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Mansfield Park
Mansfield Park

Chapter IX

Cover illustration for Mansfield Park
Context Illustration Reading 1/22 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The day at Sotherton, with all its imperfections, afforded the Miss Bertrams much more agreeable feelings than were derived from the letters from Antigua, which soon afterwards reached Mansfield.
It was much pleasanter to think of Henry Crawford than of their father; and to think of their father in England again within a certain period, which these letters obliged them to do, was a most unwelcome exercise.
November was the black month fixed for his return.
Sir Thomas wrote of it with as much decision as experience and anxiety could authorise.
His business was so nearly concluded as to justify him in proposing to take his passage in the September packet, and he consequently looked forward with the hope of being with his beloved family again early in November.
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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.

Mansfield Park

Chapter IX

Reading 1/22 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The day at Sotherton, with all its imperfections, afforded the Miss Bertrams much more agreeable feelings than were derived from the letters from Antigua, which soon afterwards reached Mansfield.
Line 2
It was much pleasanter to think of Henry Crawford than of their father; and to think of their father in England again within a certain period, which these letters obliged them to do, was a most unwelcome exercise.
Line 3
November was the black month fixed for his return.
Line 4
Sir Thomas wrote of it with as much decision as experience and anxiety could authorise.
Line 5
His business was so nearly concluded as to justify him in proposing to take his passage in the September packet, and he consequently looked forward with the hope of being with his beloved family again early in November.

Learner Dictionary

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

Again noun US /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was much pleasanter to think of Henry Crawford than of their father; and to think of their father in England again within a certain period, which these letters obliged them to do, was a most unwelcome exercise.”

Being auxiliary verb US /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading “His business was so nearly concluded as to justify him in proposing to take his passage in the September packet, and he consequently looked forward with the hope of being with his beloved family again early in November.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading “Sir Thomas wrote of it with as much decision as experience and anxiety could authorise.”

Forward noun US /forward/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “His business was so nearly concluded as to justify him in proposing to take his passage in the September packet, and he consequently looked forward with the hope of being with his beloved family again early in November.”

Looked noun US /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “His business was so nearly concluded as to justify him in proposing to take his passage in the September packet, and he consequently looked forward with the hope of being with his beloved family again early in November.”

Passage noun US /ˈpassage/

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

From this reading “His business was so nearly concluded as to justify him in proposing to take his passage in the September packet, and he consequently looked forward with the hope of being with his beloved family again early in November.”

Pleasanter noun US /ˈpleasanter/

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

From this reading “It was much pleasanter to think of Henry Crawford than of their father; and to think of their father in England again within a certain period, which these letters obliged them to do, was a most unwelcome exercise.”

Soon noun US /soon/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The day at Sotherton, with all its imperfections, afforded the Miss Bertrams much more agreeable feelings than were derived from the letters from Antigua, which soon afterwards reached Mansfield.”

Take noun US /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “His business was so nearly concluded as to justify him in proposing to take his passage in the September packet, and he consequently looked forward with the hope of being with his beloved family again early in November.”

These determiner US /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading “It was much pleasanter to think of Henry Crawford than of their father; and to think of their father in England again within a certain period, which these letters obliged them to do, was a most unwelcome exercise.”

Think noun US /think/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was much pleasanter to think of Henry Crawford than of their father; and to think of their father in England again within a certain period, which these letters obliged them to do, was a most unwelcome exercise.”

Within preposition US /wɪˈðɪn/

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading “It was much pleasanter to think of Henry Crawford than of their father; and to think of their father in England again within a certain period, which these letters obliged them to do, was a most unwelcome exercise.”

All words in this reading · 87

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 It was much pleasanter to think of Henry Crawford than of their father; and to think of their father in England again within a certain period, which these letters obliged them to do, was a most unwelcome exercise.

afforded

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

From this reading The day at Sotherton, with all its imperfections, afforded the Miss Bertrams much more agreeable feelings than were derived from the letters from Antigua, which soon afterwards reached Mansfield.

afterwards

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

From this reading The day at Sotherton, with all its imperfections, afforded the Miss Bertrams much more agreeable feelings than were derived from the letters from Antigua, which soon afterwards reached Mansfield.

againnounUS /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was much pleasanter to think of Henry Crawford than of their father; and to think of their father in England again within a certain period, which these letters obliged them to do, was a most unwelcome exercise.

agreeable

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

From this reading The day at Sotherton, with all its imperfections, afforded the Miss Bertrams much more agreeable feelings than were derived from the letters from Antigua, which soon afterwards reached Mansfield.

all

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

From this reading The day at Sotherton, with all its imperfections, afforded the Miss Bertrams much more agreeable feelings than were derived from the letters from Antigua, which soon afterwards reached Mansfield.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading It was much pleasanter to think of Henry Crawford than of their father; and to think of their father in England again within a certain period, which these letters obliged them to do, was a most unwelcome exercise.

