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The Serf
The Serf

Chapter XIII

Cover illustration for The Serf
Context Illustration Reading 1/16 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
"A most composed invincible man, in difficulty and distress knowing no discouragement, in danger and menace laughing at the whisper of fear."
There is a wonderful steadfast courage about men of Hyla's breed.
Even though the object they pursue has lost its value, they go on in a dogged relentless "following up" from which nothing can turn them.
For two hours or more he mourned and thought of old times, gazing in a kind of strange wonder at the silent carpet of grass.
The shrewd weatherworn face, the twinkling eager eyes, the nasal drawl which so glibly offered up petitions to heaven, all came back to him with a singular vividness.
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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 Serf

Chapter XIII

Reading 1/16 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
"A most composed invincible man, in difficulty and distress knowing no discouragement, in danger and menace laughing at the whisper of fear."
Line 2
There is a wonderful steadfast courage about men of Hyla's breed.
Line 3
Even though the object they pursue has lost its value, they go on in a dogged relentless "following up" from which nothing can turn them.
Line 4
For two hours or more he mourned and thought of old times, gazing in a kind of strange wonder at the silent carpet of grass.
Line 5
The shrewd weatherworn face, the twinkling eager eyes, the nasal drawl which so glibly offered up petitions to heaven, all came back to him with a singular vividness.

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 “There is a wonderful steadfast courage about men of Hyla's breed.”

Distress noun US /dɪˈstrɛs/

extreme sadness or suffering

From this reading “"A most composed invincible man, in difficulty and distress knowing no discouragement, in danger and menace laughing at the whisper of fear."”

Even noun US /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Even though the object they pursue has lost its value, they go on in a dogged relentless "following up" from which nothing can turn them.”

Has auxiliary verb US /hæz/

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

From this reading “Even though the object they pursue has lost its value, they go on in a dogged relentless "following up" from which nothing can turn them.”

Nothing pronoun US /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading “Even though the object they pursue has lost its value, they go on in a dogged relentless "following up" from which nothing can turn them.”

Though conjunction US /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “Even though the object they pursue has lost its value, they go on in a dogged relentless "following up" from which nothing can turn them.”

Thought noun US /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “For two hours or more he mourned and thought of old times, gazing in a kind of strange wonder at the silent carpet of grass.”

Wonderful noun US /ˈwonderful/

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

From this reading “There is a wonderful steadfast courage about men of Hyla's breed.”

All words in this reading · 88

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 "A most composed invincible man, in difficulty and distress knowing no discouragement, in danger and menace laughing at the whisper of fear."

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading There is a wonderful steadfast courage about men of Hyla's breed.

all

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

From this reading The shrewd weatherworn face, the twinkling eager eyes, the nasal drawl which so glibly offered up petitions to heaven, all came back to him with a singular vividness.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading "A most composed invincible man, in difficulty and distress knowing no discouragement, in danger and menace laughing at the whisper of fear."

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading "A most composed invincible man, in difficulty and distress knowing no discouragement, in danger and menace laughing at the whisper of fear."

back

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

From this reading The shrewd weatherworn face, the twinkling eager eyes, the nasal drawl which so glibly offered up petitions to heaven, all came back to him with a singular vividness.

breed

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

From this reading There is a wonderful steadfast courage about men of Hyla's breed.

came

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

From this reading The shrewd weatherworn face, the twinkling eager eyes, the nasal drawl which so glibly offered up petitions to heaven, all came back to him with a singular vividness.

canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading Even though the object they pursue has lost its value, they go on in a dogged relentless "following up" from which nothing can turn them.

carpet

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

From this reading For two hours or more he mourned and thought of old times, gazing in a kind of strange wonder at the silent carpet of grass.

composed

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

From this reading "A most composed invincible man, in difficulty and distress knowing no discouragement, in danger and menace laughing at the whisper of fear."

courage

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

From this reading There is a wonderful steadfast courage about men of Hyla's breed.

danger

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

From this reading "A most composed invincible man, in difficulty and distress knowing no discouragement, in danger and menace laughing at the whisper of fear."

difficulty

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

From this reading "A most composed invincible man, in difficulty and distress knowing no discouragement, in danger and menace laughing at the whisper of fear."

discouragement

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

From this reading "A most composed invincible man, in difficulty and distress knowing no discouragement, in danger and menace laughing at the whisper of fear."

distressnounUS /dɪˈstrɛs/

extreme sadness or suffering

From this reading "A most composed invincible man, in difficulty and distress knowing no discouragement, in danger and menace laughing at the whisper of fear."

dogged

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

From this reading Even though the object they pursue has lost its value, they go on in a dogged relentless "following up" from which nothing can turn them.

drawl

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

From this reading The shrewd weatherworn face, the twinkling eager eyes, the nasal drawl which so glibly offered up petitions to heaven, all came back to him with a singular vividness.

eager

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

From this reading The shrewd weatherworn face, the twinkling eager eyes, the nasal drawl which so glibly offered up petitions to heaven, all came back to him with a singular vividness.

