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Agatha's Aunt
Agatha's Aunt

Chapter XVI

Cover illustration for Agatha's Aunt
Context Illustration Reading 1/38 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
MISS FINCH FOLLOWS A CLASSIC EXAMPLE Zaida Finch was not ill-pleased at the prospect of a day to herself.
Agatha's personality was distracting.
It was next to impossible to concentrate your thoughts on your own affairs, however urgent the need, when Agatha was darting about like a bright-plumaged bird, saying things that interested you, even though you frequently found them shocking.
"She's a dear girl," Miss Finch reflected, "but upsetting; and I need quiet."
She seated herself upon the broad porch, with the inevitable mending, and wearily began weighing the advantages of one suitor against those of his rival.
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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 XVI

Reading 1/38 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
MISS FINCH FOLLOWS A CLASSIC EXAMPLE Zaida Finch was not ill-pleased at the prospect of a day to herself.
Line 2
Agatha's personality was distracting.
Line 3
It was next to impossible to concentrate your thoughts on your own affairs, however urgent the need, when Agatha was darting about like a bright-plumaged bird, saying things that interested you, even though you frequently found them shocking.
Line 4
"She's a dear girl," Miss Finch reflected, "but upsetting; and I need quiet."
Line 5
She seated herself upon the broad porch, with the inevitable mending, and wearily began weighing the advantages of one suitor against those of his rival.

Learner Dictionary

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

About preposition US /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “It was next to impossible to concentrate your thoughts on your own affairs, however urgent the need, when Agatha was darting about like a bright-plumaged bird, saying things that interested you, even though you frequently found them shocking.”

Against preposition US /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading “She seated herself upon the broad porch, with the inevitable mending, and wearily began weighing the advantages of one suitor against those of his rival.”

Began noun US /began/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “She seated herself upon the broad porch, with the inevitable mending, and wearily began weighing the advantages of one suitor against those of his rival.”

Even noun US /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was next to impossible to concentrate your thoughts on your own affairs, however urgent the need, when Agatha was darting about like a bright-plumaged bird, saying things that interested you, even though you frequently found them shocking.”

Found noun US /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was next to impossible to concentrate your thoughts on your own affairs, however urgent the need, when Agatha was darting about like a bright-plumaged bird, saying things that interested you, even though you frequently found them shocking.”

Herself pronoun US /hərˈself/

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading “MISS FINCH FOLLOWS A CLASSIC EXAMPLE Zaida Finch was not ill-pleased at the prospect of a day to herself.”

However adverb US /ˌhaʊˈevər/

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading “It was next to impossible to concentrate your thoughts on your own affairs, however urgent the need, when Agatha was darting about like a bright-plumaged bird, saying things that interested you, even though you frequently found them shocking.”

Need noun US /need/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was next to impossible to concentrate your thoughts on your own affairs, however urgent the need, when Agatha was darting about like a bright-plumaged bird, saying things that interested you, even though you frequently found them shocking.”

Next noun US /next/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was next to impossible to concentrate your thoughts on your own affairs, however urgent the need, when Agatha was darting about like a bright-plumaged bird, saying things that interested you, even though you frequently found them shocking.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “She seated herself upon the broad porch, with the inevitable mending, and wearily began weighing the advantages of one suitor against those of his rival.”

Those determiner US /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading “She seated herself upon the broad porch, with the inevitable mending, and wearily began weighing the advantages of one suitor against those of his rival.”

Though conjunction US /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “It was next to impossible to concentrate your thoughts on your own affairs, however urgent the need, when Agatha was darting about like a bright-plumaged bird, saying things that interested you, even though you frequently found them shocking.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “She seated herself upon the broad porch, with the inevitable mending, and wearily began weighing the advantages of one suitor against those of his rival.”

