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A Poor Gentleman
A Poor Gentleman

Chapter VI

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Context Illustration Reading 1/70 · 5 lines
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THE YOUNG AND THE OLD.
There was, however, no lack of excitement when the rest of the family came in.
The girls dazzled with the quick transition from the darkness outside to the light within, their eyes shining, their lips apart with breathless curiosity and excitement, and a thrill of interest which might have satisfied the requirements of any visitor; and after a little interval their father, pale, and somewhat breathless, too, whose expectation was not of anything agreeable, but rather of some new misfortune, of which perhaps his cousin had come to tell him.
Edward Penton did not pause to think that it was very unlikely that Alicia would thus break in upon his retirement in order to tell him of some misfortune.
The feeling was instinctive in his mind, because of long acquaintance with defeat and failure, that every new thing must mean further trouble.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

A Poor Gentleman

Chapter VI

Reading 1/70 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE YOUNG AND THE OLD.
Line 2
There was, however, no lack of excitement when the rest of the family came in.
Line 3
The girls dazzled with the quick transition from the darkness outside to the light within, their eyes shining, their lips apart with breathless curiosity and excitement, and a thrill of interest which might have satisfied the requirements of any visitor; and after a little interval their father, pale, and somewhat breathless, too, whose expectation was not of anything agreeable, but rather of some new misfortune, of which perhaps his cousin had come to tell him.
Line 4
Edward Penton did not pause to think that it was very unlikely that Alicia would thus break in upon his retirement in order to tell him of some misfortune.
Line 5
The feeling was instinctive in his mind, because of long acquaintance with defeat and failure, that every new thing must mean further trouble.

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 “The girls dazzled with the quick transition from the darkness outside to the light within, their eyes shining, their lips apart with breathless curiosity and excitement, and a thrill of interest which might have satisfied the requirements of any visitor; and after a little interval their father, pale, and somewhat breathless, too, whose expectation was not of anything agreeable, but rather of some new misfortune, of which perhaps his cousin had come to tell him.”

Anything pronoun US /ˈeniθɪŋ/

any thing at all

From this reading “The girls dazzled with the quick transition from the darkness outside to the light within, their eyes shining, their lips apart with breathless curiosity and excitement, and a thrill of interest which might have satisfied the requirements of any visitor; and after a little interval their father, pale, and somewhat breathless, too, whose expectation was not of anything agreeable, but rather of some new misfortune, of which perhaps his cousin had come to tell him.”

Because conjunction US /bɪˈkɔːz/

for the reason that

From this reading “The feeling was instinctive in his mind, because of long acquaintance with defeat and failure, that every new thing must mean further trouble.”

Come noun US /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The girls dazzled with the quick transition from the darkness outside to the light within, their eyes shining, their lips apart with breathless curiosity and excitement, and a thrill of interest which might have satisfied the requirements of any visitor; and after a little interval their father, pale, and somewhat breathless, too, whose expectation was not of anything agreeable, but rather of some new misfortune, of which perhaps his cousin had come to tell him.”

Every determiner US /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading “The feeling was instinctive in his mind, because of long acquaintance with defeat and failure, that every new thing must mean further trouble.”

Feeling noun US /ˈfeeling/

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

From this reading “The feeling was instinctive in his mind, because of long acquaintance with defeat and failure, that every new thing must mean further trouble.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “The girls dazzled with the quick transition from the darkness outside to the light within, their eyes shining, their lips apart with breathless curiosity and excitement, and a thrill of interest which might have satisfied the requirements of any visitor; and after a little interval their father, pale, and somewhat breathless, too, whose expectation was not of anything agreeable, but rather of some new misfortune, of which perhaps his cousin had come to tell him.”

However adverb US /ˌhaʊˈevər/

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading “There was, however, no lack of excitement when the rest of the family came in.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The girls dazzled with the quick transition from the darkness outside to the light within, their eyes shining, their lips apart with breathless curiosity and excitement, and a thrill of interest which might have satisfied the requirements of any visitor; and after a little interval their father, pale, and somewhat breathless, too, whose expectation was not of anything agreeable, but rather of some new misfortune, of which perhaps his cousin had come to tell him.”

