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In Connection with the De Willoughby Claim
In Connection with the De Willoughby Claim

Chapter II

Cover illustration for In Connection with the De Willoughby Claim
Context Illustration Reading 1/55 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Before the war there were no people better known or more prominent in their portion of the State than the De Willoughbys of Delisle County, Tennessee.
To have been born a De Willoughby was, in general opinion, to have been born with a silver spoon in one's mouth.
It was indeed to have been born to social dignity, fortune, courage, and more than the usual allowance of good looks.
And though the fortune was lavishly spent, the courage sometimes betrayed into a rather theatrical dare-deviltry, and the good looks prone to deteriorate in style, there was always the social position left, and this was a matter of the deepest importance in Delisleville.
The sentiments of Delisleville were purely patrician.
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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.

In Connection with the De Willoughby Claim

Chapter II

Reading 1/55 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Before the war there were no people better known or more prominent in their portion of the State than the De Willoughbys of Delisle County, Tennessee.
Line 2
To have been born a De Willoughby was, in general opinion, to have been born with a silver spoon in one's mouth.
Line 3
It was indeed to have been born to social dignity, fortune, courage, and more than the usual allowance of good looks.
Line 4
And though the fortune was lavishly spent, the courage sometimes betrayed into a rather theatrical dare-deviltry, and the good looks prone to deteriorate in style, there was always the social position left, and this was a matter of the deepest importance in Delisleville.
Line 5
The sentiments of Delisleville were purely patrician.

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 “To have been born a De Willoughby was, in general opinion, to have been born with a silver spoon in one's mouth.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “Before the war there were no people better known or more prominent in their portion of the State than the De Willoughbys of Delisle County, Tennessee.”

Born noun US /born/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “To have been born a De Willoughby was, in general opinion, to have been born with a silver spoon in one's mouth.”

Fortune noun US /ˈfortune/

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

From this reading “It was indeed to have been born to social dignity, fortune, courage, and more than the usual allowance of good looks.”

Good noun US /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was indeed to have been born to social dignity, fortune, courage, and more than the usual allowance of good looks.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “To have been born a De Willoughby was, in general opinion, to have been born with a silver spoon in one's mouth.”

Left noun US /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “And though the fortune was lavishly spent, the courage sometimes betrayed into a rather theatrical dare-deviltry, and the good looks prone to deteriorate in style, there was always the social position left, and this was a matter of the deepest importance in Delisleville.”

Silver noun US /silver/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “To have been born a De Willoughby was, in general opinion, to have been born with a silver spoon in one's mouth.”

Sometimes noun US /sometimes/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “And though the fortune was lavishly spent, the courage sometimes betrayed into a rather theatrical dare-deviltry, and the good looks prone to deteriorate in style, there was always the social position left, and this was a matter of the deepest importance in Delisleville.”

Though conjunction US /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “And though the fortune was lavishly spent, the courage sometimes betrayed into a rather theatrical dare-deviltry, and the good looks prone to deteriorate in style, there was always the social position left, and this was a matter of the deepest importance in Delisleville.”

All words in this reading · 71

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 To have been born a De Willoughby was, in general opinion, to have been born with a silver spoon in one's mouth.

allowance

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

From this reading It was indeed to have been born to social dignity, fortune, courage, and more than the usual allowance of good looks.

always

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

From this reading And though the fortune was lavishly spent, the courage sometimes betrayed into a rather theatrical dare-deviltry, and the good looks prone to deteriorate in style, there was always the social position left, and this was a matter of the deepest importance in Delisleville.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading It was indeed to have been born to social dignity, fortune, courage, and more than the usual allowance of good looks.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading To have been born a De Willoughby was, in general opinion, to have been born with a silver spoon in one's mouth.

BeforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Before the war there were no people better known or more prominent in their portion of the State than the De Willoughbys of Delisle County, Tennessee.

betrayed

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

From this reading And though the fortune was lavishly spent, the courage sometimes betrayed into a rather theatrical dare-deviltry, and the good looks prone to deteriorate in style, there was always the social position left, and this was a matter of the deepest importance in Delisleville.

better

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

From this reading Before the war there were no people better known or more prominent in their portion of the State than the De Willoughbys of Delisle County, Tennessee.

bornnounUS /born/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading To have been born a De Willoughby was, in general opinion, to have been born with a silver spoon in one's mouth.

County

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

From this reading Before the war there were no people better known or more prominent in their portion of the State than the De Willoughbys of Delisle County, Tennessee.

courage

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

From this reading It was indeed to have been born to social dignity, fortune, courage, and more than the usual allowance of good looks.

dare-deviltry

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

From this reading And though the fortune was lavishly spent, the courage sometimes betrayed into a rather theatrical dare-deviltry, and the good looks prone to deteriorate in style, there was always the social position left, and this was a matter of the deepest importance in Delisleville.

