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Heart and Cross
Heart and Cross

Chapter XV

Cover illustration for Heart and Cross
Context Illustration Reading 1/15 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
This time of anxiety was one which, in that great common interest and grief, drew many people together who had little sympathy with each other in ordinary times.
Many a close, private, confidential talk, deluged with tears, or tremulous with hope, I had within these days with many a troubled woman, who up to that time had been only an acquaintance, or very slightly known to me, but who was now ready, at the touch of this magical sympathy, to take me into her heart.
Derwent’s custom of riding to the railway for the earliest perusable news, and an occasional message by telegraph, which came to him when any important intelligence arrived, made our house besieged by anxious people, to whom the greatest joy of their lives was to find no mention in these breathless dispatches of the individual or the place in which they were interested.
Nugents, whom I had never heard of, started up everywhere, asking from me information about Bertie and his family.
The girls who had been brought up at Estcourt deluged me with letters asking after him.
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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.

Heart and Cross

Chapter XV

Reading 1/15 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
This time of anxiety was one which, in that great common interest and grief, drew many people together who had little sympathy with each other in ordinary times.
Line 2
Many a close, private, confidential talk, deluged with tears, or tremulous with hope, I had within these days with many a troubled woman, who up to that time had been only an acquaintance, or very slightly known to me, but who was now ready, at the touch of this magical sympathy, to take me into her heart.
Line 3
Derwent’s custom of riding to the railway for the earliest perusable news, and an occasional message by telegraph, which came to him when any important intelligence arrived, made our house besieged by anxious people, to whom the greatest joy of their lives was to find no mention in these breathless dispatches of the individual or the place in which they were interested.
Line 4
Nugents, whom I had never heard of, started up everywhere, asking from me information about Bertie and his family.
Line 5
The girls who had been brought up at Estcourt deluged me with letters asking after him.

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 “Nugents, whom I had never heard of, started up everywhere, asking from me information about Bertie and his family.”

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “The girls who had been brought up at Estcourt deluged me with letters asking after him.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “Many a close, private, confidential talk, deluged with tears, or tremulous with hope, I had within these days with many a troubled woman, who up to that time had been only an acquaintance, or very slightly known to me, but who was now ready, at the touch of this magical sympathy, to take me into her heart.”

Brought noun US /ˈbrought/

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

From this reading “The girls who had been brought up at Estcourt deluged me with letters asking after him.”

Confidential adjective US /ˌkɑnfəˈdɛnʃəl/

spoken privately and not for general knowledge

From this reading “Many a close, private, confidential talk, deluged with tears, or tremulous with hope, I had within these days with many a troubled woman, who up to that time had been only an acquaintance, or very slightly known to me, but who was now ready, at the touch of this magical sympathy, to take me into her heart.”

Drew noun US /drew/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “This time of anxiety was one which, in that great common interest and grief, drew many people together who had little sympathy with each other in ordinary times.”

Great noun US /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “This time of anxiety was one which, in that great common interest and grief, drew many people together who had little sympathy with each other in ordinary times.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “This time of anxiety was one which, in that great common interest and grief, drew many people together who had little sympathy with each other in ordinary times.”

Never noun US /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Nugents, whom I had never heard of, started up everywhere, asking from me information about Bertie and his family.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “This time of anxiety was one which, in that great common interest and grief, drew many people together who had little sympathy with each other in ordinary times.”

Take noun US /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Many a close, private, confidential talk, deluged with tears, or tremulous with hope, I had within these days with many a troubled woman, who up to that time had been only an acquaintance, or very slightly known to me, but who was now ready, at the touch of this magical sympathy, to take me into her heart.”

These determiner US /ðiːz/

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

From this reading “Many a close, private, confidential talk, deluged with tears, or tremulous with hope, I had within these days with many a troubled woman, who up to that time had been only an acquaintance, or very slightly known to me, but who was now ready, at the touch of this magical sympathy, to take me into her heart.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “This time of anxiety was one which, in that great common interest and grief, drew many people together who had little sympathy with each other in ordinary times.”

Within preposition US /wɪˈðɪn/

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading “Many a close, private, confidential talk, deluged with tears, or tremulous with hope, I had within these days with many a troubled woman, who up to that time had been only an acquaintance, or very slightly known to me, but who was now ready, at the touch of this magical sympathy, to take me into her heart.”

