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First the Blade: A Comedy of Growth
First the Blade: A Comedy of Growth

Chapter XX

Cover illustration for First the Blade: A Comedy of Growth
Context Illustration Reading 1/4 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Justin hurried off down the road.
Laura waited a little while, looking after him, ready to wave and smile if he should look back.
He would have seen, if he had been Oliver to perceive it, a pretty enough picture, for the rockery behind her glowed like a Persian carpet, and she stood at the gate between the copper-black hollyhocks, a _princesse lointaine_ among her Nubians, looking out so eagerly over the bars, hands half raised for beckoning.
But Justin, even if he had thought of it, had not time to look back.
As it was, he barely escaped being late for his tea.
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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.

First the Blade: A Comedy of Growth

Chapter XX

Reading 1/4 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Justin hurried off down the road.
Line 2
Laura waited a little while, looking after him, ready to wave and smile if he should look back.
Line 3
He would have seen, if he had been Oliver to perceive it, a pretty enough picture, for the rockery behind her glowed like a Persian carpet, and she stood at the gate between the copper-black hollyhocks, a _princesse lointaine_ among her Nubians, looking out so eagerly over the bars, hands half raised for beckoning.
Line 4
But Justin, even if he had thought of it, had not time to look back.
Line 5
As it was, he barely escaped being late for his tea.

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 “Laura waited a little while, looking after him, ready to wave and smile if he should look back.”

Among preposition US /əˈmʌŋ/

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading “He would have seen, if he had been Oliver to perceive it, a pretty enough picture, for the rockery behind her glowed like a Persian carpet, and she stood at the gate between the copper-black hollyhocks, a _princesse lointaine_ among her Nubians, looking out so eagerly over the bars, hands half raised for beckoning.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “He would have seen, if he had been Oliver to perceive it, a pretty enough picture, for the rockery behind her glowed like a Persian carpet, and she stood at the gate between the copper-black hollyhocks, a _princesse lointaine_ among her Nubians, looking out so eagerly over the bars, hands half raised for beckoning.”

Behind preposition US /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading “He would have seen, if he had been Oliver to perceive it, a pretty enough picture, for the rockery behind her glowed like a Persian carpet, and she stood at the gate between the copper-black hollyhocks, a _princesse lointaine_ among her Nubians, looking out so eagerly over the bars, hands half raised for beckoning.”

Being auxiliary verb US /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading “As it was, he barely escaped being late for his tea.”

Between preposition US /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading “He would have seen, if he had been Oliver to perceive it, a pretty enough picture, for the rockery behind her glowed like a Persian carpet, and she stood at the gate between the copper-black hollyhocks, a _princesse lointaine_ among her Nubians, looking out so eagerly over the bars, hands half raised for beckoning.”

Even noun US /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But Justin, even if he had thought of it, had not time to look back.”

Half noun US /half/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He would have seen, if he had been Oliver to perceive it, a pretty enough picture, for the rockery behind her glowed like a Persian carpet, and she stood at the gate between the copper-black hollyhocks, a _princesse lointaine_ among her Nubians, looking out so eagerly over the bars, hands half raised for beckoning.”

Hands plural noun US /hændz/

members of a ship’s crew

From this reading “He would have seen, if he had been Oliver to perceive it, a pretty enough picture, for the rockery behind her glowed like a Persian carpet, and she stood at the gate between the copper-black hollyhocks, a _princesse lointaine_ among her Nubians, looking out so eagerly over the bars, hands half raised for beckoning.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “He would have seen, if he had been Oliver to perceive it, a pretty enough picture, for the rockery behind her glowed like a Persian carpet, and she stood at the gate between the copper-black hollyhocks, a _princesse lointaine_ among her Nubians, looking out so eagerly over the bars, hands half raised for beckoning.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Laura waited a little while, looking after him, ready to wave and smile if he should look back.”

