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Dorothy
Dorothy

Chapter VII

Cover illustration for Dorothy
Context Illustration Reading 1/50 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
AN OFFICE SEEKER AND A CLIENT "Well, little girl, what are you doing here?"
Dorothy had safely reached the big post-office, which seemed to be the busiest place she had ever entered; busier even than the department stores on a "bargain day;" and she had timidly slipped into the quietest corner she could find, to wait a moment while the crowd thinned.
Then she would present her note, that asked for father John's letter to be given her, and which was in his own handwriting, to make sure.
But the crowd did not thin!
Besides the swarms and swarms of postmen, wearing just such gray uniforms as her father's, there were so many men.
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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.

Dorothy

Chapter VII

Reading 1/50 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
AN OFFICE SEEKER AND A CLIENT "Well, little girl, what are you doing here?"
Line 2
Dorothy had safely reached the big post-office, which seemed to be the busiest place she had ever entered; busier even than the department stores on a "bargain day;" and she had timidly slipped into the quietest corner she could find, to wait a moment while the crowd thinned.
Line 3
Then she would present her note, that asked for father John's letter to be given her, and which was in his own handwriting, to make sure.
Line 4
But the crowd did not thin!
Line 5
Besides the swarms and swarms of postmen, wearing just such gray uniforms as her father's, there were so many men.

Learner Dictionary

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

Asked noun US /asked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Then she would present her note, that asked for father John's letter to be given her, and which was in his own handwriting, to make sure.”

Besides preposition US /bɪˈsaɪdz/

in addition to; as well as

From this reading “Besides the swarms and swarms of postmen, wearing just such gray uniforms as her father's, there were so many men.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “Dorothy had safely reached the big post-office, which seemed to be the busiest place she had ever entered; busier even than the department stores on a "bargain day;" and she had timidly slipped into the quietest corner she could find, to wait a moment while the crowd thinned.”

Even noun US /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Dorothy had safely reached the big post-office, which seemed to be the busiest place she had ever entered; busier even than the department stores on a "bargain day;" and she had timidly slipped into the quietest corner she could find, to wait a moment while the crowd thinned.”

Ever noun US /ever/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Dorothy had safely reached the big post-office, which seemed to be the busiest place she had ever entered; busier even than the department stores on a "bargain day;" and she had timidly slipped into the quietest corner she could find, to wait a moment while the crowd thinned.”

Here noun US /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “AN OFFICE SEEKER AND A CLIENT "Well, little girl, what are you doing here?"”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “AN OFFICE SEEKER AND A CLIENT "Well, little girl, what are you doing here?"”

Make noun US /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Then she would present her note, that asked for father John's letter to be given her, and which was in his own handwriting, to make sure.”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Dorothy had safely reached the big post-office, which seemed to be the busiest place she had ever entered; busier even than the department stores on a "bargain day;" and she had timidly slipped into the quietest corner she could find, to wait a moment while the crowd thinned.”

Sure noun US /sure/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Then she would present her note, that asked for father John's letter to be given her, and which was in his own handwriting, to make sure.”

Thin adjective US /θɪn/

Having little thickness or extent.

From this reading “But the crowd did not thin!”

Well noun US /well/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “AN OFFICE SEEKER AND A CLIENT "Well, little girl, what are you doing here?"”

While conjunction US /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading “Dorothy had safely reached the big post-office, which seemed to be the busiest place she had ever entered; busier even than the department stores on a "bargain day;" and she had timidly slipped into the quietest corner she could find, to wait a moment while the crowd thinned.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “Then she would present her note, that asked for father John's letter to be given her, and which was in his own handwriting, to make sure.”

All words in this reading · 89

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 AN OFFICE SEEKER AND A CLIENT "Well, little girl, what are you doing here?"

ANdeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading AN OFFICE SEEKER AND A CLIENT "Well, little girl, what are you doing here?"

ANDconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading AN OFFICE SEEKER AND A CLIENT "Well, little girl, what are you doing here?"

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading AN OFFICE SEEKER AND A CLIENT "Well, little girl, what are you doing here?"

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Besides the swarms and swarms of postmen, wearing just such gray uniforms as her father's, there were so many men.

askednounUS /asked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Then she would present her note, that asked for father John's letter to be given her, and which was in his own handwriting, to make sure.

bargain

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

From this reading Dorothy had safely reached the big post-office, which seemed to be the busiest place she had ever entered; busier even than the department stores on a "bargain day;" and she had timidly slipped into the quietest corner she could find, to wait a moment while the crowd thinned.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading Dorothy had safely reached the big post-office, which seemed to be the busiest place she had ever entered; busier even than the department stores on a "bargain day;" and she had timidly slipped into the quietest corner she could find, to wait a moment while the crowd thinned.

