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A Woman of Thirty
A Woman of Thirty

Chapter XX

Cover illustration for A Woman of Thirty
Context Illustration Reading 1/29 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The _Othello_ made the most of the little wind she could gain to fly on her new course.
Swaying first to one side, then to the other, like a stag beetle on the wing, the fair vessel beat to windward on her zigzag flight to the south.
Sometimes she was hidden from sight by the straight column of smoke that flung fantastic shadows across the water, then gracefully she shot out clear of it, and Helene, catching sight of her father, waved her handkerchief for yet one more farewell greeting.
A few more minutes, and the _Saint-Ferdinand_ went down with a bubbling turmoil, at once effaced by the ocean.
Nothing of all that had been was left but a smoke cloud hanging in the breeze.
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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 Woman of Thirty

Chapter XX

Reading 1/29 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The _Othello_ made the most of the little wind she could gain to fly on her new course.
Line 2
Swaying first to one side, then to the other, like a stag beetle on the wing, the fair vessel beat to windward on her zigzag flight to the south.
Line 3
Sometimes she was hidden from sight by the straight column of smoke that flung fantastic shadows across the water, then gracefully she shot out clear of it, and Helene, catching sight of her father, waved her handkerchief for yet one more farewell greeting.
Line 4
A few more minutes, and the _Saint-Ferdinand_ went down with a bubbling turmoil, at once effaced by the ocean.
Line 5
Nothing of all that had been was left but a smoke cloud hanging in the breeze.

Learner Dictionary

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

Across preposition US /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading “Sometimes she was hidden from sight by the straight column of smoke that flung fantastic shadows across the water, then gracefully she shot out clear of it, and Helene, catching sight of her father, waved her handkerchief for yet one more farewell greeting.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “Nothing of all that had been was left but a smoke cloud hanging in the breeze.”

Bubbling noun US /ˈbubbling/

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

From this reading “A few more minutes, and the _Saint-Ferdinand_ went down with a bubbling turmoil, at once effaced by the ocean.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “The _Othello_ made the most of the little wind she could gain to fly on her new course.”

Course noun US /course/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The _Othello_ made the most of the little wind she could gain to fly on her new course.”

Fair noun US /fair/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Swaying first to one side, then to the other, like a stag beetle on the wing, the fair vessel beat to windward on her zigzag flight to the south.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Swaying first to one side, then to the other, like a stag beetle on the wing, the fair vessel beat to windward on her zigzag flight to the south.”

Left noun US /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Nothing of all that had been was left but a smoke cloud hanging in the breeze.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The _Othello_ made the most of the little wind she could gain to fly on her new course.”

Nothing pronoun US /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading “Nothing of all that had been was left but a smoke cloud hanging in the breeze.”

Once noun US /once/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A few more minutes, and the _Saint-Ferdinand_ went down with a bubbling turmoil, at once effaced by the ocean.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “Swaying first to one side, then to the other, like a stag beetle on the wing, the fair vessel beat to windward on her zigzag flight to the south.”

Sometimes noun US /sometimes/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Sometimes she was hidden from sight by the straight column of smoke that flung fantastic shadows across the water, then gracefully she shot out clear of it, and Helene, catching sight of her father, waved her handkerchief for yet one more farewell greeting.”

Went noun US /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A few more minutes, and the _Saint-Ferdinand_ went down with a bubbling turmoil, at once effaced by the ocean.”

Wind noun US /wind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The _Othello_ made the most of the little wind she could gain to fly on her new course.”

Windward noun US /ˈwindward/

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

From this reading “Swaying first to one side, then to the other, like a stag beetle on the wing, the fair vessel beat to windward on her zigzag flight to the south.”

Yet conjunction US /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading “Sometimes she was hidden from sight by the straight column of smoke that flung fantastic shadows across the water, then gracefully she shot out clear of it, and Helene, catching sight of her father, waved her handkerchief for yet one more farewell greeting.”

