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Nancy: A Novel
Nancy: A Novel

Chapter II

Cover illustration for Nancy: A Novel
Context Illustration Reading 1/73 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The wind is even colder than it was, stronger and more withering now that the sun's faint warmth is withdrawn, and that the small and chilly stars possess the sky.
Nevertheless, both the school-room windows are open.
We are all huddled shivering round the hearth, yet no one talks of closing them.
The fact is, that amateur cooking, though a graceful accomplishment, has its penalties, and that at the present moment the smell of broiled bones and fried potatoes that fills our place of learning is something appalling.
Why may not it penetrate beneath the swing-door, through the passages, and reach the drawing-room?
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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.

Nancy: A Novel

Chapter II

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

Line 1
The wind is even colder than it was, stronger and more withering now that the sun's faint warmth is withdrawn, and that the small and chilly stars possess the sky.
Line 2
Nevertheless, both the school-room windows are open.
Line 3
We are all huddled shivering round the hearth, yet no one talks of closing them.
Line 4
The fact is, that amateur cooking, though a graceful accomplishment, has its penalties, and that at the present moment the smell of broiled bones and fried potatoes that fills our place of learning is something appalling.
Line 5
Why may not it penetrate beneath the swing-door, through the passages, and reach the drawing-room?

Learner Dictionary

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

Beneath preposition US /bɪˈniːθ/

Directly under; in or to a lower position than.

From this reading “Why may not it penetrate beneath the swing-door, through the passages, and reach the drawing-room?”

Chilly adjective US /ˈtʃɪli/

unpleasantly cold

From this reading “The wind is even colder than it was, stronger and more withering now that the sun's faint warmth is withdrawn, and that the small and chilly stars possess the sky.”

Even noun US /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The wind is even colder than it was, stronger and more withering now that the sun's faint warmth is withdrawn, and that the small and chilly stars possess the sky.”

Has auxiliary verb US /hæz/

the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading “The fact is, that amateur cooking, though a graceful accomplishment, has its penalties, and that at the present moment the smell of broiled bones and fried potatoes that fills our place of learning is something appalling.”

May modal verb US /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading “Why may not it penetrate beneath the swing-door, through the passages, and reach the drawing-room?”

Nevertheless adverb US /ˌnevərðəˈles/

in spite of what has just been said

From this reading “Nevertheless, both the school-room windows are open.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “We are all huddled shivering round the hearth, yet no one talks of closing them.”

Open verb US /ˈoʊ.pən/

To move from a closed position.

From this reading “Nevertheless, both the school-room windows are open.”

Something pronoun US /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading “The fact is, that amateur cooking, though a graceful accomplishment, has its penalties, and that at the present moment the smell of broiled bones and fried potatoes that fills our place of learning is something appalling.”

Though conjunction US /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “The fact is, that amateur cooking, though a graceful accomplishment, has its penalties, and that at the present moment the smell of broiled bones and fried potatoes that fills our place of learning is something appalling.”

Through noun US /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading “Why may not it penetrate beneath the swing-door, through the passages, and reach the drawing-room?”

Wind noun US /wind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The wind is even colder than it was, stronger and more withering now that the sun's faint warmth is withdrawn, and that the small and chilly stars possess the sky.”

Yet conjunction US /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading “We are all huddled shivering round the hearth, yet no one talks of closing them.”

All words in this reading · 76

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 The fact is, that amateur cooking, though a graceful accomplishment, has its penalties, and that at the present moment the smell of broiled bones and fried potatoes that fills our place of learning is something appalling.

accomplishment

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

From this reading The fact is, that amateur cooking, though a graceful accomplishment, has its penalties, and that at the present moment the smell of broiled bones and fried potatoes that fills our place of learning is something appalling.

all

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

From this reading We are all huddled shivering round the hearth, yet no one talks of closing them.

amateur

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

From this reading The fact is, that amateur cooking, though a graceful accomplishment, has its penalties, and that at the present moment the smell of broiled bones and fried potatoes that fills our place of learning is something appalling.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The wind is even colder than it was, stronger and more withering now that the sun's faint warmth is withdrawn, and that the small and chilly stars possess the sky.

appalling

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

From this reading The fact is, that amateur cooking, though a graceful accomplishment, has its penalties, and that at the present moment the smell of broiled bones and fried potatoes that fills our place of learning is something appalling.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading Nevertheless, both the school-room windows are open.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The fact is, that amateur cooking, though a graceful accomplishment, has its penalties, and that at the present moment the smell of broiled bones and fried potatoes that fills our place of learning is something appalling.

beneathprepositionUS /bɪˈniːθ/

Directly under; in or to a lower position than.

