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A waif's progress
A waif's progress

Chapter XXVII

Cover illustration for A waif's progress
Context Illustration Reading 1/19 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
There was nothing unusual in Camilla’s spending a day of unexplained occupation in London.
It therefore excited no surprise when, on a certain Saturday at the end of the first week in February, she departed on one of her silent excursions.
It could not have had for object shopping, an occupation for which Mrs. Tancred cherished a dislike as vigorous as were most of her feelings and opinions.
If her companions gave a thought to the subject, it was to decide that her errand must be one of the many noiseless good deeds which she hid as if they were crimes.
The trumpet blown before actions, so inspiriting a sound in Felicity’s ears, was harshest discord in her sister-in-law’s.
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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 waif's progress

Chapter XXVII

Reading 1/19 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
There was nothing unusual in Camilla’s spending a day of unexplained occupation in London.
Line 2
It therefore excited no surprise when, on a certain Saturday at the end of the first week in February, she departed on one of her silent excursions.
Line 3
It could not have had for object shopping, an occupation for which Mrs. Tancred cherished a dislike as vigorous as were most of her feelings and opinions.
Line 4
If her companions gave a thought to the subject, it was to decide that her errand must be one of the many noiseless good deeds which she hid as if they were crimes.
Line 5
The trumpet blown before actions, so inspiriting a sound in Felicity’s ears, was harshest discord in her sister-in-law’s.

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 “The trumpet blown before actions, so inspiriting a sound in Felicity’s ears, was harshest discord in her sister-in-law’s.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “It could not have had for object shopping, an occupation for which Mrs. Tancred cherished a dislike as vigorous as were most of her feelings and opinions.”

Excited adjective US /ɪkˈsaɪtɪd/

very enthusiastic or eager

From this reading “It therefore excited no surprise when, on a certain Saturday at the end of the first week in February, she departed on one of her silent excursions.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It therefore excited no surprise when, on a certain Saturday at the end of the first week in February, she departed on one of her silent excursions.”

Good noun US /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “If her companions gave a thought to the subject, it was to decide that her errand must be one of the many noiseless good deeds which she hid as if they were crimes.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “It could not have had for object shopping, an occupation for which Mrs. Tancred cherished a dislike as vigorous as were most of her feelings and opinions.”

Must modal verb US /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading “If her companions gave a thought to the subject, it was to decide that her errand must be one of the many noiseless good deeds which she hid as if they were crimes.”

Nothing pronoun US /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading “There was nothing unusual in Camilla’s spending a day of unexplained occupation in London.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “It therefore excited no surprise when, on a certain Saturday at the end of the first week in February, she departed on one of her silent excursions.”

Spending noun US /ˈspending/

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

From this reading “There was nothing unusual in Camilla’s spending a day of unexplained occupation in London.”

Therefore adverb US /ˈðerfɔːr/

for that reason; as a result

From this reading “It therefore excited no surprise when, on a certain Saturday at the end of the first week in February, she departed on one of her silent excursions.”

Thought noun US /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “If her companions gave a thought to the subject, it was to decide that her errand must be one of the many noiseless good deeds which she hid as if they were crimes.”

All words in this reading · 84

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 There was nothing unusual in Camilla’s spending a day of unexplained occupation in London.

actions

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

From this reading The trumpet blown before actions, so inspiriting a sound in Felicity’s ears, was harshest discord in her sister-in-law’s.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading It could not have had for object shopping, an occupation for which Mrs. Tancred cherished a dislike as vigorous as were most of her feelings and opinions.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading It could not have had for object shopping, an occupation for which Mrs. Tancred cherished a dislike as vigorous as were most of her feelings and opinions.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading It could not have had for object shopping, an occupation for which Mrs. Tancred cherished a dislike as vigorous as were most of her feelings and opinions.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading It therefore excited no surprise when, on a certain Saturday at the end of the first week in February, she departed on one of her silent excursions.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading If her companions gave a thought to the subject, it was to decide that her errand must be one of the many noiseless good deeds which she hid as if they were crimes.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading The trumpet blown before actions, so inspiriting a sound in Felicity’s ears, was harshest discord in her sister-in-law’s.

blown

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

From this reading The trumpet blown before actions, so inspiriting a sound in Felicity’s ears, was harshest discord in her sister-in-law’s.

