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"I Say No"
"I Say No"

Chapter I · The Smuggled Supper

Cover illustration for "I Say No"
Context Illustration Reading 1/62 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Outside the bedroom the night was black and still.
The small rain fell too softly to be heard in the garden; not a leaf stirred in the airless calm; the watch-dog was asleep, the cats were indoors; far or near, under the murky heaven, not a sound was stirring.
Inside the bedroom the night was black and still.
Miss Ladd knew her business as a schoolmistress too well to allow night-lights; and Miss Ladd’s young ladies were supposed to be fast asleep, in accordance with the rules of the house.
Only at intervals the silence was faintly disturbed, when the restless turning of one of the girls in her bed betrayed itself by a gentle rustling between the sheets.
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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.

"I Say No"

Chapter I · The Smuggled Supper

Reading 1/62 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Outside the bedroom the night was black and still.
Line 2
The small rain fell too softly to be heard in the garden; not a leaf stirred in the airless calm; the watch-dog was asleep, the cats were indoors; far or near, under the murky heaven, not a sound was stirring.
Line 3
Inside the bedroom the night was black and still.
Line 4
Miss Ladd knew her business as a schoolmistress too well to allow night-lights; and Miss Ladd’s young ladies were supposed to be fast asleep, in accordance with the rules of the house.
Line 5
Only at intervals the silence was faintly disturbed, when the restless turning of one of the girls in her bed betrayed itself by a gentle rustling between the sheets.

Learner Dictionary

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

Between preposition US /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading “Only at intervals the silence was faintly disturbed, when the restless turning of one of the girls in her bed betrayed itself by a gentle rustling between the sheets.”

Itself pronoun US /ˌɪtˈself/

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading “Only at intervals the silence was faintly disturbed, when the restless turning of one of the girls in her bed betrayed itself by a gentle rustling between the sheets.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “Only at intervals the silence was faintly disturbed, when the restless turning of one of the girls in her bed betrayed itself by a gentle rustling between the sheets.”

Outside noun US /ˈoutside/

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

From this reading “Outside the bedroom the night was black and still.”

Silence noun US /ˈsaɪ.ləns/

Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.

From this reading “Only at intervals the silence was faintly disturbed, when the restless turning of one of the girls in her bed betrayed itself by a gentle rustling between the sheets.”

Still noun US /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Outside the bedroom the night was black and still.”

Under preposition US /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading “The small rain fell too softly to be heard in the garden; not a leaf stirred in the airless calm; the watch-dog was asleep, the cats were indoors; far or near, under the murky heaven, not a sound was stirring.”

Well noun US /well/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Miss Ladd knew her business as a schoolmistress too well to allow night-lights; and Miss Ladd’s young ladies were supposed to be fast asleep, in accordance with the rules of the house.”

All words in this reading · 77

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 The small rain fell too softly to be heard in the garden; not a leaf stirred in the airless calm; the watch-dog was asleep, the cats were indoors; far or near, under the murky heaven, not a sound was stirring.

accordance

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

From this reading Miss Ladd knew her business as a schoolmistress too well to allow night-lights; and Miss Ladd’s young ladies were supposed to be fast asleep, in accordance with the rules of the house.

airless

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

From this reading The small rain fell too softly to be heard in the garden; not a leaf stirred in the airless calm; the watch-dog was asleep, the cats were indoors; far or near, under the murky heaven, not a sound was stirring.

allow

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

From this reading Miss Ladd knew her business as a schoolmistress too well to allow night-lights; and Miss Ladd’s young ladies were supposed to be fast asleep, in accordance with the rules of the house.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Outside the bedroom the night was black and still.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Miss Ladd knew her business as a schoolmistress too well to allow night-lights; and Miss Ladd’s young ladies were supposed to be fast asleep, in accordance with the rules of the house.

