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Jonah's Luck
Jonah's Luck

Chapter X · The Inquest

Cover illustration for Jonah's Luck
Context Illustration Reading 1/56 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
"You must be mistaken," stammered the doctor, staring, as well he might, considering the astounding news which he had heard.
"I don't make mistakes either in or out of business," replied Mr. Ritson haughtily.
"Last week I drew up Sir Simon's will, which was short and to the point.
In it he disinherited Maud Tedder and left all his money and property to his nephew, Angus Herries."
"Good Lord."
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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.

Jonah's Luck

Chapter X · The Inquest

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

Line 1
"You must be mistaken," stammered the doctor, staring, as well he might, considering the astounding news which he had heard.
Line 2
"I don't make mistakes either in or out of business," replied Mr. Ritson haughtily.
Line 3
"Last week I drew up Sir Simon's will, which was short and to the point.
Line 4
In it he disinherited Maud Tedder and left all his money and property to his nephew, Angus Herries."
Line 5
"Good Lord."

Learner Dictionary

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

Doctor noun US /doctor/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"You must be mistaken," stammered the doctor, staring, as well he might, considering the astounding news which he had heard.”

Drew noun US /drew/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"Last week I drew up Sir Simon's will, which was short and to the point.”

Either determiner US /ˈiːðər/

one or the other of two

From this reading “"I don't make mistakes either in or out of business," replied Mr. Ritson haughtily.”

Good noun US /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"Good Lord."”

Last noun US /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"Last week I drew up Sir Simon's will, which was short and to the point.”

Left noun US /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “In it he disinherited Maud Tedder and left all his money and property to his nephew, Angus Herries."”

Make noun US /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"I don't make mistakes either in or out of business," replied Mr. Ritson haughtily.”

Might modal verb US /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading “"You must be mistaken," stammered the doctor, staring, as well he might, considering the astounding news which he had heard.”

Must modal verb US /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading “"You must be mistaken," stammered the doctor, staring, as well he might, considering the astounding news which he had heard.”

Point noun US /pɔɪnt/

the main matter or purpose being discussed

From this reading “"Last week I drew up Sir Simon's will, which was short and to the point.”

Replied noun US /replied/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"I don't make mistakes either in or out of business," replied Mr. Ritson haughtily.”

Short adjective US /ʃɔrt/

brief or direct in expression

From this reading “"Last week I drew up Sir Simon's will, which was short and to the point.”

Well noun US /well/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"You must be mistaken," stammered the doctor, staring, as well he might, considering the astounding news which he had heard.”

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.

all

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

From this reading In it he disinherited Maud Tedder and left all his money and property to his nephew, Angus Herries."

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading "Last week I drew up Sir Simon's will, which was short and to the point.

Angus

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

From this reading In it he disinherited Maud Tedder and left all his money and property to his nephew, Angus Herries."

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading "You must be mistaken," stammered the doctor, staring, as well he might, considering the astounding news which he had heard.

astounding

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

From this reading "You must be mistaken," stammered the doctor, staring, as well he might, considering the astounding news which he had heard.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading "You must be mistaken," stammered the doctor, staring, as well he might, considering the astounding news which he had heard.

business

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

From this reading "I don't make mistakes either in or out of business," replied Mr. Ritson haughtily.

considering

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

From this reading "You must be mistaken," stammered the doctor, staring, as well he might, considering the astounding news which he had heard.

disinherited

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

From this reading In it he disinherited Maud Tedder and left all his money and property to his nephew, Angus Herries."

doctornounUS /doctor/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "You must be mistaken," stammered the doctor, staring, as well he might, considering the astounding news which he had heard.

don't

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

From this reading "I don't make mistakes either in or out of business," replied Mr. Ritson haughtily.

drewnounUS /drew/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "Last week I drew up Sir Simon's will, which was short and to the point.

eitherdeterminerUS /ˈiːðər/

one or the other of two

From this reading "I don't make mistakes either in or out of business," replied Mr. Ritson haughtily.

GoodnounUS /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "Good Lord."

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading "You must be mistaken," stammered the doctor, staring, as well he might, considering the astounding news which he had heard.

haughtily

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

From this reading "I don't make mistakes either in or out of business," replied Mr. Ritson haughtily.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading "You must be mistaken," stammered the doctor, staring, as well he might, considering the astounding news which he had heard.

heard

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

From this reading "You must be mistaken," stammered the doctor, staring, as well he might, considering the astounding news which he had heard.