Look noun US /look/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Laura waited a little while, looking after him, ready to wave and smile if he should look back.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “He would have seen, if he had been Oliver to perceive it, a pretty enough picture, for the rockery behind her glowed like a Persian carpet, and she stood at the gate between the copper-black hollyhocks, a _princesse lointaine_ among her Nubians, looking out so eagerly over the bars, hands half raised for beckoning.”

Stood noun US /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He would have seen, if he had been Oliver to perceive it, a pretty enough picture, for the rockery behind her glowed like a Persian carpet, and she stood at the gate between the copper-black hollyhocks, a _princesse lointaine_ among her Nubians, looking out so eagerly over the bars, hands half raised for beckoning.”

Thought noun US /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But Justin, even if he had thought of it, had not time to look back.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But Justin, even if he had thought of it, had not time to look back.”

While conjunction US /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading “Laura waited a little while, looking after him, ready to wave and smile if he should look back.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “He would have seen, if he had been Oliver to perceive it, a pretty enough picture, for the rockery behind her glowed like a Persian carpet, and she stood at the gate between the copper-black hollyhocks, a _princesse lointaine_ among her Nubians, looking out so eagerly over the bars, hands half raised for beckoning.”

All words in this reading · 77

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 Laura waited a little while, looking after him, ready to wave and smile if he should look back.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading Laura waited a little while, looking after him, ready to wave and smile if he should look back.

amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading He would have seen, if he had been Oliver to perceive it, a pretty enough picture, for the rockery behind her glowed like a Persian carpet, and she stood at the gate between the copper-black hollyhocks, a _princesse lointaine_ among her Nubians, looking out so eagerly over the bars, hands half raised for beckoning.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Laura waited a little while, looking after him, ready to wave and smile if he should look back.

AsconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading As it was, he barely escaped being late for his tea.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading He would have seen, if he had been Oliver to perceive it, a pretty enough picture, for the rockery behind her glowed like a Persian carpet, and she stood at the gate between the copper-black hollyhocks, a _princesse lointaine_ among her Nubians, looking out so eagerly over the bars, hands half raised for beckoning.

back

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

From this reading Laura waited a little while, looking after him, ready to wave and smile if he should look back.

barely

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

From this reading As it was, he barely escaped being late for his tea.

bars

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

From this reading He would have seen, if he had been Oliver to perceive it, a pretty enough picture, for the rockery behind her glowed like a Persian carpet, and she stood at the gate between the copper-black hollyhocks, a _princesse lointaine_ among her Nubians, looking out so eagerly over the bars, hands half raised for beckoning.

beckoning

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

From this reading He would have seen, if he had been Oliver to perceive it, a pretty enough picture, for the rockery behind her glowed like a Persian carpet, and she stood at the gate between the copper-black hollyhocks, a _princesse lointaine_ among her Nubians, looking out so eagerly over the bars, hands half raised for beckoning.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading He would have seen, if he had been Oliver to perceive it, a pretty enough picture, for the rockery behind her glowed like a Persian carpet, and she stood at the gate between the copper-black hollyhocks, a _princesse lointaine_ among her Nubians, looking out so eagerly over the bars, hands half raised for beckoning.

behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading He would have seen, if he had been Oliver to perceive it, a pretty enough picture, for the rockery behind her glowed like a Persian carpet, and she stood at the gate between the copper-black hollyhocks, a _princesse lointaine_ among her Nubians, looking out so eagerly over the bars, hands half raised for beckoning.

beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading As it was, he barely escaped being late for his tea.

betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading He would have seen, if he had been Oliver to perceive it, a pretty enough picture, for the rockery behind her glowed like a Persian carpet, and she stood at the gate between the copper-black hollyhocks, a _princesse lointaine_ among her Nubians, looking out so eagerly over the bars, hands half raised for beckoning.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But Justin, even if he had thought of it, had not time to look back.

