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A Thorny Path — Complete
A Thorny Path — Complete

Chapter XXIII

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Context Illustration Reading 1/69 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The slave Argutis was waiting for Melissa in the antechamber.
It was evident that he brought good news, for he beamed with joy as she came toward him; and before she left the house she knew that her father and Philip had returned and had regained their freedom.
The slave had not allowed these joyful tidings to reach his beloved mistress's ear, that he might have the undivided pleasure of bringing them himself, and the delight she expressed was fully as great as he had anticipated.
Melissa even hurried back to Johanna to impart to her the joyful intelligence that she might tell it to her mistress.
When they were in the street the slave told her that, at break of day, the ship had cast anchor which brought back father and son.
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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 Thorny Path — Complete

Chapter XXIII

Reading 1/69 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The slave Argutis was waiting for Melissa in the antechamber.
Line 2
It was evident that he brought good news, for he beamed with joy as she came toward him; and before she left the house she knew that her father and Philip had returned and had regained their freedom.
Line 3
The slave had not allowed these joyful tidings to reach his beloved mistress's ear, that he might have the undivided pleasure of bringing them himself, and the delight she expressed was fully as great as he had anticipated.
Line 4
Melissa even hurried back to Johanna to impart to her the joyful intelligence that she might tell it to her mistress.
Line 5
When they were in the street the slave told her that, at break of day, the ship had cast anchor which brought back father and son.

Learner Dictionary

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

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “It was evident that he brought good news, for he beamed with joy as she came toward him; and before she left the house she knew that her father and Philip had returned and had regained their freedom.”

Brought noun US /ˈbrought/

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

From this reading “It was evident that he brought good news, for he beamed with joy as she came toward him; and before she left the house she knew that her father and Philip had returned and had regained their freedom.”

Even noun US /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Melissa even hurried back to Johanna to impart to her the joyful intelligence that she might tell it to her mistress.”

Good noun US /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was evident that he brought good news, for he beamed with joy as she came toward him; and before she left the house she knew that her father and Philip had returned and had regained their freedom.”

Great noun US /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The slave had not allowed these joyful tidings to reach his beloved mistress's ear, that he might have the undivided pleasure of bringing them himself, and the delight she expressed was fully as great as he had anticipated.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “The slave had not allowed these joyful tidings to reach his beloved mistress's ear, that he might have the undivided pleasure of bringing them himself, and the delight she expressed was fully as great as he had anticipated.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading “The slave had not allowed these joyful tidings to reach his beloved mistress's ear, that he might have the undivided pleasure of bringing them himself, and the delight she expressed was fully as great as he had anticipated.”

Left noun US /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was evident that he brought good news, for he beamed with joy as she came toward him; and before she left the house she knew that her father and Philip had returned and had regained their freedom.”

Might modal verb US /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading “The slave had not allowed these joyful tidings to reach his beloved mistress's ear, that he might have the undivided pleasure of bringing them himself, and the delight she expressed was fully as great as he had anticipated.”

Returned noun US /ˈreturned/

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

From this reading “It was evident that he brought good news, for he beamed with joy as she came toward him; and before she left the house she knew that her father and Philip had returned and had regained their freedom.”

Ship noun US /ship/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “When they were in the street the slave told her that, at break of day, the ship had cast anchor which brought back father and son.”

Tell noun US /tell/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Melissa even hurried back to Johanna to impart to her the joyful intelligence that she might tell it to her mistress.”

These determiner US /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading “The slave had not allowed these joyful tidings to reach his beloved mistress's ear, that he might have the undivided pleasure of bringing them himself, and the delight she expressed was fully as great as he had anticipated.”

Told noun US /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “When they were in the street the slave told her that, at break of day, the ship had cast anchor which brought back father and son.”

Toward preposition US /təˈwɔːrd/

in the direction of

From this reading “It was evident that he brought good news, for he beamed with joy as she came toward him; and before she left the house she knew that her father and Philip had returned and had regained their freedom.”

Waiting noun US /ˈwaiting/

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

From this reading “The slave Argutis was waiting for Melissa in the antechamber.”

