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Antennae
Antennae

Chapter IV

Cover illustration for Antennae
Context Illustration Reading 1/81 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
* * * * * Mrs. Boardman was a more practical-minded person than her sister—but not much more.
She had an easy-going sensible look.
She had been married only three months, and that twenty years ago, Joe had learned, but the experience, brief as it was, apparently enabled her to keep her feet on the ground, while the sister, who had never known a man, pursued her batlike flights through the air.
But a funny thing was, as Joe was quick to see, the batty one was the leading spirit of the two.
Apparently there was more force in her notions than in the other’s commonsense.
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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.

Antennae

Chapter IV

Reading 1/81 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
* * * * * Mrs. Boardman was a more practical-minded person than her sister—but not much more.
Line 2
She had an easy-going sensible look.
Line 3
She had been married only three months, and that twenty years ago, Joe had learned, but the experience, brief as it was, apparently enabled her to keep her feet on the ground, while the sister, who had never known a man, pursued her batlike flights through the air.
Line 4
But a funny thing was, as Joe was quick to see, the batty one was the leading spirit of the two.
Line 5
Apparently there was more force in her notions than in the other’s commonsense.

Learner Dictionary

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

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “She had been married only three months, and that twenty years ago, Joe had learned, but the experience, brief as it was, apparently enabled her to keep her feet on the ground, while the sister, who had never known a man, pursued her batlike flights through the air.”

Look noun US /look/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “She had an easy-going sensible look.”

Never noun US /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “She had been married only three months, and that twenty years ago, Joe had learned, but the experience, brief as it was, apparently enabled her to keep her feet on the ground, while the sister, who had never known a man, pursued her batlike flights through the air.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “But a funny thing was, as Joe was quick to see, the batty one was the leading spirit of the two.”

Thing noun US /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But a funny thing was, as Joe was quick to see, the batty one was the leading spirit of the two.”

Through noun US /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading “She had been married only three months, and that twenty years ago, Joe had learned, but the experience, brief as it was, apparently enabled her to keep her feet on the ground, while the sister, who had never known a man, pursued her batlike flights through the air.”

While conjunction US /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading “She had been married only three months, and that twenty years ago, Joe had learned, but the experience, brief as it was, apparently enabled her to keep her feet on the ground, while the sister, who had never known a man, pursued her batlike flights through the air.”

All words in this reading · 69

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 * * * * * Mrs. Boardman was a more practical-minded person than her sister—but not much more.

ago

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

From this reading She had been married only three months, and that twenty years ago, Joe had learned, but the experience, brief as it was, apparently enabled her to keep her feet on the ground, while the sister, who had never known a man, pursued her batlike flights through the air.

air

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

From this reading She had been married only three months, and that twenty years ago, Joe had learned, but the experience, brief as it was, apparently enabled her to keep her feet on the ground, while the sister, who had never known a man, pursued her batlike flights through the air.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading She had an easy-going sensible look.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading She had been married only three months, and that twenty years ago, Joe had learned, but the experience, brief as it was, apparently enabled her to keep her feet on the ground, while the sister, who had never known a man, pursued her batlike flights through the air.

apparently

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

From this reading She had been married only three months, and that twenty years ago, Joe had learned, but the experience, brief as it was, apparently enabled her to keep her feet on the ground, while the sister, who had never known a man, pursued her batlike flights through the air.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading She had been married only three months, and that twenty years ago, Joe had learned, but the experience, brief as it was, apparently enabled her to keep her feet on the ground, while the sister, who had never known a man, pursued her batlike flights through the air.

batlike

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

From this reading She had been married only three months, and that twenty years ago, Joe had learned, but the experience, brief as it was, apparently enabled her to keep her feet on the ground, while the sister, who had never known a man, pursued her batlike flights through the air.

batty

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

From this reading But a funny thing was, as Joe was quick to see, the batty one was the leading spirit of the two.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading She had been married only three months, and that twenty years ago, Joe had learned, but the experience, brief as it was, apparently enabled her to keep her feet on the ground, while the sister, who had never known a man, pursued her batlike flights through the air.

