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Portia
Portia

Chapter XX

Cover illustration for Portia
Context Illustration Reading 1/41 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
"Time tries the troth in everything."
--THOMAS TUSSER.
THE voice comes to her distinctly across the sward, browned by Winter's frown, and over the evergreens that sway and rustle behind her back.
"Shall I answer?" says Dulce to herself, half uncertainly; and then she hesitates, and then belies the old adage because she is not lost, but decides on maintaining a discreet silence.
"If he comes," she tells herself, "he will only talk, _talk_, TALK! and, at his best, he is tiresome; and then he worries so that really life becomes a burden with him near.
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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.

Portia

Chapter XX

Reading 1/41 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
"Time tries the troth in everything."
Line 2
--THOMAS TUSSER.
Line 3
THE voice comes to her distinctly across the sward, browned by Winter's frown, and over the evergreens that sway and rustle behind her back.
Line 4
"Shall I answer?" says Dulce to herself, half uncertainly; and then she hesitates, and then belies the old adage because she is not lost, but decides on maintaining a discreet silence.
Line 5
"If he comes," she tells herself, "he will only talk, _talk_, TALK! and, at his best, he is tiresome; and then he worries so that really life becomes a burden with him near.

Learner Dictionary

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

Across preposition US /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading “THE voice comes to her distinctly across the sward, browned by Winter's frown, and over the evergreens that sway and rustle behind her back.”

Because conjunction US /bɪˈkɔːz/

for the reason that

From this reading “"Shall I answer?" says Dulce to herself, half uncertainly; and then she hesitates, and then belies the old adage because she is not lost, but decides on maintaining a discreet silence.”

Behind preposition US /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading “THE voice comes to her distinctly across the sward, browned by Winter's frown, and over the evergreens that sway and rustle behind her back.”

Everything pronoun US /ˈevriθɪŋ/

all things; all of a situation

From this reading “"Time tries the troth in everything."”

Half noun US /half/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"Shall I answer?" says Dulce to herself, half uncertainly; and then she hesitates, and then belies the old adage because she is not lost, but decides on maintaining a discreet silence.”

Herself pronoun US /hərˈself/

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

From this reading “"Shall I answer?" says Dulce to herself, half uncertainly; and then she hesitates, and then belies the old adage because she is not lost, but decides on maintaining a discreet silence.”

Life noun US /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"If he comes," she tells herself, "he will only talk, _talk_, TALK! and, at his best, he is tiresome; and then he worries so that really life becomes a burden with him near.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “THE voice comes to her distinctly across the sward, browned by Winter's frown, and over the evergreens that sway and rustle behind her back.”

Shall modal verb US /ʃæl/

used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest

From this reading “"Shall I answer?" says Dulce to herself, half uncertainly; and then she hesitates, and then belies the old adage because she is not lost, but decides on maintaining a discreet silence.”

Silence noun US /ˈsaɪ.ləns/

Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.

From this reading “"Shall I answer?" says Dulce to herself, half uncertainly; and then she hesitates, and then belies the old adage because she is not lost, but decides on maintaining a discreet silence.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"Time tries the troth in everything."”

All words in this reading · 71

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 "Shall I answer?" says Dulce to herself, half uncertainly; and then she hesitates, and then belies the old adage because she is not lost, but decides on maintaining a discreet silence.

acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading THE voice comes to her distinctly across the sward, browned by Winter's frown, and over the evergreens that sway and rustle behind her back.

adage

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

From this reading "Shall I answer?" says Dulce to herself, half uncertainly; and then she hesitates, and then belies the old adage because she is not lost, but decides on maintaining a discreet silence.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading THE voice comes to her distinctly across the sward, browned by Winter's frown, and over the evergreens that sway and rustle behind her back.

answer

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

From this reading "Shall I answer?" says Dulce to herself, half uncertainly; and then she hesitates, and then belies the old adage because she is not lost, but decides on maintaining a discreet silence.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading "If he comes," she tells herself, "he will only talk, _talk_, TALK! and, at his best, he is tiresome; and then he worries so that really life becomes a burden with him near.

back

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

From this reading THE voice comes to her distinctly across the sward, browned by Winter's frown, and over the evergreens that sway and rustle behind her back.

becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/

for the reason that

From this reading "Shall I answer?" says Dulce to herself, half uncertainly; and then she hesitates, and then belies the old adage because she is not lost, but decides on maintaining a discreet silence.

becomes

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

From this reading "If he comes," she tells herself, "he will only talk, _talk_, TALK! and, at his best, he is tiresome; and then he worries so that really life becomes a burden with him near.

behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading THE voice comes to her distinctly across the sward, browned by Winter's frown, and over the evergreens that sway and rustle behind her back.

belies

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

From this reading "Shall I answer?" says Dulce to herself, half uncertainly; and then she hesitates, and then belies the old adage because she is not lost, but decides on maintaining a discreet silence.

best

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

From this reading "If he comes," she tells herself, "he will only talk, _talk_, TALK! and, at his best, he is tiresome; and then he worries so that really life becomes a burden with him near.

browned

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

From this reading THE voice comes to her distinctly across the sward, browned by Winter's frown, and over the evergreens that sway and rustle behind her back.

burden

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

From this reading "If he comes," she tells herself, "he will only talk, _talk_, TALK! and, at his best, he is tiresome; and then he worries so that really life becomes a burden with him near.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading "Shall I answer?" says Dulce to herself, half uncertainly; and then she hesitates, and then belies the old adage because she is not lost, but decides on maintaining a discreet silence.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading THE voice comes to her distinctly across the sward, browned by Winter's frown, and over the evergreens that sway and rustle behind her back.

comes

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

From this reading THE voice comes to her distinctly across the sward, browned by Winter's frown, and over the evergreens that sway and rustle behind her back.

decides

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

From this reading "Shall I answer?" says Dulce to herself, half uncertainly; and then she hesitates, and then belies the old adage because she is not lost, but decides on maintaining a discreet silence.

discreet

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

From this reading "Shall I answer?" says Dulce to herself, half uncertainly; and then she hesitates, and then belies the old adage because she is not lost, but decides on maintaining a discreet silence.

distinctly

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

From this reading THE voice comes to her distinctly across the sward, browned by Winter's frown, and over the evergreens that sway and rustle behind her back.

Dulce

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

From this reading "Shall I answer?" says Dulce to herself, half uncertainly; and then she hesitates, and then belies the old adage because she is not lost, but decides on maintaining a discreet silence.

evergreens

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

From this reading THE voice comes to her distinctly across the sward, browned by Winter's frown, and over the evergreens that sway and rustle behind her back.

everythingpronounUS /ˈevriθɪŋ/

all things; all of a situation

From this reading "Time tries the troth in everything."

frown

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

From this reading THE voice comes to her distinctly across the sward, browned by Winter's frown, and over the evergreens that sway and rustle behind her back.

halfnounUS /half/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "Shall I answer?" says Dulce to herself, half uncertainly; and then she hesitates, and then belies the old adage because she is not lost, but decides on maintaining a discreet silence.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading "If he comes," she tells herself, "he will only talk, _talk_, TALK! and, at his best, he is tiresome; and then he worries so that really life becomes a burden with him near.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading THE voice comes to her distinctly across the sward, browned by Winter's frown, and over the evergreens that sway and rustle behind her back.

herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/

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

From this reading "Shall I answer?" says Dulce to herself, half uncertainly; and then she hesitates, and then belies the old adage because she is not lost, but decides on maintaining a discreet silence.

hesitates

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

From this reading "Shall I answer?" says Dulce to herself, half uncertainly; and then she hesitates, and then belies the old adage because she is not lost, but decides on maintaining a discreet silence.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading "If he comes," she tells herself, "he will only talk, _talk_, TALK! and, at his best, he is tiresome; and then he worries so that really life becomes a burden with him near.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading "If he comes," she tells herself, "he will only talk, _talk_, TALK! and, at his best, he is tiresome; and then he worries so that really life becomes a burden with him near.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading "Shall I answer?" says Dulce to herself, half uncertainly; and then she hesitates, and then belies the old adage because she is not lost, but decides on maintaining a discreet silence.

IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading "If he comes," she tells herself, "he will only talk, _talk_, TALK! and, at his best, he is tiresome; and then he worries so that really life becomes a burden with him near.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading "Time tries the troth in everything."

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading "Shall I answer?" says Dulce to herself, half uncertainly; and then she hesitates, and then belies the old adage because she is not lost, but decides on maintaining a discreet silence.

lifenounUS /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "If he comes," she tells herself, "he will only talk, _talk_, TALK! and, at his best, he is tiresome; and then he worries so that really life becomes a burden with him near.

lost

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

From this reading "Shall I answer?" says Dulce to herself, half uncertainly; and then she hesitates, and then belies the old adage because she is not lost, but decides on maintaining a discreet silence.

maintaining

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

From this reading "Shall I answer?" says Dulce to herself, half uncertainly; and then she hesitates, and then belies the old adage because she is not lost, but decides on maintaining a discreet silence.

