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Driven to bay, Vol. 1 (of 3)
Driven to bay, Vol. 1 (of 3)

Chapter IV

Cover illustration for Driven to bay, Vol. 1 (of 3)
Context Illustration Reading 1/30 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
LES NOUVEAUX RICHES.
Of course the Vansittarts occupied the biggest and most expensive house they had been able to procure on taking up their residence in London.
They were _nouveaux riches_ of the very first water.
John Vansittart, the head of the family, was the son of a respectable Berkshire farmer, who had given him a thousand pounds as a start in life, with which the young man had gone out to New Zealand, and invested in a sheep run, which had resulted in his becoming a millionaire.
Yet no extraordinary good luck had contributed to his success.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Driven to bay, Vol. 1 (of 3)

Chapter IV

Reading 1/30 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
LES NOUVEAUX RICHES.
Line 2
Of course the Vansittarts occupied the biggest and most expensive house they had been able to procure on taking up their residence in London.
Line 3
They were _nouveaux riches_ of the very first water.
Line 4
John Vansittart, the head of the family, was the son of a respectable Berkshire farmer, who had given him a thousand pounds as a start in life, with which the young man had gone out to New Zealand, and invested in a sheep run, which had resulted in his becoming a millionaire.
Line 5
Yet no extraordinary good luck had contributed to his success.

Learner Dictionary

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

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “Of course the Vansittarts occupied the biggest and most expensive house they had been able to procure on taking up their residence in London.”

Course noun US /course/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Of course the Vansittarts occupied the biggest and most expensive house they had been able to procure on taking up their residence in London.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “They were _nouveaux riches_ of the very first water.”

Good noun US /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Yet no extraordinary good luck had contributed to his success.”

John noun US /john/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “John Vansittart, the head of the family, was the son of a respectable Berkshire farmer, who had given him a thousand pounds as a start in life, with which the young man had gone out to New Zealand, and invested in a sheep run, which had resulted in his becoming a millionaire.”

Life noun US /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “John Vansittart, the head of the family, was the son of a respectable Berkshire farmer, who had given him a thousand pounds as a start in life, with which the young man had gone out to New Zealand, and invested in a sheep run, which had resulted in his becoming a millionaire.”

Start noun US /start/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “John Vansittart, the head of the family, was the son of a respectable Berkshire farmer, who had given him a thousand pounds as a start in life, with which the young man had gone out to New Zealand, and invested in a sheep run, which had resulted in his becoming a millionaire.”

Yet conjunction US /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading “Yet no extraordinary good luck had contributed to his success.”

All words in this reading · 70

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 John Vansittart, the head of the family, was the son of a respectable Berkshire farmer, who had given him a thousand pounds as a start in life, with which the young man had gone out to New Zealand, and invested in a sheep run, which had resulted in his becoming a millionaire.

able

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

From this reading Of course the Vansittarts occupied the biggest and most expensive house they had been able to procure on taking up their residence in London.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Of course the Vansittarts occupied the biggest and most expensive house they had been able to procure on taking up their residence in London.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading John Vansittart, the head of the family, was the son of a respectable Berkshire farmer, who had given him a thousand pounds as a start in life, with which the young man had gone out to New Zealand, and invested in a sheep run, which had resulted in his becoming a millionaire.

becoming

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

From this reading John Vansittart, the head of the family, was the son of a respectable Berkshire farmer, who had given him a thousand pounds as a start in life, with which the young man had gone out to New Zealand, and invested in a sheep run, which had resulted in his becoming a millionaire.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Of course the Vansittarts occupied the biggest and most expensive house they had been able to procure on taking up their residence in London.

Berkshire

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

From this reading John Vansittart, the head of the family, was the son of a respectable Berkshire farmer, who had given him a thousand pounds as a start in life, with which the young man had gone out to New Zealand, and invested in a sheep run, which had resulted in his becoming a millionaire.

biggest

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

From this reading Of course the Vansittarts occupied the biggest and most expensive house they had been able to procure on taking up their residence in London.

contributed

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

From this reading Yet no extraordinary good luck had contributed to his success.

coursenounUS /course/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Of course the Vansittarts occupied the biggest and most expensive house they had been able to procure on taking up their residence in London.

expensive

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

From this reading Of course the Vansittarts occupied the biggest and most expensive house they had been able to procure on taking up their residence in London.

extraordinary

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

From this reading Yet no extraordinary good luck had contributed to his success.

family

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

From this reading John Vansittart, the head of the family, was the son of a respectable Berkshire farmer, who had given him a thousand pounds as a start in life, with which the young man had gone out to New Zealand, and invested in a sheep run, which had resulted in his becoming a millionaire.