Long noun US /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The feeling was instinctive in his mind, because of long acquaintance with defeat and failure, that every new thing must mean further trouble.”

Might modal verb US /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading “The girls dazzled with the quick transition from the darkness outside to the light within, their eyes shining, their lips apart with breathless curiosity and excitement, and a thrill of interest which might have satisfied the requirements of any visitor; and after a little interval their father, pale, and somewhat breathless, too, whose expectation was not of anything agreeable, but rather of some new misfortune, of which perhaps his cousin had come to tell him.”

Mind noun US /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The feeling was instinctive in his mind, because of long acquaintance with defeat and failure, that every new thing must mean further trouble.”

Must modal verb US /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading “The feeling was instinctive in his mind, because of long acquaintance with defeat and failure, that every new thing must mean further trouble.”

Order noun US /order/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Edward Penton did not pause to think that it was very unlikely that Alicia would thus break in upon his retirement in order to tell him of some misfortune.”

Outside noun US /ˈoutside/

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

From this reading “The girls dazzled with the quick transition from the darkness outside to the light within, their eyes shining, their lips apart with breathless curiosity and excitement, and a thrill of interest which might have satisfied the requirements of any visitor; and after a little interval their father, pale, and somewhat breathless, too, whose expectation was not of anything agreeable, but rather of some new misfortune, of which perhaps his cousin had come to tell him.”

Perhaps noun US /perhaps/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The girls dazzled with the quick transition from the darkness outside to the light within, their eyes shining, their lips apart with breathless curiosity and excitement, and a thrill of interest which might have satisfied the requirements of any visitor; and after a little interval their father, pale, and somewhat breathless, too, whose expectation was not of anything agreeable, but rather of some new misfortune, of which perhaps his cousin had come to tell him.”

Rest noun US /rest/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “There was, however, no lack of excitement when the rest of the family came in.”

Tell noun US /tell/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The girls dazzled with the quick transition from the darkness outside to the light within, their eyes shining, their lips apart with breathless curiosity and excitement, and a thrill of interest which might have satisfied the requirements of any visitor; and after a little interval their father, pale, and somewhat breathless, too, whose expectation was not of anything agreeable, but rather of some new misfortune, of which perhaps his cousin had come to tell him.”

Thing noun US /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The feeling was instinctive in his mind, because of long acquaintance with defeat and failure, that every new thing must mean further trouble.”

Think noun US /think/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Edward Penton did not pause to think that it was very unlikely that Alicia would thus break in upon his retirement in order to tell him of some misfortune.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “Edward Penton did not pause to think that it was very unlikely that Alicia would thus break in upon his retirement in order to tell him of some misfortune.”

Whose determiner US /huːz/

belonging to which person

From this reading “The girls dazzled with the quick transition from the darkness outside to the light within, their eyes shining, their lips apart with breathless curiosity and excitement, and a thrill of interest which might have satisfied the requirements of any visitor; and after a little interval their father, pale, and somewhat breathless, too, whose expectation was not of anything agreeable, but rather of some new misfortune, of which perhaps his cousin had come to tell him.”

Within preposition US /wɪˈðɪn/

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading “The girls dazzled with the quick transition from the darkness outside to the light within, their eyes shining, their lips apart with breathless curiosity and excitement, and a thrill of interest which might have satisfied the requirements of any visitor; and after a little interval their father, pale, and somewhat breathless, too, whose expectation was not of anything agreeable, but rather of some new misfortune, of which perhaps his cousin had come to tell him.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “Edward Penton did not pause to think that it was very unlikely that Alicia would thus break in upon his retirement in order to tell him of some misfortune.”

