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The Green Flag, and Other Stories of War and Sport
The Green Flag, and Other Stories of War and Sport

Chapter X

Cover illustration for The Green Flag, and Other Stories of War and Sport
Context Illustration Reading 1/86 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
“What’s the time?” he cried, in a voice which appeared to be the only sober thing about him.
It was on the clerk’s lips to say that it was time that the questioner was in his bed, but it is not safe upon a campaign to be ironical at the expense of khaki-clad men.
He contented himself, therefore, with the bald statement that it was after two.
But no retort that he could have devised could have had a more crushing effect.
The voice turned drunken also, and the man caught at the door-post to uphold him.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
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/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
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A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Green Flag, and Other Stories of War and Sport

Chapter X

Reading 1/86 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
“What’s the time?” he cried, in a voice which appeared to be the only sober thing about him.
Line 2
It was on the clerk’s lips to say that it was time that the questioner was in his bed, but it is not safe upon a campaign to be ironical at the expense of khaki-clad men.
Line 3
He contented himself, therefore, with the bald statement that it was after two.
Line 4
But no retort that he could have devised could have had a more crushing effect.
Line 5
The voice turned drunken also, and the man caught at the door-post to uphold him.

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 ““What’s the time?” he cried, in a voice which appeared to be the only sober thing about him.”

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “He contented himself, therefore, with the bald statement that it was after two.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “But no retort that he could have devised could have had a more crushing effect.”

Cried noun US /cried/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““What’s the time?” he cried, in a voice which appeared to be the only sober thing about him.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “But no retort that he could have devised could have had a more crushing effect.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading “He contented himself, therefore, with the bald statement that it was after two.”

Sober adjective US /ˈsoʊbər/

not affected by alcohol

From this reading ““What’s the time?” he cried, in a voice which appeared to be the only sober thing about him.”

Therefore adverb US /ˈðerfɔːr/

for that reason; as a result

From this reading “He contented himself, therefore, with the bald statement that it was after two.”

Thing noun US /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““What’s the time?” he cried, in a voice which appeared to be the only sober thing about him.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““What’s the time?” he cried, in a voice which appeared to be the only sober thing about him.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “It was on the clerk’s lips to say that it was time that the questioner was in his bed, but it is not safe upon a campaign to be ironical at the expense of khaki-clad men.”

All words in this reading · 64

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 “What’s the time?” he cried, in a voice which appeared to be the only sober thing about him.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “What’s the time?” he cried, in a voice which appeared to be the only sober thing about him.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading He contented himself, therefore, with the bald statement that it was after two.

also

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

From this reading The voice turned drunken also, and the man caught at the door-post to uphold him.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The voice turned drunken also, and the man caught at the door-post to uphold him.

appeared

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

From this reading “What’s the time?” he cried, in a voice which appeared to be the only sober thing about him.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading It was on the clerk’s lips to say that it was time that the questioner was in his bed, but it is not safe upon a campaign to be ironical at the expense of khaki-clad men.

bald

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

From this reading He contented himself, therefore, with the bald statement that it was after two.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading “What’s the time?” he cried, in a voice which appeared to be the only sober thing about him.

bed

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

From this reading It was on the clerk’s lips to say that it was time that the questioner was in his bed, but it is not safe upon a campaign to be ironical at the expense of khaki-clad men.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading It was on the clerk’s lips to say that it was time that the questioner was in his bed, but it is not safe upon a campaign to be ironical at the expense of khaki-clad men.

campaign

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

From this reading It was on the clerk’s lips to say that it was time that the questioner was in his bed, but it is not safe upon a campaign to be ironical at the expense of khaki-clad men.

caught

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

From this reading The voice turned drunken also, and the man caught at the door-post to uphold him.

clerk's

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

From this reading It was on the clerk’s lips to say that it was time that the questioner was in his bed, but it is not safe upon a campaign to be ironical at the expense of khaki-clad men.

contented

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

From this reading He contented himself, therefore, with the bald statement that it was after two.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading But no retort that he could have devised could have had a more crushing effect.

criednounUS /cried/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “What’s the time?” he cried, in a voice which appeared to be the only sober thing about him.

crushing

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

From this reading But no retort that he could have devised could have had a more crushing effect.

devised

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

From this reading But no retort that he could have devised could have had a more crushing effect.

door-post

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

From this reading The voice turned drunken also, and the man caught at the door-post to uphold him.

drunken

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

From this reading The voice turned drunken also, and the man caught at the door-post to uphold him.

effect

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

From this reading But no retort that he could have devised could have had a more crushing effect.

