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Hilda Lessways
Hilda Lessways

Chapter XIV

Cover illustration for Hilda Lessways
Context Illustration Reading 1/39 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
SIN I From her bed Hilda could see the trees waving in the wind.
Every morning she had thus watched them, without interest.
At first the branches had been utterly bare, and beyond their reticulation had been visible the rosy façade of a new Board-school.
But now the branches were rich with leafage, hiding most of the Board-school, so that only a large upper window of it could be seen.
This window, upon which the sun glinted dazzlingly, threw back the rays on to Hilda's bed, giving her for a few moments the illusion of direct sunlight.
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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.

Hilda Lessways

Chapter XIV

Reading 1/39 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
SIN I From her bed Hilda could see the trees waving in the wind.
Line 2
Every morning she had thus watched them, without interest.
Line 3
At first the branches had been utterly bare, and beyond their reticulation had been visible the rosy façade of a new Board-school.
Line 4
But now the branches were rich with leafage, hiding most of the Board-school, so that only a large upper window of it could be seen.
Line 5
This window, upon which the sun glinted dazzlingly, threw back the rays on to Hilda's bed, giving her for a few moments the illusion of direct sunlight.

Learner Dictionary

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

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “At first the branches had been utterly bare, and beyond their reticulation had been visible the rosy façade of a new Board-school.”

Beyond preposition US /bɪˈɑːnd/

on the far side of; further than

From this reading “At first the branches had been utterly bare, and beyond their reticulation had been visible the rosy façade of a new Board-school.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading “SIN I From her bed Hilda could see the trees waving in the wind.”

Every determiner US /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading “Every morning she had thus watched them, without interest.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “At first the branches had been utterly bare, and beyond their reticulation had been visible the rosy façade of a new Board-school.”

Morning noun US /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Every morning she had thus watched them, without interest.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “This window, upon which the sun glinted dazzlingly, threw back the rays on to Hilda's bed, giving her for a few moments the illusion of direct sunlight.”

Wind noun US /wind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “SIN I From her bed Hilda could see the trees waving in the wind.”

Without preposition US /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading “Every morning she had thus watched them, without interest.”

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 At first the branches had been utterly bare, and beyond their reticulation had been visible the rosy façade of a new Board-school.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading At first the branches had been utterly bare, and beyond their reticulation had been visible the rosy façade of a new Board-school.

AtprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading At first the branches had been utterly bare, and beyond their reticulation had been visible the rosy façade of a new Board-school.

back

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

From this reading This window, upon which the sun glinted dazzlingly, threw back the rays on to Hilda's bed, giving her for a few moments the illusion of direct sunlight.

bare

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

From this reading At first the branches had been utterly bare, and beyond their reticulation had been visible the rosy façade of a new Board-school.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading But now the branches were rich with leafage, hiding most of the Board-school, so that only a large upper window of it could be seen.

bed

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

From this reading SIN I From her bed Hilda could see the trees waving in the wind.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading At first the branches had been utterly bare, and beyond their reticulation had been visible the rosy façade of a new Board-school.

beyondprepositionUS /bɪˈɑːnd/

on the far side of; further than

From this reading At first the branches had been utterly bare, and beyond their reticulation had been visible the rosy façade of a new Board-school.

Board-school

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

From this reading At first the branches had been utterly bare, and beyond their reticulation had been visible the rosy façade of a new Board-school.

branches

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

From this reading At first the branches had been utterly bare, and beyond their reticulation had been visible the rosy façade of a new Board-school.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But now the branches were rich with leafage, hiding most of the Board-school, so that only a large upper window of it could be seen.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading SIN I From her bed Hilda could see the trees waving in the wind.

dazzlingly

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

From this reading This window, upon which the sun glinted dazzlingly, threw back the rays on to Hilda's bed, giving her for a few moments the illusion of direct sunlight.

direct

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

From this reading This window, upon which the sun glinted dazzlingly, threw back the rays on to Hilda's bed, giving her for a few moments the illusion of direct sunlight.

EverydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading Every morning she had thus watched them, without interest.

façade

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

From this reading At first the branches had been utterly bare, and beyond their reticulation had been visible the rosy façade of a new Board-school.

few

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

From this reading This window, upon which the sun glinted dazzlingly, threw back the rays on to Hilda's bed, giving her for a few moments the illusion of direct sunlight.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading At first the branches had been utterly bare, and beyond their reticulation had been visible the rosy façade of a new Board-school.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading This window, upon which the sun glinted dazzlingly, threw back the rays on to Hilda's bed, giving her for a few moments the illusion of direct sunlight.

FromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading SIN I From her bed Hilda could see the trees waving in the wind.

giving

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

From this reading This window, upon which the sun glinted dazzlingly, threw back the rays on to Hilda's bed, giving her for a few moments the illusion of direct sunlight.

glinted

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

From this reading This window, upon which the sun glinted dazzlingly, threw back the rays on to Hilda's bed, giving her for a few moments the illusion of direct sunlight.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Every morning she had thus watched them, without interest.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading SIN I From her bed Hilda could see the trees waving in the wind.

hiding

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

From this reading But now the branches were rich with leafage, hiding most of the Board-school, so that only a large upper window of it could be seen.

Hilda

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

From this reading SIN I From her bed Hilda could see the trees waving in the wind.

