Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
Pathfinder
Pathfinder

Chapter IX

Cover illustration for Pathfinder
Context Illustration Reading 1/29 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
SETTING A TRAP.
At that there arose new exclamations of wonder, as well as of disbelief.
"Oh, come off, now," remarked Red, quite forgetting in his amazement the respect supposed to be shown for an acting scout master, even though in the private walks of life he might only be a fellow playmate; "you can't expect us to swallow that, now, Elmer."
"Do you mean about the woman's height, or her age?" asked the other, calmly.
"Why--er--both I guess," faltered Red, weakening as he saw the positive front of the other.
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Pathfinder

Chapter IX

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

Line 1
SETTING A TRAP.
Line 2
At that there arose new exclamations of wonder, as well as of disbelief.
Line 3
"Oh, come off, now," remarked Red, quite forgetting in his amazement the respect supposed to be shown for an acting scout master, even though in the private walks of life he might only be a fellow playmate; "you can't expect us to swallow that, now, Elmer."
Line 4
"Do you mean about the woman's height, or her age?" asked the other, calmly.
Line 5
"Why--er--both I guess," faltered Red, weakening as he saw the positive front of the other.

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 “"Do you mean about the woman's height, or her age?" asked the other, calmly.”

Asked noun US /asked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"Do you mean about the woman's height, or her age?" asked the other, calmly.”

Come noun US /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"Oh, come off, now," remarked Red, quite forgetting in his amazement the respect supposed to be shown for an acting scout master, even though in the private walks of life he might only be a fellow playmate; "you can't expect us to swallow that, now, Elmer."”

Even noun US /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"Oh, come off, now," remarked Red, quite forgetting in his amazement the respect supposed to be shown for an acting scout master, even though in the private walks of life he might only be a fellow playmate; "you can't expect us to swallow that, now, Elmer."”

Expect verb US /ɪkˈspekt/

to think that something will happen

From this reading “"Oh, come off, now," remarked Red, quite forgetting in his amazement the respect supposed to be shown for an acting scout master, even though in the private walks of life he might only be a fellow playmate; "you can't expect us to swallow that, now, Elmer."”

Life noun US /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"Oh, come off, now," remarked Red, quite forgetting in his amazement the respect supposed to be shown for an acting scout master, even though in the private walks of life he might only be a fellow playmate; "you can't expect us to swallow that, now, Elmer."”

Might modal verb US /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading “"Oh, come off, now," remarked Red, quite forgetting in his amazement the respect supposed to be shown for an acting scout master, even though in the private walks of life he might only be a fellow playmate; "you can't expect us to swallow that, now, Elmer."”

Quite noun US /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"Oh, come off, now," remarked Red, quite forgetting in his amazement the respect supposed to be shown for an acting scout master, even though in the private walks of life he might only be a fellow playmate; "you can't expect us to swallow that, now, Elmer."”

Though conjunction US /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “"Oh, come off, now," remarked Red, quite forgetting in his amazement the respect supposed to be shown for an acting scout master, even though in the private walks of life he might only be a fellow playmate; "you can't expect us to swallow that, now, Elmer."”

Well noun US /well/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “At that there arose new exclamations of wonder, as well as of disbelief.”

All words in this reading · 73

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 SETTING A TRAP.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading "Do you mean about the woman's height, or her age?" asked the other, calmly.

acting

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

From this reading "Oh, come off, now," remarked Red, quite forgetting in his amazement the respect supposed to be shown for an acting scout master, even though in the private walks of life he might only be a fellow playmate; "you can't expect us to swallow that, now, Elmer."

age

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

From this reading "Do you mean about the woman's height, or her age?" asked the other, calmly.

amazement

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

From this reading "Oh, come off, now," remarked Red, quite forgetting in his amazement the respect supposed to be shown for an acting scout master, even though in the private walks of life he might only be a fellow playmate; "you can't expect us to swallow that, now, Elmer."

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading "Oh, come off, now," remarked Red, quite forgetting in his amazement the respect supposed to be shown for an acting scout master, even though in the private walks of life he might only be a fellow playmate; "you can't expect us to swallow that, now, Elmer."

arose

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

From this reading At that there arose new exclamations of wonder, as well as of disbelief.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading At that there arose new exclamations of wonder, as well as of disbelief.

askednounUS /asked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "Do you mean about the woman's height, or her age?" asked the other, calmly.

AtprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading At that there arose new exclamations of wonder, as well as of disbelief.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading "Oh, come off, now," remarked Red, quite forgetting in his amazement the respect supposed to be shown for an acting scout master, even though in the private walks of life he might only be a fellow playmate; "you can't expect us to swallow that, now, Elmer."

bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/

the two together, not just one

From this reading "Why--er--both I guess," faltered Red, weakening as he saw the positive front of the other.

calmly

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

From this reading "Do you mean about the woman's height, or her age?" asked the other, calmly.

can't

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

From this reading "Oh, come off, now," remarked Red, quite forgetting in his amazement the respect supposed to be shown for an acting scout master, even though in the private walks of life he might only be a fellow playmate; "you can't expect us to swallow that, now, Elmer."

comenounUS /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "Oh, come off, now," remarked Red, quite forgetting in his amazement the respect supposed to be shown for an acting scout master, even though in the private walks of life he might only be a fellow playmate; "you can't expect us to swallow that, now, Elmer."

disbelief

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

From this reading At that there arose new exclamations of wonder, as well as of disbelief.

Doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading "Do you mean about the woman's height, or her age?" asked the other, calmly.

Elmer

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

From this reading "Oh, come off, now," remarked Red, quite forgetting in his amazement the respect supposed to be shown for an acting scout master, even though in the private walks of life he might only be a fellow playmate; "you can't expect us to swallow that, now, Elmer."

er

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

From this reading "Why--er--both I guess," faltered Red, weakening as he saw the positive front of the other.

evennounUS /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "Oh, come off, now," remarked Red, quite forgetting in his amazement the respect supposed to be shown for an acting scout master, even though in the private walks of life he might only be a fellow playmate; "you can't expect us to swallow that, now, Elmer."

exclamations

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

From this reading At that there arose new exclamations of wonder, as well as of disbelief.

expectverbUS /ɪkˈspekt/

to think that something will happen

From this reading "Oh, come off, now," remarked Red, quite forgetting in his amazement the respect supposed to be shown for an acting scout master, even though in the private walks of life he might only be a fellow playmate; "you can't expect us to swallow that, now, Elmer."

faltered

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

From this reading "Why--er--both I guess," faltered Red, weakening as he saw the positive front of the other.

fellow

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

From this reading "Oh, come off, now," remarked Red, quite forgetting in his amazement the respect supposed to be shown for an acting scout master, even though in the private walks of life he might only be a fellow playmate; "you can't expect us to swallow that, now, Elmer."

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading "Oh, come off, now," remarked Red, quite forgetting in his amazement the respect supposed to be shown for an acting scout master, even though in the private walks of life he might only be a fellow playmate; "you can't expect us to swallow that, now, Elmer."

forgetting

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

From this reading "Oh, come off, now," remarked Red, quite forgetting in his amazement the respect supposed to be shown for an acting scout master, even though in the private walks of life he might only be a fellow playmate; "you can't expect us to swallow that, now, Elmer."

front

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

From this reading "Why--er--both I guess," faltered Red, weakening as he saw the positive front of the other.

guess

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

From this reading "Why--er--both I guess," faltered Red, weakening as he saw the positive front of the other.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading "Oh, come off, now," remarked Red, quite forgetting in his amazement the respect supposed to be shown for an acting scout master, even though in the private walks of life he might only be a fellow playmate; "you can't expect us to swallow that, now, Elmer."

height

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

From this reading "Do you mean about the woman's height, or her age?" asked the other, calmly.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading "Do you mean about the woman's height, or her age?" asked the other, calmly.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading "Oh, come off, now," remarked Red, quite forgetting in his amazement the respect supposed to be shown for an acting scout master, even though in the private walks of life he might only be a fellow playmate; "you can't expect us to swallow that, now, Elmer."

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading "Why--er--both I guess," faltered Red, weakening as he saw the positive front of the other.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading "Oh, come off, now," remarked Red, quite forgetting in his amazement the respect supposed to be shown for an acting scout master, even though in the private walks of life he might only be a fellow playmate; "you can't expect us to swallow that, now, Elmer."

lifenounUS /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "Oh, come off, now," remarked Red, quite forgetting in his amazement the respect supposed to be shown for an acting scout master, even though in the private walks of life he might only be a fellow playmate; "you can't expect us to swallow that, now, Elmer."

master

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

From this reading "Oh, come off, now," remarked Red, quite forgetting in his amazement the respect supposed to be shown for an acting scout master, even though in the private walks of life he might only be a fellow playmate; "you can't expect us to swallow that, now, Elmer."

mean

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

From this reading "Do you mean about the woman's height, or her age?" asked the other, calmly.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading "Oh, come off, now," remarked Red, quite forgetting in his amazement the respect supposed to be shown for an acting scout master, even though in the private walks of life he might only be a fellow playmate; "you can't expect us to swallow that, now, Elmer."

new

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

From this reading At that there arose new exclamations of wonder, as well as of disbelief.

now

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

From this reading "Oh, come off, now," remarked Red, quite forgetting in his amazement the respect supposed to be shown for an acting scout master, even though in the private walks of life he might only be a fellow playmate; "you can't expect us to swallow that, now, Elmer."

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading At that there arose new exclamations of wonder, as well as of disbelief.

off

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

From this reading "Oh, come off, now," remarked Red, quite forgetting in his amazement the respect supposed to be shown for an acting scout master, even though in the private walks of life he might only be a fellow playmate; "you can't expect us to swallow that, now, Elmer."

Oh

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

From this reading "Oh, come off, now," remarked Red, quite forgetting in his amazement the respect supposed to be shown for an acting scout master, even though in the private walks of life he might only be a fellow playmate; "you can't expect us to swallow that, now, Elmer."

only

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

From this reading "Oh, come off, now," remarked Red, quite forgetting in his amazement the respect supposed to be shown for an acting scout master, even though in the private walks of life he might only be a fellow playmate; "you can't expect us to swallow that, now, Elmer."