EvennounUS /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Even though the object they pursue has lost its value, they go on in a dogged relentless "following up" from which nothing can turn them.

eyes

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

From this reading The shrewd weatherworn face, the twinkling eager eyes, the nasal drawl which so glibly offered up petitions to heaven, all came back to him with a singular vividness.

face

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

From this reading The shrewd weatherworn face, the twinkling eager eyes, the nasal drawl which so glibly offered up petitions to heaven, all came back to him with a singular vividness.

fear

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

From this reading "A most composed invincible man, in difficulty and distress knowing no discouragement, in danger and menace laughing at the whisper of fear."

following

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

From this reading Even though the object they pursue has lost its value, they go on in a dogged relentless "following up" from which nothing can turn them.

ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading For two hours or more he mourned and thought of old times, gazing in a kind of strange wonder at the silent carpet of grass.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Even though the object they pursue has lost its value, they go on in a dogged relentless "following up" from which nothing can turn them.

gazing

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

From this reading For two hours or more he mourned and thought of old times, gazing in a kind of strange wonder at the silent carpet of grass.

glibly

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

From this reading The shrewd weatherworn face, the twinkling eager eyes, the nasal drawl which so glibly offered up petitions to heaven, all came back to him with a singular vividness.

go

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

From this reading Even though the object they pursue has lost its value, they go on in a dogged relentless "following up" from which nothing can turn them.

grass

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

From this reading For two hours or more he mourned and thought of old times, gazing in a kind of strange wonder at the silent carpet of grass.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading Even though the object they pursue has lost its value, they go on in a dogged relentless "following up" from which nothing can turn them.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading For two hours or more he mourned and thought of old times, gazing in a kind of strange wonder at the silent carpet of grass.

heaven

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

From this reading The shrewd weatherworn face, the twinkling eager eyes, the nasal drawl which so glibly offered up petitions to heaven, all came back to him with a singular vividness.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading The shrewd weatherworn face, the twinkling eager eyes, the nasal drawl which so glibly offered up petitions to heaven, all came back to him with a singular vividness.

hours

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

From this reading For two hours or more he mourned and thought of old times, gazing in a kind of strange wonder at the silent carpet of grass.

Hyla's

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

From this reading There is a wonderful steadfast courage about men of Hyla's breed.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading "A most composed invincible man, in difficulty and distress knowing no discouragement, in danger and menace laughing at the whisper of fear."

invincible

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

From this reading "A most composed invincible man, in difficulty and distress knowing no discouragement, in danger and menace laughing at the whisper of fear."

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading There is a wonderful steadfast courage about men of Hyla's breed.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Even though the object they pursue has lost its value, they go on in a dogged relentless "following up" from which nothing can turn them.

kind

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

From this reading For two hours or more he mourned and thought of old times, gazing in a kind of strange wonder at the silent carpet of grass.

knowing

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

From this reading "A most composed invincible man, in difficulty and distress knowing no discouragement, in danger and menace laughing at the whisper of fear."

laughing

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

From this reading "A most composed invincible man, in difficulty and distress knowing no discouragement, in danger and menace laughing at the whisper of fear."

lost

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

From this reading Even though the object they pursue has lost its value, they go on in a dogged relentless "following up" from which nothing can turn them.

man

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

From this reading "A most composed invincible man, in difficulty and distress knowing no discouragement, in danger and menace laughing at the whisper of fear."

men

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

From this reading There is a wonderful steadfast courage about men of Hyla's breed.

menace

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

From this reading "A most composed invincible man, in difficulty and distress knowing no discouragement, in danger and menace laughing at the whisper of fear."

more

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

From this reading For two hours or more he mourned and thought of old times, gazing in a kind of strange wonder at the silent carpet of grass.

most

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

From this reading "A most composed invincible man, in difficulty and distress knowing no discouragement, in danger and menace laughing at the whisper of fear."

mourned

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

From this reading For two hours or more he mourned and thought of old times, gazing in a kind of strange wonder at the silent carpet of grass.

nasal

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

From this reading The shrewd weatherworn face, the twinkling eager eyes, the nasal drawl which so glibly offered up petitions to heaven, all came back to him with a singular vividness.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading "A most composed invincible man, in difficulty and distress knowing no discouragement, in danger and menace laughing at the whisper of fear."

nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading Even though the object they pursue has lost its value, they go on in a dogged relentless "following up" from which nothing can turn them.