Hilda's

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

From this reading This window, upon which the sun glinted dazzlingly, threw back the rays on to Hilda's bed, giving her for a few moments the illusion of direct sunlight.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading SIN I From her bed Hilda could see the trees waving in the wind.

illusion

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

From this reading This window, upon which the sun glinted dazzlingly, threw back the rays on to Hilda's bed, giving her for a few moments the illusion of direct sunlight.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading SIN I From her bed Hilda could see the trees waving in the wind.

interest

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

From this reading Every morning she had thus watched them, without interest.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading But now the branches were rich with leafage, hiding most of the Board-school, so that only a large upper window of it could be seen.

large

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

From this reading But now the branches were rich with leafage, hiding most of the Board-school, so that only a large upper window of it could be seen.

leafage

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

From this reading But now the branches were rich with leafage, hiding most of the Board-school, so that only a large upper window of it could be seen.

moments

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

From this reading This window, upon which the sun glinted dazzlingly, threw back the rays on to Hilda's bed, giving her for a few moments the illusion of direct sunlight.

morningnounUS /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Every morning she had thus watched them, without interest.

most

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

From this reading But now the branches were rich with leafage, hiding most of the Board-school, so that only a large upper window of it could be seen.

new

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

From this reading At first the branches had been utterly bare, and beyond their reticulation had been visible the rosy façade of a new Board-school.

now

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

From this reading But now the branches were rich with leafage, hiding most of the Board-school, so that only a large upper window of it could be seen.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading At first the branches had been utterly bare, and beyond their reticulation had been visible the rosy façade of a new Board-school.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading This window, upon which the sun glinted dazzlingly, threw back the rays on to Hilda's bed, giving her for a few moments the illusion of direct sunlight.

only

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

From this reading But now the branches were rich with leafage, hiding most of the Board-school, so that only a large upper window of it could be seen.

rays

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

From this reading This window, upon which the sun glinted dazzlingly, threw back the rays on to Hilda's bed, giving her for a few moments the illusion of direct sunlight.

reticulation

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

From this reading At first the branches had been utterly bare, and beyond their reticulation had been visible the rosy façade of a new Board-school.

rich

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

From this reading But now the branches were rich with leafage, hiding most of the Board-school, so that only a large upper window of it could be seen.

rosy

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

From this reading At first the branches had been utterly bare, and beyond their reticulation had been visible the rosy façade of a new Board-school.

see

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

From this reading SIN I From her bed Hilda could see the trees waving in the wind.

seen

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

From this reading But now the branches were rich with leafage, hiding most of the Board-school, so that only a large upper window of it could be seen.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading Every morning she had thus watched them, without interest.

SIN

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

From this reading SIN I From her bed Hilda could see the trees waving in the wind.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading But now the branches were rich with leafage, hiding most of the Board-school, so that only a large upper window of it could be seen.

sun

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

From this reading This window, upon which the sun glinted dazzlingly, threw back the rays on to Hilda's bed, giving her for a few moments the illusion of direct sunlight.

sunlight

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

From this reading This window, upon which the sun glinted dazzlingly, threw back the rays on to Hilda's bed, giving her for a few moments the illusion of direct sunlight.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading But now the branches were rich with leafage, hiding most of the Board-school, so that only a large upper window of it could be seen.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading SIN I From her bed Hilda could see the trees waving in the wind.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading At first the branches had been utterly bare, and beyond their reticulation had been visible the rosy façade of a new Board-school.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Every morning she had thus watched them, without interest.

ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading This window, upon which the sun glinted dazzlingly, threw back the rays on to Hilda's bed, giving her for a few moments the illusion of direct sunlight.

threw

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

From this reading This window, upon which the sun glinted dazzlingly, threw back the rays on to Hilda's bed, giving her for a few moments the illusion of direct sunlight.

thus

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

From this reading Every morning she had thus watched them, without interest.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading This window, upon which the sun glinted dazzlingly, threw back the rays on to Hilda's bed, giving her for a few moments the illusion of direct sunlight.

trees

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

From this reading SIN I From her bed Hilda could see the trees waving in the wind.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading This window, upon which the sun glinted dazzlingly, threw back the rays on to Hilda's bed, giving her for a few moments the illusion of direct sunlight.

upper

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

From this reading But now the branches were rich with leafage, hiding most of the Board-school, so that only a large upper window of it could be seen.

utterly

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

From this reading At first the branches had been utterly bare, and beyond their reticulation had been visible the rosy façade of a new Board-school.

visible

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

From this reading At first the branches had been utterly bare, and beyond their reticulation had been visible the rosy façade of a new Board-school.

watched

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

From this reading Every morning she had thus watched them, without interest.

waving

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

From this reading SIN I From her bed Hilda could see the trees waving in the wind.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading But now the branches were rich with leafage, hiding most of the Board-school, so that only a large upper window of it could be seen.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading This window, upon which the sun glinted dazzlingly, threw back the rays on to Hilda's bed, giving her for a few moments the illusion of direct sunlight.

windnounUS /wind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading SIN I From her bed Hilda could see the trees waving in the wind.

window

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

From this reading But now the branches were rich with leafage, hiding most of the Board-school, so that only a large upper window of it could be seen.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading But now the branches were rich with leafage, hiding most of the Board-school, so that only a large upper window of it could be seen.

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading Every morning she had thus watched them, without interest.