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Reuben Roy's temptations
Reuben Roy's temptations

Chapter II

Cover illustration for Reuben Roy's temptations
Context Illustration Reading 1/26 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
REUBEN WINS RENOWN.
THE dwelling which Reuben Roy called his home was neither picturesque nor commodious.
It was a small whitewashed cottage, boasting but four rooms, which always seemed full of children and of clothes, in a wet or dry condition as the case might be, for Reuben's mother was a laundress and worked very hard to help her husband maintain their numerous family.
There was a piece of garden ground in front, but it was very untidy, for no one had time to give it any attention, save the little ones and they were not good gardeners.
Yet flowers flourished there somehow in a way of their own, though, as often as not, they were smothered beneath pieces of wet linen laid out to bleach in the sun.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
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A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Reuben Roy's temptations

Chapter II

Reading 1/26 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
REUBEN WINS RENOWN.
Line 2
THE dwelling which Reuben Roy called his home was neither picturesque nor commodious.
Line 3
It was a small whitewashed cottage, boasting but four rooms, which always seemed full of children and of clothes, in a wet or dry condition as the case might be, for Reuben's mother was a laundress and worked very hard to help her husband maintain their numerous family.
Line 4
There was a piece of garden ground in front, but it was very untidy, for no one had time to give it any attention, save the little ones and they were not good gardeners.
Line 5
Yet flowers flourished there somehow in a way of their own, though, as often as not, they were smothered beneath pieces of wet linen laid out to bleach in the sun.

Learner Dictionary

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

Beneath preposition US /bɪˈniːθ/

Directly under; in or to a lower position than.

From this reading “Yet flowers flourished there somehow in a way of their own, though, as often as not, they were smothered beneath pieces of wet linen laid out to bleach in the sun.”

Good noun US /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “There was a piece of garden ground in front, but it was very untidy, for no one had time to give it any attention, save the little ones and they were not good gardeners.”

Help noun US /help/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was a small whitewashed cottage, boasting but four rooms, which always seemed full of children and of clothes, in a wet or dry condition as the case might be, for Reuben's mother was a laundress and worked very hard to help her husband maintain their numerous family.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “There was a piece of garden ground in front, but it was very untidy, for no one had time to give it any attention, save the little ones and they were not good gardeners.”

Might modal verb US /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading “It was a small whitewashed cottage, boasting but four rooms, which always seemed full of children and of clothes, in a wet or dry condition as the case might be, for Reuben's mother was a laundress and worked very hard to help her husband maintain their numerous family.”

Neither determiner US /ˈniːðər/

not one and not the other of two

From this reading “THE dwelling which Reuben Roy called his home was neither picturesque nor commodious.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “There was a piece of garden ground in front, but it was very untidy, for no one had time to give it any attention, save the little ones and they were not good gardeners.”

Pieces noun US /pieces/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Yet flowers flourished there somehow in a way of their own, though, as often as not, they were smothered beneath pieces of wet linen laid out to bleach in the sun.”

Save preposition US /seɪv/

except for; apart from

From this reading “There was a piece of garden ground in front, but it was very untidy, for no one had time to give it any attention, save the little ones and they were not good gardeners.”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was a small whitewashed cottage, boasting but four rooms, which always seemed full of children and of clothes, in a wet or dry condition as the case might be, for Reuben's mother was a laundress and worked very hard to help her husband maintain their numerous family.”

Though conjunction US /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “Yet flowers flourished there somehow in a way of their own, though, as often as not, they were smothered beneath pieces of wet linen laid out to bleach in the sun.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “There was a piece of garden ground in front, but it was very untidy, for no one had time to give it any attention, save the little ones and they were not good gardeners.”

Yet conjunction US /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading “Yet flowers flourished there somehow in a way of their own, though, as often as not, they were smothered beneath pieces of wet linen laid out to bleach in the sun.”