asleep

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

From this reading The small rain fell too softly to be heard in the garden; not a leaf stirred in the airless calm; the watch-dog was asleep, the cats were indoors; far or near, under the murky heaven, not a sound was stirring.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Only at intervals the silence was faintly disturbed, when the restless turning of one of the girls in her bed betrayed itself by a gentle rustling between the sheets.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading The small rain fell too softly to be heard in the garden; not a leaf stirred in the airless calm; the watch-dog was asleep, the cats were indoors; far or near, under the murky heaven, not a sound was stirring.

bed

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

From this reading Only at intervals the silence was faintly disturbed, when the restless turning of one of the girls in her bed betrayed itself by a gentle rustling between the sheets.

bedroom

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

From this reading Outside the bedroom the night was black and still.

betrayed

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

From this reading Only at intervals the silence was faintly disturbed, when the restless turning of one of the girls in her bed betrayed itself by a gentle rustling between the sheets.

betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading Only at intervals the silence was faintly disturbed, when the restless turning of one of the girls in her bed betrayed itself by a gentle rustling between the sheets.

black

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

From this reading Outside the bedroom the night was black and still.

business

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

From this reading Miss Ladd knew her business as a schoolmistress too well to allow night-lights; and Miss Ladd’s young ladies were supposed to be fast asleep, in accordance with the rules of the house.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Only at intervals the silence was faintly disturbed, when the restless turning of one of the girls in her bed betrayed itself by a gentle rustling between the sheets.

calm

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

From this reading The small rain fell too softly to be heard in the garden; not a leaf stirred in the airless calm; the watch-dog was asleep, the cats were indoors; far or near, under the murky heaven, not a sound was stirring.

cats

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

From this reading The small rain fell too softly to be heard in the garden; not a leaf stirred in the airless calm; the watch-dog was asleep, the cats were indoors; far or near, under the murky heaven, not a sound was stirring.

disturbed

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

From this reading Only at intervals the silence was faintly disturbed, when the restless turning of one of the girls in her bed betrayed itself by a gentle rustling between the sheets.

faintly

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

From this reading Only at intervals the silence was faintly disturbed, when the restless turning of one of the girls in her bed betrayed itself by a gentle rustling between the sheets.

far

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

From this reading The small rain fell too softly to be heard in the garden; not a leaf stirred in the airless calm; the watch-dog was asleep, the cats were indoors; far or near, under the murky heaven, not a sound was stirring.

fast

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

From this reading Miss Ladd knew her business as a schoolmistress too well to allow night-lights; and Miss Ladd’s young ladies were supposed to be fast asleep, in accordance with the rules of the house.

fell

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

From this reading The small rain fell too softly to be heard in the garden; not a leaf stirred in the airless calm; the watch-dog was asleep, the cats were indoors; far or near, under the murky heaven, not a sound was stirring.

garden

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

From this reading The small rain fell too softly to be heard in the garden; not a leaf stirred in the airless calm; the watch-dog was asleep, the cats were indoors; far or near, under the murky heaven, not a sound was stirring.

gentle

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

From this reading Only at intervals the silence was faintly disturbed, when the restless turning of one of the girls in her bed betrayed itself by a gentle rustling between the sheets.

girls

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

From this reading Only at intervals the silence was faintly disturbed, when the restless turning of one of the girls in her bed betrayed itself by a gentle rustling between the sheets.

heard

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

From this reading The small rain fell too softly to be heard in the garden; not a leaf stirred in the airless calm; the watch-dog was asleep, the cats were indoors; far or near, under the murky heaven, not a sound was stirring.

heaven

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

From this reading The small rain fell too softly to be heard in the garden; not a leaf stirred in the airless calm; the watch-dog was asleep, the cats were indoors; far or near, under the murky heaven, not a sound was stirring.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading Miss Ladd knew her business as a schoolmistress too well to allow night-lights; and Miss Ladd’s young ladies were supposed to be fast asleep, in accordance with the rules of the house.

house

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

From this reading Miss Ladd knew her business as a schoolmistress too well to allow night-lights; and Miss Ladd’s young ladies were supposed to be fast asleep, in accordance with the rules of the house.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The small rain fell too softly to be heard in the garden; not a leaf stirred in the airless calm; the watch-dog was asleep, the cats were indoors; far or near, under the murky heaven, not a sound was stirring.

indoors

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

From this reading The small rain fell too softly to be heard in the garden; not a leaf stirred in the airless calm; the watch-dog was asleep, the cats were indoors; far or near, under the murky heaven, not a sound was stirring.

