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Beyond These Voices
Beyond These Voices

Chapter XXV

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Context Illustration Reading 1/10 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Finding Claude Rutherford the most agreeable person in a house full of people, Mrs. Bellenden took possession of him on the first evening--not with any obvious devices or allurements, but coolly and calmly, just as she possessed herself of the most becoming arm-chair in the drawing-room, with such an air of distinct appropriation that other women avoided it.
"You seem to be the only amusing person here," she said, as he came to her side after dinner.
"Isn't it strange that in so small a party there should be such a prodigious amount of dullness?"
"Have you sampled all the people?
There is Mr. Fitzallan over there, talking to Lady Waterbury, a musical genius, who sets Shakespeare's sonnets and Heine's ballads deliciously, and sings them delightfully.
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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.

Beyond These Voices

Chapter XXV

Reading 1/10 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Finding Claude Rutherford the most agreeable person in a house full of people, Mrs. Bellenden took possession of him on the first evening--not with any obvious devices or allurements, but coolly and calmly, just as she possessed herself of the most becoming arm-chair in the drawing-room, with such an air of distinct appropriation that other women avoided it.
Line 2
"You seem to be the only amusing person here," she said, as he came to her side after dinner.
Line 3
"Isn't it strange that in so small a party there should be such a prodigious amount of dullness?"
Line 4
"Have you sampled all the people?
Line 5
There is Mr. Fitzallan over there, talking to Lady Waterbury, a musical genius, who sets Shakespeare's sonnets and Heine's ballads deliciously, and sings them delightfully.

Learner Dictionary

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

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “"You seem to be the only amusing person here," she said, as he came to her side after dinner.”

Amount verb US /əˈmaʊnt/

to reach or total a particular quantity or value

From this reading “"Isn't it strange that in so small a party there should be such a prodigious amount of dullness?"”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Finding Claude Rutherford the most agreeable person in a house full of people, Mrs. Bellenden took possession of him on the first evening--not with any obvious devices or allurements, but coolly and calmly, just as she possessed herself of the most becoming arm-chair in the drawing-room, with such an air of distinct appropriation that other women avoided it.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “"Have you sampled all the people?”

Here noun US /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"You seem to be the only amusing person here," she said, as he came to her side after dinner.”

Herself pronoun US /hərˈself/

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

From this reading “Finding Claude Rutherford the most agreeable person in a house full of people, Mrs. Bellenden took possession of him on the first evening--not with any obvious devices or allurements, but coolly and calmly, just as she possessed herself of the most becoming arm-chair in the drawing-room, with such an air of distinct appropriation that other women avoided it.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “There is Mr. Fitzallan over there, talking to Lady Waterbury, a musical genius, who sets Shakespeare's sonnets and Heine's ballads deliciously, and sings them delightfully.”

Party noun US /party/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"Isn't it strange that in so small a party there should be such a prodigious amount of dullness?"”

Took noun US /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Finding Claude Rutherford the most agreeable person in a house full of people, Mrs. Bellenden took possession of him on the first evening--not with any obvious devices or allurements, but coolly and calmly, just as she possessed herself of the most becoming arm-chair in the drawing-room, with such an air of distinct appropriation that other women avoided it.”

All words in this reading · 96

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 Finding Claude Rutherford the most agreeable person in a house full of people, Mrs. Bellenden took possession of him on the first evening--not with any obvious devices or allurements, but coolly and calmly, just as she possessed herself of the most becoming arm-chair in the drawing-room, with such an air of distinct appropriation that other women avoided it.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading "You seem to be the only amusing person here," she said, as he came to her side after dinner.

agreeable

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

From this reading Finding Claude Rutherford the most agreeable person in a house full of people, Mrs. Bellenden took possession of him on the first evening--not with any obvious devices or allurements, but coolly and calmly, just as she possessed herself of the most becoming arm-chair in the drawing-room, with such an air of distinct appropriation that other women avoided it.

air

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

From this reading Finding Claude Rutherford the most agreeable person in a house full of people, Mrs. Bellenden took possession of him on the first evening--not with any obvious devices or allurements, but coolly and calmly, just as she possessed herself of the most becoming arm-chair in the drawing-room, with such an air of distinct appropriation that other women avoided it.

