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No Thoroughfare
No Thoroughfare

Chapter III

Cover illustration for No Thoroughfare
Context Illustration Reading 1/38 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE HOUSEKEEPER SPEAKS On the next day Mrs. Goldstraw arrived, to enter on her domestic duties.
Having settled herself in her own room, without troubling the servants, and without wasting time, the new housekeeper announced herself as waiting to be favoured with any instructions which her master might wish to give her.
The wine-merchant received Mrs. Goldstraw in the dining- room, in which he had seen her on the previous day; and, the usual preliminary civilities having passed on either side, the two sat down to take counsel together on the affairs of the house.
"About the meals, sir?" said Mrs. Goldstraw.
"Have I a large, or a small, number to provide for?"
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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.

No Thoroughfare

Chapter III

Reading 1/38 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE HOUSEKEEPER SPEAKS On the next day Mrs. Goldstraw arrived, to enter on her domestic duties.
Line 2
Having settled herself in her own room, without troubling the servants, and without wasting time, the new housekeeper announced herself as waiting to be favoured with any instructions which her master might wish to give her.
Line 3
The wine-merchant received Mrs. Goldstraw in the dining- room, in which he had seen her on the previous day; and, the usual preliminary civilities having passed on either side, the two sat down to take counsel together on the affairs of the house.
Line 4
"About the meals, sir?" said Mrs. Goldstraw.
Line 5
"Have I a large, or a small, number to provide for?"

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 “"About the meals, sir?" said Mrs. Goldstraw.”

Either determiner US /ˈiːðər/

one or the other of two

From this reading “The wine-merchant received Mrs. Goldstraw in the dining- room, in which he had seen her on the previous day; and, the usual preliminary civilities having passed on either side, the two sat down to take counsel together on the affairs of the house.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “"Have I a large, or a small, number to provide for?"”

Having auxiliary verb US /ˈhævɪŋ/

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading “Having settled herself in her own room, without troubling the servants, and without wasting time, the new housekeeper announced herself as waiting to be favoured with any instructions which her master might wish to give her.”

Herself pronoun US /hərˈself/

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading “Having settled herself in her own room, without troubling the servants, and without wasting time, the new housekeeper announced herself as waiting to be favoured with any instructions which her master might wish to give her.”

Might modal verb US /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading “Having settled herself in her own room, without troubling the servants, and without wasting time, the new housekeeper announced herself as waiting to be favoured with any instructions which her master might wish to give her.”

Next noun US /next/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “THE HOUSEKEEPER SPEAKS On the next day Mrs. Goldstraw arrived, to enter on her domestic duties.”

Passed noun US /passed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The wine-merchant received Mrs. Goldstraw in the dining- room, in which he had seen her on the previous day; and, the usual preliminary civilities having passed on either side, the two sat down to take counsel together on the affairs of the house.”

Take noun US /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The wine-merchant received Mrs. Goldstraw in the dining- room, in which he had seen her on the previous day; and, the usual preliminary civilities having passed on either side, the two sat down to take counsel together on the affairs of the house.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Having settled herself in her own room, without troubling the servants, and without wasting time, the new housekeeper announced herself as waiting to be favoured with any instructions which her master might wish to give her.”

Waiting noun US /ˈwaiting/

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

From this reading “Having settled herself in her own room, without troubling the servants, and without wasting time, the new housekeeper announced herself as waiting to be favoured with any instructions which her master might wish to give her.”

Without preposition US /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading “Having settled herself in her own room, without troubling the servants, and without wasting time, the new housekeeper announced herself as waiting to be favoured with any instructions which her master might wish to give her.”

All words in this reading · 75

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 "Have I a large, or a small, number to provide for?"

AboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading "About the meals, sir?" said Mrs. Goldstraw.

affairs

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

From this reading The wine-merchant received Mrs. Goldstraw in the dining- room, in which he had seen her on the previous day; and, the usual preliminary civilities having passed on either side, the two sat down to take counsel together on the affairs of the house.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Having settled herself in her own room, without troubling the servants, and without wasting time, the new housekeeper announced herself as waiting to be favoured with any instructions which her master might wish to give her.

announced

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

From this reading Having settled herself in her own room, without troubling the servants, and without wasting time, the new housekeeper announced herself as waiting to be favoured with any instructions which her master might wish to give her.

any

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

From this reading Having settled herself in her own room, without troubling the servants, and without wasting time, the new housekeeper announced herself as waiting to be favoured with any instructions which her master might wish to give her.

arrived

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

From this reading THE HOUSEKEEPER SPEAKS On the next day Mrs. Goldstraw arrived, to enter on her domestic duties.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Having settled herself in her own room, without troubling the servants, and without wasting time, the new housekeeper announced herself as waiting to be favoured with any instructions which her master might wish to give her.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading Having settled herself in her own room, without troubling the servants, and without wasting time, the new housekeeper announced herself as waiting to be favoured with any instructions which her master might wish to give her.

civilities

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

From this reading The wine-merchant received Mrs. Goldstraw in the dining- room, in which he had seen her on the previous day; and, the usual preliminary civilities having passed on either side, the two sat down to take counsel together on the affairs of the house.

counsel

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

From this reading The wine-merchant received Mrs. Goldstraw in the dining- room, in which he had seen her on the previous day; and, the usual preliminary civilities having passed on either side, the two sat down to take counsel together on the affairs of the house.

day

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

From this reading THE HOUSEKEEPER SPEAKS On the next day Mrs. Goldstraw arrived, to enter on her domestic duties.

dining

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

From this reading The wine-merchant received Mrs. Goldstraw in the dining- room, in which he had seen her on the previous day; and, the usual preliminary civilities having passed on either side, the two sat down to take counsel together on the affairs of the house.

domestic

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

From this reading THE HOUSEKEEPER SPEAKS On the next day Mrs. Goldstraw arrived, to enter on her domestic duties.

down

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

From this reading The wine-merchant received Mrs. Goldstraw in the dining- room, in which he had seen her on the previous day; and, the usual preliminary civilities having passed on either side, the two sat down to take counsel together on the affairs of the house.

duties

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

From this reading THE HOUSEKEEPER SPEAKS On the next day Mrs. Goldstraw arrived, to enter on her domestic duties.

eitherdeterminerUS /ˈiːðər/

one or the other of two

From this reading The wine-merchant received Mrs. Goldstraw in the dining- room, in which he had seen her on the previous day; and, the usual preliminary civilities having passed on either side, the two sat down to take counsel together on the affairs of the house.

enter

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

From this reading THE HOUSEKEEPER SPEAKS On the next day Mrs. Goldstraw arrived, to enter on her domestic duties.

favoured

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

From this reading Having settled herself in her own room, without troubling the servants, and without wasting time, the new housekeeper announced herself as waiting to be favoured with any instructions which her master might wish to give her.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading "Have I a large, or a small, number to provide for?"

give

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

From this reading Having settled herself in her own room, without troubling the servants, and without wasting time, the new housekeeper announced herself as waiting to be favoured with any instructions which her master might wish to give her.

Goldstraw

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

From this reading THE HOUSEKEEPER SPEAKS On the next day Mrs. Goldstraw arrived, to enter on her domestic duties.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading The wine-merchant received Mrs. Goldstraw in the dining- room, in which he had seen her on the previous day; and, the usual preliminary civilities having passed on either side, the two sat down to take counsel together on the affairs of the house.

Haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading "Have I a large, or a small, number to provide for?"

Havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading Having settled herself in her own room, without troubling the servants, and without wasting time, the new housekeeper announced herself as waiting to be favoured with any instructions which her master might wish to give her.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading The wine-merchant received Mrs. Goldstraw in the dining- room, in which he had seen her on the previous day; and, the usual preliminary civilities having passed on either side, the two sat down to take counsel together on the affairs of the house.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading THE HOUSEKEEPER SPEAKS On the next day Mrs. Goldstraw arrived, to enter on her domestic duties.

herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading Having settled herself in her own room, without troubling the servants, and without wasting time, the new housekeeper announced herself as waiting to be favoured with any instructions which her master might wish to give her.

house

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

From this reading The wine-merchant received Mrs. Goldstraw in the dining- room, in which he had seen her on the previous day; and, the usual preliminary civilities having passed on either side, the two sat down to take counsel together on the affairs of the house.

HOUSEKEEPER

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

From this reading THE HOUSEKEEPER SPEAKS On the next day Mrs. Goldstraw arrived, to enter on her domestic duties.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading "Have I a large, or a small, number to provide for?"

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Having settled herself in her own room, without troubling the servants, and without wasting time, the new housekeeper announced herself as waiting to be favoured with any instructions which her master might wish to give her.

instructions

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

From this reading Having settled herself in her own room, without troubling the servants, and without wasting time, the new housekeeper announced herself as waiting to be favoured with any instructions which her master might wish to give her.

large

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

From this reading "Have I a large, or a small, number to provide for?"

master

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

From this reading Having settled herself in her own room, without troubling the servants, and without wasting time, the new housekeeper announced herself as waiting to be favoured with any instructions which her master might wish to give her.

meals

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

From this reading "About the meals, sir?" said Mrs. Goldstraw.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading Having settled herself in her own room, without troubling the servants, and without wasting time, the new housekeeper announced herself as waiting to be favoured with any instructions which her master might wish to give her.

Mrs

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

From this reading THE HOUSEKEEPER SPEAKS On the next day Mrs. Goldstraw arrived, to enter on her domestic duties.

new

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

From this reading Having settled herself in her own room, without troubling the servants, and without wasting time, the new housekeeper announced herself as waiting to be favoured with any instructions which her master might wish to give her.

nextnounUS /next/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading THE HOUSEKEEPER SPEAKS On the next day Mrs. Goldstraw arrived, to enter on her domestic duties.

number

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

From this reading "Have I a large, or a small, number to provide for?"

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The wine-merchant received Mrs. Goldstraw in the dining- room, in which he had seen her on the previous day; and, the usual preliminary civilities having passed on either side, the two sat down to take counsel together on the affairs of the house.

OnprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading THE HOUSEKEEPER SPEAKS On the next day Mrs. Goldstraw arrived, to enter on her domestic duties.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading "Have I a large, or a small, number to provide for?"

own

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

From this reading Having settled herself in her own room, without troubling the servants, and without wasting time, the new housekeeper announced herself as waiting to be favoured with any instructions which her master might wish to give her.

passednounUS /passed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The wine-merchant received Mrs. Goldstraw in the dining- room, in which he had seen her on the previous day; and, the usual preliminary civilities having passed on either side, the two sat down to take counsel together on the affairs of the house.

preliminary

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

From this reading The wine-merchant received Mrs. Goldstraw in the dining- room, in which he had seen her on the previous day; and, the usual preliminary civilities having passed on either side, the two sat down to take counsel together on the affairs of the house.

previous

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

From this reading The wine-merchant received Mrs. Goldstraw in the dining- room, in which he had seen her on the previous day; and, the usual preliminary civilities having passed on either side, the two sat down to take counsel together on the affairs of the house.

provide

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

From this reading "Have I a large, or a small, number to provide for?"

received

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

From this reading The wine-merchant received Mrs. Goldstraw in the dining- room, in which he had seen her on the previous day; and, the usual preliminary civilities having passed on either side, the two sat down to take counsel together on the affairs of the house.

room

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

From this reading Having settled herself in her own room, without troubling the servants, and without wasting time, the new housekeeper announced herself as waiting to be favoured with any instructions which her master might wish to give her.

said

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

From this reading "About the meals, sir?" said Mrs. Goldstraw.

