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Ginger-Snaps
Ginger-Snaps

Chapter IV

Cover illustration for Ginger-Snaps
Context Illustration Reading 1/86 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
May clergymen sneeze?
Well--not exactly that; but a question quite as foolish, I saw gravely propounded and treated, the other day, in a religious paper.
The debate was upon this highly important point: "Whether it was right for ministers to play croquet."
Now I really _had_ hoped that the day had gone by when the only amusement allowed to ministers was counting the scores of little heads that surrounded their table.
I did hope that they might wash their faces on a towel, though it had not a funereal urn embroidered in the corners.
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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.

Ginger-Snaps

Chapter IV

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

Line 1
May clergymen sneeze?
Line 2
Well--not exactly that; but a question quite as foolish, I saw gravely propounded and treated, the other day, in a religious paper.
Line 3
The debate was upon this highly important point: "Whether it was right for ministers to play croquet."
Line 4
Now I really _had_ hoped that the day had gone by when the only amusement allowed to ministers was counting the scores of little heads that surrounded their table.
Line 5
I did hope that they might wash their faces on a towel, though it had not a funereal urn embroidered in the corners.

Learner Dictionary

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

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Now I really _had_ hoped that the day had gone by when the only amusement allowed to ministers was counting the scores of little heads that surrounded their table.”

May modal verb US /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading “May clergymen sneeze?”

Might modal verb US /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading “I did hope that they might wash their faces on a towel, though it had not a funereal urn embroidered in the corners.”

Point noun US /pɔɪnt/

the main matter or purpose being discussed

From this reading “The debate was upon this highly important point: "Whether it was right for ministers to play croquet."”

Question noun US /ˈquestion/

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

From this reading “Well--not exactly that; but a question quite as foolish, I saw gravely propounded and treated, the other day, in a religious paper.”

Quite noun US /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Well--not exactly that; but a question quite as foolish, I saw gravely propounded and treated, the other day, in a religious paper.”

Right noun US /right/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The debate was upon this highly important point: "Whether it was right for ministers to play croquet."”

Though conjunction US /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “I did hope that they might wash their faces on a towel, though it had not a funereal urn embroidered in the corners.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “The debate was upon this highly important point: "Whether it was right for ministers to play croquet."”

Well noun US /well/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Well--not exactly that; but a question quite as foolish, I saw gravely propounded and treated, the other day, in a religious paper.”

Whether conjunction US /ˈweðər/

used to introduce two or more possibilities

From this reading “The debate was upon this highly important point: "Whether it was right for ministers to play croquet."”

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 Well--not exactly that; but a question quite as foolish, I saw gravely propounded and treated, the other day, in a religious paper.

allowed

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

From this reading Now I really _had_ hoped that the day had gone by when the only amusement allowed to ministers was counting the scores of little heads that surrounded their table.

amusement

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

From this reading Now I really _had_ hoped that the day had gone by when the only amusement allowed to ministers was counting the scores of little heads that surrounded their table.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Well--not exactly that; but a question quite as foolish, I saw gravely propounded and treated, the other day, in a religious paper.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Well--not exactly that; but a question quite as foolish, I saw gravely propounded and treated, the other day, in a religious paper.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Well--not exactly that; but a question quite as foolish, I saw gravely propounded and treated, the other day, in a religious paper.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Now I really _had_ hoped that the day had gone by when the only amusement allowed to ministers was counting the scores of little heads that surrounded their table.

clergymen

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

From this reading May clergymen sneeze?

corners

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

From this reading I did hope that they might wash their faces on a towel, though it had not a funereal urn embroidered in the corners.

counting

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

From this reading Now I really _had_ hoped that the day had gone by when the only amusement allowed to ministers was counting the scores of little heads that surrounded their table.

croquet

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

From this reading The debate was upon this highly important point: "Whether it was right for ministers to play croquet."

day

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

From this reading Well--not exactly that; but a question quite as foolish, I saw gravely propounded and treated, the other day, in a religious paper.

debate

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

From this reading The debate was upon this highly important point: "Whether it was right for ministers to play croquet."

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

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

From this reading I did hope that they might wash their faces on a towel, though it had not a funereal urn embroidered in the corners.

embroidered

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

From this reading I did hope that they might wash their faces on a towel, though it had not a funereal urn embroidered in the corners.

exactly

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

From this reading Well--not exactly that; but a question quite as foolish, I saw gravely propounded and treated, the other day, in a religious paper.

faces

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

From this reading I did hope that they might wash their faces on a towel, though it had not a funereal urn embroidered in the corners.

foolish

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

From this reading Well--not exactly that; but a question quite as foolish, I saw gravely propounded and treated, the other day, in a religious paper.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The debate was upon this highly important point: "Whether it was right for ministers to play croquet."

funereal

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

From this reading I did hope that they might wash their faces on a towel, though it had not a funereal urn embroidered in the corners.

gone

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

From this reading Now I really _had_ hoped that the day had gone by when the only amusement allowed to ministers was counting the scores of little heads that surrounded their table.

gravely

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

From this reading Well--not exactly that; but a question quite as foolish, I saw gravely propounded and treated, the other day, in a religious paper.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Now I really _had_ hoped that the day had gone by when the only amusement allowed to ministers was counting the scores of little heads that surrounded their table.

heads

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

From this reading Now I really _had_ hoped that the day had gone by when the only amusement allowed to ministers was counting the scores of little heads that surrounded their table.

highly

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

From this reading The debate was upon this highly important point: "Whether it was right for ministers to play croquet."

hope

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

From this reading I did hope that they might wash their faces on a towel, though it had not a funereal urn embroidered in the corners.

hoped

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

From this reading Now I really _had_ hoped that the day had gone by when the only amusement allowed to ministers was counting the scores of little heads that surrounded their table.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading Well--not exactly that; but a question quite as foolish, I saw gravely propounded and treated, the other day, in a religious paper.

important

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

From this reading The debate was upon this highly important point: "Whether it was right for ministers to play croquet."

