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The Works of Rudyard Kipling
The Works of Rudyard Kipling

Chapter II

Cover illustration for The Works of Rudyard Kipling
Context Illustration Reading 1/49 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
So we settled it all when the storm was done As comf'y as comf'y could be; And I was to wait in the barn, my dears, Because I was only three; And Teddy would run to the rainbow's foot, Because he was five and a man; And that's how it all began, my dears, And that's how it all began.
--Big Barn Stories.
“WHAT do you think she'd do if she caught us?
We oughtn't to have it, you know,” said Maisie.
“Beat me, and lock you up in your bedroom,” Dick answered, without hesitation.
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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 Works of Rudyard Kipling

Chapter II

Reading 1/49 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
So we settled it all when the storm was done As comf'y as comf'y could be; And I was to wait in the barn, my dears, Because I was only three; And Teddy would run to the rainbow's foot, Because he was five and a man; And that's how it all began, my dears, And that's how it all began.
Line 2
--Big Barn Stories.
Line 3
“WHAT do you think she'd do if she caught us?
Line 4
We oughtn't to have it, you know,” said Maisie.
Line 5
“Beat me, and lock you up in your bedroom,” Dick answered, without hesitation.

Learner Dictionary

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

Answered noun US /ˈanswered/

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

From this reading ““Beat me, and lock you up in your bedroom,” Dick answered, without hesitation.”

Because conjunction US /bɪˈkɔːz/

for the reason that

From this reading “So we settled it all when the storm was done As comf'y as comf'y could be; And I was to wait in the barn, my dears, Because I was only three; And Teddy would run to the rainbow's foot, Because he was five and a man; And that's how it all began, my dears, And that's how it all began.”

Began noun US /began/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “So we settled it all when the storm was done As comf'y as comf'y could be; And I was to wait in the barn, my dears, Because I was only three; And Teddy would run to the rainbow's foot, Because he was five and a man; And that's how it all began, my dears, And that's how it all began.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “So we settled it all when the storm was done As comf'y as comf'y could be; And I was to wait in the barn, my dears, Because I was only three; And Teddy would run to the rainbow's foot, Because he was five and a man; And that's how it all began, my dears, And that's how it all began.”

Dick noun US /dick/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““Beat me, and lock you up in your bedroom,” Dick answered, without hesitation.”

Done noun US /done/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “So we settled it all when the storm was done As comf'y as comf'y could be; And I was to wait in the barn, my dears, Because I was only three; And Teddy would run to the rainbow's foot, Because he was five and a man; And that's how it all began, my dears, And that's how it all began.”

Foot noun US /foot/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “So we settled it all when the storm was done As comf'y as comf'y could be; And I was to wait in the barn, my dears, Because I was only three; And Teddy would run to the rainbow's foot, Because he was five and a man; And that's how it all began, my dears, And that's how it all began.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “We oughtn't to have it, you know,” said Maisie.”

Know noun US /know/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “We oughtn't to have it, you know,” said Maisie.”

Think noun US /think/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““WHAT do you think she'd do if she caught us?”

Without preposition US /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading ““Beat me, and lock you up in your bedroom,” Dick answered, without hesitation.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “So we settled it all when the storm was done As comf'y as comf'y could be; And I was to wait in the barn, my dears, Because I was only three; And Teddy would run to the rainbow's foot, Because he was five and a man; And that's how it all began, my dears, And that's how it all began.”

All words in this reading · 63

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 So we settled it all when the storm was done As comf'y as comf'y could be; And I was to wait in the barn, my dears, Because I was only three; And Teddy would run to the rainbow's foot, Because he was five and a man; And that's how it all began, my dears, And that's how it all began.

all

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

From this reading So we settled it all when the storm was done As comf'y as comf'y could be; And I was to wait in the barn, my dears, Because I was only three; And Teddy would run to the rainbow's foot, Because he was five and a man; And that's how it all began, my dears, And that's how it all began.

AndconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading So we settled it all when the storm was done As comf'y as comf'y could be; And I was to wait in the barn, my dears, Because I was only three; And Teddy would run to the rainbow's foot, Because he was five and a man; And that's how it all began, my dears, And that's how it all began.

answerednounUS /ˈanswered/

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

From this reading “Beat me, and lock you up in your bedroom,” Dick answered, without hesitation.

AsconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading So we settled it all when the storm was done As comf'y as comf'y could be; And I was to wait in the barn, my dears, Because I was only three; And Teddy would run to the rainbow's foot, Because he was five and a man; And that's how it all began, my dears, And that's how it all began.

barn

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

From this reading So we settled it all when the storm was done As comf'y as comf'y could be; And I was to wait in the barn, my dears, Because I was only three; And Teddy would run to the rainbow's foot, Because he was five and a man; And that's how it all began, my dears, And that's how it all began.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading So we settled it all when the storm was done As comf'y as comf'y could be; And I was to wait in the barn, my dears, Because I was only three; And Teddy would run to the rainbow's foot, Because he was five and a man; And that's how it all began, my dears, And that's how it all began.

