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Colin
Colin

Chapter XI

Cover illustration for Colin
Context Illustration Reading 1/139 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Colin was lying on the beach of the men’s bathing-place at Capri after an hour’s swim.
A great wave of heat had swept over Europe, and now, though it was late in October, the conditions of summer still prevailed.
It might have been June still, and he here with his father, quietly making the plans that had turned out so well.
On this beach it was that he lay, pondering his reply to Violet’s letter which told him she was engaged to Raymond.
He had thought out his reply here, that congratulatory reply, saying how delightful her news was, and as for feeling hurt....
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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 XI

Reading 1/139 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Colin was lying on the beach of the men’s bathing-place at Capri after an hour’s swim.
Line 2
A great wave of heat had swept over Europe, and now, though it was late in October, the conditions of summer still prevailed.
Line 3
It might have been June still, and he here with his father, quietly making the plans that had turned out so well.
Line 4
On this beach it was that he lay, pondering his reply to Violet’s letter which told him she was engaged to Raymond.
Line 5
He had thought out his reply here, that congratulatory reply, saying how delightful her news was, and as for feeling hurt....

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 “Colin was lying on the beach of the men’s bathing-place at Capri after an hour’s swim.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “It might have been June still, and he here with his father, quietly making the plans that had turned out so well.”

Feeling noun US /ˈfeeling/

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

From this reading “He had thought out his reply here, that congratulatory reply, saying how delightful her news was, and as for feeling hurt....”

Great noun US /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A great wave of heat had swept over Europe, and now, though it was late in October, the conditions of summer still prevailed.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “It might have been June still, and he here with his father, quietly making the plans that had turned out so well.”

Here noun US /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It might have been June still, and he here with his father, quietly making the plans that had turned out so well.”

Might modal verb US /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading “It might have been June still, and he here with his father, quietly making the plans that had turned out so well.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “A great wave of heat had swept over Europe, and now, though it was late in October, the conditions of summer still prevailed.”

Still noun US /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A great wave of heat had swept over Europe, and now, though it was late in October, the conditions of summer still prevailed.”

Though conjunction US /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “A great wave of heat had swept over Europe, and now, though it was late in October, the conditions of summer still prevailed.”

Thought noun US /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He had thought out his reply here, that congratulatory reply, saying how delightful her news was, and as for feeling hurt....”

Told noun US /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “On this beach it was that he lay, pondering his reply to Violet’s letter which told him she was engaged to Raymond.”

Well noun US /well/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It might have been June still, and he here with his father, quietly making the plans that had turned out so well.”

All words in this reading · 75

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 great wave of heat had swept over Europe, and now, though it was late in October, the conditions of summer still prevailed.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading Colin was lying on the beach of the men’s bathing-place at Capri after an hour’s swim.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading Colin was lying on the beach of the men’s bathing-place at Capri after an hour’s swim.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading A great wave of heat had swept over Europe, and now, though it was late in October, the conditions of summer still prevailed.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading He had thought out his reply here, that congratulatory reply, saying how delightful her news was, and as for feeling hurt....

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Colin was lying on the beach of the men’s bathing-place at Capri after an hour’s swim.

bathing-place

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

From this reading Colin was lying on the beach of the men’s bathing-place at Capri after an hour’s swim.

beach

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

From this reading Colin was lying on the beach of the men’s bathing-place at Capri after an hour’s swim.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading It might have been June still, and he here with his father, quietly making the plans that had turned out so well.

Capri

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

From this reading Colin was lying on the beach of the men’s bathing-place at Capri after an hour’s swim.

Colin

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

From this reading Colin was lying on the beach of the men’s bathing-place at Capri after an hour’s swim.

conditions

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

From this reading A great wave of heat had swept over Europe, and now, though it was late in October, the conditions of summer still prevailed.

congratulatory

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

From this reading He had thought out his reply here, that congratulatory reply, saying how delightful her news was, and as for feeling hurt....

delightful

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

From this reading He had thought out his reply here, that congratulatory reply, saying how delightful her news was, and as for feeling hurt....

engaged

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

From this reading On this beach it was that he lay, pondering his reply to Violet’s letter which told him she was engaged to Raymond.

Europe

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

From this reading A great wave of heat had swept over Europe, and now, though it was late in October, the conditions of summer still prevailed.

father

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

From this reading It might have been June still, and he here with his father, quietly making the plans that had turned out so well.

feelingnounUS /ˈfeeling/

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

From this reading He had thought out his reply here, that congratulatory reply, saying how delightful her news was, and as for feeling hurt....

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading He had thought out his reply here, that congratulatory reply, saying how delightful her news was, and as for feeling hurt....

greatnounUS /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A great wave of heat had swept over Europe, and now, though it was late in October, the conditions of summer still prevailed.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading A great wave of heat had swept over Europe, and now, though it was late in October, the conditions of summer still prevailed.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading It might have been June still, and he here with his father, quietly making the plans that had turned out so well.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading It might have been June still, and he here with his father, quietly making the plans that had turned out so well.

heat

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

From this reading A great wave of heat had swept over Europe, and now, though it was late in October, the conditions of summer still prevailed.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading He had thought out his reply here, that congratulatory reply, saying how delightful her news was, and as for feeling hurt....

herenounUS /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It might have been June still, and he here with his father, quietly making the plans that had turned out so well.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading On this beach it was that he lay, pondering his reply to Violet’s letter which told him she was engaged to Raymond.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading It might have been June still, and he here with his father, quietly making the plans that had turned out so well.

hour's

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

From this reading Colin was lying on the beach of the men’s bathing-place at Capri after an hour’s swim.

how

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

From this reading He had thought out his reply here, that congratulatory reply, saying how delightful her news was, and as for feeling hurt....

hurt

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

From this reading He had thought out his reply here, that congratulatory reply, saying how delightful her news was, and as for feeling hurt....

