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Michael O'Halloran
Michael O'Halloran

Chapter I

Cover illustration for Michael O'Halloran
Context Illustration Reading 1/73 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
"No messenger boy for those," said Douglas Bruce as he handed the florist the price set on the lady slippers.
"Leave them where people may enjoy them until I call."
As he turned, another man was inquiring about the orchids; he too preferred the slippers; but when he was told they were taken, he had wanted the moccasins all the time, anyway.
The basket was far more attractive.
He refused delivery, returning to his waiting car smiling over the flowers.
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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.

Michael O'Halloran

Chapter I

Reading 1/73 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
"No messenger boy for those," said Douglas Bruce as he handed the florist the price set on the lady slippers.
Line 2
"Leave them where people may enjoy them until I call."
Line 3
As he turned, another man was inquiring about the orchids; he too preferred the slippers; but when he was told they were taken, he had wanted the moccasins all the time, anyway.
Line 4
The basket was far more attractive.
Line 5
He refused delivery, returning to his waiting car smiling over the flowers.

Learner Dictionary

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

About preposition US /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “As he turned, another man was inquiring about the orchids; he too preferred the slippers; but when he was told they were taken, he had wanted the moccasins all the time, anyway.”

Another noun US /ˈanother/

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

From this reading “As he turned, another man was inquiring about the orchids; he too preferred the slippers; but when he was told they were taken, he had wanted the moccasins all the time, anyway.”

May modal verb US /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading “"Leave them where people may enjoy them until I call."”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “He refused delivery, returning to his waiting car smiling over the flowers.”

Those determiner US /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading “"No messenger boy for those," said Douglas Bruce as he handed the florist the price set on the lady slippers.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “As he turned, another man was inquiring about the orchids; he too preferred the slippers; but when he was told they were taken, he had wanted the moccasins all the time, anyway.”

Told noun US /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “As he turned, another man was inquiring about the orchids; he too preferred the slippers; but when he was told they were taken, he had wanted the moccasins all the time, anyway.”

Until preposition US /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading “"Leave them where people may enjoy them until I call."”

Waiting noun US /ˈwaiting/

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

From this reading “He refused delivery, returning to his waiting car smiling over the flowers.”

All words in this reading · 62

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

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading As he turned, another man was inquiring about the orchids; he too preferred the slippers; but when he was told they were taken, he had wanted the moccasins all the time, anyway.

all

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

From this reading As he turned, another man was inquiring about the orchids; he too preferred the slippers; but when he was told they were taken, he had wanted the moccasins all the time, anyway.

anothernounUS /ˈanother/

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

From this reading As he turned, another man was inquiring about the orchids; he too preferred the slippers; but when he was told they were taken, he had wanted the moccasins all the time, anyway.

anyway

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

From this reading As he turned, another man was inquiring about the orchids; he too preferred the slippers; but when he was told they were taken, he had wanted the moccasins all the time, anyway.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading "No messenger boy for those," said Douglas Bruce as he handed the florist the price set on the lady slippers.

attractive

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

From this reading The basket was far more attractive.

basket

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

From this reading The basket was far more attractive.

boy

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

From this reading "No messenger boy for those," said Douglas Bruce as he handed the florist the price set on the lady slippers.

Bruce

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

From this reading "No messenger boy for those," said Douglas Bruce as he handed the florist the price set on the lady slippers.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading As he turned, another man was inquiring about the orchids; he too preferred the slippers; but when he was told they were taken, he had wanted the moccasins all the time, anyway.

call

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

From this reading "Leave them where people may enjoy them until I call."

car

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

From this reading He refused delivery, returning to his waiting car smiling over the flowers.

delivery

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

From this reading He refused delivery, returning to his waiting car smiling over the flowers.

Douglas

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

From this reading "No messenger boy for those," said Douglas Bruce as he handed the florist the price set on the lady slippers.

enjoy

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

From this reading "Leave them where people may enjoy them until I call."

far

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

From this reading The basket was far more attractive.

florist

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

From this reading "No messenger boy for those," said Douglas Bruce as he handed the florist the price set on the lady slippers.

flowers

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

From this reading He refused delivery, returning to his waiting car smiling over the flowers.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading "No messenger boy for those," said Douglas Bruce as he handed the florist the price set on the lady slippers.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading As he turned, another man was inquiring about the orchids; he too preferred the slippers; but when he was told they were taken, he had wanted the moccasins all the time, anyway.

handed

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

From this reading "No messenger boy for those," said Douglas Bruce as he handed the florist the price set on the lady slippers.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading "No messenger boy for those," said Douglas Bruce as he handed the florist the price set on the lady slippers.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading He refused delivery, returning to his waiting car smiling over the flowers.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading "Leave them where people may enjoy them until I call."

inquiring

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

From this reading As he turned, another man was inquiring about the orchids; he too preferred the slippers; but when he was told they were taken, he had wanted the moccasins all the time, anyway.

lady

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

From this reading "No messenger boy for those," said Douglas Bruce as he handed the florist the price set on the lady slippers.

