Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
Auld Licht Idylls
Auld Licht Idylls

Chapter X

Cover illustration for Auld Licht Idylls
Context Illustration Reading 1/18 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
A VERY OLD FAMILY They were a very old family with whom Snecky Hobart, the bellman, lodged.
Their favourite dissipation, when their looms had come to rest, was a dander through the kirkyard.
They dressed for it: the three young ones in their rusty black; the patriarch in his old blue coat, velvet knee-breeches, and broad blue bonnet; and often of an evening I have met them moving from grave to grave.
By this time the old man was nearly ninety, and the young ones averaged sixty.
They read out the inscriptions on the tombstones in a solemn drone, and their father added his reminiscences.
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Auld Licht Idylls

Chapter X

Reading 1/18 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
A VERY OLD FAMILY They were a very old family with whom Snecky Hobart, the bellman, lodged.
Line 2
Their favourite dissipation, when their looms had come to rest, was a dander through the kirkyard.
Line 3
They dressed for it: the three young ones in their rusty black; the patriarch in his old blue coat, velvet knee-breeches, and broad blue bonnet; and often of an evening I have met them moving from grave to grave.
Line 4
By this time the old man was nearly ninety, and the young ones averaged sixty.
Line 5
They read out the inscriptions on the tombstones in a solemn drone, and their father added his reminiscences.

Learner Dictionary

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

Added noun US /added/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “They read out the inscriptions on the tombstones in a solemn drone, and their father added his reminiscences.”

Come noun US /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Their favourite dissipation, when their looms had come to rest, was a dander through the kirkyard.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “They dressed for it: the three young ones in their rusty black; the patriarch in his old blue coat, velvet knee-breeches, and broad blue bonnet; and often of an evening I have met them moving from grave to grave.”

Rest noun US /rest/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Their favourite dissipation, when their looms had come to rest, was a dander through the kirkyard.”

Through noun US /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading “Their favourite dissipation, when their looms had come to rest, was a dander through the kirkyard.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “By this time the old man was nearly ninety, and the young ones averaged sixty.”

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 VERY OLD FAMILY They were a very old family with whom Snecky Hobart, the bellman, lodged.

addednounUS /added/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading They read out the inscriptions on the tombstones in a solemn drone, and their father added his reminiscences.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading They dressed for it: the three young ones in their rusty black; the patriarch in his old blue coat, velvet knee-breeches, and broad blue bonnet; and often of an evening I have met them moving from grave to grave.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading They dressed for it: the three young ones in their rusty black; the patriarch in his old blue coat, velvet knee-breeches, and broad blue bonnet; and often of an evening I have met them moving from grave to grave.

averaged

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

From this reading By this time the old man was nearly ninety, and the young ones averaged sixty.

bellman

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

From this reading A VERY OLD FAMILY They were a very old family with whom Snecky Hobart, the bellman, lodged.

black

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

From this reading They dressed for it: the three young ones in their rusty black; the patriarch in his old blue coat, velvet knee-breeches, and broad blue bonnet; and often of an evening I have met them moving from grave to grave.

blue

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

From this reading They dressed for it: the three young ones in their rusty black; the patriarch in his old blue coat, velvet knee-breeches, and broad blue bonnet; and often of an evening I have met them moving from grave to grave.

bonnet

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

From this reading They dressed for it: the three young ones in their rusty black; the patriarch in his old blue coat, velvet knee-breeches, and broad blue bonnet; and often of an evening I have met them moving from grave to grave.

broad

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

From this reading They dressed for it: the three young ones in their rusty black; the patriarch in his old blue coat, velvet knee-breeches, and broad blue bonnet; and often of an evening I have met them moving from grave to grave.

ByprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading By this time the old man was nearly ninety, and the young ones averaged sixty.

coat

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

From this reading They dressed for it: the three young ones in their rusty black; the patriarch in his old blue coat, velvet knee-breeches, and broad blue bonnet; and often of an evening I have met them moving from grave to grave.

comenounUS /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Their favourite dissipation, when their looms had come to rest, was a dander through the kirkyard.

dander

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

From this reading Their favourite dissipation, when their looms had come to rest, was a dander through the kirkyard.

dissipation

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

From this reading Their favourite dissipation, when their looms had come to rest, was a dander through the kirkyard.

dressed

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

From this reading They dressed for it: the three young ones in their rusty black; the patriarch in his old blue coat, velvet knee-breeches, and broad blue bonnet; and often of an evening I have met them moving from grave to grave.

drone

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

From this reading They read out the inscriptions on the tombstones in a solemn drone, and their father added his reminiscences.

evening

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

From this reading They dressed for it: the three young ones in their rusty black; the patriarch in his old blue coat, velvet knee-breeches, and broad blue bonnet; and often of an evening I have met them moving from grave to grave.

FAMILY

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

From this reading A VERY OLD FAMILY They were a very old family with whom Snecky Hobart, the bellman, lodged.

father

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

From this reading They read out the inscriptions on the tombstones in a solemn drone, and their father added his reminiscences.

favourite

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

From this reading Their favourite dissipation, when their looms had come to rest, was a dander through the kirkyard.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading They dressed for it: the three young ones in their rusty black; the patriarch in his old blue coat, velvet knee-breeches, and broad blue bonnet; and often of an evening I have met them moving from grave to grave.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading They dressed for it: the three young ones in their rusty black; the patriarch in his old blue coat, velvet knee-breeches, and broad blue bonnet; and often of an evening I have met them moving from grave to grave.

grave

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

From this reading They dressed for it: the three young ones in their rusty black; the patriarch in his old blue coat, velvet knee-breeches, and broad blue bonnet; and often of an evening I have met them moving from grave to grave.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Their favourite dissipation, when their looms had come to rest, was a dander through the kirkyard.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading They dressed for it: the three young ones in their rusty black; the patriarch in his old blue coat, velvet knee-breeches, and broad blue bonnet; and often of an evening I have met them moving from grave to grave.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading They dressed for it: the three young ones in their rusty black; the patriarch in his old blue coat, velvet knee-breeches, and broad blue bonnet; and often of an evening I have met them moving from grave to grave.

Hobart

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

From this reading A VERY OLD FAMILY They were a very old family with whom Snecky Hobart, the bellman, lodged.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading They dressed for it: the three young ones in their rusty black; the patriarch in his old blue coat, velvet knee-breeches, and broad blue bonnet; and often of an evening I have met them moving from grave to grave.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading They dressed for it: the three young ones in their rusty black; the patriarch in his old blue coat, velvet knee-breeches, and broad blue bonnet; and often of an evening I have met them moving from grave to grave.

inscriptions

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

From this reading They read out the inscriptions on the tombstones in a solemn drone, and their father added his reminiscences.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading They dressed for it: the three young ones in their rusty black; the patriarch in his old blue coat, velvet knee-breeches, and broad blue bonnet; and often of an evening I have met them moving from grave to grave.

kirkyard

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

From this reading Their favourite dissipation, when their looms had come to rest, was a dander through the kirkyard.

knee-breeches

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

From this reading They dressed for it: the three young ones in their rusty black; the patriarch in his old blue coat, velvet knee-breeches, and broad blue bonnet; and often of an evening I have met them moving from grave to grave.

lodged

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

From this reading A VERY OLD FAMILY They were a very old family with whom Snecky Hobart, the bellman, lodged.

looms

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

From this reading Their favourite dissipation, when their looms had come to rest, was a dander through the kirkyard.

man

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

From this reading By this time the old man was nearly ninety, and the young ones averaged sixty.

met

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

From this reading They dressed for it: the three young ones in their rusty black; the patriarch in his old blue coat, velvet knee-breeches, and broad blue bonnet; and often of an evening I have met them moving from grave to grave.

moving

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

From this reading They dressed for it: the three young ones in their rusty black; the patriarch in his old blue coat, velvet knee-breeches, and broad blue bonnet; and often of an evening I have met them moving from grave to grave.

nearly

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

From this reading By this time the old man was nearly ninety, and the young ones averaged sixty.

ninety

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

From this reading By this time the old man was nearly ninety, and the young ones averaged sixty.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading They dressed for it: the three young ones in their rusty black; the patriarch in his old blue coat, velvet knee-breeches, and broad blue bonnet; and often of an evening I have met them moving from grave to grave.

often

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

From this reading They dressed for it: the three young ones in their rusty black; the patriarch in his old blue coat, velvet knee-breeches, and broad blue bonnet; and often of an evening I have met them moving from grave to grave.