all

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

From this reading "Have you sampled all the people?

allurements

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

From this reading Finding Claude Rutherford the most agreeable person in a house full of people, Mrs. Bellenden took possession of him on the first evening--not with any obvious devices or allurements, but coolly and calmly, just as she possessed herself of the most becoming arm-chair in the drawing-room, with such an air of distinct appropriation that other women avoided it.

amountverbUS /əˈmaʊnt/

to reach or total a particular quantity or value

From this reading "Isn't it strange that in so small a party there should be such a prodigious amount of dullness?"

amusing

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

From this reading "You seem to be the only amusing person here," she said, as he came to her side after dinner.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading Finding Claude Rutherford the most agreeable person in a house full of people, Mrs. Bellenden took possession of him on the first evening--not with any obvious devices or allurements, but coolly and calmly, just as she possessed herself of the most becoming arm-chair in the drawing-room, with such an air of distinct appropriation that other women avoided it.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Finding Claude Rutherford the most agreeable person in a house full of people, Mrs. Bellenden took possession of him on the first evening--not with any obvious devices or allurements, but coolly and calmly, just as she possessed herself of the most becoming arm-chair in the drawing-room, with such an air of distinct appropriation that other women avoided it.

any

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

From this reading Finding Claude Rutherford the most agreeable person in a house full of people, Mrs. Bellenden took possession of him on the first evening--not with any obvious devices or allurements, but coolly and calmly, just as she possessed herself of the most becoming arm-chair in the drawing-room, with such an air of distinct appropriation that other women avoided it.

appropriation

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

From this reading Finding Claude Rutherford the most agreeable person in a house full of people, Mrs. Bellenden took possession of him on the first evening--not with any obvious devices or allurements, but coolly and calmly, just as she possessed herself of the most becoming arm-chair in the drawing-room, with such an air of distinct appropriation that other women avoided it.

arm-chair

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

From this reading Finding Claude Rutherford the most agreeable person in a house full of people, Mrs. Bellenden took possession of him on the first evening--not with any obvious devices or allurements, but coolly and calmly, just as she possessed herself of the most becoming arm-chair in the drawing-room, with such an air of distinct appropriation that other women avoided it.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Finding Claude Rutherford the most agreeable person in a house full of people, Mrs. Bellenden took possession of him on the first evening--not with any obvious devices or allurements, but coolly and calmly, just as she possessed herself of the most becoming arm-chair in the drawing-room, with such an air of distinct appropriation that other women avoided it.

avoided

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

From this reading Finding Claude Rutherford the most agreeable person in a house full of people, Mrs. Bellenden took possession of him on the first evening--not with any obvious devices or allurements, but coolly and calmly, just as she possessed herself of the most becoming arm-chair in the drawing-room, with such an air of distinct appropriation that other women avoided it.

ballads

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

From this reading There is Mr. Fitzallan over there, talking to Lady Waterbury, a musical genius, who sets Shakespeare's sonnets and Heine's ballads deliciously, and sings them delightfully.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading "You seem to be the only amusing person here," she said, as he came to her side after dinner.

becoming

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

From this reading Finding Claude Rutherford the most agreeable person in a house full of people, Mrs. Bellenden took possession of him on the first evening--not with any obvious devices or allurements, but coolly and calmly, just as she possessed herself of the most becoming arm-chair in the drawing-room, with such an air of distinct appropriation that other women avoided it.

Bellenden

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

From this reading Finding Claude Rutherford the most agreeable person in a house full of people, Mrs. Bellenden took possession of him on the first evening--not with any obvious devices or allurements, but coolly and calmly, just as she possessed herself of the most becoming arm-chair in the drawing-room, with such an air of distinct appropriation that other women avoided it.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Finding Claude Rutherford the most agreeable person in a house full of people, Mrs. Bellenden took possession of him on the first evening--not with any obvious devices or allurements, but coolly and calmly, just as she possessed herself of the most becoming arm-chair in the drawing-room, with such an air of distinct appropriation that other women avoided it.

calmly

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

From this reading Finding Claude Rutherford the most agreeable person in a house full of people, Mrs. Bellenden took possession of him on the first evening--not with any obvious devices or allurements, but coolly and calmly, just as she possessed herself of the most becoming arm-chair in the drawing-room, with such an air of distinct appropriation that other women avoided it.

came

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

From this reading "You seem to be the only amusing person here," she said, as he came to her side after dinner.