Camilla's

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

From this reading There was nothing unusual in Camilla’s spending a day of unexplained occupation in London.

certain

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

From this reading It therefore excited no surprise when, on a certain Saturday at the end of the first week in February, she departed on one of her silent excursions.

cherished

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

From this reading It could not have had for object shopping, an occupation for which Mrs. Tancred cherished a dislike as vigorous as were most of her feelings and opinions.

companions

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

From this reading If her companions gave a thought to the subject, it was to decide that her errand must be one of the many noiseless good deeds which she hid as if they were crimes.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading It could not have had for object shopping, an occupation for which Mrs. Tancred cherished a dislike as vigorous as were most of her feelings and opinions.

crimes

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

From this reading If her companions gave a thought to the subject, it was to decide that her errand must be one of the many noiseless good deeds which she hid as if they were crimes.

day

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

From this reading There was nothing unusual in Camilla’s spending a day of unexplained occupation in London.

decide

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

From this reading If her companions gave a thought to the subject, it was to decide that her errand must be one of the many noiseless good deeds which she hid as if they were crimes.

deeds

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

From this reading If her companions gave a thought to the subject, it was to decide that her errand must be one of the many noiseless good deeds which she hid as if they were crimes.

departed

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

From this reading It therefore excited no surprise when, on a certain Saturday at the end of the first week in February, she departed on one of her silent excursions.

discord

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

From this reading The trumpet blown before actions, so inspiriting a sound in Felicity’s ears, was harshest discord in her sister-in-law’s.

dislike

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

From this reading It could not have had for object shopping, an occupation for which Mrs. Tancred cherished a dislike as vigorous as were most of her feelings and opinions.

ears

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

From this reading The trumpet blown before actions, so inspiriting a sound in Felicity’s ears, was harshest discord in her sister-in-law’s.

end

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

From this reading It therefore excited no surprise when, on a certain Saturday at the end of the first week in February, she departed on one of her silent excursions.

errand

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

From this reading If her companions gave a thought to the subject, it was to decide that her errand must be one of the many noiseless good deeds which she hid as if they were crimes.

excitedadjectiveUS /ɪkˈsaɪtɪd/

very enthusiastic or eager

From this reading It therefore excited no surprise when, on a certain Saturday at the end of the first week in February, she departed on one of her silent excursions.

excursions

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

From this reading It therefore excited no surprise when, on a certain Saturday at the end of the first week in February, she departed on one of her silent excursions.

February

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

From this reading It therefore excited no surprise when, on a certain Saturday at the end of the first week in February, she departed on one of her silent excursions.

feelings

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

From this reading It could not have had for object shopping, an occupation for which Mrs. Tancred cherished a dislike as vigorous as were most of her feelings and opinions.

Felicity's

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

From this reading The trumpet blown before actions, so inspiriting a sound in Felicity’s ears, was harshest discord in her sister-in-law’s.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It therefore excited no surprise when, on a certain Saturday at the end of the first week in February, she departed on one of her silent excursions.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading It could not have had for object shopping, an occupation for which Mrs. Tancred cherished a dislike as vigorous as were most of her feelings and opinions.

gave

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

From this reading If her companions gave a thought to the subject, it was to decide that her errand must be one of the many noiseless good deeds which she hid as if they were crimes.

goodnounUS /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading If her companions gave a thought to the subject, it was to decide that her errand must be one of the many noiseless good deeds which she hid as if they were crimes.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading It could not have had for object shopping, an occupation for which Mrs. Tancred cherished a dislike as vigorous as were most of her feelings and opinions.

harshest

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

From this reading The trumpet blown before actions, so inspiriting a sound in Felicity’s ears, was harshest discord in her sister-in-law’s.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading It could not have had for object shopping, an occupation for which Mrs. Tancred cherished a dislike as vigorous as were most of her feelings and opinions.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading It therefore excited no surprise when, on a certain Saturday at the end of the first week in February, she departed on one of her silent excursions.

hid

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

From this reading If her companions gave a thought to the subject, it was to decide that her errand must be one of the many noiseless good deeds which she hid as if they were crimes.

IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading If her companions gave a thought to the subject, it was to decide that her errand must be one of the many noiseless good deeds which she hid as if they were crimes.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading There was nothing unusual in Camilla’s spending a day of unexplained occupation in London.

inspiriting

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

From this reading The trumpet blown before actions, so inspiriting a sound in Felicity’s ears, was harshest discord in her sister-in-law’s.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It therefore excited no surprise when, on a certain Saturday at the end of the first week in February, she departed on one of her silent excursions.

London

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

From this reading There was nothing unusual in Camilla’s spending a day of unexplained occupation in London.

many

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

From this reading If her companions gave a thought to the subject, it was to decide that her errand must be one of the many noiseless good deeds which she hid as if they were crimes.

most

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

From this reading It could not have had for object shopping, an occupation for which Mrs. Tancred cherished a dislike as vigorous as were most of her feelings and opinions.

