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Stalky & Co.
Stalky & Co.

Chapter XII

Cover illustration for Stalky & Co.
Context Illustration Reading 1/83 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
But, as so often happens in this life, the matter was suddenly settled from without.
The Head had duly informed the Council that their recommendation had been acted upon, and that, so far as he could learn, the boys were drilling.
He said nothing of the terms on which they drilled.
Naturally, General Collinson was delighted and told his friends.
One of his friends rejoiced in a friend, a Member of Parliament--a zealous, an intelligent, and, above all, a patriotic person, anxious to do the most good in the shortest possible time.
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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.

Stalky & Co.

Chapter XII

Reading 1/83 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
But, as so often happens in this life, the matter was suddenly settled from without.
Line 2
The Head had duly informed the Council that their recommendation had been acted upon, and that, so far as he could learn, the boys were drilling.
Line 3
He said nothing of the terms on which they drilled.
Line 4
Naturally, General Collinson was delighted and told his friends.
Line 5
One of his friends rejoiced in a friend, a Member of Parliament--a zealous, an intelligent, and, above all, a patriotic person, anxious to do the most good in the shortest possible time.

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 “One of his friends rejoiced in a friend, a Member of Parliament--a zealous, an intelligent, and, above all, a patriotic person, anxious to do the most good in the shortest possible time.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “The Head had duly informed the Council that their recommendation had been acted upon, and that, so far as he could learn, the boys were drilling.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “The Head had duly informed the Council that their recommendation had been acted upon, and that, so far as he could learn, the boys were drilling.”

Council noun US /council/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The Head had duly informed the Council that their recommendation had been acted upon, and that, so far as he could learn, the boys were drilling.”

Good noun US /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “One of his friends rejoiced in a friend, a Member of Parliament--a zealous, an intelligent, and, above all, a patriotic person, anxious to do the most good in the shortest possible time.”

Life noun US /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But, as so often happens in this life, the matter was suddenly settled from without.”

Nothing pronoun US /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading “He said nothing of the terms on which they drilled.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “One of his friends rejoiced in a friend, a Member of Parliament--a zealous, an intelligent, and, above all, a patriotic person, anxious to do the most good in the shortest possible time.”

Recommendation noun US /ˌrɛkəmɛnˈdeɪʃən/

a quality or fact that makes someone or something suitable

From this reading “The Head had duly informed the Council that their recommendation had been acted upon, and that, so far as he could learn, the boys were drilling.”

Suddenly noun US /ˈsuddenly/

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

From this reading “But, as so often happens in this life, the matter was suddenly settled from without.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “One of his friends rejoiced in a friend, a Member of Parliament--a zealous, an intelligent, and, above all, a patriotic person, anxious to do the most good in the shortest possible time.”

Told noun US /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Naturally, General Collinson was delighted and told his friends.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “The Head had duly informed the Council that their recommendation had been acted upon, and that, so far as he could learn, the boys were drilling.”

Without preposition US /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading “But, as so often happens in this life, the matter was suddenly settled from without.”

All words in this reading · 70

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 One of his friends rejoiced in a friend, a Member of Parliament--a zealous, an intelligent, and, above all, a patriotic person, anxious to do the most good in the shortest possible time.

aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/

higher than, or over, something

From this reading One of his friends rejoiced in a friend, a Member of Parliament--a zealous, an intelligent, and, above all, a patriotic person, anxious to do the most good in the shortest possible time.

acted

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

From this reading The Head had duly informed the Council that their recommendation had been acted upon, and that, so far as he could learn, the boys were drilling.

all

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

From this reading One of his friends rejoiced in a friend, a Member of Parliament--a zealous, an intelligent, and, above all, a patriotic person, anxious to do the most good in the shortest possible time.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading One of his friends rejoiced in a friend, a Member of Parliament--a zealous, an intelligent, and, above all, a patriotic person, anxious to do the most good in the shortest possible time.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The Head had duly informed the Council that their recommendation had been acted upon, and that, so far as he could learn, the boys were drilling.

anxious

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

From this reading One of his friends rejoiced in a friend, a Member of Parliament--a zealous, an intelligent, and, above all, a patriotic person, anxious to do the most good in the shortest possible time.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading But, as so often happens in this life, the matter was suddenly settled from without.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading The Head had duly informed the Council that their recommendation had been acted upon, and that, so far as he could learn, the boys were drilling.

boys

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

From this reading The Head had duly informed the Council that their recommendation had been acted upon, and that, so far as he could learn, the boys were drilling.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But, as so often happens in this life, the matter was suddenly settled from without.

Collinson

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

From this reading Naturally, General Collinson was delighted and told his friends.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading The Head had duly informed the Council that their recommendation had been acted upon, and that, so far as he could learn, the boys were drilling.

CouncilnounUS /council/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The Head had duly informed the Council that their recommendation had been acted upon, and that, so far as he could learn, the boys were drilling.

delighted

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

From this reading Naturally, General Collinson was delighted and told his friends.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading One of his friends rejoiced in a friend, a Member of Parliament--a zealous, an intelligent, and, above all, a patriotic person, anxious to do the most good in the shortest possible time.

drilled

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

From this reading He said nothing of the terms on which they drilled.

drilling

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

From this reading The Head had duly informed the Council that their recommendation had been acted upon, and that, so far as he could learn, the boys were drilling.

duly

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

From this reading The Head had duly informed the Council that their recommendation had been acted upon, and that, so far as he could learn, the boys were drilling.

far

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

From this reading The Head had duly informed the Council that their recommendation had been acted upon, and that, so far as he could learn, the boys were drilling.

friend

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

From this reading One of his friends rejoiced in a friend, a Member of Parliament--a zealous, an intelligent, and, above all, a patriotic person, anxious to do the most good in the shortest possible time.

friends

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

From this reading Naturally, General Collinson was delighted and told his friends.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading But, as so often happens in this life, the matter was suddenly settled from without.