Claude

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

From this reading Finding Claude Rutherford the most agreeable person in a house full of people, Mrs. Bellenden took possession of him on the first evening--not with any obvious devices or allurements, but coolly and calmly, just as she possessed herself of the most becoming arm-chair in the drawing-room, with such an air of distinct appropriation that other women avoided it.

coolly

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

From this reading Finding Claude Rutherford the most agreeable person in a house full of people, Mrs. Bellenden took possession of him on the first evening--not with any obvious devices or allurements, but coolly and calmly, just as she possessed herself of the most becoming arm-chair in the drawing-room, with such an air of distinct appropriation that other women avoided it.

deliciously

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

From this reading There is Mr. Fitzallan over there, talking to Lady Waterbury, a musical genius, who sets Shakespeare's sonnets and Heine's ballads deliciously, and sings them delightfully.

delightfully

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

From this reading There is Mr. Fitzallan over there, talking to Lady Waterbury, a musical genius, who sets Shakespeare's sonnets and Heine's ballads deliciously, and sings them delightfully.

devices

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

From this reading Finding Claude Rutherford the most agreeable person in a house full of people, Mrs. Bellenden took possession of him on the first evening--not with any obvious devices or allurements, but coolly and calmly, just as she possessed herself of the most becoming arm-chair in the drawing-room, with such an air of distinct appropriation that other women avoided it.

dinner

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

From this reading "You seem to be the only amusing person here," she said, as he came to her side after dinner.

distinct

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

From this reading Finding Claude Rutherford the most agreeable person in a house full of people, Mrs. Bellenden took possession of him on the first evening--not with any obvious devices or allurements, but coolly and calmly, just as she possessed herself of the most becoming arm-chair in the drawing-room, with such an air of distinct appropriation that other women avoided it.

drawing-room

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

From this reading Finding Claude Rutherford the most agreeable person in a house full of people, Mrs. Bellenden took possession of him on the first evening--not with any obvious devices or allurements, but coolly and calmly, just as she possessed herself of the most becoming arm-chair in the drawing-room, with such an air of distinct appropriation that other women avoided it.

dullness

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

From this reading "Isn't it strange that in so small a party there should be such a prodigious amount of dullness?"

evening

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

From this reading Finding Claude Rutherford the most agreeable person in a house full of people, Mrs. Bellenden took possession of him on the first evening--not with any obvious devices or allurements, but coolly and calmly, just as she possessed herself of the most becoming arm-chair in the drawing-room, with such an air of distinct appropriation that other women avoided it.

Finding

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

From this reading Finding Claude Rutherford the most agreeable person in a house full of people, Mrs. Bellenden took possession of him on the first evening--not with any obvious devices or allurements, but coolly and calmly, just as she possessed herself of the most becoming arm-chair in the drawing-room, with such an air of distinct appropriation that other women avoided it.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Finding Claude Rutherford the most agreeable person in a house full of people, Mrs. Bellenden took possession of him on the first evening--not with any obvious devices or allurements, but coolly and calmly, just as she possessed herself of the most becoming arm-chair in the drawing-room, with such an air of distinct appropriation that other women avoided it.

Fitzallan

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

From this reading There is Mr. Fitzallan over there, talking to Lady Waterbury, a musical genius, who sets Shakespeare's sonnets and Heine's ballads deliciously, and sings them delightfully.

full

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

From this reading Finding Claude Rutherford the most agreeable person in a house full of people, Mrs. Bellenden took possession of him on the first evening--not with any obvious devices or allurements, but coolly and calmly, just as she possessed herself of the most becoming arm-chair in the drawing-room, with such an air of distinct appropriation that other women avoided it.

genius

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

From this reading There is Mr. Fitzallan over there, talking to Lady Waterbury, a musical genius, who sets Shakespeare's sonnets and Heine's ballads deliciously, and sings them delightfully.

Haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading "Have you sampled all the people?

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading "You seem to be the only amusing person here," she said, as he came to her side after dinner.

Heine's

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

From this reading There is Mr. Fitzallan over there, talking to Lady Waterbury, a musical genius, who sets Shakespeare's sonnets and Heine's ballads deliciously, and sings them delightfully.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading "You seem to be the only amusing person here," she said, as he came to her side after dinner.

herenounUS /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "You seem to be the only amusing person here," she said, as he came to her side after dinner.

herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/

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

From this reading Finding Claude Rutherford the most agreeable person in a house full of people, Mrs. Bellenden took possession of him on the first evening--not with any obvious devices or allurements, but coolly and calmly, just as she possessed herself of the most becoming arm-chair in the drawing-room, with such an air of distinct appropriation that other women avoided it.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Finding Claude Rutherford the most agreeable person in a house full of people, Mrs. Bellenden took possession of him on the first evening--not with any obvious devices or allurements, but coolly and calmly, just as she possessed herself of the most becoming arm-chair in the drawing-room, with such an air of distinct appropriation that other women avoided it.

house

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

From this reading Finding Claude Rutherford the most agreeable person in a house full of people, Mrs. Bellenden took possession of him on the first evening--not with any obvious devices or allurements, but coolly and calmly, just as she possessed herself of the most becoming arm-chair in the drawing-room, with such an air of distinct appropriation that other women avoided it.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Finding Claude Rutherford the most agreeable person in a house full of people, Mrs. Bellenden took possession of him on the first evening--not with any obvious devices or allurements, but coolly and calmly, just as she possessed herself of the most becoming arm-chair in the drawing-room, with such an air of distinct appropriation that other women avoided it.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading There is Mr. Fitzallan over there, talking to Lady Waterbury, a musical genius, who sets Shakespeare's sonnets and Heine's ballads deliciously, and sings them delightfully.

Isn't

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

From this reading "Isn't it strange that in so small a party there should be such a prodigious amount of dullness?"

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Finding Claude Rutherford the most agreeable person in a house full of people, Mrs. Bellenden took possession of him on the first evening--not with any obvious devices or allurements, but coolly and calmly, just as she possessed herself of the most becoming arm-chair in the drawing-room, with such an air of distinct appropriation that other women avoided it.

just

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

From this reading Finding Claude Rutherford the most agreeable person in a house full of people, Mrs. Bellenden took possession of him on the first evening--not with any obvious devices or allurements, but coolly and calmly, just as she possessed herself of the most becoming arm-chair in the drawing-room, with such an air of distinct appropriation that other women avoided it.

Lady

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

From this reading There is Mr. Fitzallan over there, talking to Lady Waterbury, a musical genius, who sets Shakespeare's sonnets and Heine's ballads deliciously, and sings them delightfully.

most

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

From this reading Finding Claude Rutherford the most agreeable person in a house full of people, Mrs. Bellenden took possession of him on the first evening--not with any obvious devices or allurements, but coolly and calmly, just as she possessed herself of the most becoming arm-chair in the drawing-room, with such an air of distinct appropriation that other women avoided it.

Mr

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

From this reading There is Mr. Fitzallan over there, talking to Lady Waterbury, a musical genius, who sets Shakespeare's sonnets and Heine's ballads deliciously, and sings them delightfully.

Mrs

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

From this reading Finding Claude Rutherford the most agreeable person in a house full of people, Mrs. Bellenden took possession of him on the first evening--not with any obvious devices or allurements, but coolly and calmly, just as she possessed herself of the most becoming arm-chair in the drawing-room, with such an air of distinct appropriation that other women avoided it.

musical

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

From this reading There is Mr. Fitzallan over there, talking to Lady Waterbury, a musical genius, who sets Shakespeare's sonnets and Heine's ballads deliciously, and sings them delightfully.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Finding Claude Rutherford the most agreeable person in a house full of people, Mrs. Bellenden took possession of him on the first evening--not with any obvious devices or allurements, but coolly and calmly, just as she possessed herself of the most becoming arm-chair in the drawing-room, with such an air of distinct appropriation that other women avoided it.

