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Operation Terror
Operation Terror

Chapter V

Cover illustration for Operation Terror
Context Illustration Reading 1/51 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
When darkness fell, Lockley and Jill were many miles away from the clearing where he had made the S.O.S. They were under a dense screen of leaves from a monster tree whose roots rose above ground at the foot of its enormous trunk.
They formed a shelter of sorts against observation from a distance.
Lockley had spotted a fallen tree far gone with wood-rot.
He broke pieces of the punky stuff with his fingers.
Then he realized that without a pot the bracken shoots he'd gathered could not be cooked.
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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.

Operation Terror

Chapter V

Reading 1/51 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
When darkness fell, Lockley and Jill were many miles away from the clearing where he had made the S.O.S. They were under a dense screen of leaves from a monster tree whose roots rose above ground at the foot of its enormous trunk.
Line 2
They formed a shelter of sorts against observation from a distance.
Line 3
Lockley had spotted a fallen tree far gone with wood-rot.
Line 4
He broke pieces of the punky stuff with his fingers.
Line 5
Then he realized that without a pot the bracken shoots he'd gathered could not be cooked.

Learner Dictionary

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

Above preposition US /əˈbʌv/

higher than, or over, something

From this reading “When darkness fell, Lockley and Jill were many miles away from the clearing where he had made the S.O.S. They were under a dense screen of leaves from a monster tree whose roots rose above ground at the foot of its enormous trunk.”

Against preposition US /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading “They formed a shelter of sorts against observation from a distance.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “Then he realized that without a pot the bracken shoots he'd gathered could not be cooked.”

Foot noun US /foot/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “When darkness fell, Lockley and Jill were many miles away from the clearing where he had made the S.O.S. They were under a dense screen of leaves from a monster tree whose roots rose above ground at the foot of its enormous trunk.”

Observation noun US /ˈobservation/

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

From this reading “They formed a shelter of sorts against observation from a distance.”

Pieces noun US /pieces/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He broke pieces of the punky stuff with his fingers.”

Under preposition US /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading “When darkness fell, Lockley and Jill were many miles away from the clearing where he had made the S.O.S. They were under a dense screen of leaves from a monster tree whose roots rose above ground at the foot of its enormous trunk.”

Whose determiner US /huːz/

belonging to which person

From this reading “When darkness fell, Lockley and Jill were many miles away from the clearing where he had made the S.O.S. They were under a dense screen of leaves from a monster tree whose roots rose above ground at the foot of its enormous trunk.”

Without preposition US /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading “Then he realized that without a pot the bracken shoots he'd gathered could not be cooked.”

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 When darkness fell, Lockley and Jill were many miles away from the clearing where he had made the S.O.S. They were under a dense screen of leaves from a monster tree whose roots rose above ground at the foot of its enormous trunk.

aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/

higher than, or over, something

From this reading When darkness fell, Lockley and Jill were many miles away from the clearing where he had made the S.O.S. They were under a dense screen of leaves from a monster tree whose roots rose above ground at the foot of its enormous trunk.

againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading They formed a shelter of sorts against observation from a distance.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading When darkness fell, Lockley and Jill were many miles away from the clearing where he had made the S.O.S. They were under a dense screen of leaves from a monster tree whose roots rose above ground at the foot of its enormous trunk.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading When darkness fell, Lockley and Jill were many miles away from the clearing where he had made the S.O.S. They were under a dense screen of leaves from a monster tree whose roots rose above ground at the foot of its enormous trunk.

away

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

From this reading When darkness fell, Lockley and Jill were many miles away from the clearing where he had made the S.O.S. They were under a dense screen of leaves from a monster tree whose roots rose above ground at the foot of its enormous trunk.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading Then he realized that without a pot the bracken shoots he'd gathered could not be cooked.

bracken

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

From this reading Then he realized that without a pot the bracken shoots he'd gathered could not be cooked.

broke

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

From this reading He broke pieces of the punky stuff with his fingers.

clearing

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

From this reading When darkness fell, Lockley and Jill were many miles away from the clearing where he had made the S.O.S. They were under a dense screen of leaves from a monster tree whose roots rose above ground at the foot of its enormous trunk.

cooked

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

From this reading Then he realized that without a pot the bracken shoots he'd gathered could not be cooked.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading Then he realized that without a pot the bracken shoots he'd gathered could not be cooked.