Antigua

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

From this reading The day at Sotherton, with all its imperfections, afforded the Miss Bertrams much more agreeable feelings than were derived from the letters from Antigua, which soon afterwards reached Mansfield.

anxiety

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

From this reading Sir Thomas wrote of it with as much decision as experience and anxiety could authorise.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Sir Thomas wrote of it with as much decision as experience and anxiety could authorise.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The day at Sotherton, with all its imperfections, afforded the Miss Bertrams much more agreeable feelings than were derived from the letters from Antigua, which soon afterwards reached Mansfield.

authorise

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

From this reading Sir Thomas wrote of it with as much decision as experience and anxiety could authorise.

beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading His business was so nearly concluded as to justify him in proposing to take his passage in the September packet, and he consequently looked forward with the hope of being with his beloved family again early in November.

beloved

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

From this reading His business was so nearly concluded as to justify him in proposing to take his passage in the September packet, and he consequently looked forward with the hope of being with his beloved family again early in November.

Bertrams

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

From this reading The day at Sotherton, with all its imperfections, afforded the Miss Bertrams much more agreeable feelings than were derived from the letters from Antigua, which soon afterwards reached Mansfield.

black

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

From this reading November was the black month fixed for his return.

business

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

From this reading His business was so nearly concluded as to justify him in proposing to take his passage in the September packet, and he consequently looked forward with the hope of being with his beloved family again early in November.

certain

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

From this reading It was much pleasanter to think of Henry Crawford than of their father; and to think of their father in England again within a certain period, which these letters obliged them to do, was a most unwelcome exercise.

concluded

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

From this reading His business was so nearly concluded as to justify him in proposing to take his passage in the September packet, and he consequently looked forward with the hope of being with his beloved family again early in November.

consequently

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

From this reading His business was so nearly concluded as to justify him in proposing to take his passage in the September packet, and he consequently looked forward with the hope of being with his beloved family again early in November.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading Sir Thomas wrote of it with as much decision as experience and anxiety could authorise.

Crawford

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

From this reading It was much pleasanter to think of Henry Crawford than of their father; and to think of their father in England again within a certain period, which these letters obliged them to do, was a most unwelcome exercise.

day

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

From this reading The day at Sotherton, with all its imperfections, afforded the Miss Bertrams much more agreeable feelings than were derived from the letters from Antigua, which soon afterwards reached Mansfield.

decision

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

From this reading Sir Thomas wrote of it with as much decision as experience and anxiety could authorise.

derived

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

From this reading The day at Sotherton, with all its imperfections, afforded the Miss Bertrams much more agreeable feelings than were derived from the letters from Antigua, which soon afterwards reached Mansfield.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading It was much pleasanter to think of Henry Crawford than of their father; and to think of their father in England again within a certain period, which these letters obliged them to do, was a most unwelcome exercise.

early

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

From this reading His business was so nearly concluded as to justify him in proposing to take his passage in the September packet, and he consequently looked forward with the hope of being with his beloved family again early in November.

England

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

From this reading It was much pleasanter to think of Henry Crawford than of their father; and to think of their father in England again within a certain period, which these letters obliged them to do, was a most unwelcome exercise.

exercise

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

From this reading It was much pleasanter to think of Henry Crawford than of their father; and to think of their father in England again within a certain period, which these letters obliged them to do, was a most unwelcome exercise.

experience

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

From this reading Sir Thomas wrote of it with as much decision as experience and anxiety could authorise.

family

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

From this reading His business was so nearly concluded as to justify him in proposing to take his passage in the September packet, and he consequently looked forward with the hope of being with his beloved family again early in November.

father

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

From this reading It was much pleasanter to think of Henry Crawford than of their father; and to think of their father in England again within a certain period, which these letters obliged them to do, was a most unwelcome exercise.

