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A Flat Iron for a Farthing
A Flat Iron for a Farthing

Chapter V

Cover illustration for A Flat Iron for a Farthing
Context Illustration Reading 1/26 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
MY COUSINS--MISS BLOMFIELD--THE BOY IN BLACK My first letter to my father was the work of several days, and as my penmanship was not of a rapid order, it cost me a good deal of trouble.
When it was finished it ran thus:
MY DEAR PAPA, I hope you are quite well. i am quite well.
Rubens is here and he is quite well.
We dont no how he got here but i am verry glad.
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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 Flat Iron for a Farthing

Chapter V

Reading 1/26 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
MY COUSINS--MISS BLOMFIELD--THE BOY IN BLACK My first letter to my father was the work of several days, and as my penmanship was not of a rapid order, it cost me a good deal of trouble.
Line 2
When it was finished it ran thus:
Line 3
MY DEAR PAPA, I hope you are quite well. i am quite well.
Line 4
Rubens is here and he is quite well.
Line 5
We dont no how he got here but i am verry glad.

Learner Dictionary

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

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “MY COUSINS--MISS BLOMFIELD--THE BOY IN BLACK My first letter to my father was the work of several days, and as my penmanship was not of a rapid order, it cost me a good deal of trouble.”

Good noun US /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “MY COUSINS--MISS BLOMFIELD--THE BOY IN BLACK My first letter to my father was the work of several days, and as my penmanship was not of a rapid order, it cost me a good deal of trouble.”

Here noun US /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Rubens is here and he is quite well.”

Order noun US /order/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “MY COUSINS--MISS BLOMFIELD--THE BOY IN BLACK My first letter to my father was the work of several days, and as my penmanship was not of a rapid order, it cost me a good deal of trouble.”

Quite noun US /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “MY DEAR PAPA, I hope you are quite well. i am quite well.”

Several noun US /ˈseveral/

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

From this reading “MY COUSINS--MISS BLOMFIELD--THE BOY IN BLACK My first letter to my father was the work of several days, and as my penmanship was not of a rapid order, it cost me a good deal of trouble.”

Well noun US /well/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “MY DEAR PAPA, I hope you are quite well. i am quite well.”

All words in this reading · 55

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 MY COUSINS--MISS BLOMFIELD--THE BOY IN BLACK My first letter to my father was the work of several days, and as my penmanship was not of a rapid order, it cost me a good deal of trouble.

amauxiliary verbUS /æm/

the form of “be” used with “I”

From this reading MY DEAR PAPA, I hope you are quite well. i am quite well.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading MY COUSINS--MISS BLOMFIELD--THE BOY IN BLACK My first letter to my father was the work of several days, and as my penmanship was not of a rapid order, it cost me a good deal of trouble.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading MY DEAR PAPA, I hope you are quite well. i am quite well.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading MY COUSINS--MISS BLOMFIELD--THE BOY IN BLACK My first letter to my father was the work of several days, and as my penmanship was not of a rapid order, it cost me a good deal of trouble.

BLACK

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

From this reading MY COUSINS--MISS BLOMFIELD--THE BOY IN BLACK My first letter to my father was the work of several days, and as my penmanship was not of a rapid order, it cost me a good deal of trouble.

BLOMFIELD

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

From this reading MY COUSINS--MISS BLOMFIELD--THE BOY IN BLACK My first letter to my father was the work of several days, and as my penmanship was not of a rapid order, it cost me a good deal of trouble.

BOY

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

From this reading MY COUSINS--MISS BLOMFIELD--THE BOY IN BLACK My first letter to my father was the work of several days, and as my penmanship was not of a rapid order, it cost me a good deal of trouble.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading We dont no how he got here but i am verry glad.

cost

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

From this reading MY COUSINS--MISS BLOMFIELD--THE BOY IN BLACK My first letter to my father was the work of several days, and as my penmanship was not of a rapid order, it cost me a good deal of trouble.

COUSINS

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

From this reading MY COUSINS--MISS BLOMFIELD--THE BOY IN BLACK My first letter to my father was the work of several days, and as my penmanship was not of a rapid order, it cost me a good deal of trouble.

days

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

From this reading MY COUSINS--MISS BLOMFIELD--THE BOY IN BLACK My first letter to my father was the work of several days, and as my penmanship was not of a rapid order, it cost me a good deal of trouble.

deal

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

From this reading MY COUSINS--MISS BLOMFIELD--THE BOY IN BLACK My first letter to my father was the work of several days, and as my penmanship was not of a rapid order, it cost me a good deal of trouble.

