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"I Say No"
"I Say No"

Chapter XXVIII · Pretending

Cover illustration for "I Say No"
Context Illustration Reading 1/60 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Miss de Sor began cautiously with an apology.
“Excuse me, Mr. Mirabel, for reminding you of my presence.”
Mr. Mirabel made no reply.
“I beg to say,” Francine proceeded, “that I didn’t intentionally see you kiss Emily’s hand.”
Mirabel stood, looking at the roses which Emily had left on her chair, as completely absorbed in his own thoughts as if he had been alone in the garden.
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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 XXVIII · Pretending

Reading 1/60 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Miss de Sor began cautiously with an apology.
Line 2
“Excuse me, Mr. Mirabel, for reminding you of my presence.”
Line 3
Mr. Mirabel made no reply.
Line 4
“I beg to say,” Francine proceeded, “that I didn’t intentionally see you kiss Emily’s hand.”
Line 5
Mirabel stood, looking at the roses which Emily had left on her chair, as completely absorbed in his own thoughts as if he had been alone in the garden.

Learner Dictionary

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

Alone noun US /alone/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Mirabel stood, looking at the roses which Emily had left on her chair, as completely absorbed in his own thoughts as if he had been alone in the garden.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “Mirabel stood, looking at the roses which Emily had left on her chair, as completely absorbed in his own thoughts as if he had been alone in the garden.”

Began noun US /began/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Miss de Sor began cautiously with an apology.”

Hand noun US /hand/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““I beg to say,” Francine proceeded, “that I didn’t intentionally see you kiss Emily’s hand.””

Left noun US /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Mirabel stood, looking at the roses which Emily had left on her chair, as completely absorbed in his own thoughts as if he had been alone in the garden.”

Stood noun US /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Mirabel stood, looking at the roses which Emily had left on her chair, as completely absorbed in his own thoughts as if he had been alone in the garden.”

All words in this reading · 58

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

absorbed

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

From this reading Mirabel stood, looking at the roses which Emily had left on her chair, as completely absorbed in his own thoughts as if he had been alone in the garden.

alonenounUS /alone/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Mirabel stood, looking at the roses which Emily had left on her chair, as completely absorbed in his own thoughts as if he had been alone in the garden.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading Miss de Sor began cautiously with an apology.

apology

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

From this reading Miss de Sor began cautiously with an apology.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Mirabel stood, looking at the roses which Emily had left on her chair, as completely absorbed in his own thoughts as if he had been alone in the garden.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Mirabel stood, looking at the roses which Emily had left on her chair, as completely absorbed in his own thoughts as if he had been alone in the garden.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Mirabel stood, looking at the roses which Emily had left on her chair, as completely absorbed in his own thoughts as if he had been alone in the garden.

beg

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

From this reading “I beg to say,” Francine proceeded, “that I didn’t intentionally see you kiss Emily’s hand.”

begannounUS /began/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Miss de Sor began cautiously with an apology.

cautiously

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

From this reading Miss de Sor began cautiously with an apology.

chair

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

From this reading Mirabel stood, looking at the roses which Emily had left on her chair, as completely absorbed in his own thoughts as if he had been alone in the garden.

completely

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

From this reading Mirabel stood, looking at the roses which Emily had left on her chair, as completely absorbed in his own thoughts as if he had been alone in the garden.

de

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

From this reading Miss de Sor began cautiously with an apology.

didn't

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

From this reading “I beg to say,” Francine proceeded, “that I didn’t intentionally see you kiss Emily’s hand.”

Emily

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

From this reading Mirabel stood, looking at the roses which Emily had left on her chair, as completely absorbed in his own thoughts as if he had been alone in the garden.

Emily's

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

From this reading “I beg to say,” Francine proceeded, “that I didn’t intentionally see you kiss Emily’s hand.”

Excuse

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

From this reading “Excuse me, Mr. Mirabel, for reminding you of my presence.”

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading “Excuse me, Mr. Mirabel, for reminding you of my presence.”

Francine

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

From this reading “I beg to say,” Francine proceeded, “that I didn’t intentionally see you kiss Emily’s hand.”

garden

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

From this reading Mirabel stood, looking at the roses which Emily had left on her chair, as completely absorbed in his own thoughts as if he had been alone in the garden.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Mirabel stood, looking at the roses which Emily had left on her chair, as completely absorbed in his own thoughts as if he had been alone in the garden.

hand

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

From this reading “I beg to say,” Francine proceeded, “that I didn’t intentionally see you kiss Emily’s hand.”

