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Twelve Stories and a Dream
Twelve Stories and a Dream

Chapter XI

Cover illustration for Twelve Stories and a Dream
Context Illustration Reading 1/40 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
“I've always had a bit of a philosophical turn, and I dare say I spent the best part of five minutes in such thoughts before I went below to find where the blessed dust was stored.
It was slow work hunting, feeling it was for the most part, pitchy dark, with confusing blue gleams down the companion.
And there were things moving about, a dab at my glass once, and once a pinch at my leg.
Crabs, I expect.
I kicked a lot of loose stuff that puzzled me, and stooped and picked up something all knobs and spikes.
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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.

Twelve Stories and a Dream

Chapter XI

Reading 1/40 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
“I've always had a bit of a philosophical turn, and I dare say I spent the best part of five minutes in such thoughts before I went below to find where the blessed dust was stored.
Line 2
It was slow work hunting, feeling it was for the most part, pitchy dark, with confusing blue gleams down the companion.
Line 3
And there were things moving about, a dab at my glass once, and once a pinch at my leg.
Line 4
Crabs, I expect.
Line 5
I kicked a lot of loose stuff that puzzled me, and stooped and picked up something all knobs and spikes.

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 “And there were things moving about, a dab at my glass once, and once a pinch at my leg.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading ““I've always had a bit of a philosophical turn, and I dare say I spent the best part of five minutes in such thoughts before I went below to find where the blessed dust was stored.”

Below preposition US /bɪˈloʊ/

at or to a lower level than something

From this reading ““I've always had a bit of a philosophical turn, and I dare say I spent the best part of five minutes in such thoughts before I went below to find where the blessed dust was stored.”

Expect verb US /ɪkˈspekt/

to think that something will happen

From this reading “Crabs, I expect.”

Feeling noun US /ˈfeeling/

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

From this reading “It was slow work hunting, feeling it was for the most part, pitchy dark, with confusing blue gleams down the companion.”

Once noun US /once/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “And there were things moving about, a dab at my glass once, and once a pinch at my leg.”

Part noun US /part/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““I've always had a bit of a philosophical turn, and I dare say I spent the best part of five minutes in such thoughts before I went below to find where the blessed dust was stored.”

Something pronoun US /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading “I kicked a lot of loose stuff that puzzled me, and stooped and picked up something all knobs and spikes.”

Went noun US /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““I've always had a bit of a philosophical turn, and I dare say I spent the best part of five minutes in such thoughts before I went below to find where the blessed dust was stored.”

All words in this reading · 74

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've always had a bit of a philosophical turn, and I dare say I spent the best part of five minutes in such thoughts before I went below to find where the blessed dust was stored.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading And there were things moving about, a dab at my glass once, and once a pinch at my leg.

all

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

From this reading I kicked a lot of loose stuff that puzzled me, and stooped and picked up something all knobs and spikes.

always

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

From this reading “I've always had a bit of a philosophical turn, and I dare say I spent the best part of five minutes in such thoughts before I went below to find where the blessed dust was stored.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading “I've always had a bit of a philosophical turn, and I dare say I spent the best part of five minutes in such thoughts before I went below to find where the blessed dust was stored.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading And there were things moving about, a dab at my glass once, and once a pinch at my leg.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “I've always had a bit of a philosophical turn, and I dare say I spent the best part of five minutes in such thoughts before I went below to find where the blessed dust was stored.

belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/

at or to a lower level than something

From this reading “I've always had a bit of a philosophical turn, and I dare say I spent the best part of five minutes in such thoughts before I went below to find where the blessed dust was stored.

best

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

From this reading “I've always had a bit of a philosophical turn, and I dare say I spent the best part of five minutes in such thoughts before I went below to find where the blessed dust was stored.

bit

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

From this reading “I've always had a bit of a philosophical turn, and I dare say I spent the best part of five minutes in such thoughts before I went below to find where the blessed dust was stored.

blessed

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

From this reading “I've always had a bit of a philosophical turn, and I dare say I spent the best part of five minutes in such thoughts before I went below to find where the blessed dust was stored.

blue

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

From this reading It was slow work hunting, feeling it was for the most part, pitchy dark, with confusing blue gleams down the companion.

companion

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

From this reading It was slow work hunting, feeling it was for the most part, pitchy dark, with confusing blue gleams down the companion.

confusing

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

From this reading It was slow work hunting, feeling it was for the most part, pitchy dark, with confusing blue gleams down the companion.

