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The Killer
The Killer

Chapter XXXIV

Cover illustration for The Killer
Context Illustration Reading 1/17 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
UNCLE JIM Each morning, while we still sat at breakfast, Uncle Jim drove up from the General's in his two-wheeled cart to see if there might be anything doing.
Uncle Jim was a solidly built elderly man, with the brown complexion and the quizzical, good-humoured eye of the habitual sportsman.
He wore invariably an old shooting coat and a cap that had seen younger, but perhaps not better, days.
His vehicle was a battered but serviceable two-wheeled cart drawn by a placid though adequate horse.
His weapon for all purposes was a rather ponderous twelve-gauge.
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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 Killer

Chapter XXXIV

Reading 1/17 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
UNCLE JIM Each morning, while we still sat at breakfast, Uncle Jim drove up from the General's in his two-wheeled cart to see if there might be anything doing.
Line 2
Uncle Jim was a solidly built elderly man, with the brown complexion and the quizzical, good-humoured eye of the habitual sportsman.
Line 3
He wore invariably an old shooting coat and a cap that had seen younger, but perhaps not better, days.
Line 4
His vehicle was a battered but serviceable two-wheeled cart drawn by a placid though adequate horse.
Line 5
His weapon for all purposes was a rather ponderous twelve-gauge.

Learner Dictionary

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

Anything pronoun US /ˈeniθɪŋ/

any thing at all

From this reading “UNCLE JIM Each morning, while we still sat at breakfast, Uncle Jim drove up from the General's in his two-wheeled cart to see if there might be anything doing.”

Might modal verb US /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading “UNCLE JIM Each morning, while we still sat at breakfast, Uncle Jim drove up from the General's in his two-wheeled cart to see if there might be anything doing.”

Morning noun US /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “UNCLE JIM Each morning, while we still sat at breakfast, Uncle Jim drove up from the General's in his two-wheeled cart to see if there might be anything doing.”

Perhaps noun US /perhaps/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He wore invariably an old shooting coat and a cap that had seen younger, but perhaps not better, days.”

Shooting noun US /ˈshooting/

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

From this reading “He wore invariably an old shooting coat and a cap that had seen younger, but perhaps not better, days.”

Still noun US /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “UNCLE JIM Each morning, while we still sat at breakfast, Uncle Jim drove up from the General's in his two-wheeled cart to see if there might be anything doing.”

Though conjunction US /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “His vehicle was a battered but serviceable two-wheeled cart drawn by a placid though adequate horse.”

While conjunction US /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading “UNCLE JIM Each morning, while we still sat at breakfast, Uncle Jim drove up from the General's in his two-wheeled cart to see if there might be anything doing.”

All words in this reading · 76

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 Uncle Jim was a solidly built elderly man, with the brown complexion and the quizzical, good-humoured eye of the habitual sportsman.

adequate

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

From this reading His vehicle was a battered but serviceable two-wheeled cart drawn by a placid though adequate horse.

all

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

From this reading His weapon for all purposes was a rather ponderous twelve-gauge.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading He wore invariably an old shooting coat and a cap that had seen younger, but perhaps not better, days.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Uncle Jim was a solidly built elderly man, with the brown complexion and the quizzical, good-humoured eye of the habitual sportsman.

anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/

any thing at all

From this reading UNCLE JIM Each morning, while we still sat at breakfast, Uncle Jim drove up from the General's in his two-wheeled cart to see if there might be anything doing.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading UNCLE JIM Each morning, while we still sat at breakfast, Uncle Jim drove up from the General's in his two-wheeled cart to see if there might be anything doing.

battered

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

From this reading His vehicle was a battered but serviceable two-wheeled cart drawn by a placid though adequate horse.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading UNCLE JIM Each morning, while we still sat at breakfast, Uncle Jim drove up from the General's in his two-wheeled cart to see if there might be anything doing.

better

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

From this reading He wore invariably an old shooting coat and a cap that had seen younger, but perhaps not better, days.

breakfast

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

From this reading UNCLE JIM Each morning, while we still sat at breakfast, Uncle Jim drove up from the General's in his two-wheeled cart to see if there might be anything doing.

brown

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

From this reading Uncle Jim was a solidly built elderly man, with the brown complexion and the quizzical, good-humoured eye of the habitual sportsman.

