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Chapter XXIV · Midshipmen Entering the Navy Early

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Context Illustration Reading 1/22 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The allusion in the preceding chapter to the early age at which some of the midshipmen enter the Navy, suggests some thoughts relative to more important considerations.
A very general modern impression seems to be, that, in order to learn the profession of a sea-officer, a boy can hardly be sent to sea too early.
To a certain extent, this may be a mistake.
Other professions, involving a knowledge of technicalities and things restricted to one particular field of action, are frequently mastered by men who begin after the age of twenty-one, or even at a later period of life.
It was only about the middle of the seventeenth century that the British military and naval services were kept distinct.
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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.

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Chapter XXIV · Midshipmen Entering the Navy Early

Reading 1/22 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The allusion in the preceding chapter to the early age at which some of the midshipmen enter the Navy, suggests some thoughts relative to more important considerations.
Line 2
A very general modern impression seems to be, that, in order to learn the profession of a sea-officer, a boy can hardly be sent to sea too early.
Line 3
To a certain extent, this may be a mistake.
Line 4
Other professions, involving a knowledge of technicalities and things restricted to one particular field of action, are frequently mastered by men who begin after the age of twenty-one, or even at a later period of life.
Line 5
It was only about the middle of the seventeenth century that the British military and naval services were kept distinct.

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 “It was only about the middle of the seventeenth century that the British military and naval services were kept distinct.”

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “Other professions, involving a knowledge of technicalities and things restricted to one particular field of action, are frequently mastered by men who begin after the age of twenty-one, or even at a later period of life.”

Even noun US /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Other professions, involving a knowledge of technicalities and things restricted to one particular field of action, are frequently mastered by men who begin after the age of twenty-one, or even at a later period of life.”

Life noun US /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Other professions, involving a knowledge of technicalities and things restricted to one particular field of action, are frequently mastered by men who begin after the age of twenty-one, or even at a later period of life.”

May modal verb US /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading “To a certain extent, this may be a mistake.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “Other professions, involving a knowledge of technicalities and things restricted to one particular field of action, are frequently mastered by men who begin after the age of twenty-one, or even at a later period of life.”

Order noun US /order/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A very general modern impression seems to be, that, in order to learn the profession of a sea-officer, a boy can hardly be sent to sea too early.”

All words in this reading · 84

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 A very general modern impression seems to be, that, in order to learn the profession of a sea-officer, a boy can hardly be sent to sea too early.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading It was only about the middle of the seventeenth century that the British military and naval services were kept distinct.

action

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

From this reading Other professions, involving a knowledge of technicalities and things restricted to one particular field of action, are frequently mastered by men who begin after the age of twenty-one, or even at a later period of life.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading Other professions, involving a knowledge of technicalities and things restricted to one particular field of action, are frequently mastered by men who begin after the age of twenty-one, or even at a later period of life.

age

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

From this reading The allusion in the preceding chapter to the early age at which some of the midshipmen enter the Navy, suggests some thoughts relative to more important considerations.

allusion

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

From this reading The allusion in the preceding chapter to the early age at which some of the midshipmen enter the Navy, suggests some thoughts relative to more important considerations.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Other professions, involving a knowledge of technicalities and things restricted to one particular field of action, are frequently mastered by men who begin after the age of twenty-one, or even at a later period of life.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading Other professions, involving a knowledge of technicalities and things restricted to one particular field of action, are frequently mastered by men who begin after the age of twenty-one, or even at a later period of life.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The allusion in the preceding chapter to the early age at which some of the midshipmen enter the Navy, suggests some thoughts relative to more important considerations.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading A very general modern impression seems to be, that, in order to learn the profession of a sea-officer, a boy can hardly be sent to sea too early.

begin

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

From this reading Other professions, involving a knowledge of technicalities and things restricted to one particular field of action, are frequently mastered by men who begin after the age of twenty-one, or even at a later period of life.

boy

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

From this reading A very general modern impression seems to be, that, in order to learn the profession of a sea-officer, a boy can hardly be sent to sea too early.