Inside

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

From this reading Inside the bedroom the night was black and still.

intervals

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

From this reading Only at intervals the silence was faintly disturbed, when the restless turning of one of the girls in her bed betrayed itself by a gentle rustling between the sheets.

itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading Only at intervals the silence was faintly disturbed, when the restless turning of one of the girls in her bed betrayed itself by a gentle rustling between the sheets.

knew

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

From this reading Miss Ladd knew her business as a schoolmistress too well to allow night-lights; and Miss Ladd’s young ladies were supposed to be fast asleep, in accordance with the rules of the house.

Ladd

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

From this reading Miss Ladd knew her business as a schoolmistress too well to allow night-lights; and Miss Ladd’s young ladies were supposed to be fast asleep, in accordance with the rules of the house.

Ladd's

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

From this reading Miss Ladd knew her business as a schoolmistress too well to allow night-lights; and Miss Ladd’s young ladies were supposed to be fast asleep, in accordance with the rules of the house.

ladies

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

From this reading Miss Ladd knew her business as a schoolmistress too well to allow night-lights; and Miss Ladd’s young ladies were supposed to be fast asleep, in accordance with the rules of the house.

leaf

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

From this reading The small rain fell too softly to be heard in the garden; not a leaf stirred in the airless calm; the watch-dog was asleep, the cats were indoors; far or near, under the murky heaven, not a sound was stirring.

Miss

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

From this reading Miss Ladd knew her business as a schoolmistress too well to allow night-lights; and Miss Ladd’s young ladies were supposed to be fast asleep, in accordance with the rules of the house.

murky

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

From this reading The small rain fell too softly to be heard in the garden; not a leaf stirred in the airless calm; the watch-dog was asleep, the cats were indoors; far or near, under the murky heaven, not a sound was stirring.

near

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

From this reading The small rain fell too softly to be heard in the garden; not a leaf stirred in the airless calm; the watch-dog was asleep, the cats were indoors; far or near, under the murky heaven, not a sound was stirring.

night

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

From this reading Outside the bedroom the night was black and still.

night-lights

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

From this reading Miss Ladd knew her business as a schoolmistress too well to allow night-lights; and Miss Ladd’s young ladies were supposed to be fast asleep, in accordance with the rules of the house.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading The small rain fell too softly to be heard in the garden; not a leaf stirred in the airless calm; the watch-dog was asleep, the cats were indoors; far or near, under the murky heaven, not a sound was stirring.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Miss Ladd knew her business as a schoolmistress too well to allow night-lights; and Miss Ladd’s young ladies were supposed to be fast asleep, in accordance with the rules of the house.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Only at intervals the silence was faintly disturbed, when the restless turning of one of the girls in her bed betrayed itself by a gentle rustling between the sheets.

Only

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

From this reading Only at intervals the silence was faintly disturbed, when the restless turning of one of the girls in her bed betrayed itself by a gentle rustling between the sheets.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading The small rain fell too softly to be heard in the garden; not a leaf stirred in the airless calm; the watch-dog was asleep, the cats were indoors; far or near, under the murky heaven, not a sound was stirring.

OutsidenounUS /ˈoutside/

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

From this reading Outside the bedroom the night was black and still.

rain

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

From this reading The small rain fell too softly to be heard in the garden; not a leaf stirred in the airless calm; the watch-dog was asleep, the cats were indoors; far or near, under the murky heaven, not a sound was stirring.

restless

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

From this reading Only at intervals the silence was faintly disturbed, when the restless turning of one of the girls in her bed betrayed itself by a gentle rustling between the sheets.

rules

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

From this reading Miss Ladd knew her business as a schoolmistress too well to allow night-lights; and Miss Ladd’s young ladies were supposed to be fast asleep, in accordance with the rules of the house.

