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A Bottle in the Smoke
A Bottle in the Smoke

Chapter XIV

Cover illustration for A Bottle in the Smoke
Context Illustration Reading 1/20 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The gay season in Madras was now at its height.
Mr. Alfred Rayner hailed the opportunity of taking his charming bride everywhere, and occasions were numerous.
The weather, though never deserving to be registered "cold," was pleasantly cool.
Fashionable calls could be made with comfort in the middle of the day, and in the discharge of this social duty, Hester's husband kept her emphatically up to the mark.
The afternoon and evening were divided into quite a distracting whirl of entertainments.
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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 Bottle in the Smoke

Chapter XIV

Reading 1/20 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The gay season in Madras was now at its height.
Line 2
Mr. Alfred Rayner hailed the opportunity of taking his charming bride everywhere, and occasions were numerous.
Line 3
The weather, though never deserving to be registered "cold," was pleasantly cool.
Line 4
Fashionable calls could be made with comfort in the middle of the day, and in the discharge of this social duty, Hester's husband kept her emphatically up to the mark.
Line 5
The afternoon and evening were divided into quite a distracting whirl of entertainments.

Learner Dictionary

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

Afternoon noun US /ˈafternoon/

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

From this reading “The afternoon and evening were divided into quite a distracting whirl of entertainments.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “Fashionable calls could be made with comfort in the middle of the day, and in the discharge of this social duty, Hester's husband kept her emphatically up to the mark.”

Divided noun US /ˈdivided/

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

From this reading “The afternoon and evening were divided into quite a distracting whirl of entertainments.”

Duty noun US /ˈduːti/

a responsibility that must be carried out

From this reading “Fashionable calls could be made with comfort in the middle of the day, and in the discharge of this social duty, Hester's husband kept her emphatically up to the mark.”

Hailed noun US /hailed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Mr. Alfred Rayner hailed the opportunity of taking his charming bride everywhere, and occasions were numerous.”

Never noun US /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The weather, though never deserving to be registered "cold," was pleasantly cool.”

Quite noun US /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The afternoon and evening were divided into quite a distracting whirl of entertainments.”

Though conjunction US /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “The weather, though never deserving to be registered "cold," was pleasantly cool.”

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 The afternoon and evening were divided into quite a distracting whirl of entertainments.

afternoonnounUS /ˈafternoon/

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

From this reading The afternoon and evening were divided into quite a distracting whirl of entertainments.

Alfred

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

From this reading Mr. Alfred Rayner hailed the opportunity of taking his charming bride everywhere, and occasions were numerous.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Mr. Alfred Rayner hailed the opportunity of taking his charming bride everywhere, and occasions were numerous.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The gay season in Madras was now at its height.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading The weather, though never deserving to be registered "cold," was pleasantly cool.

bride

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

From this reading Mr. Alfred Rayner hailed the opportunity of taking his charming bride everywhere, and occasions were numerous.

calls

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

From this reading Fashionable calls could be made with comfort in the middle of the day, and in the discharge of this social duty, Hester's husband kept her emphatically up to the mark.

charming

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

From this reading Mr. Alfred Rayner hailed the opportunity of taking his charming bride everywhere, and occasions were numerous.

cold

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

From this reading The weather, though never deserving to be registered "cold," was pleasantly cool.

comfort

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

From this reading Fashionable calls could be made with comfort in the middle of the day, and in the discharge of this social duty, Hester's husband kept her emphatically up to the mark.

cool

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

From this reading The weather, though never deserving to be registered "cold," was pleasantly cool.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading Fashionable calls could be made with comfort in the middle of the day, and in the discharge of this social duty, Hester's husband kept her emphatically up to the mark.

day

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

From this reading Fashionable calls could be made with comfort in the middle of the day, and in the discharge of this social duty, Hester's husband kept her emphatically up to the mark.

deserving

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

From this reading The weather, though never deserving to be registered "cold," was pleasantly cool.

discharge

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

From this reading Fashionable calls could be made with comfort in the middle of the day, and in the discharge of this social duty, Hester's husband kept her emphatically up to the mark.

distracting

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

From this reading The afternoon and evening were divided into quite a distracting whirl of entertainments.

dividednounUS /ˈdivided/

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

From this reading The afternoon and evening were divided into quite a distracting whirl of entertainments.

dutynounUS /ˈduːti/

a responsibility that must be carried out

From this reading Fashionable calls could be made with comfort in the middle of the day, and in the discharge of this social duty, Hester's husband kept her emphatically up to the mark.

emphatically

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

From this reading Fashionable calls could be made with comfort in the middle of the day, and in the discharge of this social duty, Hester's husband kept her emphatically up to the mark.

entertainments

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

From this reading The afternoon and evening were divided into quite a distracting whirl of entertainments.

evening

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

From this reading The afternoon and evening were divided into quite a distracting whirl of entertainments.

everywhere

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

From this reading Mr. Alfred Rayner hailed the opportunity of taking his charming bride everywhere, and occasions were numerous.