BesidesprepositionUS /bɪˈsaɪdz/

in addition to; as well as

From this reading Besides the swarms and swarms of postmen, wearing just such gray uniforms as her father's, there were so many men.

big

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

From this reading Dorothy had safely reached the big post-office, which seemed to be the busiest place she had ever entered; busier even than the department stores on a "bargain day;" and she had timidly slipped into the quietest corner she could find, to wait a moment while the crowd thinned.

busier

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

From this reading Dorothy had safely reached the big post-office, which seemed to be the busiest place she had ever entered; busier even than the department stores on a "bargain day;" and she had timidly slipped into the quietest corner she could find, to wait a moment while the crowd thinned.

busiest

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

From this reading Dorothy had safely reached the big post-office, which seemed to be the busiest place she had ever entered; busier even than the department stores on a "bargain day;" and she had timidly slipped into the quietest corner she could find, to wait a moment while the crowd thinned.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But the crowd did not thin!

CLIENT

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

From this reading AN OFFICE SEEKER AND A CLIENT "Well, little girl, what are you doing here?"

corner

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

From this reading Dorothy had safely reached the big post-office, which seemed to be the busiest place she had ever entered; busier even than the department stores on a "bargain day;" and she had timidly slipped into the quietest corner she could find, to wait a moment while the crowd thinned.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading Dorothy had safely reached the big post-office, which seemed to be the busiest place she had ever entered; busier even than the department stores on a "bargain day;" and she had timidly slipped into the quietest corner she could find, to wait a moment while the crowd thinned.

crowd

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

From this reading Dorothy had safely reached the big post-office, which seemed to be the busiest place she had ever entered; busier even than the department stores on a "bargain day;" and she had timidly slipped into the quietest corner she could find, to wait a moment while the crowd thinned.

day

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

From this reading Dorothy had safely reached the big post-office, which seemed to be the busiest place she had ever entered; busier even than the department stores on a "bargain day;" and she had timidly slipped into the quietest corner she could find, to wait a moment while the crowd thinned.

department

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

From this reading Dorothy had safely reached the big post-office, which seemed to be the busiest place she had ever entered; busier even than the department stores on a "bargain day;" and she had timidly slipped into the quietest corner she could find, to wait a moment while the crowd thinned.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading But the crowd did not thin!

doing

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

From this reading AN OFFICE SEEKER AND A CLIENT "Well, little girl, what are you doing here?"

Dorothy

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

From this reading Dorothy had safely reached the big post-office, which seemed to be the busiest place she had ever entered; busier even than the department stores on a "bargain day;" and she had timidly slipped into the quietest corner she could find, to wait a moment while the crowd thinned.

entered

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

From this reading Dorothy had safely reached the big post-office, which seemed to be the busiest place she had ever entered; busier even than the department stores on a "bargain day;" and she had timidly slipped into the quietest corner she could find, to wait a moment while the crowd thinned.

evennounUS /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Dorothy had safely reached the big post-office, which seemed to be the busiest place she had ever entered; busier even than the department stores on a "bargain day;" and she had timidly slipped into the quietest corner she could find, to wait a moment while the crowd thinned.

evernounUS /ever/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Dorothy had safely reached the big post-office, which seemed to be the busiest place she had ever entered; busier even than the department stores on a "bargain day;" and she had timidly slipped into the quietest corner she could find, to wait a moment while the crowd thinned.

father

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

From this reading Then she would present her note, that asked for father John's letter to be given her, and which was in his own handwriting, to make sure.

father's

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

From this reading Besides the swarms and swarms of postmen, wearing just such gray uniforms as her father's, there were so many men.

find

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

From this reading Dorothy had safely reached the big post-office, which seemed to be the busiest place she had ever entered; busier even than the department stores on a "bargain day;" and she had timidly slipped into the quietest corner she could find, to wait a moment while the crowd thinned.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Then she would present her note, that asked for father John's letter to be given her, and which was in his own handwriting, to make sure.

girl

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

From this reading AN OFFICE SEEKER AND A CLIENT "Well, little girl, what are you doing here?"

given

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

From this reading Then she would present her note, that asked for father John's letter to be given her, and which was in his own handwriting, to make sure.

gray

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

From this reading Besides the swarms and swarms of postmen, wearing just such gray uniforms as her father's, there were so many men.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Dorothy had safely reached the big post-office, which seemed to be the busiest place she had ever entered; busier even than the department stores on a "bargain day;" and she had timidly slipped into the quietest corner she could find, to wait a moment while the crowd thinned.

handwriting

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

From this reading Then she would present her note, that asked for father John's letter to be given her, and which was in his own handwriting, to make sure.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading Then she would present her note, that asked for father John's letter to be given her, and which was in his own handwriting, to make sure.

herenounUS /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading AN OFFICE SEEKER AND A CLIENT "Well, little girl, what are you doing here?"