Mrs

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

From this reading It could not have had for object shopping, an occupation for which Mrs. Tancred cherished a dislike as vigorous as were most of her feelings and opinions.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading If her companions gave a thought to the subject, it was to decide that her errand must be one of the many noiseless good deeds which she hid as if they were crimes.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading It therefore excited no surprise when, on a certain Saturday at the end of the first week in February, she departed on one of her silent excursions.

noiseless

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

From this reading If her companions gave a thought to the subject, it was to decide that her errand must be one of the many noiseless good deeds which she hid as if they were crimes.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading It could not have had for object shopping, an occupation for which Mrs. Tancred cherished a dislike as vigorous as were most of her feelings and opinions.

nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading There was nothing unusual in Camilla’s spending a day of unexplained occupation in London.

object

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

From this reading It could not have had for object shopping, an occupation for which Mrs. Tancred cherished a dislike as vigorous as were most of her feelings and opinions.

occupation

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

From this reading There was nothing unusual in Camilla’s spending a day of unexplained occupation in London.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading There was nothing unusual in Camilla’s spending a day of unexplained occupation in London.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading It therefore excited no surprise when, on a certain Saturday at the end of the first week in February, she departed on one of her silent excursions.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading It therefore excited no surprise when, on a certain Saturday at the end of the first week in February, she departed on one of her silent excursions.

opinions

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

From this reading It could not have had for object shopping, an occupation for which Mrs. Tancred cherished a dislike as vigorous as were most of her feelings and opinions.

Saturday

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

From this reading It therefore excited no surprise when, on a certain Saturday at the end of the first week in February, she departed on one of her silent excursions.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading It therefore excited no surprise when, on a certain Saturday at the end of the first week in February, she departed on one of her silent excursions.

shopping

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

From this reading It could not have had for object shopping, an occupation for which Mrs. Tancred cherished a dislike as vigorous as were most of her feelings and opinions.

silent

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

From this reading It therefore excited no surprise when, on a certain Saturday at the end of the first week in February, she departed on one of her silent excursions.

sister-in-law's

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

From this reading The trumpet blown before actions, so inspiriting a sound in Felicity’s ears, was harshest discord in her sister-in-law’s.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading The trumpet blown before actions, so inspiriting a sound in Felicity’s ears, was harshest discord in her sister-in-law’s.

sound

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

From this reading The trumpet blown before actions, so inspiriting a sound in Felicity’s ears, was harshest discord in her sister-in-law’s.

spendingnounUS /ˈspending/

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

From this reading There was nothing unusual in Camilla’s spending a day of unexplained occupation in London.

subject

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

From this reading If her companions gave a thought to the subject, it was to decide that her errand must be one of the many noiseless good deeds which she hid as if they were crimes.

surprise

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

From this reading It therefore excited no surprise when, on a certain Saturday at the end of the first week in February, she departed on one of her silent excursions.

Tancred

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

From this reading It could not have had for object shopping, an occupation for which Mrs. Tancred cherished a dislike as vigorous as were most of her feelings and opinions.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading If her companions gave a thought to the subject, it was to decide that her errand must be one of the many noiseless good deeds which she hid as if they were crimes.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading It therefore excited no surprise when, on a certain Saturday at the end of the first week in February, she departed on one of her silent excursions.

There

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

From this reading There was nothing unusual in Camilla’s spending a day of unexplained occupation in London.

thereforeadverbUS /ˈðerfɔːr/

for that reason; as a result

From this reading It therefore excited no surprise when, on a certain Saturday at the end of the first week in February, she departed on one of her silent excursions.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading If her companions gave a thought to the subject, it was to decide that her errand must be one of the many noiseless good deeds which she hid as if they were crimes.

thoughtnounUS /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading If her companions gave a thought to the subject, it was to decide that her errand must be one of the many noiseless good deeds which she hid as if they were crimes.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading If her companions gave a thought to the subject, it was to decide that her errand must be one of the many noiseless good deeds which she hid as if they were crimes.

trumpet

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

From this reading The trumpet blown before actions, so inspiriting a sound in Felicity’s ears, was harshest discord in her sister-in-law’s.

unexplained

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

From this reading There was nothing unusual in Camilla’s spending a day of unexplained occupation in London.

unusual

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

From this reading There was nothing unusual in Camilla’s spending a day of unexplained occupation in London.

vigorous

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

From this reading It could not have had for object shopping, an occupation for which Mrs. Tancred cherished a dislike as vigorous as were most of her feelings and opinions.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading There was nothing unusual in Camilla’s spending a day of unexplained occupation in London.

week

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

From this reading It therefore excited no surprise when, on a certain Saturday at the end of the first week in February, she departed on one of her silent excursions.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading It could not have had for object shopping, an occupation for which Mrs. Tancred cherished a dislike as vigorous as were most of her feelings and opinions.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading It therefore excited no surprise when, on a certain Saturday at the end of the first week in February, she departed on one of her silent excursions.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading It could not have had for object shopping, an occupation for which Mrs. Tancred cherished a dislike as vigorous as were most of her feelings and opinions.