farmer

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

From this reading John Vansittart, the head of the family, was the son of a respectable Berkshire farmer, who had given him a thousand pounds as a start in life, with which the young man had gone out to New Zealand, and invested in a sheep run, which had resulted in his becoming a millionaire.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading They were _nouveaux riches_ of the very first water.

given

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

From this reading John Vansittart, the head of the family, was the son of a respectable Berkshire farmer, who had given him a thousand pounds as a start in life, with which the young man had gone out to New Zealand, and invested in a sheep run, which had resulted in his becoming a millionaire.

gone

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

From this reading John Vansittart, the head of the family, was the son of a respectable Berkshire farmer, who had given him a thousand pounds as a start in life, with which the young man had gone out to New Zealand, and invested in a sheep run, which had resulted in his becoming a millionaire.

goodnounUS /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Yet no extraordinary good luck had contributed to his success.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Of course the Vansittarts occupied the biggest and most expensive house they had been able to procure on taking up their residence in London.

head

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

From this reading John Vansittart, the head of the family, was the son of a respectable Berkshire farmer, who had given him a thousand pounds as a start in life, with which the young man had gone out to New Zealand, and invested in a sheep run, which had resulted in his becoming a millionaire.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading John Vansittart, the head of the family, was the son of a respectable Berkshire farmer, who had given him a thousand pounds as a start in life, with which the young man had gone out to New Zealand, and invested in a sheep run, which had resulted in his becoming a millionaire.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading John Vansittart, the head of the family, was the son of a respectable Berkshire farmer, who had given him a thousand pounds as a start in life, with which the young man had gone out to New Zealand, and invested in a sheep run, which had resulted in his becoming a millionaire.

house

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

From this reading Of course the Vansittarts occupied the biggest and most expensive house they had been able to procure on taking up their residence in London.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Of course the Vansittarts occupied the biggest and most expensive house they had been able to procure on taking up their residence in London.

invested

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

From this reading John Vansittart, the head of the family, was the son of a respectable Berkshire farmer, who had given him a thousand pounds as a start in life, with which the young man had gone out to New Zealand, and invested in a sheep run, which had resulted in his becoming a millionaire.

John

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

From this reading John Vansittart, the head of the family, was the son of a respectable Berkshire farmer, who had given him a thousand pounds as a start in life, with which the young man had gone out to New Zealand, and invested in a sheep run, which had resulted in his becoming a millionaire.

LES

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

From this reading LES NOUVEAUX RICHES.

lifenounUS /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading John Vansittart, the head of the family, was the son of a respectable Berkshire farmer, who had given him a thousand pounds as a start in life, with which the young man had gone out to New Zealand, and invested in a sheep run, which had resulted in his becoming a millionaire.

London

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

From this reading Of course the Vansittarts occupied the biggest and most expensive house they had been able to procure on taking up their residence in London.

luck

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

From this reading Yet no extraordinary good luck had contributed to his success.

man

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

From this reading John Vansittart, the head of the family, was the son of a respectable Berkshire farmer, who had given him a thousand pounds as a start in life, with which the young man had gone out to New Zealand, and invested in a sheep run, which had resulted in his becoming a millionaire.

millionaire

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

From this reading John Vansittart, the head of the family, was the son of a respectable Berkshire farmer, who had given him a thousand pounds as a start in life, with which the young man had gone out to New Zealand, and invested in a sheep run, which had resulted in his becoming a millionaire.

most

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

From this reading Of course the Vansittarts occupied the biggest and most expensive house they had been able to procure on taking up their residence in London.

New

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

From this reading John Vansittart, the head of the family, was the son of a respectable Berkshire farmer, who had given him a thousand pounds as a start in life, with which the young man had gone out to New Zealand, and invested in a sheep run, which had resulted in his becoming a millionaire.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading Yet no extraordinary good luck had contributed to his success.

NOUVEAUX

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

From this reading LES NOUVEAUX RICHES.

occupied

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

From this reading Of course the Vansittarts occupied the biggest and most expensive house they had been able to procure on taking up their residence in London.

OfprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Of course the Vansittarts occupied the biggest and most expensive house they had been able to procure on taking up their residence in London.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Of course the Vansittarts occupied the biggest and most expensive house they had been able to procure on taking up their residence in London.

out

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

From this reading John Vansittart, the head of the family, was the son of a respectable Berkshire farmer, who had given him a thousand pounds as a start in life, with which the young man had gone out to New Zealand, and invested in a sheep run, which had resulted in his becoming a millionaire.

pounds

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

From this reading John Vansittart, the head of the family, was the son of a respectable Berkshire farmer, who had given him a thousand pounds as a start in life, with which the young man had gone out to New Zealand, and invested in a sheep run, which had resulted in his becoming a millionaire.

procure

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

From this reading Of course the Vansittarts occupied the biggest and most expensive house they had been able to procure on taking up their residence in London.

residence

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

From this reading Of course the Vansittarts occupied the biggest and most expensive house they had been able to procure on taking up their residence in London.

respectable

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

From this reading John Vansittart, the head of the family, was the son of a respectable Berkshire farmer, who had given him a thousand pounds as a start in life, with which the young man had gone out to New Zealand, and invested in a sheep run, which had resulted in his becoming a millionaire.

resulted

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

From this reading John Vansittart, the head of the family, was the son of a respectable Berkshire farmer, who had given him a thousand pounds as a start in life, with which the young man had gone out to New Zealand, and invested in a sheep run, which had resulted in his becoming a millionaire.