carpet

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

From this reading He would have seen, if he had been Oliver to perceive it, a pretty enough picture, for the rockery behind her glowed like a Persian carpet, and she stood at the gate between the copper-black hollyhocks, a _princesse lointaine_ among her Nubians, looking out so eagerly over the bars, hands half raised for beckoning.

copper-black

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

From this reading He would have seen, if he had been Oliver to perceive it, a pretty enough picture, for the rockery behind her glowed like a Persian carpet, and she stood at the gate between the copper-black hollyhocks, a _princesse lointaine_ among her Nubians, looking out so eagerly over the bars, hands half raised for beckoning.

down

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

From this reading Justin hurried off down the road.

eagerly

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

From this reading He would have seen, if he had been Oliver to perceive it, a pretty enough picture, for the rockery behind her glowed like a Persian carpet, and she stood at the gate between the copper-black hollyhocks, a _princesse lointaine_ among her Nubians, looking out so eagerly over the bars, hands half raised for beckoning.

enough

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

From this reading He would have seen, if he had been Oliver to perceive it, a pretty enough picture, for the rockery behind her glowed like a Persian carpet, and she stood at the gate between the copper-black hollyhocks, a _princesse lointaine_ among her Nubians, looking out so eagerly over the bars, hands half raised for beckoning.

escaped

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

From this reading As it was, he barely escaped being late for his tea.

evennounUS /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But Justin, even if he had thought of it, had not time to look back.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading He would have seen, if he had been Oliver to perceive it, a pretty enough picture, for the rockery behind her glowed like a Persian carpet, and she stood at the gate between the copper-black hollyhocks, a _princesse lointaine_ among her Nubians, looking out so eagerly over the bars, hands half raised for beckoning.

gate

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

From this reading He would have seen, if he had been Oliver to perceive it, a pretty enough picture, for the rockery behind her glowed like a Persian carpet, and she stood at the gate between the copper-black hollyhocks, a _princesse lointaine_ among her Nubians, looking out so eagerly over the bars, hands half raised for beckoning.

glowed

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

From this reading He would have seen, if he had been Oliver to perceive it, a pretty enough picture, for the rockery behind her glowed like a Persian carpet, and she stood at the gate between the copper-black hollyhocks, a _princesse lointaine_ among her Nubians, looking out so eagerly over the bars, hands half raised for beckoning.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading He would have seen, if he had been Oliver to perceive it, a pretty enough picture, for the rockery behind her glowed like a Persian carpet, and she stood at the gate between the copper-black hollyhocks, a _princesse lointaine_ among her Nubians, looking out so eagerly over the bars, hands half raised for beckoning.

halfnounUS /half/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He would have seen, if he had been Oliver to perceive it, a pretty enough picture, for the rockery behind her glowed like a Persian carpet, and she stood at the gate between the copper-black hollyhocks, a _princesse lointaine_ among her Nubians, looking out so eagerly over the bars, hands half raised for beckoning.

handsplural nounUS /hændz/

members of a ship’s crew

From this reading He would have seen, if he had been Oliver to perceive it, a pretty enough picture, for the rockery behind her glowed like a Persian carpet, and she stood at the gate between the copper-black hollyhocks, a _princesse lointaine_ among her Nubians, looking out so eagerly over the bars, hands half raised for beckoning.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading He would have seen, if he had been Oliver to perceive it, a pretty enough picture, for the rockery behind her glowed like a Persian carpet, and she stood at the gate between the copper-black hollyhocks, a _princesse lointaine_ among her Nubians, looking out so eagerly over the bars, hands half raised for beckoning.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Laura waited a little while, looking after him, ready to wave and smile if he should look back.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading He would have seen, if he had been Oliver to perceive it, a pretty enough picture, for the rockery behind her glowed like a Persian carpet, and she stood at the gate between the copper-black hollyhocks, a _princesse lointaine_ among her Nubians, looking out so eagerly over the bars, hands half raised for beckoning.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading Laura waited a little while, looking after him, ready to wave and smile if he should look back.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading As it was, he barely escaped being late for his tea.