All words in this reading · 92

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 It was a small whitewashed cottage, boasting but four rooms, which always seemed full of children and of clothes, in a wet or dry condition as the case might be, for Reuben's mother was a laundress and worked very hard to help her husband maintain their numerous family.

always

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

From this reading It was a small whitewashed cottage, boasting but four rooms, which always seemed full of children and of clothes, in a wet or dry condition as the case might be, for Reuben's mother was a laundress and worked very hard to help her husband maintain their numerous family.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading It was a small whitewashed cottage, boasting but four rooms, which always seemed full of children and of clothes, in a wet or dry condition as the case might be, for Reuben's mother was a laundress and worked very hard to help her husband maintain their numerous family.

any

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

From this reading There was a piece of garden ground in front, but it was very untidy, for no one had time to give it any attention, save the little ones and they were not good gardeners.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading It was a small whitewashed cottage, boasting but four rooms, which always seemed full of children and of clothes, in a wet or dry condition as the case might be, for Reuben's mother was a laundress and worked very hard to help her husband maintain their numerous family.

attention

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

From this reading There was a piece of garden ground in front, but it was very untidy, for no one had time to give it any attention, save the little ones and they were not good gardeners.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading It was a small whitewashed cottage, boasting but four rooms, which always seemed full of children and of clothes, in a wet or dry condition as the case might be, for Reuben's mother was a laundress and worked very hard to help her husband maintain their numerous family.

beneathprepositionUS /bɪˈniːθ/

Directly under; in or to a lower position than.

From this reading Yet flowers flourished there somehow in a way of their own, though, as often as not, they were smothered beneath pieces of wet linen laid out to bleach in the sun.

bleach

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

From this reading Yet flowers flourished there somehow in a way of their own, though, as often as not, they were smothered beneath pieces of wet linen laid out to bleach in the sun.

boasting

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

From this reading It was a small whitewashed cottage, boasting but four rooms, which always seemed full of children and of clothes, in a wet or dry condition as the case might be, for Reuben's mother was a laundress and worked very hard to help her husband maintain their numerous family.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading It was a small whitewashed cottage, boasting but four rooms, which always seemed full of children and of clothes, in a wet or dry condition as the case might be, for Reuben's mother was a laundress and worked very hard to help her husband maintain their numerous family.

called

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

From this reading THE dwelling which Reuben Roy called his home was neither picturesque nor commodious.

case

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

From this reading It was a small whitewashed cottage, boasting but four rooms, which always seemed full of children and of clothes, in a wet or dry condition as the case might be, for Reuben's mother was a laundress and worked very hard to help her husband maintain their numerous family.

children

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

From this reading It was a small whitewashed cottage, boasting but four rooms, which always seemed full of children and of clothes, in a wet or dry condition as the case might be, for Reuben's mother was a laundress and worked very hard to help her husband maintain their numerous family.

clothes

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

From this reading It was a small whitewashed cottage, boasting but four rooms, which always seemed full of children and of clothes, in a wet or dry condition as the case might be, for Reuben's mother was a laundress and worked very hard to help her husband maintain their numerous family.

commodious

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

From this reading THE dwelling which Reuben Roy called his home was neither picturesque nor commodious.

condition

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

From this reading It was a small whitewashed cottage, boasting but four rooms, which always seemed full of children and of clothes, in a wet or dry condition as the case might be, for Reuben's mother was a laundress and worked very hard to help her husband maintain their numerous family.

cottage

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

From this reading It was a small whitewashed cottage, boasting but four rooms, which always seemed full of children and of clothes, in a wet or dry condition as the case might be, for Reuben's mother was a laundress and worked very hard to help her husband maintain their numerous family.

dry

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

From this reading It was a small whitewashed cottage, boasting but four rooms, which always seemed full of children and of clothes, in a wet or dry condition as the case might be, for Reuben's mother was a laundress and worked very hard to help her husband maintain their numerous family.

dwelling

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

From this reading THE dwelling which Reuben Roy called his home was neither picturesque nor commodious.

family

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

From this reading It was a small whitewashed cottage, boasting but four rooms, which always seemed full of children and of clothes, in a wet or dry condition as the case might be, for Reuben's mother was a laundress and worked very hard to help her husband maintain their numerous family.

