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Kit Musgrave's Luck
Kit Musgrave's Luck

Chapter XVIII

Cover illustration for Kit Musgrave's Luck
Context Illustration Reading 1/29 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
SHIPPING CAMELS _Mossamedes_ dropped anchor as near as was safe to the flat-roofed Moorish town.
The roadstead was open and the harbour was only deep enough for boats, but so long as the wind did not back to the North one could ship cargo, and the agent sent off a quantity of maize and beans.
In the Canaries corn is scarce, and the _peons_ roast and grind such grain as they can get for their coarse _gofio_ meal.
Kit was rather disturbed about the cartridges, although Wolf's Jewish agent had so far refused to state when they would go on board.
Kit was the steamship company's servant, the ship was British, and he thought he ought to have warned the manager how she might be used.
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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.

Kit Musgrave's Luck

Chapter XVIII

Reading 1/29 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
SHIPPING CAMELS _Mossamedes_ dropped anchor as near as was safe to the flat-roofed Moorish town.
Line 2
The roadstead was open and the harbour was only deep enough for boats, but so long as the wind did not back to the North one could ship cargo, and the agent sent off a quantity of maize and beans.
Line 3
In the Canaries corn is scarce, and the _peons_ roast and grind such grain as they can get for their coarse _gofio_ meal.
Line 4
Kit was rather disturbed about the cartridges, although Wolf's Jewish agent had so far refused to state when they would go on board.
Line 5
Kit was the steamship company's servant, the ship was British, and he thought he ought to have warned the manager how she might be used.

Learner Dictionary

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

About preposition US /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “Kit was rather disturbed about the cartridges, although Wolf's Jewish agent had so far refused to state when they would go on board.”

Although noun US /ˈalthough/

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

From this reading “Kit was rather disturbed about the cartridges, although Wolf's Jewish agent had so far refused to state when they would go on board.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading “The roadstead was open and the harbour was only deep enough for boats, but so long as the wind did not back to the North one could ship cargo, and the agent sent off a quantity of maize and beans.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “Kit was the steamship company's servant, the ship was British, and he thought he ought to have warned the manager how she might be used.”

Long noun US /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The roadstead was open and the harbour was only deep enough for boats, but so long as the wind did not back to the North one could ship cargo, and the agent sent off a quantity of maize and beans.”

Might modal verb US /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading “Kit was the steamship company's servant, the ship was British, and he thought he ought to have warned the manager how she might be used.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “The roadstead was open and the harbour was only deep enough for boats, but so long as the wind did not back to the North one could ship cargo, and the agent sent off a quantity of maize and beans.”

Open verb US /ˈoʊ.pən/

To move from a closed position.

From this reading “The roadstead was open and the harbour was only deep enough for boats, but so long as the wind did not back to the North one could ship cargo, and the agent sent off a quantity of maize and beans.”

Ought modal verb US /ɔːt/

used with “to” to say what is right or advisable

From this reading “Kit was the steamship company's servant, the ship was British, and he thought he ought to have warned the manager how she might be used.”

Scarce adjective US /skɛrs/

hard to find or in short supply

From this reading “In the Canaries corn is scarce, and the _peons_ roast and grind such grain as they can get for their coarse _gofio_ meal.”

Ship noun US /ship/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The roadstead was open and the harbour was only deep enough for boats, but so long as the wind did not back to the North one could ship cargo, and the agent sent off a quantity of maize and beans.”

Thought noun US /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Kit was the steamship company's servant, the ship was British, and he thought he ought to have warned the manager how she might be used.”

Wind noun US /wind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The roadstead was open and the harbour was only deep enough for boats, but so long as the wind did not back to the North one could ship cargo, and the agent sent off a quantity of maize and beans.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “Kit was rather disturbed about the cartridges, although Wolf's Jewish agent had so far refused to state when they would go on board.”

