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Hilda Lessways
Hilda Lessways

Chapter XI

Cover illustration for Hilda Lessways
Context Illustration Reading 1/25 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE TELEGRAM I It was the end of February 1880.
A day resembling spring had come, illusive, but exquisite.
Hilda, having started out too hurriedly for the office after the midday dinner, had had to return home for a proof which she had forgotten.
She now had the house to herself, as a kingdom over which she reigned; for, amid all her humiliation and pensive dejection, she had been able to exert sufficient harsh force to drive her mother to London in company with Miss Gailey.
She was alone, free; and she tasted her freedom to the point of ecstasy.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Hilda Lessways

Chapter XI

Reading 1/25 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE TELEGRAM I It was the end of February 1880.
Line 2
A day resembling spring had come, illusive, but exquisite.
Line 3
Hilda, having started out too hurriedly for the office after the midday dinner, had had to return home for a proof which she had forgotten.
Line 4
She now had the house to herself, as a kingdom over which she reigned; for, amid all her humiliation and pensive dejection, she had been able to exert sufficient harsh force to drive her mother to London in company with Miss Gailey.
Line 5
She was alone, free; and she tasted her freedom to the point of ecstasy.

Learner Dictionary

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

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “Hilda, having started out too hurriedly for the office after the midday dinner, had had to return home for a proof which she had forgotten.”

Alone noun US /alone/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “She was alone, free; and she tasted her freedom to the point of ecstasy.”

Amid preposition US /əˈmɪd/

in the middle of; surrounded by

From this reading “She now had the house to herself, as a kingdom over which she reigned; for, amid all her humiliation and pensive dejection, she had been able to exert sufficient harsh force to drive her mother to London in company with Miss Gailey.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “She now had the house to herself, as a kingdom over which she reigned; for, amid all her humiliation and pensive dejection, she had been able to exert sufficient harsh force to drive her mother to London in company with Miss Gailey.”

Come noun US /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A day resembling spring had come, illusive, but exquisite.”

Forgotten adjective US /fərˈɡɑːt.n̩/

Not remembered; lapsed from memory.

From this reading “Hilda, having started out too hurriedly for the office after the midday dinner, had had to return home for a proof which she had forgotten.”

Free adjective US /friː/

acting without enough restraint or discipline

From this reading “She was alone, free; and she tasted her freedom to the point of ecstasy.”

Having auxiliary verb US /ˈhævɪŋ/

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading “Hilda, having started out too hurriedly for the office after the midday dinner, had had to return home for a proof which she had forgotten.”

Herself pronoun US /hərˈself/

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading “She now had the house to herself, as a kingdom over which she reigned; for, amid all her humiliation and pensive dejection, she had been able to exert sufficient harsh force to drive her mother to London in company with Miss Gailey.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “She now had the house to herself, as a kingdom over which she reigned; for, amid all her humiliation and pensive dejection, she had been able to exert sufficient harsh force to drive her mother to London in company with Miss Gailey.”

Point noun US /pɔɪnt/

the main matter or purpose being discussed

From this reading “She was alone, free; and she tasted her freedom to the point of ecstasy.”

All words in this reading · 70

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

1880

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

From this reading THE TELEGRAM I It was the end of February 1880.

AdeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading A day resembling spring had come, illusive, but exquisite.

able

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

From this reading She now had the house to herself, as a kingdom over which she reigned; for, amid all her humiliation and pensive dejection, she had been able to exert sufficient harsh force to drive her mother to London in company with Miss Gailey.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading Hilda, having started out too hurriedly for the office after the midday dinner, had had to return home for a proof which she had forgotten.

all

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

From this reading She now had the house to herself, as a kingdom over which she reigned; for, amid all her humiliation and pensive dejection, she had been able to exert sufficient harsh force to drive her mother to London in company with Miss Gailey.

alonenounUS /alone/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading She was alone, free; and she tasted her freedom to the point of ecstasy.

amidprepositionUS /əˈmɪd/

in the middle of; surrounded by

From this reading She now had the house to herself, as a kingdom over which she reigned; for, amid all her humiliation and pensive dejection, she had been able to exert sufficient harsh force to drive her mother to London in company with Miss Gailey.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading She now had the house to herself, as a kingdom over which she reigned; for, amid all her humiliation and pensive dejection, she had been able to exert sufficient harsh force to drive her mother to London in company with Miss Gailey.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading She now had the house to herself, as a kingdom over which she reigned; for, amid all her humiliation and pensive dejection, she had been able to exert sufficient harsh force to drive her mother to London in company with Miss Gailey.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading She now had the house to herself, as a kingdom over which she reigned; for, amid all her humiliation and pensive dejection, she had been able to exert sufficient harsh force to drive her mother to London in company with Miss Gailey.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading A day resembling spring had come, illusive, but exquisite.