flourished

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

From this reading Yet flowers flourished there somehow in a way of their own, though, as often as not, they were smothered beneath pieces of wet linen laid out to bleach in the sun.

flowers

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

From this reading Yet flowers flourished there somehow in a way of their own, though, as often as not, they were smothered beneath pieces of wet linen laid out to bleach in the sun.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading It was a small whitewashed cottage, boasting but four rooms, which always seemed full of children and of clothes, in a wet or dry condition as the case might be, for Reuben's mother was a laundress and worked very hard to help her husband maintain their numerous family.

four

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

From this reading It was a small whitewashed cottage, boasting but four rooms, which always seemed full of children and of clothes, in a wet or dry condition as the case might be, for Reuben's mother was a laundress and worked very hard to help her husband maintain their numerous family.

front

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

From this reading There was a piece of garden ground in front, but it was very untidy, for no one had time to give it any attention, save the little ones and they were not good gardeners.

full

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

From this reading It was a small whitewashed cottage, boasting but four rooms, which always seemed full of children and of clothes, in a wet or dry condition as the case might be, for Reuben's mother was a laundress and worked very hard to help her husband maintain their numerous family.

garden

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

From this reading There was a piece of garden ground in front, but it was very untidy, for no one had time to give it any attention, save the little ones and they were not good gardeners.

gardeners

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

From this reading There was a piece of garden ground in front, but it was very untidy, for no one had time to give it any attention, save the little ones and they were not good gardeners.

give

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

From this reading There was a piece of garden ground in front, but it was very untidy, for no one had time to give it any attention, save the little ones and they were not good gardeners.

goodnounUS /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading There was a piece of garden ground in front, but it was very untidy, for no one had time to give it any attention, save the little ones and they were not good gardeners.

ground

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

From this reading There was a piece of garden ground in front, but it was very untidy, for no one had time to give it any attention, save the little ones and they were not good gardeners.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading There was a piece of garden ground in front, but it was very untidy, for no one had time to give it any attention, save the little ones and they were not good gardeners.

hard

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

From this reading It was a small whitewashed cottage, boasting but four rooms, which always seemed full of children and of clothes, in a wet or dry condition as the case might be, for Reuben's mother was a laundress and worked very hard to help her husband maintain their numerous family.

helpnounUS /help/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was a small whitewashed cottage, boasting but four rooms, which always seemed full of children and of clothes, in a wet or dry condition as the case might be, for Reuben's mother was a laundress and worked very hard to help her husband maintain their numerous family.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading It was a small whitewashed cottage, boasting but four rooms, which always seemed full of children and of clothes, in a wet or dry condition as the case might be, for Reuben's mother was a laundress and worked very hard to help her husband maintain their numerous family.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading THE dwelling which Reuben Roy called his home was neither picturesque nor commodious.

home

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

From this reading THE dwelling which Reuben Roy called his home was neither picturesque nor commodious.

husband

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

From this reading It was a small whitewashed cottage, boasting but four rooms, which always seemed full of children and of clothes, in a wet or dry condition as the case might be, for Reuben's mother was a laundress and worked very hard to help her husband maintain their numerous family.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading It was a small whitewashed cottage, boasting but four rooms, which always seemed full of children and of clothes, in a wet or dry condition as the case might be, for Reuben's mother was a laundress and worked very hard to help her husband maintain their numerous family.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was a small whitewashed cottage, boasting but four rooms, which always seemed full of children and of clothes, in a wet or dry condition as the case might be, for Reuben's mother was a laundress and worked very hard to help her husband maintain their numerous family.

laid

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

From this reading Yet flowers flourished there somehow in a way of their own, though, as often as not, they were smothered beneath pieces of wet linen laid out to bleach in the sun.

laundress

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

From this reading It was a small whitewashed cottage, boasting but four rooms, which always seemed full of children and of clothes, in a wet or dry condition as the case might be, for Reuben's mother was a laundress and worked very hard to help her husband maintain their numerous family.