All words in this reading · 98

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

adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading The girls dazzled with the quick transition from the darkness outside to the light within, their eyes shining, their lips apart with breathless curiosity and excitement, and a thrill of interest which might have satisfied the requirements of any visitor; and after a little interval their father, pale, and somewhat breathless, too, whose expectation was not of anything agreeable, but rather of some new misfortune, of which perhaps his cousin had come to tell him.

acquaintance

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

From this reading The feeling was instinctive in his mind, because of long acquaintance with defeat and failure, that every new thing must mean further trouble.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading The girls dazzled with the quick transition from the darkness outside to the light within, their eyes shining, their lips apart with breathless curiosity and excitement, and a thrill of interest which might have satisfied the requirements of any visitor; and after a little interval their father, pale, and somewhat breathless, too, whose expectation was not of anything agreeable, but rather of some new misfortune, of which perhaps his cousin had come to tell him.

agreeable

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

From this reading The girls dazzled with the quick transition from the darkness outside to the light within, their eyes shining, their lips apart with breathless curiosity and excitement, and a thrill of interest which might have satisfied the requirements of any visitor; and after a little interval their father, pale, and somewhat breathless, too, whose expectation was not of anything agreeable, but rather of some new misfortune, of which perhaps his cousin had come to tell him.

Alicia

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

From this reading Edward Penton did not pause to think that it was very unlikely that Alicia would thus break in upon his retirement in order to tell him of some misfortune.

ANDconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading THE YOUNG AND THE OLD.

any

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

From this reading The girls dazzled with the quick transition from the darkness outside to the light within, their eyes shining, their lips apart with breathless curiosity and excitement, and a thrill of interest which might have satisfied the requirements of any visitor; and after a little interval their father, pale, and somewhat breathless, too, whose expectation was not of anything agreeable, but rather of some new misfortune, of which perhaps his cousin had come to tell him.

anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/

any thing at all

From this reading The girls dazzled with the quick transition from the darkness outside to the light within, their eyes shining, their lips apart with breathless curiosity and excitement, and a thrill of interest which might have satisfied the requirements of any visitor; and after a little interval their father, pale, and somewhat breathless, too, whose expectation was not of anything agreeable, but rather of some new misfortune, of which perhaps his cousin had come to tell him.

apart

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

From this reading The girls dazzled with the quick transition from the darkness outside to the light within, their eyes shining, their lips apart with breathless curiosity and excitement, and a thrill of interest which might have satisfied the requirements of any visitor; and after a little interval their father, pale, and somewhat breathless, too, whose expectation was not of anything agreeable, but rather of some new misfortune, of which perhaps his cousin had come to tell him.

becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/

for the reason that

From this reading The feeling was instinctive in his mind, because of long acquaintance with defeat and failure, that every new thing must mean further trouble.

break

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

From this reading Edward Penton did not pause to think that it was very unlikely that Alicia would thus break in upon his retirement in order to tell him of some misfortune.

breathless

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

From this reading The girls dazzled with the quick transition from the darkness outside to the light within, their eyes shining, their lips apart with breathless curiosity and excitement, and a thrill of interest which might have satisfied the requirements of any visitor; and after a little interval their father, pale, and somewhat breathless, too, whose expectation was not of anything agreeable, but rather of some new misfortune, of which perhaps his cousin had come to tell him.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading The girls dazzled with the quick transition from the darkness outside to the light within, their eyes shining, their lips apart with breathless curiosity and excitement, and a thrill of interest which might have satisfied the requirements of any visitor; and after a little interval their father, pale, and somewhat breathless, too, whose expectation was not of anything agreeable, but rather of some new misfortune, of which perhaps his cousin had come to tell him.

came

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

From this reading There was, however, no lack of excitement when the rest of the family came in.

comenounUS /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The girls dazzled with the quick transition from the darkness outside to the light within, their eyes shining, their lips apart with breathless curiosity and excitement, and a thrill of interest which might have satisfied the requirements of any visitor; and after a little interval their father, pale, and somewhat breathless, too, whose expectation was not of anything agreeable, but rather of some new misfortune, of which perhaps his cousin had come to tell him.

cousin

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

From this reading The girls dazzled with the quick transition from the darkness outside to the light within, their eyes shining, their lips apart with breathless curiosity and excitement, and a thrill of interest which might have satisfied the requirements of any visitor; and after a little interval their father, pale, and somewhat breathless, too, whose expectation was not of anything agreeable, but rather of some new misfortune, of which perhaps his cousin had come to tell him.

