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A Traveler at Forty
A Traveler at Forty

Chapter XVII

Cover illustration for A Traveler at Forty
Context Illustration Reading 1/28 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THREE GUIDES It was only by intuition, and by asking many questions, that at times I could extract the significance of certain places from Barfleur as quickly as I wished.
He was always reticent or a little cryptic in his allusions.
In this instance I gathered rapidly however that this bar was a very extraordinary little restaurant presided over by a woman of a most pleasant and practical type.
She could not have been much over forty--buxom, good-looking, self-reliant, efficient.
She moved about the two rooms which constituted her restaurant, in so far as the average diner was concerned, with an air of considerable social importance.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

A Traveler at Forty

Chapter XVII

Reading 1/28 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THREE GUIDES It was only by intuition, and by asking many questions, that at times I could extract the significance of certain places from Barfleur as quickly as I wished.
Line 2
He was always reticent or a little cryptic in his allusions.
Line 3
In this instance I gathered rapidly however that this bar was a very extraordinary little restaurant presided over by a woman of a most pleasant and practical type.
Line 4
She could not have been much over forty--buxom, good-looking, self-reliant, efficient.
Line 5
She moved about the two rooms which constituted her restaurant, in so far as the average diner was concerned, with an air of considerable social importance.

Learner Dictionary

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

About preposition US /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “She moved about the two rooms which constituted her restaurant, in so far as the average diner was concerned, with an air of considerable social importance.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “She could not have been much over forty--buxom, good-looking, self-reliant, efficient.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading “THREE GUIDES It was only by intuition, and by asking many questions, that at times I could extract the significance of certain places from Barfleur as quickly as I wished.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “She could not have been much over forty--buxom, good-looking, self-reliant, efficient.”

However adverb US /ˌhaʊˈevər/

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading “In this instance I gathered rapidly however that this bar was a very extraordinary little restaurant presided over by a woman of a most pleasant and practical type.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He was always reticent or a little cryptic in his allusions.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “In this instance I gathered rapidly however that this bar was a very extraordinary little restaurant presided over by a woman of a most pleasant and practical type.”

Pleasant noun US /pleasant/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “In this instance I gathered rapidly however that this bar was a very extraordinary little restaurant presided over by a woman of a most pleasant and practical type.”

All words in this reading · 81

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 He was always reticent or a little cryptic in his allusions.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading She moved about the two rooms which constituted her restaurant, in so far as the average diner was concerned, with an air of considerable social importance.

air

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

From this reading She moved about the two rooms which constituted her restaurant, in so far as the average diner was concerned, with an air of considerable social importance.

allusions

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

From this reading He was always reticent or a little cryptic in his allusions.

always

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

From this reading He was always reticent or a little cryptic in his allusions.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading She moved about the two rooms which constituted her restaurant, in so far as the average diner was concerned, with an air of considerable social importance.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading THREE GUIDES It was only by intuition, and by asking many questions, that at times I could extract the significance of certain places from Barfleur as quickly as I wished.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading THREE GUIDES It was only by intuition, and by asking many questions, that at times I could extract the significance of certain places from Barfleur as quickly as I wished.

asking

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

From this reading THREE GUIDES It was only by intuition, and by asking many questions, that at times I could extract the significance of certain places from Barfleur as quickly as I wished.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading THREE GUIDES It was only by intuition, and by asking many questions, that at times I could extract the significance of certain places from Barfleur as quickly as I wished.

average

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

From this reading She moved about the two rooms which constituted her restaurant, in so far as the average diner was concerned, with an air of considerable social importance.

bar

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

From this reading In this instance I gathered rapidly however that this bar was a very extraordinary little restaurant presided over by a woman of a most pleasant and practical type.