All words in this reading · 82

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

allowed

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

From this reading The slave had not allowed these joyful tidings to reach his beloved mistress's ear, that he might have the undivided pleasure of bringing them himself, and the delight she expressed was fully as great as he had anticipated.

anchor

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

From this reading When they were in the street the slave told her that, at break of day, the ship had cast anchor which brought back father and son.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading It was evident that he brought good news, for he beamed with joy as she came toward him; and before she left the house she knew that her father and Philip had returned and had regained their freedom.

antechamber

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

From this reading The slave Argutis was waiting for Melissa in the antechamber.

anticipated

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

From this reading The slave had not allowed these joyful tidings to reach his beloved mistress's ear, that he might have the undivided pleasure of bringing them himself, and the delight she expressed was fully as great as he had anticipated.

Argutis

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

From this reading The slave Argutis was waiting for Melissa in the antechamber.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading It was evident that he brought good news, for he beamed with joy as she came toward him; and before she left the house she knew that her father and Philip had returned and had regained their freedom.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading When they were in the street the slave told her that, at break of day, the ship had cast anchor which brought back father and son.

back

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

From this reading Melissa even hurried back to Johanna to impart to her the joyful intelligence that she might tell it to her mistress.

beamed

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

From this reading It was evident that he brought good news, for he beamed with joy as she came toward him; and before she left the house she knew that her father and Philip had returned and had regained their freedom.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading It was evident that he brought good news, for he beamed with joy as she came toward him; and before she left the house she knew that her father and Philip had returned and had regained their freedom.

beloved

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

From this reading The slave had not allowed these joyful tidings to reach his beloved mistress's ear, that he might have the undivided pleasure of bringing them himself, and the delight she expressed was fully as great as he had anticipated.

break

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

From this reading When they were in the street the slave told her that, at break of day, the ship had cast anchor which brought back father and son.

bringing

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

From this reading The slave had not allowed these joyful tidings to reach his beloved mistress's ear, that he might have the undivided pleasure of bringing them himself, and the delight she expressed was fully as great as he had anticipated.

broughtnounUS /ˈbrought/

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

From this reading It was evident that he brought good news, for he beamed with joy as she came toward him; and before she left the house she knew that her father and Philip had returned and had regained their freedom.

came

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

From this reading It was evident that he brought good news, for he beamed with joy as she came toward him; and before she left the house she knew that her father and Philip had returned and had regained their freedom.

cast

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

From this reading When they were in the street the slave told her that, at break of day, the ship had cast anchor which brought back father and son.

day

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

From this reading When they were in the street the slave told her that, at break of day, the ship had cast anchor which brought back father and son.

delight

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

From this reading The slave had not allowed these joyful tidings to reach his beloved mistress's ear, that he might have the undivided pleasure of bringing them himself, and the delight she expressed was fully as great as he had anticipated.

ear

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

From this reading The slave had not allowed these joyful tidings to reach his beloved mistress's ear, that he might have the undivided pleasure of bringing them himself, and the delight she expressed was fully as great as he had anticipated.

evennounUS /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Melissa even hurried back to Johanna to impart to her the joyful intelligence that she might tell it to her mistress.

evident

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

From this reading It was evident that he brought good news, for he beamed with joy as she came toward him; and before she left the house she knew that her father and Philip had returned and had regained their freedom.

expressed

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

From this reading The slave had not allowed these joyful tidings to reach his beloved mistress's ear, that he might have the undivided pleasure of bringing them himself, and the delight she expressed was fully as great as he had anticipated.

father

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

From this reading It was evident that he brought good news, for he beamed with joy as she came toward him; and before she left the house she knew that her father and Philip had returned and had regained their freedom.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The slave Argutis was waiting for Melissa in the antechamber.

freedom

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

From this reading It was evident that he brought good news, for he beamed with joy as she came toward him; and before she left the house she knew that her father and Philip had returned and had regained their freedom.

fully

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

From this reading The slave had not allowed these joyful tidings to reach his beloved mistress's ear, that he might have the undivided pleasure of bringing them himself, and the delight she expressed was fully as great as he had anticipated.