built

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

From this reading Uncle Jim was a solidly built elderly man, with the brown complexion and the quizzical, good-humoured eye of the habitual sportsman.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading He wore invariably an old shooting coat and a cap that had seen younger, but perhaps not better, days.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading His vehicle was a battered but serviceable two-wheeled cart drawn by a placid though adequate horse.

cap

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

From this reading He wore invariably an old shooting coat and a cap that had seen younger, but perhaps not better, days.

cart

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

From this reading UNCLE JIM Each morning, while we still sat at breakfast, Uncle Jim drove up from the General's in his two-wheeled cart to see if there might be anything doing.

coat

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

From this reading He wore invariably an old shooting coat and a cap that had seen younger, but perhaps not better, days.

complexion

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

From this reading Uncle Jim was a solidly built elderly man, with the brown complexion and the quizzical, good-humoured eye of the habitual sportsman.

days

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

From this reading He wore invariably an old shooting coat and a cap that had seen younger, but perhaps not better, days.

doing

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

From this reading UNCLE JIM Each morning, while we still sat at breakfast, Uncle Jim drove up from the General's in his two-wheeled cart to see if there might be anything doing.

drawn

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

From this reading His vehicle was a battered but serviceable two-wheeled cart drawn by a placid though adequate horse.

drove

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

From this reading UNCLE JIM Each morning, while we still sat at breakfast, Uncle Jim drove up from the General's in his two-wheeled cart to see if there might be anything doing.

EachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading UNCLE JIM Each morning, while we still sat at breakfast, Uncle Jim drove up from the General's in his two-wheeled cart to see if there might be anything doing.

elderly

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

From this reading Uncle Jim was a solidly built elderly man, with the brown complexion and the quizzical, good-humoured eye of the habitual sportsman.

eye

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

From this reading Uncle Jim was a solidly built elderly man, with the brown complexion and the quizzical, good-humoured eye of the habitual sportsman.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading His weapon for all purposes was a rather ponderous twelve-gauge.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading UNCLE JIM Each morning, while we still sat at breakfast, Uncle Jim drove up from the General's in his two-wheeled cart to see if there might be anything doing.

General's

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

From this reading UNCLE JIM Each morning, while we still sat at breakfast, Uncle Jim drove up from the General's in his two-wheeled cart to see if there might be anything doing.

good-humoured

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

From this reading Uncle Jim was a solidly built elderly man, with the brown complexion and the quizzical, good-humoured eye of the habitual sportsman.

habitual

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

From this reading Uncle Jim was a solidly built elderly man, with the brown complexion and the quizzical, good-humoured eye of the habitual sportsman.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading He wore invariably an old shooting coat and a cap that had seen younger, but perhaps not better, days.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He wore invariably an old shooting coat and a cap that had seen younger, but perhaps not better, days.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading UNCLE JIM Each morning, while we still sat at breakfast, Uncle Jim drove up from the General's in his two-wheeled cart to see if there might be anything doing.

horse

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

From this reading His vehicle was a battered but serviceable two-wheeled cart drawn by a placid though adequate horse.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading UNCLE JIM Each morning, while we still sat at breakfast, Uncle Jim drove up from the General's in his two-wheeled cart to see if there might be anything doing.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading UNCLE JIM Each morning, while we still sat at breakfast, Uncle Jim drove up from the General's in his two-wheeled cart to see if there might be anything doing.

invariably

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

From this reading He wore invariably an old shooting coat and a cap that had seen younger, but perhaps not better, days.

JIM

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

From this reading UNCLE JIM Each morning, while we still sat at breakfast, Uncle Jim drove up from the General's in his two-wheeled cart to see if there might be anything doing.

man

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

From this reading Uncle Jim was a solidly built elderly man, with the brown complexion and the quizzical, good-humoured eye of the habitual sportsman.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading UNCLE JIM Each morning, while we still sat at breakfast, Uncle Jim drove up from the General's in his two-wheeled cart to see if there might be anything doing.

morningnounUS /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading UNCLE JIM Each morning, while we still sat at breakfast, Uncle Jim drove up from the General's in his two-wheeled cart to see if there might be anything doing.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading He wore invariably an old shooting coat and a cap that had seen younger, but perhaps not better, days.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Uncle Jim was a solidly built elderly man, with the brown complexion and the quizzical, good-humoured eye of the habitual sportsman.

