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Nancy: A Novel
Nancy: A Novel

Chapter VII

Cover illustration for Nancy: A Novel
Context Illustration Reading 1/24 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The preparations are ended; the guests are come; no great number.
A few unavoidable Tempests, a few necessary Greys (I have told you, have not I, that my name is Grey?).
The heels have been amputated from a large number of white satin slippers, preparatory to their being thrown after us.
The school-children have had their last practice at the marriage-hymn.
I have resolved to rise at five o'clock on my wedding-morning, so as to make a last gloomy progress round every bird and beast and gooseberry-bush on the premises.
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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 VII

Reading 1/24 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The preparations are ended; the guests are come; no great number.
Line 2
A few unavoidable Tempests, a few necessary Greys (I have told you, have not I, that my name is Grey?).
Line 3
The heels have been amputated from a large number of white satin slippers, preparatory to their being thrown after us.
Line 4
The school-children have had their last practice at the marriage-hymn.
Line 5
I have resolved to rise at five o'clock on my wedding-morning, so as to make a last gloomy progress round every bird and beast and gooseberry-bush on the premises.

Learner Dictionary

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

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “The heels have been amputated from a large number of white satin slippers, preparatory to their being thrown after us.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “The heels have been amputated from a large number of white satin slippers, preparatory to their being thrown after us.”

Being auxiliary verb US /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading “The heels have been amputated from a large number of white satin slippers, preparatory to their being thrown after us.”

Come noun US /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The preparations are ended; the guests are come; no great number.”

Every determiner US /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading “I have resolved to rise at five o'clock on my wedding-morning, so as to make a last gloomy progress round every bird and beast and gooseberry-bush on the premises.”

Great noun US /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The preparations are ended; the guests are come; no great number.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “A few unavoidable Tempests, a few necessary Greys (I have told you, have not I, that my name is Grey?).”

Last noun US /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The school-children have had their last practice at the marriage-hymn.”

Make noun US /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I have resolved to rise at five o'clock on my wedding-morning, so as to make a last gloomy progress round every bird and beast and gooseberry-bush on the premises.”

Name noun US /name/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A few unavoidable Tempests, a few necessary Greys (I have told you, have not I, that my name is Grey?).”

Told noun US /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A few unavoidable Tempests, a few necessary Greys (I have told you, have not I, that my name is Grey?).”

All words in this reading · 65

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 A few unavoidable Tempests, a few necessary Greys (I have told you, have not I, that my name is Grey?).

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading The heels have been amputated from a large number of white satin slippers, preparatory to their being thrown after us.

amputated

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

From this reading The heels have been amputated from a large number of white satin slippers, preparatory to their being thrown after us.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading I have resolved to rise at five o'clock on my wedding-morning, so as to make a last gloomy progress round every bird and beast and gooseberry-bush on the premises.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading The preparations are ended; the guests are come; no great number.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading I have resolved to rise at five o'clock on my wedding-morning, so as to make a last gloomy progress round every bird and beast and gooseberry-bush on the premises.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The school-children have had their last practice at the marriage-hymn.

beast

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

From this reading I have resolved to rise at five o'clock on my wedding-morning, so as to make a last gloomy progress round every bird and beast and gooseberry-bush on the premises.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading The heels have been amputated from a large number of white satin slippers, preparatory to their being thrown after us.

beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading The heels have been amputated from a large number of white satin slippers, preparatory to their being thrown after us.

bird

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

From this reading I have resolved to rise at five o'clock on my wedding-morning, so as to make a last gloomy progress round every bird and beast and gooseberry-bush on the premises.

comenounUS /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The preparations are ended; the guests are come; no great number.

ended

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

From this reading The preparations are ended; the guests are come; no great number.

everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading I have resolved to rise at five o'clock on my wedding-morning, so as to make a last gloomy progress round every bird and beast and gooseberry-bush on the premises.

few

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

From this reading A few unavoidable Tempests, a few necessary Greys (I have told you, have not I, that my name is Grey?).

five

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

From this reading I have resolved to rise at five o'clock on my wedding-morning, so as to make a last gloomy progress round every bird and beast and gooseberry-bush on the premises.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The heels have been amputated from a large number of white satin slippers, preparatory to their being thrown after us.

gloomy

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

From this reading I have resolved to rise at five o'clock on my wedding-morning, so as to make a last gloomy progress round every bird and beast and gooseberry-bush on the premises.

gooseberry-bush

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

From this reading I have resolved to rise at five o'clock on my wedding-morning, so as to make a last gloomy progress round every bird and beast and gooseberry-bush on the premises.

greatnounUS /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The preparations are ended; the guests are come; no great number.

Grey

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

From this reading A few unavoidable Tempests, a few necessary Greys (I have told you, have not I, that my name is Grey?).