Crabs

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

From this reading Crabs, I expect.

dab

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

From this reading And there were things moving about, a dab at my glass once, and once a pinch at my leg.

dare

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

From this reading “I've always had a bit of a philosophical turn, and I dare say I spent the best part of five minutes in such thoughts before I went below to find where the blessed dust was stored.

dark

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

From this reading It was slow work hunting, feeling it was for the most part, pitchy dark, with confusing blue gleams down the companion.

down

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

From this reading It was slow work hunting, feeling it was for the most part, pitchy dark, with confusing blue gleams down the companion.

dust

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

From this reading “I've always had a bit of a philosophical turn, and I dare say I spent the best part of five minutes in such thoughts before I went below to find where the blessed dust was stored.

expectverbUS /ɪkˈspekt/

to think that something will happen

From this reading Crabs, I expect.

feelingnounUS /ˈfeeling/

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

From this reading It was slow work hunting, feeling it was for the most part, pitchy dark, with confusing blue gleams down the companion.

find

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

From this reading “I've always had a bit of a philosophical turn, and I dare say I spent the best part of five minutes in such thoughts before I went below to find where the blessed dust was stored.

five

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

From this reading “I've always had a bit of a philosophical turn, and I dare say I spent the best part of five minutes in such thoughts before I went below to find where the blessed dust was stored.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading It was slow work hunting, feeling it was for the most part, pitchy dark, with confusing blue gleams down the companion.

glass

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

From this reading And there were things moving about, a dab at my glass once, and once a pinch at my leg.

gleams

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

From this reading It was slow work hunting, feeling it was for the most part, pitchy dark, with confusing blue gleams down the companion.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading “I've always had a bit of a philosophical turn, and I dare say I spent the best part of five minutes in such thoughts before I went below to find where the blessed dust was stored.

hunting

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

From this reading It was slow work hunting, feeling it was for the most part, pitchy dark, with confusing blue gleams down the companion.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading “I've always had a bit of a philosophical turn, and I dare say I spent the best part of five minutes in such thoughts before I went below to find where the blessed dust was stored.

I've

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

From this reading “I've always had a bit of a philosophical turn, and I dare say I spent the best part of five minutes in such thoughts before I went below to find where the blessed dust was stored.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading “I've always had a bit of a philosophical turn, and I dare say I spent the best part of five minutes in such thoughts before I went below to find where the blessed dust was stored.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was slow work hunting, feeling it was for the most part, pitchy dark, with confusing blue gleams down the companion.

kicked

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

From this reading I kicked a lot of loose stuff that puzzled me, and stooped and picked up something all knobs and spikes.

knobs

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

From this reading I kicked a lot of loose stuff that puzzled me, and stooped and picked up something all knobs and spikes.

leg

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

From this reading And there were things moving about, a dab at my glass once, and once a pinch at my leg.

loose

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

From this reading I kicked a lot of loose stuff that puzzled me, and stooped and picked up something all knobs and spikes.

lot

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

From this reading I kicked a lot of loose stuff that puzzled me, and stooped and picked up something all knobs and spikes.