curiosity

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

From this reading The girls dazzled with the quick transition from the darkness outside to the light within, their eyes shining, their lips apart with breathless curiosity and excitement, and a thrill of interest which might have satisfied the requirements of any visitor; and after a little interval their father, pale, and somewhat breathless, too, whose expectation was not of anything agreeable, but rather of some new misfortune, of which perhaps his cousin had come to tell him.

darkness

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

From this reading The girls dazzled with the quick transition from the darkness outside to the light within, their eyes shining, their lips apart with breathless curiosity and excitement, and a thrill of interest which might have satisfied the requirements of any visitor; and after a little interval their father, pale, and somewhat breathless, too, whose expectation was not of anything agreeable, but rather of some new misfortune, of which perhaps his cousin had come to tell him.

dazzled

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

From this reading The girls dazzled with the quick transition from the darkness outside to the light within, their eyes shining, their lips apart with breathless curiosity and excitement, and a thrill of interest which might have satisfied the requirements of any visitor; and after a little interval their father, pale, and somewhat breathless, too, whose expectation was not of anything agreeable, but rather of some new misfortune, of which perhaps his cousin had come to tell him.

defeat

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

From this reading The feeling was instinctive in his mind, because of long acquaintance with defeat and failure, that every new thing must mean further trouble.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

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

From this reading Edward Penton did not pause to think that it was very unlikely that Alicia would thus break in upon his retirement in order to tell him of some misfortune.

Edward

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

From this reading Edward Penton did not pause to think that it was very unlikely that Alicia would thus break in upon his retirement in order to tell him of some misfortune.

everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading The feeling was instinctive in his mind, because of long acquaintance with defeat and failure, that every new thing must mean further trouble.

excitement

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

From this reading There was, however, no lack of excitement when the rest of the family came in.

expectation

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

From this reading The girls dazzled with the quick transition from the darkness outside to the light within, their eyes shining, their lips apart with breathless curiosity and excitement, and a thrill of interest which might have satisfied the requirements of any visitor; and after a little interval their father, pale, and somewhat breathless, too, whose expectation was not of anything agreeable, but rather of some new misfortune, of which perhaps his cousin had come to tell him.

eyes

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

From this reading The girls dazzled with the quick transition from the darkness outside to the light within, their eyes shining, their lips apart with breathless curiosity and excitement, and a thrill of interest which might have satisfied the requirements of any visitor; and after a little interval their father, pale, and somewhat breathless, too, whose expectation was not of anything agreeable, but rather of some new misfortune, of which perhaps his cousin had come to tell him.

failure

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

From this reading The feeling was instinctive in his mind, because of long acquaintance with defeat and failure, that every new thing must mean further trouble.

family

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

From this reading There was, however, no lack of excitement when the rest of the family came in.

father

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

From this reading The girls dazzled with the quick transition from the darkness outside to the light within, their eyes shining, their lips apart with breathless curiosity and excitement, and a thrill of interest which might have satisfied the requirements of any visitor; and after a little interval their father, pale, and somewhat breathless, too, whose expectation was not of anything agreeable, but rather of some new misfortune, of which perhaps his cousin had come to tell him.

feelingnounUS /ˈfeeling/

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

From this reading The feeling was instinctive in his mind, because of long acquaintance with defeat and failure, that every new thing must mean further trouble.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The girls dazzled with the quick transition from the darkness outside to the light within, their eyes shining, their lips apart with breathless curiosity and excitement, and a thrill of interest which might have satisfied the requirements of any visitor; and after a little interval their father, pale, and somewhat breathless, too, whose expectation was not of anything agreeable, but rather of some new misfortune, of which perhaps his cousin had come to tell him.

further

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

From this reading The feeling was instinctive in his mind, because of long acquaintance with defeat and failure, that every new thing must mean further trouble.