Beat

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

From this reading “Beat me, and lock you up in your bedroom,” Dick answered, without hesitation.

BecauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/

for the reason that

From this reading So we settled it all when the storm was done As comf'y as comf'y could be; And I was to wait in the barn, my dears, Because I was only three; And Teddy would run to the rainbow's foot, Because he was five and a man; And that's how it all began, my dears, And that's how it all began.

bedroom

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

From this reading “Beat me, and lock you up in your bedroom,” Dick answered, without hesitation.

begannounUS /began/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading So we settled it all when the storm was done As comf'y as comf'y could be; And I was to wait in the barn, my dears, Because I was only three; And Teddy would run to the rainbow's foot, Because he was five and a man; And that's how it all began, my dears, And that's how it all began.

Big

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

From this reading --Big Barn Stories.

caught

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

From this reading “WHAT do you think she'd do if she caught us?

comf'y

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

From this reading So we settled it all when the storm was done As comf'y as comf'y could be; And I was to wait in the barn, my dears, Because I was only three; And Teddy would run to the rainbow's foot, Because he was five and a man; And that's how it all began, my dears, And that's how it all began.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading So we settled it all when the storm was done As comf'y as comf'y could be; And I was to wait in the barn, my dears, Because I was only three; And Teddy would run to the rainbow's foot, Because he was five and a man; And that's how it all began, my dears, And that's how it all began.

dears

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

From this reading So we settled it all when the storm was done As comf'y as comf'y could be; And I was to wait in the barn, my dears, Because I was only three; And Teddy would run to the rainbow's foot, Because he was five and a man; And that's how it all began, my dears, And that's how it all began.

Dick

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

From this reading “Beat me, and lock you up in your bedroom,” Dick answered, without hesitation.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading “WHAT do you think she'd do if she caught us?

donenounUS /done/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading So we settled it all when the storm was done As comf'y as comf'y could be; And I was to wait in the barn, my dears, Because I was only three; And Teddy would run to the rainbow's foot, Because he was five and a man; And that's how it all began, my dears, And that's how it all began.

five

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

From this reading So we settled it all when the storm was done As comf'y as comf'y could be; And I was to wait in the barn, my dears, Because I was only three; And Teddy would run to the rainbow's foot, Because he was five and a man; And that's how it all began, my dears, And that's how it all began.

footnounUS /foot/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading So we settled it all when the storm was done As comf'y as comf'y could be; And I was to wait in the barn, my dears, Because I was only three; And Teddy would run to the rainbow's foot, Because he was five and a man; And that's how it all began, my dears, And that's how it all began.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading We oughtn't to have it, you know,” said Maisie.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading So we settled it all when the storm was done As comf'y as comf'y could be; And I was to wait in the barn, my dears, Because I was only three; And Teddy would run to the rainbow's foot, Because he was five and a man; And that's how it all began, my dears, And that's how it all began.

hesitation

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

From this reading “Beat me, and lock you up in your bedroom,” Dick answered, without hesitation.

how

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

From this reading So we settled it all when the storm was done As comf'y as comf'y could be; And I was to wait in the barn, my dears, Because I was only three; And Teddy would run to the rainbow's foot, Because he was five and a man; And that's how it all began, my dears, And that's how it all began.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading So we settled it all when the storm was done As comf'y as comf'y could be; And I was to wait in the barn, my dears, Because I was only three; And Teddy would run to the rainbow's foot, Because he was five and a man; And that's how it all began, my dears, And that's how it all began.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading “WHAT do you think she'd do if she caught us?

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading So we settled it all when the storm was done As comf'y as comf'y could be; And I was to wait in the barn, my dears, Because I was only three; And Teddy would run to the rainbow's foot, Because he was five and a man; And that's how it all began, my dears, And that's how it all began.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading So we settled it all when the storm was done As comf'y as comf'y could be; And I was to wait in the barn, my dears, Because I was only three; And Teddy would run to the rainbow's foot, Because he was five and a man; And that's how it all began, my dears, And that's how it all began.

knownounUS /know/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading We oughtn't to have it, you know,” said Maisie.

lock

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

From this reading “Beat me, and lock you up in your bedroom,” Dick answered, without hesitation.

Maisie

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

From this reading We oughtn't to have it, you know,” said Maisie.

man

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

From this reading So we settled it all when the storm was done As comf'y as comf'y could be; And I was to wait in the barn, my dears, Because I was only three; And Teddy would run to the rainbow's foot, Because he was five and a man; And that's how it all began, my dears, And that's how it all began.