obvious

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

From this reading Finding Claude Rutherford the most agreeable person in a house full of people, Mrs. Bellenden took possession of him on the first evening--not with any obvious devices or allurements, but coolly and calmly, just as she possessed herself of the most becoming arm-chair in the drawing-room, with such an air of distinct appropriation that other women avoided it.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Finding Claude Rutherford the most agreeable person in a house full of people, Mrs. Bellenden took possession of him on the first evening--not with any obvious devices or allurements, but coolly and calmly, just as she possessed herself of the most becoming arm-chair in the drawing-room, with such an air of distinct appropriation that other women avoided it.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Finding Claude Rutherford the most agreeable person in a house full of people, Mrs. Bellenden took possession of him on the first evening--not with any obvious devices or allurements, but coolly and calmly, just as she possessed herself of the most becoming arm-chair in the drawing-room, with such an air of distinct appropriation that other women avoided it.

only

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

From this reading "You seem to be the only amusing person here," she said, as he came to her side after dinner.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Finding Claude Rutherford the most agreeable person in a house full of people, Mrs. Bellenden took possession of him on the first evening--not with any obvious devices or allurements, but coolly and calmly, just as she possessed herself of the most becoming arm-chair in the drawing-room, with such an air of distinct appropriation that other women avoided it.

other

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

From this reading Finding Claude Rutherford the most agreeable person in a house full of people, Mrs. Bellenden took possession of him on the first evening--not with any obvious devices or allurements, but coolly and calmly, just as she possessed herself of the most becoming arm-chair in the drawing-room, with such an air of distinct appropriation that other women avoided it.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading There is Mr. Fitzallan over there, talking to Lady Waterbury, a musical genius, who sets Shakespeare's sonnets and Heine's ballads deliciously, and sings them delightfully.

partynounUS /party/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "Isn't it strange that in so small a party there should be such a prodigious amount of dullness?"

people

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

From this reading Finding Claude Rutherford the most agreeable person in a house full of people, Mrs. Bellenden took possession of him on the first evening--not with any obvious devices or allurements, but coolly and calmly, just as she possessed herself of the most becoming arm-chair in the drawing-room, with such an air of distinct appropriation that other women avoided it.

person

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

From this reading Finding Claude Rutherford the most agreeable person in a house full of people, Mrs. Bellenden took possession of him on the first evening--not with any obvious devices or allurements, but coolly and calmly, just as she possessed herself of the most becoming arm-chair in the drawing-room, with such an air of distinct appropriation that other women avoided it.

possessed

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

From this reading Finding Claude Rutherford the most agreeable person in a house full of people, Mrs. Bellenden took possession of him on the first evening--not with any obvious devices or allurements, but coolly and calmly, just as she possessed herself of the most becoming arm-chair in the drawing-room, with such an air of distinct appropriation that other women avoided it.

possession

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

From this reading Finding Claude Rutherford the most agreeable person in a house full of people, Mrs. Bellenden took possession of him on the first evening--not with any obvious devices or allurements, but coolly and calmly, just as she possessed herself of the most becoming arm-chair in the drawing-room, with such an air of distinct appropriation that other women avoided it.

prodigious

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

From this reading "Isn't it strange that in so small a party there should be such a prodigious amount of dullness?"

Rutherford

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

From this reading Finding Claude Rutherford the most agreeable person in a house full of people, Mrs. Bellenden took possession of him on the first evening--not with any obvious devices or allurements, but coolly and calmly, just as she possessed herself of the most becoming arm-chair in the drawing-room, with such an air of distinct appropriation that other women avoided it.

said

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

From this reading "You seem to be the only amusing person here," she said, as he came to her side after dinner.

sampled

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

From this reading "Have you sampled all the people?

seem

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

From this reading "You seem to be the only amusing person here," she said, as he came to her side after dinner.

sets

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

From this reading There is Mr. Fitzallan over there, talking to Lady Waterbury, a musical genius, who sets Shakespeare's sonnets and Heine's ballads deliciously, and sings them delightfully.

