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A Hoosier holiday
A Hoosier holiday

Chapter XXXIX

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Context Illustration Reading 1/32 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
A COLLEGE TOWN Bloomington, as we sped into it, did not seem much changed from the last time I had laid eyes upon it, twentyfive years before, only now, having seen the more picturesque country to the south of it, I did not think the region in which it lay seemed as broken and diversified as it did the year I first came to it.
Then I had seen only the more or less level regions of northern and southern Indiana and the territory about Chicago, and so Bloomington had seemed quite remarkable, physically.
Now it seemed more or less tame, and in addition, it had grown so in size and architectural pretentiousness as to have obliterated most of that rural inadequacy and backwoods charm which had been its most delightful characteristic to me in 1889.
Then it was so poor and so very simple.
The court house square had been a gem of moss-back simplicity and poverty, more attractive even, rurally speaking, than that court house I just mentioned as being the charm of Paoli.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

A Hoosier holiday

Chapter XXXIX

Reading 1/32 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
A COLLEGE TOWN Bloomington, as we sped into it, did not seem much changed from the last time I had laid eyes upon it, twentyfive years before, only now, having seen the more picturesque country to the south of it, I did not think the region in which it lay seemed as broken and diversified as it did the year I first came to it.
Line 2
Then I had seen only the more or less level regions of northern and southern Indiana and the territory about Chicago, and so Bloomington had seemed quite remarkable, physically.
Line 3
Now it seemed more or less tame, and in addition, it had grown so in size and architectural pretentiousness as to have obliterated most of that rural inadequacy and backwoods charm which had been its most delightful characteristic to me in 1889.
Line 4
Then it was so poor and so very simple.
Line 5
The court house square had been a gem of moss-back simplicity and poverty, more attractive even, rurally speaking, than that court house I just mentioned as being the charm of Paoli.

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 “Then I had seen only the more or less level regions of northern and southern Indiana and the territory about Chicago, and so Bloomington had seemed quite remarkable, physically.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “Now it seemed more or less tame, and in addition, it had grown so in size and architectural pretentiousness as to have obliterated most of that rural inadequacy and backwoods charm which had been its most delightful characteristic to me in 1889.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “A COLLEGE TOWN Bloomington, as we sped into it, did not seem much changed from the last time I had laid eyes upon it, twentyfive years before, only now, having seen the more picturesque country to the south of it, I did not think the region in which it lay seemed as broken and diversified as it did the year I first came to it.”

Being auxiliary verb US /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading “The court house square had been a gem of moss-back simplicity and poverty, more attractive even, rurally speaking, than that court house I just mentioned as being the charm of Paoli.”

Broken noun US /broken/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A COLLEGE TOWN Bloomington, as we sped into it, did not seem much changed from the last time I had laid eyes upon it, twentyfive years before, only now, having seen the more picturesque country to the south of it, I did not think the region in which it lay seemed as broken and diversified as it did the year I first came to it.”

Even noun US /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The court house square had been a gem of moss-back simplicity and poverty, more attractive even, rurally speaking, than that court house I just mentioned as being the charm of Paoli.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A COLLEGE TOWN Bloomington, as we sped into it, did not seem much changed from the last time I had laid eyes upon it, twentyfive years before, only now, having seen the more picturesque country to the south of it, I did not think the region in which it lay seemed as broken and diversified as it did the year I first came to it.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “Now it seemed more or less tame, and in addition, it had grown so in size and architectural pretentiousness as to have obliterated most of that rural inadequacy and backwoods charm which had been its most delightful characteristic to me in 1889.”

Having auxiliary verb US /ˈhævɪŋ/

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading “A COLLEGE TOWN Bloomington, as we sped into it, did not seem much changed from the last time I had laid eyes upon it, twentyfive years before, only now, having seen the more picturesque country to the south of it, I did not think the region in which it lay seemed as broken and diversified as it did the year I first came to it.”

Last noun US /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A COLLEGE TOWN Bloomington, as we sped into it, did not seem much changed from the last time I had laid eyes upon it, twentyfive years before, only now, having seen the more picturesque country to the south of it, I did not think the region in which it lay seemed as broken and diversified as it did the year I first came to it.”