General

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

From this reading Naturally, General Collinson was delighted and told his friends.

goodnounUS /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading One of his friends rejoiced in a friend, a Member of Parliament--a zealous, an intelligent, and, above all, a patriotic person, anxious to do the most good in the shortest possible time.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading The Head had duly informed the Council that their recommendation had been acted upon, and that, so far as he could learn, the boys were drilling.

happens

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

From this reading But, as so often happens in this life, the matter was suddenly settled from without.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading The Head had duly informed the Council that their recommendation had been acted upon, and that, so far as he could learn, the boys were drilling.

Head

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

From this reading The Head had duly informed the Council that their recommendation had been acted upon, and that, so far as he could learn, the boys were drilling.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Naturally, General Collinson was delighted and told his friends.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading But, as so often happens in this life, the matter was suddenly settled from without.

informed

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

From this reading The Head had duly informed the Council that their recommendation had been acted upon, and that, so far as he could learn, the boys were drilling.

intelligent

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

From this reading One of his friends rejoiced in a friend, a Member of Parliament--a zealous, an intelligent, and, above all, a patriotic person, anxious to do the most good in the shortest possible time.

learn

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

From this reading The Head had duly informed the Council that their recommendation had been acted upon, and that, so far as he could learn, the boys were drilling.

lifenounUS /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But, as so often happens in this life, the matter was suddenly settled from without.

matter

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

From this reading But, as so often happens in this life, the matter was suddenly settled from without.

Member

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

From this reading One of his friends rejoiced in a friend, a Member of Parliament--a zealous, an intelligent, and, above all, a patriotic person, anxious to do the most good in the shortest possible time.

most

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

From this reading One of his friends rejoiced in a friend, a Member of Parliament--a zealous, an intelligent, and, above all, a patriotic person, anxious to do the most good in the shortest possible time.

Naturally

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

From this reading Naturally, General Collinson was delighted and told his friends.

nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading He said nothing of the terms on which they drilled.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading He said nothing of the terms on which they drilled.

often

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

From this reading But, as so often happens in this life, the matter was suddenly settled from without.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading He said nothing of the terms on which they drilled.

OnepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading One of his friends rejoiced in a friend, a Member of Parliament--a zealous, an intelligent, and, above all, a patriotic person, anxious to do the most good in the shortest possible time.

Parliament

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

From this reading One of his friends rejoiced in a friend, a Member of Parliament--a zealous, an intelligent, and, above all, a patriotic person, anxious to do the most good in the shortest possible time.

patriotic

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

From this reading One of his friends rejoiced in a friend, a Member of Parliament--a zealous, an intelligent, and, above all, a patriotic person, anxious to do the most good in the shortest possible time.

person

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

From this reading One of his friends rejoiced in a friend, a Member of Parliament--a zealous, an intelligent, and, above all, a patriotic person, anxious to do the most good in the shortest possible time.

possible

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

From this reading One of his friends rejoiced in a friend, a Member of Parliament--a zealous, an intelligent, and, above all, a patriotic person, anxious to do the most good in the shortest possible time.

recommendationnounUS /ˌrɛkəmɛnˈdeɪʃən/

a quality or fact that makes someone or something suitable

From this reading The Head had duly informed the Council that their recommendation had been acted upon, and that, so far as he could learn, the boys were drilling.

rejoiced

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

From this reading One of his friends rejoiced in a friend, a Member of Parliament--a zealous, an intelligent, and, above all, a patriotic person, anxious to do the most good in the shortest possible time.

said

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

From this reading He said nothing of the terms on which they drilled.

settled

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

From this reading But, as so often happens in this life, the matter was suddenly settled from without.

shortest

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

From this reading One of his friends rejoiced in a friend, a Member of Parliament--a zealous, an intelligent, and, above all, a patriotic person, anxious to do the most good in the shortest possible time.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading But, as so often happens in this life, the matter was suddenly settled from without.

suddenlynounUS /ˈsuddenly/

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

From this reading But, as so often happens in this life, the matter was suddenly settled from without.

terms

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

From this reading He said nothing of the terms on which they drilled.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The Head had duly informed the Council that their recommendation had been acted upon, and that, so far as he could learn, the boys were drilling.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading But, as so often happens in this life, the matter was suddenly settled from without.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading The Head had duly informed the Council that their recommendation had been acted upon, and that, so far as he could learn, the boys were drilling.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading He said nothing of the terms on which they drilled.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading But, as so often happens in this life, the matter was suddenly settled from without.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading One of his friends rejoiced in a friend, a Member of Parliament--a zealous, an intelligent, and, above all, a patriotic person, anxious to do the most good in the shortest possible time.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading One of his friends rejoiced in a friend, a Member of Parliament--a zealous, an intelligent, and, above all, a patriotic person, anxious to do the most good in the shortest possible time.

toldnounUS /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Naturally, General Collinson was delighted and told his friends.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading The Head had duly informed the Council that their recommendation had been acted upon, and that, so far as he could learn, the boys were drilling.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading But, as so often happens in this life, the matter was suddenly settled from without.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading The Head had duly informed the Council that their recommendation had been acted upon, and that, so far as he could learn, the boys were drilling.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading He said nothing of the terms on which they drilled.

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading But, as so often happens in this life, the matter was suddenly settled from without.

zealous

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

From this reading One of his friends rejoiced in a friend, a Member of Parliament--a zealous, an intelligent, and, above all, a patriotic person, anxious to do the most good in the shortest possible time.