De

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

From this reading Before the war there were no people better known or more prominent in their portion of the State than the De Willoughbys of Delisle County, Tennessee.

deepest

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

From this reading And though the fortune was lavishly spent, the courage sometimes betrayed into a rather theatrical dare-deviltry, and the good looks prone to deteriorate in style, there was always the social position left, and this was a matter of the deepest importance in Delisleville.

Delisle

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

From this reading Before the war there were no people better known or more prominent in their portion of the State than the De Willoughbys of Delisle County, Tennessee.

Delisleville

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

From this reading And though the fortune was lavishly spent, the courage sometimes betrayed into a rather theatrical dare-deviltry, and the good looks prone to deteriorate in style, there was always the social position left, and this was a matter of the deepest importance in Delisleville.

deteriorate

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

From this reading And though the fortune was lavishly spent, the courage sometimes betrayed into a rather theatrical dare-deviltry, and the good looks prone to deteriorate in style, there was always the social position left, and this was a matter of the deepest importance in Delisleville.

dignity

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

From this reading It was indeed to have been born to social dignity, fortune, courage, and more than the usual allowance of good looks.

fortunenounUS /ˈfortune/

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

From this reading It was indeed to have been born to social dignity, fortune, courage, and more than the usual allowance of good looks.

general

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

From this reading To have been born a De Willoughby was, in general opinion, to have been born with a silver spoon in one's mouth.

goodnounUS /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was indeed to have been born to social dignity, fortune, courage, and more than the usual allowance of good looks.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading To have been born a De Willoughby was, in general opinion, to have been born with a silver spoon in one's mouth.

importance

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

From this reading And though the fortune was lavishly spent, the courage sometimes betrayed into a rather theatrical dare-deviltry, and the good looks prone to deteriorate in style, there was always the social position left, and this was a matter of the deepest importance in Delisleville.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Before the war there were no people better known or more prominent in their portion of the State than the De Willoughbys of Delisle County, Tennessee.

indeed

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

From this reading It was indeed to have been born to social dignity, fortune, courage, and more than the usual allowance of good looks.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading And though the fortune was lavishly spent, the courage sometimes betrayed into a rather theatrical dare-deviltry, and the good looks prone to deteriorate in style, there was always the social position left, and this was a matter of the deepest importance in Delisleville.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was indeed to have been born to social dignity, fortune, courage, and more than the usual allowance of good looks.

known

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

From this reading Before the war there were no people better known or more prominent in their portion of the State than the De Willoughbys of Delisle County, Tennessee.

lavishly

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

From this reading And though the fortune was lavishly spent, the courage sometimes betrayed into a rather theatrical dare-deviltry, and the good looks prone to deteriorate in style, there was always the social position left, and this was a matter of the deepest importance in Delisleville.

leftnounUS /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading And though the fortune was lavishly spent, the courage sometimes betrayed into a rather theatrical dare-deviltry, and the good looks prone to deteriorate in style, there was always the social position left, and this was a matter of the deepest importance in Delisleville.

looks

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

From this reading It was indeed to have been born to social dignity, fortune, courage, and more than the usual allowance of good looks.

matter

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

From this reading And though the fortune was lavishly spent, the courage sometimes betrayed into a rather theatrical dare-deviltry, and the good looks prone to deteriorate in style, there was always the social position left, and this was a matter of the deepest importance in Delisleville.

more

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

From this reading Before the war there were no people better known or more prominent in their portion of the State than the De Willoughbys of Delisle County, Tennessee.

mouth

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

From this reading To have been born a De Willoughby was, in general opinion, to have been born with a silver spoon in one's mouth.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading Before the war there were no people better known or more prominent in their portion of the State than the De Willoughbys of Delisle County, Tennessee.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Before the war there were no people better known or more prominent in their portion of the State than the De Willoughbys of Delisle County, Tennessee.

one's

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

From this reading To have been born a De Willoughby was, in general opinion, to have been born with a silver spoon in one's mouth.

opinion

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

From this reading To have been born a De Willoughby was, in general opinion, to have been born with a silver spoon in one's mouth.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Before the war there were no people better known or more prominent in their portion of the State than the De Willoughbys of Delisle County, Tennessee.

patrician

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

From this reading The sentiments of Delisleville were purely patrician.

people

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

From this reading Before the war there were no people better known or more prominent in their portion of the State than the De Willoughbys of Delisle County, Tennessee.

