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The Letters of Robert Louis Stevenson — Volume 2
The Letters of Robert Louis Stevenson — Volume 2

Chapter XXVII

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Context Illustration Reading 1/31 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
TO J. HORNE STEVENSON _Vailima_, _Samoa_, _November_ 5_th_, 1893.
MY DEAR STEVENSON,—A thousand thanks for your voluminous and delightful collections.
Baxter—so soon as it is ready—will let you see a proof of my introduction, which is only sent out as a sprat to catch whales.
And you will find I have a good deal of what you have, only mine in a perfectly desultory manner, as is necessary to an exile.
My uncle’s pedigree is wrong; there was never a Stevenson of Caldwell, of course, but they were tenants of the Muirs; the farm held by them is in my introduction; and I have already written to Charles Baxter to have a search made in the Register House.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Letters of Robert Louis Stevenson — Volume 2

Chapter XXVII

Reading 1/31 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
TO J. HORNE STEVENSON _Vailima_, _Samoa_, _November_ 5_th_, 1893.
Line 2
MY DEAR STEVENSON,—A thousand thanks for your voluminous and delightful collections.
Line 3
Baxter—so soon as it is ready—will let you see a proof of my introduction, which is only sent out as a sprat to catch whales.
Line 4
And you will find I have a good deal of what you have, only mine in a perfectly desultory manner, as is necessary to an exile.
Line 5
My uncle’s pedigree is wrong; there was never a Stevenson of Caldwell, of course, but they were tenants of the Muirs; the farm held by them is in my introduction; and I have already written to Charles Baxter to have a search made in the Register House.

Learner Dictionary

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

Already noun US /already/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “My uncle’s pedigree is wrong; there was never a Stevenson of Caldwell, of course, but they were tenants of the Muirs; the farm held by them is in my introduction; and I have already written to Charles Baxter to have a search made in the Register House.”

Course noun US /course/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “My uncle’s pedigree is wrong; there was never a Stevenson of Caldwell, of course, but they were tenants of the Muirs; the farm held by them is in my introduction; and I have already written to Charles Baxter to have a search made in the Register House.”

Good noun US /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “And you will find I have a good deal of what you have, only mine in a perfectly desultory manner, as is necessary to an exile.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “And you will find I have a good deal of what you have, only mine in a perfectly desultory manner, as is necessary to an exile.”

Let auxiliary verb US /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading “Baxter—so soon as it is ready—will let you see a proof of my introduction, which is only sent out as a sprat to catch whales.”

Mine pronoun US /maɪn/

the one or ones belonging to the person speaking

From this reading “And you will find I have a good deal of what you have, only mine in a perfectly desultory manner, as is necessary to an exile.”

Never noun US /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “My uncle’s pedigree is wrong; there was never a Stevenson of Caldwell, of course, but they were tenants of the Muirs; the farm held by them is in my introduction; and I have already written to Charles Baxter to have a search made in the Register House.”

Soon noun US /soon/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Baxter—so soon as it is ready—will let you see a proof of my introduction, which is only sent out as a sprat to catch whales.”

All words in this reading · 81

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

1893

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

From this reading TO J. HORNE STEVENSON _Vailima_, _Samoa_, _November_ 5_th_, 1893.

5

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

From this reading TO J. HORNE STEVENSON _Vailima_, _Samoa_, _November_ 5_th_, 1893.

AdeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading MY DEAR STEVENSON,—A thousand thanks for your voluminous and delightful collections.

alreadynounUS /already/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading My uncle’s pedigree is wrong; there was never a Stevenson of Caldwell, of course, but they were tenants of the Muirs; the farm held by them is in my introduction; and I have already written to Charles Baxter to have a search made in the Register House.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading And you will find I have a good deal of what you have, only mine in a perfectly desultory manner, as is necessary to an exile.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading MY DEAR STEVENSON,—A thousand thanks for your voluminous and delightful collections.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading Baxter—so soon as it is ready—will let you see a proof of my introduction, which is only sent out as a sprat to catch whales.