OLD

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

From this reading A VERY OLD FAMILY They were a very old family with whom Snecky Hobart, the bellman, lodged.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading They read out the inscriptions on the tombstones in a solemn drone, and their father added his reminiscences.

ones

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

From this reading They dressed for it: the three young ones in their rusty black; the patriarch in his old blue coat, velvet knee-breeches, and broad blue bonnet; and often of an evening I have met them moving from grave to grave.

out

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

From this reading They read out the inscriptions on the tombstones in a solemn drone, and their father added his reminiscences.

patriarch

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

From this reading They dressed for it: the three young ones in their rusty black; the patriarch in his old blue coat, velvet knee-breeches, and broad blue bonnet; and often of an evening I have met them moving from grave to grave.

read

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

From this reading They read out the inscriptions on the tombstones in a solemn drone, and their father added his reminiscences.

reminiscences

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

From this reading They read out the inscriptions on the tombstones in a solemn drone, and their father added his reminiscences.

restnounUS /rest/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Their favourite dissipation, when their looms had come to rest, was a dander through the kirkyard.

rusty

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

From this reading They dressed for it: the three young ones in their rusty black; the patriarch in his old blue coat, velvet knee-breeches, and broad blue bonnet; and often of an evening I have met them moving from grave to grave.

sixty

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

From this reading By this time the old man was nearly ninety, and the young ones averaged sixty.

Snecky

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

From this reading A VERY OLD FAMILY They were a very old family with whom Snecky Hobart, the bellman, lodged.

solemn

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

From this reading They read out the inscriptions on the tombstones in a solemn drone, and their father added his reminiscences.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading A VERY OLD FAMILY They were a very old family with whom Snecky Hobart, the bellman, lodged.

TheirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Their favourite dissipation, when their looms had come to rest, was a dander through the kirkyard.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading They dressed for it: the three young ones in their rusty black; the patriarch in his old blue coat, velvet knee-breeches, and broad blue bonnet; and often of an evening I have met them moving from grave to grave.

TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading A VERY OLD FAMILY They were a very old family with whom Snecky Hobart, the bellman, lodged.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading By this time the old man was nearly ninety, and the young ones averaged sixty.

three

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

From this reading They dressed for it: the three young ones in their rusty black; the patriarch in his old blue coat, velvet knee-breeches, and broad blue bonnet; and often of an evening I have met them moving from grave to grave.

throughnounUS /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading Their favourite dissipation, when their looms had come to rest, was a dander through the kirkyard.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading By this time the old man was nearly ninety, and the young ones averaged sixty.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Their favourite dissipation, when their looms had come to rest, was a dander through the kirkyard.

tombstones

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

From this reading They read out the inscriptions on the tombstones in a solemn drone, and their father added his reminiscences.

velvet

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

From this reading They dressed for it: the three young ones in their rusty black; the patriarch in his old blue coat, velvet knee-breeches, and broad blue bonnet; and often of an evening I have met them moving from grave to grave.

VERY

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

From this reading A VERY OLD FAMILY They were a very old family with whom Snecky Hobart, the bellman, lodged.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Their favourite dissipation, when their looms had come to rest, was a dander through the kirkyard.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading A VERY OLD FAMILY They were a very old family with whom Snecky Hobart, the bellman, lodged.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading Their favourite dissipation, when their looms had come to rest, was a dander through the kirkyard.

whompronounUS /huːm/

the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading A VERY OLD FAMILY They were a very old family with whom Snecky Hobart, the bellman, lodged.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading A VERY OLD FAMILY They were a very old family with whom Snecky Hobart, the bellman, lodged.

young

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

From this reading They dressed for it: the three young ones in their rusty black; the patriarch in his old blue coat, velvet knee-breeches, and broad blue bonnet; and often of an evening I have met them moving from grave to grave.