Fashionable

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

From this reading Fashionable calls could be made with comfort in the middle of the day, and in the discharge of this social duty, Hester's husband kept her emphatically up to the mark.

gay

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

From this reading The gay season in Madras was now at its height.

hailednounUS /hailed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Mr. Alfred Rayner hailed the opportunity of taking his charming bride everywhere, and occasions were numerous.

height

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

From this reading The gay season in Madras was now at its height.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading Fashionable calls could be made with comfort in the middle of the day, and in the discharge of this social duty, Hester's husband kept her emphatically up to the mark.

Hester's

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

From this reading Fashionable calls could be made with comfort in the middle of the day, and in the discharge of this social duty, Hester's husband kept her emphatically up to the mark.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading Mr. Alfred Rayner hailed the opportunity of taking his charming bride everywhere, and occasions were numerous.

husband

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

From this reading Fashionable calls could be made with comfort in the middle of the day, and in the discharge of this social duty, Hester's husband kept her emphatically up to the mark.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The gay season in Madras was now at its height.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading The afternoon and evening were divided into quite a distracting whirl of entertainments.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading The gay season in Madras was now at its height.

kept

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

From this reading Fashionable calls could be made with comfort in the middle of the day, and in the discharge of this social duty, Hester's husband kept her emphatically up to the mark.

made

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

From this reading Fashionable calls could be made with comfort in the middle of the day, and in the discharge of this social duty, Hester's husband kept her emphatically up to the mark.

Madras

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

From this reading The gay season in Madras was now at its height.

mark

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

From this reading Fashionable calls could be made with comfort in the middle of the day, and in the discharge of this social duty, Hester's husband kept her emphatically up to the mark.

middle

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

From this reading Fashionable calls could be made with comfort in the middle of the day, and in the discharge of this social duty, Hester's husband kept her emphatically up to the mark.

Mr

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

From this reading Mr. Alfred Rayner hailed the opportunity of taking his charming bride everywhere, and occasions were numerous.

nevernounUS /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The weather, though never deserving to be registered "cold," was pleasantly cool.

now

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

From this reading The gay season in Madras was now at its height.

numerous

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

From this reading Mr. Alfred Rayner hailed the opportunity of taking his charming bride everywhere, and occasions were numerous.

occasions

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

From this reading Mr. Alfred Rayner hailed the opportunity of taking his charming bride everywhere, and occasions were numerous.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Mr. Alfred Rayner hailed the opportunity of taking his charming bride everywhere, and occasions were numerous.

opportunity

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

From this reading Mr. Alfred Rayner hailed the opportunity of taking his charming bride everywhere, and occasions were numerous.

pleasantly

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

From this reading The weather, though never deserving to be registered "cold," was pleasantly cool.

quitenounUS /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The afternoon and evening were divided into quite a distracting whirl of entertainments.

Rayner

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

From this reading Mr. Alfred Rayner hailed the opportunity of taking his charming bride everywhere, and occasions were numerous.

registered

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

From this reading The weather, though never deserving to be registered "cold," was pleasantly cool.

season

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

From this reading The gay season in Madras was now at its height.

social

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

From this reading Fashionable calls could be made with comfort in the middle of the day, and in the discharge of this social duty, Hester's husband kept her emphatically up to the mark.

taking

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

From this reading Mr. Alfred Rayner hailed the opportunity of taking his charming bride everywhere, and occasions were numerous.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The gay season in Madras was now at its height.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading Fashionable calls could be made with comfort in the middle of the day, and in the discharge of this social duty, Hester's husband kept her emphatically up to the mark.

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading The weather, though never deserving to be registered "cold," was pleasantly cool.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The weather, though never deserving to be registered "cold," was pleasantly cool.

up

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

From this reading Fashionable calls could be made with comfort in the middle of the day, and in the discharge of this social duty, Hester's husband kept her emphatically up to the mark.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The gay season in Madras was now at its height.

weather

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

From this reading The weather, though never deserving to be registered "cold," was pleasantly cool.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading Mr. Alfred Rayner hailed the opportunity of taking his charming bride everywhere, and occasions were numerous.

whirl

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

From this reading The afternoon and evening were divided into quite a distracting whirl of entertainments.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Fashionable calls could be made with comfort in the middle of the day, and in the discharge of this social duty, Hester's husband kept her emphatically up to the mark.