linen

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

From this reading Yet flowers flourished there somehow in a way of their own, though, as often as not, they were smothered beneath pieces of wet linen laid out to bleach in the sun.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading There was a piece of garden ground in front, but it was very untidy, for no one had time to give it any attention, save the little ones and they were not good gardeners.

maintain

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

From this reading It was a small whitewashed cottage, boasting but four rooms, which always seemed full of children and of clothes, in a wet or dry condition as the case might be, for Reuben's mother was a laundress and worked very hard to help her husband maintain their numerous family.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading It was a small whitewashed cottage, boasting but four rooms, which always seemed full of children and of clothes, in a wet or dry condition as the case might be, for Reuben's mother was a laundress and worked very hard to help her husband maintain their numerous family.

mother

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

From this reading It was a small whitewashed cottage, boasting but four rooms, which always seemed full of children and of clothes, in a wet or dry condition as the case might be, for Reuben's mother was a laundress and worked very hard to help her husband maintain their numerous family.

neitherdeterminerUS /ˈniːðər/

not one and not the other of two

From this reading THE dwelling which Reuben Roy called his home was neither picturesque nor commodious.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading There was a piece of garden ground in front, but it was very untidy, for no one had time to give it any attention, save the little ones and they were not good gardeners.

norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/

and not; used after a negative to add a second negative

From this reading THE dwelling which Reuben Roy called his home was neither picturesque nor commodious.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading There was a piece of garden ground in front, but it was very untidy, for no one had time to give it any attention, save the little ones and they were not good gardeners.

numerous

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

From this reading It was a small whitewashed cottage, boasting but four rooms, which always seemed full of children and of clothes, in a wet or dry condition as the case might be, for Reuben's mother was a laundress and worked very hard to help her husband maintain their numerous family.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading It was a small whitewashed cottage, boasting but four rooms, which always seemed full of children and of clothes, in a wet or dry condition as the case might be, for Reuben's mother was a laundress and worked very hard to help her husband maintain their numerous family.

often

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

From this reading Yet flowers flourished there somehow in a way of their own, though, as often as not, they were smothered beneath pieces of wet linen laid out to bleach in the sun.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading There was a piece of garden ground in front, but it was very untidy, for no one had time to give it any attention, save the little ones and they were not good gardeners.

ones

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

From this reading There was a piece of garden ground in front, but it was very untidy, for no one had time to give it any attention, save the little ones and they were not good gardeners.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading It was a small whitewashed cottage, boasting but four rooms, which always seemed full of children and of clothes, in a wet or dry condition as the case might be, for Reuben's mother was a laundress and worked very hard to help her husband maintain their numerous family.

out

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

From this reading Yet flowers flourished there somehow in a way of their own, though, as often as not, they were smothered beneath pieces of wet linen laid out to bleach in the sun.

own

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

From this reading Yet flowers flourished there somehow in a way of their own, though, as often as not, they were smothered beneath pieces of wet linen laid out to bleach in the sun.

picturesque

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

From this reading THE dwelling which Reuben Roy called his home was neither picturesque nor commodious.

piece

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

From this reading There was a piece of garden ground in front, but it was very untidy, for no one had time to give it any attention, save the little ones and they were not good gardeners.

pieces

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

From this reading Yet flowers flourished there somehow in a way of their own, though, as often as not, they were smothered beneath pieces of wet linen laid out to bleach in the sun.

RENOWN

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

From this reading REUBEN WINS RENOWN.

REUBEN

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

From this reading REUBEN WINS RENOWN.

Reuben's

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

From this reading It was a small whitewashed cottage, boasting but four rooms, which always seemed full of children and of clothes, in a wet or dry condition as the case might be, for Reuben's mother was a laundress and worked very hard to help her husband maintain their numerous family.

rooms

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

From this reading It was a small whitewashed cottage, boasting but four rooms, which always seemed full of children and of clothes, in a wet or dry condition as the case might be, for Reuben's mother was a laundress and worked very hard to help her husband maintain their numerous family.