feelings

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

From this reading The day at Sotherton, with all its imperfections, afforded the Miss Bertrams much more agreeable feelings than were derived from the letters from Antigua, which soon afterwards reached Mansfield.

fixed

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

From this reading November was the black month fixed for his return.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading November was the black month fixed for his return.

forwardnounUS /forward/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading His business was so nearly concluded as to justify him in proposing to take his passage in the September packet, and he consequently looked forward with the hope of being with his beloved family again early in November.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The day at Sotherton, with all its imperfections, afforded the Miss Bertrams much more agreeable feelings than were derived from the letters from Antigua, which soon afterwards reached Mansfield.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading His business was so nearly concluded as to justify him in proposing to take his passage in the September packet, and he consequently looked forward with the hope of being with his beloved family again early in November.

Henry

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

From this reading It was much pleasanter to think of Henry Crawford than of their father; and to think of their father in England again within a certain period, which these letters obliged them to do, was a most unwelcome exercise.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading His business was so nearly concluded as to justify him in proposing to take his passage in the September packet, and he consequently looked forward with the hope of being with his beloved family again early in November.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading November was the black month fixed for his return.

hope

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

From this reading His business was so nearly concluded as to justify him in proposing to take his passage in the September packet, and he consequently looked forward with the hope of being with his beloved family again early in November.

imperfections

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

From this reading The day at Sotherton, with all its imperfections, afforded the Miss Bertrams much more agreeable feelings than were derived from the letters from Antigua, which soon afterwards reached Mansfield.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading It was much pleasanter to think of Henry Crawford than of their father; and to think of their father in England again within a certain period, which these letters obliged them to do, was a most unwelcome exercise.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was much pleasanter to think of Henry Crawford than of their father; and to think of their father in England again within a certain period, which these letters obliged them to do, was a most unwelcome exercise.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading The day at Sotherton, with all its imperfections, afforded the Miss Bertrams much more agreeable feelings than were derived from the letters from Antigua, which soon afterwards reached Mansfield.

justify

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

From this reading His business was so nearly concluded as to justify him in proposing to take his passage in the September packet, and he consequently looked forward with the hope of being with his beloved family again early in November.

letters

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

From this reading The day at Sotherton, with all its imperfections, afforded the Miss Bertrams much more agreeable feelings than were derived from the letters from Antigua, which soon afterwards reached Mansfield.

lookednounUS /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading His business was so nearly concluded as to justify him in proposing to take his passage in the September packet, and he consequently looked forward with the hope of being with his beloved family again early in November.

Mansfield

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

From this reading The day at Sotherton, with all its imperfections, afforded the Miss Bertrams much more agreeable feelings than were derived from the letters from Antigua, which soon afterwards reached Mansfield.

Miss

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

From this reading The day at Sotherton, with all its imperfections, afforded the Miss Bertrams much more agreeable feelings than were derived from the letters from Antigua, which soon afterwards reached Mansfield.

month

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

From this reading November was the black month fixed for his return.

more

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

From this reading The day at Sotherton, with all its imperfections, afforded the Miss Bertrams much more agreeable feelings than were derived from the letters from Antigua, which soon afterwards reached Mansfield.

most

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

From this reading It was much pleasanter to think of Henry Crawford than of their father; and to think of their father in England again within a certain period, which these letters obliged them to do, was a most unwelcome exercise.

much

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

From this reading The day at Sotherton, with all its imperfections, afforded the Miss Bertrams much more agreeable feelings than were derived from the letters from Antigua, which soon afterwards reached Mansfield.

nearly

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

From this reading His business was so nearly concluded as to justify him in proposing to take his passage in the September packet, and he consequently looked forward with the hope of being with his beloved family again early in November.