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading “Beat me, and lock you up in your bedroom,” Dick answered, without hesitation.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading So we settled it all when the storm was done As comf'y as comf'y could be; And I was to wait in the barn, my dears, Because I was only three; And Teddy would run to the rainbow's foot, Because he was five and a man; And that's how it all began, my dears, And that's how it all began.

only

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

From this reading So we settled it all when the storm was done As comf'y as comf'y could be; And I was to wait in the barn, my dears, Because I was only three; And Teddy would run to the rainbow's foot, Because he was five and a man; And that's how it all began, my dears, And that's how it all began.

oughtn't

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

From this reading We oughtn't to have it, you know,” said Maisie.

rainbow's

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

From this reading So we settled it all when the storm was done As comf'y as comf'y could be; And I was to wait in the barn, my dears, Because I was only three; And Teddy would run to the rainbow's foot, Because he was five and a man; And that's how it all began, my dears, And that's how it all began.

run

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

From this reading So we settled it all when the storm was done As comf'y as comf'y could be; And I was to wait in the barn, my dears, Because I was only three; And Teddy would run to the rainbow's foot, Because he was five and a man; And that's how it all began, my dears, And that's how it all began.

said

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

From this reading We oughtn't to have it, you know,” said Maisie.

settled

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

From this reading So we settled it all when the storm was done As comf'y as comf'y could be; And I was to wait in the barn, my dears, Because I was only three; And Teddy would run to the rainbow's foot, Because he was five and a man; And that's how it all began, my dears, And that's how it all began.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading “WHAT do you think she'd do if she caught us?

she'd

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

From this reading “WHAT do you think she'd do if she caught us?

SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading So we settled it all when the storm was done As comf'y as comf'y could be; And I was to wait in the barn, my dears, Because I was only three; And Teddy would run to the rainbow's foot, Because he was five and a man; And that's how it all began, my dears, And that's how it all began.

Stories

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

From this reading --Big Barn Stories.

storm

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

From this reading So we settled it all when the storm was done As comf'y as comf'y could be; And I was to wait in the barn, my dears, Because I was only three; And Teddy would run to the rainbow's foot, Because he was five and a man; And that's how it all began, my dears, And that's how it all began.

Teddy

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

From this reading So we settled it all when the storm was done As comf'y as comf'y could be; And I was to wait in the barn, my dears, Because I was only three; And Teddy would run to the rainbow's foot, Because he was five and a man; And that's how it all began, my dears, And that's how it all began.

that's

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

From this reading So we settled it all when the storm was done As comf'y as comf'y could be; And I was to wait in the barn, my dears, Because I was only three; And Teddy would run to the rainbow's foot, Because he was five and a man; And that's how it all began, my dears, And that's how it all began.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading So we settled it all when the storm was done As comf'y as comf'y could be; And I was to wait in the barn, my dears, Because I was only three; And Teddy would run to the rainbow's foot, Because he was five and a man; And that's how it all began, my dears, And that's how it all began.

thinknounUS /think/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “WHAT do you think she'd do if she caught us?

three

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

From this reading So we settled it all when the storm was done As comf'y as comf'y could be; And I was to wait in the barn, my dears, Because I was only three; And Teddy would run to the rainbow's foot, Because he was five and a man; And that's how it all began, my dears, And that's how it all began.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading So we settled it all when the storm was done As comf'y as comf'y could be; And I was to wait in the barn, my dears, Because I was only three; And Teddy would run to the rainbow's foot, Because he was five and a man; And that's how it all began, my dears, And that's how it all began.

up

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

From this reading “Beat me, and lock you up in your bedroom,” Dick answered, without hesitation.

uspronounUS /ʌs/

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading “WHAT do you think she'd do if she caught us?

wait

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

From this reading So we settled it all when the storm was done As comf'y as comf'y could be; And I was to wait in the barn, my dears, Because I was only three; And Teddy would run to the rainbow's foot, Because he was five and a man; And that's how it all began, my dears, And that's how it all began.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading So we settled it all when the storm was done As comf'y as comf'y could be; And I was to wait in the barn, my dears, Because I was only three; And Teddy would run to the rainbow's foot, Because he was five and a man; And that's how it all began, my dears, And that's how it all began.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading So we settled it all when the storm was done As comf'y as comf'y could be; And I was to wait in the barn, my dears, Because I was only three; And Teddy would run to the rainbow's foot, Because he was five and a man; And that's how it all began, my dears, And that's how it all began.

WHATpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading “WHAT do you think she'd do if she caught us?

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading So we settled it all when the storm was done As comf'y as comf'y could be; And I was to wait in the barn, my dears, Because I was only three; And Teddy would run to the rainbow's foot, Because he was five and a man; And that's how it all began, my dears, And that's how it all began.

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading “Beat me, and lock you up in your bedroom,” Dick answered, without hesitation.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading So we settled it all when the storm was done As comf'y as comf'y could be; And I was to wait in the barn, my dears, Because I was only three; And Teddy would run to the rainbow's foot, Because he was five and a man; And that's how it all began, my dears, And that's how it all began.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “WHAT do you think she'd do if she caught us?

yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “Beat me, and lock you up in your bedroom,” Dick answered, without hesitation.