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A Millionaire of Yesterday
A Millionaire of Yesterday

Chapter XL

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Context Illustration Reading 1/20 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
With the darkness had come a wind from the sea, and the boy crept outside in his flannels and planter's hat and threw himself down in a cane chair with a little murmur of relief.
Below him burned the white lights of the town, a little noisier than usual to-night, for out in the bay a steamer was lying-to, and there had been a few passengers and cargo to land.
The boy had had a hard day's work, or he would have been in the town himself to watch for arrivals and wait for the mail.
He closed his eyes, half asleep, for the sun had been hot and the murmurs of the sea below was almost like a lullaby.
As he lay there a man's voice from the path reached him.
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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 Millionaire of Yesterday

Chapter XL

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

Line 1
With the darkness had come a wind from the sea, and the boy crept outside in his flannels and planter's hat and threw himself down in a cane chair with a little murmur of relief.
Line 2
Below him burned the white lights of the town, a little noisier than usual to-night, for out in the bay a steamer was lying-to, and there had been a few passengers and cargo to land.
Line 3
The boy had had a hard day's work, or he would have been in the town himself to watch for arrivals and wait for the mail.
Line 4
He closed his eyes, half asleep, for the sun had been hot and the murmurs of the sea below was almost like a lullaby.
Line 5
As he lay there a man's voice from the path reached him.

Learner Dictionary

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

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “Below him burned the white lights of the town, a little noisier than usual to-night, for out in the bay a steamer was lying-to, and there had been a few passengers and cargo to land.”

Below preposition US /bɪˈloʊ/

at or to a lower level than something

From this reading “Below him burned the white lights of the town, a little noisier than usual to-night, for out in the bay a steamer was lying-to, and there had been a few passengers and cargo to land.”

Come noun US /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “With the darkness had come a wind from the sea, and the boy crept outside in his flannels and planter's hat and threw himself down in a cane chair with a little murmur of relief.”

Half noun US /half/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He closed his eyes, half asleep, for the sun had been hot and the murmurs of the sea below was almost like a lullaby.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “The boy had had a hard day's work, or he would have been in the town himself to watch for arrivals and wait for the mail.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading “With the darkness had come a wind from the sea, and the boy crept outside in his flannels and planter's hat and threw himself down in a cane chair with a little murmur of relief.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “With the darkness had come a wind from the sea, and the boy crept outside in his flannels and planter's hat and threw himself down in a cane chair with a little murmur of relief.”

Outside noun US /ˈoutside/

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

From this reading “With the darkness had come a wind from the sea, and the boy crept outside in his flannels and planter's hat and threw himself down in a cane chair with a little murmur of relief.”

Relief noun US /rɪˈliːf/

a feeling of comfort after worry or pain

From this reading “With the darkness had come a wind from the sea, and the boy crept outside in his flannels and planter's hat and threw himself down in a cane chair with a little murmur of relief.”

Wind noun US /wind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “With the darkness had come a wind from the sea, and the boy crept outside in his flannels and planter's hat and threw himself down in a cane chair with a little murmur of relief.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “The boy had had a hard day's work, or he would have been in the town himself to watch for arrivals and wait for the mail.”

All words in this reading · 77

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 With the darkness had come a wind from the sea, and the boy crept outside in his flannels and planter's hat and threw himself down in a cane chair with a little murmur of relief.

almost

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

From this reading He closed his eyes, half asleep, for the sun had been hot and the murmurs of the sea below was almost like a lullaby.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading With the darkness had come a wind from the sea, and the boy crept outside in his flannels and planter's hat and threw himself down in a cane chair with a little murmur of relief.

arrivals

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

From this reading The boy had had a hard day's work, or he would have been in the town himself to watch for arrivals and wait for the mail.

AsconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading As he lay there a man's voice from the path reached him.

asleep

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

From this reading He closed his eyes, half asleep, for the sun had been hot and the murmurs of the sea below was almost like a lullaby.

bay

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

From this reading Below him burned the white lights of the town, a little noisier than usual to-night, for out in the bay a steamer was lying-to, and there had been a few passengers and cargo to land.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Below him burned the white lights of the town, a little noisier than usual to-night, for out in the bay a steamer was lying-to, and there had been a few passengers and cargo to land.

BelowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/

at or to a lower level than something

From this reading Below him burned the white lights of the town, a little noisier than usual to-night, for out in the bay a steamer was lying-to, and there had been a few passengers and cargo to land.

boy

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

From this reading With the darkness had come a wind from the sea, and the boy crept outside in his flannels and planter's hat and threw himself down in a cane chair with a little murmur of relief.

burned

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

From this reading Below him burned the white lights of the town, a little noisier than usual to-night, for out in the bay a steamer was lying-to, and there had been a few passengers and cargo to land.

cane

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

From this reading With the darkness had come a wind from the sea, and the boy crept outside in his flannels and planter's hat and threw himself down in a cane chair with a little murmur of relief.

cargo

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

From this reading Below him burned the white lights of the town, a little noisier than usual to-night, for out in the bay a steamer was lying-to, and there had been a few passengers and cargo to land.

chair

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

From this reading With the darkness had come a wind from the sea, and the boy crept outside in his flannels and planter's hat and threw himself down in a cane chair with a little murmur of relief.

closed

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

From this reading He closed his eyes, half asleep, for the sun had been hot and the murmurs of the sea below was almost like a lullaby.

comenounUS /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading With the darkness had come a wind from the sea, and the boy crept outside in his flannels and planter's hat and threw himself down in a cane chair with a little murmur of relief.

crept

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

From this reading With the darkness had come a wind from the sea, and the boy crept outside in his flannels and planter's hat and threw himself down in a cane chair with a little murmur of relief.

darkness

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

From this reading With the darkness had come a wind from the sea, and the boy crept outside in his flannels and planter's hat and threw himself down in a cane chair with a little murmur of relief.

day's

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

From this reading The boy had had a hard day's work, or he would have been in the town himself to watch for arrivals and wait for the mail.

down

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

From this reading With the darkness had come a wind from the sea, and the boy crept outside in his flannels and planter's hat and threw himself down in a cane chair with a little murmur of relief.

eyes

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

From this reading He closed his eyes, half asleep, for the sun had been hot and the murmurs of the sea below was almost like a lullaby.

few

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

From this reading Below him burned the white lights of the town, a little noisier than usual to-night, for out in the bay a steamer was lying-to, and there had been a few passengers and cargo to land.

flannels

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

From this reading With the darkness had come a wind from the sea, and the boy crept outside in his flannels and planter's hat and threw himself down in a cane chair with a little murmur of relief.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Below him burned the white lights of the town, a little noisier than usual to-night, for out in the bay a steamer was lying-to, and there had been a few passengers and cargo to land.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading With the darkness had come a wind from the sea, and the boy crept outside in his flannels and planter's hat and threw himself down in a cane chair with a little murmur of relief.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading With the darkness had come a wind from the sea, and the boy crept outside in his flannels and planter's hat and threw himself down in a cane chair with a little murmur of relief.

halfnounUS /half/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He closed his eyes, half asleep, for the sun had been hot and the murmurs of the sea below was almost like a lullaby.

hard

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

From this reading The boy had had a hard day's work, or he would have been in the town himself to watch for arrivals and wait for the mail.

hat

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

From this reading With the darkness had come a wind from the sea, and the boy crept outside in his flannels and planter's hat and threw himself down in a cane chair with a little murmur of relief.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading The boy had had a hard day's work, or he would have been in the town himself to watch for arrivals and wait for the mail.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading The boy had had a hard day's work, or he would have been in the town himself to watch for arrivals and wait for the mail.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Below him burned the white lights of the town, a little noisier than usual to-night, for out in the bay a steamer was lying-to, and there had been a few passengers and cargo to land.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading With the darkness had come a wind from the sea, and the boy crept outside in his flannels and planter's hat and threw himself down in a cane chair with a little murmur of relief.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading With the darkness had come a wind from the sea, and the boy crept outside in his flannels and planter's hat and threw himself down in a cane chair with a little murmur of relief.

hot

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

From this reading He closed his eyes, half asleep, for the sun had been hot and the murmurs of the sea below was almost like a lullaby.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading With the darkness had come a wind from the sea, and the boy crept outside in his flannels and planter's hat and threw himself down in a cane chair with a little murmur of relief.

land

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

From this reading Below him burned the white lights of the town, a little noisier than usual to-night, for out in the bay a steamer was lying-to, and there had been a few passengers and cargo to land.

lay

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

From this reading As he lay there a man's voice from the path reached him.

lights

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

From this reading Below him burned the white lights of the town, a little noisier than usual to-night, for out in the bay a steamer was lying-to, and there had been a few passengers and cargo to land.

like

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

From this reading He closed his eyes, half asleep, for the sun had been hot and the murmurs of the sea below was almost like a lullaby.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading With the darkness had come a wind from the sea, and the boy crept outside in his flannels and planter's hat and threw himself down in a cane chair with a little murmur of relief.

lullaby

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

From this reading He closed his eyes, half asleep, for the sun had been hot and the murmurs of the sea below was almost like a lullaby.

lying-to

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

From this reading Below him burned the white lights of the town, a little noisier than usual to-night, for out in the bay a steamer was lying-to, and there had been a few passengers and cargo to land.

mail

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

From this reading The boy had had a hard day's work, or he would have been in the town himself to watch for arrivals and wait for the mail.