girls

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

From this reading The girls dazzled with the quick transition from the darkness outside to the light within, their eyes shining, their lips apart with breathless curiosity and excitement, and a thrill of interest which might have satisfied the requirements of any visitor; and after a little interval their father, pale, and somewhat breathless, too, whose expectation was not of anything agreeable, but rather of some new misfortune, of which perhaps his cousin had come to tell him.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading The girls dazzled with the quick transition from the darkness outside to the light within, their eyes shining, their lips apart with breathless curiosity and excitement, and a thrill of interest which might have satisfied the requirements of any visitor; and after a little interval their father, pale, and somewhat breathless, too, whose expectation was not of anything agreeable, but rather of some new misfortune, of which perhaps his cousin had come to tell him.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading The girls dazzled with the quick transition from the darkness outside to the light within, their eyes shining, their lips apart with breathless curiosity and excitement, and a thrill of interest which might have satisfied the requirements of any visitor; and after a little interval their father, pale, and somewhat breathless, too, whose expectation was not of anything agreeable, but rather of some new misfortune, of which perhaps his cousin had come to tell him.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading The girls dazzled with the quick transition from the darkness outside to the light within, their eyes shining, their lips apart with breathless curiosity and excitement, and a thrill of interest which might have satisfied the requirements of any visitor; and after a little interval their father, pale, and somewhat breathless, too, whose expectation was not of anything agreeable, but rather of some new misfortune, of which perhaps his cousin had come to tell him.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading The girls dazzled with the quick transition from the darkness outside to the light within, their eyes shining, their lips apart with breathless curiosity and excitement, and a thrill of interest which might have satisfied the requirements of any visitor; and after a little interval their father, pale, and somewhat breathless, too, whose expectation was not of anything agreeable, but rather of some new misfortune, of which perhaps his cousin had come to tell him.

howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading There was, however, no lack of excitement when the rest of the family came in.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading There was, however, no lack of excitement when the rest of the family came in.

instinctive

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

From this reading The feeling was instinctive in his mind, because of long acquaintance with defeat and failure, that every new thing must mean further trouble.

interest

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

From this reading The girls dazzled with the quick transition from the darkness outside to the light within, their eyes shining, their lips apart with breathless curiosity and excitement, and a thrill of interest which might have satisfied the requirements of any visitor; and after a little interval their father, pale, and somewhat breathless, too, whose expectation was not of anything agreeable, but rather of some new misfortune, of which perhaps his cousin had come to tell him.

interval

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

From this reading The girls dazzled with the quick transition from the darkness outside to the light within, their eyes shining, their lips apart with breathless curiosity and excitement, and a thrill of interest which might have satisfied the requirements of any visitor; and after a little interval their father, pale, and somewhat breathless, too, whose expectation was not of anything agreeable, but rather of some new misfortune, of which perhaps his cousin had come to tell him.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Edward Penton did not pause to think that it was very unlikely that Alicia would thus break in upon his retirement in order to tell him of some misfortune.

lack

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

From this reading There was, however, no lack of excitement when the rest of the family came in.

light

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

From this reading The girls dazzled with the quick transition from the darkness outside to the light within, their eyes shining, their lips apart with breathless curiosity and excitement, and a thrill of interest which might have satisfied the requirements of any visitor; and after a little interval their father, pale, and somewhat breathless, too, whose expectation was not of anything agreeable, but rather of some new misfortune, of which perhaps his cousin had come to tell him.

lips

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

From this reading The girls dazzled with the quick transition from the darkness outside to the light within, their eyes shining, their lips apart with breathless curiosity and excitement, and a thrill of interest which might have satisfied the requirements of any visitor; and after a little interval their father, pale, and somewhat breathless, too, whose expectation was not of anything agreeable, but rather of some new misfortune, of which perhaps his cousin had come to tell him.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The girls dazzled with the quick transition from the darkness outside to the light within, their eyes shining, their lips apart with breathless curiosity and excitement, and a thrill of interest which might have satisfied the requirements of any visitor; and after a little interval their father, pale, and somewhat breathless, too, whose expectation was not of anything agreeable, but rather of some new misfortune, of which perhaps his cousin had come to tell him.

longnounUS /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The feeling was instinctive in his mind, because of long acquaintance with defeat and failure, that every new thing must mean further trouble.