Baxter

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

From this reading Baxter—so soon as it is ready—will let you see a proof of my introduction, which is only sent out as a sprat to catch whales.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading My uncle’s pedigree is wrong; there was never a Stevenson of Caldwell, of course, but they were tenants of the Muirs; the farm held by them is in my introduction; and I have already written to Charles Baxter to have a search made in the Register House.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading My uncle’s pedigree is wrong; there was never a Stevenson of Caldwell, of course, but they were tenants of the Muirs; the farm held by them is in my introduction; and I have already written to Charles Baxter to have a search made in the Register House.

Caldwell

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

From this reading My uncle’s pedigree is wrong; there was never a Stevenson of Caldwell, of course, but they were tenants of the Muirs; the farm held by them is in my introduction; and I have already written to Charles Baxter to have a search made in the Register House.

catch

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

From this reading Baxter—so soon as it is ready—will let you see a proof of my introduction, which is only sent out as a sprat to catch whales.

Charles

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

From this reading My uncle’s pedigree is wrong; there was never a Stevenson of Caldwell, of course, but they were tenants of the Muirs; the farm held by them is in my introduction; and I have already written to Charles Baxter to have a search made in the Register House.

collections

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

From this reading MY DEAR STEVENSON,—A thousand thanks for your voluminous and delightful collections.

coursenounUS /course/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading My uncle’s pedigree is wrong; there was never a Stevenson of Caldwell, of course, but they were tenants of the Muirs; the farm held by them is in my introduction; and I have already written to Charles Baxter to have a search made in the Register House.

deal

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

From this reading And you will find I have a good deal of what you have, only mine in a perfectly desultory manner, as is necessary to an exile.

DEAR

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

From this reading MY DEAR STEVENSON,—A thousand thanks for your voluminous and delightful collections.

delightful

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

From this reading MY DEAR STEVENSON,—A thousand thanks for your voluminous and delightful collections.

desultory

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

From this reading And you will find I have a good deal of what you have, only mine in a perfectly desultory manner, as is necessary to an exile.

exile

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

From this reading And you will find I have a good deal of what you have, only mine in a perfectly desultory manner, as is necessary to an exile.

farm

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

From this reading My uncle’s pedigree is wrong; there was never a Stevenson of Caldwell, of course, but they were tenants of the Muirs; the farm held by them is in my introduction; and I have already written to Charles Baxter to have a search made in the Register House.

find

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

From this reading And you will find I have a good deal of what you have, only mine in a perfectly desultory manner, as is necessary to an exile.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading MY DEAR STEVENSON,—A thousand thanks for your voluminous and delightful collections.

goodnounUS /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading And you will find I have a good deal of what you have, only mine in a perfectly desultory manner, as is necessary to an exile.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading And you will find I have a good deal of what you have, only mine in a perfectly desultory manner, as is necessary to an exile.

held

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

From this reading My uncle’s pedigree is wrong; there was never a Stevenson of Caldwell, of course, but they were tenants of the Muirs; the farm held by them is in my introduction; and I have already written to Charles Baxter to have a search made in the Register House.

HORNE

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

From this reading TO J. HORNE STEVENSON _Vailima_, _Samoa_, _November_ 5_th_, 1893.

House

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

From this reading My uncle’s pedigree is wrong; there was never a Stevenson of Caldwell, of course, but they were tenants of the Muirs; the farm held by them is in my introduction; and I have already written to Charles Baxter to have a search made in the Register House.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading And you will find I have a good deal of what you have, only mine in a perfectly desultory manner, as is necessary to an exile.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading And you will find I have a good deal of what you have, only mine in a perfectly desultory manner, as is necessary to an exile.

introduction

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

From this reading Baxter—so soon as it is ready—will let you see a proof of my introduction, which is only sent out as a sprat to catch whales.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading Baxter—so soon as it is ready—will let you see a proof of my introduction, which is only sent out as a sprat to catch whales.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Baxter—so soon as it is ready—will let you see a proof of my introduction, which is only sent out as a sprat to catch whales.

