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Colin
Colin

Chapter IV

Cover illustration for Colin
Context Illustration Reading 1/132 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Colin Stanier had gone straight from the tennis-court to the bathing-place in the lake below the terraced garden.
His cousin Violet, only daughter of his uncle Ronald, had said that she would equip herself and follow him, and the boy had swum and dived and dived and swum waiting for her, until the dressing-bell booming from the turret had made him reluctantly quit the water.
He was just half dry and not at all dressed when she came.
“Wretched luck!” she said.
“Oh, Colin, do put something on!”
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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.

Colin

Chapter IV

Reading 1/132 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Colin Stanier had gone straight from the tennis-court to the bathing-place in the lake below the terraced garden.
Line 2
His cousin Violet, only daughter of his uncle Ronald, had said that she would equip herself and follow him, and the boy had swum and dived and dived and swum waiting for her, until the dressing-bell booming from the turret had made him reluctantly quit the water.
Line 3
He was just half dry and not at all dressed when she came.
Line 4
“Wretched luck!” she said.
Line 5
“Oh, Colin, do put something on!”

Learner Dictionary

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

Below preposition US /bɪˈloʊ/

at or to a lower level than something

From this reading “Colin Stanier had gone straight from the tennis-court to the bathing-place in the lake below the terraced garden.”

Booming noun US /ˈbooming/

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

From this reading “His cousin Violet, only daughter of his uncle Ronald, had said that she would equip herself and follow him, and the boy had swum and dived and dived and swum waiting for her, until the dressing-bell booming from the turret had made him reluctantly quit the water.”

Half noun US /half/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He was just half dry and not at all dressed when she came.”

Herself pronoun US /hərˈself/

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

From this reading “His cousin Violet, only daughter of his uncle Ronald, had said that she would equip herself and follow him, and the boy had swum and dived and dived and swum waiting for her, until the dressing-bell booming from the turret had made him reluctantly quit the water.”

Something pronoun US /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading ““Oh, Colin, do put something on!””

Until preposition US /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading “His cousin Violet, only daughter of his uncle Ronald, had said that she would equip herself and follow him, and the boy had swum and dived and dived and swum waiting for her, until the dressing-bell booming from the turret had made him reluctantly quit the water.”

Waiting noun US /ˈwaiting/

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

From this reading “His cousin Violet, only daughter of his uncle Ronald, had said that she would equip herself and follow him, and the boy had swum and dived and dived and swum waiting for her, until the dressing-bell booming from the turret had made him reluctantly quit the water.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading “His cousin Violet, only daughter of his uncle Ronald, had said that she would equip herself and follow him, and the boy had swum and dived and dived and swum waiting for her, until the dressing-bell booming from the turret had made him reluctantly quit the water.”

All words in this reading · 64

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

all

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

From this reading He was just half dry and not at all dressed when she came.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading His cousin Violet, only daughter of his uncle Ronald, had said that she would equip herself and follow him, and the boy had swum and dived and dived and swum waiting for her, until the dressing-bell booming from the turret had made him reluctantly quit the water.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading He was just half dry and not at all dressed when she came.

bathing-place

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

From this reading Colin Stanier had gone straight from the tennis-court to the bathing-place in the lake below the terraced garden.

belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/

at or to a lower level than something

From this reading Colin Stanier had gone straight from the tennis-court to the bathing-place in the lake below the terraced garden.

boomingnounUS /ˈbooming/

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

From this reading His cousin Violet, only daughter of his uncle Ronald, had said that she would equip herself and follow him, and the boy had swum and dived and dived and swum waiting for her, until the dressing-bell booming from the turret had made him reluctantly quit the water.

boy

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

From this reading His cousin Violet, only daughter of his uncle Ronald, had said that she would equip herself and follow him, and the boy had swum and dived and dived and swum waiting for her, until the dressing-bell booming from the turret had made him reluctantly quit the water.

came

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

From this reading He was just half dry and not at all dressed when she came.