Boardman

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

From this reading * * * * * Mrs. Boardman was a more practical-minded person than her sister—but not much more.

brief

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

From this reading She had been married only three months, and that twenty years ago, Joe had learned, but the experience, brief as it was, apparently enabled her to keep her feet on the ground, while the sister, who had never known a man, pursued her batlike flights through the air.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading * * * * * Mrs. Boardman was a more practical-minded person than her sister—but not much more.

commonsense

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

From this reading Apparently there was more force in her notions than in the other’s commonsense.

easy-going

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

From this reading She had an easy-going sensible look.

enabled

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

From this reading She had been married only three months, and that twenty years ago, Joe had learned, but the experience, brief as it was, apparently enabled her to keep her feet on the ground, while the sister, who had never known a man, pursued her batlike flights through the air.

experience

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

From this reading She had been married only three months, and that twenty years ago, Joe had learned, but the experience, brief as it was, apparently enabled her to keep her feet on the ground, while the sister, who had never known a man, pursued her batlike flights through the air.

feet

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

From this reading She had been married only three months, and that twenty years ago, Joe had learned, but the experience, brief as it was, apparently enabled her to keep her feet on the ground, while the sister, who had never known a man, pursued her batlike flights through the air.

flights

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

From this reading She had been married only three months, and that twenty years ago, Joe had learned, but the experience, brief as it was, apparently enabled her to keep her feet on the ground, while the sister, who had never known a man, pursued her batlike flights through the air.

force

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

From this reading Apparently there was more force in her notions than in the other’s commonsense.

funny

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

From this reading But a funny thing was, as Joe was quick to see, the batty one was the leading spirit of the two.

ground

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

From this reading She had been married only three months, and that twenty years ago, Joe had learned, but the experience, brief as it was, apparently enabled her to keep her feet on the ground, while the sister, who had never known a man, pursued her batlike flights through the air.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading She had an easy-going sensible look.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading * * * * * Mrs. Boardman was a more practical-minded person than her sister—but not much more.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Apparently there was more force in her notions than in the other’s commonsense.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading She had been married only three months, and that twenty years ago, Joe had learned, but the experience, brief as it was, apparently enabled her to keep her feet on the ground, while the sister, who had never known a man, pursued her batlike flights through the air.

Joe

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

From this reading She had been married only three months, and that twenty years ago, Joe had learned, but the experience, brief as it was, apparently enabled her to keep her feet on the ground, while the sister, who had never known a man, pursued her batlike flights through the air.

keep

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

From this reading She had been married only three months, and that twenty years ago, Joe had learned, but the experience, brief as it was, apparently enabled her to keep her feet on the ground, while the sister, who had never known a man, pursued her batlike flights through the air.

known

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

From this reading She had been married only three months, and that twenty years ago, Joe had learned, but the experience, brief as it was, apparently enabled her to keep her feet on the ground, while the sister, who had never known a man, pursued her batlike flights through the air.

leading

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

From this reading But a funny thing was, as Joe was quick to see, the batty one was the leading spirit of the two.

learned

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

From this reading She had been married only three months, and that twenty years ago, Joe had learned, but the experience, brief as it was, apparently enabled her to keep her feet on the ground, while the sister, who had never known a man, pursued her batlike flights through the air.

looknounUS /look/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading She had an easy-going sensible look.

man

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

From this reading She had been married only three months, and that twenty years ago, Joe had learned, but the experience, brief as it was, apparently enabled her to keep her feet on the ground, while the sister, who had never known a man, pursued her batlike flights through the air.

married

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

From this reading She had been married only three months, and that twenty years ago, Joe had learned, but the experience, brief as it was, apparently enabled her to keep her feet on the ground, while the sister, who had never known a man, pursued her batlike flights through the air.

months

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

From this reading She had been married only three months, and that twenty years ago, Joe had learned, but the experience, brief as it was, apparently enabled her to keep her feet on the ground, while the sister, who had never known a man, pursued her batlike flights through the air.

more

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

From this reading * * * * * Mrs. Boardman was a more practical-minded person than her sister—but not much more.

