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Agatha's Aunt
Agatha's Aunt

Chapter XIV

Cover illustration for Agatha's Aunt
Context Illustration Reading 1/36 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
CONFIDENCES Agatha had reached the conclusion that Julia was more venal than vain.
A full week she had awaited a sign that her ruse had succeeded.
For seven creeping days, dry-lipped and with unsteady pulses, she had scanned the mail for a letter directed in Julia's familiar, hateful hand, and in the beginning she could not have told whether there was more of hope or of apprehension in her expectancy.
But now she knew by the way her heart was singing.
Her insane attempt to give Forbes the thing he wanted, whatever the consequences, had gloriously failed.
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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.

Agatha's Aunt

Chapter XIV

Reading 1/36 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
CONFIDENCES Agatha had reached the conclusion that Julia was more venal than vain.
Line 2
A full week she had awaited a sign that her ruse had succeeded.
Line 3
For seven creeping days, dry-lipped and with unsteady pulses, she had scanned the mail for a letter directed in Julia's familiar, hateful hand, and in the beginning she could not have told whether there was more of hope or of apprehension in her expectancy.
Line 4
But now she knew by the way her heart was singing.
Line 5
Her insane attempt to give Forbes the thing he wanted, whatever the consequences, had gloriously failed.

Learner Dictionary

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

Beginning noun US /ˈbeginning/

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

From this reading “For seven creeping days, dry-lipped and with unsteady pulses, she had scanned the mail for a letter directed in Julia's familiar, hateful hand, and in the beginning she could not have told whether there was more of hope or of apprehension in her expectancy.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “For seven creeping days, dry-lipped and with unsteady pulses, she had scanned the mail for a letter directed in Julia's familiar, hateful hand, and in the beginning she could not have told whether there was more of hope or of apprehension in her expectancy.”

Hand noun US /hand/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “For seven creeping days, dry-lipped and with unsteady pulses, she had scanned the mail for a letter directed in Julia's familiar, hateful hand, and in the beginning she could not have told whether there was more of hope or of apprehension in her expectancy.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “For seven creeping days, dry-lipped and with unsteady pulses, she had scanned the mail for a letter directed in Julia's familiar, hateful hand, and in the beginning she could not have told whether there was more of hope or of apprehension in her expectancy.”

Thing noun US /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Her insane attempt to give Forbes the thing he wanted, whatever the consequences, had gloriously failed.”

Told noun US /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “For seven creeping days, dry-lipped and with unsteady pulses, she had scanned the mail for a letter directed in Julia's familiar, hateful hand, and in the beginning she could not have told whether there was more of hope or of apprehension in her expectancy.”

Whatever determiner US /ˌwʌˈtevər/

any or all of a kind, it does not matter which

From this reading “Her insane attempt to give Forbes the thing he wanted, whatever the consequences, had gloriously failed.”

Whether conjunction US /ˈweðər/

used to introduce two or more possibilities

From this reading “For seven creeping days, dry-lipped and with unsteady pulses, she had scanned the mail for a letter directed in Julia's familiar, hateful hand, and in the beginning she could not have told whether there was more of hope or of apprehension in her expectancy.”

All words in this reading · 71

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 full week she had awaited a sign that her ruse had succeeded.

Agatha

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

From this reading CONFIDENCES Agatha had reached the conclusion that Julia was more venal than vain.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading For seven creeping days, dry-lipped and with unsteady pulses, she had scanned the mail for a letter directed in Julia's familiar, hateful hand, and in the beginning she could not have told whether there was more of hope or of apprehension in her expectancy.

apprehension

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

From this reading For seven creeping days, dry-lipped and with unsteady pulses, she had scanned the mail for a letter directed in Julia's familiar, hateful hand, and in the beginning she could not have told whether there was more of hope or of apprehension in her expectancy.

attempt

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

From this reading Her insane attempt to give Forbes the thing he wanted, whatever the consequences, had gloriously failed.

awaited

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

From this reading A full week she had awaited a sign that her ruse had succeeded.

beginningnounUS /ˈbeginning/

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

From this reading For seven creeping days, dry-lipped and with unsteady pulses, she had scanned the mail for a letter directed in Julia's familiar, hateful hand, and in the beginning she could not have told whether there was more of hope or of apprehension in her expectancy.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But now she knew by the way her heart was singing.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading But now she knew by the way her heart was singing.

conclusion

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

From this reading CONFIDENCES Agatha had reached the conclusion that Julia was more venal than vain.

