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Poor Relations
Poor Relations

Chapter V

Cover illustration for Poor Relations
Context Illustration Reading 1/81 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
So one day when she had begged "_my_ Cousin Betty" to come to take coffee with her in her room, she opened on the subject of her lover, to know how she might see him without risk.
"My dear child," said she, for they called each my dear, "why have you never introduced your lover to me?
Do you know that within a short time he has become famous?"
"He famous?"
"He is the one subject of conversation."
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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.

Poor Relations

Chapter V

Reading 1/81 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
So one day when she had begged "_my_ Cousin Betty" to come to take coffee with her in her room, she opened on the subject of her lover, to know how she might see him without risk.
Line 2
"My dear child," said she, for they called each my dear, "why have you never introduced your lover to me?
Line 3
Do you know that within a short time he has become famous?"
Line 4
"He famous?"
Line 5
"He is the one subject of conversation."

Learner Dictionary

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

Come noun US /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “So one day when she had begged "_my_ Cousin Betty" to come to take coffee with her in her room, she opened on the subject of her lover, to know how she might see him without risk.”

Has auxiliary verb US /hæz/

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

From this reading “Do you know that within a short time he has become famous?"”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “"My dear child," said she, for they called each my dear, "why have you never introduced your lover to me?”

Know noun US /know/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “So one day when she had begged "_my_ Cousin Betty" to come to take coffee with her in her room, she opened on the subject of her lover, to know how she might see him without risk.”

Might modal verb US /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading “So one day when she had begged "_my_ Cousin Betty" to come to take coffee with her in her room, she opened on the subject of her lover, to know how she might see him without risk.”

Never noun US /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"My dear child," said she, for they called each my dear, "why have you never introduced your lover to me?”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “So one day when she had begged "_my_ Cousin Betty" to come to take coffee with her in her room, she opened on the subject of her lover, to know how she might see him without risk.”

Short adjective US /ʃɔrt/

brief or direct in expression

From this reading “Do you know that within a short time he has become famous?"”

Take noun US /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “So one day when she had begged "_my_ Cousin Betty" to come to take coffee with her in her room, she opened on the subject of her lover, to know how she might see him without risk.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Do you know that within a short time he has become famous?"”

Within preposition US /wɪˈðɪn/

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading “Do you know that within a short time he has become famous?"”

Without preposition US /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading “So one day when she had begged "_my_ Cousin Betty" to come to take coffee with her in her room, she opened on the subject of her lover, to know how she might see him without risk.”

All words in this reading · 57

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 Do you know that within a short time he has become famous?"

become

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

From this reading Do you know that within a short time he has become famous?"

begged

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

From this reading So one day when she had begged "_my_ Cousin Betty" to come to take coffee with her in her room, she opened on the subject of her lover, to know how she might see him without risk.

Betty

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

From this reading So one day when she had begged "_my_ Cousin Betty" to come to take coffee with her in her room, she opened on the subject of her lover, to know how she might see him without risk.

called

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

From this reading "My dear child," said she, for they called each my dear, "why have you never introduced your lover to me?

child

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

From this reading "My dear child," said she, for they called each my dear, "why have you never introduced your lover to me?

coffee

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

From this reading So one day when she had begged "_my_ Cousin Betty" to come to take coffee with her in her room, she opened on the subject of her lover, to know how she might see him without risk.

comenounUS /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading So one day when she had begged "_my_ Cousin Betty" to come to take coffee with her in her room, she opened on the subject of her lover, to know how she might see him without risk.

conversation

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

From this reading "He is the one subject of conversation."

Cousin

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

From this reading So one day when she had begged "_my_ Cousin Betty" to come to take coffee with her in her room, she opened on the subject of her lover, to know how she might see him without risk.

day

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

From this reading So one day when she had begged "_my_ Cousin Betty" to come to take coffee with her in her room, she opened on the subject of her lover, to know how she might see him without risk.

dear

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

From this reading "My dear child," said she, for they called each my dear, "why have you never introduced your lover to me?

Doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading Do you know that within a short time he has become famous?"

eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading "My dear child," said she, for they called each my dear, "why have you never introduced your lover to me?

famous

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

From this reading Do you know that within a short time he has become famous?"

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading "My dear child," said she, for they called each my dear, "why have you never introduced your lover to me?

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading So one day when she had begged "_my_ Cousin Betty" to come to take coffee with her in her room, she opened on the subject of her lover, to know how she might see him without risk.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading Do you know that within a short time he has become famous?"

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading "My dear child," said she, for they called each my dear, "why have you never introduced your lover to me?

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Do you know that within a short time he has become famous?"