sat

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

From this reading The wine-merchant received Mrs. Goldstraw in the dining- room, in which he had seen her on the previous day; and, the usual preliminary civilities having passed on either side, the two sat down to take counsel together on the affairs of the house.

seen

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

From this reading The wine-merchant received Mrs. Goldstraw in the dining- room, in which he had seen her on the previous day; and, the usual preliminary civilities having passed on either side, the two sat down to take counsel together on the affairs of the house.

servants

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

From this reading Having settled herself in her own room, without troubling the servants, and without wasting time, the new housekeeper announced herself as waiting to be favoured with any instructions which her master might wish to give her.

settled

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

From this reading Having settled herself in her own room, without troubling the servants, and without wasting time, the new housekeeper announced herself as waiting to be favoured with any instructions which her master might wish to give her.

side

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

From this reading The wine-merchant received Mrs. Goldstraw in the dining- room, in which he had seen her on the previous day; and, the usual preliminary civilities having passed on either side, the two sat down to take counsel together on the affairs of the house.

sir

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

From this reading "About the meals, sir?" said Mrs. Goldstraw.

small

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

From this reading "Have I a large, or a small, number to provide for?"

SPEAKS

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

From this reading THE HOUSEKEEPER SPEAKS On the next day Mrs. Goldstraw arrived, to enter on her domestic duties.

takenounUS /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The wine-merchant received Mrs. Goldstraw in the dining- room, in which he had seen her on the previous day; and, the usual preliminary civilities having passed on either side, the two sat down to take counsel together on the affairs of the house.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE HOUSEKEEPER SPEAKS On the next day Mrs. Goldstraw arrived, to enter on her domestic duties.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Having settled herself in her own room, without troubling the servants, and without wasting time, the new housekeeper announced herself as waiting to be favoured with any instructions which her master might wish to give her.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading THE HOUSEKEEPER SPEAKS On the next day Mrs. Goldstraw arrived, to enter on her domestic duties.

together

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

From this reading The wine-merchant received Mrs. Goldstraw in the dining- room, in which he had seen her on the previous day; and, the usual preliminary civilities having passed on either side, the two sat down to take counsel together on the affairs of the house.

troubling

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

From this reading Having settled herself in her own room, without troubling the servants, and without wasting time, the new housekeeper announced herself as waiting to be favoured with any instructions which her master might wish to give her.

two

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

From this reading The wine-merchant received Mrs. Goldstraw in the dining- room, in which he had seen her on the previous day; and, the usual preliminary civilities having passed on either side, the two sat down to take counsel together on the affairs of the house.

usual

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

From this reading The wine-merchant received Mrs. Goldstraw in the dining- room, in which he had seen her on the previous day; and, the usual preliminary civilities having passed on either side, the two sat down to take counsel together on the affairs of the house.

waiting

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

From this reading Having settled herself in her own room, without troubling the servants, and without wasting time, the new housekeeper announced herself as waiting to be favoured with any instructions which her master might wish to give her.

wasting

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

From this reading Having settled herself in her own room, without troubling the servants, and without wasting time, the new housekeeper announced herself as waiting to be favoured with any instructions which her master might wish to give her.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading Having settled herself in her own room, without troubling the servants, and without wasting time, the new housekeeper announced herself as waiting to be favoured with any instructions which her master might wish to give her.

wine-merchant

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

From this reading The wine-merchant received Mrs. Goldstraw in the dining- room, in which he had seen her on the previous day; and, the usual preliminary civilities having passed on either side, the two sat down to take counsel together on the affairs of the house.

wish

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

From this reading Having settled herself in her own room, without troubling the servants, and without wasting time, the new housekeeper announced herself as waiting to be favoured with any instructions which her master might wish to give her.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Having settled herself in her own room, without troubling the servants, and without wasting time, the new housekeeper announced herself as waiting to be favoured with any instructions which her master might wish to give her.

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading Having settled herself in her own room, without troubling the servants, and without wasting time, the new housekeeper announced herself as waiting to be favoured with any instructions which her master might wish to give her.