British

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

From this reading It was only about the middle of the seventeenth century that the British military and naval services were kept distinct.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Other professions, involving a knowledge of technicalities and things restricted to one particular field of action, are frequently mastered by men who begin after the age of twenty-one, or even at a later period of life.

canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading A very general modern impression seems to be, that, in order to learn the profession of a sea-officer, a boy can hardly be sent to sea too early.

century

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

From this reading It was only about the middle of the seventeenth century that the British military and naval services were kept distinct.

certain

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

From this reading To a certain extent, this may be a mistake.

chapter

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

From this reading The allusion in the preceding chapter to the early age at which some of the midshipmen enter the Navy, suggests some thoughts relative to more important considerations.

considerations

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

From this reading The allusion in the preceding chapter to the early age at which some of the midshipmen enter the Navy, suggests some thoughts relative to more important considerations.

distinct

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

From this reading It was only about the middle of the seventeenth century that the British military and naval services were kept distinct.

early

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

From this reading The allusion in the preceding chapter to the early age at which some of the midshipmen enter the Navy, suggests some thoughts relative to more important considerations.

enter

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

From this reading The allusion in the preceding chapter to the early age at which some of the midshipmen enter the Navy, suggests some thoughts relative to more important considerations.

evennounUS /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Other professions, involving a knowledge of technicalities and things restricted to one particular field of action, are frequently mastered by men who begin after the age of twenty-one, or even at a later period of life.

extent

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

From this reading To a certain extent, this may be a mistake.

field

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

From this reading Other professions, involving a knowledge of technicalities and things restricted to one particular field of action, are frequently mastered by men who begin after the age of twenty-one, or even at a later period of life.

frequently

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

From this reading Other professions, involving a knowledge of technicalities and things restricted to one particular field of action, are frequently mastered by men who begin after the age of twenty-one, or even at a later period of life.

general

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

From this reading A very general modern impression seems to be, that, in order to learn the profession of a sea-officer, a boy can hardly be sent to sea too early.

hardly

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

From this reading A very general modern impression seems to be, that, in order to learn the profession of a sea-officer, a boy can hardly be sent to sea too early.

important

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

From this reading The allusion in the preceding chapter to the early age at which some of the midshipmen enter the Navy, suggests some thoughts relative to more important considerations.

impression

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

From this reading A very general modern impression seems to be, that, in order to learn the profession of a sea-officer, a boy can hardly be sent to sea too early.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The allusion in the preceding chapter to the early age at which some of the midshipmen enter the Navy, suggests some thoughts relative to more important considerations.

involving

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

From this reading Other professions, involving a knowledge of technicalities and things restricted to one particular field of action, are frequently mastered by men who begin after the age of twenty-one, or even at a later period of life.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was only about the middle of the seventeenth century that the British military and naval services were kept distinct.

kept

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

From this reading It was only about the middle of the seventeenth century that the British military and naval services were kept distinct.

knowledge

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

From this reading Other professions, involving a knowledge of technicalities and things restricted to one particular field of action, are frequently mastered by men who begin after the age of twenty-one, or even at a later period of life.

later

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

From this reading Other professions, involving a knowledge of technicalities and things restricted to one particular field of action, are frequently mastered by men who begin after the age of twenty-one, or even at a later period of life.

learn

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

From this reading A very general modern impression seems to be, that, in order to learn the profession of a sea-officer, a boy can hardly be sent to sea too early.

lifenounUS /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Other professions, involving a knowledge of technicalities and things restricted to one particular field of action, are frequently mastered by men who begin after the age of twenty-one, or even at a later period of life.

mastered

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

From this reading Other professions, involving a knowledge of technicalities and things restricted to one particular field of action, are frequently mastered by men who begin after the age of twenty-one, or even at a later period of life.

maymodal verbUS /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading To a certain extent, this may be a mistake.

men

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

From this reading Other professions, involving a knowledge of technicalities and things restricted to one particular field of action, are frequently mastered by men who begin after the age of twenty-one, or even at a later period of life.

middle

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

From this reading It was only about the middle of the seventeenth century that the British military and naval services were kept distinct.

midshipmen

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

From this reading The allusion in the preceding chapter to the early age at which some of the midshipmen enter the Navy, suggests some thoughts relative to more important considerations.

military

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

From this reading It was only about the middle of the seventeenth century that the British military and naval services were kept distinct.

mistake

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

From this reading To a certain extent, this may be a mistake.

modern

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

From this reading A very general modern impression seems to be, that, in order to learn the profession of a sea-officer, a boy can hardly be sent to sea too early.

more

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

From this reading The allusion in the preceding chapter to the early age at which some of the midshipmen enter the Navy, suggests some thoughts relative to more important considerations.

naval

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

From this reading It was only about the middle of the seventeenth century that the British military and naval services were kept distinct.

Navy

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

From this reading The allusion in the preceding chapter to the early age at which some of the midshipmen enter the Navy, suggests some thoughts relative to more important considerations.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The allusion in the preceding chapter to the early age at which some of the midshipmen enter the Navy, suggests some thoughts relative to more important considerations.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Other professions, involving a knowledge of technicalities and things restricted to one particular field of action, are frequently mastered by men who begin after the age of twenty-one, or even at a later period of life.

only

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

From this reading It was only about the middle of the seventeenth century that the British military and naval services were kept distinct.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Other professions, involving a knowledge of technicalities and things restricted to one particular field of action, are frequently mastered by men who begin after the age of twenty-one, or even at a later period of life.

ordernounUS /order/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A very general modern impression seems to be, that, in order to learn the profession of a sea-officer, a boy can hardly be sent to sea too early.