All words in this reading · 87

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 Swaying first to one side, then to the other, like a stag beetle on the wing, the fair vessel beat to windward on her zigzag flight to the south.

acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading Sometimes she was hidden from sight by the straight column of smoke that flung fantastic shadows across the water, then gracefully she shot out clear of it, and Helene, catching sight of her father, waved her handkerchief for yet one more farewell greeting.

all

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

From this reading Nothing of all that had been was left but a smoke cloud hanging in the breeze.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Sometimes she was hidden from sight by the straight column of smoke that flung fantastic shadows across the water, then gracefully she shot out clear of it, and Helene, catching sight of her father, waved her handkerchief for yet one more farewell greeting.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading A few more minutes, and the _Saint-Ferdinand_ went down with a bubbling turmoil, at once effaced by the ocean.

beat

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

From this reading Swaying first to one side, then to the other, like a stag beetle on the wing, the fair vessel beat to windward on her zigzag flight to the south.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Nothing of all that had been was left but a smoke cloud hanging in the breeze.

beetle

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

From this reading Swaying first to one side, then to the other, like a stag beetle on the wing, the fair vessel beat to windward on her zigzag flight to the south.

breeze

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

From this reading Nothing of all that had been was left but a smoke cloud hanging in the breeze.

bubblingnounUS /ˈbubbling/

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

From this reading A few more minutes, and the _Saint-Ferdinand_ went down with a bubbling turmoil, at once effaced by the ocean.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Nothing of all that had been was left but a smoke cloud hanging in the breeze.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Sometimes she was hidden from sight by the straight column of smoke that flung fantastic shadows across the water, then gracefully she shot out clear of it, and Helene, catching sight of her father, waved her handkerchief for yet one more farewell greeting.

catching

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

From this reading Sometimes she was hidden from sight by the straight column of smoke that flung fantastic shadows across the water, then gracefully she shot out clear of it, and Helene, catching sight of her father, waved her handkerchief for yet one more farewell greeting.

clear

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

From this reading Sometimes she was hidden from sight by the straight column of smoke that flung fantastic shadows across the water, then gracefully she shot out clear of it, and Helene, catching sight of her father, waved her handkerchief for yet one more farewell greeting.

cloud

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

From this reading Nothing of all that had been was left but a smoke cloud hanging in the breeze.

column

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

From this reading Sometimes she was hidden from sight by the straight column of smoke that flung fantastic shadows across the water, then gracefully she shot out clear of it, and Helene, catching sight of her father, waved her handkerchief for yet one more farewell greeting.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading The _Othello_ made the most of the little wind she could gain to fly on her new course.

coursenounUS /course/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The _Othello_ made the most of the little wind she could gain to fly on her new course.

down

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

From this reading A few more minutes, and the _Saint-Ferdinand_ went down with a bubbling turmoil, at once effaced by the ocean.

effaced

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

From this reading A few more minutes, and the _Saint-Ferdinand_ went down with a bubbling turmoil, at once effaced by the ocean.

fairnounUS /fair/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Swaying first to one side, then to the other, like a stag beetle on the wing, the fair vessel beat to windward on her zigzag flight to the south.

fantastic

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

From this reading Sometimes she was hidden from sight by the straight column of smoke that flung fantastic shadows across the water, then gracefully she shot out clear of it, and Helene, catching sight of her father, waved her handkerchief for yet one more farewell greeting.

farewell

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

From this reading Sometimes she was hidden from sight by the straight column of smoke that flung fantastic shadows across the water, then gracefully she shot out clear of it, and Helene, catching sight of her father, waved her handkerchief for yet one more farewell greeting.

father

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

From this reading Sometimes she was hidden from sight by the straight column of smoke that flung fantastic shadows across the water, then gracefully she shot out clear of it, and Helene, catching sight of her father, waved her handkerchief for yet one more farewell greeting.

few

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

From this reading A few more minutes, and the _Saint-Ferdinand_ went down with a bubbling turmoil, at once effaced by the ocean.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Swaying first to one side, then to the other, like a stag beetle on the wing, the fair vessel beat to windward on her zigzag flight to the south.

flight

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

From this reading Swaying first to one side, then to the other, like a stag beetle on the wing, the fair vessel beat to windward on her zigzag flight to the south.

flung

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

From this reading Sometimes she was hidden from sight by the straight column of smoke that flung fantastic shadows across the water, then gracefully she shot out clear of it, and Helene, catching sight of her father, waved her handkerchief for yet one more farewell greeting.

fly

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

From this reading The _Othello_ made the most of the little wind she could gain to fly on her new course.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Sometimes she was hidden from sight by the straight column of smoke that flung fantastic shadows across the water, then gracefully she shot out clear of it, and Helene, catching sight of her father, waved her handkerchief for yet one more farewell greeting.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Sometimes she was hidden from sight by the straight column of smoke that flung fantastic shadows across the water, then gracefully she shot out clear of it, and Helene, catching sight of her father, waved her handkerchief for yet one more farewell greeting.