Poor noun US /poor/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Then it was so poor and so very simple.”

Quite noun US /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Then I had seen only the more or less level regions of northern and southern Indiana and the territory about Chicago, and so Bloomington had seemed quite remarkable, physically.”

Remarkable noun US /ˈremarkable/

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

From this reading “Then I had seen only the more or less level regions of northern and southern Indiana and the territory about Chicago, and so Bloomington had seemed quite remarkable, physically.”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A COLLEGE TOWN Bloomington, as we sped into it, did not seem much changed from the last time I had laid eyes upon it, twentyfive years before, only now, having seen the more picturesque country to the south of it, I did not think the region in which it lay seemed as broken and diversified as it did the year I first came to it.”

Think noun US /think/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A COLLEGE TOWN Bloomington, as we sped into it, did not seem much changed from the last time I had laid eyes upon it, twentyfive years before, only now, having seen the more picturesque country to the south of it, I did not think the region in which it lay seemed as broken and diversified as it did the year I first came to it.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A COLLEGE TOWN Bloomington, as we sped into it, did not seem much changed from the last time I had laid eyes upon it, twentyfive years before, only now, having seen the more picturesque country to the south of it, I did not think the region in which it lay seemed as broken and diversified as it did the year I first came to it.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “A COLLEGE TOWN Bloomington, as we sped into it, did not seem much changed from the last time I had laid eyes upon it, twentyfive years before, only now, having seen the more picturesque country to the south of it, I did not think the region in which it lay seemed as broken and diversified as it did the year I first came to it.”

All words in this reading · 103

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

1889

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

From this reading Now it seemed more or less tame, and in addition, it had grown so in size and architectural pretentiousness as to have obliterated most of that rural inadequacy and backwoods charm which had been its most delightful characteristic to me in 1889.

AdeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading A COLLEGE TOWN Bloomington, as we sped into it, did not seem much changed from the last time I had laid eyes upon it, twentyfive years before, only now, having seen the more picturesque country to the south of it, I did not think the region in which it lay seemed as broken and diversified as it did the year I first came to it.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Then I had seen only the more or less level regions of northern and southern Indiana and the territory about Chicago, and so Bloomington had seemed quite remarkable, physically.

addition

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

From this reading Now it seemed more or less tame, and in addition, it had grown so in size and architectural pretentiousness as to have obliterated most of that rural inadequacy and backwoods charm which had been its most delightful characteristic to me in 1889.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading A COLLEGE TOWN Bloomington, as we sped into it, did not seem much changed from the last time I had laid eyes upon it, twentyfive years before, only now, having seen the more picturesque country to the south of it, I did not think the region in which it lay seemed as broken and diversified as it did the year I first came to it.

architectural

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

From this reading Now it seemed more or less tame, and in addition, it had grown so in size and architectural pretentiousness as to have obliterated most of that rural inadequacy and backwoods charm which had been its most delightful characteristic to me in 1889.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading A COLLEGE TOWN Bloomington, as we sped into it, did not seem much changed from the last time I had laid eyes upon it, twentyfive years before, only now, having seen the more picturesque country to the south of it, I did not think the region in which it lay seemed as broken and diversified as it did the year I first came to it.

attractive

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

From this reading The court house square had been a gem of moss-back simplicity and poverty, more attractive even, rurally speaking, than that court house I just mentioned as being the charm of Paoli.

backwoods

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

From this reading Now it seemed more or less tame, and in addition, it had grown so in size and architectural pretentiousness as to have obliterated most of that rural inadequacy and backwoods charm which had been its most delightful characteristic to me in 1889.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Now it seemed more or less tame, and in addition, it had grown so in size and architectural pretentiousness as to have obliterated most of that rural inadequacy and backwoods charm which had been its most delightful characteristic to me in 1889.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading A COLLEGE TOWN Bloomington, as we sped into it, did not seem much changed from the last time I had laid eyes upon it, twentyfive years before, only now, having seen the more picturesque country to the south of it, I did not think the region in which it lay seemed as broken and diversified as it did the year I first came to it.

beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading The court house square had been a gem of moss-back simplicity and poverty, more attractive even, rurally speaking, than that court house I just mentioned as being the charm of Paoli.