Shakespeare's

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

From this reading There is Mr. Fitzallan over there, talking to Lady Waterbury, a musical genius, who sets Shakespeare's sonnets and Heine's ballads deliciously, and sings them delightfully.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading Finding Claude Rutherford the most agreeable person in a house full of people, Mrs. Bellenden took possession of him on the first evening--not with any obvious devices or allurements, but coolly and calmly, just as she possessed herself of the most becoming arm-chair in the drawing-room, with such an air of distinct appropriation that other women avoided it.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading "Isn't it strange that in so small a party there should be such a prodigious amount of dullness?"

side

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

From this reading "You seem to be the only amusing person here," she said, as he came to her side after dinner.

sings

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

From this reading There is Mr. Fitzallan over there, talking to Lady Waterbury, a musical genius, who sets Shakespeare's sonnets and Heine's ballads deliciously, and sings them delightfully.

small

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

From this reading "Isn't it strange that in so small a party there should be such a prodigious amount of dullness?"

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading "Isn't it strange that in so small a party there should be such a prodigious amount of dullness?"

sonnets

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

From this reading There is Mr. Fitzallan over there, talking to Lady Waterbury, a musical genius, who sets Shakespeare's sonnets and Heine's ballads deliciously, and sings them delightfully.

strange

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

From this reading "Isn't it strange that in so small a party there should be such a prodigious amount of dullness?"

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading Finding Claude Rutherford the most agreeable person in a house full of people, Mrs. Bellenden took possession of him on the first evening--not with any obvious devices or allurements, but coolly and calmly, just as she possessed herself of the most becoming arm-chair in the drawing-room, with such an air of distinct appropriation that other women avoided it.

talking

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

From this reading There is Mr. Fitzallan over there, talking to Lady Waterbury, a musical genius, who sets Shakespeare's sonnets and Heine's ballads deliciously, and sings them delightfully.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Finding Claude Rutherford the most agreeable person in a house full of people, Mrs. Bellenden took possession of him on the first evening--not with any obvious devices or allurements, but coolly and calmly, just as she possessed herself of the most becoming arm-chair in the drawing-room, with such an air of distinct appropriation that other women avoided it.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Finding Claude Rutherford the most agreeable person in a house full of people, Mrs. Bellenden took possession of him on the first evening--not with any obvious devices or allurements, but coolly and calmly, just as she possessed herself of the most becoming arm-chair in the drawing-room, with such an air of distinct appropriation that other women avoided it.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading There is Mr. Fitzallan over there, talking to Lady Waterbury, a musical genius, who sets Shakespeare's sonnets and Heine's ballads deliciously, and sings them delightfully.

there

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

From this reading "Isn't it strange that in so small a party there should be such a prodigious amount of dullness?"

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading "You seem to be the only amusing person here," she said, as he came to her side after dinner.

tooknounUS /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Finding Claude Rutherford the most agreeable person in a house full of people, Mrs. Bellenden took possession of him on the first evening--not with any obvious devices or allurements, but coolly and calmly, just as she possessed herself of the most becoming arm-chair in the drawing-room, with such an air of distinct appropriation that other women avoided it.

Waterbury

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

From this reading There is Mr. Fitzallan over there, talking to Lady Waterbury, a musical genius, who sets Shakespeare's sonnets and Heine's ballads deliciously, and sings them delightfully.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading There is Mr. Fitzallan over there, talking to Lady Waterbury, a musical genius, who sets Shakespeare's sonnets and Heine's ballads deliciously, and sings them delightfully.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Finding Claude Rutherford the most agreeable person in a house full of people, Mrs. Bellenden took possession of him on the first evening--not with any obvious devices or allurements, but coolly and calmly, just as she possessed herself of the most becoming arm-chair in the drawing-room, with such an air of distinct appropriation that other women avoided it.

women

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

From this reading Finding Claude Rutherford the most agreeable person in a house full of people, Mrs. Bellenden took possession of him on the first evening--not with any obvious devices or allurements, but coolly and calmly, just as she possessed herself of the most becoming arm-chair in the drawing-room, with such an air of distinct appropriation that other women avoided it.

YoupronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "You seem to be the only amusing person here," she said, as he came to her side after dinner.