J

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

From this reading TO J. HORNE STEVENSON _Vailima_, _Samoa_, _November_ 5_th_, 1893.

letauxiliary verbUS /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading Baxter—so soon as it is ready—will let you see a proof of my introduction, which is only sent out as a sprat to catch whales.

made

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

From this reading My uncle’s pedigree is wrong; there was never a Stevenson of Caldwell, of course, but they were tenants of the Muirs; the farm held by them is in my introduction; and I have already written to Charles Baxter to have a search made in the Register House.

manner

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

From this reading And you will find I have a good deal of what you have, only mine in a perfectly desultory manner, as is necessary to an exile.

minepronounUS /maɪn/

the one or ones belonging to the person speaking

From this reading And you will find I have a good deal of what you have, only mine in a perfectly desultory manner, as is necessary to an exile.

Muirs

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

From this reading My uncle’s pedigree is wrong; there was never a Stevenson of Caldwell, of course, but they were tenants of the Muirs; the farm held by them is in my introduction; and I have already written to Charles Baxter to have a search made in the Register House.

MYdeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading MY DEAR STEVENSON,—A thousand thanks for your voluminous and delightful collections.

necessary

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

From this reading And you will find I have a good deal of what you have, only mine in a perfectly desultory manner, as is necessary to an exile.

nevernounUS /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading My uncle’s pedigree is wrong; there was never a Stevenson of Caldwell, of course, but they were tenants of the Muirs; the farm held by them is in my introduction; and I have already written to Charles Baxter to have a search made in the Register House.

November

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

From this reading TO J. HORNE STEVENSON _Vailima_, _Samoa_, _November_ 5_th_, 1893.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Baxter—so soon as it is ready—will let you see a proof of my introduction, which is only sent out as a sprat to catch whales.

only

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

From this reading Baxter—so soon as it is ready—will let you see a proof of my introduction, which is only sent out as a sprat to catch whales.

out

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

From this reading Baxter—so soon as it is ready—will let you see a proof of my introduction, which is only sent out as a sprat to catch whales.

pedigree

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

From this reading My uncle’s pedigree is wrong; there was never a Stevenson of Caldwell, of course, but they were tenants of the Muirs; the farm held by them is in my introduction; and I have already written to Charles Baxter to have a search made in the Register House.

perfectly

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

From this reading And you will find I have a good deal of what you have, only mine in a perfectly desultory manner, as is necessary to an exile.

proof

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

From this reading Baxter—so soon as it is ready—will let you see a proof of my introduction, which is only sent out as a sprat to catch whales.

ready

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

From this reading Baxter—so soon as it is ready—will let you see a proof of my introduction, which is only sent out as a sprat to catch whales.

Register

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

From this reading My uncle’s pedigree is wrong; there was never a Stevenson of Caldwell, of course, but they were tenants of the Muirs; the farm held by them is in my introduction; and I have already written to Charles Baxter to have a search made in the Register House.

Samoa

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

From this reading TO J. HORNE STEVENSON _Vailima_, _Samoa_, _November_ 5_th_, 1893.

search

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

From this reading My uncle’s pedigree is wrong; there was never a Stevenson of Caldwell, of course, but they were tenants of the Muirs; the farm held by them is in my introduction; and I have already written to Charles Baxter to have a search made in the Register House.

see

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

From this reading Baxter—so soon as it is ready—will let you see a proof of my introduction, which is only sent out as a sprat to catch whales.

sent

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

From this reading Baxter—so soon as it is ready—will let you see a proof of my introduction, which is only sent out as a sprat to catch whales.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Baxter—so soon as it is ready—will let you see a proof of my introduction, which is only sent out as a sprat to catch whales.

soon

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

From this reading Baxter—so soon as it is ready—will let you see a proof of my introduction, which is only sent out as a sprat to catch whales.

sprat

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

From this reading Baxter—so soon as it is ready—will let you see a proof of my introduction, which is only sent out as a sprat to catch whales.