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Then she would present her note, that asked for father John's letter to be given her, and which was in his own handwriting, to make sure.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Then she would present her note, that asked for father John's letter to be given her, and which was in his own handwriting, to make sure.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Dorothy had safely reached the big post-office, which seemed to be the busiest place she had ever entered; busier even than the department stores on a "bargain day;" and she had timidly slipped into the quietest corner she could find, to wait a moment while the crowd thinned.

John's

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

From this reading Then she would present her note, that asked for father John's letter to be given her, and which was in his own handwriting, to make sure.

just

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

From this reading Besides the swarms and swarms of postmen, wearing just such gray uniforms as her father's, there were so many men.

letter

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

From this reading Then she would present her note, that asked for father John's letter to be given her, and which was in his own handwriting, to make sure.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading AN OFFICE SEEKER AND A CLIENT "Well, little girl, what are you doing here?"

makenounUS /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Then she would present her note, that asked for father John's letter to be given her, and which was in his own handwriting, to make sure.

many

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

From this reading Besides the swarms and swarms of postmen, wearing just such gray uniforms as her father's, there were so many men.

men

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

From this reading Besides the swarms and swarms of postmen, wearing just such gray uniforms as her father's, there were so many men.

moment

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

From this reading Dorothy had safely reached the big post-office, which seemed to be the busiest place she had ever entered; busier even than the department stores on a "bargain day;" and she had timidly slipped into the quietest corner she could find, to wait a moment while the crowd thinned.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading But the crowd did not thin!

note

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

From this reading Then she would present her note, that asked for father John's letter to be given her, and which was in his own handwriting, to make sure.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Besides the swarms and swarms of postmen, wearing just such gray uniforms as her father's, there were so many men.

OFFICE

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

From this reading AN OFFICE SEEKER AND A CLIENT "Well, little girl, what are you doing here?"

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Dorothy had safely reached the big post-office, which seemed to be the busiest place she had ever entered; busier even than the department stores on a "bargain day;" and she had timidly slipped into the quietest corner she could find, to wait a moment while the crowd thinned.

own

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

From this reading Then she would present her note, that asked for father John's letter to be given her, and which was in his own handwriting, to make sure.

place

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

From this reading Dorothy had safely reached the big post-office, which seemed to be the busiest place she had ever entered; busier even than the department stores on a "bargain day;" and she had timidly slipped into the quietest corner she could find, to wait a moment while the crowd thinned.

post-office

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

From this reading Dorothy had safely reached the big post-office, which seemed to be the busiest place she had ever entered; busier even than the department stores on a "bargain day;" and she had timidly slipped into the quietest corner she could find, to wait a moment while the crowd thinned.

postmen

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

From this reading Besides the swarms and swarms of postmen, wearing just such gray uniforms as her father's, there were so many men.

present

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

From this reading Then she would present her note, that asked for father John's letter to be given her, and which was in his own handwriting, to make sure.

quietest

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

From this reading Dorothy had safely reached the big post-office, which seemed to be the busiest place she had ever entered; busier even than the department stores on a "bargain day;" and she had timidly slipped into the quietest corner she could find, to wait a moment while the crowd thinned.

reached

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

From this reading Dorothy had safely reached the big post-office, which seemed to be the busiest place she had ever entered; busier even than the department stores on a "bargain day;" and she had timidly slipped into the quietest corner she could find, to wait a moment while the crowd thinned.

safely

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

From this reading Dorothy had safely reached the big post-office, which seemed to be the busiest place she had ever entered; busier even than the department stores on a "bargain day;" and she had timidly slipped into the quietest corner she could find, to wait a moment while the crowd thinned.

SEEKER

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

From this reading AN OFFICE SEEKER AND A CLIENT "Well, little girl, what are you doing here?"

