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The Defiant Agents
The Defiant Agents

Chapter III

Cover illustration for The Defiant Agents
Context Illustration Reading 1/88 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
They followed the tracks around the bend of a shallow cut and found Nalik'ideyu waiting for them.
Between her forefeet was a bundle still covered with smears of soft earth, and behind her were drag marks from a hole under the overhang of a bush.
The coyote had plainly just disinterred her find.
Travis squatted down to examine it, using his eyes before his hands.
It was a bag made of hide, probably the hide of one of the split horns by its color and the scraps of long hair which had been left in a simple decorative fringe along the bottom.
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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.

The Defiant Agents

Chapter III

Reading 1/88 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
They followed the tracks around the bend of a shallow cut and found Nalik'ideyu waiting for them.
Line 2
Between her forefeet was a bundle still covered with smears of soft earth, and behind her were drag marks from a hole under the overhang of a bush.
Line 3
The coyote had plainly just disinterred her find.
Line 4
Travis squatted down to examine it, using his eyes before his hands.
Line 5
It was a bag made of hide, probably the hide of one of the split horns by its color and the scraps of long hair which had been left in a simple decorative fringe along the bottom.

Learner Dictionary

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

Along preposition US /əˈlɔːŋ/

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading “It was a bag made of hide, probably the hide of one of the split horns by its color and the scraps of long hair which had been left in a simple decorative fringe along the bottom.”

Around preposition US /ərˈaʊnd/

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading “They followed the tracks around the bend of a shallow cut and found Nalik'ideyu waiting for them.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “It was a bag made of hide, probably the hide of one of the split horns by its color and the scraps of long hair which had been left in a simple decorative fringe along the bottom.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “Travis squatted down to examine it, using his eyes before his hands.”

Behind preposition US /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading “Between her forefeet was a bundle still covered with smears of soft earth, and behind her were drag marks from a hole under the overhang of a bush.”

Between preposition US /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading “Between her forefeet was a bundle still covered with smears of soft earth, and behind her were drag marks from a hole under the overhang of a bush.”

Bundle noun US /ˈbʌndəl/

a group of things tied or wrapped together

From this reading “Between her forefeet was a bundle still covered with smears of soft earth, and behind her were drag marks from a hole under the overhang of a bush.”

Found noun US /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “They followed the tracks around the bend of a shallow cut and found Nalik'ideyu waiting for them.”

Hands plural noun US /hændz/

members of a ship’s crew

From this reading “Travis squatted down to examine it, using his eyes before his hands.”

Left noun US /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was a bag made of hide, probably the hide of one of the split horns by its color and the scraps of long hair which had been left in a simple decorative fringe along the bottom.”

Long noun US /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was a bag made of hide, probably the hide of one of the split horns by its color and the scraps of long hair which had been left in a simple decorative fringe along the bottom.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “It was a bag made of hide, probably the hide of one of the split horns by its color and the scraps of long hair which had been left in a simple decorative fringe along the bottom.”

Plainly noun US /ˈplainly/

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

From this reading “The coyote had plainly just disinterred her find.”

Still noun US /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Between her forefeet was a bundle still covered with smears of soft earth, and behind her were drag marks from a hole under the overhang of a bush.”

Under preposition US /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading “Between her forefeet was a bundle still covered with smears of soft earth, and behind her were drag marks from a hole under the overhang of a bush.”

Waiting noun US /ˈwaiting/

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

From this reading “They followed the tracks around the bend of a shallow cut and found Nalik'ideyu waiting for them.”

All words in this reading · 75

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 They followed the tracks around the bend of a shallow cut and found Nalik'ideyu waiting for them.

alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading It was a bag made of hide, probably the hide of one of the split horns by its color and the scraps of long hair which had been left in a simple decorative fringe along the bottom.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading They followed the tracks around the bend of a shallow cut and found Nalik'ideyu waiting for them.

aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading They followed the tracks around the bend of a shallow cut and found Nalik'ideyu waiting for them.

bag

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

From this reading It was a bag made of hide, probably the hide of one of the split horns by its color and the scraps of long hair which had been left in a simple decorative fringe along the bottom.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading It was a bag made of hide, probably the hide of one of the split horns by its color and the scraps of long hair which had been left in a simple decorative fringe along the bottom.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Travis squatted down to examine it, using his eyes before his hands.

behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading Between her forefeet was a bundle still covered with smears of soft earth, and behind her were drag marks from a hole under the overhang of a bush.

bend

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

From this reading They followed the tracks around the bend of a shallow cut and found Nalik'ideyu waiting for them.

BetweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading Between her forefeet was a bundle still covered with smears of soft earth, and behind her were drag marks from a hole under the overhang of a bush.

bottom

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

From this reading It was a bag made of hide, probably the hide of one of the split horns by its color and the scraps of long hair which had been left in a simple decorative fringe along the bottom.

bundlenounUS /ˈbʌndəl/

a group of things tied or wrapped together

From this reading Between her forefeet was a bundle still covered with smears of soft earth, and behind her were drag marks from a hole under the overhang of a bush.

bush

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

From this reading Between her forefeet was a bundle still covered with smears of soft earth, and behind her were drag marks from a hole under the overhang of a bush.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading It was a bag made of hide, probably the hide of one of the split horns by its color and the scraps of long hair which had been left in a simple decorative fringe along the bottom.

color

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

From this reading It was a bag made of hide, probably the hide of one of the split horns by its color and the scraps of long hair which had been left in a simple decorative fringe along the bottom.

covered

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

From this reading Between her forefeet was a bundle still covered with smears of soft earth, and behind her were drag marks from a hole under the overhang of a bush.

coyote

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

From this reading The coyote had plainly just disinterred her find.

cut

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

From this reading They followed the tracks around the bend of a shallow cut and found Nalik'ideyu waiting for them.

decorative

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

From this reading It was a bag made of hide, probably the hide of one of the split horns by its color and the scraps of long hair which had been left in a simple decorative fringe along the bottom.

disinterred

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

From this reading The coyote had plainly just disinterred her find.

down

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

From this reading Travis squatted down to examine it, using his eyes before his hands.

drag

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

From this reading Between her forefeet was a bundle still covered with smears of soft earth, and behind her were drag marks from a hole under the overhang of a bush.

earth

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

From this reading Between her forefeet was a bundle still covered with smears of soft earth, and behind her were drag marks from a hole under the overhang of a bush.

examine

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

From this reading Travis squatted down to examine it, using his eyes before his hands.

eyes

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

From this reading Travis squatted down to examine it, using his eyes before his hands.

find

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

From this reading The coyote had plainly just disinterred her find.

followed

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

From this reading They followed the tracks around the bend of a shallow cut and found Nalik'ideyu waiting for them.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading They followed the tracks around the bend of a shallow cut and found Nalik'ideyu waiting for them.

forefeet

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

From this reading Between her forefeet was a bundle still covered with smears of soft earth, and behind her were drag marks from a hole under the overhang of a bush.

foundnounUS /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading They followed the tracks around the bend of a shallow cut and found Nalik'ideyu waiting for them.

fringe

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

From this reading It was a bag made of hide, probably the hide of one of the split horns by its color and the scraps of long hair which had been left in a simple decorative fringe along the bottom.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Between her forefeet was a bundle still covered with smears of soft earth, and behind her were drag marks from a hole under the overhang of a bush.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading The coyote had plainly just disinterred her find.

hair

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

From this reading It was a bag made of hide, probably the hide of one of the split horns by its color and the scraps of long hair which had been left in a simple decorative fringe along the bottom.

handsplural nounUS /hændz/

members of a ship’s crew

From this reading Travis squatted down to examine it, using his eyes before his hands.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading Between her forefeet was a bundle still covered with smears of soft earth, and behind her were drag marks from a hole under the overhang of a bush.

hide

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

From this reading It was a bag made of hide, probably the hide of one of the split horns by its color and the scraps of long hair which had been left in a simple decorative fringe along the bottom.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Travis squatted down to examine it, using his eyes before his hands.

hole

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

From this reading Between her forefeet was a bundle still covered with smears of soft earth, and behind her were drag marks from a hole under the overhang of a bush.