darkness

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

From this reading When darkness fell, Lockley and Jill were many miles away from the clearing where he had made the S.O.S. They were under a dense screen of leaves from a monster tree whose roots rose above ground at the foot of its enormous trunk.

dense

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

From this reading When darkness fell, Lockley and Jill were many miles away from the clearing where he had made the S.O.S. They were under a dense screen of leaves from a monster tree whose roots rose above ground at the foot of its enormous trunk.

distance

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

From this reading They formed a shelter of sorts against observation from a distance.

enormous

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

From this reading When darkness fell, Lockley and Jill were many miles away from the clearing where he had made the S.O.S. They were under a dense screen of leaves from a monster tree whose roots rose above ground at the foot of its enormous trunk.

fallen

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

From this reading Lockley had spotted a fallen tree far gone with wood-rot.

far

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

From this reading Lockley had spotted a fallen tree far gone with wood-rot.

fell

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

From this reading When darkness fell, Lockley and Jill were many miles away from the clearing where he had made the S.O.S. They were under a dense screen of leaves from a monster tree whose roots rose above ground at the foot of its enormous trunk.

fingers

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

From this reading He broke pieces of the punky stuff with his fingers.

footnounUS /foot/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading When darkness fell, Lockley and Jill were many miles away from the clearing where he had made the S.O.S. They were under a dense screen of leaves from a monster tree whose roots rose above ground at the foot of its enormous trunk.

formed

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

From this reading They formed a shelter of sorts against observation from a distance.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading When darkness fell, Lockley and Jill were many miles away from the clearing where he had made the S.O.S. They were under a dense screen of leaves from a monster tree whose roots rose above ground at the foot of its enormous trunk.

gathered

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

From this reading Then he realized that without a pot the bracken shoots he'd gathered could not be cooked.

gone

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

From this reading Lockley had spotted a fallen tree far gone with wood-rot.

ground

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

From this reading When darkness fell, Lockley and Jill were many miles away from the clearing where he had made the S.O.S. They were under a dense screen of leaves from a monster tree whose roots rose above ground at the foot of its enormous trunk.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading When darkness fell, Lockley and Jill were many miles away from the clearing where he had made the S.O.S. They were under a dense screen of leaves from a monster tree whose roots rose above ground at the foot of its enormous trunk.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading When darkness fell, Lockley and Jill were many miles away from the clearing where he had made the S.O.S. They were under a dense screen of leaves from a monster tree whose roots rose above ground at the foot of its enormous trunk.

he'd

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

From this reading Then he realized that without a pot the bracken shoots he'd gathered could not be cooked.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading He broke pieces of the punky stuff with his fingers.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading When darkness fell, Lockley and Jill were many miles away from the clearing where he had made the S.O.S. They were under a dense screen of leaves from a monster tree whose roots rose above ground at the foot of its enormous trunk.

Jill

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

From this reading When darkness fell, Lockley and Jill were many miles away from the clearing where he had made the S.O.S. They were under a dense screen of leaves from a monster tree whose roots rose above ground at the foot of its enormous trunk.

leaves

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

From this reading When darkness fell, Lockley and Jill were many miles away from the clearing where he had made the S.O.S. They were under a dense screen of leaves from a monster tree whose roots rose above ground at the foot of its enormous trunk.

Lockley

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

From this reading When darkness fell, Lockley and Jill were many miles away from the clearing where he had made the S.O.S. They were under a dense screen of leaves from a monster tree whose roots rose above ground at the foot of its enormous trunk.

made

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

From this reading When darkness fell, Lockley and Jill were many miles away from the clearing where he had made the S.O.S. They were under a dense screen of leaves from a monster tree whose roots rose above ground at the foot of its enormous trunk.

many

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

From this reading When darkness fell, Lockley and Jill were many miles away from the clearing where he had made the S.O.S. They were under a dense screen of leaves from a monster tree whose roots rose above ground at the foot of its enormous trunk.

miles

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

From this reading When darkness fell, Lockley and Jill were many miles away from the clearing where he had made the S.O.S. They were under a dense screen of leaves from a monster tree whose roots rose above ground at the foot of its enormous trunk.

monster

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

From this reading When darkness fell, Lockley and Jill were many miles away from the clearing where he had made the S.O.S. They were under a dense screen of leaves from a monster tree whose roots rose above ground at the foot of its enormous trunk.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Then he realized that without a pot the bracken shoots he'd gathered could not be cooked.