comenounUS /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A day resembling spring had come, illusive, but exquisite.

company

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

From this reading She now had the house to herself, as a kingdom over which she reigned; for, amid all her humiliation and pensive dejection, she had been able to exert sufficient harsh force to drive her mother to London in company with Miss Gailey.

day

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

From this reading A day resembling spring had come, illusive, but exquisite.

dejection

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

From this reading She now had the house to herself, as a kingdom over which she reigned; for, amid all her humiliation and pensive dejection, she had been able to exert sufficient harsh force to drive her mother to London in company with Miss Gailey.

dinner

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

From this reading Hilda, having started out too hurriedly for the office after the midday dinner, had had to return home for a proof which she had forgotten.

drive

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

From this reading She now had the house to herself, as a kingdom over which she reigned; for, amid all her humiliation and pensive dejection, she had been able to exert sufficient harsh force to drive her mother to London in company with Miss Gailey.

ecstasy

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

From this reading She was alone, free; and she tasted her freedom to the point of ecstasy.

end

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

From this reading THE TELEGRAM I It was the end of February 1880.

exert

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

From this reading She now had the house to herself, as a kingdom over which she reigned; for, amid all her humiliation and pensive dejection, she had been able to exert sufficient harsh force to drive her mother to London in company with Miss Gailey.

exquisite

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

From this reading A day resembling spring had come, illusive, but exquisite.

February

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

From this reading THE TELEGRAM I It was the end of February 1880.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Hilda, having started out too hurriedly for the office after the midday dinner, had had to return home for a proof which she had forgotten.

force

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

From this reading She now had the house to herself, as a kingdom over which she reigned; for, amid all her humiliation and pensive dejection, she had been able to exert sufficient harsh force to drive her mother to London in company with Miss Gailey.

forgottenadjectiveUS /fərˈɡɑːt.n̩/

Not remembered; lapsed from memory.

From this reading Hilda, having started out too hurriedly for the office after the midday dinner, had had to return home for a proof which she had forgotten.

freeadjectiveUS /friː/

acting without enough restraint or discipline

From this reading She was alone, free; and she tasted her freedom to the point of ecstasy.

freedom

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

From this reading She was alone, free; and she tasted her freedom to the point of ecstasy.

Gailey

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

From this reading She now had the house to herself, as a kingdom over which she reigned; for, amid all her humiliation and pensive dejection, she had been able to exert sufficient harsh force to drive her mother to London in company with Miss Gailey.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading A day resembling spring had come, illusive, but exquisite.

harsh

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

From this reading She now had the house to herself, as a kingdom over which she reigned; for, amid all her humiliation and pensive dejection, she had been able to exert sufficient harsh force to drive her mother to London in company with Miss Gailey.

havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading Hilda, having started out too hurriedly for the office after the midday dinner, had had to return home for a proof which she had forgotten.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading She now had the house to herself, as a kingdom over which she reigned; for, amid all her humiliation and pensive dejection, she had been able to exert sufficient harsh force to drive her mother to London in company with Miss Gailey.

herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading She now had the house to herself, as a kingdom over which she reigned; for, amid all her humiliation and pensive dejection, she had been able to exert sufficient harsh force to drive her mother to London in company with Miss Gailey.

Hilda

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

From this reading Hilda, having started out too hurriedly for the office after the midday dinner, had had to return home for a proof which she had forgotten.

home

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

From this reading Hilda, having started out too hurriedly for the office after the midday dinner, had had to return home for a proof which she had forgotten.

house

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

From this reading She now had the house to herself, as a kingdom over which she reigned; for, amid all her humiliation and pensive dejection, she had been able to exert sufficient harsh force to drive her mother to London in company with Miss Gailey.

humiliation

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

From this reading She now had the house to herself, as a kingdom over which she reigned; for, amid all her humiliation and pensive dejection, she had been able to exert sufficient harsh force to drive her mother to London in company with Miss Gailey.

hurriedly

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

From this reading Hilda, having started out too hurriedly for the office after the midday dinner, had had to return home for a proof which she had forgotten.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading THE TELEGRAM I It was the end of February 1880.

illusive

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

From this reading A day resembling spring had come, illusive, but exquisite.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading She now had the house to herself, as a kingdom over which she reigned; for, amid all her humiliation and pensive dejection, she had been able to exert sufficient harsh force to drive her mother to London in company with Miss Gailey.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading THE TELEGRAM I It was the end of February 1880.

kingdom

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

From this reading She now had the house to herself, as a kingdom over which she reigned; for, amid all her humiliation and pensive dejection, she had been able to exert sufficient harsh force to drive her mother to London in company with Miss Gailey.

