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Ovington's Bank
Ovington's Bank

Chapter XV

Cover illustration for Ovington's Bank
Context Illustration Reading 1/48 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Clement had walked with the doctor to the door and had secured a last word with Arthur outside, but he had not ventured to enter the house, much less to ask for Josina.
He knew how heavily the shock would fall on her, and his heart was wrung for her.
But he knew also, or he guessed, that the poignancy of her grief would be sharpened by remorse, and he felt that in the first outburst of self-reproach his presence would be the last she would welcome.
It was not a pleasant thought for a lover; but then how much worse, he reflected, would it have been for her, had she never made up her mind to confession.
And in his own person how much better he now stood.
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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.

Ovington's Bank

Chapter XV

Reading 1/48 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Clement had walked with the doctor to the door and had secured a last word with Arthur outside, but he had not ventured to enter the house, much less to ask for Josina.
Line 2
He knew how heavily the shock would fall on her, and his heart was wrung for her.
Line 3
But he knew also, or he guessed, that the poignancy of her grief would be sharpened by remorse, and he felt that in the first outburst of self-reproach his presence would be the last she would welcome.
Line 4
It was not a pleasant thought for a lover; but then how much worse, he reflected, would it have been for her, had she never made up her mind to confession.
Line 5
And in his own person how much better he now stood.

Learner Dictionary

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

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “It was not a pleasant thought for a lover; but then how much worse, he reflected, would it have been for her, had she never made up her mind to confession.”

Doctor noun US /doctor/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Clement had walked with the doctor to the door and had secured a last word with Arthur outside, but he had not ventured to enter the house, much less to ask for Josina.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But he knew also, or he guessed, that the poignancy of her grief would be sharpened by remorse, and he felt that in the first outburst of self-reproach his presence would be the last she would welcome.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “It was not a pleasant thought for a lover; but then how much worse, he reflected, would it have been for her, had she never made up her mind to confession.”

Last noun US /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Clement had walked with the doctor to the door and had secured a last word with Arthur outside, but he had not ventured to enter the house, much less to ask for Josina.”

Mind noun US /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was not a pleasant thought for a lover; but then how much worse, he reflected, would it have been for her, had she never made up her mind to confession.”

Never noun US /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was not a pleasant thought for a lover; but then how much worse, he reflected, would it have been for her, had she never made up her mind to confession.”

Outside noun US /ˈoutside/

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

From this reading “Clement had walked with the doctor to the door and had secured a last word with Arthur outside, but he had not ventured to enter the house, much less to ask for Josina.”

Pleasant noun US /pleasant/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was not a pleasant thought for a lover; but then how much worse, he reflected, would it have been for her, had she never made up her mind to confession.”

Stood noun US /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “And in his own person how much better he now stood.”

Thought noun US /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was not a pleasant thought for a lover; but then how much worse, he reflected, would it have been for her, had she never made up her mind to confession.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading “He knew how heavily the shock would fall on her, and his heart was wrung for her.”

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 Clement had walked with the doctor to the door and had secured a last word with Arthur outside, but he had not ventured to enter the house, much less to ask for Josina.

also

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

From this reading But he knew also, or he guessed, that the poignancy of her grief would be sharpened by remorse, and he felt that in the first outburst of self-reproach his presence would be the last she would welcome.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Clement had walked with the doctor to the door and had secured a last word with Arthur outside, but he had not ventured to enter the house, much less to ask for Josina.

Arthur

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

From this reading Clement had walked with the doctor to the door and had secured a last word with Arthur outside, but he had not ventured to enter the house, much less to ask for Josina.

ask

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

From this reading Clement had walked with the doctor to the door and had secured a last word with Arthur outside, but he had not ventured to enter the house, much less to ask for Josina.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading But he knew also, or he guessed, that the poignancy of her grief would be sharpened by remorse, and he felt that in the first outburst of self-reproach his presence would be the last she would welcome.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading It was not a pleasant thought for a lover; but then how much worse, he reflected, would it have been for her, had she never made up her mind to confession.

better

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

From this reading And in his own person how much better he now stood.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Clement had walked with the doctor to the door and had secured a last word with Arthur outside, but he had not ventured to enter the house, much less to ask for Josina.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading But he knew also, or he guessed, that the poignancy of her grief would be sharpened by remorse, and he felt that in the first outburst of self-reproach his presence would be the last she would welcome.