mean

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

From this reading The feeling was instinctive in his mind, because of long acquaintance with defeat and failure, that every new thing must mean further trouble.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading The girls dazzled with the quick transition from the darkness outside to the light within, their eyes shining, their lips apart with breathless curiosity and excitement, and a thrill of interest which might have satisfied the requirements of any visitor; and after a little interval their father, pale, and somewhat breathless, too, whose expectation was not of anything agreeable, but rather of some new misfortune, of which perhaps his cousin had come to tell him.

mindnounUS /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The feeling was instinctive in his mind, because of long acquaintance with defeat and failure, that every new thing must mean further trouble.

misfortune

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

From this reading The girls dazzled with the quick transition from the darkness outside to the light within, their eyes shining, their lips apart with breathless curiosity and excitement, and a thrill of interest which might have satisfied the requirements of any visitor; and after a little interval their father, pale, and somewhat breathless, too, whose expectation was not of anything agreeable, but rather of some new misfortune, of which perhaps his cousin had come to tell him.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading The feeling was instinctive in his mind, because of long acquaintance with defeat and failure, that every new thing must mean further trouble.

new

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

From this reading The girls dazzled with the quick transition from the darkness outside to the light within, their eyes shining, their lips apart with breathless curiosity and excitement, and a thrill of interest which might have satisfied the requirements of any visitor; and after a little interval their father, pale, and somewhat breathless, too, whose expectation was not of anything agreeable, but rather of some new misfortune, of which perhaps his cousin had come to tell him.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading There was, however, no lack of excitement when the rest of the family came in.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading The girls dazzled with the quick transition from the darkness outside to the light within, their eyes shining, their lips apart with breathless curiosity and excitement, and a thrill of interest which might have satisfied the requirements of any visitor; and after a little interval their father, pale, and somewhat breathless, too, whose expectation was not of anything agreeable, but rather of some new misfortune, of which perhaps his cousin had come to tell him.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading There was, however, no lack of excitement when the rest of the family came in.

OLD

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

From this reading THE YOUNG AND THE OLD.

ordernounUS /order/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Edward Penton did not pause to think that it was very unlikely that Alicia would thus break in upon his retirement in order to tell him of some misfortune.

outsidenounUS /ˈoutside/

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

From this reading The girls dazzled with the quick transition from the darkness outside to the light within, their eyes shining, their lips apart with breathless curiosity and excitement, and a thrill of interest which might have satisfied the requirements of any visitor; and after a little interval their father, pale, and somewhat breathless, too, whose expectation was not of anything agreeable, but rather of some new misfortune, of which perhaps his cousin had come to tell him.

pale

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

From this reading The girls dazzled with the quick transition from the darkness outside to the light within, their eyes shining, their lips apart with breathless curiosity and excitement, and a thrill of interest which might have satisfied the requirements of any visitor; and after a little interval their father, pale, and somewhat breathless, too, whose expectation was not of anything agreeable, but rather of some new misfortune, of which perhaps his cousin had come to tell him.

pause

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

From this reading Edward Penton did not pause to think that it was very unlikely that Alicia would thus break in upon his retirement in order to tell him of some misfortune.

Penton

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

From this reading Edward Penton did not pause to think that it was very unlikely that Alicia would thus break in upon his retirement in order to tell him of some misfortune.

perhaps

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

From this reading The girls dazzled with the quick transition from the darkness outside to the light within, their eyes shining, their lips apart with breathless curiosity and excitement, and a thrill of interest which might have satisfied the requirements of any visitor; and after a little interval their father, pale, and somewhat breathless, too, whose expectation was not of anything agreeable, but rather of some new misfortune, of which perhaps his cousin had come to tell him.

quick

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From this reading The girls dazzled with the quick transition from the darkness outside to the light within, their eyes shining, their lips apart with breathless curiosity and excitement, and a thrill of interest which might have satisfied the requirements of any visitor; and after a little interval their father, pale, and somewhat breathless, too, whose expectation was not of anything agreeable, but rather of some new misfortune, of which perhaps his cousin had come to tell him.