Barfleur

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

From this reading THREE GUIDES It was only by intuition, and by asking many questions, that at times I could extract the significance of certain places from Barfleur as quickly as I wished.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading She could not have been much over forty--buxom, good-looking, self-reliant, efficient.

buxom

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

From this reading She could not have been much over forty--buxom, good-looking, self-reliant, efficient.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading THREE GUIDES It was only by intuition, and by asking many questions, that at times I could extract the significance of certain places from Barfleur as quickly as I wished.

certain

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

From this reading THREE GUIDES It was only by intuition, and by asking many questions, that at times I could extract the significance of certain places from Barfleur as quickly as I wished.

concerned

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

From this reading She moved about the two rooms which constituted her restaurant, in so far as the average diner was concerned, with an air of considerable social importance.

considerable

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

From this reading She moved about the two rooms which constituted her restaurant, in so far as the average diner was concerned, with an air of considerable social importance.

constituted

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

From this reading She moved about the two rooms which constituted her restaurant, in so far as the average diner was concerned, with an air of considerable social importance.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading THREE GUIDES It was only by intuition, and by asking many questions, that at times I could extract the significance of certain places from Barfleur as quickly as I wished.

cryptic

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

From this reading He was always reticent or a little cryptic in his allusions.

diner

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

From this reading She moved about the two rooms which constituted her restaurant, in so far as the average diner was concerned, with an air of considerable social importance.

efficient

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

From this reading She could not have been much over forty--buxom, good-looking, self-reliant, efficient.

extract

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

From this reading THREE GUIDES It was only by intuition, and by asking many questions, that at times I could extract the significance of certain places from Barfleur as quickly as I wished.

extraordinary

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

From this reading In this instance I gathered rapidly however that this bar was a very extraordinary little restaurant presided over by a woman of a most pleasant and practical type.

far

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

From this reading She moved about the two rooms which constituted her restaurant, in so far as the average diner was concerned, with an air of considerable social importance.

forty

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

From this reading She could not have been much over forty--buxom, good-looking, self-reliant, efficient.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading THREE GUIDES It was only by intuition, and by asking many questions, that at times I could extract the significance of certain places from Barfleur as quickly as I wished.

gathered

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

From this reading In this instance I gathered rapidly however that this bar was a very extraordinary little restaurant presided over by a woman of a most pleasant and practical type.

good-looking

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

From this reading She could not have been much over forty--buxom, good-looking, self-reliant, efficient.

GUIDES

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

From this reading THREE GUIDES It was only by intuition, and by asking many questions, that at times I could extract the significance of certain places from Barfleur as quickly as I wished.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading She could not have been much over forty--buxom, good-looking, self-reliant, efficient.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He was always reticent or a little cryptic in his allusions.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading She moved about the two rooms which constituted her restaurant, in so far as the average diner was concerned, with an air of considerable social importance.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading He was always reticent or a little cryptic in his allusions.

howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading In this instance I gathered rapidly however that this bar was a very extraordinary little restaurant presided over by a woman of a most pleasant and practical type.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading THREE GUIDES It was only by intuition, and by asking many questions, that at times I could extract the significance of certain places from Barfleur as quickly as I wished.

importance

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

From this reading She moved about the two rooms which constituted her restaurant, in so far as the average diner was concerned, with an air of considerable social importance.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading He was always reticent or a little cryptic in his allusions.

instance

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

From this reading In this instance I gathered rapidly however that this bar was a very extraordinary little restaurant presided over by a woman of a most pleasant and practical type.

intuition

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

From this reading THREE GUIDES It was only by intuition, and by asking many questions, that at times I could extract the significance of certain places from Barfleur as quickly as I wished.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading THREE GUIDES It was only by intuition, and by asking many questions, that at times I could extract the significance of certain places from Barfleur as quickly as I wished.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He was always reticent or a little cryptic in his allusions.

many

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

From this reading THREE GUIDES It was only by intuition, and by asking many questions, that at times I could extract the significance of certain places from Barfleur as quickly as I wished.

most

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

From this reading In this instance I gathered rapidly however that this bar was a very extraordinary little restaurant presided over by a woman of a most pleasant and practical type.

moved

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

From this reading She moved about the two rooms which constituted her restaurant, in so far as the average diner was concerned, with an air of considerable social importance.

much

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

From this reading She could not have been much over forty--buxom, good-looking, self-reliant, efficient.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading She could not have been much over forty--buxom, good-looking, self-reliant, efficient.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THREE GUIDES It was only by intuition, and by asking many questions, that at times I could extract the significance of certain places from Barfleur as quickly as I wished.