Greys

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

From this reading A few unavoidable Tempests, a few necessary Greys (I have told you, have not I, that my name is Grey?).

guests

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

From this reading The preparations are ended; the guests are come; no great number.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading The school-children have had their last practice at the marriage-hymn.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading A few unavoidable Tempests, a few necessary Greys (I have told you, have not I, that my name is Grey?).

heels

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

From this reading The heels have been amputated from a large number of white satin slippers, preparatory to their being thrown after us.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading A few unavoidable Tempests, a few necessary Greys (I have told you, have not I, that my name is Grey?).

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading A few unavoidable Tempests, a few necessary Greys (I have told you, have not I, that my name is Grey?).

large

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

From this reading The heels have been amputated from a large number of white satin slippers, preparatory to their being thrown after us.

lastnounUS /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The school-children have had their last practice at the marriage-hymn.

makenounUS /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading I have resolved to rise at five o'clock on my wedding-morning, so as to make a last gloomy progress round every bird and beast and gooseberry-bush on the premises.

marriage-hymn

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

From this reading The school-children have had their last practice at the marriage-hymn.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading A few unavoidable Tempests, a few necessary Greys (I have told you, have not I, that my name is Grey?).

namenounUS /name/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A few unavoidable Tempests, a few necessary Greys (I have told you, have not I, that my name is Grey?).

necessary

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

From this reading A few unavoidable Tempests, a few necessary Greys (I have told you, have not I, that my name is Grey?).

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading The preparations are ended; the guests are come; no great number.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading A few unavoidable Tempests, a few necessary Greys (I have told you, have not I, that my name is Grey?).

number

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

From this reading The preparations are ended; the guests are come; no great number.

o'clock

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

From this reading I have resolved to rise at five o'clock on my wedding-morning, so as to make a last gloomy progress round every bird and beast and gooseberry-bush on the premises.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The heels have been amputated from a large number of white satin slippers, preparatory to their being thrown after us.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading I have resolved to rise at five o'clock on my wedding-morning, so as to make a last gloomy progress round every bird and beast and gooseberry-bush on the premises.

practice

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

From this reading The school-children have had their last practice at the marriage-hymn.

premises

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

From this reading I have resolved to rise at five o'clock on my wedding-morning, so as to make a last gloomy progress round every bird and beast and gooseberry-bush on the premises.

preparations

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

From this reading The preparations are ended; the guests are come; no great number.

preparatory

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

From this reading The heels have been amputated from a large number of white satin slippers, preparatory to their being thrown after us.

progress

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

From this reading I have resolved to rise at five o'clock on my wedding-morning, so as to make a last gloomy progress round every bird and beast and gooseberry-bush on the premises.

resolved

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

From this reading I have resolved to rise at five o'clock on my wedding-morning, so as to make a last gloomy progress round every bird and beast and gooseberry-bush on the premises.

rise

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

From this reading I have resolved to rise at five o'clock on my wedding-morning, so as to make a last gloomy progress round every bird and beast and gooseberry-bush on the premises.

round

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

From this reading I have resolved to rise at five o'clock on my wedding-morning, so as to make a last gloomy progress round every bird and beast and gooseberry-bush on the premises.

satin

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

From this reading The heels have been amputated from a large number of white satin slippers, preparatory to their being thrown after us.

school-children

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

From this reading The school-children have had their last practice at the marriage-hymn.

slippers

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

From this reading The heels have been amputated from a large number of white satin slippers, preparatory to their being thrown after us.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading I have resolved to rise at five o'clock on my wedding-morning, so as to make a last gloomy progress round every bird and beast and gooseberry-bush on the premises.

Tempests

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

From this reading A few unavoidable Tempests, a few necessary Greys (I have told you, have not I, that my name is Grey?).

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading A few unavoidable Tempests, a few necessary Greys (I have told you, have not I, that my name is Grey?).

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The preparations are ended; the guests are come; no great number.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading The heels have been amputated from a large number of white satin slippers, preparatory to their being thrown after us.

thrown

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

From this reading The heels have been amputated from a large number of white satin slippers, preparatory to their being thrown after us.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The heels have been amputated from a large number of white satin slippers, preparatory to their being thrown after us.

toldnounUS /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A few unavoidable Tempests, a few necessary Greys (I have told you, have not I, that my name is Grey?).

unavoidable

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

From this reading A few unavoidable Tempests, a few necessary Greys (I have told you, have not I, that my name is Grey?).

uspronounUS /ʌs/

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading The heels have been amputated from a large number of white satin slippers, preparatory to their being thrown after us.

wedding-morning

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

From this reading I have resolved to rise at five o'clock on my wedding-morning, so as to make a last gloomy progress round every bird and beast and gooseberry-bush on the premises.

white

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

From this reading The heels have been amputated from a large number of white satin slippers, preparatory to their being thrown after us.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading A few unavoidable Tempests, a few necessary Greys (I have told you, have not I, that my name is Grey?).