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Helena
Helena

Chapter XII

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Context Illustration Reading 1/66 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Buntingford and French reached home between ten and eleven o'clock.
When they entered the house, they heard sounds of music from the drawing-room.
Peter Dale was playing fragments from the latest musical comedy, with a whistled accompaniment on the drawing-room piano.
There seemed to be nothing else audible in the house, in spite of the large party it contained.
Amid the general hush, unbroken by a voice or a laugh, the "funny bits" that Peter was defiantly thumping or whistling made a kind of goblin chorus round a crushed and weary man, as he pushed past the door of the drawing-room to the library.
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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.

Helena

Chapter XII

Reading 1/66 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Buntingford and French reached home between ten and eleven o'clock.
Line 2
When they entered the house, they heard sounds of music from the drawing-room.
Line 3
Peter Dale was playing fragments from the latest musical comedy, with a whistled accompaniment on the drawing-room piano.
Line 4
There seemed to be nothing else audible in the house, in spite of the large party it contained.
Line 5
Amid the general hush, unbroken by a voice or a laugh, the "funny bits" that Peter was defiantly thumping or whistling made a kind of goblin chorus round a crushed and weary man, as he pushed past the door of the drawing-room to the library.

Learner Dictionary

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

Amid preposition US /əˈmɪd/

in the middle of; surrounded by

From this reading “Amid the general hush, unbroken by a voice or a laugh, the "funny bits" that Peter was defiantly thumping or whistling made a kind of goblin chorus round a crushed and weary man, as he pushed past the door of the drawing-room to the library.”

Between preposition US /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading “Buntingford and French reached home between ten and eleven o'clock.”

Chorus noun US /ˈkɔrəs/

a group singing together

From this reading “Amid the general hush, unbroken by a voice or a laugh, the "funny bits" that Peter was defiantly thumping or whistling made a kind of goblin chorus round a crushed and weary man, as he pushed past the door of the drawing-room to the library.”

Nothing pronoun US /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading “There seemed to be nothing else audible in the house, in spite of the large party it contained.”

Party noun US /party/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “There seemed to be nothing else audible in the house, in spite of the large party it contained.”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “There seemed to be nothing else audible in the house, in spite of the large party it contained.”

All words in this reading · 75

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 Peter Dale was playing fragments from the latest musical comedy, with a whistled accompaniment on the drawing-room piano.

accompaniment

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

From this reading Peter Dale was playing fragments from the latest musical comedy, with a whistled accompaniment on the drawing-room piano.

AmidprepositionUS /əˈmɪd/

in the middle of; surrounded by

From this reading Amid the general hush, unbroken by a voice or a laugh, the "funny bits" that Peter was defiantly thumping or whistling made a kind of goblin chorus round a crushed and weary man, as he pushed past the door of the drawing-room to the library.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Buntingford and French reached home between ten and eleven o'clock.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Amid the general hush, unbroken by a voice or a laugh, the "funny bits" that Peter was defiantly thumping or whistling made a kind of goblin chorus round a crushed and weary man, as he pushed past the door of the drawing-room to the library.

audible

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

From this reading There seemed to be nothing else audible in the house, in spite of the large party it contained.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading There seemed to be nothing else audible in the house, in spite of the large party it contained.

betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading Buntingford and French reached home between ten and eleven o'clock.

bits

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

From this reading Amid the general hush, unbroken by a voice or a laugh, the "funny bits" that Peter was defiantly thumping or whistling made a kind of goblin chorus round a crushed and weary man, as he pushed past the door of the drawing-room to the library.

Buntingford

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

From this reading Buntingford and French reached home between ten and eleven o'clock.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Amid the general hush, unbroken by a voice or a laugh, the "funny bits" that Peter was defiantly thumping or whistling made a kind of goblin chorus round a crushed and weary man, as he pushed past the door of the drawing-room to the library.

chorusnounUS /ˈkɔrəs/

a group singing together

From this reading Amid the general hush, unbroken by a voice or a laugh, the "funny bits" that Peter was defiantly thumping or whistling made a kind of goblin chorus round a crushed and weary man, as he pushed past the door of the drawing-room to the library.

comedy

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

From this reading Peter Dale was playing fragments from the latest musical comedy, with a whistled accompaniment on the drawing-room piano.

contained

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

From this reading There seemed to be nothing else audible in the house, in spite of the large party it contained.

crushed

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

From this reading Amid the general hush, unbroken by a voice or a laugh, the "funny bits" that Peter was defiantly thumping or whistling made a kind of goblin chorus round a crushed and weary man, as he pushed past the door of the drawing-room to the library.