November

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

From this reading November was the black month fixed for his return.

obliged

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

From this reading It was much pleasanter to think of Henry Crawford than of their father; and to think of their father in England again within a certain period, which these letters obliged them to do, was a most unwelcome exercise.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading It was much pleasanter to think of Henry Crawford than of their father; and to think of their father in England again within a certain period, which these letters obliged them to do, was a most unwelcome exercise.

packet

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

From this reading His business was so nearly concluded as to justify him in proposing to take his passage in the September packet, and he consequently looked forward with the hope of being with his beloved family again early in November.

passagenounUS /ˈpassage/

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

From this reading His business was so nearly concluded as to justify him in proposing to take his passage in the September packet, and he consequently looked forward with the hope of being with his beloved family again early in November.

period

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

From this reading It was much pleasanter to think of Henry Crawford than of their father; and to think of their father in England again within a certain period, which these letters obliged them to do, was a most unwelcome exercise.

pleasanternounUS /ˈpleasanter/

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

From this reading It was much pleasanter to think of Henry Crawford than of their father; and to think of their father in England again within a certain period, which these letters obliged them to do, was a most unwelcome exercise.

proposing

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

From this reading His business was so nearly concluded as to justify him in proposing to take his passage in the September packet, and he consequently looked forward with the hope of being with his beloved family again early in November.

reached

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

From this reading The day at Sotherton, with all its imperfections, afforded the Miss Bertrams much more agreeable feelings than were derived from the letters from Antigua, which soon afterwards reached Mansfield.

return

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

From this reading November was the black month fixed for his return.

September

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

From this reading His business was so nearly concluded as to justify him in proposing to take his passage in the September packet, and he consequently looked forward with the hope of being with his beloved family again early in November.

Sir

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

From this reading Sir Thomas wrote of it with as much decision as experience and anxiety could authorise.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading His business was so nearly concluded as to justify him in proposing to take his passage in the September packet, and he consequently looked forward with the hope of being with his beloved family again early in November.

soon

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

From this reading The day at Sotherton, with all its imperfections, afforded the Miss Bertrams much more agreeable feelings than were derived from the letters from Antigua, which soon afterwards reached Mansfield.

Sotherton

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

From this reading The day at Sotherton, with all its imperfections, afforded the Miss Bertrams much more agreeable feelings than were derived from the letters from Antigua, which soon afterwards reached Mansfield.

takenounUS /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading His business was so nearly concluded as to justify him in proposing to take his passage in the September packet, and he consequently looked forward with the hope of being with his beloved family again early in November.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading The day at Sotherton, with all its imperfections, afforded the Miss Bertrams much more agreeable feelings than were derived from the letters from Antigua, which soon afterwards reached Mansfield.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The day at Sotherton, with all its imperfections, afforded the Miss Bertrams much more agreeable feelings than were derived from the letters from Antigua, which soon afterwards reached Mansfield.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading It was much pleasanter to think of Henry Crawford than of their father; and to think of their father in England again within a certain period, which these letters obliged them to do, was a most unwelcome exercise.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading It was much pleasanter to think of Henry Crawford than of their father; and to think of their father in England again within a certain period, which these letters obliged them to do, was a most unwelcome exercise.

thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading It was much pleasanter to think of Henry Crawford than of their father; and to think of their father in England again within a certain period, which these letters obliged them to do, was a most unwelcome exercise.

thinknounUS /think/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was much pleasanter to think of Henry Crawford than of their father; and to think of their father in England again within a certain period, which these letters obliged them to do, was a most unwelcome exercise.

Thomas

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

From this reading Sir Thomas wrote of it with as much decision as experience and anxiety could authorise.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading It was much pleasanter to think of Henry Crawford than of their father; and to think of their father in England again within a certain period, which these letters obliged them to do, was a most unwelcome exercise.

unwelcome

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

From this reading It was much pleasanter to think of Henry Crawford than of their father; and to think of their father in England again within a certain period, which these letters obliged them to do, was a most unwelcome exercise.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading It was much pleasanter to think of Henry Crawford than of their father; and to think of their father in England again within a certain period, which these letters obliged them to do, was a most unwelcome exercise.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading The day at Sotherton, with all its imperfections, afforded the Miss Bertrams much more agreeable feelings than were derived from the letters from Antigua, which soon afterwards reached Mansfield.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading The day at Sotherton, with all its imperfections, afforded the Miss Bertrams much more agreeable feelings than were derived from the letters from Antigua, which soon afterwards reached Mansfield.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The day at Sotherton, with all its imperfections, afforded the Miss Bertrams much more agreeable feelings than were derived from the letters from Antigua, which soon afterwards reached Mansfield.

withinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading It was much pleasanter to think of Henry Crawford than of their father; and to think of their father in England again within a certain period, which these letters obliged them to do, was a most unwelcome exercise.

wrote

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

From this reading Sir Thomas wrote of it with as much decision as experience and anxiety could authorise.