Other

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

From this reading Other professions, involving a knowledge of technicalities and things restricted to one particular field of action, are frequently mastered by men who begin after the age of twenty-one, or even at a later period of life.

particular

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

From this reading Other professions, involving a knowledge of technicalities and things restricted to one particular field of action, are frequently mastered by men who begin after the age of twenty-one, or even at a later period of life.

period

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

From this reading Other professions, involving a knowledge of technicalities and things restricted to one particular field of action, are frequently mastered by men who begin after the age of twenty-one, or even at a later period of life.

preceding

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

From this reading The allusion in the preceding chapter to the early age at which some of the midshipmen enter the Navy, suggests some thoughts relative to more important considerations.

profession

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

From this reading A very general modern impression seems to be, that, in order to learn the profession of a sea-officer, a boy can hardly be sent to sea too early.

professions

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

From this reading Other professions, involving a knowledge of technicalities and things restricted to one particular field of action, are frequently mastered by men who begin after the age of twenty-one, or even at a later period of life.

relative

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

From this reading The allusion in the preceding chapter to the early age at which some of the midshipmen enter the Navy, suggests some thoughts relative to more important considerations.

restricted

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

From this reading Other professions, involving a knowledge of technicalities and things restricted to one particular field of action, are frequently mastered by men who begin after the age of twenty-one, or even at a later period of life.

sea

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

From this reading A very general modern impression seems to be, that, in order to learn the profession of a sea-officer, a boy can hardly be sent to sea too early.

sea-officer

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

From this reading A very general modern impression seems to be, that, in order to learn the profession of a sea-officer, a boy can hardly be sent to sea too early.

seems

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

From this reading A very general modern impression seems to be, that, in order to learn the profession of a sea-officer, a boy can hardly be sent to sea too early.

sent

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

From this reading A very general modern impression seems to be, that, in order to learn the profession of a sea-officer, a boy can hardly be sent to sea too early.

services

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

From this reading It was only about the middle of the seventeenth century that the British military and naval services were kept distinct.

seventeenth

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

From this reading It was only about the middle of the seventeenth century that the British military and naval services were kept distinct.

some

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

From this reading The allusion in the preceding chapter to the early age at which some of the midshipmen enter the Navy, suggests some thoughts relative to more important considerations.

suggests

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

From this reading The allusion in the preceding chapter to the early age at which some of the midshipmen enter the Navy, suggests some thoughts relative to more important considerations.

technicalities

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

From this reading Other professions, involving a knowledge of technicalities and things restricted to one particular field of action, are frequently mastered by men who begin after the age of twenty-one, or even at a later period of life.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading A very general modern impression seems to be, that, in order to learn the profession of a sea-officer, a boy can hardly be sent to sea too early.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The allusion in the preceding chapter to the early age at which some of the midshipmen enter the Navy, suggests some thoughts relative to more important considerations.

things

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

From this reading Other professions, involving a knowledge of technicalities and things restricted to one particular field of action, are frequently mastered by men who begin after the age of twenty-one, or even at a later period of life.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading To a certain extent, this may be a mistake.

thoughts

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

From this reading The allusion in the preceding chapter to the early age at which some of the midshipmen enter the Navy, suggests some thoughts relative to more important considerations.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The allusion in the preceding chapter to the early age at which some of the midshipmen enter the Navy, suggests some thoughts relative to more important considerations.

too

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

From this reading A very general modern impression seems to be, that, in order to learn the profession of a sea-officer, a boy can hardly be sent to sea too early.

twenty-one

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

From this reading Other professions, involving a knowledge of technicalities and things restricted to one particular field of action, are frequently mastered by men who begin after the age of twenty-one, or even at a later period of life.

very

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

From this reading A very general modern impression seems to be, that, in order to learn the profession of a sea-officer, a boy can hardly be sent to sea too early.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading It was only about the middle of the seventeenth century that the British military and naval services were kept distinct.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading It was only about the middle of the seventeenth century that the British military and naval services were kept distinct.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading The allusion in the preceding chapter to the early age at which some of the midshipmen enter the Navy, suggests some thoughts relative to more important considerations.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading Other professions, involving a knowledge of technicalities and things restricted to one particular field of action, are frequently mastered by men who begin after the age of twenty-one, or even at a later period of life.