Dale

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

From this reading Peter Dale was playing fragments from the latest musical comedy, with a whistled accompaniment on the drawing-room piano.

defiantly

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

From this reading Amid the general hush, unbroken by a voice or a laugh, the "funny bits" that Peter was defiantly thumping or whistling made a kind of goblin chorus round a crushed and weary man, as he pushed past the door of the drawing-room to the library.

door

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

From this reading Amid the general hush, unbroken by a voice or a laugh, the "funny bits" that Peter was defiantly thumping or whistling made a kind of goblin chorus round a crushed and weary man, as he pushed past the door of the drawing-room to the library.

drawing-room

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

From this reading When they entered the house, they heard sounds of music from the drawing-room.

eleven

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

From this reading Buntingford and French reached home between ten and eleven o'clock.

else

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

From this reading There seemed to be nothing else audible in the house, in spite of the large party it contained.

entered

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

From this reading When they entered the house, they heard sounds of music from the drawing-room.

fragments

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

From this reading Peter Dale was playing fragments from the latest musical comedy, with a whistled accompaniment on the drawing-room piano.

French

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

From this reading Buntingford and French reached home between ten and eleven o'clock.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading When they entered the house, they heard sounds of music from the drawing-room.

funny

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

From this reading Amid the general hush, unbroken by a voice or a laugh, the "funny bits" that Peter was defiantly thumping or whistling made a kind of goblin chorus round a crushed and weary man, as he pushed past the door of the drawing-room to the library.

general

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

From this reading Amid the general hush, unbroken by a voice or a laugh, the "funny bits" that Peter was defiantly thumping or whistling made a kind of goblin chorus round a crushed and weary man, as he pushed past the door of the drawing-room to the library.

goblin

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

From this reading Amid the general hush, unbroken by a voice or a laugh, the "funny bits" that Peter was defiantly thumping or whistling made a kind of goblin chorus round a crushed and weary man, as he pushed past the door of the drawing-room to the library.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Amid the general hush, unbroken by a voice or a laugh, the "funny bits" that Peter was defiantly thumping or whistling made a kind of goblin chorus round a crushed and weary man, as he pushed past the door of the drawing-room to the library.

heard

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

From this reading When they entered the house, they heard sounds of music from the drawing-room.

home

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

From this reading Buntingford and French reached home between ten and eleven o'clock.

house

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

From this reading When they entered the house, they heard sounds of music from the drawing-room.

hush

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

From this reading Amid the general hush, unbroken by a voice or a laugh, the "funny bits" that Peter was defiantly thumping or whistling made a kind of goblin chorus round a crushed and weary man, as he pushed past the door of the drawing-room to the library.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading There seemed to be nothing else audible in the house, in spite of the large party it contained.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading There seemed to be nothing else audible in the house, in spite of the large party it contained.

kind

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

From this reading Amid the general hush, unbroken by a voice or a laugh, the "funny bits" that Peter was defiantly thumping or whistling made a kind of goblin chorus round a crushed and weary man, as he pushed past the door of the drawing-room to the library.

large

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

From this reading There seemed to be nothing else audible in the house, in spite of the large party it contained.

latest

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

From this reading Peter Dale was playing fragments from the latest musical comedy, with a whistled accompaniment on the drawing-room piano.

laugh

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

From this reading Amid the general hush, unbroken by a voice or a laugh, the "funny bits" that Peter was defiantly thumping or whistling made a kind of goblin chorus round a crushed and weary man, as he pushed past the door of the drawing-room to the library.

library

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

From this reading Amid the general hush, unbroken by a voice or a laugh, the "funny bits" that Peter was defiantly thumping or whistling made a kind of goblin chorus round a crushed and weary man, as he pushed past the door of the drawing-room to the library.

made

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

From this reading Amid the general hush, unbroken by a voice or a laugh, the "funny bits" that Peter was defiantly thumping or whistling made a kind of goblin chorus round a crushed and weary man, as he pushed past the door of the drawing-room to the library.

man

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

From this reading Amid the general hush, unbroken by a voice or a laugh, the "funny bits" that Peter was defiantly thumping or whistling made a kind of goblin chorus round a crushed and weary man, as he pushed past the door of the drawing-room to the library.

music

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

From this reading When they entered the house, they heard sounds of music from the drawing-room.