goodnounUS /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was evident that he brought good news, for he beamed with joy as she came toward him; and before she left the house she knew that her father and Philip had returned and had regained their freedom.

greatnounUS /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The slave had not allowed these joyful tidings to reach his beloved mistress's ear, that he might have the undivided pleasure of bringing them himself, and the delight she expressed was fully as great as he had anticipated.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading It was evident that he brought good news, for he beamed with joy as she came toward him; and before she left the house she knew that her father and Philip had returned and had regained their freedom.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading The slave had not allowed these joyful tidings to reach his beloved mistress's ear, that he might have the undivided pleasure of bringing them himself, and the delight she expressed was fully as great as he had anticipated.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading It was evident that he brought good news, for he beamed with joy as she came toward him; and before she left the house she knew that her father and Philip had returned and had regained their freedom.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading It was evident that he brought good news, for he beamed with joy as she came toward him; and before she left the house she knew that her father and Philip had returned and had regained their freedom.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading It was evident that he brought good news, for he beamed with joy as she came toward him; and before she left the house she knew that her father and Philip had returned and had regained their freedom.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading The slave had not allowed these joyful tidings to reach his beloved mistress's ear, that he might have the undivided pleasure of bringing them himself, and the delight she expressed was fully as great as he had anticipated.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading The slave had not allowed these joyful tidings to reach his beloved mistress's ear, that he might have the undivided pleasure of bringing them himself, and the delight she expressed was fully as great as he had anticipated.

house

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

From this reading It was evident that he brought good news, for he beamed with joy as she came toward him; and before she left the house she knew that her father and Philip had returned and had regained their freedom.

hurried

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

From this reading Melissa even hurried back to Johanna to impart to her the joyful intelligence that she might tell it to her mistress.

impart

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

From this reading Melissa even hurried back to Johanna to impart to her the joyful intelligence that she might tell it to her mistress.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The slave Argutis was waiting for Melissa in the antechamber.

intelligence

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

From this reading Melissa even hurried back to Johanna to impart to her the joyful intelligence that she might tell it to her mistress.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was evident that he brought good news, for he beamed with joy as she came toward him; and before she left the house she knew that her father and Philip had returned and had regained their freedom.

Johanna

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

From this reading Melissa even hurried back to Johanna to impart to her the joyful intelligence that she might tell it to her mistress.

joy

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

From this reading It was evident that he brought good news, for he beamed with joy as she came toward him; and before she left the house she knew that her father and Philip had returned and had regained their freedom.

joyful

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

From this reading The slave had not allowed these joyful tidings to reach his beloved mistress's ear, that he might have the undivided pleasure of bringing them himself, and the delight she expressed was fully as great as he had anticipated.

knew

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

From this reading It was evident that he brought good news, for he beamed with joy as she came toward him; and before she left the house she knew that her father and Philip had returned and had regained their freedom.

leftnounUS /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was evident that he brought good news, for he beamed with joy as she came toward him; and before she left the house she knew that her father and Philip had returned and had regained their freedom.

Melissa

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

From this reading The slave Argutis was waiting for Melissa in the antechamber.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading The slave had not allowed these joyful tidings to reach his beloved mistress's ear, that he might have the undivided pleasure of bringing them himself, and the delight she expressed was fully as great as he had anticipated.

mistress

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

From this reading Melissa even hurried back to Johanna to impart to her the joyful intelligence that she might tell it to her mistress.

mistress's

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

From this reading The slave had not allowed these joyful tidings to reach his beloved mistress's ear, that he might have the undivided pleasure of bringing them himself, and the delight she expressed was fully as great as he had anticipated.

news

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

From this reading It was evident that he brought good news, for he beamed with joy as she came toward him; and before she left the house she knew that her father and Philip had returned and had regained their freedom.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading The slave had not allowed these joyful tidings to reach his beloved mistress's ear, that he might have the undivided pleasure of bringing them himself, and the delight she expressed was fully as great as he had anticipated.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The slave had not allowed these joyful tidings to reach his beloved mistress's ear, that he might have the undivided pleasure of bringing them himself, and the delight she expressed was fully as great as he had anticipated.

