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Emily Fox-Seton
Emily Fox-Seton

Chapter XIII

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Context Illustration Reading 1/69 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
On a certain day when he had drunk heavily and had shut Hester up with him for an hour's torture, after leaving her writhing and suffocating with sobs, he went to examine some newly bought firearms.
In twenty minutes it was he who lay upon the floor writhing and suffocating, and but a few minutes later he was a dead man.
A charge from a gun he had believed unloaded had finished him.
* * * * * Lady Walderhurst was the kindest of women, as the world knew.
She sent for little Mrs. Osborn and her child, and was tender goodness itself to them.
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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.

Emily Fox-Seton

Chapter XIII

Reading 1/69 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
On a certain day when he had drunk heavily and had shut Hester up with him for an hour's torture, after leaving her writhing and suffocating with sobs, he went to examine some newly bought firearms.
Line 2
In twenty minutes it was he who lay upon the floor writhing and suffocating, and but a few minutes later he was a dead man.
Line 3
A charge from a gun he had believed unloaded had finished him.
Line 4
* * * * * Lady Walderhurst was the kindest of women, as the world knew.
Line 5
She sent for little Mrs. Osborn and her child, and was tender goodness itself to them.

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 “On a certain day when he had drunk heavily and had shut Hester up with him for an hour's torture, after leaving her writhing and suffocating with sobs, he went to examine some newly bought firearms.”

Dead noun US /dead/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “In twenty minutes it was he who lay upon the floor writhing and suffocating, and but a few minutes later he was a dead man.”

Itself pronoun US /ˌɪtˈself/

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading “She sent for little Mrs. Osborn and her child, and was tender goodness itself to them.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “She sent for little Mrs. Osborn and her child, and was tender goodness itself to them.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “In twenty minutes it was he who lay upon the floor writhing and suffocating, and but a few minutes later he was a dead man.”

Went noun US /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “On a certain day when he had drunk heavily and had shut Hester up with him for an hour's torture, after leaving her writhing and suffocating with sobs, he went to examine some newly bought firearms.”

All words in this reading · 71

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 On a certain day when he had drunk heavily and had shut Hester up with him for an hour's torture, after leaving her writhing and suffocating with sobs, he went to examine some newly bought firearms.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading On a certain day when he had drunk heavily and had shut Hester up with him for an hour's torture, after leaving her writhing and suffocating with sobs, he went to examine some newly bought firearms.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading On a certain day when he had drunk heavily and had shut Hester up with him for an hour's torture, after leaving her writhing and suffocating with sobs, he went to examine some newly bought firearms.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading On a certain day when he had drunk heavily and had shut Hester up with him for an hour's torture, after leaving her writhing and suffocating with sobs, he went to examine some newly bought firearms.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading * * * * * Lady Walderhurst was the kindest of women, as the world knew.

believed

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

From this reading A charge from a gun he had believed unloaded had finished him.

bought

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

From this reading On a certain day when he had drunk heavily and had shut Hester up with him for an hour's torture, after leaving her writhing and suffocating with sobs, he went to examine some newly bought firearms.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading In twenty minutes it was he who lay upon the floor writhing and suffocating, and but a few minutes later he was a dead man.

certain

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

From this reading On a certain day when he had drunk heavily and had shut Hester up with him for an hour's torture, after leaving her writhing and suffocating with sobs, he went to examine some newly bought firearms.

charge

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

From this reading A charge from a gun he had believed unloaded had finished him.

child

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

From this reading She sent for little Mrs. Osborn and her child, and was tender goodness itself to them.

day

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

From this reading On a certain day when he had drunk heavily and had shut Hester up with him for an hour's torture, after leaving her writhing and suffocating with sobs, he went to examine some newly bought firearms.

deadnounUS /dead/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading In twenty minutes it was he who lay upon the floor writhing and suffocating, and but a few minutes later he was a dead man.