Bloomington

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

From this reading A COLLEGE TOWN Bloomington, as we sped into it, did not seem much changed from the last time I had laid eyes upon it, twentyfive years before, only now, having seen the more picturesque country to the south of it, I did not think the region in which it lay seemed as broken and diversified as it did the year I first came to it.

brokennounUS /broken/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A COLLEGE TOWN Bloomington, as we sped into it, did not seem much changed from the last time I had laid eyes upon it, twentyfive years before, only now, having seen the more picturesque country to the south of it, I did not think the region in which it lay seemed as broken and diversified as it did the year I first came to it.

came

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

From this reading A COLLEGE TOWN Bloomington, as we sped into it, did not seem much changed from the last time I had laid eyes upon it, twentyfive years before, only now, having seen the more picturesque country to the south of it, I did not think the region in which it lay seemed as broken and diversified as it did the year I first came to it.

changed

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

From this reading A COLLEGE TOWN Bloomington, as we sped into it, did not seem much changed from the last time I had laid eyes upon it, twentyfive years before, only now, having seen the more picturesque country to the south of it, I did not think the region in which it lay seemed as broken and diversified as it did the year I first came to it.

characteristic

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

From this reading Now it seemed more or less tame, and in addition, it had grown so in size and architectural pretentiousness as to have obliterated most of that rural inadequacy and backwoods charm which had been its most delightful characteristic to me in 1889.

charm

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

From this reading Now it seemed more or less tame, and in addition, it had grown so in size and architectural pretentiousness as to have obliterated most of that rural inadequacy and backwoods charm which had been its most delightful characteristic to me in 1889.

Chicago

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

From this reading Then I had seen only the more or less level regions of northern and southern Indiana and the territory about Chicago, and so Bloomington had seemed quite remarkable, physically.

COLLEGE

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

From this reading A COLLEGE TOWN Bloomington, as we sped into it, did not seem much changed from the last time I had laid eyes upon it, twentyfive years before, only now, having seen the more picturesque country to the south of it, I did not think the region in which it lay seemed as broken and diversified as it did the year I first came to it.

country

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

From this reading A COLLEGE TOWN Bloomington, as we sped into it, did not seem much changed from the last time I had laid eyes upon it, twentyfive years before, only now, having seen the more picturesque country to the south of it, I did not think the region in which it lay seemed as broken and diversified as it did the year I first came to it.

court

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

From this reading The court house square had been a gem of moss-back simplicity and poverty, more attractive even, rurally speaking, than that court house I just mentioned as being the charm of Paoli.

delightful

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

From this reading Now it seemed more or less tame, and in addition, it had grown so in size and architectural pretentiousness as to have obliterated most of that rural inadequacy and backwoods charm which had been its most delightful characteristic to me in 1889.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading A COLLEGE TOWN Bloomington, as we sped into it, did not seem much changed from the last time I had laid eyes upon it, twentyfive years before, only now, having seen the more picturesque country to the south of it, I did not think the region in which it lay seemed as broken and diversified as it did the year I first came to it.

diversified

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

From this reading A COLLEGE TOWN Bloomington, as we sped into it, did not seem much changed from the last time I had laid eyes upon it, twentyfive years before, only now, having seen the more picturesque country to the south of it, I did not think the region in which it lay seemed as broken and diversified as it did the year I first came to it.

evennounUS /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The court house square had been a gem of moss-back simplicity and poverty, more attractive even, rurally speaking, than that court house I just mentioned as being the charm of Paoli.

eyes

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

From this reading A COLLEGE TOWN Bloomington, as we sped into it, did not seem much changed from the last time I had laid eyes upon it, twentyfive years before, only now, having seen the more picturesque country to the south of it, I did not think the region in which it lay seemed as broken and diversified as it did the year I first came to it.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A COLLEGE TOWN Bloomington, as we sped into it, did not seem much changed from the last time I had laid eyes upon it, twentyfive years before, only now, having seen the more picturesque country to the south of it, I did not think the region in which it lay seemed as broken and diversified as it did the year I first came to it.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading A COLLEGE TOWN Bloomington, as we sped into it, did not seem much changed from the last time I had laid eyes upon it, twentyfive years before, only now, having seen the more picturesque country to the south of it, I did not think the region in which it lay seemed as broken and diversified as it did the year I first came to it.