hollyhocks

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

From this reading He would have seen, if he had been Oliver to perceive it, a pretty enough picture, for the rockery behind her glowed like a Persian carpet, and she stood at the gate between the copper-black hollyhocks, a _princesse lointaine_ among her Nubians, looking out so eagerly over the bars, hands half raised for beckoning.

hurried

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

From this reading Justin hurried off down the road.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading Laura waited a little while, looking after him, ready to wave and smile if he should look back.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading He would have seen, if he had been Oliver to perceive it, a pretty enough picture, for the rockery behind her glowed like a Persian carpet, and she stood at the gate between the copper-black hollyhocks, a _princesse lointaine_ among her Nubians, looking out so eagerly over the bars, hands half raised for beckoning.

Justin

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

From this reading Justin hurried off down the road.

late

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

From this reading As it was, he barely escaped being late for his tea.

Laura

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

From this reading Laura waited a little while, looking after him, ready to wave and smile if he should look back.

like

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

From this reading He would have seen, if he had been Oliver to perceive it, a pretty enough picture, for the rockery behind her glowed like a Persian carpet, and she stood at the gate between the copper-black hollyhocks, a _princesse lointaine_ among her Nubians, looking out so eagerly over the bars, hands half raised for beckoning.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Laura waited a little while, looking after him, ready to wave and smile if he should look back.

lointaine

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

From this reading He would have seen, if he had been Oliver to perceive it, a pretty enough picture, for the rockery behind her glowed like a Persian carpet, and she stood at the gate between the copper-black hollyhocks, a _princesse lointaine_ among her Nubians, looking out so eagerly over the bars, hands half raised for beckoning.

looknounUS /look/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Laura waited a little while, looking after him, ready to wave and smile if he should look back.

looking

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

From this reading Laura waited a little while, looking after him, ready to wave and smile if he should look back.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading But Justin, even if he had thought of it, had not time to look back.

Nubians

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

From this reading He would have seen, if he had been Oliver to perceive it, a pretty enough picture, for the rockery behind her glowed like a Persian carpet, and she stood at the gate between the copper-black hollyhocks, a _princesse lointaine_ among her Nubians, looking out so eagerly over the bars, hands half raised for beckoning.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading But Justin, even if he had thought of it, had not time to look back.

off

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

From this reading Justin hurried off down the road.

Oliver

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

From this reading He would have seen, if he had been Oliver to perceive it, a pretty enough picture, for the rockery behind her glowed like a Persian carpet, and she stood at the gate between the copper-black hollyhocks, a _princesse lointaine_ among her Nubians, looking out so eagerly over the bars, hands half raised for beckoning.

out

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

From this reading He would have seen, if he had been Oliver to perceive it, a pretty enough picture, for the rockery behind her glowed like a Persian carpet, and she stood at the gate between the copper-black hollyhocks, a _princesse lointaine_ among her Nubians, looking out so eagerly over the bars, hands half raised for beckoning.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading He would have seen, if he had been Oliver to perceive it, a pretty enough picture, for the rockery behind her glowed like a Persian carpet, and she stood at the gate between the copper-black hollyhocks, a _princesse lointaine_ among her Nubians, looking out so eagerly over the bars, hands half raised for beckoning.

perceive

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

From this reading He would have seen, if he had been Oliver to perceive it, a pretty enough picture, for the rockery behind her glowed like a Persian carpet, and she stood at the gate between the copper-black hollyhocks, a _princesse lointaine_ among her Nubians, looking out so eagerly over the bars, hands half raised for beckoning.

