Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
The Guardsman
The Guardsman

Chapter I

Cover illustration for The Guardsman
Context Illustration Reading 1/66 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Hallowe’en!
Religion, romance and mischief give life and color to the name.
But in the mind of the American boy mischief is the predominating thought when the name is spoken.
It is still a mystery why this particular night should have been chosen for indulgence in that form of juvenile pleasure which consists chiefly in removing loose property of Mr. Smith to the front yard of Mr. Jones.
But that it has been so chosen no early promenader of the streets on the first morning in November will have the temerity to deny.
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
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 Guardsman

Chapter I

Reading 1/66 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Hallowe’en!
Line 2
Religion, romance and mischief give life and color to the name.
Line 3
But in the mind of the American boy mischief is the predominating thought when the name is spoken.
Line 4
It is still a mystery why this particular night should have been chosen for indulgence in that form of juvenile pleasure which consists chiefly in removing loose property of Mr. Smith to the front yard of Mr. Jones.
Line 5
But that it has been so chosen no early promenader of the streets on the first morning in November will have the temerity to deny.

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 “It is still a mystery why this particular night should have been chosen for indulgence in that form of juvenile pleasure which consists chiefly in removing loose property of Mr. Smith to the front yard of Mr. Jones.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But that it has been so chosen no early promenader of the streets on the first morning in November will have the temerity to deny.”

Has auxiliary verb US /hæz/

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

From this reading “But that it has been so chosen no early promenader of the streets on the first morning in November will have the temerity to deny.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “It is still a mystery why this particular night should have been chosen for indulgence in that form of juvenile pleasure which consists chiefly in removing loose property of Mr. Smith to the front yard of Mr. Jones.”

Life noun US /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Religion, romance and mischief give life and color to the name.”

Mind noun US /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But in the mind of the American boy mischief is the predominating thought when the name is spoken.”

Morning noun US /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But that it has been so chosen no early promenader of the streets on the first morning in November will have the temerity to deny.”

Name noun US /name/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Religion, romance and mischief give life and color to the name.”

Still noun US /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It is still a mystery why this particular night should have been chosen for indulgence in that form of juvenile pleasure which consists chiefly in removing loose property of Mr. Smith to the front yard of Mr. Jones.”

Thought noun US /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But in the mind of the American boy mischief is the predominating thought when the name is spoken.”

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 It is still a mystery why this particular night should have been chosen for indulgence in that form of juvenile pleasure which consists chiefly in removing loose property of Mr. Smith to the front yard of Mr. Jones.

American

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

From this reading But in the mind of the American boy mischief is the predominating thought when the name is spoken.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Religion, romance and mischief give life and color to the name.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading It is still a mystery why this particular night should have been chosen for indulgence in that form of juvenile pleasure which consists chiefly in removing loose property of Mr. Smith to the front yard of Mr. Jones.

boy

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

From this reading But in the mind of the American boy mischief is the predominating thought when the name is spoken.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But in the mind of the American boy mischief is the predominating thought when the name is spoken.

chiefly

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

From this reading It is still a mystery why this particular night should have been chosen for indulgence in that form of juvenile pleasure which consists chiefly in removing loose property of Mr. Smith to the front yard of Mr. Jones.

chosen

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

From this reading It is still a mystery why this particular night should have been chosen for indulgence in that form of juvenile pleasure which consists chiefly in removing loose property of Mr. Smith to the front yard of Mr. Jones.

color

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

From this reading Religion, romance and mischief give life and color to the name.

consists

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

From this reading It is still a mystery why this particular night should have been chosen for indulgence in that form of juvenile pleasure which consists chiefly in removing loose property of Mr. Smith to the front yard of Mr. Jones.

deny

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

From this reading But that it has been so chosen no early promenader of the streets on the first morning in November will have the temerity to deny.

early

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

From this reading But that it has been so chosen no early promenader of the streets on the first morning in November will have the temerity to deny.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But that it has been so chosen no early promenader of the streets on the first morning in November will have the temerity to deny.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading It is still a mystery why this particular night should have been chosen for indulgence in that form of juvenile pleasure which consists chiefly in removing loose property of Mr. Smith to the front yard of Mr. Jones.

form

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

From this reading It is still a mystery why this particular night should have been chosen for indulgence in that form of juvenile pleasure which consists chiefly in removing loose property of Mr. Smith to the front yard of Mr. Jones.

front

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

From this reading It is still a mystery why this particular night should have been chosen for indulgence in that form of juvenile pleasure which consists chiefly in removing loose property of Mr. Smith to the front yard of Mr. Jones.

give

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

From this reading Religion, romance and mischief give life and color to the name.

Hallowe'en

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

From this reading Hallowe’en!

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading But that it has been so chosen no early promenader of the streets on the first morning in November will have the temerity to deny.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading It is still a mystery why this particular night should have been chosen for indulgence in that form of juvenile pleasure which consists chiefly in removing loose property of Mr. Smith to the front yard of Mr. Jones.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading But in the mind of the American boy mischief is the predominating thought when the name is spoken.

indulgence

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

From this reading It is still a mystery why this particular night should have been chosen for indulgence in that form of juvenile pleasure which consists chiefly in removing loose property of Mr. Smith to the front yard of Mr. Jones.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading But in the mind of the American boy mischief is the predominating thought when the name is spoken.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It is still a mystery why this particular night should have been chosen for indulgence in that form of juvenile pleasure which consists chiefly in removing loose property of Mr. Smith to the front yard of Mr. Jones.