gem

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

From this reading The court house square had been a gem of moss-back simplicity and poverty, more attractive even, rurally speaking, than that court house I just mentioned as being the charm of Paoli.

grown

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

From this reading Now it seemed more or less tame, and in addition, it had grown so in size and architectural pretentiousness as to have obliterated most of that rural inadequacy and backwoods charm which had been its most delightful characteristic to me in 1889.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading A COLLEGE TOWN Bloomington, as we sped into it, did not seem much changed from the last time I had laid eyes upon it, twentyfive years before, only now, having seen the more picturesque country to the south of it, I did not think the region in which it lay seemed as broken and diversified as it did the year I first came to it.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Now it seemed more or less tame, and in addition, it had grown so in size and architectural pretentiousness as to have obliterated most of that rural inadequacy and backwoods charm which had been its most delightful characteristic to me in 1889.

havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading A COLLEGE TOWN Bloomington, as we sped into it, did not seem much changed from the last time I had laid eyes upon it, twentyfive years before, only now, having seen the more picturesque country to the south of it, I did not think the region in which it lay seemed as broken and diversified as it did the year I first came to it.

house

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

From this reading The court house square had been a gem of moss-back simplicity and poverty, more attractive even, rurally speaking, than that court house I just mentioned as being the charm of Paoli.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading A COLLEGE TOWN Bloomington, as we sped into it, did not seem much changed from the last time I had laid eyes upon it, twentyfive years before, only now, having seen the more picturesque country to the south of it, I did not think the region in which it lay seemed as broken and diversified as it did the year I first came to it.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading A COLLEGE TOWN Bloomington, as we sped into it, did not seem much changed from the last time I had laid eyes upon it, twentyfive years before, only now, having seen the more picturesque country to the south of it, I did not think the region in which it lay seemed as broken and diversified as it did the year I first came to it.

inadequacy

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

From this reading Now it seemed more or less tame, and in addition, it had grown so in size and architectural pretentiousness as to have obliterated most of that rural inadequacy and backwoods charm which had been its most delightful characteristic to me in 1889.

Indiana

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

From this reading Then I had seen only the more or less level regions of northern and southern Indiana and the territory about Chicago, and so Bloomington had seemed quite remarkable, physically.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading A COLLEGE TOWN Bloomington, as we sped into it, did not seem much changed from the last time I had laid eyes upon it, twentyfive years before, only now, having seen the more picturesque country to the south of it, I did not think the region in which it lay seemed as broken and diversified as it did the year I first came to it.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading A COLLEGE TOWN Bloomington, as we sped into it, did not seem much changed from the last time I had laid eyes upon it, twentyfive years before, only now, having seen the more picturesque country to the south of it, I did not think the region in which it lay seemed as broken and diversified as it did the year I first came to it.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Now it seemed more or less tame, and in addition, it had grown so in size and architectural pretentiousness as to have obliterated most of that rural inadequacy and backwoods charm which had been its most delightful characteristic to me in 1889.

just

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

From this reading The court house square had been a gem of moss-back simplicity and poverty, more attractive even, rurally speaking, than that court house I just mentioned as being the charm of Paoli.

laid

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

From this reading A COLLEGE TOWN Bloomington, as we sped into it, did not seem much changed from the last time I had laid eyes upon it, twentyfive years before, only now, having seen the more picturesque country to the south of it, I did not think the region in which it lay seemed as broken and diversified as it did the year I first came to it.

lastnounUS /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A COLLEGE TOWN Bloomington, as we sped into it, did not seem much changed from the last time I had laid eyes upon it, twentyfive years before, only now, having seen the more picturesque country to the south of it, I did not think the region in which it lay seemed as broken and diversified as it did the year I first came to it.

lay

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

From this reading A COLLEGE TOWN Bloomington, as we sped into it, did not seem much changed from the last time I had laid eyes upon it, twentyfive years before, only now, having seen the more picturesque country to the south of it, I did not think the region in which it lay seemed as broken and diversified as it did the year I first came to it.

less

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

From this reading Then I had seen only the more or less level regions of northern and southern Indiana and the territory about Chicago, and so Bloomington had seemed quite remarkable, physically.

level

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

From this reading Then I had seen only the more or less level regions of northern and southern Indiana and the territory about Chicago, and so Bloomington had seemed quite remarkable, physically.

