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Cornelli
Cornelli

Chapter II

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Context Illustration Reading 1/60 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
UP IN THE TOP STORY One bright morning in May, a portly gentleman, leaning heavily on a gold-headed cane, was walking up the narrow city street.
The houses here were so high that the upper windows could scarcely be seen from below.
A steep rise in the street caused the gentleman to stop from time to time to get his breath.
Scrutinizing the house numbers, he said to himself several times: “Not yet, not yet.”
Then, climbing up still higher, he at last reached a house beside whose open door six bells were hanging.
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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.

Cornelli

Chapter II

Reading 1/60 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
UP IN THE TOP STORY One bright morning in May, a portly gentleman, leaning heavily on a gold-headed cane, was walking up the narrow city street.
Line 2
The houses here were so high that the upper windows could scarcely be seen from below.
Line 3
A steep rise in the street caused the gentleman to stop from time to time to get his breath.
Line 4
Scrutinizing the house numbers, he said to himself several times: “Not yet, not yet.”
Line 5
Then, climbing up still higher, he at last reached a house beside whose open door six bells were hanging.

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 “The houses here were so high that the upper windows could scarcely be seen from below.”

Beside preposition US /bɪˈsaɪd/

next to; at the side of

From this reading “Then, climbing up still higher, he at last reached a house beside whose open door six bells were hanging.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading “The houses here were so high that the upper windows could scarcely be seen from below.”

Gentleman noun US /ˈgentleman/

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

From this reading “UP IN THE TOP STORY One bright morning in May, a portly gentleman, leaning heavily on a gold-headed cane, was walking up the narrow city street.”

Here noun US /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The houses here were so high that the upper windows could scarcely be seen from below.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading “Scrutinizing the house numbers, he said to himself several times: “Not yet, not yet.””

Last noun US /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Then, climbing up still higher, he at last reached a house beside whose open door six bells were hanging.”

May modal verb US /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading “UP IN THE TOP STORY One bright morning in May, a portly gentleman, leaning heavily on a gold-headed cane, was walking up the narrow city street.”

Morning noun US /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “UP IN THE TOP STORY One bright morning in May, a portly gentleman, leaning heavily on a gold-headed cane, was walking up the narrow city street.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “UP IN THE TOP STORY One bright morning in May, a portly gentleman, leaning heavily on a gold-headed cane, was walking up the narrow city street.”

Open verb US /ˈoʊ.pən/

To move from a closed position.

From this reading “Then, climbing up still higher, he at last reached a house beside whose open door six bells were hanging.”

Several noun US /ˈseveral/

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

From this reading “Scrutinizing the house numbers, he said to himself several times: “Not yet, not yet.””

Still noun US /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Then, climbing up still higher, he at last reached a house beside whose open door six bells were hanging.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A steep rise in the street caused the gentleman to stop from time to time to get his breath.”

Whose determiner US /huːz/

belonging to which person

From this reading “Then, climbing up still higher, he at last reached a house beside whose open door six bells were hanging.”

Yet conjunction US /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading “Scrutinizing the house numbers, he said to himself several times: “Not yet, not yet.””

All words in this reading · 69

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

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading UP IN THE TOP STORY One bright morning in May, a portly gentleman, leaning heavily on a gold-headed cane, was walking up the narrow city street.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Then, climbing up still higher, he at last reached a house beside whose open door six bells were hanging.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading The houses here were so high that the upper windows could scarcely be seen from below.

bells

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

From this reading Then, climbing up still higher, he at last reached a house beside whose open door six bells were hanging.

belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/

at or to a lower level than something

From this reading The houses here were so high that the upper windows could scarcely be seen from below.

besideprepositionUS /bɪˈsaɪd/

next to; at the side of

From this reading Then, climbing up still higher, he at last reached a house beside whose open door six bells were hanging.

breath

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

From this reading A steep rise in the street caused the gentleman to stop from time to time to get his breath.

bright

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

From this reading UP IN THE TOP STORY One bright morning in May, a portly gentleman, leaning heavily on a gold-headed cane, was walking up the narrow city street.

cane

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

From this reading UP IN THE TOP STORY One bright morning in May, a portly gentleman, leaning heavily on a gold-headed cane, was walking up the narrow city street.

caused

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

From this reading A steep rise in the street caused the gentleman to stop from time to time to get his breath.

city

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

From this reading UP IN THE TOP STORY One bright morning in May, a portly gentleman, leaning heavily on a gold-headed cane, was walking up the narrow city street.

climbing

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

From this reading Then, climbing up still higher, he at last reached a house beside whose open door six bells were hanging.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading The houses here were so high that the upper windows could scarcely be seen from below.

door

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

From this reading Then, climbing up still higher, he at last reached a house beside whose open door six bells were hanging.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The houses here were so high that the upper windows could scarcely be seen from below.

gentlemannounUS /ˈgentleman/

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

From this reading UP IN THE TOP STORY One bright morning in May, a portly gentleman, leaning heavily on a gold-headed cane, was walking up the narrow city street.

get

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

From this reading A steep rise in the street caused the gentleman to stop from time to time to get his breath.

gold-headed

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

From this reading UP IN THE TOP STORY One bright morning in May, a portly gentleman, leaning heavily on a gold-headed cane, was walking up the narrow city street.

hanging

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

From this reading Then, climbing up still higher, he at last reached a house beside whose open door six bells were hanging.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Scrutinizing the house numbers, he said to himself several times: “Not yet, not yet.”

heavily

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

From this reading UP IN THE TOP STORY One bright morning in May, a portly gentleman, leaning heavily on a gold-headed cane, was walking up the narrow city street.

herenounUS /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The houses here were so high that the upper windows could scarcely be seen from below.

high

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

From this reading The houses here were so high that the upper windows could scarcely be seen from below.

higher

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

From this reading Then, climbing up still higher, he at last reached a house beside whose open door six bells were hanging.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading Scrutinizing the house numbers, he said to himself several times: “Not yet, not yet.”

