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Tom Sawyer, Detective
Tom Sawyer, Detective

Chapter I · An Invitation for Tom and Huck

Cover illustration for Tom Sawyer, Detective
Context Illustration Reading 1/19 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
[Note: Strange as the incidents of this story are, they are not inventions, but facts—even to the public confession of the accused.
I take them from an old-time Swedish criminal trial, change the actors, and transfer the scenes to America.
I have added some details, but only a couple of them are important ones.
— M. T.]
Well, it was the next spring after me and Tom Sawyer set our old nigger Jim free, the time he was chained up for a runaway slave down there on Tom’s uncle Silas’s farm in Arkansaw.
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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.

Tom Sawyer, Detective

Chapter I · An Invitation for Tom and Huck

Reading 1/19 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
[Note: Strange as the incidents of this story are, they are not inventions, but facts—even to the public confession of the accused.
Line 2
I take them from an old-time Swedish criminal trial, change the actors, and transfer the scenes to America.
Line 3
I have added some details, but only a couple of them are important ones.
Line 4
— M. T.]
Line 5
Well, it was the next spring after me and Tom Sawyer set our old nigger Jim free, the time he was chained up for a runaway slave down there on Tom’s uncle Silas’s farm in Arkansaw.

Learner Dictionary

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

Added noun US /added/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I have added some details, but only a couple of them are important ones.”

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “Well, it was the next spring after me and Tom Sawyer set our old nigger Jim free, the time he was chained up for a runaway slave down there on Tom’s uncle Silas’s farm in Arkansaw.”

Couple noun US /ˈkʌpəl/

two people or things considered together

From this reading “I have added some details, but only a couple of them are important ones.”

Details noun US /ˈdetails/

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

From this reading “I have added some details, but only a couple of them are important ones.”

Even noun US /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “[Note: Strange as the incidents of this story are, they are not inventions, but facts—even to the public confession of the accused.”

Free adjective US /friː/

acting without enough restraint or discipline

From this reading “Well, it was the next spring after me and Tom Sawyer set our old nigger Jim free, the time he was chained up for a runaway slave down there on Tom’s uncle Silas’s farm in Arkansaw.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “I have added some details, but only a couple of them are important ones.”

Next noun US /next/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Well, it was the next spring after me and Tom Sawyer set our old nigger Jim free, the time he was chained up for a runaway slave down there on Tom’s uncle Silas’s farm in Arkansaw.”

Take noun US /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I take them from an old-time Swedish criminal trial, change the actors, and transfer the scenes to America.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I take them from an old-time Swedish criminal trial, change the actors, and transfer the scenes to America.”

Well noun US /well/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Well, it was the next spring after me and Tom Sawyer set our old nigger Jim free, the time he was chained up for a runaway slave down there on Tom’s uncle Silas’s farm in Arkansaw.”

All words in this reading · 76

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 I have added some details, but only a couple of them are important ones.

accused

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

From this reading [Note: Strange as the incidents of this story are, they are not inventions, but facts—even to the public confession of the accused.

actors

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

From this reading I take them from an old-time Swedish criminal trial, change the actors, and transfer the scenes to America.

addednounUS /added/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading I have added some details, but only a couple of them are important ones.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading Well, it was the next spring after me and Tom Sawyer set our old nigger Jim free, the time he was chained up for a runaway slave down there on Tom’s uncle Silas’s farm in Arkansaw.

America

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

From this reading I take them from an old-time Swedish criminal trial, change the actors, and transfer the scenes to America.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading I take them from an old-time Swedish criminal trial, change the actors, and transfer the scenes to America.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading I take them from an old-time Swedish criminal trial, change the actors, and transfer the scenes to America.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading [Note: Strange as the incidents of this story are, they are not inventions, but facts—even to the public confession of the accused.

Arkansaw

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

From this reading Well, it was the next spring after me and Tom Sawyer set our old nigger Jim free, the time he was chained up for a runaway slave down there on Tom’s uncle Silas’s farm in Arkansaw.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading [Note: Strange as the incidents of this story are, they are not inventions, but facts—even to the public confession of the accused.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading [Note: Strange as the incidents of this story are, they are not inventions, but facts—even to the public confession of the accused.

chained

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

From this reading Well, it was the next spring after me and Tom Sawyer set our old nigger Jim free, the time he was chained up for a runaway slave down there on Tom’s uncle Silas’s farm in Arkansaw.

change

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

From this reading I take them from an old-time Swedish criminal trial, change the actors, and transfer the scenes to America.