object

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

From this reading Even though the object they pursue has lost its value, they go on in a dogged relentless "following up" from which nothing can turn them.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading "A most composed invincible man, in difficulty and distress knowing no discouragement, in danger and menace laughing at the whisper of fear."

offered

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

From this reading The shrewd weatherworn face, the twinkling eager eyes, the nasal drawl which so glibly offered up petitions to heaven, all came back to him with a singular vividness.

old

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

From this reading For two hours or more he mourned and thought of old times, gazing in a kind of strange wonder at the silent carpet of grass.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Even though the object they pursue has lost its value, they go on in a dogged relentless "following up" from which nothing can turn them.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading For two hours or more he mourned and thought of old times, gazing in a kind of strange wonder at the silent carpet of grass.

petitions

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

From this reading The shrewd weatherworn face, the twinkling eager eyes, the nasal drawl which so glibly offered up petitions to heaven, all came back to him with a singular vividness.

pursue

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

From this reading Even though the object they pursue has lost its value, they go on in a dogged relentless "following up" from which nothing can turn them.

relentless

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

From this reading Even though the object they pursue has lost its value, they go on in a dogged relentless "following up" from which nothing can turn them.

shrewd

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

From this reading The shrewd weatherworn face, the twinkling eager eyes, the nasal drawl which so glibly offered up petitions to heaven, all came back to him with a singular vividness.

silent

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

From this reading For two hours or more he mourned and thought of old times, gazing in a kind of strange wonder at the silent carpet of grass.

singular

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

From this reading The shrewd weatherworn face, the twinkling eager eyes, the nasal drawl which so glibly offered up petitions to heaven, all came back to him with a singular vividness.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading The shrewd weatherworn face, the twinkling eager eyes, the nasal drawl which so glibly offered up petitions to heaven, all came back to him with a singular vividness.

steadfast

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

From this reading There is a wonderful steadfast courage about men of Hyla's breed.

strange

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

From this reading For two hours or more he mourned and thought of old times, gazing in a kind of strange wonder at the silent carpet of grass.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading "A most composed invincible man, in difficulty and distress knowing no discouragement, in danger and menace laughing at the whisper of fear."

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Even though the object they pursue has lost its value, they go on in a dogged relentless "following up" from which nothing can turn them.

There

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

From this reading There is a wonderful steadfast courage about men of Hyla's breed.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading Even though the object they pursue has lost its value, they go on in a dogged relentless "following up" from which nothing can turn them.

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading Even though the object they pursue has lost its value, they go on in a dogged relentless "following up" from which nothing can turn them.

thoughtnounUS /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading For two hours or more he mourned and thought of old times, gazing in a kind of strange wonder at the silent carpet of grass.

times

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

From this reading For two hours or more he mourned and thought of old times, gazing in a kind of strange wonder at the silent carpet of grass.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The shrewd weatherworn face, the twinkling eager eyes, the nasal drawl which so glibly offered up petitions to heaven, all came back to him with a singular vividness.

turn

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

From this reading Even though the object they pursue has lost its value, they go on in a dogged relentless "following up" from which nothing can turn them.

twinkling

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

From this reading The shrewd weatherworn face, the twinkling eager eyes, the nasal drawl which so glibly offered up petitions to heaven, all came back to him with a singular vividness.

two

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

From this reading For two hours or more he mourned and thought of old times, gazing in a kind of strange wonder at the silent carpet of grass.

up

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

From this reading Even though the object they pursue has lost its value, they go on in a dogged relentless "following up" from which nothing can turn them.

value

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

From this reading Even though the object they pursue has lost its value, they go on in a dogged relentless "following up" from which nothing can turn them.

vividness

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

From this reading The shrewd weatherworn face, the twinkling eager eyes, the nasal drawl which so glibly offered up petitions to heaven, all came back to him with a singular vividness.

weatherworn

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

From this reading The shrewd weatherworn face, the twinkling eager eyes, the nasal drawl which so glibly offered up petitions to heaven, all came back to him with a singular vividness.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading Even though the object they pursue has lost its value, they go on in a dogged relentless "following up" from which nothing can turn them.

whisper

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

From this reading "A most composed invincible man, in difficulty and distress knowing no discouragement, in danger and menace laughing at the whisper of fear."

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The shrewd weatherworn face, the twinkling eager eyes, the nasal drawl which so glibly offered up petitions to heaven, all came back to him with a singular vividness.

wonder

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

From this reading For two hours or more he mourned and thought of old times, gazing in a kind of strange wonder at the silent carpet of grass.

wonderfulnounUS /ˈwonderful/

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

From this reading There is a wonderful steadfast courage about men of Hyla's breed.