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Messenger No. 48
Messenger No. 48

Chapter XVI

Cover illustration for Messenger No. 48
Context Illustration Reading 1/22 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
ON THE TRAIL.
The detective had crawled out of the bushes by the time the new-comers were opposite his place of concealment, and, before speaking to the two men, he clasped Jet warmly by the hand, as he said:
"I knew you could do the job, if it was in the power of any one, my boy.
After making the capture, single-handed, it would have been strange if you had failed at the last minute."
"He didn't tell us that it was him who took the fellow prisoner," one of the men said, in surprise.
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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.

Messenger No. 48

Chapter XVI

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

Line 1
ON THE TRAIL.
Line 2
The detective had crawled out of the bushes by the time the new-comers were opposite his place of concealment, and, before speaking to the two men, he clasped Jet warmly by the hand, as he said:
Line 3
"I knew you could do the job, if it was in the power of any one, my boy.
Line 4
After making the capture, single-handed, it would have been strange if you had failed at the last minute."
Line 5
"He didn't tell us that it was him who took the fellow prisoner," one of the men said, in surprise.

Learner Dictionary

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

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “After making the capture, single-handed, it would have been strange if you had failed at the last minute."”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “After making the capture, single-handed, it would have been strange if you had failed at the last minute."”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “The detective had crawled out of the bushes by the time the new-comers were opposite his place of concealment, and, before speaking to the two men, he clasped Jet warmly by the hand, as he said:”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “"I knew you could do the job, if it was in the power of any one, my boy.”

Hand noun US /hand/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The detective had crawled out of the bushes by the time the new-comers were opposite his place of concealment, and, before speaking to the two men, he clasped Jet warmly by the hand, as he said:”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “After making the capture, single-handed, it would have been strange if you had failed at the last minute."”

Last noun US /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “After making the capture, single-handed, it would have been strange if you had failed at the last minute."”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “"I knew you could do the job, if it was in the power of any one, my boy.”

Tell noun US /tell/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"He didn't tell us that it was him who took the fellow prisoner," one of the men said, in surprise.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The detective had crawled out of the bushes by the time the new-comers were opposite his place of concealment, and, before speaking to the two men, he clasped Jet warmly by the hand, as he said:”

Took noun US /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"He didn't tell us that it was him who took the fellow prisoner," one of the men said, in surprise.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “After making the capture, single-handed, it would have been strange if you had failed at the last minute."”

All words in this reading · 67

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

AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading After making the capture, single-handed, it would have been strange if you had failed at the last minute."

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The detective had crawled out of the bushes by the time the new-comers were opposite his place of concealment, and, before speaking to the two men, he clasped Jet warmly by the hand, as he said:

any

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

From this reading "I knew you could do the job, if it was in the power of any one, my boy.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading The detective had crawled out of the bushes by the time the new-comers were opposite his place of concealment, and, before speaking to the two men, he clasped Jet warmly by the hand, as he said:

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading After making the capture, single-handed, it would have been strange if you had failed at the last minute."

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading After making the capture, single-handed, it would have been strange if you had failed at the last minute."

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading The detective had crawled out of the bushes by the time the new-comers were opposite his place of concealment, and, before speaking to the two men, he clasped Jet warmly by the hand, as he said:

boy

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

From this reading "I knew you could do the job, if it was in the power of any one, my boy.

bushes

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

From this reading The detective had crawled out of the bushes by the time the new-comers were opposite his place of concealment, and, before speaking to the two men, he clasped Jet warmly by the hand, as he said:

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The detective had crawled out of the bushes by the time the new-comers were opposite his place of concealment, and, before speaking to the two men, he clasped Jet warmly by the hand, as he said:

capture

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

From this reading After making the capture, single-handed, it would have been strange if you had failed at the last minute."

clasped

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

From this reading The detective had crawled out of the bushes by the time the new-comers were opposite his place of concealment, and, before speaking to the two men, he clasped Jet warmly by the hand, as he said:

concealment

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

From this reading The detective had crawled out of the bushes by the time the new-comers were opposite his place of concealment, and, before speaking to the two men, he clasped Jet warmly by the hand, as he said:

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading "I knew you could do the job, if it was in the power of any one, my boy.

crawled

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

From this reading The detective had crawled out of the bushes by the time the new-comers were opposite his place of concealment, and, before speaking to the two men, he clasped Jet warmly by the hand, as he said:

detective

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

From this reading The detective had crawled out of the bushes by the time the new-comers were opposite his place of concealment, and, before speaking to the two men, he clasped Jet warmly by the hand, as he said:

didn't

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

From this reading "He didn't tell us that it was him who took the fellow prisoner," one of the men said, in surprise.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading "I knew you could do the job, if it was in the power of any one, my boy.

failed

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

From this reading After making the capture, single-handed, it would have been strange if you had failed at the last minute."

fellow

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

From this reading "He didn't tell us that it was him who took the fellow prisoner," one of the men said, in surprise.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading The detective had crawled out of the bushes by the time the new-comers were opposite his place of concealment, and, before speaking to the two men, he clasped Jet warmly by the hand, as he said:

hand

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

From this reading The detective had crawled out of the bushes by the time the new-comers were opposite his place of concealment, and, before speaking to the two men, he clasped Jet warmly by the hand, as he said:

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading After making the capture, single-handed, it would have been strange if you had failed at the last minute."

