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A Crooked Path: A Novel
A Crooked Path: A Novel

Chapter XXI

Cover illustration for A Crooked Path: A Novel
Context Illustration Reading 1/61 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
"NO."
Next morning's post brought a letter from Bertie, which was a kind of complement to Katherine's reflections of the night before.
After explaining that he had hitherto been unable to take a holiday from his various avocations, he promised to spend the following week with his sister and Miss Liddell.
He then described the success of Mrs. Needham's bazar, and proceeded thus:
"Meeting my old friend Mrs. Dodd a few days ago, I was sorry to find from her that your favorite, Rachel Trant, had been very unwell.
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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 Crooked Path: A Novel

Chapter XXI

Reading 1/61 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
"NO."
/noʊ/
Line 2
Next morning's post brought a letter from Bertie, which was a kind of complement to Katherine's reflections of the night before.
Line 3
After explaining that he had hitherto been unable to take a holiday from his various avocations, he promised to spend the following week with his sister and Miss Liddell.
Line 4
He then described the success of Mrs. Needham's bazar, and proceeded thus:
Line 5
"Meeting my old friend Mrs. Dodd a few days ago, I was sorry to find from her that your favorite, Rachel Trant, had been very unwell.

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 “After explaining that he had hitherto been unable to take a holiday from his various avocations, he promised to spend the following week with his sister and Miss Liddell.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “After explaining that he had hitherto been unable to take a holiday from his various avocations, he promised to spend the following week with his sister and Miss Liddell.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “Next morning's post brought a letter from Bertie, which was a kind of complement to Katherine's reflections of the night before.”

Brought noun US /ˈbrought/

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

From this reading “Next morning's post brought a letter from Bertie, which was a kind of complement to Katherine's reflections of the night before.”

Next noun US /next/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Next morning's post brought a letter from Bertie, which was a kind of complement to Katherine's reflections of the night before.”

Take noun US /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “After explaining that he had hitherto been unable to take a holiday from his various avocations, he promised to spend the following week with his sister and Miss Liddell.”

All words in this reading · 68

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 Next morning's post brought a letter from Bertie, which was a kind of complement to Katherine's reflections of the night before.

AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading After explaining that he had hitherto been unable to take a holiday from his various avocations, he promised to spend the following week with his sister and Miss Liddell.

ago

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

From this reading "Meeting my old friend Mrs. Dodd a few days ago, I was sorry to find from her that your favorite, Rachel Trant, had been very unwell.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading After explaining that he had hitherto been unable to take a holiday from his various avocations, he promised to spend the following week with his sister and Miss Liddell.

avocations

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

From this reading After explaining that he had hitherto been unable to take a holiday from his various avocations, he promised to spend the following week with his sister and Miss Liddell.

bazar

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

From this reading He then described the success of Mrs. Needham's bazar, and proceeded thus:

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading After explaining that he had hitherto been unable to take a holiday from his various avocations, he promised to spend the following week with his sister and Miss Liddell.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Next morning's post brought a letter from Bertie, which was a kind of complement to Katherine's reflections of the night before.

Bertie

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

From this reading Next morning's post brought a letter from Bertie, which was a kind of complement to Katherine's reflections of the night before.

broughtnounUS /ˈbrought/

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

From this reading Next morning's post brought a letter from Bertie, which was a kind of complement to Katherine's reflections of the night before.

complement

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

From this reading Next morning's post brought a letter from Bertie, which was a kind of complement to Katherine's reflections of the night before.

days

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

From this reading "Meeting my old friend Mrs. Dodd a few days ago, I was sorry to find from her that your favorite, Rachel Trant, had been very unwell.

described

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

From this reading He then described the success of Mrs. Needham's bazar, and proceeded thus:

Dodd

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

From this reading "Meeting my old friend Mrs. Dodd a few days ago, I was sorry to find from her that your favorite, Rachel Trant, had been very unwell.

explaining

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

From this reading After explaining that he had hitherto been unable to take a holiday from his various avocations, he promised to spend the following week with his sister and Miss Liddell.

favorite

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

From this reading "Meeting my old friend Mrs. Dodd a few days ago, I was sorry to find from her that your favorite, Rachel Trant, had been very unwell.

few

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

From this reading "Meeting my old friend Mrs. Dodd a few days ago, I was sorry to find from her that your favorite, Rachel Trant, had been very unwell.

find

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

From this reading "Meeting my old friend Mrs. Dodd a few days ago, I was sorry to find from her that your favorite, Rachel Trant, had been very unwell.

following

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

From this reading After explaining that he had hitherto been unable to take a holiday from his various avocations, he promised to spend the following week with his sister and Miss Liddell.

friend

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

From this reading "Meeting my old friend Mrs. Dodd a few days ago, I was sorry to find from her that your favorite, Rachel Trant, had been very unwell.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Next morning's post brought a letter from Bertie, which was a kind of complement to Katherine's reflections of the night before.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading After explaining that he had hitherto been unable to take a holiday from his various avocations, he promised to spend the following week with his sister and Miss Liddell.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading After explaining that he had hitherto been unable to take a holiday from his various avocations, he promised to spend the following week with his sister and Miss Liddell.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading "Meeting my old friend Mrs. Dodd a few days ago, I was sorry to find from her that your favorite, Rachel Trant, had been very unwell.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading After explaining that he had hitherto been unable to take a holiday from his various avocations, he promised to spend the following week with his sister and Miss Liddell.

hitherto

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

From this reading After explaining that he had hitherto been unable to take a holiday from his various avocations, he promised to spend the following week with his sister and Miss Liddell.

holiday

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

From this reading After explaining that he had hitherto been unable to take a holiday from his various avocations, he promised to spend the following week with his sister and Miss Liddell.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading "Meeting my old friend Mrs. Dodd a few days ago, I was sorry to find from her that your favorite, Rachel Trant, had been very unwell.

