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In Strange Company
In Strange Company

Chapter XV

Cover illustration for In Strange Company
Context Illustration Reading 1/62 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
BATAVIA--A STRANGE MEETING.
When I realized that the Kanaka boy, Rhotoma Jimmy, was really dead, the shock the discovery gave me may be better imagined than described.
I was the last person, I told myself, to take a fellow-creature's life without adequate reason, and if it came to that, I had only struck the man in purest self-defence.
Indeed, had I not closed with him, he would undoubtedly have murdered me.
It was fortunate, I thought, that the Albino had come on deck in time to witness the conclusion of the affair.
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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.

In Strange Company

Chapter XV

Reading 1/62 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
BATAVIA--A STRANGE MEETING.
Line 2
When I realized that the Kanaka boy, Rhotoma Jimmy, was really dead, the shock the discovery gave me may be better imagined than described.
Line 3
I was the last person, I told myself, to take a fellow-creature's life without adequate reason, and if it came to that, I had only struck the man in purest self-defence.
Line 4
Indeed, had I not closed with him, he would undoubtedly have murdered me.
Line 5
It was fortunate, I thought, that the Albino had come on deck in time to witness the conclusion of the affair.

Learner Dictionary

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

Come noun US /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was fortunate, I thought, that the Albino had come on deck in time to witness the conclusion of the affair.”

Dead noun US /dead/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “When I realized that the Kanaka boy, Rhotoma Jimmy, was really dead, the shock the discovery gave me may be better imagined than described.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “Indeed, had I not closed with him, he would undoubtedly have murdered me.”

Last noun US /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I was the last person, I told myself, to take a fellow-creature's life without adequate reason, and if it came to that, I had only struck the man in purest self-defence.”

Life noun US /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I was the last person, I told myself, to take a fellow-creature's life without adequate reason, and if it came to that, I had only struck the man in purest self-defence.”

May modal verb US /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading “When I realized that the Kanaka boy, Rhotoma Jimmy, was really dead, the shock the discovery gave me may be better imagined than described.”

Myself pronoun US /ˌmaɪˈself/

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading “I was the last person, I told myself, to take a fellow-creature's life without adequate reason, and if it came to that, I had only struck the man in purest self-defence.”

Struck noun US /struck/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I was the last person, I told myself, to take a fellow-creature's life without adequate reason, and if it came to that, I had only struck the man in purest self-defence.”

Take noun US /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I was the last person, I told myself, to take a fellow-creature's life without adequate reason, and if it came to that, I had only struck the man in purest self-defence.”

Thought noun US /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was fortunate, I thought, that the Albino had come on deck in time to witness the conclusion of the affair.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was fortunate, I thought, that the Albino had come on deck in time to witness the conclusion of the affair.”

Told noun US /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I was the last person, I told myself, to take a fellow-creature's life without adequate reason, and if it came to that, I had only struck the man in purest self-defence.”

Without preposition US /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading “I was the last person, I told myself, to take a fellow-creature's life without adequate reason, and if it came to that, I had only struck the man in purest self-defence.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading “Indeed, had I not closed with him, he would undoubtedly have murdered me.”

All words in this reading · 69

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 BATAVIA--A STRANGE MEETING.

adequate

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

From this reading I was the last person, I told myself, to take a fellow-creature's life without adequate reason, and if it came to that, I had only struck the man in purest self-defence.

affair

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

From this reading It was fortunate, I thought, that the Albino had come on deck in time to witness the conclusion of the affair.

Albino

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

From this reading It was fortunate, I thought, that the Albino had come on deck in time to witness the conclusion of the affair.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading I was the last person, I told myself, to take a fellow-creature's life without adequate reason, and if it came to that, I had only struck the man in purest self-defence.

