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Jock's inheritance
Jock's inheritance

Chapter I

Cover illustration for Jock's inheritance
Context Illustration Reading 1/56 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Author of "My Heart's in the Highlands," "A Girl and Her Ways," "Noel's Christmas Tree," etc.
IT was four o'clock in the afternoon in the beginning of January.
The room was cosy and comfortable.
Outside, there was a bitter north-east wind; the grey dusk hid the opposite row of houses, but the noise of the traffic in the next street was ceaseless, and the girl sitting before the blazing fire, her hands clasped loosely round her knees, was continually raising her head in a listening attitude.
Then she heard the electric bell of her flat ring, and she rose to her feet expectantly.
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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.

Jock's inheritance

Chapter I

Reading 1/56 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Author of "My Heart's in the Highlands," "A Girl and Her Ways," "Noel's Christmas Tree," etc.
Line 2
IT was four o'clock in the afternoon in the beginning of January.
Line 3
The room was cosy and comfortable.
Line 4
Outside, there was a bitter north-east wind; the grey dusk hid the opposite row of houses, but the noise of the traffic in the next street was ceaseless, and the girl sitting before the blazing fire, her hands clasped loosely round her knees, was continually raising her head in a listening attitude.
Line 5
Then she heard the electric bell of her flat ring, and she rose to her feet expectantly.

Learner Dictionary

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

Afternoon noun US /ˈafternoon/

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

From this reading “IT was four o'clock in the afternoon in the beginning of January.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “Outside, there was a bitter north-east wind; the grey dusk hid the opposite row of houses, but the noise of the traffic in the next street was ceaseless, and the girl sitting before the blazing fire, her hands clasped loosely round her knees, was continually raising her head in a listening attitude.”

Beginning noun US /ˈbeginning/

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

From this reading “IT was four o'clock in the afternoon in the beginning of January.”

Hands plural noun US /hændz/

members of a ship’s crew

From this reading “Outside, there was a bitter north-east wind; the grey dusk hid the opposite row of houses, but the noise of the traffic in the next street was ceaseless, and the girl sitting before the blazing fire, her hands clasped loosely round her knees, was continually raising her head in a listening attitude.”

Next noun US /next/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Outside, there was a bitter north-east wind; the grey dusk hid the opposite row of houses, but the noise of the traffic in the next street was ceaseless, and the girl sitting before the blazing fire, her hands clasped loosely round her knees, was continually raising her head in a listening attitude.”

Outside noun US /ˈoutside/

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

From this reading “Outside, there was a bitter north-east wind; the grey dusk hid the opposite row of houses, but the noise of the traffic in the next street was ceaseless, and the girl sitting before the blazing fire, her hands clasped loosely round her knees, was continually raising her head in a listening attitude.”

Wind noun US /wind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Outside, there was a bitter north-east wind; the grey dusk hid the opposite row of houses, but the noise of the traffic in the next street was ceaseless, and the girl sitting before the blazing fire, her hands clasped loosely round her knees, was continually raising her head in a listening attitude.”

All words in this reading · 68

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 Author of "My Heart's in the Highlands," "A Girl and Her Ways," "Noel's Christmas Tree," etc.

afternoonnounUS /ˈafternoon/

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

From this reading IT was four o'clock in the afternoon in the beginning of January.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Author of "My Heart's in the Highlands," "A Girl and Her Ways," "Noel's Christmas Tree," etc.

attitude

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

From this reading Outside, there was a bitter north-east wind; the grey dusk hid the opposite row of houses, but the noise of the traffic in the next street was ceaseless, and the girl sitting before the blazing fire, her hands clasped loosely round her knees, was continually raising her head in a listening attitude.

Author

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

From this reading Author of "My Heart's in the Highlands," "A Girl and Her Ways," "Noel's Christmas Tree," etc.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Outside, there was a bitter north-east wind; the grey dusk hid the opposite row of houses, but the noise of the traffic in the next street was ceaseless, and the girl sitting before the blazing fire, her hands clasped loosely round her knees, was continually raising her head in a listening attitude.

beginningnounUS /ˈbeginning/

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

From this reading IT was four o'clock in the afternoon in the beginning of January.

bell

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

From this reading Then she heard the electric bell of her flat ring, and she rose to her feet expectantly.

bitter

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

From this reading Outside, there was a bitter north-east wind; the grey dusk hid the opposite row of houses, but the noise of the traffic in the next street was ceaseless, and the girl sitting before the blazing fire, her hands clasped loosely round her knees, was continually raising her head in a listening attitude.

blazing

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

From this reading Outside, there was a bitter north-east wind; the grey dusk hid the opposite row of houses, but the noise of the traffic in the next street was ceaseless, and the girl sitting before the blazing fire, her hands clasped loosely round her knees, was continually raising her head in a listening attitude.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Outside, there was a bitter north-east wind; the grey dusk hid the opposite row of houses, but the noise of the traffic in the next street was ceaseless, and the girl sitting before the blazing fire, her hands clasped loosely round her knees, was continually raising her head in a listening attitude.

ceaseless

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

From this reading Outside, there was a bitter north-east wind; the grey dusk hid the opposite row of houses, but the noise of the traffic in the next street was ceaseless, and the girl sitting before the blazing fire, her hands clasped loosely round her knees, was continually raising her head in a listening attitude.