horns

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

From this reading It was a bag made of hide, probably the hide of one of the split horns by its color and the scraps of long hair which had been left in a simple decorative fringe along the bottom.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading It was a bag made of hide, probably the hide of one of the split horns by its color and the scraps of long hair which had been left in a simple decorative fringe along the bottom.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Travis squatted down to examine it, using his eyes before his hands.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading It was a bag made of hide, probably the hide of one of the split horns by its color and the scraps of long hair which had been left in a simple decorative fringe along the bottom.

just

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

From this reading The coyote had plainly just disinterred her find.

leftnounUS /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was a bag made of hide, probably the hide of one of the split horns by its color and the scraps of long hair which had been left in a simple decorative fringe along the bottom.

longnounUS /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was a bag made of hide, probably the hide of one of the split horns by its color and the scraps of long hair which had been left in a simple decorative fringe along the bottom.

made

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

From this reading It was a bag made of hide, probably the hide of one of the split horns by its color and the scraps of long hair which had been left in a simple decorative fringe along the bottom.

marks

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

From this reading Between her forefeet was a bundle still covered with smears of soft earth, and behind her were drag marks from a hole under the overhang of a bush.

Nalik'ideyu

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

From this reading They followed the tracks around the bend of a shallow cut and found Nalik'ideyu waiting for them.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading They followed the tracks around the bend of a shallow cut and found Nalik'ideyu waiting for them.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading It was a bag made of hide, probably the hide of one of the split horns by its color and the scraps of long hair which had been left in a simple decorative fringe along the bottom.

overhang

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

From this reading Between her forefeet was a bundle still covered with smears of soft earth, and behind her were drag marks from a hole under the overhang of a bush.

plainlynounUS /ˈplainly/

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

From this reading The coyote had plainly just disinterred her find.

probably

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

From this reading It was a bag made of hide, probably the hide of one of the split horns by its color and the scraps of long hair which had been left in a simple decorative fringe along the bottom.

scraps

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

From this reading It was a bag made of hide, probably the hide of one of the split horns by its color and the scraps of long hair which had been left in a simple decorative fringe along the bottom.

shallow

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

From this reading They followed the tracks around the bend of a shallow cut and found Nalik'ideyu waiting for them.

simple

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

From this reading It was a bag made of hide, probably the hide of one of the split horns by its color and the scraps of long hair which had been left in a simple decorative fringe along the bottom.

smears

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

From this reading Between her forefeet was a bundle still covered with smears of soft earth, and behind her were drag marks from a hole under the overhang of a bush.

soft

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

From this reading Between her forefeet was a bundle still covered with smears of soft earth, and behind her were drag marks from a hole under the overhang of a bush.

split

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

From this reading It was a bag made of hide, probably the hide of one of the split horns by its color and the scraps of long hair which had been left in a simple decorative fringe along the bottom.

squatted

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

From this reading Travis squatted down to examine it, using his eyes before his hands.

stillnounUS /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Between her forefeet was a bundle still covered with smears of soft earth, and behind her were drag marks from a hole under the overhang of a bush.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading They followed the tracks around the bend of a shallow cut and found Nalik'ideyu waiting for them.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading They followed the tracks around the bend of a shallow cut and found Nalik'ideyu waiting for them.

TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading They followed the tracks around the bend of a shallow cut and found Nalik'ideyu waiting for them.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Travis squatted down to examine it, using his eyes before his hands.

tracks

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

From this reading They followed the tracks around the bend of a shallow cut and found Nalik'ideyu waiting for them.

Travis

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

From this reading Travis squatted down to examine it, using his eyes before his hands.

underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading Between her forefeet was a bundle still covered with smears of soft earth, and behind her were drag marks from a hole under the overhang of a bush.

using

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

From this reading Travis squatted down to examine it, using his eyes before his hands.

waiting

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

From this reading They followed the tracks around the bend of a shallow cut and found Nalik'ideyu waiting for them.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Between her forefeet was a bundle still covered with smears of soft earth, and behind her were drag marks from a hole under the overhang of a bush.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading Between her forefeet was a bundle still covered with smears of soft earth, and behind her were drag marks from a hole under the overhang of a bush.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading It was a bag made of hide, probably the hide of one of the split horns by its color and the scraps of long hair which had been left in a simple decorative fringe along the bottom.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Between her forefeet was a bundle still covered with smears of soft earth, and behind her were drag marks from a hole under the overhang of a bush.