old

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

From this reading He wore invariably an old shooting coat and a cap that had seen younger, but perhaps not better, days.

perhaps

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

From this reading He wore invariably an old shooting coat and a cap that had seen younger, but perhaps not better, days.

placid

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

From this reading His vehicle was a battered but serviceable two-wheeled cart drawn by a placid though adequate horse.

ponderous

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

From this reading His weapon for all purposes was a rather ponderous twelve-gauge.

purposes

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

From this reading His weapon for all purposes was a rather ponderous twelve-gauge.

quizzical

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

From this reading Uncle Jim was a solidly built elderly man, with the brown complexion and the quizzical, good-humoured eye of the habitual sportsman.

rather

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

From this reading His weapon for all purposes was a rather ponderous twelve-gauge.

sat

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

From this reading UNCLE JIM Each morning, while we still sat at breakfast, Uncle Jim drove up from the General's in his two-wheeled cart to see if there might be anything doing.

see

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

From this reading UNCLE JIM Each morning, while we still sat at breakfast, Uncle Jim drove up from the General's in his two-wheeled cart to see if there might be anything doing.

seen

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

From this reading He wore invariably an old shooting coat and a cap that had seen younger, but perhaps not better, days.

serviceable

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

From this reading His vehicle was a battered but serviceable two-wheeled cart drawn by a placid though adequate horse.

shootingnounUS /ˈshooting/

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

From this reading He wore invariably an old shooting coat and a cap that had seen younger, but perhaps not better, days.

solidly

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

From this reading Uncle Jim was a solidly built elderly man, with the brown complexion and the quizzical, good-humoured eye of the habitual sportsman.

sportsman

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

From this reading Uncle Jim was a solidly built elderly man, with the brown complexion and the quizzical, good-humoured eye of the habitual sportsman.

stillnounUS /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading UNCLE JIM Each morning, while we still sat at breakfast, Uncle Jim drove up from the General's in his two-wheeled cart to see if there might be anything doing.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He wore invariably an old shooting coat and a cap that had seen younger, but perhaps not better, days.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading UNCLE JIM Each morning, while we still sat at breakfast, Uncle Jim drove up from the General's in his two-wheeled cart to see if there might be anything doing.

there

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

From this reading UNCLE JIM Each morning, while we still sat at breakfast, Uncle Jim drove up from the General's in his two-wheeled cart to see if there might be anything doing.

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading His vehicle was a battered but serviceable two-wheeled cart drawn by a placid though adequate horse.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading UNCLE JIM Each morning, while we still sat at breakfast, Uncle Jim drove up from the General's in his two-wheeled cart to see if there might be anything doing.

twelve-gauge

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

From this reading His weapon for all purposes was a rather ponderous twelve-gauge.

two-wheeled

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

From this reading UNCLE JIM Each morning, while we still sat at breakfast, Uncle Jim drove up from the General's in his two-wheeled cart to see if there might be anything doing.

UNCLE

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

From this reading UNCLE JIM Each morning, while we still sat at breakfast, Uncle Jim drove up from the General's in his two-wheeled cart to see if there might be anything doing.

up

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

From this reading UNCLE JIM Each morning, while we still sat at breakfast, Uncle Jim drove up from the General's in his two-wheeled cart to see if there might be anything doing.

vehicle

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

From this reading His vehicle was a battered but serviceable two-wheeled cart drawn by a placid though adequate horse.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Uncle Jim was a solidly built elderly man, with the brown complexion and the quizzical, good-humoured eye of the habitual sportsman.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading UNCLE JIM Each morning, while we still sat at breakfast, Uncle Jim drove up from the General's in his two-wheeled cart to see if there might be anything doing.

weapon

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

From this reading His weapon for all purposes was a rather ponderous twelve-gauge.

whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading UNCLE JIM Each morning, while we still sat at breakfast, Uncle Jim drove up from the General's in his two-wheeled cart to see if there might be anything doing.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Uncle Jim was a solidly built elderly man, with the brown complexion and the quizzical, good-humoured eye of the habitual sportsman.

wore

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

From this reading He wore invariably an old shooting coat and a cap that had seen younger, but perhaps not better, days.

younger

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

From this reading He wore invariably an old shooting coat and a cap that had seen younger, but perhaps not better, days.