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Across India
Across India

Chapter XVIII

Cover illustration for Across India
Context Illustration Reading 1/23 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
A SNAKY SPECTACLE IN BOMBAY On the way to the temple the carriages stopped at a horse bazaar, in which Mr. Woolridge was especially interested, for some very fine animals were to be seen, including some choice Arabians.
They were looked over and admired by the party.
The best of them were valued at from six hundred to twelve hundred dollars; and the cheapest were hardly less than two hundred dollars.
None but the wealthiest people of the city could afford to ride after these animals.
Around these stables were numerous cafes, and a collection of people of various nationalities were gathered in front and within them.
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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.

Across India

Chapter XVIII

Reading 1/23 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
A SNAKY SPECTACLE IN BOMBAY On the way to the temple the carriages stopped at a horse bazaar, in which Mr. Woolridge was especially interested, for some very fine animals were to be seen, including some choice Arabians.
Line 2
They were looked over and admired by the party.
Line 3
The best of them were valued at from six hundred to twelve hundred dollars; and the cheapest were hardly less than two hundred dollars.
Line 4
None but the wealthiest people of the city could afford to ride after these animals.
Line 5
Around these stables were numerous cafes, and a collection of people of various nationalities were gathered in front and within them.

Learner Dictionary

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

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “None but the wealthiest people of the city could afford to ride after these animals.”

Around preposition US /ərˈaʊnd/

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading “Around these stables were numerous cafes, and a collection of people of various nationalities were gathered in front and within them.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “None but the wealthiest people of the city could afford to ride after these animals.”

Fine noun US /fine/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A SNAKY SPECTACLE IN BOMBAY On the way to the temple the carriages stopped at a horse bazaar, in which Mr. Woolridge was especially interested, for some very fine animals were to be seen, including some choice Arabians.”

Looked noun US /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “They were looked over and admired by the party.”

None pronoun US /nʌn/

not one, and not any

From this reading “None but the wealthiest people of the city could afford to ride after these animals.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “They were looked over and admired by the party.”

Party noun US /party/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “They were looked over and admired by the party.”

Stopped noun US /stopped/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A SNAKY SPECTACLE IN BOMBAY On the way to the temple the carriages stopped at a horse bazaar, in which Mr. Woolridge was especially interested, for some very fine animals were to be seen, including some choice Arabians.”

These determiner US /ðiːz/

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

From this reading “None but the wealthiest people of the city could afford to ride after these animals.”

Within preposition US /wɪˈðɪn/

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading “Around these stables were numerous cafes, and a collection of people of various nationalities were gathered in front and within them.”

All words in this reading · 73

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 A SNAKY SPECTACLE IN BOMBAY On the way to the temple the carriages stopped at a horse bazaar, in which Mr. Woolridge was especially interested, for some very fine animals were to be seen, including some choice Arabians.

admired

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

From this reading They were looked over and admired by the party.

afford

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

From this reading None but the wealthiest people of the city could afford to ride after these animals.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading None but the wealthiest people of the city could afford to ride after these animals.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading They were looked over and admired by the party.

animals

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

From this reading A SNAKY SPECTACLE IN BOMBAY On the way to the temple the carriages stopped at a horse bazaar, in which Mr. Woolridge was especially interested, for some very fine animals were to be seen, including some choice Arabians.

Arabians

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

From this reading A SNAKY SPECTACLE IN BOMBAY On the way to the temple the carriages stopped at a horse bazaar, in which Mr. Woolridge was especially interested, for some very fine animals were to be seen, including some choice Arabians.

AroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading Around these stables were numerous cafes, and a collection of people of various nationalities were gathered in front and within them.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading A SNAKY SPECTACLE IN BOMBAY On the way to the temple the carriages stopped at a horse bazaar, in which Mr. Woolridge was especially interested, for some very fine animals were to be seen, including some choice Arabians.

bazaar

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

From this reading A SNAKY SPECTACLE IN BOMBAY On the way to the temple the carriages stopped at a horse bazaar, in which Mr. Woolridge was especially interested, for some very fine animals were to be seen, including some choice Arabians.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading A SNAKY SPECTACLE IN BOMBAY On the way to the temple the carriages stopped at a horse bazaar, in which Mr. Woolridge was especially interested, for some very fine animals were to be seen, including some choice Arabians.

best

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

From this reading The best of them were valued at from six hundred to twelve hundred dollars; and the cheapest were hardly less than two hundred dollars.