London

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

From this reading She now had the house to herself, as a kingdom over which she reigned; for, amid all her humiliation and pensive dejection, she had been able to exert sufficient harsh force to drive her mother to London in company with Miss Gailey.

midday

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

From this reading Hilda, having started out too hurriedly for the office after the midday dinner, had had to return home for a proof which she had forgotten.

Miss

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

From this reading She now had the house to herself, as a kingdom over which she reigned; for, amid all her humiliation and pensive dejection, she had been able to exert sufficient harsh force to drive her mother to London in company with Miss Gailey.

mother

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

From this reading She now had the house to herself, as a kingdom over which she reigned; for, amid all her humiliation and pensive dejection, she had been able to exert sufficient harsh force to drive her mother to London in company with Miss Gailey.

now

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

From this reading She now had the house to herself, as a kingdom over which she reigned; for, amid all her humiliation and pensive dejection, she had been able to exert sufficient harsh force to drive her mother to London in company with Miss Gailey.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE TELEGRAM I It was the end of February 1880.

office

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

From this reading Hilda, having started out too hurriedly for the office after the midday dinner, had had to return home for a proof which she had forgotten.

out

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

From this reading Hilda, having started out too hurriedly for the office after the midday dinner, had had to return home for a proof which she had forgotten.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading She now had the house to herself, as a kingdom over which she reigned; for, amid all her humiliation and pensive dejection, she had been able to exert sufficient harsh force to drive her mother to London in company with Miss Gailey.

pensive

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

From this reading She now had the house to herself, as a kingdom over which she reigned; for, amid all her humiliation and pensive dejection, she had been able to exert sufficient harsh force to drive her mother to London in company with Miss Gailey.

pointnounUS /pɔɪnt/

the main matter or purpose being discussed

From this reading She was alone, free; and she tasted her freedom to the point of ecstasy.

proof

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

From this reading Hilda, having started out too hurriedly for the office after the midday dinner, had had to return home for a proof which she had forgotten.

reigned

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

From this reading She now had the house to herself, as a kingdom over which she reigned; for, amid all her humiliation and pensive dejection, she had been able to exert sufficient harsh force to drive her mother to London in company with Miss Gailey.

resembling

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

From this reading A day resembling spring had come, illusive, but exquisite.

return

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

From this reading Hilda, having started out too hurriedly for the office after the midday dinner, had had to return home for a proof which she had forgotten.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading Hilda, having started out too hurriedly for the office after the midday dinner, had had to return home for a proof which she had forgotten.

spring

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

From this reading A day resembling spring had come, illusive, but exquisite.

started

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

From this reading Hilda, having started out too hurriedly for the office after the midday dinner, had had to return home for a proof which she had forgotten.

sufficient

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

From this reading She now had the house to herself, as a kingdom over which she reigned; for, amid all her humiliation and pensive dejection, she had been able to exert sufficient harsh force to drive her mother to London in company with Miss Gailey.

tasted

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

From this reading She was alone, free; and she tasted her freedom to the point of ecstasy.

TELEGRAM

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

From this reading THE TELEGRAM I It was the end of February 1880.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE TELEGRAM I It was the end of February 1880.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Hilda, having started out too hurriedly for the office after the midday dinner, had had to return home for a proof which she had forgotten.

too

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

From this reading Hilda, having started out too hurriedly for the office after the midday dinner, had had to return home for a proof which she had forgotten.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading THE TELEGRAM I It was the end of February 1880.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading Hilda, having started out too hurriedly for the office after the midday dinner, had had to return home for a proof which she had forgotten.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading She now had the house to herself, as a kingdom over which she reigned; for, amid all her humiliation and pensive dejection, she had been able to exert sufficient harsh force to drive her mother to London in company with Miss Gailey.