drunk

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

From this reading On a certain day when he had drunk heavily and had shut Hester up with him for an hour's torture, after leaving her writhing and suffocating with sobs, he went to examine some newly bought firearms.

examine

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

From this reading On a certain day when he had drunk heavily and had shut Hester up with him for an hour's torture, after leaving her writhing and suffocating with sobs, he went to examine some newly bought firearms.

few

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

From this reading In twenty minutes it was he who lay upon the floor writhing and suffocating, and but a few minutes later he was a dead man.

finished

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

From this reading A charge from a gun he had believed unloaded had finished him.

firearms

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

From this reading On a certain day when he had drunk heavily and had shut Hester up with him for an hour's torture, after leaving her writhing and suffocating with sobs, he went to examine some newly bought firearms.

floor

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

From this reading In twenty minutes it was he who lay upon the floor writhing and suffocating, and but a few minutes later he was a dead man.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading On a certain day when he had drunk heavily and had shut Hester up with him for an hour's torture, after leaving her writhing and suffocating with sobs, he went to examine some newly bought firearms.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading A charge from a gun he had believed unloaded had finished him.

goodness

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

From this reading She sent for little Mrs. Osborn and her child, and was tender goodness itself to them.

gun

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

From this reading A charge from a gun he had believed unloaded had finished him.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading On a certain day when he had drunk heavily and had shut Hester up with him for an hour's torture, after leaving her writhing and suffocating with sobs, he went to examine some newly bought firearms.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading On a certain day when he had drunk heavily and had shut Hester up with him for an hour's torture, after leaving her writhing and suffocating with sobs, he went to examine some newly bought firearms.

heavily

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

From this reading On a certain day when he had drunk heavily and had shut Hester up with him for an hour's torture, after leaving her writhing and suffocating with sobs, he went to examine some newly bought firearms.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading On a certain day when he had drunk heavily and had shut Hester up with him for an hour's torture, after leaving her writhing and suffocating with sobs, he went to examine some newly bought firearms.

Hester

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

From this reading On a certain day when he had drunk heavily and had shut Hester up with him for an hour's torture, after leaving her writhing and suffocating with sobs, he went to examine some newly bought firearms.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading On a certain day when he had drunk heavily and had shut Hester up with him for an hour's torture, after leaving her writhing and suffocating with sobs, he went to examine some newly bought firearms.

hour's

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

From this reading On a certain day when he had drunk heavily and had shut Hester up with him for an hour's torture, after leaving her writhing and suffocating with sobs, he went to examine some newly bought firearms.

InprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading In twenty minutes it was he who lay upon the floor writhing and suffocating, and but a few minutes later he was a dead man.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading In twenty minutes it was he who lay upon the floor writhing and suffocating, and but a few minutes later he was a dead man.

itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading She sent for little Mrs. Osborn and her child, and was tender goodness itself to them.

kindest

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

From this reading * * * * * Lady Walderhurst was the kindest of women, as the world knew.

knew

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

From this reading * * * * * Lady Walderhurst was the kindest of women, as the world knew.

Lady

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

From this reading * * * * * Lady Walderhurst was the kindest of women, as the world knew.

later

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

From this reading In twenty minutes it was he who lay upon the floor writhing and suffocating, and but a few minutes later he was a dead man.

lay

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

From this reading In twenty minutes it was he who lay upon the floor writhing and suffocating, and but a few minutes later he was a dead man.

leaving

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

From this reading On a certain day when he had drunk heavily and had shut Hester up with him for an hour's torture, after leaving her writhing and suffocating with sobs, he went to examine some newly bought firearms.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading She sent for little Mrs. Osborn and her child, and was tender goodness itself to them.

man

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

From this reading In twenty minutes it was he who lay upon the floor writhing and suffocating, and but a few minutes later he was a dead man.

minutes

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

From this reading In twenty minutes it was he who lay upon the floor writhing and suffocating, and but a few minutes later he was a dead man.

