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A Bicycle of Cathay
A Bicycle of Cathay

Chapter VIII

Cover illustration for A Bicycle of Cathay
Context Illustration Reading 1/38 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
A RUNAWAY He was a very slow walker, that bear.
If I had been alone I would have been out of sight of the inn in less than five minutes.
As it was, I looked back after a considerable time to see if I really were out of sight of the house, and I found I was not.
She was still standing in the doorway, and when I turned she waved her handkerchief.
Now that I had truly left and was gone, she seemed to be willing to let me know better than before what a charming woman she was.
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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.

A Bicycle of Cathay

Chapter VIII

Reading 1/38 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
A RUNAWAY He was a very slow walker, that bear.
Line 2
If I had been alone I would have been out of sight of the inn in less than five minutes.
Line 3
As it was, I looked back after a considerable time to see if I really were out of sight of the house, and I found I was not.
Line 4
She was still standing in the doorway, and when I turned she waved her handkerchief.
Line 5
Now that I had truly left and was gone, she seemed to be willing to let me know better than before what a charming woman she was.

Learner Dictionary

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

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “As it was, I looked back after a considerable time to see if I really were out of sight of the house, and I found I was not.”

Alone noun US /alone/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “If I had been alone I would have been out of sight of the inn in less than five minutes.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “If I had been alone I would have been out of sight of the inn in less than five minutes.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “Now that I had truly left and was gone, she seemed to be willing to let me know better than before what a charming woman she was.”

Found noun US /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “As it was, I looked back after a considerable time to see if I really were out of sight of the house, and I found I was not.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “If I had been alone I would have been out of sight of the inn in less than five minutes.”

Know noun US /know/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Now that I had truly left and was gone, she seemed to be willing to let me know better than before what a charming woman she was.”

Left noun US /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Now that I had truly left and was gone, she seemed to be willing to let me know better than before what a charming woman she was.”

Let auxiliary verb US /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading “Now that I had truly left and was gone, she seemed to be willing to let me know better than before what a charming woman she was.”

Looked noun US /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “As it was, I looked back after a considerable time to see if I really were out of sight of the house, and I found I was not.”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Now that I had truly left and was gone, she seemed to be willing to let me know better than before what a charming woman she was.”

Standing noun US /ˈstanding/

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

From this reading “She was still standing in the doorway, and when I turned she waved her handkerchief.”

Still noun US /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “She was still standing in the doorway, and when I turned she waved her handkerchief.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “As it was, I looked back after a considerable time to see if I really were out of sight of the house, and I found I was not.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “If I had been alone I would have been out of sight of the inn in less than five minutes.”

All words in this reading · 65

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 RUNAWAY He was a very slow walker, that bear.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading As it was, I looked back after a considerable time to see if I really were out of sight of the house, and I found I was not.

alonenounUS /alone/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading If I had been alone I would have been out of sight of the inn in less than five minutes.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading As it was, I looked back after a considerable time to see if I really were out of sight of the house, and I found I was not.

AsconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading As it was, I looked back after a considerable time to see if I really were out of sight of the house, and I found I was not.

back

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

From this reading As it was, I looked back after a considerable time to see if I really were out of sight of the house, and I found I was not.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading Now that I had truly left and was gone, she seemed to be willing to let me know better than before what a charming woman she was.

bear

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

From this reading A RUNAWAY He was a very slow walker, that bear.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading If I had been alone I would have been out of sight of the inn in less than five minutes.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Now that I had truly left and was gone, she seemed to be willing to let me know better than before what a charming woman she was.

better

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

From this reading Now that I had truly left and was gone, she seemed to be willing to let me know better than before what a charming woman she was.

charming

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

From this reading Now that I had truly left and was gone, she seemed to be willing to let me know better than before what a charming woman she was.

considerable

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

From this reading As it was, I looked back after a considerable time to see if I really were out of sight of the house, and I found I was not.

doorway

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

From this reading She was still standing in the doorway, and when I turned she waved her handkerchief.

five

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

From this reading If I had been alone I would have been out of sight of the inn in less than five minutes.

foundnounUS /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading As it was, I looked back after a considerable time to see if I really were out of sight of the house, and I found I was not.

gone

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

From this reading Now that I had truly left and was gone, she seemed to be willing to let me know better than before what a charming woman she was.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading If I had been alone I would have been out of sight of the inn in less than five minutes.

handkerchief

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

From this reading She was still standing in the doorway, and when I turned she waved her handkerchief.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading If I had been alone I would have been out of sight of the inn in less than five minutes.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading A RUNAWAY He was a very slow walker, that bear.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading She was still standing in the doorway, and when I turned she waved her handkerchief.

house

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

From this reading As it was, I looked back after a considerable time to see if I really were out of sight of the house, and I found I was not.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading If I had been alone I would have been out of sight of the inn in less than five minutes.

IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading If I had been alone I would have been out of sight of the inn in less than five minutes.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading If I had been alone I would have been out of sight of the inn in less than five minutes.

inn

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

From this reading If I had been alone I would have been out of sight of the inn in less than five minutes.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading As it was, I looked back after a considerable time to see if I really were out of sight of the house, and I found I was not.

knownounUS /know/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Now that I had truly left and was gone, she seemed to be willing to let me know better than before what a charming woman she was.

leftnounUS /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Now that I had truly left and was gone, she seemed to be willing to let me know better than before what a charming woman she was.

less

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

From this reading If I had been alone I would have been out of sight of the inn in less than five minutes.

letauxiliary verbUS /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading Now that I had truly left and was gone, she seemed to be willing to let me know better than before what a charming woman she was.

lookednounUS /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading As it was, I looked back after a considerable time to see if I really were out of sight of the house, and I found I was not.

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading Now that I had truly left and was gone, she seemed to be willing to let me know better than before what a charming woman she was.

minutes

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

From this reading If I had been alone I would have been out of sight of the inn in less than five minutes.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading As it was, I looked back after a considerable time to see if I really were out of sight of the house, and I found I was not.

Now

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

From this reading Now that I had truly left and was gone, she seemed to be willing to let me know better than before what a charming woman she was.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading If I had been alone I would have been out of sight of the inn in less than five minutes.

out

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

From this reading If I had been alone I would have been out of sight of the inn in less than five minutes.

really

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

From this reading As it was, I looked back after a considerable time to see if I really were out of sight of the house, and I found I was not.

RUNAWAY

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

From this reading A RUNAWAY He was a very slow walker, that bear.

see

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

From this reading As it was, I looked back after a considerable time to see if I really were out of sight of the house, and I found I was not.

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Now that I had truly left and was gone, she seemed to be willing to let me know better than before what a charming woman she was.

ShepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading She was still standing in the doorway, and when I turned she waved her handkerchief.

sight

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

From this reading If I had been alone I would have been out of sight of the inn in less than five minutes.

slow

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

From this reading A RUNAWAY He was a very slow walker, that bear.

standingnounUS /ˈstanding/

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

From this reading She was still standing in the doorway, and when I turned she waved her handkerchief.

stillnounUS /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading She was still standing in the doorway, and when I turned she waved her handkerchief.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading If I had been alone I would have been out of sight of the inn in less than five minutes.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading A RUNAWAY He was a very slow walker, that bear.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading If I had been alone I would have been out of sight of the inn in less than five minutes.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading As it was, I looked back after a considerable time to see if I really were out of sight of the house, and I found I was not.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading As it was, I looked back after a considerable time to see if I really were out of sight of the house, and I found I was not.

truly

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

From this reading Now that I had truly left and was gone, she seemed to be willing to let me know better than before what a charming woman she was.

turned

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

From this reading She was still standing in the doorway, and when I turned she waved her handkerchief.

very

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

From this reading A RUNAWAY He was a very slow walker, that bear.

walker

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

From this reading A RUNAWAY He was a very slow walker, that bear.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading A RUNAWAY He was a very slow walker, that bear.

waved

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

From this reading She was still standing in the doorway, and when I turned she waved her handkerchief.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading As it was, I looked back after a considerable time to see if I really were out of sight of the house, and I found I was not.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading Now that I had truly left and was gone, she seemed to be willing to let me know better than before what a charming woman she was.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading She was still standing in the doorway, and when I turned she waved her handkerchief.

willing

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

From this reading Now that I had truly left and was gone, she seemed to be willing to let me know better than before what a charming woman she was.

woman

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

From this reading Now that I had truly left and was gone, she seemed to be willing to let me know better than before what a charming woman she was.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading If I had been alone I would have been out of sight of the inn in less than five minutes.