All words in this reading · 92

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 roadstead was open and the harbour was only deep enough for boats, but so long as the wind did not back to the North one could ship cargo, and the agent sent off a quantity of maize and beans.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Kit was rather disturbed about the cartridges, although Wolf's Jewish agent had so far refused to state when they would go on board.

agent

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

From this reading The roadstead was open and the harbour was only deep enough for boats, but so long as the wind did not back to the North one could ship cargo, and the agent sent off a quantity of maize and beans.

althoughnounUS /ˈalthough/

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

From this reading Kit was rather disturbed about the cartridges, although Wolf's Jewish agent had so far refused to state when they would go on board.

anchor

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

From this reading SHIPPING CAMELS _Mossamedes_ dropped anchor as near as was safe to the flat-roofed Moorish town.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The roadstead was open and the harbour was only deep enough for boats, but so long as the wind did not back to the North one could ship cargo, and the agent sent off a quantity of maize and beans.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading SHIPPING CAMELS _Mossamedes_ dropped anchor as near as was safe to the flat-roofed Moorish town.

back

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

From this reading The roadstead was open and the harbour was only deep enough for boats, but so long as the wind did not back to the North one could ship cargo, and the agent sent off a quantity of maize and beans.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading Kit was the steamship company's servant, the ship was British, and he thought he ought to have warned the manager how she might be used.

beans

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

From this reading The roadstead was open and the harbour was only deep enough for boats, but so long as the wind did not back to the North one could ship cargo, and the agent sent off a quantity of maize and beans.

board

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

From this reading Kit was rather disturbed about the cartridges, although Wolf's Jewish agent had so far refused to state when they would go on board.

boats

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

From this reading The roadstead was open and the harbour was only deep enough for boats, but so long as the wind did not back to the North one could ship cargo, and the agent sent off a quantity of maize and beans.

British

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

From this reading Kit was the steamship company's servant, the ship was British, and he thought he ought to have warned the manager how she might be used.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading The roadstead was open and the harbour was only deep enough for boats, but so long as the wind did not back to the North one could ship cargo, and the agent sent off a quantity of maize and beans.

CAMELS

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

From this reading SHIPPING CAMELS _Mossamedes_ dropped anchor as near as was safe to the flat-roofed Moorish town.

canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading In the Canaries corn is scarce, and the _peons_ roast and grind such grain as they can get for their coarse _gofio_ meal.

Canaries

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

From this reading In the Canaries corn is scarce, and the _peons_ roast and grind such grain as they can get for their coarse _gofio_ meal.

cargo

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

From this reading The roadstead was open and the harbour was only deep enough for boats, but so long as the wind did not back to the North one could ship cargo, and the agent sent off a quantity of maize and beans.

cartridges

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

From this reading Kit was rather disturbed about the cartridges, although Wolf's Jewish agent had so far refused to state when they would go on board.

coarse

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

From this reading In the Canaries corn is scarce, and the _peons_ roast and grind such grain as they can get for their coarse _gofio_ meal.

company's

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

From this reading Kit was the steamship company's servant, the ship was British, and he thought he ought to have warned the manager how she might be used.

corn

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

From this reading In the Canaries corn is scarce, and the _peons_ roast and grind such grain as they can get for their coarse _gofio_ meal.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading The roadstead was open and the harbour was only deep enough for boats, but so long as the wind did not back to the North one could ship cargo, and the agent sent off a quantity of maize and beans.

deep

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

From this reading The roadstead was open and the harbour was only deep enough for boats, but so long as the wind did not back to the North one could ship cargo, and the agent sent off a quantity of maize and beans.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

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

From this reading The roadstead was open and the harbour was only deep enough for boats, but so long as the wind did not back to the North one could ship cargo, and the agent sent off a quantity of maize and beans.

disturbed

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

From this reading Kit was rather disturbed about the cartridges, although Wolf's Jewish agent had so far refused to state when they would go on board.

dropped

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

From this reading SHIPPING CAMELS _Mossamedes_ dropped anchor as near as was safe to the flat-roofed Moorish town.

enough

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

From this reading The roadstead was open and the harbour was only deep enough for boats, but so long as the wind did not back to the North one could ship cargo, and the agent sent off a quantity of maize and beans.

far

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

From this reading Kit was rather disturbed about the cartridges, although Wolf's Jewish agent had so far refused to state when they would go on board.

flat-roofed

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

From this reading SHIPPING CAMELS _Mossamedes_ dropped anchor as near as was safe to the flat-roofed Moorish town.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The roadstead was open and the harbour was only deep enough for boats, but so long as the wind did not back to the North one could ship cargo, and the agent sent off a quantity of maize and beans.

get

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

From this reading In the Canaries corn is scarce, and the _peons_ roast and grind such grain as they can get for their coarse _gofio_ meal.