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading Now it seemed more or less tame, and in addition, it had grown so in size and architectural pretentiousness as to have obliterated most of that rural inadequacy and backwoods charm which had been its most delightful characteristic to me in 1889.

mentioned

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

From this reading The court house square had been a gem of moss-back simplicity and poverty, more attractive even, rurally speaking, than that court house I just mentioned as being the charm of Paoli.

more

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

From this reading A COLLEGE TOWN Bloomington, as we sped into it, did not seem much changed from the last time I had laid eyes upon it, twentyfive years before, only now, having seen the more picturesque country to the south of it, I did not think the region in which it lay seemed as broken and diversified as it did the year I first came to it.

moss-back

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

From this reading The court house square had been a gem of moss-back simplicity and poverty, more attractive even, rurally speaking, than that court house I just mentioned as being the charm of Paoli.

most

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

From this reading Now it seemed more or less tame, and in addition, it had grown so in size and architectural pretentiousness as to have obliterated most of that rural inadequacy and backwoods charm which had been its most delightful characteristic to me in 1889.

much

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

From this reading A COLLEGE TOWN Bloomington, as we sped into it, did not seem much changed from the last time I had laid eyes upon it, twentyfive years before, only now, having seen the more picturesque country to the south of it, I did not think the region in which it lay seemed as broken and diversified as it did the year I first came to it.

northern

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

From this reading Then I had seen only the more or less level regions of northern and southern Indiana and the territory about Chicago, and so Bloomington had seemed quite remarkable, physically.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading A COLLEGE TOWN Bloomington, as we sped into it, did not seem much changed from the last time I had laid eyes upon it, twentyfive years before, only now, having seen the more picturesque country to the south of it, I did not think the region in which it lay seemed as broken and diversified as it did the year I first came to it.

now

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

From this reading A COLLEGE TOWN Bloomington, as we sped into it, did not seem much changed from the last time I had laid eyes upon it, twentyfive years before, only now, having seen the more picturesque country to the south of it, I did not think the region in which it lay seemed as broken and diversified as it did the year I first came to it.

obliterated

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

From this reading Now it seemed more or less tame, and in addition, it had grown so in size and architectural pretentiousness as to have obliterated most of that rural inadequacy and backwoods charm which had been its most delightful characteristic to me in 1889.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading A COLLEGE TOWN Bloomington, as we sped into it, did not seem much changed from the last time I had laid eyes upon it, twentyfive years before, only now, having seen the more picturesque country to the south of it, I did not think the region in which it lay seemed as broken and diversified as it did the year I first came to it.

only

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

From this reading A COLLEGE TOWN Bloomington, as we sped into it, did not seem much changed from the last time I had laid eyes upon it, twentyfive years before, only now, having seen the more picturesque country to the south of it, I did not think the region in which it lay seemed as broken and diversified as it did the year I first came to it.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Then I had seen only the more or less level regions of northern and southern Indiana and the territory about Chicago, and so Bloomington had seemed quite remarkable, physically.