rustling

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

From this reading Only at intervals the silence was faintly disturbed, when the restless turning of one of the girls in her bed betrayed itself by a gentle rustling between the sheets.

schoolmistress

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

From this reading Miss Ladd knew her business as a schoolmistress too well to allow night-lights; and Miss Ladd’s young ladies were supposed to be fast asleep, in accordance with the rules of the house.

sheets

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

From this reading Only at intervals the silence was faintly disturbed, when the restless turning of one of the girls in her bed betrayed itself by a gentle rustling between the sheets.

silencenounUS /ˈsaɪ.ləns/

Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.

From this reading Only at intervals the silence was faintly disturbed, when the restless turning of one of the girls in her bed betrayed itself by a gentle rustling between the sheets.

small

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

From this reading The small rain fell too softly to be heard in the garden; not a leaf stirred in the airless calm; the watch-dog was asleep, the cats were indoors; far or near, under the murky heaven, not a sound was stirring.

softly

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

From this reading The small rain fell too softly to be heard in the garden; not a leaf stirred in the airless calm; the watch-dog was asleep, the cats were indoors; far or near, under the murky heaven, not a sound was stirring.

sound

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

From this reading The small rain fell too softly to be heard in the garden; not a leaf stirred in the airless calm; the watch-dog was asleep, the cats were indoors; far or near, under the murky heaven, not a sound was stirring.

stillnounUS /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Outside the bedroom the night was black and still.

stirred

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

From this reading The small rain fell too softly to be heard in the garden; not a leaf stirred in the airless calm; the watch-dog was asleep, the cats were indoors; far or near, under the murky heaven, not a sound was stirring.

stirring

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

From this reading The small rain fell too softly to be heard in the garden; not a leaf stirred in the airless calm; the watch-dog was asleep, the cats were indoors; far or near, under the murky heaven, not a sound was stirring.

supposed

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

From this reading Miss Ladd knew her business as a schoolmistress too well to allow night-lights; and Miss Ladd’s young ladies were supposed to be fast asleep, in accordance with the rules of the house.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Outside the bedroom the night was black and still.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The small rain fell too softly to be heard in the garden; not a leaf stirred in the airless calm; the watch-dog was asleep, the cats were indoors; far or near, under the murky heaven, not a sound was stirring.

too

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

From this reading The small rain fell too softly to be heard in the garden; not a leaf stirred in the airless calm; the watch-dog was asleep, the cats were indoors; far or near, under the murky heaven, not a sound was stirring.

turning

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

From this reading Only at intervals the silence was faintly disturbed, when the restless turning of one of the girls in her bed betrayed itself by a gentle rustling between the sheets.

underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading The small rain fell too softly to be heard in the garden; not a leaf stirred in the airless calm; the watch-dog was asleep, the cats were indoors; far or near, under the murky heaven, not a sound was stirring.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Outside the bedroom the night was black and still.

watch-dog

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

From this reading The small rain fell too softly to be heard in the garden; not a leaf stirred in the airless calm; the watch-dog was asleep, the cats were indoors; far or near, under the murky heaven, not a sound was stirring.

well

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

From this reading Miss Ladd knew her business as a schoolmistress too well to allow night-lights; and Miss Ladd’s young ladies were supposed to be fast asleep, in accordance with the rules of the house.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading The small rain fell too softly to be heard in the garden; not a leaf stirred in the airless calm; the watch-dog was asleep, the cats were indoors; far or near, under the murky heaven, not a sound was stirring.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading Only at intervals the silence was faintly disturbed, when the restless turning of one of the girls in her bed betrayed itself by a gentle rustling between the sheets.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Miss Ladd knew her business as a schoolmistress too well to allow night-lights; and Miss Ladd’s young ladies were supposed to be fast asleep, in accordance with the rules of the house.

young

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

From this reading Miss Ladd knew her business as a schoolmistress too well to allow night-lights; and Miss Ladd’s young ladies were supposed to be fast asleep, in accordance with the rules of the house.