man's

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

From this reading As he lay there a man's voice from the path reached him.

murmur

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

From this reading With the darkness had come a wind from the sea, and the boy crept outside in his flannels and planter's hat and threw himself down in a cane chair with a little murmur of relief.

murmurs

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

From this reading He closed his eyes, half asleep, for the sun had been hot and the murmurs of the sea below was almost like a lullaby.

noisier

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

From this reading Below him burned the white lights of the town, a little noisier than usual to-night, for out in the bay a steamer was lying-to, and there had been a few passengers and cargo to land.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading With the darkness had come a wind from the sea, and the boy crept outside in his flannels and planter's hat and threw himself down in a cane chair with a little murmur of relief.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading The boy had had a hard day's work, or he would have been in the town himself to watch for arrivals and wait for the mail.

out

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

From this reading Below him burned the white lights of the town, a little noisier than usual to-night, for out in the bay a steamer was lying-to, and there had been a few passengers and cargo to land.

outsidenounUS /ˈoutside/

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

From this reading With the darkness had come a wind from the sea, and the boy crept outside in his flannels and planter's hat and threw himself down in a cane chair with a little murmur of relief.

passengers

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

From this reading Below him burned the white lights of the town, a little noisier than usual to-night, for out in the bay a steamer was lying-to, and there had been a few passengers and cargo to land.

path

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

From this reading As he lay there a man's voice from the path reached him.

planter's

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

From this reading With the darkness had come a wind from the sea, and the boy crept outside in his flannels and planter's hat and threw himself down in a cane chair with a little murmur of relief.

reached

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

From this reading As he lay there a man's voice from the path reached him.

reliefnounUS /rɪˈliːf/

a feeling of comfort after worry or pain

From this reading With the darkness had come a wind from the sea, and the boy crept outside in his flannels and planter's hat and threw himself down in a cane chair with a little murmur of relief.

sea

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

From this reading With the darkness had come a wind from the sea, and the boy crept outside in his flannels and planter's hat and threw himself down in a cane chair with a little murmur of relief.

steamer

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

From this reading Below him burned the white lights of the town, a little noisier than usual to-night, for out in the bay a steamer was lying-to, and there had been a few passengers and cargo to land.

sun

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

From this reading He closed his eyes, half asleep, for the sun had been hot and the murmurs of the sea below was almost like a lullaby.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading Below him burned the white lights of the town, a little noisier than usual to-night, for out in the bay a steamer was lying-to, and there had been a few passengers and cargo to land.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading With the darkness had come a wind from the sea, and the boy crept outside in his flannels and planter's hat and threw himself down in a cane chair with a little murmur of relief.

there

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

From this reading Below him burned the white lights of the town, a little noisier than usual to-night, for out in the bay a steamer was lying-to, and there had been a few passengers and cargo to land.

threw

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

From this reading With the darkness had come a wind from the sea, and the boy crept outside in his flannels and planter's hat and threw himself down in a cane chair with a little murmur of relief.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Below him burned the white lights of the town, a little noisier than usual to-night, for out in the bay a steamer was lying-to, and there had been a few passengers and cargo to land.

to-night

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

From this reading Below him burned the white lights of the town, a little noisier than usual to-night, for out in the bay a steamer was lying-to, and there had been a few passengers and cargo to land.

town

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

From this reading Below him burned the white lights of the town, a little noisier than usual to-night, for out in the bay a steamer was lying-to, and there had been a few passengers and cargo to land.

usual

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

From this reading Below him burned the white lights of the town, a little noisier than usual to-night, for out in the bay a steamer was lying-to, and there had been a few passengers and cargo to land.

voice

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

From this reading As he lay there a man's voice from the path reached him.

wait

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

From this reading The boy had had a hard day's work, or he would have been in the town himself to watch for arrivals and wait for the mail.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Below him burned the white lights of the town, a little noisier than usual to-night, for out in the bay a steamer was lying-to, and there had been a few passengers and cargo to land.

watch

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

From this reading The boy had had a hard day's work, or he would have been in the town himself to watch for arrivals and wait for the mail.

white

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

From this reading Below him burned the white lights of the town, a little noisier than usual to-night, for out in the bay a steamer was lying-to, and there had been a few passengers and cargo to land.

windnounUS /wind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading With the darkness had come a wind from the sea, and the boy crept outside in his flannels and planter's hat and threw himself down in a cane chair with a little murmur of relief.

WithprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading With the darkness had come a wind from the sea, and the boy crept outside in his flannels and planter's hat and threw himself down in a cane chair with a little murmur of relief.

work

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

From this reading The boy had had a hard day's work, or he would have been in the town himself to watch for arrivals and wait for the mail.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading The boy had had a hard day's work, or he would have been in the town himself to watch for arrivals and wait for the mail.