near

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

From this reading "If he comes," she tells herself, "he will only talk, _talk_, TALK! and, at his best, he is tiresome; and then he worries so that really life becomes a burden with him near.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading "Shall I answer?" says Dulce to herself, half uncertainly; and then she hesitates, and then belies the old adage because she is not lost, but decides on maintaining a discreet silence.

old

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

From this reading "Shall I answer?" says Dulce to herself, half uncertainly; and then she hesitates, and then belies the old adage because she is not lost, but decides on maintaining a discreet silence.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading "Shall I answer?" says Dulce to herself, half uncertainly; and then she hesitates, and then belies the old adage because she is not lost, but decides on maintaining a discreet silence.

only

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

From this reading "If he comes," she tells herself, "he will only talk, _talk_, TALK! and, at his best, he is tiresome; and then he worries so that really life becomes a burden with him near.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading THE voice comes to her distinctly across the sward, browned by Winter's frown, and over the evergreens that sway and rustle behind her back.

really

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

From this reading "If he comes," she tells herself, "he will only talk, _talk_, TALK! and, at his best, he is tiresome; and then he worries so that really life becomes a burden with him near.

rustle

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

From this reading THE voice comes to her distinctly across the sward, browned by Winter's frown, and over the evergreens that sway and rustle behind her back.

says

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

From this reading "Shall I answer?" says Dulce to herself, half uncertainly; and then she hesitates, and then belies the old adage because she is not lost, but decides on maintaining a discreet silence.

Shallmodal verbUS /ʃæl/

used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest

From this reading "Shall I answer?" says Dulce to herself, half uncertainly; and then she hesitates, and then belies the old adage because she is not lost, but decides on maintaining a discreet silence.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading "Shall I answer?" says Dulce to herself, half uncertainly; and then she hesitates, and then belies the old adage because she is not lost, but decides on maintaining a discreet silence.

silencenounUS /ˈsaɪ.ləns/

Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.

From this reading "Shall I answer?" says Dulce to herself, half uncertainly; and then she hesitates, and then belies the old adage because she is not lost, but decides on maintaining a discreet silence.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading "If he comes," she tells herself, "he will only talk, _talk_, TALK! and, at his best, he is tiresome; and then he worries so that really life becomes a burden with him near.

sward

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

From this reading THE voice comes to her distinctly across the sward, browned by Winter's frown, and over the evergreens that sway and rustle behind her back.

sway

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

From this reading THE voice comes to her distinctly across the sward, browned by Winter's frown, and over the evergreens that sway and rustle behind her back.

talk

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

From this reading "If he comes," she tells herself, "he will only talk, _talk_, TALK! and, at his best, he is tiresome; and then he worries so that really life becomes a burden with him near.

tells

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

From this reading "If he comes," she tells herself, "he will only talk, _talk_, TALK! and, at his best, he is tiresome; and then he worries so that really life becomes a burden with him near.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading THE voice comes to her distinctly across the sward, browned by Winter's frown, and over the evergreens that sway and rustle behind her back.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading "Time tries the troth in everything."

then

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

From this reading "Shall I answer?" says Dulce to herself, half uncertainly; and then she hesitates, and then belies the old adage because she is not lost, but decides on maintaining a discreet silence.

THOMAS

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

From this reading --THOMAS TUSSER.

TimenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "Time tries the troth in everything."

tiresome

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

From this reading "If he comes," she tells herself, "he will only talk, _talk_, TALK! and, at his best, he is tiresome; and then he worries so that really life becomes a burden with him near.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading THE voice comes to her distinctly across the sward, browned by Winter's frown, and over the evergreens that sway and rustle behind her back.

tries

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

From this reading "Time tries the troth in everything."

troth

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

From this reading "Time tries the troth in everything."

TUSSER

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

From this reading --THOMAS TUSSER.

uncertainly

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

From this reading "Shall I answer?" says Dulce to herself, half uncertainly; and then she hesitates, and then belies the old adage because she is not lost, but decides on maintaining a discreet silence.

voice

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

From this reading THE voice comes to her distinctly across the sward, browned by Winter's frown, and over the evergreens that sway and rustle behind her back.

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading "If he comes," she tells herself, "he will only talk, _talk_, TALK! and, at his best, he is tiresome; and then he worries so that really life becomes a burden with him near.

Winter's

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

From this reading THE voice comes to her distinctly across the sward, browned by Winter's frown, and over the evergreens that sway and rustle behind her back.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading "If he comes," she tells herself, "he will only talk, _talk_, TALK! and, at his best, he is tiresome; and then he worries so that really life becomes a burden with him near.

worries

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

From this reading "If he comes," she tells herself, "he will only talk, _talk_, TALK! and, at his best, he is tiresome; and then he worries so that really life becomes a burden with him near.