go

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

From this reading Kit was rather disturbed about the cartridges, although Wolf's Jewish agent had so far refused to state when they would go on board.

gofio

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

From this reading In the Canaries corn is scarce, and the _peons_ roast and grind such grain as they can get for their coarse _gofio_ meal.

grain

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

From this reading In the Canaries corn is scarce, and the _peons_ roast and grind such grain as they can get for their coarse _gofio_ meal.

grind

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

From this reading In the Canaries corn is scarce, and the _peons_ roast and grind such grain as they can get for their coarse _gofio_ meal.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Kit was rather disturbed about the cartridges, although Wolf's Jewish agent had so far refused to state when they would go on board.

harbour

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

From this reading The roadstead was open and the harbour was only deep enough for boats, but so long as the wind did not back to the North one could ship cargo, and the agent sent off a quantity of maize and beans.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Kit was the steamship company's servant, the ship was British, and he thought he ought to have warned the manager how she might be used.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Kit was the steamship company's servant, the ship was British, and he thought he ought to have warned the manager how she might be used.

how

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

From this reading Kit was the steamship company's servant, the ship was British, and he thought he ought to have warned the manager how she might be used.

InprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading In the Canaries corn is scarce, and the _peons_ roast and grind such grain as they can get for their coarse _gofio_ meal.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading In the Canaries corn is scarce, and the _peons_ roast and grind such grain as they can get for their coarse _gofio_ meal.

Jewish

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

From this reading Kit was rather disturbed about the cartridges, although Wolf's Jewish agent had so far refused to state when they would go on board.

Kit

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

From this reading Kit was rather disturbed about the cartridges, although Wolf's Jewish agent had so far refused to state when they would go on board.

longnounUS /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The roadstead was open and the harbour was only deep enough for boats, but so long as the wind did not back to the North one could ship cargo, and the agent sent off a quantity of maize and beans.

maize

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

From this reading The roadstead was open and the harbour was only deep enough for boats, but so long as the wind did not back to the North one could ship cargo, and the agent sent off a quantity of maize and beans.

manager

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

From this reading Kit was the steamship company's servant, the ship was British, and he thought he ought to have warned the manager how she might be used.

meal

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

From this reading In the Canaries corn is scarce, and the _peons_ roast and grind such grain as they can get for their coarse _gofio_ meal.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading Kit was the steamship company's servant, the ship was British, and he thought he ought to have warned the manager how she might be used.

Moorish

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

From this reading SHIPPING CAMELS _Mossamedes_ dropped anchor as near as was safe to the flat-roofed Moorish town.

Mossamedes

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

From this reading SHIPPING CAMELS _Mossamedes_ dropped anchor as near as was safe to the flat-roofed Moorish town.

near

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

From this reading SHIPPING CAMELS _Mossamedes_ dropped anchor as near as was safe to the flat-roofed Moorish town.

North

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

From this reading The roadstead was open and the harbour was only deep enough for boats, but so long as the wind did not back to the North one could ship cargo, and the agent sent off a quantity of maize and beans.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading The roadstead was open and the harbour was only deep enough for boats, but so long as the wind did not back to the North one could ship cargo, and the agent sent off a quantity of maize and beans.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The roadstead was open and the harbour was only deep enough for boats, but so long as the wind did not back to the North one could ship cargo, and the agent sent off a quantity of maize and beans.

off

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

From this reading The roadstead was open and the harbour was only deep enough for boats, but so long as the wind did not back to the North one could ship cargo, and the agent sent off a quantity of maize and beans.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Kit was rather disturbed about the cartridges, although Wolf's Jewish agent had so far refused to state when they would go on board.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading The roadstead was open and the harbour was only deep enough for boats, but so long as the wind did not back to the North one could ship cargo, and the agent sent off a quantity of maize and beans.

only

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

From this reading The roadstead was open and the harbour was only deep enough for boats, but so long as the wind did not back to the North one could ship cargo, and the agent sent off a quantity of maize and beans.

openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/

To move from a closed position.

