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Saunterings
Saunterings

Chapter XXIII

Cover illustration for Saunterings
Context Illustration Reading 1/26 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Shall we go to Capri?
Should we dare return to the great Republic, and own that we had not been into the Blue Grotto?
We like to climb the steeps here, especially towards Massa, and look at Capri.
I have read in some book that it used to be always visible from Sorrento.
But now the promontory has risen, the Capo di Sorrento has thrust out its rocky spur with its ancient Roman masonry, and the island itself has moved so far round to the south that Sorrento, which fronts north, has lost sight of it.
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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.

Saunterings

Chapter XXIII

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

Line 1
Shall we go to Capri?
Line 2
Should we dare return to the great Republic, and own that we had not been into the Blue Grotto?
Line 3
We like to climb the steeps here, especially towards Massa, and look at Capri.
Line 4
I have read in some book that it used to be always visible from Sorrento.
Line 5
But now the promontory has risen, the Capo di Sorrento has thrust out its rocky spur with its ancient Roman masonry, and the island itself has moved so far round to the south that Sorrento, which fronts north, has lost sight of it.

Learner Dictionary

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

Ancient adjective US /ˈeɪn.ʃənt/

Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.

From this reading “But now the promontory has risen, the Capo di Sorrento has thrust out its rocky spur with its ancient Roman masonry, and the island itself has moved so far round to the south that Sorrento, which fronts north, has lost sight of it.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “Should we dare return to the great Republic, and own that we had not been into the Blue Grotto?”

Great noun US /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Should we dare return to the great Republic, and own that we had not been into the Blue Grotto?”

Has auxiliary verb US /hæz/

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

From this reading “But now the promontory has risen, the Capo di Sorrento has thrust out its rocky spur with its ancient Roman masonry, and the island itself has moved so far round to the south that Sorrento, which fronts north, has lost sight of it.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “I have read in some book that it used to be always visible from Sorrento.”

Here noun US /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “We like to climb the steeps here, especially towards Massa, and look at Capri.”

Itself pronoun US /ˌɪtˈself/

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading “But now the promontory has risen, the Capo di Sorrento has thrust out its rocky spur with its ancient Roman masonry, and the island itself has moved so far round to the south that Sorrento, which fronts north, has lost sight of it.”

Look noun US /look/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “We like to climb the steeps here, especially towards Massa, and look at Capri.”

Shall modal verb US /ʃæl/

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

From this reading “Shall we go to Capri?”

Towards preposition US /təˈwɔːrdz/

in the direction of

From this reading “We like to climb the steeps here, especially towards Massa, and look at Capri.”

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.

always

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

From this reading I have read in some book that it used to be always visible from Sorrento.

ancientadjectiveUS /ˈeɪn.ʃənt/

Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.

From this reading But now the promontory has risen, the Capo di Sorrento has thrust out its rocky spur with its ancient Roman masonry, and the island itself has moved so far round to the south that Sorrento, which fronts north, has lost sight of it.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Should we dare return to the great Republic, and own that we had not been into the Blue Grotto?

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading We like to climb the steeps here, especially towards Massa, and look at Capri.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading I have read in some book that it used to be always visible from Sorrento.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Should we dare return to the great Republic, and own that we had not been into the Blue Grotto?

Blue

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

From this reading Should we dare return to the great Republic, and own that we had not been into the Blue Grotto?

book

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

From this reading I have read in some book that it used to be always visible from Sorrento.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But now the promontory has risen, the Capo di Sorrento has thrust out its rocky spur with its ancient Roman masonry, and the island itself has moved so far round to the south that Sorrento, which fronts north, has lost sight of it.

Capo

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

From this reading But now the promontory has risen, the Capo di Sorrento has thrust out its rocky spur with its ancient Roman masonry, and the island itself has moved so far round to the south that Sorrento, which fronts north, has lost sight of it.

Capri

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

From this reading Shall we go to Capri?

climb

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

From this reading We like to climb the steeps here, especially towards Massa, and look at Capri.

dare

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

From this reading Should we dare return to the great Republic, and own that we had not been into the Blue Grotto?

di

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

From this reading But now the promontory has risen, the Capo di Sorrento has thrust out its rocky spur with its ancient Roman masonry, and the island itself has moved so far round to the south that Sorrento, which fronts north, has lost sight of it.

especially

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

From this reading We like to climb the steeps here, especially towards Massa, and look at Capri.

far

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

From this reading But now the promontory has risen, the Capo di Sorrento has thrust out its rocky spur with its ancient Roman masonry, and the island itself has moved so far round to the south that Sorrento, which fronts north, has lost sight of it.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading I have read in some book that it used to be always visible from Sorrento.

fronts

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

From this reading But now the promontory has risen, the Capo di Sorrento has thrust out its rocky spur with its ancient Roman masonry, and the island itself has moved so far round to the south that Sorrento, which fronts north, has lost sight of it.

go

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

From this reading Shall we go to Capri?

greatnounUS /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Should we dare return to the great Republic, and own that we had not been into the Blue Grotto?

Grotto

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

From this reading Should we dare return to the great Republic, and own that we had not been into the Blue Grotto?

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Should we dare return to the great Republic, and own that we had not been into the Blue Grotto?