BATAVIA

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

From this reading BATAVIA--A STRANGE MEETING.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading When I realized that the Kanaka boy, Rhotoma Jimmy, was really dead, the shock the discovery gave me may be better imagined than described.

better

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

From this reading When I realized that the Kanaka boy, Rhotoma Jimmy, was really dead, the shock the discovery gave me may be better imagined than described.

boy

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

From this reading When I realized that the Kanaka boy, Rhotoma Jimmy, was really dead, the shock the discovery gave me may be better imagined than described.

came

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

From this reading I was the last person, I told myself, to take a fellow-creature's life without adequate reason, and if it came to that, I had only struck the man in purest self-defence.

closed

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

From this reading Indeed, had I not closed with him, he would undoubtedly have murdered me.

comenounUS /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was fortunate, I thought, that the Albino had come on deck in time to witness the conclusion of the affair.

conclusion

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

From this reading It was fortunate, I thought, that the Albino had come on deck in time to witness the conclusion of the affair.

deadnounUS /dead/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading When I realized that the Kanaka boy, Rhotoma Jimmy, was really dead, the shock the discovery gave me may be better imagined than described.

deck

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

From this reading It was fortunate, I thought, that the Albino had come on deck in time to witness the conclusion of the affair.

described

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

From this reading When I realized that the Kanaka boy, Rhotoma Jimmy, was really dead, the shock the discovery gave me may be better imagined than described.

discovery

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

From this reading When I realized that the Kanaka boy, Rhotoma Jimmy, was really dead, the shock the discovery gave me may be better imagined than described.

fellow-creature's

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

From this reading I was the last person, I told myself, to take a fellow-creature's life without adequate reason, and if it came to that, I had only struck the man in purest self-defence.

fortunate

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

From this reading It was fortunate, I thought, that the Albino had come on deck in time to witness the conclusion of the affair.

gave

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

From this reading When I realized that the Kanaka boy, Rhotoma Jimmy, was really dead, the shock the discovery gave me may be better imagined than described.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading I was the last person, I told myself, to take a fellow-creature's life without adequate reason, and if it came to that, I had only struck the man in purest self-defence.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Indeed, had I not closed with him, he would undoubtedly have murdered me.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Indeed, had I not closed with him, he would undoubtedly have murdered me.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading Indeed, had I not closed with him, he would undoubtedly have murdered me.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading When I realized that the Kanaka boy, Rhotoma Jimmy, was really dead, the shock the discovery gave me may be better imagined than described.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading I was the last person, I told myself, to take a fellow-creature's life without adequate reason, and if it came to that, I had only struck the man in purest self-defence.

imagined

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

From this reading When I realized that the Kanaka boy, Rhotoma Jimmy, was really dead, the shock the discovery gave me may be better imagined than described.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading I was the last person, I told myself, to take a fellow-creature's life without adequate reason, and if it came to that, I had only struck the man in purest self-defence.

Indeed

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

From this reading Indeed, had I not closed with him, he would undoubtedly have murdered me.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading I was the last person, I told myself, to take a fellow-creature's life without adequate reason, and if it came to that, I had only struck the man in purest self-defence.

Jimmy

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

From this reading When I realized that the Kanaka boy, Rhotoma Jimmy, was really dead, the shock the discovery gave me may be better imagined than described.

Kanaka

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

From this reading When I realized that the Kanaka boy, Rhotoma Jimmy, was really dead, the shock the discovery gave me may be better imagined than described.

lastnounUS /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading I was the last person, I told myself, to take a fellow-creature's life without adequate reason, and if it came to that, I had only struck the man in purest self-defence.

lifenounUS /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading I was the last person, I told myself, to take a fellow-creature's life without adequate reason, and if it came to that, I had only struck the man in purest self-defence.

man

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

From this reading I was the last person, I told myself, to take a fellow-creature's life without adequate reason, and if it came to that, I had only struck the man in purest self-defence.

maymodal verbUS /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading When I realized that the Kanaka boy, Rhotoma Jimmy, was really dead, the shock the discovery gave me may be better imagined than described.

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading When I realized that the Kanaka boy, Rhotoma Jimmy, was really dead, the shock the discovery gave me may be better imagined than described.