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading So one day when she had begged "_my_ Cousin Betty" to come to take coffee with her in her room, she opened on the subject of her lover, to know how she might see him without risk.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading So one day when she had begged "_my_ Cousin Betty" to come to take coffee with her in her room, she opened on the subject of her lover, to know how she might see him without risk.

how

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

From this reading So one day when she had begged "_my_ Cousin Betty" to come to take coffee with her in her room, she opened on the subject of her lover, to know how she might see him without risk.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading So one day when she had begged "_my_ Cousin Betty" to come to take coffee with her in her room, she opened on the subject of her lover, to know how she might see him without risk.

introduced

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

From this reading "My dear child," said she, for they called each my dear, "why have you never introduced your lover to me?

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading "He is the one subject of conversation."

knownounUS /know/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading So one day when she had begged "_my_ Cousin Betty" to come to take coffee with her in her room, she opened on the subject of her lover, to know how she might see him without risk.

lover

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

From this reading So one day when she had begged "_my_ Cousin Betty" to come to take coffee with her in her room, she opened on the subject of her lover, to know how she might see him without risk.

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading "My dear child," said she, for they called each my dear, "why have you never introduced your lover to me?

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading So one day when she had begged "_my_ Cousin Betty" to come to take coffee with her in her room, she opened on the subject of her lover, to know how she might see him without risk.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading So one day when she had begged "_my_ Cousin Betty" to come to take coffee with her in her room, she opened on the subject of her lover, to know how she might see him without risk.

nevernounUS /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "My dear child," said she, for they called each my dear, "why have you never introduced your lover to me?

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading So one day when she had begged "_my_ Cousin Betty" to come to take coffee with her in her room, she opened on the subject of her lover, to know how she might see him without risk.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading So one day when she had begged "_my_ Cousin Betty" to come to take coffee with her in her room, she opened on the subject of her lover, to know how she might see him without risk.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading So one day when she had begged "_my_ Cousin Betty" to come to take coffee with her in her room, she opened on the subject of her lover, to know how she might see him without risk.

opened

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

From this reading So one day when she had begged "_my_ Cousin Betty" to come to take coffee with her in her room, she opened on the subject of her lover, to know how she might see him without risk.

risk

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

From this reading So one day when she had begged "_my_ Cousin Betty" to come to take coffee with her in her room, she opened on the subject of her lover, to know how she might see him without risk.

room

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

From this reading So one day when she had begged "_my_ Cousin Betty" to come to take coffee with her in her room, she opened on the subject of her lover, to know how she might see him without risk.

said

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

From this reading "My dear child," said she, for they called each my dear, "why have you never introduced your lover to me?

see

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

From this reading So one day when she had begged "_my_ Cousin Betty" to come to take coffee with her in her room, she opened on the subject of her lover, to know how she might see him without risk.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading So one day when she had begged "_my_ Cousin Betty" to come to take coffee with her in her room, she opened on the subject of her lover, to know how she might see him without risk.

shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔrt/

brief or direct in expression

From this reading Do you know that within a short time he has become famous?"

SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading So one day when she had begged "_my_ Cousin Betty" to come to take coffee with her in her room, she opened on the subject of her lover, to know how she might see him without risk.

subject

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

From this reading So one day when she had begged "_my_ Cousin Betty" to come to take coffee with her in her room, she opened on the subject of her lover, to know how she might see him without risk.

takenounUS /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading So one day when she had begged "_my_ Cousin Betty" to come to take coffee with her in her room, she opened on the subject of her lover, to know how she might see him without risk.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Do you know that within a short time he has become famous?"

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading So one day when she had begged "_my_ Cousin Betty" to come to take coffee with her in her room, she opened on the subject of her lover, to know how she might see him without risk.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading "My dear child," said she, for they called each my dear, "why have you never introduced your lover to me?

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Do you know that within a short time he has become famous?"

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading So one day when she had begged "_my_ Cousin Betty" to come to take coffee with her in her room, she opened on the subject of her lover, to know how she might see him without risk.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading So one day when she had begged "_my_ Cousin Betty" to come to take coffee with her in her room, she opened on the subject of her lover, to know how she might see him without risk.

why

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

From this reading "My dear child," said she, for they called each my dear, "why have you never introduced your lover to me?

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading So one day when she had begged "_my_ Cousin Betty" to come to take coffee with her in her room, she opened on the subject of her lover, to know how she might see him without risk.

withinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading Do you know that within a short time he has become famous?"

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading So one day when she had begged "_my_ Cousin Betty" to come to take coffee with her in her room, she opened on the subject of her lover, to know how she might see him without risk.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "My dear child," said she, for they called each my dear, "why have you never introduced your lover to me?

yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "My dear child," said she, for they called each my dear, "why have you never introduced your lover to me?