All words in this reading · 120

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 Many a close, private, confidential talk, deluged with tears, or tremulous with hope, I had within these days with many a troubled woman, who up to that time had been only an acquaintance, or very slightly known to me, but who was now ready, at the touch of this magical sympathy, to take me into her heart.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Nugents, whom I had never heard of, started up everywhere, asking from me information about Bertie and his family.

acquaintance

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

From this reading Many a close, private, confidential talk, deluged with tears, or tremulous with hope, I had within these days with many a troubled woman, who up to that time had been only an acquaintance, or very slightly known to me, but who was now ready, at the touch of this magical sympathy, to take me into her heart.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading The girls who had been brought up at Estcourt deluged me with letters asking after him.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading Many a close, private, confidential talk, deluged with tears, or tremulous with hope, I had within these days with many a troubled woman, who up to that time had been only an acquaintance, or very slightly known to me, but who was now ready, at the touch of this magical sympathy, to take me into her heart.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading This time of anxiety was one which, in that great common interest and grief, drew many people together who had little sympathy with each other in ordinary times.

anxiety

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

From this reading This time of anxiety was one which, in that great common interest and grief, drew many people together who had little sympathy with each other in ordinary times.

anxious

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

From this reading Derwent’s custom of riding to the railway for the earliest perusable news, and an occasional message by telegraph, which came to him when any important intelligence arrived, made our house besieged by anxious people, to whom the greatest joy of their lives was to find no mention in these breathless dispatches of the individual or the place in which they were interested.

any

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

From this reading Derwent’s custom of riding to the railway for the earliest perusable news, and an occasional message by telegraph, which came to him when any important intelligence arrived, made our house besieged by anxious people, to whom the greatest joy of their lives was to find no mention in these breathless dispatches of the individual or the place in which they were interested.

arrived

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

From this reading Derwent’s custom of riding to the railway for the earliest perusable news, and an occasional message by telegraph, which came to him when any important intelligence arrived, made our house besieged by anxious people, to whom the greatest joy of their lives was to find no mention in these breathless dispatches of the individual or the place in which they were interested.

asking

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

From this reading Nugents, whom I had never heard of, started up everywhere, asking from me information about Bertie and his family.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Many a close, private, confidential talk, deluged with tears, or tremulous with hope, I had within these days with many a troubled woman, who up to that time had been only an acquaintance, or very slightly known to me, but who was now ready, at the touch of this magical sympathy, to take me into her heart.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Many a close, private, confidential talk, deluged with tears, or tremulous with hope, I had within these days with many a troubled woman, who up to that time had been only an acquaintance, or very slightly known to me, but who was now ready, at the touch of this magical sympathy, to take me into her heart.

Bertie

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

From this reading Nugents, whom I had never heard of, started up everywhere, asking from me information about Bertie and his family.

besieged

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

From this reading Derwent’s custom of riding to the railway for the earliest perusable news, and an occasional message by telegraph, which came to him when any important intelligence arrived, made our house besieged by anxious people, to whom the greatest joy of their lives was to find no mention in these breathless dispatches of the individual or the place in which they were interested.

breathless

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

From this reading Derwent’s custom of riding to the railway for the earliest perusable news, and an occasional message by telegraph, which came to him when any important intelligence arrived, made our house besieged by anxious people, to whom the greatest joy of their lives was to find no mention in these breathless dispatches of the individual or the place in which they were interested.

broughtnounUS /ˈbrought/

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

From this reading The girls who had been brought up at Estcourt deluged me with letters asking after him.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Many a close, private, confidential talk, deluged with tears, or tremulous with hope, I had within these days with many a troubled woman, who up to that time had been only an acquaintance, or very slightly known to me, but who was now ready, at the touch of this magical sympathy, to take me into her heart.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Derwent’s custom of riding to the railway for the earliest perusable news, and an occasional message by telegraph, which came to him when any important intelligence arrived, made our house besieged by anxious people, to whom the greatest joy of their lives was to find no mention in these breathless dispatches of the individual or the place in which they were interested.

came

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

From this reading Derwent’s custom of riding to the railway for the earliest perusable news, and an occasional message by telegraph, which came to him when any important intelligence arrived, made our house besieged by anxious people, to whom the greatest joy of their lives was to find no mention in these breathless dispatches of the individual or the place in which they were interested.