From this reading The roadstead was open and the harbour was only deep enough for boats, but so long as the wind did not back to the North one could ship cargo, and the agent sent off a quantity of maize and beans.

oughtmodal verbUS /ɔːt/

used with “to” to say what is right or advisable

From this reading Kit was the steamship company's servant, the ship was British, and he thought he ought to have warned the manager how she might be used.

peons

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

From this reading In the Canaries corn is scarce, and the _peons_ roast and grind such grain as they can get for their coarse _gofio_ meal.

quantity

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

From this reading The roadstead was open and the harbour was only deep enough for boats, but so long as the wind did not back to the North one could ship cargo, and the agent sent off a quantity of maize and beans.

rather

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

From this reading Kit was rather disturbed about the cartridges, although Wolf's Jewish agent had so far refused to state when they would go on board.

refused

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

From this reading Kit was rather disturbed about the cartridges, although Wolf's Jewish agent had so far refused to state when they would go on board.

roadstead

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

From this reading The roadstead was open and the harbour was only deep enough for boats, but so long as the wind did not back to the North one could ship cargo, and the agent sent off a quantity of maize and beans.

roast

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

From this reading In the Canaries corn is scarce, and the _peons_ roast and grind such grain as they can get for their coarse _gofio_ meal.

safe

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

From this reading SHIPPING CAMELS _Mossamedes_ dropped anchor as near as was safe to the flat-roofed Moorish town.

scarceadjectiveUS /skɛrs/

hard to find or in short supply

From this reading In the Canaries corn is scarce, and the _peons_ roast and grind such grain as they can get for their coarse _gofio_ meal.

sent

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

From this reading The roadstead was open and the harbour was only deep enough for boats, but so long as the wind did not back to the North one could ship cargo, and the agent sent off a quantity of maize and beans.

servant

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

From this reading Kit was the steamship company's servant, the ship was British, and he thought he ought to have warned the manager how she might be used.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading Kit was the steamship company's servant, the ship was British, and he thought he ought to have warned the manager how she might be used.

shipnounUS /ship/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The roadstead was open and the harbour was only deep enough for boats, but so long as the wind did not back to the North one could ship cargo, and the agent sent off a quantity of maize and beans.

SHIPPING

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

From this reading SHIPPING CAMELS _Mossamedes_ dropped anchor as near as was safe to the flat-roofed Moorish town.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading The roadstead was open and the harbour was only deep enough for boats, but so long as the wind did not back to the North one could ship cargo, and the agent sent off a quantity of maize and beans.

state

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

From this reading Kit was rather disturbed about the cartridges, although Wolf's Jewish agent had so far refused to state when they would go on board.

steamship

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

From this reading Kit was the steamship company's servant, the ship was British, and he thought he ought to have warned the manager how she might be used.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading In the Canaries corn is scarce, and the _peons_ roast and grind such grain as they can get for their coarse _gofio_ meal.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading SHIPPING CAMELS _Mossamedes_ dropped anchor as near as was safe to the flat-roofed Moorish town.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading In the Canaries corn is scarce, and the _peons_ roast and grind such grain as they can get for their coarse _gofio_ meal.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading In the Canaries corn is scarce, and the _peons_ roast and grind such grain as they can get for their coarse _gofio_ meal.

thoughtnounUS /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Kit was the steamship company's servant, the ship was British, and he thought he ought to have warned the manager how she might be used.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading SHIPPING CAMELS _Mossamedes_ dropped anchor as near as was safe to the flat-roofed Moorish town.

town

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

From this reading SHIPPING CAMELS _Mossamedes_ dropped anchor as near as was safe to the flat-roofed Moorish town.

used

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

From this reading Kit was the steamship company's servant, the ship was British, and he thought he ought to have warned the manager how she might be used.

warned

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

From this reading Kit was the steamship company's servant, the ship was British, and he thought he ought to have warned the manager how she might be used.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading SHIPPING CAMELS _Mossamedes_ dropped anchor as near as was safe to the flat-roofed Moorish town.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading Kit was rather disturbed about the cartridges, although Wolf's Jewish agent had so far refused to state when they would go on board.

windnounUS /wind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The roadstead was open and the harbour was only deep enough for boats, but so long as the wind did not back to the North one could ship cargo, and the agent sent off a quantity of maize and beans.

Wolf's

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

From this reading Kit was rather disturbed about the cartridges, although Wolf's Jewish agent had so far refused to state when they would go on board.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading Kit was rather disturbed about the cartridges, although Wolf's Jewish agent had so far refused to state when they would go on board.