rather

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From this reading The girls dazzled with the quick transition from the darkness outside to the light within, their eyes shining, their lips apart with breathless curiosity and excitement, and a thrill of interest which might have satisfied the requirements of any visitor; and after a little interval their father, pale, and somewhat breathless, too, whose expectation was not of anything agreeable, but rather of some new misfortune, of which perhaps his cousin had come to tell him.

requirements

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From this reading The girls dazzled with the quick transition from the darkness outside to the light within, their eyes shining, their lips apart with breathless curiosity and excitement, and a thrill of interest which might have satisfied the requirements of any visitor; and after a little interval their father, pale, and somewhat breathless, too, whose expectation was not of anything agreeable, but rather of some new misfortune, of which perhaps his cousin had come to tell him.

restnounUS /rest/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading There was, however, no lack of excitement when the rest of the family came in.

retirement

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From this reading Edward Penton did not pause to think that it was very unlikely that Alicia would thus break in upon his retirement in order to tell him of some misfortune.

satisfied

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From this reading The girls dazzled with the quick transition from the darkness outside to the light within, their eyes shining, their lips apart with breathless curiosity and excitement, and a thrill of interest which might have satisfied the requirements of any visitor; and after a little interval their father, pale, and somewhat breathless, too, whose expectation was not of anything agreeable, but rather of some new misfortune, of which perhaps his cousin had come to tell him.

shining

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From this reading The girls dazzled with the quick transition from the darkness outside to the light within, their eyes shining, their lips apart with breathless curiosity and excitement, and a thrill of interest which might have satisfied the requirements of any visitor; and after a little interval their father, pale, and somewhat breathless, too, whose expectation was not of anything agreeable, but rather of some new misfortune, of which perhaps his cousin had come to tell him.

some

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

From this reading The girls dazzled with the quick transition from the darkness outside to the light within, their eyes shining, their lips apart with breathless curiosity and excitement, and a thrill of interest which might have satisfied the requirements of any visitor; and after a little interval their father, pale, and somewhat breathless, too, whose expectation was not of anything agreeable, but rather of some new misfortune, of which perhaps his cousin had come to tell him.

somewhat

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

From this reading The girls dazzled with the quick transition from the darkness outside to the light within, their eyes shining, their lips apart with breathless curiosity and excitement, and a thrill of interest which might have satisfied the requirements of any visitor; and after a little interval their father, pale, and somewhat breathless, too, whose expectation was not of anything agreeable, but rather of some new misfortune, of which perhaps his cousin had come to tell him.

tellnounUS /tell/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The girls dazzled with the quick transition from the darkness outside to the light within, their eyes shining, their lips apart with breathless curiosity and excitement, and a thrill of interest which might have satisfied the requirements of any visitor; and after a little interval their father, pale, and somewhat breathless, too, whose expectation was not of anything agreeable, but rather of some new misfortune, of which perhaps his cousin had come to tell him.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Edward Penton did not pause to think that it was very unlikely that Alicia would thus break in upon his retirement in order to tell him of some misfortune.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE YOUNG AND THE OLD.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading The girls dazzled with the quick transition from the darkness outside to the light within, their eyes shining, their lips apart with breathless curiosity and excitement, and a thrill of interest which might have satisfied the requirements of any visitor; and after a little interval their father, pale, and somewhat breathless, too, whose expectation was not of anything agreeable, but rather of some new misfortune, of which perhaps his cousin had come to tell him.

There

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

From this reading There was, however, no lack of excitement when the rest of the family came in.

thingnounUS /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The feeling was instinctive in his mind, because of long acquaintance with defeat and failure, that every new thing must mean further trouble.

thinknounUS /think/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Edward Penton did not pause to think that it was very unlikely that Alicia would thus break in upon his retirement in order to tell him of some misfortune.

thrill

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From this reading The girls dazzled with the quick transition from the darkness outside to the light within, their eyes shining, their lips apart with breathless curiosity and excitement, and a thrill of interest which might have satisfied the requirements of any visitor; and after a little interval their father, pale, and somewhat breathless, too, whose expectation was not of anything agreeable, but rather of some new misfortune, of which perhaps his cousin had come to tell him.