Herries

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

From this reading In it he disinherited Maud Tedder and left all his money and property to his nephew, Angus Herries."

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading In it he disinherited Maud Tedder and left all his money and property to his nephew, Angus Herries."

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading "I don't make mistakes either in or out of business," replied Mr. Ritson haughtily.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading "I don't make mistakes either in or out of business," replied Mr. Ritson haughtily.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading In it he disinherited Maud Tedder and left all his money and property to his nephew, Angus Herries."

LastnounUS /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "Last week I drew up Sir Simon's will, which was short and to the point.

leftnounUS /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading In it he disinherited Maud Tedder and left all his money and property to his nephew, Angus Herries."

Lord

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

From this reading "Good Lord."

makenounUS /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "I don't make mistakes either in or out of business," replied Mr. Ritson haughtily.

Maud

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

From this reading In it he disinherited Maud Tedder and left all his money and property to his nephew, Angus Herries."

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading "You must be mistaken," stammered the doctor, staring, as well he might, considering the astounding news which he had heard.

mistaken

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

From this reading "You must be mistaken," stammered the doctor, staring, as well he might, considering the astounding news which he had heard.

mistakes

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

From this reading "I don't make mistakes either in or out of business," replied Mr. Ritson haughtily.

money

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

From this reading In it he disinherited Maud Tedder and left all his money and property to his nephew, Angus Herries."

Mr

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

From this reading "I don't make mistakes either in or out of business," replied Mr. Ritson haughtily.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading "You must be mistaken," stammered the doctor, staring, as well he might, considering the astounding news which he had heard.

nephew

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

From this reading In it he disinherited Maud Tedder and left all his money and property to his nephew, Angus Herries."

news

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

From this reading "You must be mistaken," stammered the doctor, staring, as well he might, considering the astounding news which he had heard.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading "I don't make mistakes either in or out of business," replied Mr. Ritson haughtily.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading "I don't make mistakes either in or out of business," replied Mr. Ritson haughtily.

out

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

From this reading "I don't make mistakes either in or out of business," replied Mr. Ritson haughtily.

pointnounUS /pɔɪnt/

the main matter or purpose being discussed

From this reading "Last week I drew up Sir Simon's will, which was short and to the point.

property

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

From this reading In it he disinherited Maud Tedder and left all his money and property to his nephew, Angus Herries."

repliednounUS /replied/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "I don't make mistakes either in or out of business," replied Mr. Ritson haughtily.

Ritson

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

From this reading "I don't make mistakes either in or out of business," replied Mr. Ritson haughtily.

shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔrt/

brief or direct in expression

From this reading "Last week I drew up Sir Simon's will, which was short and to the point.

Simon's

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

From this reading "Last week I drew up Sir Simon's will, which was short and to the point.

Sir

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

From this reading "Last week I drew up Sir Simon's will, which was short and to the point.

stammered

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

From this reading "You must be mistaken," stammered the doctor, staring, as well he might, considering the astounding news which he had heard.

staring

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

From this reading "You must be mistaken," stammered the doctor, staring, as well he might, considering the astounding news which he had heard.

Tedder

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

From this reading In it he disinherited Maud Tedder and left all his money and property to his nephew, Angus Herries."

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading "You must be mistaken," stammered the doctor, staring, as well he might, considering the astounding news which he had heard.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading "Last week I drew up Sir Simon's will, which was short and to the point.

up

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

From this reading "Last week I drew up Sir Simon's will, which was short and to the point.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading "Last week I drew up Sir Simon's will, which was short and to the point.

week

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

From this reading "Last week I drew up Sir Simon's will, which was short and to the point.

well

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

From this reading "You must be mistaken," stammered the doctor, staring, as well he might, considering the astounding news which he had heard.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading "You must be mistaken," stammered the doctor, staring, as well he might, considering the astounding news which he had heard.

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading "Last week I drew up Sir Simon's will, which was short and to the point.

YoupronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "You must be mistaken," stammered the doctor, staring, as well he might, considering the astounding news which he had heard.