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading A steep rise in the street caused the gentleman to stop from time to time to get his breath.

house

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

From this reading Scrutinizing the house numbers, he said to himself several times: “Not yet, not yet.”

houses

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

From this reading The houses here were so high that the upper windows could scarcely be seen from below.

INprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading UP IN THE TOP STORY One bright morning in May, a portly gentleman, leaning heavily on a gold-headed cane, was walking up the narrow city street.

lastnounUS /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Then, climbing up still higher, he at last reached a house beside whose open door six bells were hanging.

leaning

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

From this reading UP IN THE TOP STORY One bright morning in May, a portly gentleman, leaning heavily on a gold-headed cane, was walking up the narrow city street.

Maymodal verbUS /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading UP IN THE TOP STORY One bright morning in May, a portly gentleman, leaning heavily on a gold-headed cane, was walking up the narrow city street.

morningnounUS /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading UP IN THE TOP STORY One bright morning in May, a portly gentleman, leaning heavily on a gold-headed cane, was walking up the narrow city street.

narrow

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

From this reading UP IN THE TOP STORY One bright morning in May, a portly gentleman, leaning heavily on a gold-headed cane, was walking up the narrow city street.

NotadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Scrutinizing the house numbers, he said to himself several times: “Not yet, not yet.”

numbers

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

From this reading Scrutinizing the house numbers, he said to himself several times: “Not yet, not yet.”

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading UP IN THE TOP STORY One bright morning in May, a portly gentleman, leaning heavily on a gold-headed cane, was walking up the narrow city street.

OnepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading UP IN THE TOP STORY One bright morning in May, a portly gentleman, leaning heavily on a gold-headed cane, was walking up the narrow city street.

openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/

To move from a closed position.

From this reading Then, climbing up still higher, he at last reached a house beside whose open door six bells were hanging.

portly

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

From this reading UP IN THE TOP STORY One bright morning in May, a portly gentleman, leaning heavily on a gold-headed cane, was walking up the narrow city street.

reached

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

From this reading Then, climbing up still higher, he at last reached a house beside whose open door six bells were hanging.

rise

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

From this reading A steep rise in the street caused the gentleman to stop from time to time to get his breath.

said

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

From this reading Scrutinizing the house numbers, he said to himself several times: “Not yet, not yet.”

scarcely

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

From this reading The houses here were so high that the upper windows could scarcely be seen from below.

Scrutinizing

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

From this reading Scrutinizing the house numbers, he said to himself several times: “Not yet, not yet.”

seen

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

From this reading The houses here were so high that the upper windows could scarcely be seen from below.

several

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

From this reading Scrutinizing the house numbers, he said to himself several times: “Not yet, not yet.”

six

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

From this reading Then, climbing up still higher, he at last reached a house beside whose open door six bells were hanging.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading The houses here were so high that the upper windows could scarcely be seen from below.

steep

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

From this reading A steep rise in the street caused the gentleman to stop from time to time to get his breath.

stillnounUS /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Then, climbing up still higher, he at last reached a house beside whose open door six bells were hanging.

stop

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

From this reading A steep rise in the street caused the gentleman to stop from time to time to get his breath.

STORY

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

From this reading UP IN THE TOP STORY One bright morning in May, a portly gentleman, leaning heavily on a gold-headed cane, was walking up the narrow city street.

street

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

From this reading UP IN THE TOP STORY One bright morning in May, a portly gentleman, leaning heavily on a gold-headed cane, was walking up the narrow city street.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The houses here were so high that the upper windows could scarcely be seen from below.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading UP IN THE TOP STORY One bright morning in May, a portly gentleman, leaning heavily on a gold-headed cane, was walking up the narrow city street.

Then

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

From this reading Then, climbing up still higher, he at last reached a house beside whose open door six bells were hanging.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A steep rise in the street caused the gentleman to stop from time to time to get his breath.

times

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

From this reading Scrutinizing the house numbers, he said to himself several times: “Not yet, not yet.”

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading A steep rise in the street caused the gentleman to stop from time to time to get his breath.

TOP

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

From this reading UP IN THE TOP STORY One bright morning in May, a portly gentleman, leaning heavily on a gold-headed cane, was walking up the narrow city street.

UP

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

From this reading UP IN THE TOP STORY One bright morning in May, a portly gentleman, leaning heavily on a gold-headed cane, was walking up the narrow city street.

upper

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

From this reading The houses here were so high that the upper windows could scarcely be seen from below.

walking

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

From this reading UP IN THE TOP STORY One bright morning in May, a portly gentleman, leaning heavily on a gold-headed cane, was walking up the narrow city street.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading UP IN THE TOP STORY One bright morning in May, a portly gentleman, leaning heavily on a gold-headed cane, was walking up the narrow city street.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading The houses here were so high that the upper windows could scarcely be seen from below.

whosedeterminerUS /huːz/

belonging to which person

From this reading Then, climbing up still higher, he at last reached a house beside whose open door six bells were hanging.

windows

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

From this reading The houses here were so high that the upper windows could scarcely be seen from below.

yetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading Scrutinizing the house numbers, he said to himself several times: “Not yet, not yet.”