close

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

From this reading Many a close, private, confidential talk, deluged with tears, or tremulous with hope, I had within these days with many a troubled woman, who up to that time had been only an acquaintance, or very slightly known to me, but who was now ready, at the touch of this magical sympathy, to take me into her heart.

common

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

From this reading This time of anxiety was one which, in that great common interest and grief, drew many people together who had little sympathy with each other in ordinary times.

confidentialadjectiveUS /ˌkɑnfəˈdɛnʃəl/

spoken privately and not for general knowledge

From this reading Many a close, private, confidential talk, deluged with tears, or tremulous with hope, I had within these days with many a troubled woman, who up to that time had been only an acquaintance, or very slightly known to me, but who was now ready, at the touch of this magical sympathy, to take me into her heart.

custom

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

From this reading Derwent’s custom of riding to the railway for the earliest perusable news, and an occasional message by telegraph, which came to him when any important intelligence arrived, made our house besieged by anxious people, to whom the greatest joy of their lives was to find no mention in these breathless dispatches of the individual or the place in which they were interested.

days

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

From this reading Many a close, private, confidential talk, deluged with tears, or tremulous with hope, I had within these days with many a troubled woman, who up to that time had been only an acquaintance, or very slightly known to me, but who was now ready, at the touch of this magical sympathy, to take me into her heart.

deluged

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

From this reading Many a close, private, confidential talk, deluged with tears, or tremulous with hope, I had within these days with many a troubled woman, who up to that time had been only an acquaintance, or very slightly known to me, but who was now ready, at the touch of this magical sympathy, to take me into her heart.

Derwent's

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

From this reading Derwent’s custom of riding to the railway for the earliest perusable news, and an occasional message by telegraph, which came to him when any important intelligence arrived, made our house besieged by anxious people, to whom the greatest joy of their lives was to find no mention in these breathless dispatches of the individual or the place in which they were interested.

dispatches

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

From this reading Derwent’s custom of riding to the railway for the earliest perusable news, and an occasional message by telegraph, which came to him when any important intelligence arrived, made our house besieged by anxious people, to whom the greatest joy of their lives was to find no mention in these breathless dispatches of the individual or the place in which they were interested.

drewnounUS /drew/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading This time of anxiety was one which, in that great common interest and grief, drew many people together who had little sympathy with each other in ordinary times.

eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading This time of anxiety was one which, in that great common interest and grief, drew many people together who had little sympathy with each other in ordinary times.

earliest

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

From this reading Derwent’s custom of riding to the railway for the earliest perusable news, and an occasional message by telegraph, which came to him when any important intelligence arrived, made our house besieged by anxious people, to whom the greatest joy of their lives was to find no mention in these breathless dispatches of the individual or the place in which they were interested.

Estcourt

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

From this reading The girls who had been brought up at Estcourt deluged me with letters asking after him.

everywhere

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

From this reading Nugents, whom I had never heard of, started up everywhere, asking from me information about Bertie and his family.

family

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

From this reading Nugents, whom I had never heard of, started up everywhere, asking from me information about Bertie and his family.

find

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

From this reading Derwent’s custom of riding to the railway for the earliest perusable news, and an occasional message by telegraph, which came to him when any important intelligence arrived, made our house besieged by anxious people, to whom the greatest joy of their lives was to find no mention in these breathless dispatches of the individual or the place in which they were interested.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Derwent’s custom of riding to the railway for the earliest perusable news, and an occasional message by telegraph, which came to him when any important intelligence arrived, made our house besieged by anxious people, to whom the greatest joy of their lives was to find no mention in these breathless dispatches of the individual or the place in which they were interested.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Nugents, whom I had never heard of, started up everywhere, asking from me information about Bertie and his family.

girls

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

From this reading The girls who had been brought up at Estcourt deluged me with letters asking after him.

greatnounUS /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading This time of anxiety was one which, in that great common interest and grief, drew many people together who had little sympathy with each other in ordinary times.

greatest

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

From this reading Derwent’s custom of riding to the railway for the earliest perusable news, and an occasional message by telegraph, which came to him when any important intelligence arrived, made our house besieged by anxious people, to whom the greatest joy of their lives was to find no mention in these breathless dispatches of the individual or the place in which they were interested.

grief

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

From this reading This time of anxiety was one which, in that great common interest and grief, drew many people together who had little sympathy with each other in ordinary times.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading This time of anxiety was one which, in that great common interest and grief, drew many people together who had little sympathy with each other in ordinary times.