STEVENSON

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

From this reading TO J. HORNE STEVENSON _Vailima_, _Samoa_, _November_ 5_th_, 1893.

tenants

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

From this reading My uncle’s pedigree is wrong; there was never a Stevenson of Caldwell, of course, but they were tenants of the Muirs; the farm held by them is in my introduction; and I have already written to Charles Baxter to have a search made in the Register House.

th

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

From this reading TO J. HORNE STEVENSON _Vailima_, _Samoa_, _November_ 5_th_, 1893.

thanks

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

From this reading MY DEAR STEVENSON,—A thousand thanks for your voluminous and delightful collections.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading My uncle’s pedigree is wrong; there was never a Stevenson of Caldwell, of course, but they were tenants of the Muirs; the farm held by them is in my introduction; and I have already written to Charles Baxter to have a search made in the Register House.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading My uncle’s pedigree is wrong; there was never a Stevenson of Caldwell, of course, but they were tenants of the Muirs; the farm held by them is in my introduction; and I have already written to Charles Baxter to have a search made in the Register House.

there

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

From this reading My uncle’s pedigree is wrong; there was never a Stevenson of Caldwell, of course, but they were tenants of the Muirs; the farm held by them is in my introduction; and I have already written to Charles Baxter to have a search made in the Register House.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading My uncle’s pedigree is wrong; there was never a Stevenson of Caldwell, of course, but they were tenants of the Muirs; the farm held by them is in my introduction; and I have already written to Charles Baxter to have a search made in the Register House.

thousand

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

From this reading MY DEAR STEVENSON,—A thousand thanks for your voluminous and delightful collections.

TOparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading TO J. HORNE STEVENSON _Vailima_, _Samoa_, _November_ 5_th_, 1893.

uncle's

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

From this reading My uncle’s pedigree is wrong; there was never a Stevenson of Caldwell, of course, but they were tenants of the Muirs; the farm held by them is in my introduction; and I have already written to Charles Baxter to have a search made in the Register House.

Vailima

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

From this reading TO J. HORNE STEVENSON _Vailima_, _Samoa_, _November_ 5_th_, 1893.

voluminous

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

From this reading MY DEAR STEVENSON,—A thousand thanks for your voluminous and delightful collections.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading My uncle’s pedigree is wrong; there was never a Stevenson of Caldwell, of course, but they were tenants of the Muirs; the farm held by them is in my introduction; and I have already written to Charles Baxter to have a search made in the Register House.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading My uncle’s pedigree is wrong; there was never a Stevenson of Caldwell, of course, but they were tenants of the Muirs; the farm held by them is in my introduction; and I have already written to Charles Baxter to have a search made in the Register House.

whales

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

From this reading Baxter—so soon as it is ready—will let you see a proof of my introduction, which is only sent out as a sprat to catch whales.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading And you will find I have a good deal of what you have, only mine in a perfectly desultory manner, as is necessary to an exile.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading Baxter—so soon as it is ready—will let you see a proof of my introduction, which is only sent out as a sprat to catch whales.

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading Baxter—so soon as it is ready—will let you see a proof of my introduction, which is only sent out as a sprat to catch whales.

written

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

From this reading My uncle’s pedigree is wrong; there was never a Stevenson of Caldwell, of course, but they were tenants of the Muirs; the farm held by them is in my introduction; and I have already written to Charles Baxter to have a search made in the Register House.

wrong

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

From this reading My uncle’s pedigree is wrong; there was never a Stevenson of Caldwell, of course, but they were tenants of the Muirs; the farm held by them is in my introduction; and I have already written to Charles Baxter to have a search made in the Register House.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading Baxter—so soon as it is ready—will let you see a proof of my introduction, which is only sent out as a sprat to catch whales.

yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading MY DEAR STEVENSON,—A thousand thanks for your voluminous and delightful collections.