BOMBAY

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

From this reading A SNAKY SPECTACLE IN BOMBAY On the way to the temple the carriages stopped at a horse bazaar, in which Mr. Woolridge was especially interested, for some very fine animals were to be seen, including some choice Arabians.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading None but the wealthiest people of the city could afford to ride after these animals.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading They were looked over and admired by the party.

cafes

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

From this reading Around these stables were numerous cafes, and a collection of people of various nationalities were gathered in front and within them.

carriages

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

From this reading A SNAKY SPECTACLE IN BOMBAY On the way to the temple the carriages stopped at a horse bazaar, in which Mr. Woolridge was especially interested, for some very fine animals were to be seen, including some choice Arabians.

cheapest

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

From this reading The best of them were valued at from six hundred to twelve hundred dollars; and the cheapest were hardly less than two hundred dollars.

choice

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

From this reading A SNAKY SPECTACLE IN BOMBAY On the way to the temple the carriages stopped at a horse bazaar, in which Mr. Woolridge was especially interested, for some very fine animals were to be seen, including some choice Arabians.

city

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

From this reading None but the wealthiest people of the city could afford to ride after these animals.

collection

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

From this reading Around these stables were numerous cafes, and a collection of people of various nationalities were gathered in front and within them.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading None but the wealthiest people of the city could afford to ride after these animals.

dollars

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

From this reading The best of them were valued at from six hundred to twelve hundred dollars; and the cheapest were hardly less than two hundred dollars.

especially

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

From this reading A SNAKY SPECTACLE IN BOMBAY On the way to the temple the carriages stopped at a horse bazaar, in which Mr. Woolridge was especially interested, for some very fine animals were to be seen, including some choice Arabians.

finenounUS /fine/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A SNAKY SPECTACLE IN BOMBAY On the way to the temple the carriages stopped at a horse bazaar, in which Mr. Woolridge was especially interested, for some very fine animals were to be seen, including some choice Arabians.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading A SNAKY SPECTACLE IN BOMBAY On the way to the temple the carriages stopped at a horse bazaar, in which Mr. Woolridge was especially interested, for some very fine animals were to be seen, including some choice Arabians.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The best of them were valued at from six hundred to twelve hundred dollars; and the cheapest were hardly less than two hundred dollars.

front

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

From this reading Around these stables were numerous cafes, and a collection of people of various nationalities were gathered in front and within them.

gathered

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

From this reading Around these stables were numerous cafes, and a collection of people of various nationalities were gathered in front and within them.

hardly

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

From this reading The best of them were valued at from six hundred to twelve hundred dollars; and the cheapest were hardly less than two hundred dollars.

horse

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

From this reading A SNAKY SPECTACLE IN BOMBAY On the way to the temple the carriages stopped at a horse bazaar, in which Mr. Woolridge was especially interested, for some very fine animals were to be seen, including some choice Arabians.

hundred

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

From this reading The best of them were valued at from six hundred to twelve hundred dollars; and the cheapest were hardly less than two hundred dollars.

INprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading A SNAKY SPECTACLE IN BOMBAY On the way to the temple the carriages stopped at a horse bazaar, in which Mr. Woolridge was especially interested, for some very fine animals were to be seen, including some choice Arabians.

including

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

From this reading A SNAKY SPECTACLE IN BOMBAY On the way to the temple the carriages stopped at a horse bazaar, in which Mr. Woolridge was especially interested, for some very fine animals were to be seen, including some choice Arabians.

interested

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

From this reading A SNAKY SPECTACLE IN BOMBAY On the way to the temple the carriages stopped at a horse bazaar, in which Mr. Woolridge was especially interested, for some very fine animals were to be seen, including some choice Arabians.

less

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

From this reading The best of them were valued at from six hundred to twelve hundred dollars; and the cheapest were hardly less than two hundred dollars.

lookednounUS /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading They were looked over and admired by the party.

Mr

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

From this reading A SNAKY SPECTACLE IN BOMBAY On the way to the temple the carriages stopped at a horse bazaar, in which Mr. Woolridge was especially interested, for some very fine animals were to be seen, including some choice Arabians.

nationalities

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

From this reading Around these stables were numerous cafes, and a collection of people of various nationalities were gathered in front and within them.

NonepronounUS /nʌn/

not one, and not any

From this reading None but the wealthiest people of the city could afford to ride after these animals.

numerous

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

From this reading Around these stables were numerous cafes, and a collection of people of various nationalities were gathered in front and within them.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The best of them were valued at from six hundred to twelve hundred dollars; and the cheapest were hardly less than two hundred dollars.

OnprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading A SNAKY SPECTACLE IN BOMBAY On the way to the temple the carriages stopped at a horse bazaar, in which Mr. Woolridge was especially interested, for some very fine animals were to be seen, including some choice Arabians.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading They were looked over and admired by the party.

partynounUS /party/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading They were looked over and admired by the party.

people

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

From this reading None but the wealthiest people of the city could afford to ride after these animals.

ride

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

From this reading None but the wealthiest people of the city could afford to ride after these animals.

seen

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

From this reading A SNAKY SPECTACLE IN BOMBAY On the way to the temple the carriages stopped at a horse bazaar, in which Mr. Woolridge was especially interested, for some very fine animals were to be seen, including some choice Arabians.

six

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

From this reading The best of them were valued at from six hundred to twelve hundred dollars; and the cheapest were hardly less than two hundred dollars.

SNAKY

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

From this reading A SNAKY SPECTACLE IN BOMBAY On the way to the temple the carriages stopped at a horse bazaar, in which Mr. Woolridge was especially interested, for some very fine animals were to be seen, including some choice Arabians.

some

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

From this reading A SNAKY SPECTACLE IN BOMBAY On the way to the temple the carriages stopped at a horse bazaar, in which Mr. Woolridge was especially interested, for some very fine animals were to be seen, including some choice Arabians.

SPECTACLE

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

From this reading A SNAKY SPECTACLE IN BOMBAY On the way to the temple the carriages stopped at a horse bazaar, in which Mr. Woolridge was especially interested, for some very fine animals were to be seen, including some choice Arabians.

stables

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

From this reading Around these stables were numerous cafes, and a collection of people of various nationalities were gathered in front and within them.

stoppednounUS /stopped/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A SNAKY SPECTACLE IN BOMBAY On the way to the temple the carriages stopped at a horse bazaar, in which Mr. Woolridge was especially interested, for some very fine animals were to be seen, including some choice Arabians.

temple

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

From this reading A SNAKY SPECTACLE IN BOMBAY On the way to the temple the carriages stopped at a horse bazaar, in which Mr. Woolridge was especially interested, for some very fine animals were to be seen, including some choice Arabians.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading The best of them were valued at from six hundred to twelve hundred dollars; and the cheapest were hardly less than two hundred dollars.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading A SNAKY SPECTACLE IN BOMBAY On the way to the temple the carriages stopped at a horse bazaar, in which Mr. Woolridge was especially interested, for some very fine animals were to be seen, including some choice Arabians.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading The best of them were valued at from six hundred to twelve hundred dollars; and the cheapest were hardly less than two hundred dollars.

thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

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

From this reading None but the wealthiest people of the city could afford to ride after these animals.

TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading They were looked over and admired by the party.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading A SNAKY SPECTACLE IN BOMBAY On the way to the temple the carriages stopped at a horse bazaar, in which Mr. Woolridge was especially interested, for some very fine animals were to be seen, including some choice Arabians.

twelve

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

From this reading The best of them were valued at from six hundred to twelve hundred dollars; and the cheapest were hardly less than two hundred dollars.

two

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

From this reading The best of them were valued at from six hundred to twelve hundred dollars; and the cheapest were hardly less than two hundred dollars.

valued

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

From this reading The best of them were valued at from six hundred to twelve hundred dollars; and the cheapest were hardly less than two hundred dollars.

various

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

From this reading Around these stables were numerous cafes, and a collection of people of various nationalities were gathered in front and within them.

very

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

From this reading A SNAKY SPECTACLE IN BOMBAY On the way to the temple the carriages stopped at a horse bazaar, in which Mr. Woolridge was especially interested, for some very fine animals were to be seen, including some choice Arabians.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading A SNAKY SPECTACLE IN BOMBAY On the way to the temple the carriages stopped at a horse bazaar, in which Mr. Woolridge was especially interested, for some very fine animals were to be seen, including some choice Arabians.

way

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

From this reading A SNAKY SPECTACLE IN BOMBAY On the way to the temple the carriages stopped at a horse bazaar, in which Mr. Woolridge was especially interested, for some very fine animals were to be seen, including some choice Arabians.

wealthiest

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

From this reading None but the wealthiest people of the city could afford to ride after these animals.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading A SNAKY SPECTACLE IN BOMBAY On the way to the temple the carriages stopped at a horse bazaar, in which Mr. Woolridge was especially interested, for some very fine animals were to be seen, including some choice Arabians.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading A SNAKY SPECTACLE IN BOMBAY On the way to the temple the carriages stopped at a horse bazaar, in which Mr. Woolridge was especially interested, for some very fine animals were to be seen, including some choice Arabians.

withinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading Around these stables were numerous cafes, and a collection of people of various nationalities were gathered in front and within them.

Woolridge

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

From this reading A SNAKY SPECTACLE IN BOMBAY On the way to the temple the carriages stopped at a horse bazaar, in which Mr. Woolridge was especially interested, for some very fine animals were to be seen, including some choice Arabians.