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The Fur Country
The Fur Country

Chapter XXXIX · ON A PIECE OF ICE. A piece of ice, a jagged triangular

Cover illustration for The Fur Country
Context Illustration Reading 1/33 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
strip of ice, measuring one hundred feet at its base, and scarcely five hundred in its greatest extent; and on it twenty-one human beings, some hundred furred animals, a few dogs, and a large bear, which was at this moment crouching at the very edge!
Yes! all the luckless colonists were there.
Not one had yet been swallowed up.
The last rupture had occurred when they were all in the shed.
Thus far fate had spared them, probably that they might all perish together.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Fur Country

Chapter XXXIX · ON A PIECE OF ICE. A piece of ice, a jagged triangular

Reading 1/33 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
strip of ice, measuring one hundred feet at its base, and scarcely five hundred in its greatest extent; and on it twenty-one human beings, some hundred furred animals, a few dogs, and a large bear, which was at this moment crouching at the very edge!
Line 2
Yes! all the luckless colonists were there.
Line 3
Not one had yet been swallowed up.
Line 4
The last rupture had occurred when they were all in the shed.
Line 5
Thus far fate had spared them, probably that they might all perish together.

Learner Dictionary

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

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “Not one had yet been swallowed up.”

Last noun US /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The last rupture had occurred when they were all in the shed.”

Might modal verb US /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading “Thus far fate had spared them, probably that they might all perish together.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “strip of ice, measuring one hundred feet at its base, and scarcely five hundred in its greatest extent; and on it twenty-one human beings, some hundred furred animals, a few dogs, and a large bear, which was at this moment crouching at the very edge!”

Yet conjunction US /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading “Not one had yet been swallowed up.”

All words in this reading · 65

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 strip of ice, measuring one hundred feet at its base, and scarcely five hundred in its greatest extent; and on it twenty-one human beings, some hundred furred animals, a few dogs, and a large bear, which was at this moment crouching at the very edge!

all

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

From this reading Yes! all the luckless colonists were there.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading strip of ice, measuring one hundred feet at its base, and scarcely five hundred in its greatest extent; and on it twenty-one human beings, some hundred furred animals, a few dogs, and a large bear, which was at this moment crouching at the very edge!

animals

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

From this reading strip of ice, measuring one hundred feet at its base, and scarcely five hundred in its greatest extent; and on it twenty-one human beings, some hundred furred animals, a few dogs, and a large bear, which was at this moment crouching at the very edge!

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading strip of ice, measuring one hundred feet at its base, and scarcely five hundred in its greatest extent; and on it twenty-one human beings, some hundred furred animals, a few dogs, and a large bear, which was at this moment crouching at the very edge!

base

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

From this reading strip of ice, measuring one hundred feet at its base, and scarcely five hundred in its greatest extent; and on it twenty-one human beings, some hundred furred animals, a few dogs, and a large bear, which was at this moment crouching at the very edge!

bear

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

From this reading strip of ice, measuring one hundred feet at its base, and scarcely five hundred in its greatest extent; and on it twenty-one human beings, some hundred furred animals, a few dogs, and a large bear, which was at this moment crouching at the very edge!

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Not one had yet been swallowed up.

beings

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

From this reading strip of ice, measuring one hundred feet at its base, and scarcely five hundred in its greatest extent; and on it twenty-one human beings, some hundred furred animals, a few dogs, and a large bear, which was at this moment crouching at the very edge!

colonists

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

From this reading Yes! all the luckless colonists were there.

crouching

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

From this reading strip of ice, measuring one hundred feet at its base, and scarcely five hundred in its greatest extent; and on it twenty-one human beings, some hundred furred animals, a few dogs, and a large bear, which was at this moment crouching at the very edge!

dogs

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

From this reading strip of ice, measuring one hundred feet at its base, and scarcely five hundred in its greatest extent; and on it twenty-one human beings, some hundred furred animals, a few dogs, and a large bear, which was at this moment crouching at the very edge!