Mrs

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

From this reading She sent for little Mrs. Osborn and her child, and was tender goodness itself to them.

newly

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

From this reading On a certain day when he had drunk heavily and had shut Hester up with him for an hour's torture, after leaving her writhing and suffocating with sobs, he went to examine some newly bought firearms.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading * * * * * Lady Walderhurst was the kindest of women, as the world knew.

OnprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading On a certain day when he had drunk heavily and had shut Hester up with him for an hour's torture, after leaving her writhing and suffocating with sobs, he went to examine some newly bought firearms.

Osborn

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

From this reading She sent for little Mrs. Osborn and her child, and was tender goodness itself to them.

sent

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

From this reading She sent for little Mrs. Osborn and her child, and was tender goodness itself to them.

ShepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading She sent for little Mrs. Osborn and her child, and was tender goodness itself to them.

shut

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

From this reading On a certain day when he had drunk heavily and had shut Hester up with him for an hour's torture, after leaving her writhing and suffocating with sobs, he went to examine some newly bought firearms.

sobs

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

From this reading On a certain day when he had drunk heavily and had shut Hester up with him for an hour's torture, after leaving her writhing and suffocating with sobs, he went to examine some newly bought firearms.

some

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

From this reading On a certain day when he had drunk heavily and had shut Hester up with him for an hour's torture, after leaving her writhing and suffocating with sobs, he went to examine some newly bought firearms.

suffocating

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

From this reading On a certain day when he had drunk heavily and had shut Hester up with him for an hour's torture, after leaving her writhing and suffocating with sobs, he went to examine some newly bought firearms.

tender

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

From this reading She sent for little Mrs. Osborn and her child, and was tender goodness itself to them.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading In twenty minutes it was he who lay upon the floor writhing and suffocating, and but a few minutes later he was a dead man.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading She sent for little Mrs. Osborn and her child, and was tender goodness itself to them.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading On a certain day when he had drunk heavily and had shut Hester up with him for an hour's torture, after leaving her writhing and suffocating with sobs, he went to examine some newly bought firearms.

torture

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

From this reading On a certain day when he had drunk heavily and had shut Hester up with him for an hour's torture, after leaving her writhing and suffocating with sobs, he went to examine some newly bought firearms.

twenty

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

From this reading In twenty minutes it was he who lay upon the floor writhing and suffocating, and but a few minutes later he was a dead man.

unloaded

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

From this reading A charge from a gun he had believed unloaded had finished him.

up

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

From this reading On a certain day when he had drunk heavily and had shut Hester up with him for an hour's torture, after leaving her writhing and suffocating with sobs, he went to examine some newly bought firearms.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading In twenty minutes it was he who lay upon the floor writhing and suffocating, and but a few minutes later he was a dead man.

Walderhurst

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

From this reading * * * * * Lady Walderhurst was the kindest of women, as the world knew.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading In twenty minutes it was he who lay upon the floor writhing and suffocating, and but a few minutes later he was a dead man.

wentnounUS /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading On a certain day when he had drunk heavily and had shut Hester up with him for an hour's torture, after leaving her writhing and suffocating with sobs, he went to examine some newly bought firearms.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading On a certain day when he had drunk heavily and had shut Hester up with him for an hour's torture, after leaving her writhing and suffocating with sobs, he went to examine some newly bought firearms.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading In twenty minutes it was he who lay upon the floor writhing and suffocating, and but a few minutes later he was a dead man.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading On a certain day when he had drunk heavily and had shut Hester up with him for an hour's torture, after leaving her writhing and suffocating with sobs, he went to examine some newly bought firearms.

women

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

From this reading * * * * * Lady Walderhurst was the kindest of women, as the world knew.

world

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

From this reading * * * * * Lady Walderhurst was the kindest of women, as the world knew.

writhing

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

From this reading On a certain day when he had drunk heavily and had shut Hester up with him for an hour's torture, after leaving her writhing and suffocating with sobs, he went to examine some newly bought firearms.