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Dorothy had safely reached the big post-office, which seemed to be the busiest place she had ever entered; busier even than the department stores on a "bargain day;" and she had timidly slipped into the quietest corner she could find, to wait a moment while the crowd thinned.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading Dorothy had safely reached the big post-office, which seemed to be the busiest place she had ever entered; busier even than the department stores on a "bargain day;" and she had timidly slipped into the quietest corner she could find, to wait a moment while the crowd thinned.

slipped

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

From this reading Dorothy had safely reached the big post-office, which seemed to be the busiest place she had ever entered; busier even than the department stores on a "bargain day;" and she had timidly slipped into the quietest corner she could find, to wait a moment while the crowd thinned.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Besides the swarms and swarms of postmen, wearing just such gray uniforms as her father's, there were so many men.

stores

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

From this reading Dorothy had safely reached the big post-office, which seemed to be the busiest place she had ever entered; busier even than the department stores on a "bargain day;" and she had timidly slipped into the quietest corner she could find, to wait a moment while the crowd thinned.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading Besides the swarms and swarms of postmen, wearing just such gray uniforms as her father's, there were so many men.

surenounUS /sure/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Then she would present her note, that asked for father John's letter to be given her, and which was in his own handwriting, to make sure.

swarms

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

From this reading Besides the swarms and swarms of postmen, wearing just such gray uniforms as her father's, there were so many men.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading Dorothy had safely reached the big post-office, which seemed to be the busiest place she had ever entered; busier even than the department stores on a "bargain day;" and she had timidly slipped into the quietest corner she could find, to wait a moment while the crowd thinned.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Then she would present her note, that asked for father John's letter to be given her, and which was in his own handwriting, to make sure.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Dorothy had safely reached the big post-office, which seemed to be the busiest place she had ever entered; busier even than the department stores on a "bargain day;" and she had timidly slipped into the quietest corner she could find, to wait a moment while the crowd thinned.

Then

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

From this reading Then she would present her note, that asked for father John's letter to be given her, and which was in his own handwriting, to make sure.

there

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

From this reading Besides the swarms and swarms of postmen, wearing just such gray uniforms as her father's, there were so many men.

thinadjectiveUS /θɪn/

Having little thickness or extent.

From this reading But the crowd did not thin!

thinned

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

From this reading Dorothy had safely reached the big post-office, which seemed to be the busiest place she had ever entered; busier even than the department stores on a "bargain day;" and she had timidly slipped into the quietest corner she could find, to wait a moment while the crowd thinned.

timidly

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

From this reading Dorothy had safely reached the big post-office, which seemed to be the busiest place she had ever entered; busier even than the department stores on a "bargain day;" and she had timidly slipped into the quietest corner she could find, to wait a moment while the crowd thinned.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Dorothy had safely reached the big post-office, which seemed to be the busiest place she had ever entered; busier even than the department stores on a "bargain day;" and she had timidly slipped into the quietest corner she could find, to wait a moment while the crowd thinned.

uniforms

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

From this reading Besides the swarms and swarms of postmen, wearing just such gray uniforms as her father's, there were so many men.

wait

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

From this reading Dorothy had safely reached the big post-office, which seemed to be the busiest place she had ever entered; busier even than the department stores on a "bargain day;" and she had timidly slipped into the quietest corner she could find, to wait a moment while the crowd thinned.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Then she would present her note, that asked for father John's letter to be given her, and which was in his own handwriting, to make sure.

wearing

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

From this reading Besides the swarms and swarms of postmen, wearing just such gray uniforms as her father's, there were so many men.

Well

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

From this reading AN OFFICE SEEKER AND A CLIENT "Well, little girl, what are you doing here?"

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading Besides the swarms and swarms of postmen, wearing just such gray uniforms as her father's, there were so many men.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading AN OFFICE SEEKER AND A CLIENT "Well, little girl, what are you doing here?"

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading Dorothy had safely reached the big post-office, which seemed to be the busiest place she had ever entered; busier even than the department stores on a "bargain day;" and she had timidly slipped into the quietest corner she could find, to wait a moment while the crowd thinned.

whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading Dorothy had safely reached the big post-office, which seemed to be the busiest place she had ever entered; busier even than the department stores on a "bargain day;" and she had timidly slipped into the quietest corner she could find, to wait a moment while the crowd thinned.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading Then she would present her note, that asked for father John's letter to be given her, and which was in his own handwriting, to make sure.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading AN OFFICE SEEKER AND A CLIENT "Well, little girl, what are you doing here?"