edge

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

From this reading strip of ice, measuring one hundred feet at its base, and scarcely five hundred in its greatest extent; and on it twenty-one human beings, some hundred furred animals, a few dogs, and a large bear, which was at this moment crouching at the very edge!

extent

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

From this reading strip of ice, measuring one hundred feet at its base, and scarcely five hundred in its greatest extent; and on it twenty-one human beings, some hundred furred animals, a few dogs, and a large bear, which was at this moment crouching at the very edge!

far

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

From this reading Thus far fate had spared them, probably that they might all perish together.

fate

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

From this reading Thus far fate had spared them, probably that they might all perish together.

feet

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

From this reading strip of ice, measuring one hundred feet at its base, and scarcely five hundred in its greatest extent; and on it twenty-one human beings, some hundred furred animals, a few dogs, and a large bear, which was at this moment crouching at the very edge!

few

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

From this reading strip of ice, measuring one hundred feet at its base, and scarcely five hundred in its greatest extent; and on it twenty-one human beings, some hundred furred animals, a few dogs, and a large bear, which was at this moment crouching at the very edge!

five

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

From this reading strip of ice, measuring one hundred feet at its base, and scarcely five hundred in its greatest extent; and on it twenty-one human beings, some hundred furred animals, a few dogs, and a large bear, which was at this moment crouching at the very edge!

furred

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

From this reading strip of ice, measuring one hundred feet at its base, and scarcely five hundred in its greatest extent; and on it twenty-one human beings, some hundred furred animals, a few dogs, and a large bear, which was at this moment crouching at the very edge!

greatest

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

From this reading strip of ice, measuring one hundred feet at its base, and scarcely five hundred in its greatest extent; and on it twenty-one human beings, some hundred furred animals, a few dogs, and a large bear, which was at this moment crouching at the very edge!

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Not one had yet been swallowed up.

human

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

From this reading strip of ice, measuring one hundred feet at its base, and scarcely five hundred in its greatest extent; and on it twenty-one human beings, some hundred furred animals, a few dogs, and a large bear, which was at this moment crouching at the very edge!

hundred

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

From this reading strip of ice, measuring one hundred feet at its base, and scarcely five hundred in its greatest extent; and on it twenty-one human beings, some hundred furred animals, a few dogs, and a large bear, which was at this moment crouching at the very edge!

ice

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

From this reading strip of ice, measuring one hundred feet at its base, and scarcely five hundred in its greatest extent; and on it twenty-one human beings, some hundred furred animals, a few dogs, and a large bear, which was at this moment crouching at the very edge!

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading strip of ice, measuring one hundred feet at its base, and scarcely five hundred in its greatest extent; and on it twenty-one human beings, some hundred furred animals, a few dogs, and a large bear, which was at this moment crouching at the very edge!

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading strip of ice, measuring one hundred feet at its base, and scarcely five hundred in its greatest extent; and on it twenty-one human beings, some hundred furred animals, a few dogs, and a large bear, which was at this moment crouching at the very edge!

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading strip of ice, measuring one hundred feet at its base, and scarcely five hundred in its greatest extent; and on it twenty-one human beings, some hundred furred animals, a few dogs, and a large bear, which was at this moment crouching at the very edge!

large

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

From this reading strip of ice, measuring one hundred feet at its base, and scarcely five hundred in its greatest extent; and on it twenty-one human beings, some hundred furred animals, a few dogs, and a large bear, which was at this moment crouching at the very edge!

lastnounUS /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The last rupture had occurred when they were all in the shed.

luckless

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

From this reading Yes! all the luckless colonists were there.

measuring

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

From this reading strip of ice, measuring one hundred feet at its base, and scarcely five hundred in its greatest extent; and on it twenty-one human beings, some hundred furred animals, a few dogs, and a large bear, which was at this moment crouching at the very edge!

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading Thus far fate had spared them, probably that they might all perish together.

moment

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

From this reading strip of ice, measuring one hundred feet at its base, and scarcely five hundred in its greatest extent; and on it twenty-one human beings, some hundred furred animals, a few dogs, and a large bear, which was at this moment crouching at the very edge!

NotadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Not one had yet been swallowed up.

occurred

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

From this reading The last rupture had occurred when they were all in the shed.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading strip of ice, measuring one hundred feet at its base, and scarcely five hundred in its greatest extent; and on it twenty-one human beings, some hundred furred animals, a few dogs, and a large bear, which was at this moment crouching at the very edge!

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading strip of ice, measuring one hundred feet at its base, and scarcely five hundred in its greatest extent; and on it twenty-one human beings, some hundred furred animals, a few dogs, and a large bear, which was at this moment crouching at the very edge!

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading strip of ice, measuring one hundred feet at its base, and scarcely five hundred in its greatest extent; and on it twenty-one human beings, some hundred furred animals, a few dogs, and a large bear, which was at this moment crouching at the very edge!

perish

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

From this reading Thus far fate had spared them, probably that they might all perish together.

probably

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

From this reading Thus far fate had spared them, probably that they might all perish together.

rupture

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

From this reading The last rupture had occurred when they were all in the shed.

scarcely

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

From this reading strip of ice, measuring one hundred feet at its base, and scarcely five hundred in its greatest extent; and on it twenty-one human beings, some hundred furred animals, a few dogs, and a large bear, which was at this moment crouching at the very edge!

shed

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

From this reading The last rupture had occurred when they were all in the shed.

some

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

From this reading strip of ice, measuring one hundred feet at its base, and scarcely five hundred in its greatest extent; and on it twenty-one human beings, some hundred furred animals, a few dogs, and a large bear, which was at this moment crouching at the very edge!

spared

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

From this reading Thus far fate had spared them, probably that they might all perish together.

strip

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

From this reading strip of ice, measuring one hundred feet at its base, and scarcely five hundred in its greatest extent; and on it twenty-one human beings, some hundred furred animals, a few dogs, and a large bear, which was at this moment crouching at the very edge!

swallowed

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

From this reading Not one had yet been swallowed up.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Thus far fate had spared them, probably that they might all perish together.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading strip of ice, measuring one hundred feet at its base, and scarcely five hundred in its greatest extent; and on it twenty-one human beings, some hundred furred animals, a few dogs, and a large bear, which was at this moment crouching at the very edge!

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Thus far fate had spared them, probably that they might all perish together.

there

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

From this reading Yes! all the luckless colonists were there.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading The last rupture had occurred when they were all in the shed.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading strip of ice, measuring one hundred feet at its base, and scarcely five hundred in its greatest extent; and on it twenty-one human beings, some hundred furred animals, a few dogs, and a large bear, which was at this moment crouching at the very edge!

Thus

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

From this reading Thus far fate had spared them, probably that they might all perish together.

together

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

From this reading Thus far fate had spared them, probably that they might all perish together.

twenty-one

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

From this reading strip of ice, measuring one hundred feet at its base, and scarcely five hundred in its greatest extent; and on it twenty-one human beings, some hundred furred animals, a few dogs, and a large bear, which was at this moment crouching at the very edge!

up

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

From this reading Not one had yet been swallowed up.

very

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

From this reading strip of ice, measuring one hundred feet at its base, and scarcely five hundred in its greatest extent; and on it twenty-one human beings, some hundred furred animals, a few dogs, and a large bear, which was at this moment crouching at the very edge!

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading strip of ice, measuring one hundred feet at its base, and scarcely five hundred in its greatest extent; and on it twenty-one human beings, some hundred furred animals, a few dogs, and a large bear, which was at this moment crouching at the very edge!

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading Yes! all the luckless colonists were there.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading The last rupture had occurred when they were all in the shed.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading strip of ice, measuring one hundred feet at its base, and scarcely five hundred in its greatest extent; and on it twenty-one human beings, some hundred furred animals, a few dogs, and a large bear, which was at this moment crouching at the very edge!

Yes

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

From this reading Yes! all the luckless colonists were there.

yetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading Not one had yet been swallowed up.