CONFIDENCES

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

From this reading CONFIDENCES Agatha had reached the conclusion that Julia was more venal than vain.

consequences

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

From this reading Her insane attempt to give Forbes the thing he wanted, whatever the consequences, had gloriously failed.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading For seven creeping days, dry-lipped and with unsteady pulses, she had scanned the mail for a letter directed in Julia's familiar, hateful hand, and in the beginning she could not have told whether there was more of hope or of apprehension in her expectancy.

creeping

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

From this reading For seven creeping days, dry-lipped and with unsteady pulses, she had scanned the mail for a letter directed in Julia's familiar, hateful hand, and in the beginning she could not have told whether there was more of hope or of apprehension in her expectancy.

days

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

From this reading For seven creeping days, dry-lipped and with unsteady pulses, she had scanned the mail for a letter directed in Julia's familiar, hateful hand, and in the beginning she could not have told whether there was more of hope or of apprehension in her expectancy.

directed

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

From this reading For seven creeping days, dry-lipped and with unsteady pulses, she had scanned the mail for a letter directed in Julia's familiar, hateful hand, and in the beginning she could not have told whether there was more of hope or of apprehension in her expectancy.

dry-lipped

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

From this reading For seven creeping days, dry-lipped and with unsteady pulses, she had scanned the mail for a letter directed in Julia's familiar, hateful hand, and in the beginning she could not have told whether there was more of hope or of apprehension in her expectancy.

expectancy

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

From this reading For seven creeping days, dry-lipped and with unsteady pulses, she had scanned the mail for a letter directed in Julia's familiar, hateful hand, and in the beginning she could not have told whether there was more of hope or of apprehension in her expectancy.

failed

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

From this reading Her insane attempt to give Forbes the thing he wanted, whatever the consequences, had gloriously failed.

familiar

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

From this reading For seven creeping days, dry-lipped and with unsteady pulses, she had scanned the mail for a letter directed in Julia's familiar, hateful hand, and in the beginning she could not have told whether there was more of hope or of apprehension in her expectancy.

ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading For seven creeping days, dry-lipped and with unsteady pulses, she had scanned the mail for a letter directed in Julia's familiar, hateful hand, and in the beginning she could not have told whether there was more of hope or of apprehension in her expectancy.

Forbes

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

From this reading Her insane attempt to give Forbes the thing he wanted, whatever the consequences, had gloriously failed.

full

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

From this reading A full week she had awaited a sign that her ruse had succeeded.

give

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

From this reading Her insane attempt to give Forbes the thing he wanted, whatever the consequences, had gloriously failed.

gloriously

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

From this reading Her insane attempt to give Forbes the thing he wanted, whatever the consequences, had gloriously failed.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading CONFIDENCES Agatha had reached the conclusion that Julia was more venal than vain.

hand

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

From this reading For seven creeping days, dry-lipped and with unsteady pulses, she had scanned the mail for a letter directed in Julia's familiar, hateful hand, and in the beginning she could not have told whether there was more of hope or of apprehension in her expectancy.

hateful

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

From this reading For seven creeping days, dry-lipped and with unsteady pulses, she had scanned the mail for a letter directed in Julia's familiar, hateful hand, and in the beginning she could not have told whether there was more of hope or of apprehension in her expectancy.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading For seven creeping days, dry-lipped and with unsteady pulses, she had scanned the mail for a letter directed in Julia's familiar, hateful hand, and in the beginning she could not have told whether there was more of hope or of apprehension in her expectancy.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Her insane attempt to give Forbes the thing he wanted, whatever the consequences, had gloriously failed.

heart

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

From this reading But now she knew by the way her heart was singing.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading A full week she had awaited a sign that her ruse had succeeded.

hope

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

From this reading For seven creeping days, dry-lipped and with unsteady pulses, she had scanned the mail for a letter directed in Julia's familiar, hateful hand, and in the beginning she could not have told whether there was more of hope or of apprehension in her expectancy.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading For seven creeping days, dry-lipped and with unsteady pulses, she had scanned the mail for a letter directed in Julia's familiar, hateful hand, and in the beginning she could not have told whether there was more of hope or of apprehension in her expectancy.

insane

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

From this reading Her insane attempt to give Forbes the thing he wanted, whatever the consequences, had gloriously failed.

Julia

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

From this reading CONFIDENCES Agatha had reached the conclusion that Julia was more venal than vain.