Colin

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

From this reading Colin Stanier had gone straight from the tennis-court to the bathing-place in the lake below the terraced garden.

cousin

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

From this reading His cousin Violet, only daughter of his uncle Ronald, had said that she would equip herself and follow him, and the boy had swum and dived and dived and swum waiting for her, until the dressing-bell booming from the turret had made him reluctantly quit the water.

daughter

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

From this reading His cousin Violet, only daughter of his uncle Ronald, had said that she would equip herself and follow him, and the boy had swum and dived and dived and swum waiting for her, until the dressing-bell booming from the turret had made him reluctantly quit the water.

dived

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

From this reading His cousin Violet, only daughter of his uncle Ronald, had said that she would equip herself and follow him, and the boy had swum and dived and dived and swum waiting for her, until the dressing-bell booming from the turret had made him reluctantly quit the water.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading “Oh, Colin, do put something on!”

dressed

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

From this reading He was just half dry and not at all dressed when she came.

dressing-bell

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

From this reading His cousin Violet, only daughter of his uncle Ronald, had said that she would equip herself and follow him, and the boy had swum and dived and dived and swum waiting for her, until the dressing-bell booming from the turret had made him reluctantly quit the water.

dry

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

From this reading He was just half dry and not at all dressed when she came.

equip

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

From this reading His cousin Violet, only daughter of his uncle Ronald, had said that she would equip herself and follow him, and the boy had swum and dived and dived and swum waiting for her, until the dressing-bell booming from the turret had made him reluctantly quit the water.

follow

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

From this reading His cousin Violet, only daughter of his uncle Ronald, had said that she would equip herself and follow him, and the boy had swum and dived and dived and swum waiting for her, until the dressing-bell booming from the turret had made him reluctantly quit the water.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading His cousin Violet, only daughter of his uncle Ronald, had said that she would equip herself and follow him, and the boy had swum and dived and dived and swum waiting for her, until the dressing-bell booming from the turret had made him reluctantly quit the water.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Colin Stanier had gone straight from the tennis-court to the bathing-place in the lake below the terraced garden.

garden

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

From this reading Colin Stanier had gone straight from the tennis-court to the bathing-place in the lake below the terraced garden.

gone

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

From this reading Colin Stanier had gone straight from the tennis-court to the bathing-place in the lake below the terraced garden.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Colin Stanier had gone straight from the tennis-court to the bathing-place in the lake below the terraced garden.

halfnounUS /half/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He was just half dry and not at all dressed when she came.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He was just half dry and not at all dressed when she came.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading His cousin Violet, only daughter of his uncle Ronald, had said that she would equip herself and follow him, and the boy had swum and dived and dived and swum waiting for her, until the dressing-bell booming from the turret had made him reluctantly quit the water.

herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/

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

From this reading His cousin Violet, only daughter of his uncle Ronald, had said that she would equip herself and follow him, and the boy had swum and dived and dived and swum waiting for her, until the dressing-bell booming from the turret had made him reluctantly quit the water.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading His cousin Violet, only daughter of his uncle Ronald, had said that she would equip herself and follow him, and the boy had swum and dived and dived and swum waiting for her, until the dressing-bell booming from the turret had made him reluctantly quit the water.

HisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading His cousin Violet, only daughter of his uncle Ronald, had said that she would equip herself and follow him, and the boy had swum and dived and dived and swum waiting for her, until the dressing-bell booming from the turret had made him reluctantly quit the water.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Colin Stanier had gone straight from the tennis-court to the bathing-place in the lake below the terraced garden.

just

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

From this reading He was just half dry and not at all dressed when she came.

lake

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

From this reading Colin Stanier had gone straight from the tennis-court to the bathing-place in the lake below the terraced garden.

luck

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

From this reading “Wretched luck!” she said.

made

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

From this reading His cousin Violet, only daughter of his uncle Ronald, had said that she would equip herself and follow him, and the boy had swum and dived and dived and swum waiting for her, until the dressing-bell booming from the turret had made him reluctantly quit the water.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading He was just half dry and not at all dressed when she came.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading His cousin Violet, only daughter of his uncle Ronald, had said that she would equip herself and follow him, and the boy had swum and dived and dived and swum waiting for her, until the dressing-bell booming from the turret had made him reluctantly quit the water.

Oh

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

From this reading “Oh, Colin, do put something on!”

