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Framley Parsonage
Framley Parsonage

Chapter XXXVIII

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Context Illustration Reading 1/86 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
PALACE BLESSINGS.
And now, at this period, terrible rumours found their way into Barchester, and flew about the cathedral towers and round the cathedral door; ay, and into the canons’ houses and the humbler sitting-rooms of the vicars choral.
Whether they made their way from thence up to the bishop’s palace, or whether they descended from the palace to the close, I will not pretend to say.
But they were shocking, unnatural, and no doubt grievous to all those excellent ecclesiastical hearts which cluster so thickly in those quarters.
The first of these had reference to the new prebendary, and to the disgrace which he had brought on the chapter; a disgrace, as some of them boasted, which Barchester had never known before.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Framley Parsonage

Chapter XXXVIII

Reading 1/86 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
PALACE BLESSINGS.
Line 2
And now, at this period, terrible rumours found their way into Barchester, and flew about the cathedral towers and round the cathedral door; ay, and into the canons’ houses and the humbler sitting-rooms of the vicars choral.
Line 3
Whether they made their way from thence up to the bishop’s palace, or whether they descended from the palace to the close, I will not pretend to say.
Line 4
But they were shocking, unnatural, and no doubt grievous to all those excellent ecclesiastical hearts which cluster so thickly in those quarters.
Line 5
The first of these had reference to the new prebendary, and to the disgrace which he had brought on the chapter; a disgrace, as some of them boasted, which Barchester had never known before.

Learner Dictionary

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

About preposition US /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “And now, at this period, terrible rumours found their way into Barchester, and flew about the cathedral towers and round the cathedral door; ay, and into the canons’ houses and the humbler sitting-rooms of the vicars choral.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “The first of these had reference to the new prebendary, and to the disgrace which he had brought on the chapter; a disgrace, as some of them boasted, which Barchester had never known before.”

Brought noun US /ˈbrought/

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

From this reading “The first of these had reference to the new prebendary, and to the disgrace which he had brought on the chapter; a disgrace, as some of them boasted, which Barchester had never known before.”

Descended noun US /ˈdescended/

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

From this reading “Whether they made their way from thence up to the bishop’s palace, or whether they descended from the palace to the close, I will not pretend to say.”

Disgrace noun US /dɪsˈɡreɪs/

shame caused by unacceptable behaviour

From this reading “The first of these had reference to the new prebendary, and to the disgrace which he had brought on the chapter; a disgrace, as some of them boasted, which Barchester had never known before.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The first of these had reference to the new prebendary, and to the disgrace which he had brought on the chapter; a disgrace, as some of them boasted, which Barchester had never known before.”

Found noun US /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “And now, at this period, terrible rumours found their way into Barchester, and flew about the cathedral towers and round the cathedral door; ay, and into the canons’ houses and the humbler sitting-rooms of the vicars choral.”

Grievous adjective US /ˈɡriːvəs/

very serious and causing great pain or suffering

From this reading “But they were shocking, unnatural, and no doubt grievous to all those excellent ecclesiastical hearts which cluster so thickly in those quarters.”

Never noun US /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The first of these had reference to the new prebendary, and to the disgrace which he had brought on the chapter; a disgrace, as some of them boasted, which Barchester had never known before.”

Terrible noun US /ˈterrible/

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

From this reading “And now, at this period, terrible rumours found their way into Barchester, and flew about the cathedral towers and round the cathedral door; ay, and into the canons’ houses and the humbler sitting-rooms of the vicars choral.”

Thence adverb US /ðens/

from that place or that time

From this reading “Whether they made their way from thence up to the bishop’s palace, or whether they descended from the palace to the close, I will not pretend to say.”

These determiner US /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading “The first of these had reference to the new prebendary, and to the disgrace which he had brought on the chapter; a disgrace, as some of them boasted, which Barchester had never known before.”

Those determiner US /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading “But they were shocking, unnatural, and no doubt grievous to all those excellent ecclesiastical hearts which cluster so thickly in those quarters.”

Whether conjunction US /ˈweðər/

used to introduce two or more possibilities

From this reading “Whether they made their way from thence up to the bishop’s palace, or whether they descended from the palace to the close, I will not pretend to say.”

All words in this reading · 82

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 The first of these had reference to the new prebendary, and to the disgrace which he had brought on the chapter; a disgrace, as some of them boasted, which Barchester had never known before.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading And now, at this period, terrible rumours found their way into Barchester, and flew about the cathedral towers and round the cathedral door; ay, and into the canons’ houses and the humbler sitting-rooms of the vicars choral.

all

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

From this reading But they were shocking, unnatural, and no doubt grievous to all those excellent ecclesiastical hearts which cluster so thickly in those quarters.

AndconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading And now, at this period, terrible rumours found their way into Barchester, and flew about the cathedral towers and round the cathedral door; ay, and into the canons’ houses and the humbler sitting-rooms of the vicars choral.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading The first of these had reference to the new prebendary, and to the disgrace which he had brought on the chapter; a disgrace, as some of them boasted, which Barchester had never known before.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading And now, at this period, terrible rumours found their way into Barchester, and flew about the cathedral towers and round the cathedral door; ay, and into the canons’ houses and the humbler sitting-rooms of the vicars choral.

ay

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

From this reading And now, at this period, terrible rumours found their way into Barchester, and flew about the cathedral towers and round the cathedral door; ay, and into the canons’ houses and the humbler sitting-rooms of the vicars choral.

Barchester

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

From this reading And now, at this period, terrible rumours found their way into Barchester, and flew about the cathedral towers and round the cathedral door; ay, and into the canons’ houses and the humbler sitting-rooms of the vicars choral.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading The first of these had reference to the new prebendary, and to the disgrace which he had brought on the chapter; a disgrace, as some of them boasted, which Barchester had never known before.

bishop's

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

From this reading Whether they made their way from thence up to the bishop’s palace, or whether they descended from the palace to the close, I will not pretend to say.

BLESSINGS

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

From this reading PALACE BLESSINGS.

boasted

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

From this reading The first of these had reference to the new prebendary, and to the disgrace which he had brought on the chapter; a disgrace, as some of them boasted, which Barchester had never known before.

broughtnounUS /ˈbrought/

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

From this reading The first of these had reference to the new prebendary, and to the disgrace which he had brought on the chapter; a disgrace, as some of them boasted, which Barchester had never known before.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But they were shocking, unnatural, and no doubt grievous to all those excellent ecclesiastical hearts which cluster so thickly in those quarters.

canons

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

From this reading And now, at this period, terrible rumours found their way into Barchester, and flew about the cathedral towers and round the cathedral door; ay, and into the canons’ houses and the humbler sitting-rooms of the vicars choral.

cathedral

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

From this reading And now, at this period, terrible rumours found their way into Barchester, and flew about the cathedral towers and round the cathedral door; ay, and into the canons’ houses and the humbler sitting-rooms of the vicars choral.

chapter

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

From this reading The first of these had reference to the new prebendary, and to the disgrace which he had brought on the chapter; a disgrace, as some of them boasted, which Barchester had never known before.

choral

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

From this reading And now, at this period, terrible rumours found their way into Barchester, and flew about the cathedral towers and round the cathedral door; ay, and into the canons’ houses and the humbler sitting-rooms of the vicars choral.

close

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

From this reading Whether they made their way from thence up to the bishop’s palace, or whether they descended from the palace to the close, I will not pretend to say.

cluster

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

From this reading But they were shocking, unnatural, and no doubt grievous to all those excellent ecclesiastical hearts which cluster so thickly in those quarters.

descendednounUS /ˈdescended/

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

From this reading Whether they made their way from thence up to the bishop’s palace, or whether they descended from the palace to the close, I will not pretend to say.

disgracenounUS /dɪsˈɡreɪs/

shame caused by unacceptable behaviour

From this reading The first of these had reference to the new prebendary, and to the disgrace which he had brought on the chapter; a disgrace, as some of them boasted, which Barchester had never known before.

door

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

From this reading And now, at this period, terrible rumours found their way into Barchester, and flew about the cathedral towers and round the cathedral door; ay, and into the canons’ houses and the humbler sitting-rooms of the vicars choral.

doubt

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

From this reading But they were shocking, unnatural, and no doubt grievous to all those excellent ecclesiastical hearts which cluster so thickly in those quarters.

ecclesiastical

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

From this reading But they were shocking, unnatural, and no doubt grievous to all those excellent ecclesiastical hearts which cluster so thickly in those quarters.

excellent

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

From this reading But they were shocking, unnatural, and no doubt grievous to all those excellent ecclesiastical hearts which cluster so thickly in those quarters.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The first of these had reference to the new prebendary, and to the disgrace which he had brought on the chapter; a disgrace, as some of them boasted, which Barchester had never known before.

flew

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

From this reading And now, at this period, terrible rumours found their way into Barchester, and flew about the cathedral towers and round the cathedral door; ay, and into the canons’ houses and the humbler sitting-rooms of the vicars choral.

