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The White Flag
The White Flag

Chapter III

Cover illustration for The White Flag
Context Illustration Reading 1/69 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
“AN INQUISITION ACCORDING TO MAHLON” When the other children began making preparations to go home, Elizabeth Spellman whispered to Junior to wait.
After the last one had disappeared, she went to the kitchen and returned with a plate piled high with remaining refreshments, a heaped dish of ice cream and a generous big piece of cake.
Junior was not particularly grateful.
There had been set before him, all his life, more excellent food than his stomach could hold.
The delicacies that would have been a great treat to any of the other boys, were no particular treat to Junior; while he was sufficiently his father’s son to allow the Spellmans to see that he was not deeply impressed.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
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A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The White Flag

Chapter III

Reading 1/69 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
“AN INQUISITION ACCORDING TO MAHLON” When the other children began making preparations to go home, Elizabeth Spellman whispered to Junior to wait.
Line 2
After the last one had disappeared, she went to the kitchen and returned with a plate piled high with remaining refreshments, a heaped dish of ice cream and a generous big piece of cake.
Line 3
Junior was not particularly grateful.
Line 4
There had been set before him, all his life, more excellent food than his stomach could hold.
Line 5
The delicacies that would have been a great treat to any of the other boys, were no particular treat to Junior; while he was sufficiently his father’s son to allow the Spellmans to see that he was not deeply impressed.

Learner Dictionary

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

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “After the last one had disappeared, she went to the kitchen and returned with a plate piled high with remaining refreshments, a heaped dish of ice cream and a generous big piece of cake.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “There had been set before him, all his life, more excellent food than his stomach could hold.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “There had been set before him, all his life, more excellent food than his stomach could hold.”

Began noun US /began/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““AN INQUISITION ACCORDING TO MAHLON” When the other children began making preparations to go home, Elizabeth Spellman whispered to Junior to wait.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading “There had been set before him, all his life, more excellent food than his stomach could hold.”

Disappeared noun US /ˈdisappeared/

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

From this reading “After the last one had disappeared, she went to the kitchen and returned with a plate piled high with remaining refreshments, a heaped dish of ice cream and a generous big piece of cake.”

Great noun US /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The delicacies that would have been a great treat to any of the other boys, were no particular treat to Junior; while he was sufficiently his father’s son to allow the Spellmans to see that he was not deeply impressed.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “The delicacies that would have been a great treat to any of the other boys, were no particular treat to Junior; while he was sufficiently his father’s son to allow the Spellmans to see that he was not deeply impressed.”

INQUISITION noun US /ˌɪn.kwɪˈzɪʃ.ən/

A period of prolonged and intensive questioning or investigation.

From this reading ““AN INQUISITION ACCORDING TO MAHLON” When the other children began making preparations to go home, Elizabeth Spellman whispered to Junior to wait.”

Last noun US /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “After the last one had disappeared, she went to the kitchen and returned with a plate piled high with remaining refreshments, a heaped dish of ice cream and a generous big piece of cake.”

Life noun US /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “There had been set before him, all his life, more excellent food than his stomach could hold.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “After the last one had disappeared, she went to the kitchen and returned with a plate piled high with remaining refreshments, a heaped dish of ice cream and a generous big piece of cake.”

Returned noun US /ˈreturned/

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

From this reading “After the last one had disappeared, she went to the kitchen and returned with a plate piled high with remaining refreshments, a heaped dish of ice cream and a generous big piece of cake.”

Went noun US /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “After the last one had disappeared, she went to the kitchen and returned with a plate piled high with remaining refreshments, a heaped dish of ice cream and a generous big piece of cake.”

While conjunction US /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading “The delicacies that would have been a great treat to any of the other boys, were no particular treat to Junior; while he was sufficiently his father’s son to allow the Spellmans to see that he was not deeply impressed.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading “The delicacies that would have been a great treat to any of the other boys, were no particular treat to Junior; while he was sufficiently his father’s son to allow the Spellmans to see that he was not deeply impressed.”

All words in this reading · 85

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 After the last one had disappeared, she went to the kitchen and returned with a plate piled high with remaining refreshments, a heaped dish of ice cream and a generous big piece of cake.

ACCORDING

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

From this reading “AN INQUISITION ACCORDING TO MAHLON” When the other children began making preparations to go home, Elizabeth Spellman whispered to Junior to wait.

AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading After the last one had disappeared, she went to the kitchen and returned with a plate piled high with remaining refreshments, a heaped dish of ice cream and a generous big piece of cake.

all

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

From this reading There had been set before him, all his life, more excellent food than his stomach could hold.

allow

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

From this reading The delicacies that would have been a great treat to any of the other boys, were no particular treat to Junior; while he was sufficiently his father’s son to allow the Spellmans to see that he was not deeply impressed.

ANdeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading “AN INQUISITION ACCORDING TO MAHLON” When the other children began making preparations to go home, Elizabeth Spellman whispered to Junior to wait.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading After the last one had disappeared, she went to the kitchen and returned with a plate piled high with remaining refreshments, a heaped dish of ice cream and a generous big piece of cake.

any

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

From this reading The delicacies that would have been a great treat to any of the other boys, were no particular treat to Junior; while he was sufficiently his father’s son to allow the Spellmans to see that he was not deeply impressed.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading There had been set before him, all his life, more excellent food than his stomach could hold.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading There had been set before him, all his life, more excellent food than his stomach could hold.

begannounUS /began/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “AN INQUISITION ACCORDING TO MAHLON” When the other children began making preparations to go home, Elizabeth Spellman whispered to Junior to wait.

big

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

From this reading After the last one had disappeared, she went to the kitchen and returned with a plate piled high with remaining refreshments, a heaped dish of ice cream and a generous big piece of cake.

boys

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

From this reading The delicacies that would have been a great treat to any of the other boys, were no particular treat to Junior; while he was sufficiently his father’s son to allow the Spellmans to see that he was not deeply impressed.

cake

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

From this reading After the last one had disappeared, she went to the kitchen and returned with a plate piled high with remaining refreshments, a heaped dish of ice cream and a generous big piece of cake.

children

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

From this reading “AN INQUISITION ACCORDING TO MAHLON” When the other children began making preparations to go home, Elizabeth Spellman whispered to Junior to wait.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading There had been set before him, all his life, more excellent food than his stomach could hold.

cream

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

From this reading After the last one had disappeared, she went to the kitchen and returned with a plate piled high with remaining refreshments, a heaped dish of ice cream and a generous big piece of cake.

deeply

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

From this reading The delicacies that would have been a great treat to any of the other boys, were no particular treat to Junior; while he was sufficiently his father’s son to allow the Spellmans to see that he was not deeply impressed.

delicacies

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

From this reading The delicacies that would have been a great treat to any of the other boys, were no particular treat to Junior; while he was sufficiently his father’s son to allow the Spellmans to see that he was not deeply impressed.

disappearednounUS /ˈdisappeared/

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

From this reading After the last one had disappeared, she went to the kitchen and returned with a plate piled high with remaining refreshments, a heaped dish of ice cream and a generous big piece of cake.

dish

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

From this reading After the last one had disappeared, she went to the kitchen and returned with a plate piled high with remaining refreshments, a heaped dish of ice cream and a generous big piece of cake.

Elizabeth

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

From this reading “AN INQUISITION ACCORDING TO MAHLON” When the other children began making preparations to go home, Elizabeth Spellman whispered to Junior to wait.

excellent

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

From this reading There had been set before him, all his life, more excellent food than his stomach could hold.

father's

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

From this reading The delicacies that would have been a great treat to any of the other boys, were no particular treat to Junior; while he was sufficiently his father’s son to allow the Spellmans to see that he was not deeply impressed.

food

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

From this reading There had been set before him, all his life, more excellent food than his stomach could hold.

generous

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

From this reading After the last one had disappeared, she went to the kitchen and returned with a plate piled high with remaining refreshments, a heaped dish of ice cream and a generous big piece of cake.

go

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

From this reading “AN INQUISITION ACCORDING TO MAHLON” When the other children began making preparations to go home, Elizabeth Spellman whispered to Junior to wait.

grateful

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

From this reading Junior was not particularly grateful.