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading “Oh, Colin, do put something on!”

only

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

From this reading His cousin Violet, only daughter of his uncle Ronald, had said that she would equip herself and follow him, and the boy had swum and dived and dived and swum waiting for her, until the dressing-bell booming from the turret had made him reluctantly quit the water.

put

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

From this reading “Oh, Colin, do put something on!”

quit

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

From this reading His cousin Violet, only daughter of his uncle Ronald, had said that she would equip herself and follow him, and the boy had swum and dived and dived and swum waiting for her, until the dressing-bell booming from the turret had made him reluctantly quit the water.

reluctantly

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

From this reading His cousin Violet, only daughter of his uncle Ronald, had said that she would equip herself and follow him, and the boy had swum and dived and dived and swum waiting for her, until the dressing-bell booming from the turret had made him reluctantly quit the water.

Ronald

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

From this reading His cousin Violet, only daughter of his uncle Ronald, had said that she would equip herself and follow him, and the boy had swum and dived and dived and swum waiting for her, until the dressing-bell booming from the turret had made him reluctantly quit the water.

said

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

From this reading His cousin Violet, only daughter of his uncle Ronald, had said that she would equip herself and follow him, and the boy had swum and dived and dived and swum waiting for her, until the dressing-bell booming from the turret had made him reluctantly quit the water.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading His cousin Violet, only daughter of his uncle Ronald, had said that she would equip herself and follow him, and the boy had swum and dived and dived and swum waiting for her, until the dressing-bell booming from the turret had made him reluctantly quit the water.

somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading “Oh, Colin, do put something on!”

Stanier

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

From this reading Colin Stanier had gone straight from the tennis-court to the bathing-place in the lake below the terraced garden.

straight

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

From this reading Colin Stanier had gone straight from the tennis-court to the bathing-place in the lake below the terraced garden.

swum

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

From this reading His cousin Violet, only daughter of his uncle Ronald, had said that she would equip herself and follow him, and the boy had swum and dived and dived and swum waiting for her, until the dressing-bell booming from the turret had made him reluctantly quit the water.

tennis-court

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

From this reading Colin Stanier had gone straight from the tennis-court to the bathing-place in the lake below the terraced garden.

terraced

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

From this reading Colin Stanier had gone straight from the tennis-court to the bathing-place in the lake below the terraced garden.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading His cousin Violet, only daughter of his uncle Ronald, had said that she would equip herself and follow him, and the boy had swum and dived and dived and swum waiting for her, until the dressing-bell booming from the turret had made him reluctantly quit the water.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Colin Stanier had gone straight from the tennis-court to the bathing-place in the lake below the terraced garden.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Colin Stanier had gone straight from the tennis-court to the bathing-place in the lake below the terraced garden.

turret

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

From this reading His cousin Violet, only daughter of his uncle Ronald, had said that she would equip herself and follow him, and the boy had swum and dived and dived and swum waiting for her, until the dressing-bell booming from the turret had made him reluctantly quit the water.

uncle

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

From this reading His cousin Violet, only daughter of his uncle Ronald, had said that she would equip herself and follow him, and the boy had swum and dived and dived and swum waiting for her, until the dressing-bell booming from the turret had made him reluctantly quit the water.

untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading His cousin Violet, only daughter of his uncle Ronald, had said that she would equip herself and follow him, and the boy had swum and dived and dived and swum waiting for her, until the dressing-bell booming from the turret had made him reluctantly quit the water.

Violet

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

From this reading His cousin Violet, only daughter of his uncle Ronald, had said that she would equip herself and follow him, and the boy had swum and dived and dived and swum waiting for her, until the dressing-bell booming from the turret had made him reluctantly quit the water.

waiting

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

From this reading His cousin Violet, only daughter of his uncle Ronald, had said that she would equip herself and follow him, and the boy had swum and dived and dived and swum waiting for her, until the dressing-bell booming from the turret had made him reluctantly quit the water.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading He was just half dry and not at all dressed when she came.

water

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

From this reading His cousin Violet, only daughter of his uncle Ronald, had said that she would equip herself and follow him, and the boy had swum and dived and dived and swum waiting for her, until the dressing-bell booming from the turret had made him reluctantly quit the water.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading He was just half dry and not at all dressed when she came.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading His cousin Violet, only daughter of his uncle Ronald, had said that she would equip herself and follow him, and the boy had swum and dived and dived and swum waiting for her, until the dressing-bell booming from the turret had made him reluctantly quit the water.

Wretched

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

From this reading “Wretched luck!” she said.