only

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

From this reading THREE GUIDES It was only by intuition, and by asking many questions, that at times I could extract the significance of certain places from Barfleur as quickly as I wished.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading He was always reticent or a little cryptic in his allusions.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading In this instance I gathered rapidly however that this bar was a very extraordinary little restaurant presided over by a woman of a most pleasant and practical type.

places

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

From this reading THREE GUIDES It was only by intuition, and by asking many questions, that at times I could extract the significance of certain places from Barfleur as quickly as I wished.

pleasantnounUS /pleasant/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading In this instance I gathered rapidly however that this bar was a very extraordinary little restaurant presided over by a woman of a most pleasant and practical type.

practical

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

From this reading In this instance I gathered rapidly however that this bar was a very extraordinary little restaurant presided over by a woman of a most pleasant and practical type.

presided

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

From this reading In this instance I gathered rapidly however that this bar was a very extraordinary little restaurant presided over by a woman of a most pleasant and practical type.

questions

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

From this reading THREE GUIDES It was only by intuition, and by asking many questions, that at times I could extract the significance of certain places from Barfleur as quickly as I wished.

quickly

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

From this reading THREE GUIDES It was only by intuition, and by asking many questions, that at times I could extract the significance of certain places from Barfleur as quickly as I wished.

rapidly

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

From this reading In this instance I gathered rapidly however that this bar was a very extraordinary little restaurant presided over by a woman of a most pleasant and practical type.

restaurant

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

From this reading In this instance I gathered rapidly however that this bar was a very extraordinary little restaurant presided over by a woman of a most pleasant and practical type.

reticent

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

From this reading He was always reticent or a little cryptic in his allusions.

rooms

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

From this reading She moved about the two rooms which constituted her restaurant, in so far as the average diner was concerned, with an air of considerable social importance.

self-reliant

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

From this reading She could not have been much over forty--buxom, good-looking, self-reliant, efficient.

ShepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading She could not have been much over forty--buxom, good-looking, self-reliant, efficient.

significance

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

From this reading THREE GUIDES It was only by intuition, and by asking many questions, that at times I could extract the significance of certain places from Barfleur as quickly as I wished.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading She moved about the two rooms which constituted her restaurant, in so far as the average diner was concerned, with an air of considerable social importance.

social

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

From this reading She moved about the two rooms which constituted her restaurant, in so far as the average diner was concerned, with an air of considerable social importance.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading THREE GUIDES It was only by intuition, and by asking many questions, that at times I could extract the significance of certain places from Barfleur as quickly as I wished.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THREE GUIDES It was only by intuition, and by asking many questions, that at times I could extract the significance of certain places from Barfleur as quickly as I wished.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading In this instance I gathered rapidly however that this bar was a very extraordinary little restaurant presided over by a woman of a most pleasant and practical type.

THREE

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

From this reading THREE GUIDES It was only by intuition, and by asking many questions, that at times I could extract the significance of certain places from Barfleur as quickly as I wished.

times

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

From this reading THREE GUIDES It was only by intuition, and by asking many questions, that at times I could extract the significance of certain places from Barfleur as quickly as I wished.

two

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

From this reading She moved about the two rooms which constituted her restaurant, in so far as the average diner was concerned, with an air of considerable social importance.

type

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

From this reading In this instance I gathered rapidly however that this bar was a very extraordinary little restaurant presided over by a woman of a most pleasant and practical type.

very

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

From this reading In this instance I gathered rapidly however that this bar was a very extraordinary little restaurant presided over by a woman of a most pleasant and practical type.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading THREE GUIDES It was only by intuition, and by asking many questions, that at times I could extract the significance of certain places from Barfleur as quickly as I wished.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading She moved about the two rooms which constituted her restaurant, in so far as the average diner was concerned, with an air of considerable social importance.

wished

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

From this reading THREE GUIDES It was only by intuition, and by asking many questions, that at times I could extract the significance of certain places from Barfleur as quickly as I wished.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading She moved about the two rooms which constituted her restaurant, in so far as the average diner was concerned, with an air of considerable social importance.

woman

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

From this reading In this instance I gathered rapidly however that this bar was a very extraordinary little restaurant presided over by a woman of a most pleasant and practical type.