MEETING

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

From this reading BATAVIA--A STRANGE MEETING.

murdered

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

From this reading Indeed, had I not closed with him, he would undoubtedly have murdered me.

myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading I was the last person, I told myself, to take a fellow-creature's life without adequate reason, and if it came to that, I had only struck the man in purest self-defence.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Indeed, had I not closed with him, he would undoubtedly have murdered me.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading It was fortunate, I thought, that the Albino had come on deck in time to witness the conclusion of the affair.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading It was fortunate, I thought, that the Albino had come on deck in time to witness the conclusion of the affair.

only

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

From this reading I was the last person, I told myself, to take a fellow-creature's life without adequate reason, and if it came to that, I had only struck the man in purest self-defence.

person

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

From this reading I was the last person, I told myself, to take a fellow-creature's life without adequate reason, and if it came to that, I had only struck the man in purest self-defence.

purest

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

From this reading I was the last person, I told myself, to take a fellow-creature's life without adequate reason, and if it came to that, I had only struck the man in purest self-defence.

realized

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

From this reading When I realized that the Kanaka boy, Rhotoma Jimmy, was really dead, the shock the discovery gave me may be better imagined than described.

really

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

From this reading When I realized that the Kanaka boy, Rhotoma Jimmy, was really dead, the shock the discovery gave me may be better imagined than described.

reason

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

From this reading I was the last person, I told myself, to take a fellow-creature's life without adequate reason, and if it came to that, I had only struck the man in purest self-defence.

Rhotoma

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

From this reading When I realized that the Kanaka boy, Rhotoma Jimmy, was really dead, the shock the discovery gave me may be better imagined than described.

self-defence

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

From this reading I was the last person, I told myself, to take a fellow-creature's life without adequate reason, and if it came to that, I had only struck the man in purest self-defence.

shock

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

From this reading When I realized that the Kanaka boy, Rhotoma Jimmy, was really dead, the shock the discovery gave me may be better imagined than described.

STRANGE

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

From this reading BATAVIA--A STRANGE MEETING.

strucknounUS /struck/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading I was the last person, I told myself, to take a fellow-creature's life without adequate reason, and if it came to that, I had only struck the man in purest self-defence.

takenounUS /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading I was the last person, I told myself, to take a fellow-creature's life without adequate reason, and if it came to that, I had only struck the man in purest self-defence.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading When I realized that the Kanaka boy, Rhotoma Jimmy, was really dead, the shock the discovery gave me may be better imagined than described.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading When I realized that the Kanaka boy, Rhotoma Jimmy, was really dead, the shock the discovery gave me may be better imagined than described.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading When I realized that the Kanaka boy, Rhotoma Jimmy, was really dead, the shock the discovery gave me may be better imagined than described.

thoughtnounUS /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was fortunate, I thought, that the Albino had come on deck in time to witness the conclusion of the affair.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was fortunate, I thought, that the Albino had come on deck in time to witness the conclusion of the affair.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading I was the last person, I told myself, to take a fellow-creature's life without adequate reason, and if it came to that, I had only struck the man in purest self-defence.

toldnounUS /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading I was the last person, I told myself, to take a fellow-creature's life without adequate reason, and if it came to that, I had only struck the man in purest self-defence.

undoubtedly

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

From this reading Indeed, had I not closed with him, he would undoubtedly have murdered me.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading When I realized that the Kanaka boy, Rhotoma Jimmy, was really dead, the shock the discovery gave me may be better imagined than described.

WhenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading When I realized that the Kanaka boy, Rhotoma Jimmy, was really dead, the shock the discovery gave me may be better imagined than described.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Indeed, had I not closed with him, he would undoubtedly have murdered me.

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading I was the last person, I told myself, to take a fellow-creature's life without adequate reason, and if it came to that, I had only struck the man in purest self-defence.

witness

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

From this reading It was fortunate, I thought, that the Albino had come on deck in time to witness the conclusion of the affair.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading Indeed, had I not closed with him, he would undoubtedly have murdered me.