gain

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

From this reading The _Othello_ made the most of the little wind she could gain to fly on her new course.

gracefully

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

From this reading Sometimes she was hidden from sight by the straight column of smoke that flung fantastic shadows across the water, then gracefully she shot out clear of it, and Helene, catching sight of her father, waved her handkerchief for yet one more farewell greeting.

greeting

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

From this reading Sometimes she was hidden from sight by the straight column of smoke that flung fantastic shadows across the water, then gracefully she shot out clear of it, and Helene, catching sight of her father, waved her handkerchief for yet one more farewell greeting.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Nothing of all that had been was left but a smoke cloud hanging in the breeze.

handkerchief

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

From this reading Sometimes she was hidden from sight by the straight column of smoke that flung fantastic shadows across the water, then gracefully she shot out clear of it, and Helene, catching sight of her father, waved her handkerchief for yet one more farewell greeting.

hanging

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

From this reading Nothing of all that had been was left but a smoke cloud hanging in the breeze.

Helene

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

From this reading Sometimes she was hidden from sight by the straight column of smoke that flung fantastic shadows across the water, then gracefully she shot out clear of it, and Helene, catching sight of her father, waved her handkerchief for yet one more farewell greeting.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading The _Othello_ made the most of the little wind she could gain to fly on her new course.

hidden

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

From this reading Sometimes she was hidden from sight by the straight column of smoke that flung fantastic shadows across the water, then gracefully she shot out clear of it, and Helene, catching sight of her father, waved her handkerchief for yet one more farewell greeting.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Nothing of all that had been was left but a smoke cloud hanging in the breeze.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Sometimes she was hidden from sight by the straight column of smoke that flung fantastic shadows across the water, then gracefully she shot out clear of it, and Helene, catching sight of her father, waved her handkerchief for yet one more farewell greeting.

leftnounUS /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Nothing of all that had been was left but a smoke cloud hanging in the breeze.

like

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

From this reading Swaying first to one side, then to the other, like a stag beetle on the wing, the fair vessel beat to windward on her zigzag flight to the south.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The _Othello_ made the most of the little wind she could gain to fly on her new course.

made

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

From this reading The _Othello_ made the most of the little wind she could gain to fly on her new course.

minutes

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

From this reading A few more minutes, and the _Saint-Ferdinand_ went down with a bubbling turmoil, at once effaced by the ocean.

more

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

From this reading Sometimes she was hidden from sight by the straight column of smoke that flung fantastic shadows across the water, then gracefully she shot out clear of it, and Helene, catching sight of her father, waved her handkerchief for yet one more farewell greeting.

most

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

From this reading The _Othello_ made the most of the little wind she could gain to fly on her new course.

new

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

From this reading The _Othello_ made the most of the little wind she could gain to fly on her new course.

NothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading Nothing of all that had been was left but a smoke cloud hanging in the breeze.

ocean

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

From this reading A few more minutes, and the _Saint-Ferdinand_ went down with a bubbling turmoil, at once effaced by the ocean.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The _Othello_ made the most of the little wind she could gain to fly on her new course.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The _Othello_ made the most of the little wind she could gain to fly on her new course.

once

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

From this reading A few more minutes, and the _Saint-Ferdinand_ went down with a bubbling turmoil, at once effaced by the ocean.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Swaying first to one side, then to the other, like a stag beetle on the wing, the fair vessel beat to windward on her zigzag flight to the south.

Othello

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

From this reading The _Othello_ made the most of the little wind she could gain to fly on her new course.

other

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

From this reading Swaying first to one side, then to the other, like a stag beetle on the wing, the fair vessel beat to windward on her zigzag flight to the south.

out

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

From this reading Sometimes she was hidden from sight by the straight column of smoke that flung fantastic shadows across the water, then gracefully she shot out clear of it, and Helene, catching sight of her father, waved her handkerchief for yet one more farewell greeting.