DEAR

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

From this reading MY DEAR PAPA, I hope you are quite well. i am quite well.

dont

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

From this reading We dont no how he got here but i am verry glad.

father

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

From this reading MY COUSINS--MISS BLOMFIELD--THE BOY IN BLACK My first letter to my father was the work of several days, and as my penmanship was not of a rapid order, it cost me a good deal of trouble.

finished

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

From this reading When it was finished it ran thus:

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading MY COUSINS--MISS BLOMFIELD--THE BOY IN BLACK My first letter to my father was the work of several days, and as my penmanship was not of a rapid order, it cost me a good deal of trouble.

glad

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

From this reading We dont no how he got here but i am verry glad.

goodnounUS /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading MY COUSINS--MISS BLOMFIELD--THE BOY IN BLACK My first letter to my father was the work of several days, and as my penmanship was not of a rapid order, it cost me a good deal of trouble.

got

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

From this reading We dont no how he got here but i am verry glad.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Rubens is here and he is quite well.

herenounUS /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Rubens is here and he is quite well.

hope

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

From this reading MY DEAR PAPA, I hope you are quite well. i am quite well.

how

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

From this reading We dont no how he got here but i am verry glad.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading MY DEAR PAPA, I hope you are quite well. i am quite well.

INprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading MY COUSINS--MISS BLOMFIELD--THE BOY IN BLACK My first letter to my father was the work of several days, and as my penmanship was not of a rapid order, it cost me a good deal of trouble.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading Rubens is here and he is quite well.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading MY COUSINS--MISS BLOMFIELD--THE BOY IN BLACK My first letter to my father was the work of several days, and as my penmanship was not of a rapid order, it cost me a good deal of trouble.

letter

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

From this reading MY COUSINS--MISS BLOMFIELD--THE BOY IN BLACK My first letter to my father was the work of several days, and as my penmanship was not of a rapid order, it cost me a good deal of trouble.

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading MY COUSINS--MISS BLOMFIELD--THE BOY IN BLACK My first letter to my father was the work of several days, and as my penmanship was not of a rapid order, it cost me a good deal of trouble.

MISS

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

From this reading MY COUSINS--MISS BLOMFIELD--THE BOY IN BLACK My first letter to my father was the work of several days, and as my penmanship was not of a rapid order, it cost me a good deal of trouble.

MYdeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading MY COUSINS--MISS BLOMFIELD--THE BOY IN BLACK My first letter to my father was the work of several days, and as my penmanship was not of a rapid order, it cost me a good deal of trouble.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading We dont no how he got here but i am verry glad.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading MY COUSINS--MISS BLOMFIELD--THE BOY IN BLACK My first letter to my father was the work of several days, and as my penmanship was not of a rapid order, it cost me a good deal of trouble.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading MY COUSINS--MISS BLOMFIELD--THE BOY IN BLACK My first letter to my father was the work of several days, and as my penmanship was not of a rapid order, it cost me a good deal of trouble.

ordernounUS /order/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading MY COUSINS--MISS BLOMFIELD--THE BOY IN BLACK My first letter to my father was the work of several days, and as my penmanship was not of a rapid order, it cost me a good deal of trouble.

PAPA

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

From this reading MY DEAR PAPA, I hope you are quite well. i am quite well.

penmanship

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

From this reading MY COUSINS--MISS BLOMFIELD--THE BOY IN BLACK My first letter to my father was the work of several days, and as my penmanship was not of a rapid order, it cost me a good deal of trouble.

quitenounUS /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading MY DEAR PAPA, I hope you are quite well. i am quite well.

ran

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

From this reading When it was finished it ran thus:

rapid

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

From this reading MY COUSINS--MISS BLOMFIELD--THE BOY IN BLACK My first letter to my father was the work of several days, and as my penmanship was not of a rapid order, it cost me a good deal of trouble.

Rubens

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

From this reading Rubens is here and he is quite well.

several

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

From this reading MY COUSINS--MISS BLOMFIELD--THE BOY IN BLACK My first letter to my father was the work of several days, and as my penmanship was not of a rapid order, it cost me a good deal of trouble.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading MY COUSINS--MISS BLOMFIELD--THE BOY IN BLACK My first letter to my father was the work of several days, and as my penmanship was not of a rapid order, it cost me a good deal of trouble.

thus

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

From this reading When it was finished it ran thus:

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading MY COUSINS--MISS BLOMFIELD--THE BOY IN BLACK My first letter to my father was the work of several days, and as my penmanship was not of a rapid order, it cost me a good deal of trouble.

trouble

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

From this reading MY COUSINS--MISS BLOMFIELD--THE BOY IN BLACK My first letter to my father was the work of several days, and as my penmanship was not of a rapid order, it cost me a good deal of trouble.

verry

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

From this reading We dont no how he got here but i am verry glad.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading MY COUSINS--MISS BLOMFIELD--THE BOY IN BLACK My first letter to my father was the work of several days, and as my penmanship was not of a rapid order, it cost me a good deal of trouble.

WepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading We dont no how he got here but i am verry glad.

well

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

From this reading MY DEAR PAPA, I hope you are quite well. i am quite well.

WhenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading When it was finished it ran thus:

work

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

From this reading MY COUSINS--MISS BLOMFIELD--THE BOY IN BLACK My first letter to my father was the work of several days, and as my penmanship was not of a rapid order, it cost me a good deal of trouble.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading MY DEAR PAPA, I hope you are quite well. i am quite well.