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading A great wave of heat had swept over Europe, and now, though it was late in October, the conditions of summer still prevailed.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading A great wave of heat had swept over Europe, and now, though it was late in October, the conditions of summer still prevailed.

June

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

From this reading It might have been June still, and he here with his father, quietly making the plans that had turned out so well.

late

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

From this reading A great wave of heat had swept over Europe, and now, though it was late in October, the conditions of summer still prevailed.

lay

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

From this reading On this beach it was that he lay, pondering his reply to Violet’s letter which told him she was engaged to Raymond.

letter

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

From this reading On this beach it was that he lay, pondering his reply to Violet’s letter which told him she was engaged to Raymond.

lying

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

From this reading Colin was lying on the beach of the men’s bathing-place at Capri after an hour’s swim.

making

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

From this reading It might have been June still, and he here with his father, quietly making the plans that had turned out so well.

men's

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

From this reading Colin was lying on the beach of the men’s bathing-place at Capri after an hour’s swim.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading It might have been June still, and he here with his father, quietly making the plans that had turned out so well.

news

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

From this reading He had thought out his reply here, that congratulatory reply, saying how delightful her news was, and as for feeling hurt....

now

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

From this reading A great wave of heat had swept over Europe, and now, though it was late in October, the conditions of summer still prevailed.

October

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

From this reading A great wave of heat had swept over Europe, and now, though it was late in October, the conditions of summer still prevailed.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Colin was lying on the beach of the men’s bathing-place at Capri after an hour’s swim.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Colin was lying on the beach of the men’s bathing-place at Capri after an hour’s swim.

out

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

From this reading It might have been June still, and he here with his father, quietly making the plans that had turned out so well.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading A great wave of heat had swept over Europe, and now, though it was late in October, the conditions of summer still prevailed.

plans

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

From this reading It might have been June still, and he here with his father, quietly making the plans that had turned out so well.

pondering

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

From this reading On this beach it was that he lay, pondering his reply to Violet’s letter which told him she was engaged to Raymond.

prevailed

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

From this reading A great wave of heat had swept over Europe, and now, though it was late in October, the conditions of summer still prevailed.

quietly

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

From this reading It might have been June still, and he here with his father, quietly making the plans that had turned out so well.

Raymond

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

From this reading On this beach it was that he lay, pondering his reply to Violet’s letter which told him she was engaged to Raymond.

reply

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

From this reading On this beach it was that he lay, pondering his reply to Violet’s letter which told him she was engaged to Raymond.

saying

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

From this reading He had thought out his reply here, that congratulatory reply, saying how delightful her news was, and as for feeling hurt....

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading On this beach it was that he lay, pondering his reply to Violet’s letter which told him she was engaged to Raymond.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading It might have been June still, and he here with his father, quietly making the plans that had turned out so well.

stillnounUS /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A great wave of heat had swept over Europe, and now, though it was late in October, the conditions of summer still prevailed.

summer

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

From this reading A great wave of heat had swept over Europe, and now, though it was late in October, the conditions of summer still prevailed.

swept

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

From this reading A great wave of heat had swept over Europe, and now, though it was late in October, the conditions of summer still prevailed.

swim

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

From this reading Colin was lying on the beach of the men’s bathing-place at Capri after an hour’s swim.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It might have been June still, and he here with his father, quietly making the plans that had turned out so well.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Colin was lying on the beach of the men’s bathing-place at Capri after an hour’s swim.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading On this beach it was that he lay, pondering his reply to Violet’s letter which told him she was engaged to Raymond.

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading A great wave of heat had swept over Europe, and now, though it was late in October, the conditions of summer still prevailed.

thoughtnounUS /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He had thought out his reply here, that congratulatory reply, saying how delightful her news was, and as for feeling hurt....

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading On this beach it was that he lay, pondering his reply to Violet’s letter which told him she was engaged to Raymond.

toldnounUS /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading On this beach it was that he lay, pondering his reply to Violet’s letter which told him she was engaged to Raymond.

turned

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

From this reading It might have been June still, and he here with his father, quietly making the plans that had turned out so well.

Violet's

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

From this reading On this beach it was that he lay, pondering his reply to Violet’s letter which told him she was engaged to Raymond.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Colin was lying on the beach of the men’s bathing-place at Capri after an hour’s swim.

wave

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

From this reading A great wave of heat had swept over Europe, and now, though it was late in October, the conditions of summer still prevailed.

well

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

From this reading It might have been June still, and he here with his father, quietly making the plans that had turned out so well.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading On this beach it was that he lay, pondering his reply to Violet’s letter which told him she was engaged to Raymond.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading It might have been June still, and he here with his father, quietly making the plans that had turned out so well.