Clement

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

From this reading Clement had walked with the doctor to the door and had secured a last word with Arthur outside, but he had not ventured to enter the house, much less to ask for Josina.

confession

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

From this reading It was not a pleasant thought for a lover; but then how much worse, he reflected, would it have been for her, had she never made up her mind to confession.

doctornounUS /doctor/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Clement had walked with the doctor to the door and had secured a last word with Arthur outside, but he had not ventured to enter the house, much less to ask for Josina.

door

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

From this reading Clement had walked with the doctor to the door and had secured a last word with Arthur outside, but he had not ventured to enter the house, much less to ask for Josina.

enter

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

From this reading Clement had walked with the doctor to the door and had secured a last word with Arthur outside, but he had not ventured to enter the house, much less to ask for Josina.

fall

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

From this reading He knew how heavily the shock would fall on her, and his heart was wrung for her.

felt

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

From this reading But he knew also, or he guessed, that the poignancy of her grief would be sharpened by remorse, and he felt that in the first outburst of self-reproach his presence would be the last she would welcome.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But he knew also, or he guessed, that the poignancy of her grief would be sharpened by remorse, and he felt that in the first outburst of self-reproach his presence would be the last she would welcome.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Clement had walked with the doctor to the door and had secured a last word with Arthur outside, but he had not ventured to enter the house, much less to ask for Josina.

grief

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

From this reading But he knew also, or he guessed, that the poignancy of her grief would be sharpened by remorse, and he felt that in the first outburst of self-reproach his presence would be the last she would welcome.

guessed

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

From this reading But he knew also, or he guessed, that the poignancy of her grief would be sharpened by remorse, and he felt that in the first outburst of self-reproach his presence would be the last she would welcome.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Clement had walked with the doctor to the door and had secured a last word with Arthur outside, but he had not ventured to enter the house, much less to ask for Josina.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading It was not a pleasant thought for a lover; but then how much worse, he reflected, would it have been for her, had she never made up her mind to confession.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Clement had walked with the doctor to the door and had secured a last word with Arthur outside, but he had not ventured to enter the house, much less to ask for Josina.

heart

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

From this reading He knew how heavily the shock would fall on her, and his heart was wrung for her.

heavily

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

From this reading He knew how heavily the shock would fall on her, and his heart was wrung for her.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading He knew how heavily the shock would fall on her, and his heart was wrung for her.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading He knew how heavily the shock would fall on her, and his heart was wrung for her.

house

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

From this reading Clement had walked with the doctor to the door and had secured a last word with Arthur outside, but he had not ventured to enter the house, much less to ask for Josina.

how

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

From this reading He knew how heavily the shock would fall on her, and his heart was wrung for her.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading But he knew also, or he guessed, that the poignancy of her grief would be sharpened by remorse, and he felt that in the first outburst of self-reproach his presence would be the last she would welcome.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was not a pleasant thought for a lover; but then how much worse, he reflected, would it have been for her, had she never made up her mind to confession.

Josina

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

From this reading Clement had walked with the doctor to the door and had secured a last word with Arthur outside, but he had not ventured to enter the house, much less to ask for Josina.

knew

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

From this reading He knew how heavily the shock would fall on her, and his heart was wrung for her.

lastnounUS /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Clement had walked with the doctor to the door and had secured a last word with Arthur outside, but he had not ventured to enter the house, much less to ask for Josina.

less

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

From this reading Clement had walked with the doctor to the door and had secured a last word with Arthur outside, but he had not ventured to enter the house, much less to ask for Josina.

lover

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

From this reading It was not a pleasant thought for a lover; but then how much worse, he reflected, would it have been for her, had she never made up her mind to confession.

made

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

From this reading It was not a pleasant thought for a lover; but then how much worse, he reflected, would it have been for her, had she never made up her mind to confession.

mindnounUS /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was not a pleasant thought for a lover; but then how much worse, he reflected, would it have been for her, had she never made up her mind to confession.

much

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

From this reading Clement had walked with the doctor to the door and had secured a last word with Arthur outside, but he had not ventured to enter the house, much less to ask for Josina.

nevernounUS /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was not a pleasant thought for a lover; but then how much worse, he reflected, would it have been for her, had she never made up her mind to confession.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Clement had walked with the doctor to the door and had secured a last word with Arthur outside, but he had not ventured to enter the house, much less to ask for Josina.