Christmas

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

From this reading Author of "My Heart's in the Highlands," "A Girl and Her Ways," "Noel's Christmas Tree," etc.

clasped

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

From this reading Outside, there was a bitter north-east wind; the grey dusk hid the opposite row of houses, but the noise of the traffic in the next street was ceaseless, and the girl sitting before the blazing fire, her hands clasped loosely round her knees, was continually raising her head in a listening attitude.

comfortable

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

From this reading The room was cosy and comfortable.

continually

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

From this reading Outside, there was a bitter north-east wind; the grey dusk hid the opposite row of houses, but the noise of the traffic in the next street was ceaseless, and the girl sitting before the blazing fire, her hands clasped loosely round her knees, was continually raising her head in a listening attitude.

cosy

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

From this reading The room was cosy and comfortable.

dusk

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

From this reading Outside, there was a bitter north-east wind; the grey dusk hid the opposite row of houses, but the noise of the traffic in the next street was ceaseless, and the girl sitting before the blazing fire, her hands clasped loosely round her knees, was continually raising her head in a listening attitude.

electric

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

From this reading Then she heard the electric bell of her flat ring, and she rose to her feet expectantly.

etc

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

From this reading Author of "My Heart's in the Highlands," "A Girl and Her Ways," "Noel's Christmas Tree," etc.

expectantly

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

From this reading Then she heard the electric bell of her flat ring, and she rose to her feet expectantly.

feet

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

From this reading Then she heard the electric bell of her flat ring, and she rose to her feet expectantly.

fire

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

From this reading Outside, there was a bitter north-east wind; the grey dusk hid the opposite row of houses, but the noise of the traffic in the next street was ceaseless, and the girl sitting before the blazing fire, her hands clasped loosely round her knees, was continually raising her head in a listening attitude.

flat

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

From this reading Then she heard the electric bell of her flat ring, and she rose to her feet expectantly.

four

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

From this reading IT was four o'clock in the afternoon in the beginning of January.

Girl

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

From this reading Author of "My Heart's in the Highlands," "A Girl and Her Ways," "Noel's Christmas Tree," etc.

grey

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

From this reading Outside, there was a bitter north-east wind; the grey dusk hid the opposite row of houses, but the noise of the traffic in the next street was ceaseless, and the girl sitting before the blazing fire, her hands clasped loosely round her knees, was continually raising her head in a listening attitude.

handsplural nounUS /hændz/

members of a ship’s crew

From this reading Outside, there was a bitter north-east wind; the grey dusk hid the opposite row of houses, but the noise of the traffic in the next street was ceaseless, and the girl sitting before the blazing fire, her hands clasped loosely round her knees, was continually raising her head in a listening attitude.

head

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

From this reading Outside, there was a bitter north-east wind; the grey dusk hid the opposite row of houses, but the noise of the traffic in the next street was ceaseless, and the girl sitting before the blazing fire, her hands clasped loosely round her knees, was continually raising her head in a listening attitude.

heard

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

From this reading Then she heard the electric bell of her flat ring, and she rose to her feet expectantly.

Heart's

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

From this reading Author of "My Heart's in the Highlands," "A Girl and Her Ways," "Noel's Christmas Tree," etc.

HerdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading Author of "My Heart's in the Highlands," "A Girl and Her Ways," "Noel's Christmas Tree," etc.

hid

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

From this reading Outside, there was a bitter north-east wind; the grey dusk hid the opposite row of houses, but the noise of the traffic in the next street was ceaseless, and the girl sitting before the blazing fire, her hands clasped loosely round her knees, was continually raising her head in a listening attitude.

Highlands

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

From this reading Author of "My Heart's in the Highlands," "A Girl and Her Ways," "Noel's Christmas Tree," etc.

houses

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

From this reading Outside, there was a bitter north-east wind; the grey dusk hid the opposite row of houses, but the noise of the traffic in the next street was ceaseless, and the girl sitting before the blazing fire, her hands clasped loosely round her knees, was continually raising her head in a listening attitude.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Author of "My Heart's in the Highlands," "A Girl and Her Ways," "Noel's Christmas Tree," etc.

ITpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading IT was four o'clock in the afternoon in the beginning of January.

January

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

From this reading IT was four o'clock in the afternoon in the beginning of January.

knees

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

From this reading Outside, there was a bitter north-east wind; the grey dusk hid the opposite row of houses, but the noise of the traffic in the next street was ceaseless, and the girl sitting before the blazing fire, her hands clasped loosely round her knees, was continually raising her head in a listening attitude.

listening

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

From this reading Outside, there was a bitter north-east wind; the grey dusk hid the opposite row of houses, but the noise of the traffic in the next street was ceaseless, and the girl sitting before the blazing fire, her hands clasped loosely round her knees, was continually raising her head in a listening attitude.

loosely

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

From this reading Outside, there was a bitter north-east wind; the grey dusk hid the opposite row of houses, but the noise of the traffic in the next street was ceaseless, and the girl sitting before the blazing fire, her hands clasped loosely round her knees, was continually raising her head in a listening attitude.

MydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading Author of "My Heart's in the Highlands," "A Girl and Her Ways," "Noel's Christmas Tree," etc.

nextnounUS /next/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Outside, there was a bitter north-east wind; the grey dusk hid the opposite row of houses, but the noise of the traffic in the next street was ceaseless, and the girl sitting before the blazing fire, her hands clasped loosely round her knees, was continually raising her head in a listening attitude.

Noel's

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

From this reading Author of "My Heart's in the Highlands," "A Girl and Her Ways," "Noel's Christmas Tree," etc.

noise

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

From this reading Outside, there was a bitter north-east wind; the grey dusk hid the opposite row of houses, but the noise of the traffic in the next street was ceaseless, and the girl sitting before the blazing fire, her hands clasped loosely round her knees, was continually raising her head in a listening attitude.

north-east

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

From this reading Outside, there was a bitter north-east wind; the grey dusk hid the opposite row of houses, but the noise of the traffic in the next street was ceaseless, and the girl sitting before the blazing fire, her hands clasped loosely round her knees, was continually raising her head in a listening attitude.

o'clock

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

From this reading IT was four o'clock in the afternoon in the beginning of January.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Author of "My Heart's in the Highlands," "A Girl and Her Ways," "Noel's Christmas Tree," etc.

opposite

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

From this reading Outside, there was a bitter north-east wind; the grey dusk hid the opposite row of houses, but the noise of the traffic in the next street was ceaseless, and the girl sitting before the blazing fire, her hands clasped loosely round her knees, was continually raising her head in a listening attitude.

OutsidenounUS /ˈoutside/

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

From this reading Outside, there was a bitter north-east wind; the grey dusk hid the opposite row of houses, but the noise of the traffic in the next street was ceaseless, and the girl sitting before the blazing fire, her hands clasped loosely round her knees, was continually raising her head in a listening attitude.

raising

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

From this reading Outside, there was a bitter north-east wind; the grey dusk hid the opposite row of houses, but the noise of the traffic in the next street was ceaseless, and the girl sitting before the blazing fire, her hands clasped loosely round her knees, was continually raising her head in a listening attitude.

ring

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

From this reading Then she heard the electric bell of her flat ring, and she rose to her feet expectantly.

room

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

From this reading The room was cosy and comfortable.

rose

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

From this reading Then she heard the electric bell of her flat ring, and she rose to her feet expectantly.

round

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

From this reading Outside, there was a bitter north-east wind; the grey dusk hid the opposite row of houses, but the noise of the traffic in the next street was ceaseless, and the girl sitting before the blazing fire, her hands clasped loosely round her knees, was continually raising her head in a listening attitude.

row

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

From this reading Outside, there was a bitter north-east wind; the grey dusk hid the opposite row of houses, but the noise of the traffic in the next street was ceaseless, and the girl sitting before the blazing fire, her hands clasped loosely round her knees, was continually raising her head in a listening attitude.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading Then she heard the electric bell of her flat ring, and she rose to her feet expectantly.

sitting

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

From this reading Outside, there was a bitter north-east wind; the grey dusk hid the opposite row of houses, but the noise of the traffic in the next street was ceaseless, and the girl sitting before the blazing fire, her hands clasped loosely round her knees, was continually raising her head in a listening attitude.

street

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

From this reading Outside, there was a bitter north-east wind; the grey dusk hid the opposite row of houses, but the noise of the traffic in the next street was ceaseless, and the girl sitting before the blazing fire, her hands clasped loosely round her knees, was continually raising her head in a listening attitude.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Author of "My Heart's in the Highlands," "A Girl and Her Ways," "Noel's Christmas Tree," etc.

Then

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

From this reading Then she heard the electric bell of her flat ring, and she rose to her feet expectantly.

there

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

From this reading Outside, there was a bitter north-east wind; the grey dusk hid the opposite row of houses, but the noise of the traffic in the next street was ceaseless, and the girl sitting before the blazing fire, her hands clasped loosely round her knees, was continually raising her head in a listening attitude.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Then she heard the electric bell of her flat ring, and she rose to her feet expectantly.

traffic

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

From this reading Outside, there was a bitter north-east wind; the grey dusk hid the opposite row of houses, but the noise of the traffic in the next street was ceaseless, and the girl sitting before the blazing fire, her hands clasped loosely round her knees, was continually raising her head in a listening attitude.

Tree

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

From this reading Author of "My Heart's in the Highlands," "A Girl and Her Ways," "Noel's Christmas Tree," etc.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading IT was four o'clock in the afternoon in the beginning of January.

Ways

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

From this reading Author of "My Heart's in the Highlands," "A Girl and Her Ways," "Noel's Christmas Tree," etc.

windnounUS /wind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Outside, there was a bitter north-east wind; the grey dusk hid the opposite row of houses, but the noise of the traffic in the next street was ceaseless, and the girl sitting before the blazing fire, her hands clasped loosely round her knees, was continually raising her head in a listening attitude.