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Spacerogue
Spacerogue

Chapter I

Cover illustration for Spacerogue
Context Illustration Reading 1/42 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
_The proteus could change its shape to anything at all--and Herndon discovered it made a perfect red herring!_ They were selling a proteus in the public auctionplace at Borlaam, when the stranger wandered by.
The stranger's name was Barr Herndon, and he was a tall man, with a proud, lonely face.
It was not the face he had been born with, though his own had been equally proud, equally lonely.
He shouldered his way through the crowd.
It was a warm and muggy day and a number of idling passersby had stopped to watch the auction.
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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.

Spacerogue

Chapter I

Reading 1/42 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
_The proteus could change its shape to anything at all--and Herndon discovered it made a perfect red herring!_ They were selling a proteus in the public auctionplace at Borlaam, when the stranger wandered by.
Line 2
The stranger's name was Barr Herndon, and he was a tall man, with a proud, lonely face.
Line 3
It was not the face he had been born with, though his own had been equally proud, equally lonely.
Line 4
He shouldered his way through the crowd.
Line 5
It was a warm and muggy day and a number of idling passersby had stopped to watch the auction.

Learner Dictionary

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

Anything pronoun US /ˈeniθɪŋ/

any thing at all

From this reading “_The proteus could change its shape to anything at all--and Herndon discovered it made a perfect red herring!_ They were selling a proteus in the public auctionplace at Borlaam, when the stranger wandered by.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “It was not the face he had been born with, though his own had been equally proud, equally lonely.”

Born noun US /born/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was not the face he had been born with, though his own had been equally proud, equally lonely.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “_The proteus could change its shape to anything at all--and Herndon discovered it made a perfect red herring!_ They were selling a proteus in the public auctionplace at Borlaam, when the stranger wandered by.”

Equally noun US /ˈequally/

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

From this reading “It was not the face he had been born with, though his own had been equally proud, equally lonely.”

Name noun US /name/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The stranger's name was Barr Herndon, and he was a tall man, with a proud, lonely face.”

Stopped noun US /stopped/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was a warm and muggy day and a number of idling passersby had stopped to watch the auction.”

Though conjunction US /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “It was not the face he had been born with, though his own had been equally proud, equally lonely.”

Through noun US /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading “He shouldered his way through the crowd.”

All words in this reading · 63

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 proteus could change its shape to anything at all--and Herndon discovered it made a perfect red herring!_ They were selling a proteus in the public auctionplace at Borlaam, when the stranger wandered by.

all

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

From this reading _The proteus could change its shape to anything at all--and Herndon discovered it made a perfect red herring!_ They were selling a proteus in the public auctionplace at Borlaam, when the stranger wandered by.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading _The proteus could change its shape to anything at all--and Herndon discovered it made a perfect red herring!_ They were selling a proteus in the public auctionplace at Borlaam, when the stranger wandered by.

anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/

any thing at all

From this reading _The proteus could change its shape to anything at all--and Herndon discovered it made a perfect red herring!_ They were selling a proteus in the public auctionplace at Borlaam, when the stranger wandered by.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading _The proteus could change its shape to anything at all--and Herndon discovered it made a perfect red herring!_ They were selling a proteus in the public auctionplace at Borlaam, when the stranger wandered by.

auction

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

From this reading It was a warm and muggy day and a number of idling passersby had stopped to watch the auction.

auctionplace

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

From this reading _The proteus could change its shape to anything at all--and Herndon discovered it made a perfect red herring!_ They were selling a proteus in the public auctionplace at Borlaam, when the stranger wandered by.

Barr

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

From this reading The stranger's name was Barr Herndon, and he was a tall man, with a proud, lonely face.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading It was not the face he had been born with, though his own had been equally proud, equally lonely.

Borlaam

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

From this reading _The proteus could change its shape to anything at all--and Herndon discovered it made a perfect red herring!_ They were selling a proteus in the public auctionplace at Borlaam, when the stranger wandered by.

bornnounUS /born/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was not the face he had been born with, though his own had been equally proud, equally lonely.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading _The proteus could change its shape to anything at all--and Herndon discovered it made a perfect red herring!_ They were selling a proteus in the public auctionplace at Borlaam, when the stranger wandered by.

change

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

From this reading _The proteus could change its shape to anything at all--and Herndon discovered it made a perfect red herring!_ They were selling a proteus in the public auctionplace at Borlaam, when the stranger wandered by.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading _The proteus could change its shape to anything at all--and Herndon discovered it made a perfect red herring!_ They were selling a proteus in the public auctionplace at Borlaam, when the stranger wandered by.

crowd

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

From this reading He shouldered his way through the crowd.

day

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

From this reading It was a warm and muggy day and a number of idling passersby had stopped to watch the auction.

discovered

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

From this reading _The proteus could change its shape to anything at all--and Herndon discovered it made a perfect red herring!_ They were selling a proteus in the public auctionplace at Borlaam, when the stranger wandered by.

equallynounUS /ˈequally/

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

From this reading It was not the face he had been born with, though his own had been equally proud, equally lonely.

face

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

From this reading The stranger's name was Barr Herndon, and he was a tall man, with a proud, lonely face.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading It was not the face he had been born with, though his own had been equally proud, equally lonely.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading The stranger's name was Barr Herndon, and he was a tall man, with a proud, lonely face.