thus

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

From this reading Edward Penton did not pause to think that it was very unlikely that Alicia would thus break in upon his retirement in order to tell him of some misfortune.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The girls dazzled with the quick transition from the darkness outside to the light within, their eyes shining, their lips apart with breathless curiosity and excitement, and a thrill of interest which might have satisfied the requirements of any visitor; and after a little interval their father, pale, and somewhat breathless, too, whose expectation was not of anything agreeable, but rather of some new misfortune, of which perhaps his cousin had come to tell him.

too

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

From this reading The girls dazzled with the quick transition from the darkness outside to the light within, their eyes shining, their lips apart with breathless curiosity and excitement, and a thrill of interest which might have satisfied the requirements of any visitor; and after a little interval their father, pale, and somewhat breathless, too, whose expectation was not of anything agreeable, but rather of some new misfortune, of which perhaps his cousin had come to tell him.

transition

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

From this reading The girls dazzled with the quick transition from the darkness outside to the light within, their eyes shining, their lips apart with breathless curiosity and excitement, and a thrill of interest which might have satisfied the requirements of any visitor; and after a little interval their father, pale, and somewhat breathless, too, whose expectation was not of anything agreeable, but rather of some new misfortune, of which perhaps his cousin had come to tell him.

trouble

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

From this reading The feeling was instinctive in his mind, because of long acquaintance with defeat and failure, that every new thing must mean further trouble.

unlikely

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

From this reading Edward Penton did not pause to think that it was very unlikely that Alicia would thus break in upon his retirement in order to tell him of some misfortune.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Edward Penton did not pause to think that it was very unlikely that Alicia would thus break in upon his retirement in order to tell him of some misfortune.

very

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

From this reading Edward Penton did not pause to think that it was very unlikely that Alicia would thus break in upon his retirement in order to tell him of some misfortune.

visitor

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

From this reading The girls dazzled with the quick transition from the darkness outside to the light within, their eyes shining, their lips apart with breathless curiosity and excitement, and a thrill of interest which might have satisfied the requirements of any visitor; and after a little interval their father, pale, and somewhat breathless, too, whose expectation was not of anything agreeable, but rather of some new misfortune, of which perhaps his cousin had come to tell him.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading There was, however, no lack of excitement when the rest of the family came in.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading There was, however, no lack of excitement when the rest of the family came in.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading The girls dazzled with the quick transition from the darkness outside to the light within, their eyes shining, their lips apart with breathless curiosity and excitement, and a thrill of interest which might have satisfied the requirements of any visitor; and after a little interval their father, pale, and somewhat breathless, too, whose expectation was not of anything agreeable, but rather of some new misfortune, of which perhaps his cousin had come to tell him.

whosedeterminerUS /huːz/

belonging to which person

From this reading The girls dazzled with the quick transition from the darkness outside to the light within, their eyes shining, their lips apart with breathless curiosity and excitement, and a thrill of interest which might have satisfied the requirements of any visitor; and after a little interval their father, pale, and somewhat breathless, too, whose expectation was not of anything agreeable, but rather of some new misfortune, of which perhaps his cousin had come to tell him.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The girls dazzled with the quick transition from the darkness outside to the light within, their eyes shining, their lips apart with breathless curiosity and excitement, and a thrill of interest which might have satisfied the requirements of any visitor; and after a little interval their father, pale, and somewhat breathless, too, whose expectation was not of anything agreeable, but rather of some new misfortune, of which perhaps his cousin had come to tell him.

withinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading The girls dazzled with the quick transition from the darkness outside to the light within, their eyes shining, their lips apart with breathless curiosity and excitement, and a thrill of interest which might have satisfied the requirements of any visitor; and after a little interval their father, pale, and somewhat breathless, too, whose expectation was not of anything agreeable, but rather of some new misfortune, of which perhaps his cousin had come to tell him.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading Edward Penton did not pause to think that it was very unlikely that Alicia would thus break in upon his retirement in order to tell him of some misfortune.

YOUNG

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

From this reading THE YOUNG AND THE OLD.