All words in this reading · 77

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 MISS FINCH FOLLOWS A CLASSIC EXAMPLE Zaida Finch was not ill-pleased at the prospect of a day to herself.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading It was next to impossible to concentrate your thoughts on your own affairs, however urgent the need, when Agatha was darting about like a bright-plumaged bird, saying things that interested you, even though you frequently found them shocking.

advantages

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

From this reading She seated herself upon the broad porch, with the inevitable mending, and wearily began weighing the advantages of one suitor against those of his rival.

affairs

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

From this reading It was next to impossible to concentrate your thoughts on your own affairs, however urgent the need, when Agatha was darting about like a bright-plumaged bird, saying things that interested you, even though you frequently found them shocking.

againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading She seated herself upon the broad porch, with the inevitable mending, and wearily began weighing the advantages of one suitor against those of his rival.

Agatha

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

From this reading It was next to impossible to concentrate your thoughts on your own affairs, however urgent the need, when Agatha was darting about like a bright-plumaged bird, saying things that interested you, even though you frequently found them shocking.

Agatha's

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

From this reading Agatha's personality was distracting.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading "She's a dear girl," Miss Finch reflected, "but upsetting; and I need quiet."

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading MISS FINCH FOLLOWS A CLASSIC EXAMPLE Zaida Finch was not ill-pleased at the prospect of a day to herself.

begannounUS /began/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading She seated herself upon the broad porch, with the inevitable mending, and wearily began weighing the advantages of one suitor against those of his rival.

bird

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

From this reading It was next to impossible to concentrate your thoughts on your own affairs, however urgent the need, when Agatha was darting about like a bright-plumaged bird, saying things that interested you, even though you frequently found them shocking.

bright-plumaged

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

From this reading It was next to impossible to concentrate your thoughts on your own affairs, however urgent the need, when Agatha was darting about like a bright-plumaged bird, saying things that interested you, even though you frequently found them shocking.

broad

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

From this reading She seated herself upon the broad porch, with the inevitable mending, and wearily began weighing the advantages of one suitor against those of his rival.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading "She's a dear girl," Miss Finch reflected, "but upsetting; and I need quiet."

CLASSIC

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

From this reading MISS FINCH FOLLOWS A CLASSIC EXAMPLE Zaida Finch was not ill-pleased at the prospect of a day to herself.

concentrate

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

From this reading It was next to impossible to concentrate your thoughts on your own affairs, however urgent the need, when Agatha was darting about like a bright-plumaged bird, saying things that interested you, even though you frequently found them shocking.

darting

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

From this reading It was next to impossible to concentrate your thoughts on your own affairs, however urgent the need, when Agatha was darting about like a bright-plumaged bird, saying things that interested you, even though you frequently found them shocking.

day

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

From this reading MISS FINCH FOLLOWS A CLASSIC EXAMPLE Zaida Finch was not ill-pleased at the prospect of a day to herself.

dear

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

From this reading "She's a dear girl," Miss Finch reflected, "but upsetting; and I need quiet."

distracting

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

From this reading Agatha's personality was distracting.

evennounUS /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was next to impossible to concentrate your thoughts on your own affairs, however urgent the need, when Agatha was darting about like a bright-plumaged bird, saying things that interested you, even though you frequently found them shocking.

EXAMPLE

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

From this reading MISS FINCH FOLLOWS A CLASSIC EXAMPLE Zaida Finch was not ill-pleased at the prospect of a day to herself.

FINCH

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

From this reading MISS FINCH FOLLOWS A CLASSIC EXAMPLE Zaida Finch was not ill-pleased at the prospect of a day to herself.

FOLLOWS

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

From this reading MISS FINCH FOLLOWS A CLASSIC EXAMPLE Zaida Finch was not ill-pleased at the prospect of a day to herself.

foundnounUS /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was next to impossible to concentrate your thoughts on your own affairs, however urgent the need, when Agatha was darting about like a bright-plumaged bird, saying things that interested you, even though you frequently found them shocking.

frequently

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

From this reading It was next to impossible to concentrate your thoughts on your own affairs, however urgent the need, when Agatha was darting about like a bright-plumaged bird, saying things that interested you, even though you frequently found them shocking.

girl

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

From this reading "She's a dear girl," Miss Finch reflected, "but upsetting; and I need quiet."

herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading MISS FINCH FOLLOWS A CLASSIC EXAMPLE Zaida Finch was not ill-pleased at the prospect of a day to herself.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading She seated herself upon the broad porch, with the inevitable mending, and wearily began weighing the advantages of one suitor against those of his rival.

howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading It was next to impossible to concentrate your thoughts on your own affairs, however urgent the need, when Agatha was darting about like a bright-plumaged bird, saying things that interested you, even though you frequently found them shocking.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading "She's a dear girl," Miss Finch reflected, "but upsetting; and I need quiet."

ill-pleased

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

From this reading MISS FINCH FOLLOWS A CLASSIC EXAMPLE Zaida Finch was not ill-pleased at the prospect of a day to herself.

impossible

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

From this reading It was next to impossible to concentrate your thoughts on your own affairs, however urgent the need, when Agatha was darting about like a bright-plumaged bird, saying things that interested you, even though you frequently found them shocking.

inevitable

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

From this reading She seated herself upon the broad porch, with the inevitable mending, and wearily began weighing the advantages of one suitor against those of his rival.

interested

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

From this reading It was next to impossible to concentrate your thoughts on your own affairs, however urgent the need, when Agatha was darting about like a bright-plumaged bird, saying things that interested you, even though you frequently found them shocking.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was next to impossible to concentrate your thoughts on your own affairs, however urgent the need, when Agatha was darting about like a bright-plumaged bird, saying things that interested you, even though you frequently found them shocking.

like

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

From this reading It was next to impossible to concentrate your thoughts on your own affairs, however urgent the need, when Agatha was darting about like a bright-plumaged bird, saying things that interested you, even though you frequently found them shocking.

mending

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

From this reading She seated herself upon the broad porch, with the inevitable mending, and wearily began weighing the advantages of one suitor against those of his rival.

MISS

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

From this reading MISS FINCH FOLLOWS A CLASSIC EXAMPLE Zaida Finch was not ill-pleased at the prospect of a day to herself.

neednounUS /need/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was next to impossible to concentrate your thoughts on your own affairs, however urgent the need, when Agatha was darting about like a bright-plumaged bird, saying things that interested you, even though you frequently found them shocking.

nextnounUS /next/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was next to impossible to concentrate your thoughts on your own affairs, however urgent the need, when Agatha was darting about like a bright-plumaged bird, saying things that interested you, even though you frequently found them shocking.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading MISS FINCH FOLLOWS A CLASSIC EXAMPLE Zaida Finch was not ill-pleased at the prospect of a day to herself.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading MISS FINCH FOLLOWS A CLASSIC EXAMPLE Zaida Finch was not ill-pleased at the prospect of a day to herself.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading It was next to impossible to concentrate your thoughts on your own affairs, however urgent the need, when Agatha was darting about like a bright-plumaged bird, saying things that interested you, even though you frequently found them shocking.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading She seated herself upon the broad porch, with the inevitable mending, and wearily began weighing the advantages of one suitor against those of his rival.

own

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

From this reading It was next to impossible to concentrate your thoughts on your own affairs, however urgent the need, when Agatha was darting about like a bright-plumaged bird, saying things that interested you, even though you frequently found them shocking.

personality

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

From this reading Agatha's personality was distracting.

porch

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

From this reading She seated herself upon the broad porch, with the inevitable mending, and wearily began weighing the advantages of one suitor against those of his rival.

prospect

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

From this reading MISS FINCH FOLLOWS A CLASSIC EXAMPLE Zaida Finch was not ill-pleased at the prospect of a day to herself.

quiet

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

From this reading "She's a dear girl," Miss Finch reflected, "but upsetting; and I need quiet."

reflected

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

From this reading "She's a dear girl," Miss Finch reflected, "but upsetting; and I need quiet."

rival

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

From this reading She seated herself upon the broad porch, with the inevitable mending, and wearily began weighing the advantages of one suitor against those of his rival.

saying

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

From this reading It was next to impossible to concentrate your thoughts on your own affairs, however urgent the need, when Agatha was darting about like a bright-plumaged bird, saying things that interested you, even though you frequently found them shocking.

seated

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

From this reading She seated herself upon the broad porch, with the inevitable mending, and wearily began weighing the advantages of one suitor against those of his rival.

ShepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading She seated herself upon the broad porch, with the inevitable mending, and wearily began weighing the advantages of one suitor against those of his rival.

She's

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

From this reading "She's a dear girl," Miss Finch reflected, "but upsetting; and I need quiet."

shocking

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

From this reading It was next to impossible to concentrate your thoughts on your own affairs, however urgent the need, when Agatha was darting about like a bright-plumaged bird, saying things that interested you, even though you frequently found them shocking.

suitor

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

From this reading She seated herself upon the broad porch, with the inevitable mending, and wearily began weighing the advantages of one suitor against those of his rival.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It was next to impossible to concentrate your thoughts on your own affairs, however urgent the need, when Agatha was darting about like a bright-plumaged bird, saying things that interested you, even though you frequently found them shocking.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading MISS FINCH FOLLOWS A CLASSIC EXAMPLE Zaida Finch was not ill-pleased at the prospect of a day to herself.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading It was next to impossible to concentrate your thoughts on your own affairs, however urgent the need, when Agatha was darting about like a bright-plumaged bird, saying things that interested you, even though you frequently found them shocking.

things

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

From this reading It was next to impossible to concentrate your thoughts on your own affairs, however urgent the need, when Agatha was darting about like a bright-plumaged bird, saying things that interested you, even though you frequently found them shocking.

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading She seated herself upon the broad porch, with the inevitable mending, and wearily began weighing the advantages of one suitor against those of his rival.

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading It was next to impossible to concentrate your thoughts on your own affairs, however urgent the need, when Agatha was darting about like a bright-plumaged bird, saying things that interested you, even though you frequently found them shocking.

thoughts

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

From this reading It was next to impossible to concentrate your thoughts on your own affairs, however urgent the need, when Agatha was darting about like a bright-plumaged bird, saying things that interested you, even though you frequently found them shocking.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading MISS FINCH FOLLOWS A CLASSIC EXAMPLE Zaida Finch was not ill-pleased at the prospect of a day to herself.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading She seated herself upon the broad porch, with the inevitable mending, and wearily began weighing the advantages of one suitor against those of his rival.

upsetting

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

From this reading "She's a dear girl," Miss Finch reflected, "but upsetting; and I need quiet."

urgent

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

From this reading It was next to impossible to concentrate your thoughts on your own affairs, however urgent the need, when Agatha was darting about like a bright-plumaged bird, saying things that interested you, even though you frequently found them shocking.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading MISS FINCH FOLLOWS A CLASSIC EXAMPLE Zaida Finch was not ill-pleased at the prospect of a day to herself.

wearily

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

From this reading She seated herself upon the broad porch, with the inevitable mending, and wearily began weighing the advantages of one suitor against those of his rival.

weighing

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

From this reading She seated herself upon the broad porch, with the inevitable mending, and wearily began weighing the advantages of one suitor against those of his rival.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading It was next to impossible to concentrate your thoughts on your own affairs, however urgent the need, when Agatha was darting about like a bright-plumaged bird, saying things that interested you, even though you frequently found them shocking.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading She seated herself upon the broad porch, with the inevitable mending, and wearily began weighing the advantages of one suitor against those of his rival.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading It was next to impossible to concentrate your thoughts on your own affairs, however urgent the need, when Agatha was darting about like a bright-plumaged bird, saying things that interested you, even though you frequently found them shocking.

yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading It was next to impossible to concentrate your thoughts on your own affairs, however urgent the need, when Agatha was darting about like a bright-plumaged bird, saying things that interested you, even though you frequently found them shocking.

Zaida

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

From this reading MISS FINCH FOLLOWS A CLASSIC EXAMPLE Zaida Finch was not ill-pleased at the prospect of a day to herself.