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading The detective had crawled out of the bushes by the time the new-comers were opposite his place of concealment, and, before speaking to the two men, he clasped Jet warmly by the hand, as he said:

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading "He didn't tell us that it was him who took the fellow prisoner," one of the men said, in surprise.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading The detective had crawled out of the bushes by the time the new-comers were opposite his place of concealment, and, before speaking to the two men, he clasped Jet warmly by the hand, as he said:

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading "I knew you could do the job, if it was in the power of any one, my boy.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading "I knew you could do the job, if it was in the power of any one, my boy.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading "I knew you could do the job, if it was in the power of any one, my boy.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading "I knew you could do the job, if it was in the power of any one, my boy.

Jet

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

From this reading The detective had crawled out of the bushes by the time the new-comers were opposite his place of concealment, and, before speaking to the two men, he clasped Jet warmly by the hand, as he said:

job

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

From this reading "I knew you could do the job, if it was in the power of any one, my boy.

knew

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

From this reading "I knew you could do the job, if it was in the power of any one, my boy.

lastnounUS /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading After making the capture, single-handed, it would have been strange if you had failed at the last minute."

making

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

From this reading After making the capture, single-handed, it would have been strange if you had failed at the last minute."

men

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

From this reading The detective had crawled out of the bushes by the time the new-comers were opposite his place of concealment, and, before speaking to the two men, he clasped Jet warmly by the hand, as he said:

minute

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

From this reading After making the capture, single-handed, it would have been strange if you had failed at the last minute."

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading "I knew you could do the job, if it was in the power of any one, my boy.

new-comers

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

From this reading The detective had crawled out of the bushes by the time the new-comers were opposite his place of concealment, and, before speaking to the two men, he clasped Jet warmly by the hand, as he said:

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The detective had crawled out of the bushes by the time the new-comers were opposite his place of concealment, and, before speaking to the two men, he clasped Jet warmly by the hand, as he said:

ONprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading ON THE TRAIL.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading "I knew you could do the job, if it was in the power of any one, my boy.

opposite

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

From this reading The detective had crawled out of the bushes by the time the new-comers were opposite his place of concealment, and, before speaking to the two men, he clasped Jet warmly by the hand, as he said:

out

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

From this reading The detective had crawled out of the bushes by the time the new-comers were opposite his place of concealment, and, before speaking to the two men, he clasped Jet warmly by the hand, as he said:

place

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

From this reading The detective had crawled out of the bushes by the time the new-comers were opposite his place of concealment, and, before speaking to the two men, he clasped Jet warmly by the hand, as he said:

power

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

From this reading "I knew you could do the job, if it was in the power of any one, my boy.

prisoner

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

From this reading "He didn't tell us that it was him who took the fellow prisoner," one of the men said, in surprise.

said

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

From this reading The detective had crawled out of the bushes by the time the new-comers were opposite his place of concealment, and, before speaking to the two men, he clasped Jet warmly by the hand, as he said:

single-handed

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

From this reading After making the capture, single-handed, it would have been strange if you had failed at the last minute."

speaking

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

From this reading The detective had crawled out of the bushes by the time the new-comers were opposite his place of concealment, and, before speaking to the two men, he clasped Jet warmly by the hand, as he said:

strange

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

From this reading After making the capture, single-handed, it would have been strange if you had failed at the last minute."

surprise

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

From this reading "He didn't tell us that it was him who took the fellow prisoner," one of the men said, in surprise.

tellnounUS /tell/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "He didn't tell us that it was him who took the fellow prisoner," one of the men said, in surprise.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading "He didn't tell us that it was him who took the fellow prisoner," one of the men said, in surprise.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading ON THE TRAIL.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The detective had crawled out of the bushes by the time the new-comers were opposite his place of concealment, and, before speaking to the two men, he clasped Jet warmly by the hand, as he said:

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The detective had crawled out of the bushes by the time the new-comers were opposite his place of concealment, and, before speaking to the two men, he clasped Jet warmly by the hand, as he said:

tooknounUS /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "He didn't tell us that it was him who took the fellow prisoner," one of the men said, in surprise.

TRAIL

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

From this reading ON THE TRAIL.

two

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

From this reading The detective had crawled out of the bushes by the time the new-comers were opposite his place of concealment, and, before speaking to the two men, he clasped Jet warmly by the hand, as he said:

uspronounUS /ʌs/

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading "He didn't tell us that it was him who took the fellow prisoner," one of the men said, in surprise.

warmly

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

From this reading The detective had crawled out of the bushes by the time the new-comers were opposite his place of concealment, and, before speaking to the two men, he clasped Jet warmly by the hand, as he said:

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading "I knew you could do the job, if it was in the power of any one, my boy.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading The detective had crawled out of the bushes by the time the new-comers were opposite his place of concealment, and, before speaking to the two men, he clasped Jet warmly by the hand, as he said:

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading "He didn't tell us that it was him who took the fellow prisoner," one of the men said, in surprise.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading After making the capture, single-handed, it would have been strange if you had failed at the last minute."

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "I knew you could do the job, if it was in the power of any one, my boy.