greatnounUS /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The delicacies that would have been a great treat to any of the other boys, were no particular treat to Junior; while he was sufficiently his father’s son to allow the Spellmans to see that he was not deeply impressed.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading After the last one had disappeared, she went to the kitchen and returned with a plate piled high with remaining refreshments, a heaped dish of ice cream and a generous big piece of cake.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading The delicacies that would have been a great treat to any of the other boys, were no particular treat to Junior; while he was sufficiently his father’s son to allow the Spellmans to see that he was not deeply impressed.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading The delicacies that would have been a great treat to any of the other boys, were no particular treat to Junior; while he was sufficiently his father’s son to allow the Spellmans to see that he was not deeply impressed.

heaped

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

From this reading After the last one had disappeared, she went to the kitchen and returned with a plate piled high with remaining refreshments, a heaped dish of ice cream and a generous big piece of cake.

high

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

From this reading After the last one had disappeared, she went to the kitchen and returned with a plate piled high with remaining refreshments, a heaped dish of ice cream and a generous big piece of cake.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading There had been set before him, all his life, more excellent food than his stomach could hold.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading There had been set before him, all his life, more excellent food than his stomach could hold.

hold

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

From this reading There had been set before him, all his life, more excellent food than his stomach could hold.

home

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

From this reading “AN INQUISITION ACCORDING TO MAHLON” When the other children began making preparations to go home, Elizabeth Spellman whispered to Junior to wait.

ice

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

From this reading After the last one had disappeared, she went to the kitchen and returned with a plate piled high with remaining refreshments, a heaped dish of ice cream and a generous big piece of cake.

impressed

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

From this reading The delicacies that would have been a great treat to any of the other boys, were no particular treat to Junior; while he was sufficiently his father’s son to allow the Spellmans to see that he was not deeply impressed.

INQUISITIONnounUS /ˌɪn.kwɪˈzɪʃ.ən/

A period of prolonged and intensive questioning or investigation.

From this reading “AN INQUISITION ACCORDING TO MAHLON” When the other children began making preparations to go home, Elizabeth Spellman whispered to Junior to wait.

Junior

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

From this reading “AN INQUISITION ACCORDING TO MAHLON” When the other children began making preparations to go home, Elizabeth Spellman whispered to Junior to wait.

kitchen

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

From this reading After the last one had disappeared, she went to the kitchen and returned with a plate piled high with remaining refreshments, a heaped dish of ice cream and a generous big piece of cake.

lastnounUS /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading After the last one had disappeared, she went to the kitchen and returned with a plate piled high with remaining refreshments, a heaped dish of ice cream and a generous big piece of cake.

lifenounUS /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading There had been set before him, all his life, more excellent food than his stomach could hold.

MAHLON

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

From this reading “AN INQUISITION ACCORDING TO MAHLON” When the other children began making preparations to go home, Elizabeth Spellman whispered to Junior to wait.

making

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

From this reading “AN INQUISITION ACCORDING TO MAHLON” When the other children began making preparations to go home, Elizabeth Spellman whispered to Junior to wait.

more

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

From this reading There had been set before him, all his life, more excellent food than his stomach could hold.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading The delicacies that would have been a great treat to any of the other boys, were no particular treat to Junior; while he was sufficiently his father’s son to allow the Spellmans to see that he was not deeply impressed.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Junior was not particularly grateful.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading After the last one had disappeared, she went to the kitchen and returned with a plate piled high with remaining refreshments, a heaped dish of ice cream and a generous big piece of cake.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading After the last one had disappeared, she went to the kitchen and returned with a plate piled high with remaining refreshments, a heaped dish of ice cream and a generous big piece of cake.

other

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

From this reading “AN INQUISITION ACCORDING TO MAHLON” When the other children began making preparations to go home, Elizabeth Spellman whispered to Junior to wait.

particular

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

From this reading The delicacies that would have been a great treat to any of the other boys, were no particular treat to Junior; while he was sufficiently his father’s son to allow the Spellmans to see that he was not deeply impressed.

particularly

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

From this reading Junior was not particularly grateful.

piece

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

From this reading After the last one had disappeared, she went to the kitchen and returned with a plate piled high with remaining refreshments, a heaped dish of ice cream and a generous big piece of cake.

piled

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

From this reading After the last one had disappeared, she went to the kitchen and returned with a plate piled high with remaining refreshments, a heaped dish of ice cream and a generous big piece of cake.

plate

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

From this reading After the last one had disappeared, she went to the kitchen and returned with a plate piled high with remaining refreshments, a heaped dish of ice cream and a generous big piece of cake.