Jones

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

From this reading It is still a mystery why this particular night should have been chosen for indulgence in that form of juvenile pleasure which consists chiefly in removing loose property of Mr. Smith to the front yard of Mr. Jones.

juvenile

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

From this reading It is still a mystery why this particular night should have been chosen for indulgence in that form of juvenile pleasure which consists chiefly in removing loose property of Mr. Smith to the front yard of Mr. Jones.

lifenounUS /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Religion, romance and mischief give life and color to the name.

loose

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

From this reading It is still a mystery why this particular night should have been chosen for indulgence in that form of juvenile pleasure which consists chiefly in removing loose property of Mr. Smith to the front yard of Mr. Jones.

mindnounUS /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But in the mind of the American boy mischief is the predominating thought when the name is spoken.

mischief

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

From this reading Religion, romance and mischief give life and color to the name.

morningnounUS /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But that it has been so chosen no early promenader of the streets on the first morning in November will have the temerity to deny.

Mr

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

From this reading It is still a mystery why this particular night should have been chosen for indulgence in that form of juvenile pleasure which consists chiefly in removing loose property of Mr. Smith to the front yard of Mr. Jones.

mystery

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

From this reading It is still a mystery why this particular night should have been chosen for indulgence in that form of juvenile pleasure which consists chiefly in removing loose property of Mr. Smith to the front yard of Mr. Jones.

namenounUS /name/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Religion, romance and mischief give life and color to the name.

night

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

From this reading It is still a mystery why this particular night should have been chosen for indulgence in that form of juvenile pleasure which consists chiefly in removing loose property of Mr. Smith to the front yard of Mr. Jones.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading But that it has been so chosen no early promenader of the streets on the first morning in November will have the temerity to deny.

November

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

From this reading But that it has been so chosen no early promenader of the streets on the first morning in November will have the temerity to deny.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading But in the mind of the American boy mischief is the predominating thought when the name is spoken.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading But that it has been so chosen no early promenader of the streets on the first morning in November will have the temerity to deny.

particular

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

From this reading It is still a mystery why this particular night should have been chosen for indulgence in that form of juvenile pleasure which consists chiefly in removing loose property of Mr. Smith to the front yard of Mr. Jones.

pleasure

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

From this reading It is still a mystery why this particular night should have been chosen for indulgence in that form of juvenile pleasure which consists chiefly in removing loose property of Mr. Smith to the front yard of Mr. Jones.

predominating

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

From this reading But in the mind of the American boy mischief is the predominating thought when the name is spoken.

promenader

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

From this reading But that it has been so chosen no early promenader of the streets on the first morning in November will have the temerity to deny.

property

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

From this reading It is still a mystery why this particular night should have been chosen for indulgence in that form of juvenile pleasure which consists chiefly in removing loose property of Mr. Smith to the front yard of Mr. Jones.

Religion

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

From this reading Religion, romance and mischief give life and color to the name.

removing

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

From this reading It is still a mystery why this particular night should have been chosen for indulgence in that form of juvenile pleasure which consists chiefly in removing loose property of Mr. Smith to the front yard of Mr. Jones.

romance

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

From this reading Religion, romance and mischief give life and color to the name.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading It is still a mystery why this particular night should have been chosen for indulgence in that form of juvenile pleasure which consists chiefly in removing loose property of Mr. Smith to the front yard of Mr. Jones.

Smith

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

From this reading It is still a mystery why this particular night should have been chosen for indulgence in that form of juvenile pleasure which consists chiefly in removing loose property of Mr. Smith to the front yard of Mr. Jones.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading But that it has been so chosen no early promenader of the streets on the first morning in November will have the temerity to deny.

spoken

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

From this reading But in the mind of the American boy mischief is the predominating thought when the name is spoken.

stillnounUS /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It is still a mystery why this particular night should have been chosen for indulgence in that form of juvenile pleasure which consists chiefly in removing loose property of Mr. Smith to the front yard of Mr. Jones.

streets

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

From this reading But that it has been so chosen no early promenader of the streets on the first morning in November will have the temerity to deny.

temerity

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

From this reading But that it has been so chosen no early promenader of the streets on the first morning in November will have the temerity to deny.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It is still a mystery why this particular night should have been chosen for indulgence in that form of juvenile pleasure which consists chiefly in removing loose property of Mr. Smith to the front yard of Mr. Jones.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Religion, romance and mischief give life and color to the name.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading It is still a mystery why this particular night should have been chosen for indulgence in that form of juvenile pleasure which consists chiefly in removing loose property of Mr. Smith to the front yard of Mr. Jones.

thoughtnounUS /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But in the mind of the American boy mischief is the predominating thought when the name is spoken.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Religion, romance and mischief give life and color to the name.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading But in the mind of the American boy mischief is the predominating thought when the name is spoken.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading It is still a mystery why this particular night should have been chosen for indulgence in that form of juvenile pleasure which consists chiefly in removing loose property of Mr. Smith to the front yard of Mr. Jones.

why

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

From this reading It is still a mystery why this particular night should have been chosen for indulgence in that form of juvenile pleasure which consists chiefly in removing loose property of Mr. Smith to the front yard of Mr. Jones.

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading But that it has been so chosen no early promenader of the streets on the first morning in November will have the temerity to deny.

yard

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

From this reading It is still a mystery why this particular night should have been chosen for indulgence in that form of juvenile pleasure which consists chiefly in removing loose property of Mr. Smith to the front yard of Mr. Jones.