foundnounUS /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading And now, at this period, terrible rumours found their way into Barchester, and flew about the cathedral towers and round the cathedral door; ay, and into the canons’ houses and the humbler sitting-rooms of the vicars choral.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Whether they made their way from thence up to the bishop’s palace, or whether they descended from the palace to the close, I will not pretend to say.

grievousadjectiveUS /ˈɡriːvəs/

very serious and causing great pain or suffering

From this reading But they were shocking, unnatural, and no doubt grievous to all those excellent ecclesiastical hearts which cluster so thickly in those quarters.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading The first of these had reference to the new prebendary, and to the disgrace which he had brought on the chapter; a disgrace, as some of them boasted, which Barchester had never known before.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading The first of these had reference to the new prebendary, and to the disgrace which he had brought on the chapter; a disgrace, as some of them boasted, which Barchester had never known before.

hearts

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

From this reading But they were shocking, unnatural, and no doubt grievous to all those excellent ecclesiastical hearts which cluster so thickly in those quarters.

houses

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

From this reading And now, at this period, terrible rumours found their way into Barchester, and flew about the cathedral towers and round the cathedral door; ay, and into the canons’ houses and the humbler sitting-rooms of the vicars choral.

humbler

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

From this reading And now, at this period, terrible rumours found their way into Barchester, and flew about the cathedral towers and round the cathedral door; ay, and into the canons’ houses and the humbler sitting-rooms of the vicars choral.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading Whether they made their way from thence up to the bishop’s palace, or whether they descended from the palace to the close, I will not pretend to say.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading But they were shocking, unnatural, and no doubt grievous to all those excellent ecclesiastical hearts which cluster so thickly in those quarters.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading And now, at this period, terrible rumours found their way into Barchester, and flew about the cathedral towers and round the cathedral door; ay, and into the canons’ houses and the humbler sitting-rooms of the vicars choral.

known

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

From this reading The first of these had reference to the new prebendary, and to the disgrace which he had brought on the chapter; a disgrace, as some of them boasted, which Barchester had never known before.

made

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

From this reading Whether they made their way from thence up to the bishop’s palace, or whether they descended from the palace to the close, I will not pretend to say.

nevernounUS /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The first of these had reference to the new prebendary, and to the disgrace which he had brought on the chapter; a disgrace, as some of them boasted, which Barchester had never known before.

new

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

From this reading The first of these had reference to the new prebendary, and to the disgrace which he had brought on the chapter; a disgrace, as some of them boasted, which Barchester had never known before.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading But they were shocking, unnatural, and no doubt grievous to all those excellent ecclesiastical hearts which cluster so thickly in those quarters.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Whether they made their way from thence up to the bishop’s palace, or whether they descended from the palace to the close, I will not pretend to say.

now

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

From this reading And now, at this period, terrible rumours found their way into Barchester, and flew about the cathedral towers and round the cathedral door; ay, and into the canons’ houses and the humbler sitting-rooms of the vicars choral.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading And now, at this period, terrible rumours found their way into Barchester, and flew about the cathedral towers and round the cathedral door; ay, and into the canons’ houses and the humbler sitting-rooms of the vicars choral.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The first of these had reference to the new prebendary, and to the disgrace which he had brought on the chapter; a disgrace, as some of them boasted, which Barchester had never known before.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Whether they made their way from thence up to the bishop’s palace, or whether they descended from the palace to the close, I will not pretend to say.

PALACE

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

From this reading PALACE BLESSINGS.

period

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

From this reading And now, at this period, terrible rumours found their way into Barchester, and flew about the cathedral towers and round the cathedral door; ay, and into the canons’ houses and the humbler sitting-rooms of the vicars choral.

prebendary

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

From this reading The first of these had reference to the new prebendary, and to the disgrace which he had brought on the chapter; a disgrace, as some of them boasted, which Barchester had never known before.

pretend

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

From this reading Whether they made their way from thence up to the bishop’s palace, or whether they descended from the palace to the close, I will not pretend to say.

quarters

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

From this reading But they were shocking, unnatural, and no doubt grievous to all those excellent ecclesiastical hearts which cluster so thickly in those quarters.

reference

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

From this reading The first of these had reference to the new prebendary, and to the disgrace which he had brought on the chapter; a disgrace, as some of them boasted, which Barchester had never known before.