Paoli

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

From this reading The court house square had been a gem of moss-back simplicity and poverty, more attractive even, rurally speaking, than that court house I just mentioned as being the charm of Paoli.

physically

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

From this reading Then I had seen only the more or less level regions of northern and southern Indiana and the territory about Chicago, and so Bloomington had seemed quite remarkable, physically.

picturesque

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

From this reading A COLLEGE TOWN Bloomington, as we sped into it, did not seem much changed from the last time I had laid eyes upon it, twentyfive years before, only now, having seen the more picturesque country to the south of it, I did not think the region in which it lay seemed as broken and diversified as it did the year I first came to it.

poornounUS /poor/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Then it was so poor and so very simple.

poverty

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

From this reading The court house square had been a gem of moss-back simplicity and poverty, more attractive even, rurally speaking, than that court house I just mentioned as being the charm of Paoli.

pretentiousness

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

From this reading Now it seemed more or less tame, and in addition, it had grown so in size and architectural pretentiousness as to have obliterated most of that rural inadequacy and backwoods charm which had been its most delightful characteristic to me in 1889.

quitenounUS /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Then I had seen only the more or less level regions of northern and southern Indiana and the territory about Chicago, and so Bloomington had seemed quite remarkable, physically.

region

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

From this reading A COLLEGE TOWN Bloomington, as we sped into it, did not seem much changed from the last time I had laid eyes upon it, twentyfive years before, only now, having seen the more picturesque country to the south of it, I did not think the region in which it lay seemed as broken and diversified as it did the year I first came to it.

regions

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

From this reading Then I had seen only the more or less level regions of northern and southern Indiana and the territory about Chicago, and so Bloomington had seemed quite remarkable, physically.

remarkablenounUS /ˈremarkable/

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

From this reading Then I had seen only the more or less level regions of northern and southern Indiana and the territory about Chicago, and so Bloomington had seemed quite remarkable, physically.

rural

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From this reading Now it seemed more or less tame, and in addition, it had grown so in size and architectural pretentiousness as to have obliterated most of that rural inadequacy and backwoods charm which had been its most delightful characteristic to me in 1889.

rurally

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

From this reading The court house square had been a gem of moss-back simplicity and poverty, more attractive even, rurally speaking, than that court house I just mentioned as being the charm of Paoli.

seem

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

From this reading A COLLEGE TOWN Bloomington, as we sped into it, did not seem much changed from the last time I had laid eyes upon it, twentyfive years before, only now, having seen the more picturesque country to the south of it, I did not think the region in which it lay seemed as broken and diversified as it did the year I first came to it.

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A COLLEGE TOWN Bloomington, as we sped into it, did not seem much changed from the last time I had laid eyes upon it, twentyfive years before, only now, having seen the more picturesque country to the south of it, I did not think the region in which it lay seemed as broken and diversified as it did the year I first came to it.

seen

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

From this reading A COLLEGE TOWN Bloomington, as we sped into it, did not seem much changed from the last time I had laid eyes upon it, twentyfive years before, only now, having seen the more picturesque country to the south of it, I did not think the region in which it lay seemed as broken and diversified as it did the year I first came to it.

simple

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

From this reading Then it was so poor and so very simple.

simplicity

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

From this reading The court house square had been a gem of moss-back simplicity and poverty, more attractive even, rurally speaking, than that court house I just mentioned as being the charm of Paoli.

size

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

From this reading Now it seemed more or less tame, and in addition, it had grown so in size and architectural pretentiousness as to have obliterated most of that rural inadequacy and backwoods charm which had been its most delightful characteristic to me in 1889.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Then I had seen only the more or less level regions of northern and southern Indiana and the territory about Chicago, and so Bloomington had seemed quite remarkable, physically.

south

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

From this reading A COLLEGE TOWN Bloomington, as we sped into it, did not seem much changed from the last time I had laid eyes upon it, twentyfive years before, only now, having seen the more picturesque country to the south of it, I did not think the region in which it lay seemed as broken and diversified as it did the year I first came to it.

southern

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

From this reading Then I had seen only the more or less level regions of northern and southern Indiana and the territory about Chicago, and so Bloomington had seemed quite remarkable, physically.

speaking

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

From this reading The court house square had been a gem of moss-back simplicity and poverty, more attractive even, rurally speaking, than that court house I just mentioned as being the charm of Paoli.

sped

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

From this reading A COLLEGE TOWN Bloomington, as we sped into it, did not seem much changed from the last time I had laid eyes upon it, twentyfive years before, only now, having seen the more picturesque country to the south of it, I did not think the region in which it lay seemed as broken and diversified as it did the year I first came to it.

square

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

From this reading The court house square had been a gem of moss-back simplicity and poverty, more attractive even, rurally speaking, than that court house I just mentioned as being the charm of Paoli.