Roy

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

From this reading THE dwelling which Reuben Roy called his home was neither picturesque nor commodious.

saveprepositionUS /seɪv/

except for; apart from

From this reading There was a piece of garden ground in front, but it was very untidy, for no one had time to give it any attention, save the little ones and they were not good gardeners.

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was a small whitewashed cottage, boasting but four rooms, which always seemed full of children and of clothes, in a wet or dry condition as the case might be, for Reuben's mother was a laundress and worked very hard to help her husband maintain their numerous family.

small

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

From this reading It was a small whitewashed cottage, boasting but four rooms, which always seemed full of children and of clothes, in a wet or dry condition as the case might be, for Reuben's mother was a laundress and worked very hard to help her husband maintain their numerous family.

smothered

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

From this reading Yet flowers flourished there somehow in a way of their own, though, as often as not, they were smothered beneath pieces of wet linen laid out to bleach in the sun.

somehow

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

From this reading Yet flowers flourished there somehow in a way of their own, though, as often as not, they were smothered beneath pieces of wet linen laid out to bleach in the sun.

sun

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

From this reading Yet flowers flourished there somehow in a way of their own, though, as often as not, they were smothered beneath pieces of wet linen laid out to bleach in the sun.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE dwelling which Reuben Roy called his home was neither picturesque nor commodious.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading It was a small whitewashed cottage, boasting but four rooms, which always seemed full of children and of clothes, in a wet or dry condition as the case might be, for Reuben's mother was a laundress and worked very hard to help her husband maintain their numerous family.

There

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

From this reading There was a piece of garden ground in front, but it was very untidy, for no one had time to give it any attention, save the little ones and they were not good gardeners.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading There was a piece of garden ground in front, but it was very untidy, for no one had time to give it any attention, save the little ones and they were not good gardeners.

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading Yet flowers flourished there somehow in a way of their own, though, as often as not, they were smothered beneath pieces of wet linen laid out to bleach in the sun.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading There was a piece of garden ground in front, but it was very untidy, for no one had time to give it any attention, save the little ones and they were not good gardeners.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading It was a small whitewashed cottage, boasting but four rooms, which always seemed full of children and of clothes, in a wet or dry condition as the case might be, for Reuben's mother was a laundress and worked very hard to help her husband maintain their numerous family.

untidy

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

From this reading There was a piece of garden ground in front, but it was very untidy, for no one had time to give it any attention, save the little ones and they were not good gardeners.

very

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

From this reading It was a small whitewashed cottage, boasting but four rooms, which always seemed full of children and of clothes, in a wet or dry condition as the case might be, for Reuben's mother was a laundress and worked very hard to help her husband maintain their numerous family.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading THE dwelling which Reuben Roy called his home was neither picturesque nor commodious.

way

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

From this reading Yet flowers flourished there somehow in a way of their own, though, as often as not, they were smothered beneath pieces of wet linen laid out to bleach in the sun.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading There was a piece of garden ground in front, but it was very untidy, for no one had time to give it any attention, save the little ones and they were not good gardeners.

wet

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

From this reading It was a small whitewashed cottage, boasting but four rooms, which always seemed full of children and of clothes, in a wet or dry condition as the case might be, for Reuben's mother was a laundress and worked very hard to help her husband maintain their numerous family.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading THE dwelling which Reuben Roy called his home was neither picturesque nor commodious.

whitewashed

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

From this reading It was a small whitewashed cottage, boasting but four rooms, which always seemed full of children and of clothes, in a wet or dry condition as the case might be, for Reuben's mother was a laundress and worked very hard to help her husband maintain their numerous family.

WINS

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

From this reading REUBEN WINS RENOWN.

worked

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

From this reading It was a small whitewashed cottage, boasting but four rooms, which always seemed full of children and of clothes, in a wet or dry condition as the case might be, for Reuben's mother was a laundress and worked very hard to help her husband maintain their numerous family.

YetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading Yet flowers flourished there somehow in a way of their own, though, as often as not, they were smothered beneath pieces of wet linen laid out to bleach in the sun.