Leave

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

From this reading "Leave them where people may enjoy them until I call."

man

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

From this reading As he turned, another man was inquiring about the orchids; he too preferred the slippers; but when he was told they were taken, he had wanted the moccasins all the time, anyway.

maymodal verbUS /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading "Leave them where people may enjoy them until I call."

messenger

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

From this reading "No messenger boy for those," said Douglas Bruce as he handed the florist the price set on the lady slippers.

moccasins

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

From this reading As he turned, another man was inquiring about the orchids; he too preferred the slippers; but when he was told they were taken, he had wanted the moccasins all the time, anyway.

more

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

From this reading The basket was far more attractive.

NodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading "No messenger boy for those," said Douglas Bruce as he handed the florist the price set on the lady slippers.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading "No messenger boy for those," said Douglas Bruce as he handed the florist the price set on the lady slippers.

orchids

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

From this reading As he turned, another man was inquiring about the orchids; he too preferred the slippers; but when he was told they were taken, he had wanted the moccasins all the time, anyway.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading He refused delivery, returning to his waiting car smiling over the flowers.

people

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

From this reading "Leave them where people may enjoy them until I call."

preferred

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

From this reading As he turned, another man was inquiring about the orchids; he too preferred the slippers; but when he was told they were taken, he had wanted the moccasins all the time, anyway.

price

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

From this reading "No messenger boy for those," said Douglas Bruce as he handed the florist the price set on the lady slippers.

refused

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

From this reading He refused delivery, returning to his waiting car smiling over the flowers.

returning

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

From this reading He refused delivery, returning to his waiting car smiling over the flowers.

said

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

From this reading "No messenger boy for those," said Douglas Bruce as he handed the florist the price set on the lady slippers.

set

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

From this reading "No messenger boy for those," said Douglas Bruce as he handed the florist the price set on the lady slippers.

slippers

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

From this reading "No messenger boy for those," said Douglas Bruce as he handed the florist the price set on the lady slippers.

smiling

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

From this reading He refused delivery, returning to his waiting car smiling over the flowers.

taken

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

From this reading As he turned, another man was inquiring about the orchids; he too preferred the slippers; but when he was told they were taken, he had wanted the moccasins all the time, anyway.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading "No messenger boy for those," said Douglas Bruce as he handed the florist the price set on the lady slippers.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading "Leave them where people may enjoy them until I call."

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading As he turned, another man was inquiring about the orchids; he too preferred the slippers; but when he was told they were taken, he had wanted the moccasins all the time, anyway.

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading "No messenger boy for those," said Douglas Bruce as he handed the florist the price set on the lady slippers.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading As he turned, another man was inquiring about the orchids; he too preferred the slippers; but when he was told they were taken, he had wanted the moccasins all the time, anyway.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading He refused delivery, returning to his waiting car smiling over the flowers.

toldnounUS /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading As he turned, another man was inquiring about the orchids; he too preferred the slippers; but when he was told they were taken, he had wanted the moccasins all the time, anyway.

too

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

From this reading As he turned, another man was inquiring about the orchids; he too preferred the slippers; but when he was told they were taken, he had wanted the moccasins all the time, anyway.

turned

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

From this reading As he turned, another man was inquiring about the orchids; he too preferred the slippers; but when he was told they were taken, he had wanted the moccasins all the time, anyway.

untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading "Leave them where people may enjoy them until I call."

waiting

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

From this reading He refused delivery, returning to his waiting car smiling over the flowers.

wanted

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

From this reading As he turned, another man was inquiring about the orchids; he too preferred the slippers; but when he was told they were taken, he had wanted the moccasins all the time, anyway.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading As he turned, another man was inquiring about the orchids; he too preferred the slippers; but when he was told they were taken, he had wanted the moccasins all the time, anyway.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading As he turned, another man was inquiring about the orchids; he too preferred the slippers; but when he was told they were taken, he had wanted the moccasins all the time, anyway.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading As he turned, another man was inquiring about the orchids; he too preferred the slippers; but when he was told they were taken, he had wanted the moccasins all the time, anyway.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading "Leave them where people may enjoy them until I call."