O

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

From this reading When darkness fell, Lockley and Jill were many miles away from the clearing where he had made the S.O.S. They were under a dense screen of leaves from a monster tree whose roots rose above ground at the foot of its enormous trunk.

observationnounUS /ˈobservation/

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

From this reading They formed a shelter of sorts against observation from a distance.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading When darkness fell, Lockley and Jill were many miles away from the clearing where he had made the S.O.S. They were under a dense screen of leaves from a monster tree whose roots rose above ground at the foot of its enormous trunk.

pieces

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

From this reading He broke pieces of the punky stuff with his fingers.

pot

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

From this reading Then he realized that without a pot the bracken shoots he'd gathered could not be cooked.

punky

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

From this reading He broke pieces of the punky stuff with his fingers.

realized

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

From this reading Then he realized that without a pot the bracken shoots he'd gathered could not be cooked.

roots

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

From this reading When darkness fell, Lockley and Jill were many miles away from the clearing where he had made the S.O.S. They were under a dense screen of leaves from a monster tree whose roots rose above ground at the foot of its enormous trunk.

rose

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

From this reading When darkness fell, Lockley and Jill were many miles away from the clearing where he had made the S.O.S. They were under a dense screen of leaves from a monster tree whose roots rose above ground at the foot of its enormous trunk.

S

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

From this reading When darkness fell, Lockley and Jill were many miles away from the clearing where he had made the S.O.S. They were under a dense screen of leaves from a monster tree whose roots rose above ground at the foot of its enormous trunk.

screen

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

From this reading When darkness fell, Lockley and Jill were many miles away from the clearing where he had made the S.O.S. They were under a dense screen of leaves from a monster tree whose roots rose above ground at the foot of its enormous trunk.

shelter

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

From this reading They formed a shelter of sorts against observation from a distance.

shoots

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

From this reading Then he realized that without a pot the bracken shoots he'd gathered could not be cooked.

sorts

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

From this reading They formed a shelter of sorts against observation from a distance.

spotted

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

From this reading Lockley had spotted a fallen tree far gone with wood-rot.

stuff

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

From this reading He broke pieces of the punky stuff with his fingers.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Then he realized that without a pot the bracken shoots he'd gathered could not be cooked.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading When darkness fell, Lockley and Jill were many miles away from the clearing where he had made the S.O.S. They were under a dense screen of leaves from a monster tree whose roots rose above ground at the foot of its enormous trunk.

Then

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

From this reading Then he realized that without a pot the bracken shoots he'd gathered could not be cooked.

TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading When darkness fell, Lockley and Jill were many miles away from the clearing where he had made the S.O.S. They were under a dense screen of leaves from a monster tree whose roots rose above ground at the foot of its enormous trunk.

tree

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

From this reading When darkness fell, Lockley and Jill were many miles away from the clearing where he had made the S.O.S. They were under a dense screen of leaves from a monster tree whose roots rose above ground at the foot of its enormous trunk.

trunk

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

From this reading When darkness fell, Lockley and Jill were many miles away from the clearing where he had made the S.O.S. They were under a dense screen of leaves from a monster tree whose roots rose above ground at the foot of its enormous trunk.

underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading When darkness fell, Lockley and Jill were many miles away from the clearing where he had made the S.O.S. They were under a dense screen of leaves from a monster tree whose roots rose above ground at the foot of its enormous trunk.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading When darkness fell, Lockley and Jill were many miles away from the clearing where he had made the S.O.S. They were under a dense screen of leaves from a monster tree whose roots rose above ground at the foot of its enormous trunk.

WhenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading When darkness fell, Lockley and Jill were many miles away from the clearing where he had made the S.O.S. They were under a dense screen of leaves from a monster tree whose roots rose above ground at the foot of its enormous trunk.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading When darkness fell, Lockley and Jill were many miles away from the clearing where he had made the S.O.S. They were under a dense screen of leaves from a monster tree whose roots rose above ground at the foot of its enormous trunk.

whosedeterminerUS /huːz/

belonging to which person

From this reading When darkness fell, Lockley and Jill were many miles away from the clearing where he had made the S.O.S. They were under a dense screen of leaves from a monster tree whose roots rose above ground at the foot of its enormous trunk.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Lockley had spotted a fallen tree far gone with wood-rot.

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading Then he realized that without a pot the bracken shoots he'd gathered could not be cooked.

wood-rot

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

From this reading Lockley had spotted a fallen tree far gone with wood-rot.