Saint-Ferdinand

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

From this reading A few more minutes, and the _Saint-Ferdinand_ went down with a bubbling turmoil, at once effaced by the ocean.

shadows

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

From this reading Sometimes she was hidden from sight by the straight column of smoke that flung fantastic shadows across the water, then gracefully she shot out clear of it, and Helene, catching sight of her father, waved her handkerchief for yet one more farewell greeting.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading The _Othello_ made the most of the little wind she could gain to fly on her new course.

shot

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

From this reading Sometimes she was hidden from sight by the straight column of smoke that flung fantastic shadows across the water, then gracefully she shot out clear of it, and Helene, catching sight of her father, waved her handkerchief for yet one more farewell greeting.

side

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

From this reading Swaying first to one side, then to the other, like a stag beetle on the wing, the fair vessel beat to windward on her zigzag flight to the south.

sight

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

From this reading Sometimes she was hidden from sight by the straight column of smoke that flung fantastic shadows across the water, then gracefully she shot out clear of it, and Helene, catching sight of her father, waved her handkerchief for yet one more farewell greeting.

smoke

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

From this reading Sometimes she was hidden from sight by the straight column of smoke that flung fantastic shadows across the water, then gracefully she shot out clear of it, and Helene, catching sight of her father, waved her handkerchief for yet one more farewell greeting.

Sometimes

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

From this reading Sometimes she was hidden from sight by the straight column of smoke that flung fantastic shadows across the water, then gracefully she shot out clear of it, and Helene, catching sight of her father, waved her handkerchief for yet one more farewell greeting.

south

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

From this reading Swaying first to one side, then to the other, like a stag beetle on the wing, the fair vessel beat to windward on her zigzag flight to the south.

stag

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

From this reading Swaying first to one side, then to the other, like a stag beetle on the wing, the fair vessel beat to windward on her zigzag flight to the south.

straight

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

From this reading Sometimes she was hidden from sight by the straight column of smoke that flung fantastic shadows across the water, then gracefully she shot out clear of it, and Helene, catching sight of her father, waved her handkerchief for yet one more farewell greeting.

Swaying

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

From this reading Swaying first to one side, then to the other, like a stag beetle on the wing, the fair vessel beat to windward on her zigzag flight to the south.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Sometimes she was hidden from sight by the straight column of smoke that flung fantastic shadows across the water, then gracefully she shot out clear of it, and Helene, catching sight of her father, waved her handkerchief for yet one more farewell greeting.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The _Othello_ made the most of the little wind she could gain to fly on her new course.

then

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

From this reading Swaying first to one side, then to the other, like a stag beetle on the wing, the fair vessel beat to windward on her zigzag flight to the south.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The _Othello_ made the most of the little wind she could gain to fly on her new course.

turmoil

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

From this reading A few more minutes, and the _Saint-Ferdinand_ went down with a bubbling turmoil, at once effaced by the ocean.

vessel

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

From this reading Swaying first to one side, then to the other, like a stag beetle on the wing, the fair vessel beat to windward on her zigzag flight to the south.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Sometimes she was hidden from sight by the straight column of smoke that flung fantastic shadows across the water, then gracefully she shot out clear of it, and Helene, catching sight of her father, waved her handkerchief for yet one more farewell greeting.

water

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

From this reading Sometimes she was hidden from sight by the straight column of smoke that flung fantastic shadows across the water, then gracefully she shot out clear of it, and Helene, catching sight of her father, waved her handkerchief for yet one more farewell greeting.

waved

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

From this reading Sometimes she was hidden from sight by the straight column of smoke that flung fantastic shadows across the water, then gracefully she shot out clear of it, and Helene, catching sight of her father, waved her handkerchief for yet one more farewell greeting.

wentnounUS /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A few more minutes, and the _Saint-Ferdinand_ went down with a bubbling turmoil, at once effaced by the ocean.

windnounUS /wind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The _Othello_ made the most of the little wind she could gain to fly on her new course.

windwardnounUS /ˈwindward/

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

From this reading Swaying first to one side, then to the other, like a stag beetle on the wing, the fair vessel beat to windward on her zigzag flight to the south.

wing

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

From this reading Swaying first to one side, then to the other, like a stag beetle on the wing, the fair vessel beat to windward on her zigzag flight to the south.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading A few more minutes, and the _Saint-Ferdinand_ went down with a bubbling turmoil, at once effaced by the ocean.

yetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading Sometimes she was hidden from sight by the straight column of smoke that flung fantastic shadows across the water, then gracefully she shot out clear of it, and Helene, catching sight of her father, waved her handkerchief for yet one more farewell greeting.

zigzag

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

From this reading Swaying first to one side, then to the other, like a stag beetle on the wing, the fair vessel beat to windward on her zigzag flight to the south.