portion

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

From this reading Before the war there were no people better known or more prominent in their portion of the State than the De Willoughbys of Delisle County, Tennessee.

position

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

From this reading And though the fortune was lavishly spent, the courage sometimes betrayed into a rather theatrical dare-deviltry, and the good looks prone to deteriorate in style, there was always the social position left, and this was a matter of the deepest importance in Delisleville.

prominent

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

From this reading Before the war there were no people better known or more prominent in their portion of the State than the De Willoughbys of Delisle County, Tennessee.

prone

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

From this reading And though the fortune was lavishly spent, the courage sometimes betrayed into a rather theatrical dare-deviltry, and the good looks prone to deteriorate in style, there was always the social position left, and this was a matter of the deepest importance in Delisleville.

purely

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

From this reading The sentiments of Delisleville were purely patrician.

rather

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

From this reading And though the fortune was lavishly spent, the courage sometimes betrayed into a rather theatrical dare-deviltry, and the good looks prone to deteriorate in style, there was always the social position left, and this was a matter of the deepest importance in Delisleville.

sentiments

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

From this reading The sentiments of Delisleville were purely patrician.

silver

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

From this reading To have been born a De Willoughby was, in general opinion, to have been born with a silver spoon in one's mouth.

social

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

From this reading It was indeed to have been born to social dignity, fortune, courage, and more than the usual allowance of good looks.

sometimes

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

From this reading And though the fortune was lavishly spent, the courage sometimes betrayed into a rather theatrical dare-deviltry, and the good looks prone to deteriorate in style, there was always the social position left, and this was a matter of the deepest importance in Delisleville.

spent

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

From this reading And though the fortune was lavishly spent, the courage sometimes betrayed into a rather theatrical dare-deviltry, and the good looks prone to deteriorate in style, there was always the social position left, and this was a matter of the deepest importance in Delisleville.

spoon

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

From this reading To have been born a De Willoughby was, in general opinion, to have been born with a silver spoon in one's mouth.

State

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

From this reading Before the war there were no people better known or more prominent in their portion of the State than the De Willoughbys of Delisle County, Tennessee.

style

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

From this reading And though the fortune was lavishly spent, the courage sometimes betrayed into a rather theatrical dare-deviltry, and the good looks prone to deteriorate in style, there was always the social position left, and this was a matter of the deepest importance in Delisleville.

Tennessee

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

From this reading Before the war there were no people better known or more prominent in their portion of the State than the De Willoughbys of Delisle County, Tennessee.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading Before the war there were no people better known or more prominent in their portion of the State than the De Willoughbys of Delisle County, Tennessee.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Before the war there were no people better known or more prominent in their portion of the State than the De Willoughbys of Delisle County, Tennessee.

theatrical

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

From this reading And though the fortune was lavishly spent, the courage sometimes betrayed into a rather theatrical dare-deviltry, and the good looks prone to deteriorate in style, there was always the social position left, and this was a matter of the deepest importance in Delisleville.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Before the war there were no people better known or more prominent in their portion of the State than the De Willoughbys of Delisle County, Tennessee.

there

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

From this reading Before the war there were no people better known or more prominent in their portion of the State than the De Willoughbys of Delisle County, Tennessee.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading And though the fortune was lavishly spent, the courage sometimes betrayed into a rather theatrical dare-deviltry, and the good looks prone to deteriorate in style, there was always the social position left, and this was a matter of the deepest importance in Delisleville.

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading And though the fortune was lavishly spent, the courage sometimes betrayed into a rather theatrical dare-deviltry, and the good looks prone to deteriorate in style, there was always the social position left, and this was a matter of the deepest importance in Delisleville.

ToparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading To have been born a De Willoughby was, in general opinion, to have been born with a silver spoon in one's mouth.

usual

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

From this reading It was indeed to have been born to social dignity, fortune, courage, and more than the usual allowance of good looks.

war

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

From this reading Before the war there were no people better known or more prominent in their portion of the State than the De Willoughbys of Delisle County, Tennessee.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading To have been born a De Willoughby was, in general opinion, to have been born with a silver spoon in one's mouth.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading Before the war there were no people better known or more prominent in their portion of the State than the De Willoughbys of Delisle County, Tennessee.

Willoughby

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

From this reading To have been born a De Willoughby was, in general opinion, to have been born with a silver spoon in one's mouth.

Willoughbys

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

From this reading Before the war there were no people better known or more prominent in their portion of the State than the De Willoughbys of Delisle County, Tennessee.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading To have been born a De Willoughby was, in general opinion, to have been born with a silver spoon in one's mouth.