heard

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

From this reading Nugents, whom I had never heard of, started up everywhere, asking from me information about Bertie and his family.

heart

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

From this reading Many a close, private, confidential talk, deluged with tears, or tremulous with hope, I had within these days with many a troubled woman, who up to that time had been only an acquaintance, or very slightly known to me, but who was now ready, at the touch of this magical sympathy, to take me into her heart.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading Many a close, private, confidential talk, deluged with tears, or tremulous with hope, I had within these days with many a troubled woman, who up to that time had been only an acquaintance, or very slightly known to me, but who was now ready, at the touch of this magical sympathy, to take me into her heart.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading Derwent’s custom of riding to the railway for the earliest perusable news, and an occasional message by telegraph, which came to him when any important intelligence arrived, made our house besieged by anxious people, to whom the greatest joy of their lives was to find no mention in these breathless dispatches of the individual or the place in which they were interested.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Nugents, whom I had never heard of, started up everywhere, asking from me information about Bertie and his family.

hope

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

From this reading Many a close, private, confidential talk, deluged with tears, or tremulous with hope, I had within these days with many a troubled woman, who up to that time had been only an acquaintance, or very slightly known to me, but who was now ready, at the touch of this magical sympathy, to take me into her heart.

house

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

From this reading Derwent’s custom of riding to the railway for the earliest perusable news, and an occasional message by telegraph, which came to him when any important intelligence arrived, made our house besieged by anxious people, to whom the greatest joy of their lives was to find no mention in these breathless dispatches of the individual or the place in which they were interested.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading Many a close, private, confidential talk, deluged with tears, or tremulous with hope, I had within these days with many a troubled woman, who up to that time had been only an acquaintance, or very slightly known to me, but who was now ready, at the touch of this magical sympathy, to take me into her heart.

important

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

From this reading Derwent’s custom of riding to the railway for the earliest perusable news, and an occasional message by telegraph, which came to him when any important intelligence arrived, made our house besieged by anxious people, to whom the greatest joy of their lives was to find no mention in these breathless dispatches of the individual or the place in which they were interested.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading This time of anxiety was one which, in that great common interest and grief, drew many people together who had little sympathy with each other in ordinary times.

individual

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

From this reading Derwent’s custom of riding to the railway for the earliest perusable news, and an occasional message by telegraph, which came to him when any important intelligence arrived, made our house besieged by anxious people, to whom the greatest joy of their lives was to find no mention in these breathless dispatches of the individual or the place in which they were interested.

information

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

From this reading Nugents, whom I had never heard of, started up everywhere, asking from me information about Bertie and his family.

intelligence

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

From this reading Derwent’s custom of riding to the railway for the earliest perusable news, and an occasional message by telegraph, which came to him when any important intelligence arrived, made our house besieged by anxious people, to whom the greatest joy of their lives was to find no mention in these breathless dispatches of the individual or the place in which they were interested.

interest

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

From this reading This time of anxiety was one which, in that great common interest and grief, drew many people together who had little sympathy with each other in ordinary times.

interested

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

From this reading Derwent’s custom of riding to the railway for the earliest perusable news, and an occasional message by telegraph, which came to him when any important intelligence arrived, made our house besieged by anxious people, to whom the greatest joy of their lives was to find no mention in these breathless dispatches of the individual or the place in which they were interested.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Many a close, private, confidential talk, deluged with tears, or tremulous with hope, I had within these days with many a troubled woman, who up to that time had been only an acquaintance, or very slightly known to me, but who was now ready, at the touch of this magical sympathy, to take me into her heart.

joy

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

From this reading Derwent’s custom of riding to the railway for the earliest perusable news, and an occasional message by telegraph, which came to him when any important intelligence arrived, made our house besieged by anxious people, to whom the greatest joy of their lives was to find no mention in these breathless dispatches of the individual or the place in which they were interested.

known

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

From this reading Many a close, private, confidential talk, deluged with tears, or tremulous with hope, I had within these days with many a troubled woman, who up to that time had been only an acquaintance, or very slightly known to me, but who was now ready, at the touch of this magical sympathy, to take me into her heart.