From this reading Why may not it penetrate beneath the swing-door, through the passages, and reach the drawing-room?

bones

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

From this reading The fact is, that amateur cooking, though a graceful accomplishment, has its penalties, and that at the present moment the smell of broiled bones and fried potatoes that fills our place of learning is something appalling.

bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/

the two together, not just one

From this reading Nevertheless, both the school-room windows are open.

broiled

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

From this reading The fact is, that amateur cooking, though a graceful accomplishment, has its penalties, and that at the present moment the smell of broiled bones and fried potatoes that fills our place of learning is something appalling.

chillyadjectiveUS /ˈtʃɪli/

unpleasantly cold

From this reading The wind is even colder than it was, stronger and more withering now that the sun's faint warmth is withdrawn, and that the small and chilly stars possess the sky.

closing

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

From this reading We are all huddled shivering round the hearth, yet no one talks of closing them.

colder

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

From this reading The wind is even colder than it was, stronger and more withering now that the sun's faint warmth is withdrawn, and that the small and chilly stars possess the sky.

cooking

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

From this reading The fact is, that amateur cooking, though a graceful accomplishment, has its penalties, and that at the present moment the smell of broiled bones and fried potatoes that fills our place of learning is something appalling.

drawing-room

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

From this reading Why may not it penetrate beneath the swing-door, through the passages, and reach the drawing-room?

evennounUS /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The wind is even colder than it was, stronger and more withering now that the sun's faint warmth is withdrawn, and that the small and chilly stars possess the sky.

fact

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

From this reading The fact is, that amateur cooking, though a graceful accomplishment, has its penalties, and that at the present moment the smell of broiled bones and fried potatoes that fills our place of learning is something appalling.

faint

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

From this reading The wind is even colder than it was, stronger and more withering now that the sun's faint warmth is withdrawn, and that the small and chilly stars possess the sky.

fills

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

From this reading The fact is, that amateur cooking, though a graceful accomplishment, has its penalties, and that at the present moment the smell of broiled bones and fried potatoes that fills our place of learning is something appalling.

fried

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

From this reading The fact is, that amateur cooking, though a graceful accomplishment, has its penalties, and that at the present moment the smell of broiled bones and fried potatoes that fills our place of learning is something appalling.

graceful

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

From this reading The fact is, that amateur cooking, though a graceful accomplishment, has its penalties, and that at the present moment the smell of broiled bones and fried potatoes that fills our place of learning is something appalling.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading The fact is, that amateur cooking, though a graceful accomplishment, has its penalties, and that at the present moment the smell of broiled bones and fried potatoes that fills our place of learning is something appalling.

hearth

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

From this reading We are all huddled shivering round the hearth, yet no one talks of closing them.

huddled

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

From this reading We are all huddled shivering round the hearth, yet no one talks of closing them.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading The wind is even colder than it was, stronger and more withering now that the sun's faint warmth is withdrawn, and that the small and chilly stars possess the sky.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading The wind is even colder than it was, stronger and more withering now that the sun's faint warmth is withdrawn, and that the small and chilly stars possess the sky.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading The fact is, that amateur cooking, though a graceful accomplishment, has its penalties, and that at the present moment the smell of broiled bones and fried potatoes that fills our place of learning is something appalling.

learning

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

From this reading The fact is, that amateur cooking, though a graceful accomplishment, has its penalties, and that at the present moment the smell of broiled bones and fried potatoes that fills our place of learning is something appalling.

maymodal verbUS /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading Why may not it penetrate beneath the swing-door, through the passages, and reach the drawing-room?

moment

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

From this reading The fact is, that amateur cooking, though a graceful accomplishment, has its penalties, and that at the present moment the smell of broiled bones and fried potatoes that fills our place of learning is something appalling.

more

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

From this reading The wind is even colder than it was, stronger and more withering now that the sun's faint warmth is withdrawn, and that the small and chilly stars possess the sky.

NeverthelessadverbUS /ˌnevərðəˈles/

in spite of what has just been said

From this reading Nevertheless, both the school-room windows are open.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading We are all huddled shivering round the hearth, yet no one talks of closing them.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Why may not it penetrate beneath the swing-door, through the passages, and reach the drawing-room?

now

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

From this reading The wind is even colder than it was, stronger and more withering now that the sun's faint warmth is withdrawn, and that the small and chilly stars possess the sky.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading We are all huddled shivering round the hearth, yet no one talks of closing them.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading We are all huddled shivering round the hearth, yet no one talks of closing them.

openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/

To move from a closed position.

From this reading Nevertheless, both the school-room windows are open.

ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading The fact is, that amateur cooking, though a graceful accomplishment, has its penalties, and that at the present moment the smell of broiled bones and fried potatoes that fills our place of learning is something appalling.

passages

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

From this reading Why may not it penetrate beneath the swing-door, through the passages, and reach the drawing-room?

penalties

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

From this reading The fact is, that amateur cooking, though a graceful accomplishment, has its penalties, and that at the present moment the smell of broiled bones and fried potatoes that fills our place of learning is something appalling.

penetrate

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

From this reading Why may not it penetrate beneath the swing-door, through the passages, and reach the drawing-room?

place

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

From this reading The fact is, that amateur cooking, though a graceful accomplishment, has its penalties, and that at the present moment the smell of broiled bones and fried potatoes that fills our place of learning is something appalling.

possess

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

From this reading The wind is even colder than it was, stronger and more withering now that the sun's faint warmth is withdrawn, and that the small and chilly stars possess the sky.

potatoes

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

From this reading The fact is, that amateur cooking, though a graceful accomplishment, has its penalties, and that at the present moment the smell of broiled bones and fried potatoes that fills our place of learning is something appalling.

present

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

From this reading The fact is, that amateur cooking, though a graceful accomplishment, has its penalties, and that at the present moment the smell of broiled bones and fried potatoes that fills our place of learning is something appalling.

reach

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

From this reading Why may not it penetrate beneath the swing-door, through the passages, and reach the drawing-room?

round

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

From this reading We are all huddled shivering round the hearth, yet no one talks of closing them.

school-room

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

From this reading Nevertheless, both the school-room windows are open.

shivering

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

From this reading We are all huddled shivering round the hearth, yet no one talks of closing them.

sky

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

From this reading The wind is even colder than it was, stronger and more withering now that the sun's faint warmth is withdrawn, and that the small and chilly stars possess the sky.

small

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

From this reading The wind is even colder than it was, stronger and more withering now that the sun's faint warmth is withdrawn, and that the small and chilly stars possess the sky.

smell

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

From this reading The fact is, that amateur cooking, though a graceful accomplishment, has its penalties, and that at the present moment the smell of broiled bones and fried potatoes that fills our place of learning is something appalling.

somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading The fact is, that amateur cooking, though a graceful accomplishment, has its penalties, and that at the present moment the smell of broiled bones and fried potatoes that fills our place of learning is something appalling.

stars

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

From this reading The wind is even colder than it was, stronger and more withering now that the sun's faint warmth is withdrawn, and that the small and chilly stars possess the sky.

stronger

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

From this reading The wind is even colder than it was, stronger and more withering now that the sun's faint warmth is withdrawn, and that the small and chilly stars possess the sky.

sun's

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

From this reading The wind is even colder than it was, stronger and more withering now that the sun's faint warmth is withdrawn, and that the small and chilly stars possess the sky.

swing-door

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

From this reading Why may not it penetrate beneath the swing-door, through the passages, and reach the drawing-room?

talks

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

From this reading We are all huddled shivering round the hearth, yet no one talks of closing them.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading The wind is even colder than it was, stronger and more withering now that the sun's faint warmth is withdrawn, and that the small and chilly stars possess the sky.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The wind is even colder than it was, stronger and more withering now that the sun's faint warmth is withdrawn, and that the small and chilly stars possess the sky.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The wind is even colder than it was, stronger and more withering now that the sun's faint warmth is withdrawn, and that the small and chilly stars possess the sky.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading We are all huddled shivering round the hearth, yet no one talks of closing them.

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading The fact is, that amateur cooking, though a graceful accomplishment, has its penalties, and that at the present moment the smell of broiled bones and fried potatoes that fills our place of learning is something appalling.

throughnounUS /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading Why may not it penetrate beneath the swing-door, through the passages, and reach the drawing-room?

warmth

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

From this reading The wind is even colder than it was, stronger and more withering now that the sun's faint warmth is withdrawn, and that the small and chilly stars possess the sky.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The wind is even colder than it was, stronger and more withering now that the sun's faint warmth is withdrawn, and that the small and chilly stars possess the sky.

WepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading We are all huddled shivering round the hearth, yet no one talks of closing them.

Why

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

From this reading Why may not it penetrate beneath the swing-door, through the passages, and reach the drawing-room?

windnounUS /wind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The wind is even colder than it was, stronger and more withering now that the sun's faint warmth is withdrawn, and that the small and chilly stars possess the sky.

windows

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

From this reading Nevertheless, both the school-room windows are open.

withdrawn

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

From this reading The wind is even colder than it was, stronger and more withering now that the sun's faint warmth is withdrawn, and that the small and chilly stars possess the sky.

withering

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

From this reading The wind is even colder than it was, stronger and more withering now that the sun's faint warmth is withdrawn, and that the small and chilly stars possess the sky.

yetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading We are all huddled shivering round the hearth, yet no one talks of closing them.