expense

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

From this reading It was on the clerk’s lips to say that it was time that the questioner was in his bed, but it is not safe upon a campaign to be ironical at the expense of khaki-clad men.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading But no retort that he could have devised could have had a more crushing effect.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading But no retort that he could have devised could have had a more crushing effect.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading “What’s the time?” he cried, in a voice which appeared to be the only sober thing about him.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading “What’s the time?” he cried, in a voice which appeared to be the only sober thing about him.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading He contented himself, therefore, with the bald statement that it was after two.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading It was on the clerk’s lips to say that it was time that the questioner was in his bed, but it is not safe upon a campaign to be ironical at the expense of khaki-clad men.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading “What’s the time?” he cried, in a voice which appeared to be the only sober thing about him.

ironical

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

From this reading It was on the clerk’s lips to say that it was time that the questioner was in his bed, but it is not safe upon a campaign to be ironical at the expense of khaki-clad men.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading It was on the clerk’s lips to say that it was time that the questioner was in his bed, but it is not safe upon a campaign to be ironical at the expense of khaki-clad men.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was on the clerk’s lips to say that it was time that the questioner was in his bed, but it is not safe upon a campaign to be ironical at the expense of khaki-clad men.

khaki-clad

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

From this reading It was on the clerk’s lips to say that it was time that the questioner was in his bed, but it is not safe upon a campaign to be ironical at the expense of khaki-clad men.

lips

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

From this reading It was on the clerk’s lips to say that it was time that the questioner was in his bed, but it is not safe upon a campaign to be ironical at the expense of khaki-clad men.

man

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

From this reading The voice turned drunken also, and the man caught at the door-post to uphold him.

men

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

From this reading It was on the clerk’s lips to say that it was time that the questioner was in his bed, but it is not safe upon a campaign to be ironical at the expense of khaki-clad men.

more

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

From this reading But no retort that he could have devised could have had a more crushing effect.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading But no retort that he could have devised could have had a more crushing effect.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading It was on the clerk’s lips to say that it was time that the questioner was in his bed, but it is not safe upon a campaign to be ironical at the expense of khaki-clad men.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading It was on the clerk’s lips to say that it was time that the questioner was in his bed, but it is not safe upon a campaign to be ironical at the expense of khaki-clad men.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading It was on the clerk’s lips to say that it was time that the questioner was in his bed, but it is not safe upon a campaign to be ironical at the expense of khaki-clad men.

only

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

From this reading “What’s the time?” he cried, in a voice which appeared to be the only sober thing about him.

questioner

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

From this reading It was on the clerk’s lips to say that it was time that the questioner was in his bed, but it is not safe upon a campaign to be ironical at the expense of khaki-clad men.

retort

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

From this reading But no retort that he could have devised could have had a more crushing effect.

safe

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

From this reading It was on the clerk’s lips to say that it was time that the questioner was in his bed, but it is not safe upon a campaign to be ironical at the expense of khaki-clad men.

say

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

From this reading It was on the clerk’s lips to say that it was time that the questioner was in his bed, but it is not safe upon a campaign to be ironical at the expense of khaki-clad men.

soberadjectiveUS /ˈsoʊbər/

not affected by alcohol

From this reading “What’s the time?” he cried, in a voice which appeared to be the only sober thing about him.

statement

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

From this reading He contented himself, therefore, with the bald statement that it was after two.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It was on the clerk’s lips to say that it was time that the questioner was in his bed, but it is not safe upon a campaign to be ironical at the expense of khaki-clad men.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading “What’s the time?” he cried, in a voice which appeared to be the only sober thing about him.

thereforeadverbUS /ˈðerfɔːr/

for that reason; as a result

From this reading He contented himself, therefore, with the bald statement that it was after two.

thingnounUS /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “What’s the time?” he cried, in a voice which appeared to be the only sober thing about him.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “What’s the time?” he cried, in a voice which appeared to be the only sober thing about him.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading “What’s the time?” he cried, in a voice which appeared to be the only sober thing about him.

turned

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

From this reading The voice turned drunken also, and the man caught at the door-post to uphold him.

two

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

From this reading He contented himself, therefore, with the bald statement that it was after two.

uphold

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

From this reading The voice turned drunken also, and the man caught at the door-post to uphold him.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading It was on the clerk’s lips to say that it was time that the questioner was in his bed, but it is not safe upon a campaign to be ironical at the expense of khaki-clad men.

voice

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

From this reading “What’s the time?” he cried, in a voice which appeared to be the only sober thing about him.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading It was on the clerk’s lips to say that it was time that the questioner was in his bed, but it is not safe upon a campaign to be ironical at the expense of khaki-clad men.

What's

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

From this reading “What’s the time?” he cried, in a voice which appeared to be the only sober thing about him.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading “What’s the time?” he cried, in a voice which appeared to be the only sober thing about him.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading He contented himself, therefore, with the bald statement that it was after two.