Philip

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

From this reading It was evident that he brought good news, for he beamed with joy as she came toward him; and before she left the house she knew that her father and Philip had returned and had regained their freedom.

pleasure

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

From this reading The slave had not allowed these joyful tidings to reach his beloved mistress's ear, that he might have the undivided pleasure of bringing them himself, and the delight she expressed was fully as great as he had anticipated.

reach

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

From this reading The slave had not allowed these joyful tidings to reach his beloved mistress's ear, that he might have the undivided pleasure of bringing them himself, and the delight she expressed was fully as great as he had anticipated.

regained

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

From this reading It was evident that he brought good news, for he beamed with joy as she came toward him; and before she left the house she knew that her father and Philip had returned and had regained their freedom.

returnednounUS /ˈreturned/

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

From this reading It was evident that he brought good news, for he beamed with joy as she came toward him; and before she left the house she knew that her father and Philip had returned and had regained their freedom.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading It was evident that he brought good news, for he beamed with joy as she came toward him; and before she left the house she knew that her father and Philip had returned and had regained their freedom.

shipnounUS /ship/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading When they were in the street the slave told her that, at break of day, the ship had cast anchor which brought back father and son.

slave

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

From this reading The slave Argutis was waiting for Melissa in the antechamber.

son

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

From this reading When they were in the street the slave told her that, at break of day, the ship had cast anchor which brought back father and son.

street

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

From this reading When they were in the street the slave told her that, at break of day, the ship had cast anchor which brought back father and son.

tellnounUS /tell/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Melissa even hurried back to Johanna to impart to her the joyful intelligence that she might tell it to her mistress.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It was evident that he brought good news, for he beamed with joy as she came toward him; and before she left the house she knew that her father and Philip had returned and had regained their freedom.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The slave Argutis was waiting for Melissa in the antechamber.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading It was evident that he brought good news, for he beamed with joy as she came toward him; and before she left the house she knew that her father and Philip had returned and had regained their freedom.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading The slave had not allowed these joyful tidings to reach his beloved mistress's ear, that he might have the undivided pleasure of bringing them himself, and the delight she expressed was fully as great as he had anticipated.

thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading The slave had not allowed these joyful tidings to reach his beloved mistress's ear, that he might have the undivided pleasure of bringing them himself, and the delight she expressed was fully as great as he had anticipated.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading When they were in the street the slave told her that, at break of day, the ship had cast anchor which brought back father and son.

tidings

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

From this reading The slave had not allowed these joyful tidings to reach his beloved mistress's ear, that he might have the undivided pleasure of bringing them himself, and the delight she expressed was fully as great as he had anticipated.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The slave had not allowed these joyful tidings to reach his beloved mistress's ear, that he might have the undivided pleasure of bringing them himself, and the delight she expressed was fully as great as he had anticipated.

toldnounUS /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading When they were in the street the slave told her that, at break of day, the ship had cast anchor which brought back father and son.

towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/

in the direction of

From this reading It was evident that he brought good news, for he beamed with joy as she came toward him; and before she left the house she knew that her father and Philip had returned and had regained their freedom.

undivided

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

From this reading The slave had not allowed these joyful tidings to reach his beloved mistress's ear, that he might have the undivided pleasure of bringing them himself, and the delight she expressed was fully as great as he had anticipated.

waiting

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

From this reading The slave Argutis was waiting for Melissa in the antechamber.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The slave Argutis was waiting for Melissa in the antechamber.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading When they were in the street the slave told her that, at break of day, the ship had cast anchor which brought back father and son.

WhenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading When they were in the street the slave told her that, at break of day, the ship had cast anchor which brought back father and son.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading When they were in the street the slave told her that, at break of day, the ship had cast anchor which brought back father and son.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading It was evident that he brought good news, for he beamed with joy as she came toward him; and before she left the house she knew that her father and Philip had returned and had regained their freedom.