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Mirabel stood, looking at the roses which Emily had left on her chair, as completely absorbed in his own thoughts as if he had been alone in the garden.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading Mirabel stood, looking at the roses which Emily had left on her chair, as completely absorbed in his own thoughts as if he had been alone in the garden.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Mirabel stood, looking at the roses which Emily had left on her chair, as completely absorbed in his own thoughts as if he had been alone in the garden.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading “I beg to say,” Francine proceeded, “that I didn’t intentionally see you kiss Emily’s hand.”

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading Mirabel stood, looking at the roses which Emily had left on her chair, as completely absorbed in his own thoughts as if he had been alone in the garden.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Mirabel stood, looking at the roses which Emily had left on her chair, as completely absorbed in his own thoughts as if he had been alone in the garden.

intentionally

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

From this reading “I beg to say,” Francine proceeded, “that I didn’t intentionally see you kiss Emily’s hand.”

kiss

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

From this reading “I beg to say,” Francine proceeded, “that I didn’t intentionally see you kiss Emily’s hand.”

leftnounUS /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Mirabel stood, looking at the roses which Emily had left on her chair, as completely absorbed in his own thoughts as if he had been alone in the garden.

looking

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

From this reading Mirabel stood, looking at the roses which Emily had left on her chair, as completely absorbed in his own thoughts as if he had been alone in the garden.

made

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

From this reading Mr. Mirabel made no reply.

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading “Excuse me, Mr. Mirabel, for reminding you of my presence.”

Mirabel

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

From this reading “Excuse me, Mr. Mirabel, for reminding you of my presence.”

Miss

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

From this reading Miss de Sor began cautiously with an apology.

Mr

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

From this reading “Excuse me, Mr. Mirabel, for reminding you of my presence.”

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading “Excuse me, Mr. Mirabel, for reminding you of my presence.”

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading Mr. Mirabel made no reply.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading “Excuse me, Mr. Mirabel, for reminding you of my presence.”

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Mirabel stood, looking at the roses which Emily had left on her chair, as completely absorbed in his own thoughts as if he had been alone in the garden.

own

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

From this reading Mirabel stood, looking at the roses which Emily had left on her chair, as completely absorbed in his own thoughts as if he had been alone in the garden.

presence

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

From this reading “Excuse me, Mr. Mirabel, for reminding you of my presence.”

proceeded

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

From this reading “I beg to say,” Francine proceeded, “that I didn’t intentionally see you kiss Emily’s hand.”

reminding

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

From this reading “Excuse me, Mr. Mirabel, for reminding you of my presence.”

reply

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

From this reading Mr. Mirabel made no reply.

roses

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

From this reading Mirabel stood, looking at the roses which Emily had left on her chair, as completely absorbed in his own thoughts as if he had been alone in the garden.

say

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

From this reading “I beg to say,” Francine proceeded, “that I didn’t intentionally see you kiss Emily’s hand.”

see

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

From this reading “I beg to say,” Francine proceeded, “that I didn’t intentionally see you kiss Emily’s hand.”

Sor

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

From this reading Miss de Sor began cautiously with an apology.

stoodnounUS /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Mirabel stood, looking at the roses which Emily had left on her chair, as completely absorbed in his own thoughts as if he had been alone in the garden.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading “I beg to say,” Francine proceeded, “that I didn’t intentionally see you kiss Emily’s hand.”

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Mirabel stood, looking at the roses which Emily had left on her chair, as completely absorbed in his own thoughts as if he had been alone in the garden.

thoughts

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

From this reading Mirabel stood, looking at the roses which Emily had left on her chair, as completely absorbed in his own thoughts as if he had been alone in the garden.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading “I beg to say,” Francine proceeded, “that I didn’t intentionally see you kiss Emily’s hand.”

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading Mirabel stood, looking at the roses which Emily had left on her chair, as completely absorbed in his own thoughts as if he had been alone in the garden.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Miss de Sor began cautiously with an apology.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “Excuse me, Mr. Mirabel, for reminding you of my presence.”