now

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

From this reading And in his own person how much better he now stood.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading But he knew also, or he guessed, that the poignancy of her grief would be sharpened by remorse, and he felt that in the first outburst of self-reproach his presence would be the last she would welcome.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading He knew how heavily the shock would fall on her, and his heart was wrung for her.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading But he knew also, or he guessed, that the poignancy of her grief would be sharpened by remorse, and he felt that in the first outburst of self-reproach his presence would be the last she would welcome.

outburst

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

From this reading But he knew also, or he guessed, that the poignancy of her grief would be sharpened by remorse, and he felt that in the first outburst of self-reproach his presence would be the last she would welcome.

outsidenounUS /ˈoutside/

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

From this reading Clement had walked with the doctor to the door and had secured a last word with Arthur outside, but he had not ventured to enter the house, much less to ask for Josina.

own

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

From this reading And in his own person how much better he now stood.

person

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

From this reading And in his own person how much better he now stood.

pleasantnounUS /pleasant/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was not a pleasant thought for a lover; but then how much worse, he reflected, would it have been for her, had she never made up her mind to confession.

poignancy

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

From this reading But he knew also, or he guessed, that the poignancy of her grief would be sharpened by remorse, and he felt that in the first outburst of self-reproach his presence would be the last she would welcome.

presence

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

From this reading But he knew also, or he guessed, that the poignancy of her grief would be sharpened by remorse, and he felt that in the first outburst of self-reproach his presence would be the last she would welcome.

reflected

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

From this reading It was not a pleasant thought for a lover; but then how much worse, he reflected, would it have been for her, had she never made up her mind to confession.

remorse

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

From this reading But he knew also, or he guessed, that the poignancy of her grief would be sharpened by remorse, and he felt that in the first outburst of self-reproach his presence would be the last she would welcome.

secured

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

From this reading Clement had walked with the doctor to the door and had secured a last word with Arthur outside, but he had not ventured to enter the house, much less to ask for Josina.

self-reproach

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

From this reading But he knew also, or he guessed, that the poignancy of her grief would be sharpened by remorse, and he felt that in the first outburst of self-reproach his presence would be the last she would welcome.

sharpened

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

From this reading But he knew also, or he guessed, that the poignancy of her grief would be sharpened by remorse, and he felt that in the first outburst of self-reproach his presence would be the last she would welcome.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading But he knew also, or he guessed, that the poignancy of her grief would be sharpened by remorse, and he felt that in the first outburst of self-reproach his presence would be the last she would welcome.

shock

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

From this reading He knew how heavily the shock would fall on her, and his heart was wrung for her.

stoodnounUS /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading And in his own person how much better he now stood.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading But he knew also, or he guessed, that the poignancy of her grief would be sharpened by remorse, and he felt that in the first outburst of self-reproach his presence would be the last she would welcome.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Clement had walked with the doctor to the door and had secured a last word with Arthur outside, but he had not ventured to enter the house, much less to ask for Josina.

then

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

From this reading It was not a pleasant thought for a lover; but then how much worse, he reflected, would it have been for her, had she never made up her mind to confession.

thoughtnounUS /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was not a pleasant thought for a lover; but then how much worse, he reflected, would it have been for her, had she never made up her mind to confession.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Clement had walked with the doctor to the door and had secured a last word with Arthur outside, but he had not ventured to enter the house, much less to ask for Josina.

up

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

From this reading It was not a pleasant thought for a lover; but then how much worse, he reflected, would it have been for her, had she never made up her mind to confession.

ventured

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

From this reading Clement had walked with the doctor to the door and had secured a last word with Arthur outside, but he had not ventured to enter the house, much less to ask for Josina.

walked

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

From this reading Clement had walked with the doctor to the door and had secured a last word with Arthur outside, but he had not ventured to enter the house, much less to ask for Josina.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading He knew how heavily the shock would fall on her, and his heart was wrung for her.

welcome

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

From this reading But he knew also, or he guessed, that the poignancy of her grief would be sharpened by remorse, and he felt that in the first outburst of self-reproach his presence would be the last she would welcome.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Clement had walked with the doctor to the door and had secured a last word with Arthur outside, but he had not ventured to enter the house, much less to ask for Josina.

word

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

From this reading Clement had walked with the doctor to the door and had secured a last word with Arthur outside, but he had not ventured to enter the house, much less to ask for Josina.

worse

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

From this reading It was not a pleasant thought for a lover; but then how much worse, he reflected, would it have been for her, had she never made up her mind to confession.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading He knew how heavily the shock would fall on her, and his heart was wrung for her.

wrung

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

From this reading He knew how heavily the shock would fall on her, and his heart was wrung for her.