musical

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

From this reading Peter Dale was playing fragments from the latest musical comedy, with a whistled accompaniment on the drawing-room piano.

nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading There seemed to be nothing else audible in the house, in spite of the large party it contained.

o'clock

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

From this reading Buntingford and French reached home between ten and eleven o'clock.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading When they entered the house, they heard sounds of music from the drawing-room.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Peter Dale was playing fragments from the latest musical comedy, with a whistled accompaniment on the drawing-room piano.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Amid the general hush, unbroken by a voice or a laugh, the "funny bits" that Peter was defiantly thumping or whistling made a kind of goblin chorus round a crushed and weary man, as he pushed past the door of the drawing-room to the library.

partynounUS /party/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading There seemed to be nothing else audible in the house, in spite of the large party it contained.

past

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

From this reading Amid the general hush, unbroken by a voice or a laugh, the "funny bits" that Peter was defiantly thumping or whistling made a kind of goblin chorus round a crushed and weary man, as he pushed past the door of the drawing-room to the library.

Peter

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

From this reading Peter Dale was playing fragments from the latest musical comedy, with a whistled accompaniment on the drawing-room piano.

piano

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

From this reading Peter Dale was playing fragments from the latest musical comedy, with a whistled accompaniment on the drawing-room piano.

playing

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

From this reading Peter Dale was playing fragments from the latest musical comedy, with a whistled accompaniment on the drawing-room piano.

pushed

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

From this reading Amid the general hush, unbroken by a voice or a laugh, the "funny bits" that Peter was defiantly thumping or whistling made a kind of goblin chorus round a crushed and weary man, as he pushed past the door of the drawing-room to the library.

reached

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

From this reading Buntingford and French reached home between ten and eleven o'clock.

round

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

From this reading Amid the general hush, unbroken by a voice or a laugh, the "funny bits" that Peter was defiantly thumping or whistling made a kind of goblin chorus round a crushed and weary man, as he pushed past the door of the drawing-room to the library.

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading There seemed to be nothing else audible in the house, in spite of the large party it contained.

sounds

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

From this reading When they entered the house, they heard sounds of music from the drawing-room.

spite

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

From this reading There seemed to be nothing else audible in the house, in spite of the large party it contained.

ten

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

From this reading Buntingford and French reached home between ten and eleven o'clock.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Amid the general hush, unbroken by a voice or a laugh, the "funny bits" that Peter was defiantly thumping or whistling made a kind of goblin chorus round a crushed and weary man, as he pushed past the door of the drawing-room to the library.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading When they entered the house, they heard sounds of music from the drawing-room.

There

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

From this reading There seemed to be nothing else audible in the house, in spite of the large party it contained.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading When they entered the house, they heard sounds of music from the drawing-room.

thumping

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

From this reading Amid the general hush, unbroken by a voice or a laugh, the "funny bits" that Peter was defiantly thumping or whistling made a kind of goblin chorus round a crushed and weary man, as he pushed past the door of the drawing-room to the library.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading There seemed to be nothing else audible in the house, in spite of the large party it contained.

unbroken

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

From this reading Amid the general hush, unbroken by a voice or a laugh, the "funny bits" that Peter was defiantly thumping or whistling made a kind of goblin chorus round a crushed and weary man, as he pushed past the door of the drawing-room to the library.

voice

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

From this reading Amid the general hush, unbroken by a voice or a laugh, the "funny bits" that Peter was defiantly thumping or whistling made a kind of goblin chorus round a crushed and weary man, as he pushed past the door of the drawing-room to the library.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Peter Dale was playing fragments from the latest musical comedy, with a whistled accompaniment on the drawing-room piano.

weary

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

From this reading Amid the general hush, unbroken by a voice or a laugh, the "funny bits" that Peter was defiantly thumping or whistling made a kind of goblin chorus round a crushed and weary man, as he pushed past the door of the drawing-room to the library.

WhenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading When they entered the house, they heard sounds of music from the drawing-room.

whistled

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

From this reading Peter Dale was playing fragments from the latest musical comedy, with a whistled accompaniment on the drawing-room piano.

whistling

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

From this reading Amid the general hush, unbroken by a voice or a laugh, the "funny bits" that Peter was defiantly thumping or whistling made a kind of goblin chorus round a crushed and weary man, as he pushed past the door of the drawing-room to the library.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Peter Dale was playing fragments from the latest musical comedy, with a whistled accompaniment on the drawing-room piano.