confession

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

From this reading [Note: Strange as the incidents of this story are, they are not inventions, but facts—even to the public confession of the accused.

couplenounUS /ˈkʌpəl/

two people or things considered together

From this reading I have added some details, but only a couple of them are important ones.

criminal

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

From this reading I take them from an old-time Swedish criminal trial, change the actors, and transfer the scenes to America.

detailsnounUS /ˈdetails/

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

From this reading I have added some details, but only a couple of them are important ones.

down

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

From this reading Well, it was the next spring after me and Tom Sawyer set our old nigger Jim free, the time he was chained up for a runaway slave down there on Tom’s uncle Silas’s farm in Arkansaw.

evennounUS /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading [Note: Strange as the incidents of this story are, they are not inventions, but facts—even to the public confession of the accused.

facts

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

From this reading [Note: Strange as the incidents of this story are, they are not inventions, but facts—even to the public confession of the accused.

farm

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

From this reading Well, it was the next spring after me and Tom Sawyer set our old nigger Jim free, the time he was chained up for a runaway slave down there on Tom’s uncle Silas’s farm in Arkansaw.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Well, it was the next spring after me and Tom Sawyer set our old nigger Jim free, the time he was chained up for a runaway slave down there on Tom’s uncle Silas’s farm in Arkansaw.

freeadjectiveUS /friː/

acting without enough restraint or discipline

From this reading Well, it was the next spring after me and Tom Sawyer set our old nigger Jim free, the time he was chained up for a runaway slave down there on Tom’s uncle Silas’s farm in Arkansaw.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading I take them from an old-time Swedish criminal trial, change the actors, and transfer the scenes to America.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading I have added some details, but only a couple of them are important ones.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Well, it was the next spring after me and Tom Sawyer set our old nigger Jim free, the time he was chained up for a runaway slave down there on Tom’s uncle Silas’s farm in Arkansaw.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading I take them from an old-time Swedish criminal trial, change the actors, and transfer the scenes to America.

important

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

From this reading I have added some details, but only a couple of them are important ones.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Well, it was the next spring after me and Tom Sawyer set our old nigger Jim free, the time he was chained up for a runaway slave down there on Tom’s uncle Silas’s farm in Arkansaw.

incidents

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

From this reading [Note: Strange as the incidents of this story are, they are not inventions, but facts—even to the public confession of the accused.

inventions

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

From this reading [Note: Strange as the incidents of this story are, they are not inventions, but facts—even to the public confession of the accused.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Well, it was the next spring after me and Tom Sawyer set our old nigger Jim free, the time he was chained up for a runaway slave down there on Tom’s uncle Silas’s farm in Arkansaw.

Jim

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

From this reading Well, it was the next spring after me and Tom Sawyer set our old nigger Jim free, the time he was chained up for a runaway slave down there on Tom’s uncle Silas’s farm in Arkansaw.

M

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

From this reading — M. T.]

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading Well, it was the next spring after me and Tom Sawyer set our old nigger Jim free, the time he was chained up for a runaway slave down there on Tom’s uncle Silas’s farm in Arkansaw.

nextnounUS /next/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Well, it was the next spring after me and Tom Sawyer set our old nigger Jim free, the time he was chained up for a runaway slave down there on Tom’s uncle Silas’s farm in Arkansaw.

nigger

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

From this reading Well, it was the next spring after me and Tom Sawyer set our old nigger Jim free, the time he was chained up for a runaway slave down there on Tom’s uncle Silas’s farm in Arkansaw.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading [Note: Strange as the incidents of this story are, they are not inventions, but facts—even to the public confession of the accused.

Note

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

From this reading [Note: Strange as the incidents of this story are, they are not inventions, but facts—even to the public confession of the accused.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading [Note: Strange as the incidents of this story are, they are not inventions, but facts—even to the public confession of the accused.

old

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

From this reading Well, it was the next spring after me and Tom Sawyer set our old nigger Jim free, the time he was chained up for a runaway slave down there on Tom’s uncle Silas’s farm in Arkansaw.

old-time

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

From this reading I take them from an old-time Swedish criminal trial, change the actors, and transfer the scenes to America.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Well, it was the next spring after me and Tom Sawyer set our old nigger Jim free, the time he was chained up for a runaway slave down there on Tom’s uncle Silas’s farm in Arkansaw.

ones

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

From this reading I have added some details, but only a couple of them are important ones.

only

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

From this reading I have added some details, but only a couple of them are important ones.

ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading Well, it was the next spring after me and Tom Sawyer set our old nigger Jim free, the time he was chained up for a runaway slave down there on Tom’s uncle Silas’s farm in Arkansaw.

public

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

From this reading [Note: Strange as the incidents of this story are, they are not inventions, but facts—even to the public confession of the accused.

runaway

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

From this reading Well, it was the next spring after me and Tom Sawyer set our old nigger Jim free, the time he was chained up for a runaway slave down there on Tom’s uncle Silas’s farm in Arkansaw.

Sawyer

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

From this reading Well, it was the next spring after me and Tom Sawyer set our old nigger Jim free, the time he was chained up for a runaway slave down there on Tom’s uncle Silas’s farm in Arkansaw.

scenes

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

From this reading I take them from an old-time Swedish criminal trial, change the actors, and transfer the scenes to America.

set

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

From this reading Well, it was the next spring after me and Tom Sawyer set our old nigger Jim free, the time he was chained up for a runaway slave down there on Tom’s uncle Silas’s farm in Arkansaw.

Silas's

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

From this reading Well, it was the next spring after me and Tom Sawyer set our old nigger Jim free, the time he was chained up for a runaway slave down there on Tom’s uncle Silas’s farm in Arkansaw.

slave

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

From this reading Well, it was the next spring after me and Tom Sawyer set our old nigger Jim free, the time he was chained up for a runaway slave down there on Tom’s uncle Silas’s farm in Arkansaw.

some

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

From this reading I have added some details, but only a couple of them are important ones.

spring

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

From this reading Well, it was the next spring after me and Tom Sawyer set our old nigger Jim free, the time he was chained up for a runaway slave down there on Tom’s uncle Silas’s farm in Arkansaw.

story

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

From this reading [Note: Strange as the incidents of this story are, they are not inventions, but facts—even to the public confession of the accused.

Strange

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

From this reading [Note: Strange as the incidents of this story are, they are not inventions, but facts—even to the public confession of the accused.

Swedish

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

From this reading I take them from an old-time Swedish criminal trial, change the actors, and transfer the scenes to America.

T

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

From this reading — M. T.]

takenounUS /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading I take them from an old-time Swedish criminal trial, change the actors, and transfer the scenes to America.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading [Note: Strange as the incidents of this story are, they are not inventions, but facts—even to the public confession of the accused.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading I take them from an old-time Swedish criminal trial, change the actors, and transfer the scenes to America.

there

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

From this reading Well, it was the next spring after me and Tom Sawyer set our old nigger Jim free, the time he was chained up for a runaway slave down there on Tom’s uncle Silas’s farm in Arkansaw.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading [Note: Strange as the incidents of this story are, they are not inventions, but facts—even to the public confession of the accused.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading [Note: Strange as the incidents of this story are, they are not inventions, but facts—even to the public confession of the accused.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Well, it was the next spring after me and Tom Sawyer set our old nigger Jim free, the time he was chained up for a runaway slave down there on Tom’s uncle Silas’s farm in Arkansaw.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading [Note: Strange as the incidents of this story are, they are not inventions, but facts—even to the public confession of the accused.

Tom

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

From this reading Well, it was the next spring after me and Tom Sawyer set our old nigger Jim free, the time he was chained up for a runaway slave down there on Tom’s uncle Silas’s farm in Arkansaw.

Tom's

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

From this reading Well, it was the next spring after me and Tom Sawyer set our old nigger Jim free, the time he was chained up for a runaway slave down there on Tom’s uncle Silas’s farm in Arkansaw.

transfer

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

From this reading I take them from an old-time Swedish criminal trial, change the actors, and transfer the scenes to America.

trial

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

From this reading I take them from an old-time Swedish criminal trial, change the actors, and transfer the scenes to America.

uncle

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

From this reading Well, it was the next spring after me and Tom Sawyer set our old nigger Jim free, the time he was chained up for a runaway slave down there on Tom’s uncle Silas’s farm in Arkansaw.

up

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

From this reading Well, it was the next spring after me and Tom Sawyer set our old nigger Jim free, the time he was chained up for a runaway slave down there on Tom’s uncle Silas’s farm in Arkansaw.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Well, it was the next spring after me and Tom Sawyer set our old nigger Jim free, the time he was chained up for a runaway slave down there on Tom’s uncle Silas’s farm in Arkansaw.

Well

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

From this reading Well, it was the next spring after me and Tom Sawyer set our old nigger Jim free, the time he was chained up for a runaway slave down there on Tom’s uncle Silas’s farm in Arkansaw.