Herndon

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

From this reading _The proteus could change its shape to anything at all--and Herndon discovered it made a perfect red herring!_ They were selling a proteus in the public auctionplace at Borlaam, when the stranger wandered by.

herring

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

From this reading _The proteus could change its shape to anything at all--and Herndon discovered it made a perfect red herring!_ They were selling a proteus in the public auctionplace at Borlaam, when the stranger wandered by.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading It was not the face he had been born with, though his own had been equally proud, equally lonely.

idling

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

From this reading It was a warm and muggy day and a number of idling passersby had stopped to watch the auction.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading _The proteus could change its shape to anything at all--and Herndon discovered it made a perfect red herring!_ They were selling a proteus in the public auctionplace at Borlaam, when the stranger wandered by.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading _The proteus could change its shape to anything at all--and Herndon discovered it made a perfect red herring!_ They were selling a proteus in the public auctionplace at Borlaam, when the stranger wandered by.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading _The proteus could change its shape to anything at all--and Herndon discovered it made a perfect red herring!_ They were selling a proteus in the public auctionplace at Borlaam, when the stranger wandered by.

lonely

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

From this reading The stranger's name was Barr Herndon, and he was a tall man, with a proud, lonely face.

made

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

From this reading _The proteus could change its shape to anything at all--and Herndon discovered it made a perfect red herring!_ They were selling a proteus in the public auctionplace at Borlaam, when the stranger wandered by.

man

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

From this reading The stranger's name was Barr Herndon, and he was a tall man, with a proud, lonely face.

muggy

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

From this reading It was a warm and muggy day and a number of idling passersby had stopped to watch the auction.

namenounUS /name/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The stranger's name was Barr Herndon, and he was a tall man, with a proud, lonely face.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading It was not the face he had been born with, though his own had been equally proud, equally lonely.

number

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

From this reading It was a warm and muggy day and a number of idling passersby had stopped to watch the auction.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading It was a warm and muggy day and a number of idling passersby had stopped to watch the auction.

own

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

From this reading It was not the face he had been born with, though his own had been equally proud, equally lonely.

passersby

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

From this reading It was a warm and muggy day and a number of idling passersby had stopped to watch the auction.

perfect

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

From this reading _The proteus could change its shape to anything at all--and Herndon discovered it made a perfect red herring!_ They were selling a proteus in the public auctionplace at Borlaam, when the stranger wandered by.

proteus

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

From this reading _The proteus could change its shape to anything at all--and Herndon discovered it made a perfect red herring!_ They were selling a proteus in the public auctionplace at Borlaam, when the stranger wandered by.

proud

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

From this reading The stranger's name was Barr Herndon, and he was a tall man, with a proud, lonely face.

public

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

From this reading _The proteus could change its shape to anything at all--and Herndon discovered it made a perfect red herring!_ They were selling a proteus in the public auctionplace at Borlaam, when the stranger wandered by.

red

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

From this reading _The proteus could change its shape to anything at all--and Herndon discovered it made a perfect red herring!_ They were selling a proteus in the public auctionplace at Borlaam, when the stranger wandered by.

selling

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

From this reading _The proteus could change its shape to anything at all--and Herndon discovered it made a perfect red herring!_ They were selling a proteus in the public auctionplace at Borlaam, when the stranger wandered by.

shape

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

From this reading _The proteus could change its shape to anything at all--and Herndon discovered it made a perfect red herring!_ They were selling a proteus in the public auctionplace at Borlaam, when the stranger wandered by.

shouldered

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

From this reading He shouldered his way through the crowd.

stoppednounUS /stopped/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was a warm and muggy day and a number of idling passersby had stopped to watch the auction.

stranger

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

From this reading _The proteus could change its shape to anything at all--and Herndon discovered it made a perfect red herring!_ They were selling a proteus in the public auctionplace at Borlaam, when the stranger wandered by.

stranger's

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

From this reading The stranger's name was Barr Herndon, and he was a tall man, with a proud, lonely face.

tall

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

From this reading The stranger's name was Barr Herndon, and he was a tall man, with a proud, lonely face.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading _The proteus could change its shape to anything at all--and Herndon discovered it made a perfect red herring!_ They were selling a proteus in the public auctionplace at Borlaam, when the stranger wandered by.

TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading _The proteus could change its shape to anything at all--and Herndon discovered it made a perfect red herring!_ They were selling a proteus in the public auctionplace at Borlaam, when the stranger wandered by.

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading It was not the face he had been born with, though his own had been equally proud, equally lonely.

throughnounUS /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading He shouldered his way through the crowd.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading _The proteus could change its shape to anything at all--and Herndon discovered it made a perfect red herring!_ They were selling a proteus in the public auctionplace at Borlaam, when the stranger wandered by.

wandered

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

From this reading _The proteus could change its shape to anything at all--and Herndon discovered it made a perfect red herring!_ They were selling a proteus in the public auctionplace at Borlaam, when the stranger wandered by.

warm

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

From this reading It was a warm and muggy day and a number of idling passersby had stopped to watch the auction.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The stranger's name was Barr Herndon, and he was a tall man, with a proud, lonely face.

watch

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

From this reading It was a warm and muggy day and a number of idling passersby had stopped to watch the auction.

way

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

From this reading He shouldered his way through the crowd.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading _The proteus could change its shape to anything at all--and Herndon discovered it made a perfect red herring!_ They were selling a proteus in the public auctionplace at Borlaam, when the stranger wandered by.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading _The proteus could change its shape to anything at all--and Herndon discovered it made a perfect red herring!_ They were selling a proteus in the public auctionplace at Borlaam, when the stranger wandered by.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The stranger's name was Barr Herndon, and he was a tall man, with a proud, lonely face.