tame

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

From this reading Now it seemed more or less tame, and in addition, it had grown so in size and architectural pretentiousness as to have obliterated most of that rural inadequacy and backwoods charm which had been its most delightful characteristic to me in 1889.

territory

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

From this reading Then I had seen only the more or less level regions of northern and southern Indiana and the territory about Chicago, and so Bloomington had seemed quite remarkable, physically.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading The court house square had been a gem of moss-back simplicity and poverty, more attractive even, rurally speaking, than that court house I just mentioned as being the charm of Paoli.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Now it seemed more or less tame, and in addition, it had grown so in size and architectural pretentiousness as to have obliterated most of that rural inadequacy and backwoods charm which had been its most delightful characteristic to me in 1889.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading A COLLEGE TOWN Bloomington, as we sped into it, did not seem much changed from the last time I had laid eyes upon it, twentyfive years before, only now, having seen the more picturesque country to the south of it, I did not think the region in which it lay seemed as broken and diversified as it did the year I first came to it.

Then

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

From this reading Then I had seen only the more or less level regions of northern and southern Indiana and the territory about Chicago, and so Bloomington had seemed quite remarkable, physically.

thinknounUS /think/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A COLLEGE TOWN Bloomington, as we sped into it, did not seem much changed from the last time I had laid eyes upon it, twentyfive years before, only now, having seen the more picturesque country to the south of it, I did not think the region in which it lay seemed as broken and diversified as it did the year I first came to it.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A COLLEGE TOWN Bloomington, as we sped into it, did not seem much changed from the last time I had laid eyes upon it, twentyfive years before, only now, having seen the more picturesque country to the south of it, I did not think the region in which it lay seemed as broken and diversified as it did the year I first came to it.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading A COLLEGE TOWN Bloomington, as we sped into it, did not seem much changed from the last time I had laid eyes upon it, twentyfive years before, only now, having seen the more picturesque country to the south of it, I did not think the region in which it lay seemed as broken and diversified as it did the year I first came to it.

TOWN

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

From this reading A COLLEGE TOWN Bloomington, as we sped into it, did not seem much changed from the last time I had laid eyes upon it, twentyfive years before, only now, having seen the more picturesque country to the south of it, I did not think the region in which it lay seemed as broken and diversified as it did the year I first came to it.

twentyfive

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

From this reading A COLLEGE TOWN Bloomington, as we sped into it, did not seem much changed from the last time I had laid eyes upon it, twentyfive years before, only now, having seen the more picturesque country to the south of it, I did not think the region in which it lay seemed as broken and diversified as it did the year I first came to it.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading A COLLEGE TOWN Bloomington, as we sped into it, did not seem much changed from the last time I had laid eyes upon it, twentyfive years before, only now, having seen the more picturesque country to the south of it, I did not think the region in which it lay seemed as broken and diversified as it did the year I first came to it.

very

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

From this reading Then it was so poor and so very simple.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Then it was so poor and so very simple.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading A COLLEGE TOWN Bloomington, as we sped into it, did not seem much changed from the last time I had laid eyes upon it, twentyfive years before, only now, having seen the more picturesque country to the south of it, I did not think the region in which it lay seemed as broken and diversified as it did the year I first came to it.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading A COLLEGE TOWN Bloomington, as we sped into it, did not seem much changed from the last time I had laid eyes upon it, twentyfive years before, only now, having seen the more picturesque country to the south of it, I did not think the region in which it lay seemed as broken and diversified as it did the year I first came to it.

year

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

From this reading A COLLEGE TOWN Bloomington, as we sped into it, did not seem much changed from the last time I had laid eyes upon it, twentyfive years before, only now, having seen the more picturesque country to the south of it, I did not think the region in which it lay seemed as broken and diversified as it did the year I first came to it.

years

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

From this reading A COLLEGE TOWN Bloomington, as we sped into it, did not seem much changed from the last time I had laid eyes upon it, twentyfive years before, only now, having seen the more picturesque country to the south of it, I did not think the region in which it lay seemed as broken and diversified as it did the year I first came to it.