letters

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

From this reading The girls who had been brought up at Estcourt deluged me with letters asking after him.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading This time of anxiety was one which, in that great common interest and grief, drew many people together who had little sympathy with each other in ordinary times.

lives

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

From this reading Derwent’s custom of riding to the railway for the earliest perusable news, and an occasional message by telegraph, which came to him when any important intelligence arrived, made our house besieged by anxious people, to whom the greatest joy of their lives was to find no mention in these breathless dispatches of the individual or the place in which they were interested.

made

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

From this reading Derwent’s custom of riding to the railway for the earliest perusable news, and an occasional message by telegraph, which came to him when any important intelligence arrived, made our house besieged by anxious people, to whom the greatest joy of their lives was to find no mention in these breathless dispatches of the individual or the place in which they were interested.

magical

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

From this reading Many a close, private, confidential talk, deluged with tears, or tremulous with hope, I had within these days with many a troubled woman, who up to that time had been only an acquaintance, or very slightly known to me, but who was now ready, at the touch of this magical sympathy, to take me into her heart.

many

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

From this reading This time of anxiety was one which, in that great common interest and grief, drew many people together who had little sympathy with each other in ordinary times.

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Many a close, private, confidential talk, deluged with tears, or tremulous with hope, I had within these days with many a troubled woman, who up to that time had been only an acquaintance, or very slightly known to me, but who was now ready, at the touch of this magical sympathy, to take me into her heart.

mention

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

From this reading Derwent’s custom of riding to the railway for the earliest perusable news, and an occasional message by telegraph, which came to him when any important intelligence arrived, made our house besieged by anxious people, to whom the greatest joy of their lives was to find no mention in these breathless dispatches of the individual or the place in which they were interested.

message

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

From this reading Derwent’s custom of riding to the railway for the earliest perusable news, and an occasional message by telegraph, which came to him when any important intelligence arrived, made our house besieged by anxious people, to whom the greatest joy of their lives was to find no mention in these breathless dispatches of the individual or the place in which they were interested.

nevernounUS /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Nugents, whom I had never heard of, started up everywhere, asking from me information about Bertie and his family.

news

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

From this reading Derwent’s custom of riding to the railway for the earliest perusable news, and an occasional message by telegraph, which came to him when any important intelligence arrived, made our house besieged by anxious people, to whom the greatest joy of their lives was to find no mention in these breathless dispatches of the individual or the place in which they were interested.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading Derwent’s custom of riding to the railway for the earliest perusable news, and an occasional message by telegraph, which came to him when any important intelligence arrived, made our house besieged by anxious people, to whom the greatest joy of their lives was to find no mention in these breathless dispatches of the individual or the place in which they were interested.

now

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

From this reading Many a close, private, confidential talk, deluged with tears, or tremulous with hope, I had within these days with many a troubled woman, who up to that time had been only an acquaintance, or very slightly known to me, but who was now ready, at the touch of this magical sympathy, to take me into her heart.

Nugents

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

From this reading Nugents, whom I had never heard of, started up everywhere, asking from me information about Bertie and his family.

occasional

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

From this reading Derwent’s custom of riding to the railway for the earliest perusable news, and an occasional message by telegraph, which came to him when any important intelligence arrived, made our house besieged by anxious people, to whom the greatest joy of their lives was to find no mention in these breathless dispatches of the individual or the place in which they were interested.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading This time of anxiety was one which, in that great common interest and grief, drew many people together who had little sympathy with each other in ordinary times.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading This time of anxiety was one which, in that great common interest and grief, drew many people together who had little sympathy with each other in ordinary times.

only

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

From this reading Many a close, private, confidential talk, deluged with tears, or tremulous with hope, I had within these days with many a troubled woman, who up to that time had been only an acquaintance, or very slightly known to me, but who was now ready, at the touch of this magical sympathy, to take me into her heart.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Many a close, private, confidential talk, deluged with tears, or tremulous with hope, I had within these days with many a troubled woman, who up to that time had been only an acquaintance, or very slightly known to me, but who was now ready, at the touch of this magical sympathy, to take me into her heart.

ordinary

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

From this reading This time of anxiety was one which, in that great common interest and grief, drew many people together who had little sympathy with each other in ordinary times.

other

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

From this reading This time of anxiety was one which, in that great common interest and grief, drew many people together who had little sympathy with each other in ordinary times.

ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading Derwent’s custom of riding to the railway for the earliest perusable news, and an occasional message by telegraph, which came to him when any important intelligence arrived, made our house besieged by anxious people, to whom the greatest joy of their lives was to find no mention in these breathless dispatches of the individual or the place in which they were interested.

people

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

From this reading This time of anxiety was one which, in that great common interest and grief, drew many people together who had little sympathy with each other in ordinary times.

perusable

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

From this reading Derwent’s custom of riding to the railway for the earliest perusable news, and an occasional message by telegraph, which came to him when any important intelligence arrived, made our house besieged by anxious people, to whom the greatest joy of their lives was to find no mention in these breathless dispatches of the individual or the place in which they were interested.

place

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

From this reading Derwent’s custom of riding to the railway for the earliest perusable news, and an occasional message by telegraph, which came to him when any important intelligence arrived, made our house besieged by anxious people, to whom the greatest joy of their lives was to find no mention in these breathless dispatches of the individual or the place in which they were interested.

private

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

From this reading Many a close, private, confidential talk, deluged with tears, or tremulous with hope, I had within these days with many a troubled woman, who up to that time had been only an acquaintance, or very slightly known to me, but who was now ready, at the touch of this magical sympathy, to take me into her heart.

railway

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

From this reading Derwent’s custom of riding to the railway for the earliest perusable news, and an occasional message by telegraph, which came to him when any important intelligence arrived, made our house besieged by anxious people, to whom the greatest joy of their lives was to find no mention in these breathless dispatches of the individual or the place in which they were interested.

ready

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

From this reading Many a close, private, confidential talk, deluged with tears, or tremulous with hope, I had within these days with many a troubled woman, who up to that time had been only an acquaintance, or very slightly known to me, but who was now ready, at the touch of this magical sympathy, to take me into her heart.

riding

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

From this reading Derwent’s custom of riding to the railway for the earliest perusable news, and an occasional message by telegraph, which came to him when any important intelligence arrived, made our house besieged by anxious people, to whom the greatest joy of their lives was to find no mention in these breathless dispatches of the individual or the place in which they were interested.

slightly

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

From this reading Many a close, private, confidential talk, deluged with tears, or tremulous with hope, I had within these days with many a troubled woman, who up to that time had been only an acquaintance, or very slightly known to me, but who was now ready, at the touch of this magical sympathy, to take me into her heart.

started

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From this reading Nugents, whom I had never heard of, started up everywhere, asking from me information about Bertie and his family.

sympathy

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

From this reading This time of anxiety was one which, in that great common interest and grief, drew many people together who had little sympathy with each other in ordinary times.

takenounUS /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Many a close, private, confidential talk, deluged with tears, or tremulous with hope, I had within these days with many a troubled woman, who up to that time had been only an acquaintance, or very slightly known to me, but who was now ready, at the touch of this magical sympathy, to take me into her heart.

talk

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

From this reading Many a close, private, confidential talk, deluged with tears, or tremulous with hope, I had within these days with many a troubled woman, who up to that time had been only an acquaintance, or very slightly known to me, but who was now ready, at the touch of this magical sympathy, to take me into her heart.

tears

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

From this reading Many a close, private, confidential talk, deluged with tears, or tremulous with hope, I had within these days with many a troubled woman, who up to that time had been only an acquaintance, or very slightly known to me, but who was now ready, at the touch of this magical sympathy, to take me into her heart.

telegraph

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

From this reading Derwent’s custom of riding to the railway for the earliest perusable news, and an occasional message by telegraph, which came to him when any important intelligence arrived, made our house besieged by anxious people, to whom the greatest joy of their lives was to find no mention in these breathless dispatches of the individual or the place in which they were interested.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading This time of anxiety was one which, in that great common interest and grief, drew many people together who had little sympathy with each other in ordinary times.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Many a close, private, confidential talk, deluged with tears, or tremulous with hope, I had within these days with many a troubled woman, who up to that time had been only an acquaintance, or very slightly known to me, but who was now ready, at the touch of this magical sympathy, to take me into her heart.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Derwent’s custom of riding to the railway for the earliest perusable news, and an occasional message by telegraph, which came to him when any important intelligence arrived, made our house besieged by anxious people, to whom the greatest joy of their lives was to find no mention in these breathless dispatches of the individual or the place in which they were interested.

thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

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

From this reading Many a close, private, confidential talk, deluged with tears, or tremulous with hope, I had within these days with many a troubled woman, who up to that time had been only an acquaintance, or very slightly known to me, but who was now ready, at the touch of this magical sympathy, to take me into her heart.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading Derwent’s custom of riding to the railway for the earliest perusable news, and an occasional message by telegraph, which came to him when any important intelligence arrived, made our house besieged by anxious people, to whom the greatest joy of their lives was to find no mention in these breathless dispatches of the individual or the place in which they were interested.

ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading This time of anxiety was one which, in that great common interest and grief, drew many people together who had little sympathy with each other in ordinary times.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading This time of anxiety was one which, in that great common interest and grief, drew many people together who had little sympathy with each other in ordinary times.

times

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

From this reading This time of anxiety was one which, in that great common interest and grief, drew many people together who had little sympathy with each other in ordinary times.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Many a close, private, confidential talk, deluged with tears, or tremulous with hope, I had within these days with many a troubled woman, who up to that time had been only an acquaintance, or very slightly known to me, but who was now ready, at the touch of this magical sympathy, to take me into her heart.

together

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

From this reading This time of anxiety was one which, in that great common interest and grief, drew many people together who had little sympathy with each other in ordinary times.

touch

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

From this reading Many a close, private, confidential talk, deluged with tears, or tremulous with hope, I had within these days with many a troubled woman, who up to that time had been only an acquaintance, or very slightly known to me, but who was now ready, at the touch of this magical sympathy, to take me into her heart.

tremulous

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

From this reading Many a close, private, confidential talk, deluged with tears, or tremulous with hope, I had within these days with many a troubled woman, who up to that time had been only an acquaintance, or very slightly known to me, but who was now ready, at the touch of this magical sympathy, to take me into her heart.

troubled

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

From this reading Many a close, private, confidential talk, deluged with tears, or tremulous with hope, I had within these days with many a troubled woman, who up to that time had been only an acquaintance, or very slightly known to me, but who was now ready, at the touch of this magical sympathy, to take me into her heart.

up

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

From this reading Many a close, private, confidential talk, deluged with tears, or tremulous with hope, I had within these days with many a troubled woman, who up to that time had been only an acquaintance, or very slightly known to me, but who was now ready, at the touch of this magical sympathy, to take me into her heart.

very

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

From this reading Many a close, private, confidential talk, deluged with tears, or tremulous with hope, I had within these days with many a troubled woman, who up to that time had been only an acquaintance, or very slightly known to me, but who was now ready, at the touch of this magical sympathy, to take me into her heart.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading This time of anxiety was one which, in that great common interest and grief, drew many people together who had little sympathy with each other in ordinary times.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading Derwent’s custom of riding to the railway for the earliest perusable news, and an occasional message by telegraph, which came to him when any important intelligence arrived, made our house besieged by anxious people, to whom the greatest joy of their lives was to find no mention in these breathless dispatches of the individual or the place in which they were interested.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading Derwent’s custom of riding to the railway for the earliest perusable news, and an occasional message by telegraph, which came to him when any important intelligence arrived, made our house besieged by anxious people, to whom the greatest joy of their lives was to find no mention in these breathless dispatches of the individual or the place in which they were interested.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading This time of anxiety was one which, in that great common interest and grief, drew many people together who had little sympathy with each other in ordinary times.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading This time of anxiety was one which, in that great common interest and grief, drew many people together who had little sympathy with each other in ordinary times.

whompronounUS /huːm/

the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Derwent’s custom of riding to the railway for the earliest perusable news, and an occasional message by telegraph, which came to him when any important intelligence arrived, made our house besieged by anxious people, to whom the greatest joy of their lives was to find no mention in these breathless dispatches of the individual or the place in which they were interested.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading This time of anxiety was one which, in that great common interest and grief, drew many people together who had little sympathy with each other in ordinary times.

withinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading Many a close, private, confidential talk, deluged with tears, or tremulous with hope, I had within these days with many a troubled woman, who up to that time had been only an acquaintance, or very slightly known to me, but who was now ready, at the touch of this magical sympathy, to take me into her heart.

woman

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

From this reading Many a close, private, confidential talk, deluged with tears, or tremulous with hope, I had within these days with many a troubled woman, who up to that time had been only an acquaintance, or very slightly known to me, but who was now ready, at the touch of this magical sympathy, to take me into her heart.