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading I kicked a lot of loose stuff that puzzled me, and stooped and picked up something all knobs and spikes.

minutes

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

From this reading “I've always had a bit of a philosophical turn, and I dare say I spent the best part of five minutes in such thoughts before I went below to find where the blessed dust was stored.

most

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

From this reading It was slow work hunting, feeling it was for the most part, pitchy dark, with confusing blue gleams down the companion.

moving

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

From this reading And there were things moving about, a dab at my glass once, and once a pinch at my leg.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading And there were things moving about, a dab at my glass once, and once a pinch at my leg.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading “I've always had a bit of a philosophical turn, and I dare say I spent the best part of five minutes in such thoughts before I went below to find where the blessed dust was stored.

once

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

From this reading And there were things moving about, a dab at my glass once, and once a pinch at my leg.

partnounUS /part/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I've always had a bit of a philosophical turn, and I dare say I spent the best part of five minutes in such thoughts before I went below to find where the blessed dust was stored.

philosophical

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

From this reading “I've always had a bit of a philosophical turn, and I dare say I spent the best part of five minutes in such thoughts before I went below to find where the blessed dust was stored.

picked

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

From this reading I kicked a lot of loose stuff that puzzled me, and stooped and picked up something all knobs and spikes.

pinch

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

From this reading And there were things moving about, a dab at my glass once, and once a pinch at my leg.

pitchy

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

From this reading It was slow work hunting, feeling it was for the most part, pitchy dark, with confusing blue gleams down the companion.

puzzled

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

From this reading I kicked a lot of loose stuff that puzzled me, and stooped and picked up something all knobs and spikes.

say

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

From this reading “I've always had a bit of a philosophical turn, and I dare say I spent the best part of five minutes in such thoughts before I went below to find where the blessed dust was stored.

slow

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

From this reading It was slow work hunting, feeling it was for the most part, pitchy dark, with confusing blue gleams down the companion.

somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading I kicked a lot of loose stuff that puzzled me, and stooped and picked up something all knobs and spikes.

spent

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

From this reading “I've always had a bit of a philosophical turn, and I dare say I spent the best part of five minutes in such thoughts before I went below to find where the blessed dust was stored.

spikes

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

From this reading I kicked a lot of loose stuff that puzzled me, and stooped and picked up something all knobs and spikes.

stooped

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

From this reading I kicked a lot of loose stuff that puzzled me, and stooped and picked up something all knobs and spikes.

stored

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

From this reading “I've always had a bit of a philosophical turn, and I dare say I spent the best part of five minutes in such thoughts before I went below to find where the blessed dust was stored.

stuff

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

From this reading I kicked a lot of loose stuff that puzzled me, and stooped and picked up something all knobs and spikes.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading “I've always had a bit of a philosophical turn, and I dare say I spent the best part of five minutes in such thoughts before I went below to find where the blessed dust was stored.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading I kicked a lot of loose stuff that puzzled me, and stooped and picked up something all knobs and spikes.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading “I've always had a bit of a philosophical turn, and I dare say I spent the best part of five minutes in such thoughts before I went below to find where the blessed dust was stored.

there

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

From this reading And there were things moving about, a dab at my glass once, and once a pinch at my leg.

things

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

From this reading And there were things moving about, a dab at my glass once, and once a pinch at my leg.

thoughts

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

From this reading “I've always had a bit of a philosophical turn, and I dare say I spent the best part of five minutes in such thoughts before I went below to find where the blessed dust was stored.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading “I've always had a bit of a philosophical turn, and I dare say I spent the best part of five minutes in such thoughts before I went below to find where the blessed dust was stored.

turn

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

From this reading “I've always had a bit of a philosophical turn, and I dare say I spent the best part of five minutes in such thoughts before I went below to find where the blessed dust was stored.

up

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

From this reading I kicked a lot of loose stuff that puzzled me, and stooped and picked up something all knobs and spikes.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading “I've always had a bit of a philosophical turn, and I dare say I spent the best part of five minutes in such thoughts before I went below to find where the blessed dust was stored.

wentnounUS /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I've always had a bit of a philosophical turn, and I dare say I spent the best part of five minutes in such thoughts before I went below to find where the blessed dust was stored.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading And there were things moving about, a dab at my glass once, and once a pinch at my leg.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading “I've always had a bit of a philosophical turn, and I dare say I spent the best part of five minutes in such thoughts before I went below to find where the blessed dust was stored.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading It was slow work hunting, feeling it was for the most part, pitchy dark, with confusing blue gleams down the companion.

work

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

From this reading It was slow work hunting, feeling it was for the most part, pitchy dark, with confusing blue gleams down the companion.