and had walked across the fields to give them the encouragement of his presence, or to cover their retreat, which he now did effectually.

ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading He had felt a little uneasy as to the results of their raid upon our fruit, and had walked across the fields to give them the encouragement of his presence, or to cover their retreat, which he now did effectually.

presence

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

From this reading He had felt a little uneasy as to the results of their raid upon our fruit, and had walked across the fields to give them the encouragement of his presence, or to cover their retreat, which he now did effectually.

raid

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

From this reading He had felt a little uneasy as to the results of their raid upon our fruit, and had walked across the fields to give them the encouragement of his presence, or to cover their retreat, which he now did effectually.

reason

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

From this reading GIVEN HIS CHOICE Junior had good reason for bringing Merton to a sudden halt in his impetuous and hostile advance.

reckless

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

From this reading Merton, however, was almost reckless from anger and a sense of unprovoked wrong, and he darted into the house for his gun.

results

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

From this reading He had felt a little uneasy as to the results of their raid upon our fruit, and had walked across the fields to give them the encouragement of his presence, or to cover their retreat, which he now did effectually.

retreat

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

From this reading He had felt a little uneasy as to the results of their raid upon our fruit, and had walked across the fields to give them the encouragement of his presence, or to cover their retreat, which he now did effectually.

savage

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

From this reading The man coming up the lane, with a savage dog, was the father of the ill-nurtured children.

sense

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

From this reading Merton, however, was almost reckless from anger and a sense of unprovoked wrong, and he darted into the house for his gun.

suddennounUS /sudden/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading GIVEN HIS CHOICE Junior had good reason for bringing Merton to a sudden halt in his impetuous and hostile advance.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading It took Junior but a moment to explain to my boy that they were no match "for the two brutes," as he expressed himself, adding, "The man is worse than the dog."

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It took Junior but a moment to explain to my boy that they were no match "for the two brutes," as he expressed himself, adding, "The man is worse than the dog."

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The man coming up the lane, with a savage dog, was the father of the ill-nurtured children.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading He had felt a little uneasy as to the results of their raid upon our fruit, and had walked across the fields to give them the encouragement of his presence, or to cover their retreat, which he now did effectually.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading He had felt a little uneasy as to the results of their raid upon our fruit, and had walked across the fields to give them the encouragement of his presence, or to cover their retreat, which he now did effectually.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading It took Junior but a moment to explain to my boy that they were no match "for the two brutes," as he expressed himself, adding, "The man is worse than the dog."

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading GIVEN HIS CHOICE Junior had good reason for bringing Merton to a sudden halt in his impetuous and hostile advance.

tooknounUS /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It took Junior but a moment to explain to my boy that they were no match "for the two brutes," as he expressed himself, adding, "The man is worse than the dog."

two

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

From this reading It took Junior but a moment to explain to my boy that they were no match "for the two brutes," as he expressed himself, adding, "The man is worse than the dog."

uneasy

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

From this reading He had felt a little uneasy as to the results of their raid upon our fruit, and had walked across the fields to give them the encouragement of his presence, or to cover their retreat, which he now did effectually.

unprovoked

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

From this reading Merton, however, was almost reckless from anger and a sense of unprovoked wrong, and he darted into the house for his gun.

up

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

From this reading The man coming up the lane, with a savage dog, was the father of the ill-nurtured children.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading He had felt a little uneasy as to the results of their raid upon our fruit, and had walked across the fields to give them the encouragement of his presence, or to cover their retreat, which he now did effectually.

walked

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

From this reading He had felt a little uneasy as to the results of their raid upon our fruit, and had walked across the fields to give them the encouragement of his presence, or to cover their retreat, which he now did effectually.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The man coming up the lane, with a savage dog, was the father of the ill-nurtured children.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading It took Junior but a moment to explain to my boy that they were no match "for the two brutes," as he expressed himself, adding, "The man is worse than the dog."

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading He had felt a little uneasy as to the results of their raid upon our fruit, and had walked across the fields to give them the encouragement of his presence, or to cover their retreat, which he now did effectually.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The man coming up the lane, with a savage dog, was the father of the ill-nurtured children.

worse

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

From this reading It took Junior but a moment to explain to my boy that they were no match "for the two brutes," as he expressed himself, adding, "The man is worse than the dog."

wrong

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

From this reading Merton, however, was almost reckless from anger and a sense of unprovoked wrong, and he darted into the house for his gun.