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Well--not exactly that; but a question quite as foolish, I saw gravely propounded and treated, the other day, in a religious paper.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading The debate was upon this highly important point: "Whether it was right for ministers to play croquet."

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Now I really _had_ hoped that the day had gone by when the only amusement allowed to ministers was counting the scores of little heads that surrounded their table.

Maymodal verbUS /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading May clergymen sneeze?

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading I did hope that they might wash their faces on a towel, though it had not a funereal urn embroidered in the corners.

ministers

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

From this reading The debate was upon this highly important point: "Whether it was right for ministers to play croquet."

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Well--not exactly that; but a question quite as foolish, I saw gravely propounded and treated, the other day, in a religious paper.

Now

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

From this reading Now I really _had_ hoped that the day had gone by when the only amusement allowed to ministers was counting the scores of little heads that surrounded their table.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Now I really _had_ hoped that the day had gone by when the only amusement allowed to ministers was counting the scores of little heads that surrounded their table.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading I did hope that they might wash their faces on a towel, though it had not a funereal urn embroidered in the corners.

only

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

From this reading Now I really _had_ hoped that the day had gone by when the only amusement allowed to ministers was counting the scores of little heads that surrounded their table.

other

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

From this reading Well--not exactly that; but a question quite as foolish, I saw gravely propounded and treated, the other day, in a religious paper.

paper

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

From this reading Well--not exactly that; but a question quite as foolish, I saw gravely propounded and treated, the other day, in a religious paper.

play

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

From this reading The debate was upon this highly important point: "Whether it was right for ministers to play croquet."

pointnounUS /pɔɪnt/

the main matter or purpose being discussed

From this reading The debate was upon this highly important point: "Whether it was right for ministers to play croquet."

propounded

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

From this reading Well--not exactly that; but a question quite as foolish, I saw gravely propounded and treated, the other day, in a religious paper.

questionnounUS /ˈquestion/

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

From this reading Well--not exactly that; but a question quite as foolish, I saw gravely propounded and treated, the other day, in a religious paper.

quitenounUS /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Well--not exactly that; but a question quite as foolish, I saw gravely propounded and treated, the other day, in a religious paper.

really

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

From this reading Now I really _had_ hoped that the day had gone by when the only amusement allowed to ministers was counting the scores of little heads that surrounded their table.

religious

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

From this reading Well--not exactly that; but a question quite as foolish, I saw gravely propounded and treated, the other day, in a religious paper.

rightnounUS /right/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The debate was upon this highly important point: "Whether it was right for ministers to play croquet."

saw

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

From this reading Well--not exactly that; but a question quite as foolish, I saw gravely propounded and treated, the other day, in a religious paper.

scores

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

From this reading Now I really _had_ hoped that the day had gone by when the only amusement allowed to ministers was counting the scores of little heads that surrounded their table.

sneeze

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

From this reading May clergymen sneeze?

surrounded

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

From this reading Now I really _had_ hoped that the day had gone by when the only amusement allowed to ministers was counting the scores of little heads that surrounded their table.

table

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

From this reading Now I really _had_ hoped that the day had gone by when the only amusement allowed to ministers was counting the scores of little heads that surrounded their table.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Well--not exactly that; but a question quite as foolish, I saw gravely propounded and treated, the other day, in a religious paper.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Well--not exactly that; but a question quite as foolish, I saw gravely propounded and treated, the other day, in a religious paper.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Now I really _had_ hoped that the day had gone by when the only amusement allowed to ministers was counting the scores of little heads that surrounded their table.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading I did hope that they might wash their faces on a towel, though it had not a funereal urn embroidered in the corners.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading The debate was upon this highly important point: "Whether it was right for ministers to play croquet."

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading I did hope that they might wash their faces on a towel, though it had not a funereal urn embroidered in the corners.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The debate was upon this highly important point: "Whether it was right for ministers to play croquet."

towel

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

From this reading I did hope that they might wash their faces on a towel, though it had not a funereal urn embroidered in the corners.

treated

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

From this reading Well--not exactly that; but a question quite as foolish, I saw gravely propounded and treated, the other day, in a religious paper.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading The debate was upon this highly important point: "Whether it was right for ministers to play croquet."

urn

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

From this reading I did hope that they might wash their faces on a towel, though it had not a funereal urn embroidered in the corners.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The debate was upon this highly important point: "Whether it was right for ministers to play croquet."

wash

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

From this reading I did hope that they might wash their faces on a towel, though it had not a funereal urn embroidered in the corners.

Well

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

From this reading Well--not exactly that; but a question quite as foolish, I saw gravely propounded and treated, the other day, in a religious paper.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading Now I really _had_ hoped that the day had gone by when the only amusement allowed to ministers was counting the scores of little heads that surrounded their table.

WhetherconjunctionUS /ˈweðər/

used to introduce two or more possibilities

From this reading The debate was upon this highly important point: "Whether it was right for ministers to play croquet."