RICHES

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

From this reading LES NOUVEAUX RICHES.

run

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

From this reading John Vansittart, the head of the family, was the son of a respectable Berkshire farmer, who had given him a thousand pounds as a start in life, with which the young man had gone out to New Zealand, and invested in a sheep run, which had resulted in his becoming a millionaire.

sheep

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

From this reading John Vansittart, the head of the family, was the son of a respectable Berkshire farmer, who had given him a thousand pounds as a start in life, with which the young man had gone out to New Zealand, and invested in a sheep run, which had resulted in his becoming a millionaire.

son

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

From this reading John Vansittart, the head of the family, was the son of a respectable Berkshire farmer, who had given him a thousand pounds as a start in life, with which the young man had gone out to New Zealand, and invested in a sheep run, which had resulted in his becoming a millionaire.

startnounUS /start/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading John Vansittart, the head of the family, was the son of a respectable Berkshire farmer, who had given him a thousand pounds as a start in life, with which the young man had gone out to New Zealand, and invested in a sheep run, which had resulted in his becoming a millionaire.

success

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

From this reading Yet no extraordinary good luck had contributed to his success.

taking

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

From this reading Of course the Vansittarts occupied the biggest and most expensive house they had been able to procure on taking up their residence in London.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Of course the Vansittarts occupied the biggest and most expensive house they had been able to procure on taking up their residence in London.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Of course the Vansittarts occupied the biggest and most expensive house they had been able to procure on taking up their residence in London.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Of course the Vansittarts occupied the biggest and most expensive house they had been able to procure on taking up their residence in London.

thousand

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

From this reading John Vansittart, the head of the family, was the son of a respectable Berkshire farmer, who had given him a thousand pounds as a start in life, with which the young man had gone out to New Zealand, and invested in a sheep run, which had resulted in his becoming a millionaire.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Of course the Vansittarts occupied the biggest and most expensive house they had been able to procure on taking up their residence in London.

up

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

From this reading Of course the Vansittarts occupied the biggest and most expensive house they had been able to procure on taking up their residence in London.

Vansittart

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

From this reading John Vansittart, the head of the family, was the son of a respectable Berkshire farmer, who had given him a thousand pounds as a start in life, with which the young man had gone out to New Zealand, and invested in a sheep run, which had resulted in his becoming a millionaire.

Vansittarts

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

From this reading Of course the Vansittarts occupied the biggest and most expensive house they had been able to procure on taking up their residence in London.

very

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

From this reading They were _nouveaux riches_ of the very first water.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading John Vansittart, the head of the family, was the son of a respectable Berkshire farmer, who had given him a thousand pounds as a start in life, with which the young man had gone out to New Zealand, and invested in a sheep run, which had resulted in his becoming a millionaire.

water

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

From this reading They were _nouveaux riches_ of the very first water.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading They were _nouveaux riches_ of the very first water.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading John Vansittart, the head of the family, was the son of a respectable Berkshire farmer, who had given him a thousand pounds as a start in life, with which the young man had gone out to New Zealand, and invested in a sheep run, which had resulted in his becoming a millionaire.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading John Vansittart, the head of the family, was the son of a respectable Berkshire farmer, who had given him a thousand pounds as a start in life, with which the young man had gone out to New Zealand, and invested in a sheep run, which had resulted in his becoming a millionaire.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading John Vansittart, the head of the family, was the son of a respectable Berkshire farmer, who had given him a thousand pounds as a start in life, with which the young man had gone out to New Zealand, and invested in a sheep run, which had resulted in his becoming a millionaire.

YetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading Yet no extraordinary good luck had contributed to his success.

young

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

From this reading John Vansittart, the head of the family, was the son of a respectable Berkshire farmer, who had given him a thousand pounds as a start in life, with which the young man had gone out to New Zealand, and invested in a sheep run, which had resulted in his becoming a millionaire.

Zealand

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

From this reading John Vansittart, the head of the family, was the son of a respectable Berkshire farmer, who had given him a thousand pounds as a start in life, with which the young man had gone out to New Zealand, and invested in a sheep run, which had resulted in his becoming a millionaire.