preparations

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

From this reading “AN INQUISITION ACCORDING TO MAHLON” When the other children began making preparations to go home, Elizabeth Spellman whispered to Junior to wait.

refreshments

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

From this reading After the last one had disappeared, she went to the kitchen and returned with a plate piled high with remaining refreshments, a heaped dish of ice cream and a generous big piece of cake.

remaining

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

From this reading After the last one had disappeared, she went to the kitchen and returned with a plate piled high with remaining refreshments, a heaped dish of ice cream and a generous big piece of cake.

returnednounUS /ˈreturned/

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

From this reading After the last one had disappeared, she went to the kitchen and returned with a plate piled high with remaining refreshments, a heaped dish of ice cream and a generous big piece of cake.

see

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

From this reading The delicacies that would have been a great treat to any of the other boys, were no particular treat to Junior; while he was sufficiently his father’s son to allow the Spellmans to see that he was not deeply impressed.

set

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

From this reading There had been set before him, all his life, more excellent food than his stomach could hold.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading After the last one had disappeared, she went to the kitchen and returned with a plate piled high with remaining refreshments, a heaped dish of ice cream and a generous big piece of cake.

son

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

From this reading The delicacies that would have been a great treat to any of the other boys, were no particular treat to Junior; while he was sufficiently his father’s son to allow the Spellmans to see that he was not deeply impressed.

Spellman

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

From this reading “AN INQUISITION ACCORDING TO MAHLON” When the other children began making preparations to go home, Elizabeth Spellman whispered to Junior to wait.

Spellmans

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

From this reading The delicacies that would have been a great treat to any of the other boys, were no particular treat to Junior; while he was sufficiently his father’s son to allow the Spellmans to see that he was not deeply impressed.

stomach

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

From this reading There had been set before him, all his life, more excellent food than his stomach could hold.

sufficiently

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

From this reading The delicacies that would have been a great treat to any of the other boys, were no particular treat to Junior; while he was sufficiently his father’s son to allow the Spellmans to see that he was not deeply impressed.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading There had been set before him, all his life, more excellent food than his stomach could hold.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The delicacies that would have been a great treat to any of the other boys, were no particular treat to Junior; while he was sufficiently his father’s son to allow the Spellmans to see that he was not deeply impressed.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading “AN INQUISITION ACCORDING TO MAHLON” When the other children began making preparations to go home, Elizabeth Spellman whispered to Junior to wait.

There

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

From this reading There had been set before him, all his life, more excellent food than his stomach could hold.

TOparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading “AN INQUISITION ACCORDING TO MAHLON” When the other children began making preparations to go home, Elizabeth Spellman whispered to Junior to wait.

treat

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

From this reading The delicacies that would have been a great treat to any of the other boys, were no particular treat to Junior; while he was sufficiently his father’s son to allow the Spellmans to see that he was not deeply impressed.

wait

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

From this reading “AN INQUISITION ACCORDING TO MAHLON” When the other children began making preparations to go home, Elizabeth Spellman whispered to Junior to wait.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Junior was not particularly grateful.

wentnounUS /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading After the last one had disappeared, she went to the kitchen and returned with a plate piled high with remaining refreshments, a heaped dish of ice cream and a generous big piece of cake.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading The delicacies that would have been a great treat to any of the other boys, were no particular treat to Junior; while he was sufficiently his father’s son to allow the Spellmans to see that he was not deeply impressed.

WhenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading “AN INQUISITION ACCORDING TO MAHLON” When the other children began making preparations to go home, Elizabeth Spellman whispered to Junior to wait.

whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading The delicacies that would have been a great treat to any of the other boys, were no particular treat to Junior; while he was sufficiently his father’s son to allow the Spellmans to see that he was not deeply impressed.

whispered

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

From this reading “AN INQUISITION ACCORDING TO MAHLON” When the other children began making preparations to go home, Elizabeth Spellman whispered to Junior to wait.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading After the last one had disappeared, she went to the kitchen and returned with a plate piled high with remaining refreshments, a heaped dish of ice cream and a generous big piece of cake.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading The delicacies that would have been a great treat to any of the other boys, were no particular treat to Junior; while he was sufficiently his father’s son to allow the Spellmans to see that he was not deeply impressed.