Katherine's

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

From this reading Next morning's post brought a letter from Bertie, which was a kind of complement to Katherine's reflections of the night before.

kind

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

From this reading Next morning's post brought a letter from Bertie, which was a kind of complement to Katherine's reflections of the night before.

letter

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

From this reading Next morning's post brought a letter from Bertie, which was a kind of complement to Katherine's reflections of the night before.

Liddell

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

From this reading After explaining that he had hitherto been unable to take a holiday from his various avocations, he promised to spend the following week with his sister and Miss Liddell.

Meeting

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

From this reading "Meeting my old friend Mrs. Dodd a few days ago, I was sorry to find from her that your favorite, Rachel Trant, had been very unwell.

Miss

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

From this reading After explaining that he had hitherto been unable to take a holiday from his various avocations, he promised to spend the following week with his sister and Miss Liddell.

morning's

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

From this reading Next morning's post brought a letter from Bertie, which was a kind of complement to Katherine's reflections of the night before.

Mrs

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

From this reading He then described the success of Mrs. Needham's bazar, and proceeded thus:

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading "Meeting my old friend Mrs. Dodd a few days ago, I was sorry to find from her that your favorite, Rachel Trant, had been very unwell.

Needham's

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

From this reading He then described the success of Mrs. Needham's bazar, and proceeded thus:

NextnounUS /next/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Next morning's post brought a letter from Bertie, which was a kind of complement to Katherine's reflections of the night before.

night

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

From this reading Next morning's post brought a letter from Bertie, which was a kind of complement to Katherine's reflections of the night before.

NOdeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading "NO."

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Next morning's post brought a letter from Bertie, which was a kind of complement to Katherine's reflections of the night before.

old

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

From this reading "Meeting my old friend Mrs. Dodd a few days ago, I was sorry to find from her that your favorite, Rachel Trant, had been very unwell.

post

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

From this reading Next morning's post brought a letter from Bertie, which was a kind of complement to Katherine's reflections of the night before.

proceeded

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

From this reading He then described the success of Mrs. Needham's bazar, and proceeded thus:

promised

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

From this reading After explaining that he had hitherto been unable to take a holiday from his various avocations, he promised to spend the following week with his sister and Miss Liddell.

Rachel

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

From this reading "Meeting my old friend Mrs. Dodd a few days ago, I was sorry to find from her that your favorite, Rachel Trant, had been very unwell.

reflections

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

From this reading Next morning's post brought a letter from Bertie, which was a kind of complement to Katherine's reflections of the night before.

sister

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

From this reading After explaining that he had hitherto been unable to take a holiday from his various avocations, he promised to spend the following week with his sister and Miss Liddell.

sorry

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

From this reading "Meeting my old friend Mrs. Dodd a few days ago, I was sorry to find from her that your favorite, Rachel Trant, had been very unwell.

spend

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

From this reading After explaining that he had hitherto been unable to take a holiday from his various avocations, he promised to spend the following week with his sister and Miss Liddell.

success

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

From this reading He then described the success of Mrs. Needham's bazar, and proceeded thus:

takenounUS /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading After explaining that he had hitherto been unable to take a holiday from his various avocations, he promised to spend the following week with his sister and Miss Liddell.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading After explaining that he had hitherto been unable to take a holiday from his various avocations, he promised to spend the following week with his sister and Miss Liddell.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Next morning's post brought a letter from Bertie, which was a kind of complement to Katherine's reflections of the night before.

then

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

From this reading He then described the success of Mrs. Needham's bazar, and proceeded thus:

thus

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

From this reading He then described the success of Mrs. Needham's bazar, and proceeded thus:

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Next morning's post brought a letter from Bertie, which was a kind of complement to Katherine's reflections of the night before.

Trant

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

From this reading "Meeting my old friend Mrs. Dodd a few days ago, I was sorry to find from her that your favorite, Rachel Trant, had been very unwell.

unable

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

From this reading After explaining that he had hitherto been unable to take a holiday from his various avocations, he promised to spend the following week with his sister and Miss Liddell.

unwell

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

From this reading "Meeting my old friend Mrs. Dodd a few days ago, I was sorry to find from her that your favorite, Rachel Trant, had been very unwell.

various

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

From this reading After explaining that he had hitherto been unable to take a holiday from his various avocations, he promised to spend the following week with his sister and Miss Liddell.

very

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

From this reading "Meeting my old friend Mrs. Dodd a few days ago, I was sorry to find from her that your favorite, Rachel Trant, had been very unwell.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Next morning's post brought a letter from Bertie, which was a kind of complement to Katherine's reflections of the night before.

week

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

From this reading After explaining that he had hitherto been unable to take a holiday from his various avocations, he promised to spend the following week with his sister and Miss Liddell.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading Next morning's post brought a letter from Bertie, which was a kind of complement to Katherine's reflections of the night before.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading After explaining that he had hitherto been unable to take a holiday from his various avocations, he promised to spend the following week with his sister and Miss Liddell.

yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "Meeting my old friend Mrs. Dodd a few days ago, I was sorry to find from her that your favorite, Rachel Trant, had been very unwell.