round

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

From this reading And now, at this period, terrible rumours found their way into Barchester, and flew about the cathedral towers and round the cathedral door; ay, and into the canons’ houses and the humbler sitting-rooms of the vicars choral.

rumours

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

From this reading And now, at this period, terrible rumours found their way into Barchester, and flew about the cathedral towers and round the cathedral door; ay, and into the canons’ houses and the humbler sitting-rooms of the vicars choral.

say

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

From this reading Whether they made their way from thence up to the bishop’s palace, or whether they descended from the palace to the close, I will not pretend to say.

shocking

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

From this reading But they were shocking, unnatural, and no doubt grievous to all those excellent ecclesiastical hearts which cluster so thickly in those quarters.

sitting-rooms

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

From this reading And now, at this period, terrible rumours found their way into Barchester, and flew about the cathedral towers and round the cathedral door; ay, and into the canons’ houses and the humbler sitting-rooms of the vicars choral.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading But they were shocking, unnatural, and no doubt grievous to all those excellent ecclesiastical hearts which cluster so thickly in those quarters.

some

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

From this reading The first of these had reference to the new prebendary, and to the disgrace which he had brought on the chapter; a disgrace, as some of them boasted, which Barchester had never known before.

terriblenounUS /ˈterrible/

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

From this reading And now, at this period, terrible rumours found their way into Barchester, and flew about the cathedral towers and round the cathedral door; ay, and into the canons’ houses and the humbler sitting-rooms of the vicars choral.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading And now, at this period, terrible rumours found their way into Barchester, and flew about the cathedral towers and round the cathedral door; ay, and into the canons’ houses and the humbler sitting-rooms of the vicars choral.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading And now, at this period, terrible rumours found their way into Barchester, and flew about the cathedral towers and round the cathedral door; ay, and into the canons’ houses and the humbler sitting-rooms of the vicars choral.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading The first of these had reference to the new prebendary, and to the disgrace which he had brought on the chapter; a disgrace, as some of them boasted, which Barchester had never known before.

thenceadverbUS /ðens/

from that place or that time

From this reading Whether they made their way from thence up to the bishop’s palace, or whether they descended from the palace to the close, I will not pretend to say.

thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading The first of these had reference to the new prebendary, and to the disgrace which he had brought on the chapter; a disgrace, as some of them boasted, which Barchester had never known before.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading Whether they made their way from thence up to the bishop’s palace, or whether they descended from the palace to the close, I will not pretend to say.

thickly

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

From this reading But they were shocking, unnatural, and no doubt grievous to all those excellent ecclesiastical hearts which cluster so thickly in those quarters.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading And now, at this period, terrible rumours found their way into Barchester, and flew about the cathedral towers and round the cathedral door; ay, and into the canons’ houses and the humbler sitting-rooms of the vicars choral.

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading But they were shocking, unnatural, and no doubt grievous to all those excellent ecclesiastical hearts which cluster so thickly in those quarters.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Whether they made their way from thence up to the bishop’s palace, or whether they descended from the palace to the close, I will not pretend to say.

towers

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

From this reading And now, at this period, terrible rumours found their way into Barchester, and flew about the cathedral towers and round the cathedral door; ay, and into the canons’ houses and the humbler sitting-rooms of the vicars choral.

unnatural

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

From this reading But they were shocking, unnatural, and no doubt grievous to all those excellent ecclesiastical hearts which cluster so thickly in those quarters.

up

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

From this reading Whether they made their way from thence up to the bishop’s palace, or whether they descended from the palace to the close, I will not pretend to say.

vicars

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

From this reading And now, at this period, terrible rumours found their way into Barchester, and flew about the cathedral towers and round the cathedral door; ay, and into the canons’ houses and the humbler sitting-rooms of the vicars choral.

way

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

From this reading And now, at this period, terrible rumours found their way into Barchester, and flew about the cathedral towers and round the cathedral door; ay, and into the canons’ houses and the humbler sitting-rooms of the vicars choral.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading But they were shocking, unnatural, and no doubt grievous to all those excellent ecclesiastical hearts which cluster so thickly in those quarters.

WhetherconjunctionUS /ˈweðər/

used to introduce two or more possibilities

From this reading Whether they made their way from thence up to the bishop’s palace, or whether they descended from the palace to the close, I will not pretend to say.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading But they were shocking, unnatural, and no doubt grievous to all those excellent ecclesiastical hearts which cluster so thickly in those quarters.

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading Whether they made their way from thence up to the bishop’s palace, or whether they descended from the palace to the close, I will not pretend to say.