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading "Do you mean about the woman's height, or her age?" asked the other, calmly.

other

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

From this reading "Do you mean about the woman's height, or her age?" asked the other, calmly.

playmate

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

From this reading "Oh, come off, now," remarked Red, quite forgetting in his amazement the respect supposed to be shown for an acting scout master, even though in the private walks of life he might only be a fellow playmate; "you can't expect us to swallow that, now, Elmer."

positive

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

From this reading "Why--er--both I guess," faltered Red, weakening as he saw the positive front of the other.

private

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

From this reading "Oh, come off, now," remarked Red, quite forgetting in his amazement the respect supposed to be shown for an acting scout master, even though in the private walks of life he might only be a fellow playmate; "you can't expect us to swallow that, now, Elmer."

quitenounUS /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "Oh, come off, now," remarked Red, quite forgetting in his amazement the respect supposed to be shown for an acting scout master, even though in the private walks of life he might only be a fellow playmate; "you can't expect us to swallow that, now, Elmer."

Red

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

From this reading "Oh, come off, now," remarked Red, quite forgetting in his amazement the respect supposed to be shown for an acting scout master, even though in the private walks of life he might only be a fellow playmate; "you can't expect us to swallow that, now, Elmer."

remarked

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

From this reading "Oh, come off, now," remarked Red, quite forgetting in his amazement the respect supposed to be shown for an acting scout master, even though in the private walks of life he might only be a fellow playmate; "you can't expect us to swallow that, now, Elmer."

respect

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

From this reading "Oh, come off, now," remarked Red, quite forgetting in his amazement the respect supposed to be shown for an acting scout master, even though in the private walks of life he might only be a fellow playmate; "you can't expect us to swallow that, now, Elmer."

saw

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

From this reading "Why--er--both I guess," faltered Red, weakening as he saw the positive front of the other.

scout

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

From this reading "Oh, come off, now," remarked Red, quite forgetting in his amazement the respect supposed to be shown for an acting scout master, even though in the private walks of life he might only be a fellow playmate; "you can't expect us to swallow that, now, Elmer."

SETTING

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

From this reading SETTING A TRAP.

shown

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

From this reading "Oh, come off, now," remarked Red, quite forgetting in his amazement the respect supposed to be shown for an acting scout master, even though in the private walks of life he might only be a fellow playmate; "you can't expect us to swallow that, now, Elmer."

supposed

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

From this reading "Oh, come off, now," remarked Red, quite forgetting in his amazement the respect supposed to be shown for an acting scout master, even though in the private walks of life he might only be a fellow playmate; "you can't expect us to swallow that, now, Elmer."

swallow

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

From this reading "Oh, come off, now," remarked Red, quite forgetting in his amazement the respect supposed to be shown for an acting scout master, even though in the private walks of life he might only be a fellow playmate; "you can't expect us to swallow that, now, Elmer."

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading At that there arose new exclamations of wonder, as well as of disbelief.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading "Oh, come off, now," remarked Red, quite forgetting in his amazement the respect supposed to be shown for an acting scout master, even though in the private walks of life he might only be a fellow playmate; "you can't expect us to swallow that, now, Elmer."

there

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

From this reading At that there arose new exclamations of wonder, as well as of disbelief.

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading "Oh, come off, now," remarked Red, quite forgetting in his amazement the respect supposed to be shown for an acting scout master, even though in the private walks of life he might only be a fellow playmate; "you can't expect us to swallow that, now, Elmer."

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading "Oh, come off, now," remarked Red, quite forgetting in his amazement the respect supposed to be shown for an acting scout master, even though in the private walks of life he might only be a fellow playmate; "you can't expect us to swallow that, now, Elmer."

TRAP

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

From this reading SETTING A TRAP.

uspronounUS /ʌs/

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

From this reading "Oh, come off, now," remarked Red, quite forgetting in his amazement the respect supposed to be shown for an acting scout master, even though in the private walks of life he might only be a fellow playmate; "you can't expect us to swallow that, now, Elmer."

walks

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

From this reading "Oh, come off, now," remarked Red, quite forgetting in his amazement the respect supposed to be shown for an acting scout master, even though in the private walks of life he might only be a fellow playmate; "you can't expect us to swallow that, now, Elmer."

weakening

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

From this reading "Why--er--both I guess," faltered Red, weakening as he saw the positive front of the other.

well

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

From this reading At that there arose new exclamations of wonder, as well as of disbelief.

Why

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

From this reading "Why--er--both I guess," faltered Red, weakening as he saw the positive front of the other.

woman's

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

From this reading "Do you mean about the woman's height, or her age?" asked the other, calmly.

wonder

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

From this reading At that there arose new exclamations of wonder, as well as of disbelief.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "Oh, come off, now," remarked Red, quite forgetting in his amazement the respect supposed to be shown for an acting scout master, even though in the private walks of life he might only be a fellow playmate; "you can't expect us to swallow that, now, Elmer."