A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter II
THE AMERICAN AX I ask you to look at this splendid tool, the American ax, not more an implement of labor than an instrument of civilization. If you can not use it, you are not American. If you do not understand it, you can not understand America. This tool is so simple and so perfect that it has scarcely seen change in the course of a hundred years. It lacks decoration, as do the tools and the weapons of all strong peoples.
Reading 1/8 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “This tool is so simple and so perfect that it has scarcely seen change in the course of a hundred years.”
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “This tool is so simple and so perfect that it has scarcely seen change in the course of a hundred years.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “THE AMERICAN AX I ask you to look at this splendid tool, the American ax, not more an implement of labor than an instrument of civilization.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “If you do not understand it, you can not understand America.”
Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading This tool is so simple and so perfect that it has scarcely seen change in the course of a hundred years.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It lacks decoration, as do the tools and the weapons of all strong peoples.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If you do not understand it, you can not understand America.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE AMERICAN AX I ask you to look at this splendid tool, the American ax, not more an implement of labor than an instrument of civilization.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading THE AMERICAN AX I ask you to look at this splendid tool, the American ax, not more an implement of labor than an instrument of civilization.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading This tool is so simple and so perfect that it has scarcely seen change in the course of a hundred years.
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading If you can not use it, you are not American.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It lacks decoration, as do the tools and the weapons of all strong peoples.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE AMERICAN AX I ask you to look at this splendid tool, the American ax, not more an implement of labor than an instrument of civilization.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE AMERICAN AX I ask you to look at this splendid tool, the American ax, not more an implement of labor than an instrument of civilization.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE AMERICAN AX I ask you to look at this splendid tool, the American ax, not more an implement of labor than an instrument of civilization.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading If you can not use it, you are not American.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This tool is so simple and so perfect that it has scarcely seen change in the course of a hundred years.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE AMERICAN AX I ask you to look at this splendid tool, the American ax, not more an implement of labor than an instrument of civilization.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading This tool is so simple and so perfect that it has scarcely seen change in the course of a hundred years.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It lacks decoration, as do the tools and the weapons of all strong peoples.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading If you do not understand it, you can not understand America.
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This tool is so simple and so perfect that it has scarcely seen change in the course of a hundred years.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This tool is so simple and so perfect that it has scarcely seen change in the course of a hundred years.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading THE AMERICAN AX I ask you to look at this splendid tool, the American ax, not more an implement of labor than an instrument of civilization.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If you can not use it, you are not American.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE AMERICAN AX I ask you to look at this splendid tool, the American ax, not more an implement of labor than an instrument of civilization.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading This tool is so simple and so perfect that it has scarcely seen change in the course of a hundred years.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE AMERICAN AX I ask you to look at this splendid tool, the American ax, not more an implement of labor than an instrument of civilization.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This tool is so simple and so perfect that it has scarcely seen change in the course of a hundred years.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading If you can not use it, you are not American.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE AMERICAN AX I ask you to look at this splendid tool, the American ax, not more an implement of labor than an instrument of civilization.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It lacks decoration, as do the tools and the weapons of all strong peoples.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE AMERICAN AX I ask you to look at this splendid tool, the American ax, not more an implement of labor than an instrument of civilization.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE AMERICAN AX I ask you to look at this splendid tool, the American ax, not more an implement of labor than an instrument of civilization.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading THE AMERICAN AX I ask you to look at this splendid tool, the American ax, not more an implement of labor than an instrument of civilization.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE AMERICAN AX I ask you to look at this splendid tool, the American ax, not more an implement of labor than an instrument of civilization.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It lacks decoration, as do the tools and the weapons of all strong peoples.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This tool is so simple and so perfect that it has scarcely seen change in the course of a hundred years.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This tool is so simple and so perfect that it has scarcely seen change in the course of a hundred years.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This tool is so simple and so perfect that it has scarcely seen change in the course of a hundred years.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This tool is so simple and so perfect that it has scarcely seen change in the course of a hundred years.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading This tool is so simple and so perfect that it has scarcely seen change in the course of a hundred years.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE AMERICAN AX I ask you to look at this splendid tool, the American ax, not more an implement of labor than an instrument of civilization.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It lacks decoration, as do the tools and the weapons of all strong peoples.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading THE AMERICAN AX I ask you to look at this splendid tool, the American ax, not more an implement of labor than an instrument of civilization.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading This tool is so simple and so perfect that it has scarcely seen change in the course of a hundred years.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE AMERICAN AX I ask you to look at this splendid tool, the American ax, not more an implement of labor than an instrument of civilization.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading THE AMERICAN AX I ask you to look at this splendid tool, the American ax, not more an implement of labor than an instrument of civilization.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE AMERICAN AX I ask you to look at this splendid tool, the American ax, not more an implement of labor than an instrument of civilization.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE AMERICAN AX I ask you to look at this splendid tool, the American ax, not more an implement of labor than an instrument of civilization.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It lacks decoration, as do the tools and the weapons of all strong peoples.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading If you do not understand it, you can not understand America.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If you can not use it, you are not American.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It lacks decoration, as do the tools and the weapons of all strong peoples.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This tool is so simple and so perfect that it has scarcely seen change in the course of a hundred years.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading THE AMERICAN AX I ask you to look at this splendid tool, the American ax, not more an implement of labor than an instrument of civilization.