Mrs

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

From this reading * * * * * Mrs. Boardman was a more practical-minded person than her sister—but not much more.

much

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

From this reading * * * * * Mrs. Boardman was a more practical-minded person than her sister—but not much more.

nevernounUS /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading She had been married only three months, and that twenty years ago, Joe had learned, but the experience, brief as it was, apparently enabled her to keep her feet on the ground, while the sister, who had never known a man, pursued her batlike flights through the air.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading * * * * * Mrs. Boardman was a more practical-minded person than her sister—but not much more.

notions

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

From this reading Apparently there was more force in her notions than in the other’s commonsense.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading But a funny thing was, as Joe was quick to see, the batty one was the leading spirit of the two.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading She had been married only three months, and that twenty years ago, Joe had learned, but the experience, brief as it was, apparently enabled her to keep her feet on the ground, while the sister, who had never known a man, pursued her batlike flights through the air.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading But a funny thing was, as Joe was quick to see, the batty one was the leading spirit of the two.

only

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

From this reading She had been married only three months, and that twenty years ago, Joe had learned, but the experience, brief as it was, apparently enabled her to keep her feet on the ground, while the sister, who had never known a man, pursued her batlike flights through the air.

other's

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

From this reading Apparently there was more force in her notions than in the other’s commonsense.

person

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

From this reading * * * * * Mrs. Boardman was a more practical-minded person than her sister—but not much more.

practical-minded

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

From this reading * * * * * Mrs. Boardman was a more practical-minded person than her sister—but not much more.

pursued

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

From this reading She had been married only three months, and that twenty years ago, Joe had learned, but the experience, brief as it was, apparently enabled her to keep her feet on the ground, while the sister, who had never known a man, pursued her batlike flights through the air.

quick

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

From this reading But a funny thing was, as Joe was quick to see, the batty one was the leading spirit of the two.

see

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

From this reading But a funny thing was, as Joe was quick to see, the batty one was the leading spirit of the two.

sensible

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

From this reading She had an easy-going sensible look.

ShepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading She had an easy-going sensible look.

sister

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

From this reading * * * * * Mrs. Boardman was a more practical-minded person than her sister—but not much more.

spirit

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

From this reading But a funny thing was, as Joe was quick to see, the batty one was the leading spirit of the two.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading * * * * * Mrs. Boardman was a more practical-minded person than her sister—but not much more.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading She had been married only three months, and that twenty years ago, Joe had learned, but the experience, brief as it was, apparently enabled her to keep her feet on the ground, while the sister, who had never known a man, pursued her batlike flights through the air.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading She had been married only three months, and that twenty years ago, Joe had learned, but the experience, brief as it was, apparently enabled her to keep her feet on the ground, while the sister, who had never known a man, pursued her batlike flights through the air.

there

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

From this reading Apparently there was more force in her notions than in the other’s commonsense.

thingnounUS /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But a funny thing was, as Joe was quick to see, the batty one was the leading spirit of the two.

three

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

From this reading She had been married only three months, and that twenty years ago, Joe had learned, but the experience, brief as it was, apparently enabled her to keep her feet on the ground, while the sister, who had never known a man, pursued her batlike flights through the air.

throughnounUS /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading She had been married only three months, and that twenty years ago, Joe had learned, but the experience, brief as it was, apparently enabled her to keep her feet on the ground, while the sister, who had never known a man, pursued her batlike flights through the air.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading She had been married only three months, and that twenty years ago, Joe had learned, but the experience, brief as it was, apparently enabled her to keep her feet on the ground, while the sister, who had never known a man, pursued her batlike flights through the air.

twenty

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

From this reading She had been married only three months, and that twenty years ago, Joe had learned, but the experience, brief as it was, apparently enabled her to keep her feet on the ground, while the sister, who had never known a man, pursued her batlike flights through the air.

two

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

From this reading But a funny thing was, as Joe was quick to see, the batty one was the leading spirit of the two.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading * * * * * Mrs. Boardman was a more practical-minded person than her sister—but not much more.

whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading She had been married only three months, and that twenty years ago, Joe had learned, but the experience, brief as it was, apparently enabled her to keep her feet on the ground, while the sister, who had never known a man, pursued her batlike flights through the air.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading She had been married only three months, and that twenty years ago, Joe had learned, but the experience, brief as it was, apparently enabled her to keep her feet on the ground, while the sister, who had never known a man, pursued her batlike flights through the air.

years

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

From this reading She had been married only three months, and that twenty years ago, Joe had learned, but the experience, brief as it was, apparently enabled her to keep her feet on the ground, while the sister, who had never known a man, pursued her batlike flights through the air.