Persian

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

From this reading He would have seen, if he had been Oliver to perceive it, a pretty enough picture, for the rockery behind her glowed like a Persian carpet, and she stood at the gate between the copper-black hollyhocks, a _princesse lointaine_ among her Nubians, looking out so eagerly over the bars, hands half raised for beckoning.

picture

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

From this reading He would have seen, if he had been Oliver to perceive it, a pretty enough picture, for the rockery behind her glowed like a Persian carpet, and she stood at the gate between the copper-black hollyhocks, a _princesse lointaine_ among her Nubians, looking out so eagerly over the bars, hands half raised for beckoning.

pretty

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

From this reading He would have seen, if he had been Oliver to perceive it, a pretty enough picture, for the rockery behind her glowed like a Persian carpet, and she stood at the gate between the copper-black hollyhocks, a _princesse lointaine_ among her Nubians, looking out so eagerly over the bars, hands half raised for beckoning.

princesse

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

From this reading He would have seen, if he had been Oliver to perceive it, a pretty enough picture, for the rockery behind her glowed like a Persian carpet, and she stood at the gate between the copper-black hollyhocks, a _princesse lointaine_ among her Nubians, looking out so eagerly over the bars, hands half raised for beckoning.

raised

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

From this reading He would have seen, if he had been Oliver to perceive it, a pretty enough picture, for the rockery behind her glowed like a Persian carpet, and she stood at the gate between the copper-black hollyhocks, a _princesse lointaine_ among her Nubians, looking out so eagerly over the bars, hands half raised for beckoning.

ready

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

From this reading Laura waited a little while, looking after him, ready to wave and smile if he should look back.

road

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

From this reading Justin hurried off down the road.

rockery

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

From this reading He would have seen, if he had been Oliver to perceive it, a pretty enough picture, for the rockery behind her glowed like a Persian carpet, and she stood at the gate between the copper-black hollyhocks, a _princesse lointaine_ among her Nubians, looking out so eagerly over the bars, hands half raised for beckoning.

seen

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

From this reading He would have seen, if he had been Oliver to perceive it, a pretty enough picture, for the rockery behind her glowed like a Persian carpet, and she stood at the gate between the copper-black hollyhocks, a _princesse lointaine_ among her Nubians, looking out so eagerly over the bars, hands half raised for beckoning.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading He would have seen, if he had been Oliver to perceive it, a pretty enough picture, for the rockery behind her glowed like a Persian carpet, and she stood at the gate between the copper-black hollyhocks, a _princesse lointaine_ among her Nubians, looking out so eagerly over the bars, hands half raised for beckoning.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading Laura waited a little while, looking after him, ready to wave and smile if he should look back.

smile

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

From this reading Laura waited a little while, looking after him, ready to wave and smile if he should look back.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading He would have seen, if he had been Oliver to perceive it, a pretty enough picture, for the rockery behind her glowed like a Persian carpet, and she stood at the gate between the copper-black hollyhocks, a _princesse lointaine_ among her Nubians, looking out so eagerly over the bars, hands half raised for beckoning.

stoodnounUS /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He would have seen, if he had been Oliver to perceive it, a pretty enough picture, for the rockery behind her glowed like a Persian carpet, and she stood at the gate between the copper-black hollyhocks, a _princesse lointaine_ among her Nubians, looking out so eagerly over the bars, hands half raised for beckoning.

tea

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

From this reading As it was, he barely escaped being late for his tea.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Justin hurried off down the road.

thoughtnounUS /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But Justin, even if he had thought of it, had not time to look back.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But Justin, even if he had thought of it, had not time to look back.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Laura waited a little while, looking after him, ready to wave and smile if he should look back.

waited

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

From this reading Laura waited a little while, looking after him, ready to wave and smile if he should look back.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading As it was, he barely escaped being late for his tea.

wave

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

From this reading Laura waited a little while, looking after him, ready to wave and smile if he should look back.

whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading Laura waited a little while, looking after him, ready to wave and smile if he should look back.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading He would have seen, if he had been Oliver to perceive it, a pretty enough picture, for the rockery behind her glowed like a Persian carpet, and she stood at the gate between the copper-black hollyhocks, a _princesse lointaine_ among her Nubians, looking out so eagerly over the bars, hands half raised for beckoning.