Julia's

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

From this reading For seven creeping days, dry-lipped and with unsteady pulses, she had scanned the mail for a letter directed in Julia's familiar, hateful hand, and in the beginning she could not have told whether there was more of hope or of apprehension in her expectancy.

knew

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

From this reading But now she knew by the way her heart was singing.

letter

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

From this reading For seven creeping days, dry-lipped and with unsteady pulses, she had scanned the mail for a letter directed in Julia's familiar, hateful hand, and in the beginning she could not have told whether there was more of hope or of apprehension in her expectancy.

mail

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

From this reading For seven creeping days, dry-lipped and with unsteady pulses, she had scanned the mail for a letter directed in Julia's familiar, hateful hand, and in the beginning she could not have told whether there was more of hope or of apprehension in her expectancy.

more

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

From this reading CONFIDENCES Agatha had reached the conclusion that Julia was more venal than vain.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading For seven creeping days, dry-lipped and with unsteady pulses, she had scanned the mail for a letter directed in Julia's familiar, hateful hand, and in the beginning she could not have told whether there was more of hope or of apprehension in her expectancy.

now

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

From this reading But now she knew by the way her heart was singing.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading For seven creeping days, dry-lipped and with unsteady pulses, she had scanned the mail for a letter directed in Julia's familiar, hateful hand, and in the beginning she could not have told whether there was more of hope or of apprehension in her expectancy.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading For seven creeping days, dry-lipped and with unsteady pulses, she had scanned the mail for a letter directed in Julia's familiar, hateful hand, and in the beginning she could not have told whether there was more of hope or of apprehension in her expectancy.

pulses

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

From this reading For seven creeping days, dry-lipped and with unsteady pulses, she had scanned the mail for a letter directed in Julia's familiar, hateful hand, and in the beginning she could not have told whether there was more of hope or of apprehension in her expectancy.

reached

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

From this reading CONFIDENCES Agatha had reached the conclusion that Julia was more venal than vain.

ruse

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

From this reading A full week she had awaited a sign that her ruse had succeeded.

scanned

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

From this reading For seven creeping days, dry-lipped and with unsteady pulses, she had scanned the mail for a letter directed in Julia's familiar, hateful hand, and in the beginning she could not have told whether there was more of hope or of apprehension in her expectancy.

seven

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

From this reading For seven creeping days, dry-lipped and with unsteady pulses, she had scanned the mail for a letter directed in Julia's familiar, hateful hand, and in the beginning she could not have told whether there was more of hope or of apprehension in her expectancy.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading A full week she had awaited a sign that her ruse had succeeded.

sign

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

From this reading A full week she had awaited a sign that her ruse had succeeded.

singing

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

From this reading But now she knew by the way her heart was singing.

succeeded

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

From this reading A full week she had awaited a sign that her ruse had succeeded.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading CONFIDENCES Agatha had reached the conclusion that Julia was more venal than vain.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading CONFIDENCES Agatha had reached the conclusion that Julia was more venal than vain.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading CONFIDENCES Agatha had reached the conclusion that Julia was more venal than vain.

there

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

From this reading For seven creeping days, dry-lipped and with unsteady pulses, she had scanned the mail for a letter directed in Julia's familiar, hateful hand, and in the beginning she could not have told whether there was more of hope or of apprehension in her expectancy.

thingnounUS /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Her insane attempt to give Forbes the thing he wanted, whatever the consequences, had gloriously failed.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Her insane attempt to give Forbes the thing he wanted, whatever the consequences, had gloriously failed.

toldnounUS /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading For seven creeping days, dry-lipped and with unsteady pulses, she had scanned the mail for a letter directed in Julia's familiar, hateful hand, and in the beginning she could not have told whether there was more of hope or of apprehension in her expectancy.

unsteady

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

From this reading For seven creeping days, dry-lipped and with unsteady pulses, she had scanned the mail for a letter directed in Julia's familiar, hateful hand, and in the beginning she could not have told whether there was more of hope or of apprehension in her expectancy.

vain

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

From this reading CONFIDENCES Agatha had reached the conclusion that Julia was more venal than vain.

venal

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

From this reading CONFIDENCES Agatha had reached the conclusion that Julia was more venal than vain.

wanted

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

From this reading Her insane attempt to give Forbes the thing he wanted, whatever the consequences, had gloriously failed.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading CONFIDENCES Agatha had reached the conclusion that Julia was more venal than vain.

way

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

From this reading But now she knew by the way her heart was singing.

week

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

From this reading A full week she had awaited a sign that her ruse had succeeded.

whateverdeterminerUS /ˌwʌˈtevər/

any or all of a kind, it does not matter which

From this reading Her insane attempt to give Forbes the thing he wanted, whatever the consequences, had gloriously failed.

whetherconjunctionUS /ˈweðər/

used to introduce two or more possibilities

From this reading For seven creeping days, dry-lipped and with unsteady pulses, she had scanned the mail for a letter directed in Julia's familiar, hateful hand, and in the beginning she could not have told whether there was more of hope or of apprehension in her expectancy.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading For seven creeping days, dry-lipped and with unsteady pulses, she had scanned the mail for a letter directed in Julia's familiar, hateful hand, and in the beginning she could not have told whether there was more of hope or of apprehension in her expectancy.