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading But now the promontory has risen, the Capo di Sorrento has thrust out its rocky spur with its ancient Roman masonry, and the island itself has moved so far round to the south that Sorrento, which fronts north, has lost sight of it.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading I have read in some book that it used to be always visible from Sorrento.

herenounUS /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading We like to climb the steeps here, especially towards Massa, and look at Capri.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading I have read in some book that it used to be always visible from Sorrento.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading I have read in some book that it used to be always visible from Sorrento.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Should we dare return to the great Republic, and own that we had not been into the Blue Grotto?

island

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

From this reading But now the promontory has risen, the Capo di Sorrento has thrust out its rocky spur with its ancient Roman masonry, and the island itself has moved so far round to the south that Sorrento, which fronts north, has lost sight of it.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading I have read in some book that it used to be always visible from Sorrento.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading But now the promontory has risen, the Capo di Sorrento has thrust out its rocky spur with its ancient Roman masonry, and the island itself has moved so far round to the south that Sorrento, which fronts north, has lost sight of it.

itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading But now the promontory has risen, the Capo di Sorrento has thrust out its rocky spur with its ancient Roman masonry, and the island itself has moved so far round to the south that Sorrento, which fronts north, has lost sight of it.

like

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

From this reading We like to climb the steeps here, especially towards Massa, and look at Capri.

looknounUS /look/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading We like to climb the steeps here, especially towards Massa, and look at Capri.

lost

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

From this reading But now the promontory has risen, the Capo di Sorrento has thrust out its rocky spur with its ancient Roman masonry, and the island itself has moved so far round to the south that Sorrento, which fronts north, has lost sight of it.

masonry

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

From this reading But now the promontory has risen, the Capo di Sorrento has thrust out its rocky spur with its ancient Roman masonry, and the island itself has moved so far round to the south that Sorrento, which fronts north, has lost sight of it.

Massa

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

From this reading We like to climb the steeps here, especially towards Massa, and look at Capri.

moved

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

From this reading But now the promontory has risen, the Capo di Sorrento has thrust out its rocky spur with its ancient Roman masonry, and the island itself has moved so far round to the south that Sorrento, which fronts north, has lost sight of it.

north

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

From this reading But now the promontory has risen, the Capo di Sorrento has thrust out its rocky spur with its ancient Roman masonry, and the island itself has moved so far round to the south that Sorrento, which fronts north, has lost sight of it.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Should we dare return to the great Republic, and own that we had not been into the Blue Grotto?

now

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

From this reading But now the promontory has risen, the Capo di Sorrento has thrust out its rocky spur with its ancient Roman masonry, and the island itself has moved so far round to the south that Sorrento, which fronts north, has lost sight of it.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading But now the promontory has risen, the Capo di Sorrento has thrust out its rocky spur with its ancient Roman masonry, and the island itself has moved so far round to the south that Sorrento, which fronts north, has lost sight of it.

out

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

From this reading But now the promontory has risen, the Capo di Sorrento has thrust out its rocky spur with its ancient Roman masonry, and the island itself has moved so far round to the south that Sorrento, which fronts north, has lost sight of it.

own

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

From this reading Should we dare return to the great Republic, and own that we had not been into the Blue Grotto?

promontory

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

From this reading But now the promontory has risen, the Capo di Sorrento has thrust out its rocky spur with its ancient Roman masonry, and the island itself has moved so far round to the south that Sorrento, which fronts north, has lost sight of it.

read

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

From this reading I have read in some book that it used to be always visible from Sorrento.

Republic

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

From this reading Should we dare return to the great Republic, and own that we had not been into the Blue Grotto?

return

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

From this reading Should we dare return to the great Republic, and own that we had not been into the Blue Grotto?

risen

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

From this reading But now the promontory has risen, the Capo di Sorrento has thrust out its rocky spur with its ancient Roman masonry, and the island itself has moved so far round to the south that Sorrento, which fronts north, has lost sight of it.

rocky

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

From this reading But now the promontory has risen, the Capo di Sorrento has thrust out its rocky spur with its ancient Roman masonry, and the island itself has moved so far round to the south that Sorrento, which fronts north, has lost sight of it.

Roman

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

From this reading But now the promontory has risen, the Capo di Sorrento has thrust out its rocky spur with its ancient Roman masonry, and the island itself has moved so far round to the south that Sorrento, which fronts north, has lost sight of it.

round

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

From this reading But now the promontory has risen, the Capo di Sorrento has thrust out its rocky spur with its ancient Roman masonry, and the island itself has moved so far round to the south that Sorrento, which fronts north, has lost sight of it.

Shallmodal verbUS /ʃæl/

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

From this reading Shall we go to Capri?

Shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading Should we dare return to the great Republic, and own that we had not been into the Blue Grotto?

sight

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

From this reading But now the promontory has risen, the Capo di Sorrento has thrust out its rocky spur with its ancient Roman masonry, and the island itself has moved so far round to the south that Sorrento, which fronts north, has lost sight of it.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading But now the promontory has risen, the Capo di Sorrento has thrust out its rocky spur with its ancient Roman masonry, and the island itself has moved so far round to the south that Sorrento, which fronts north, has lost sight of it.

some

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

From this reading I have read in some book that it used to be always visible from Sorrento.

Sorrento

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

From this reading I have read in some book that it used to be always visible from Sorrento.

south

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

From this reading But now the promontory has risen, the Capo di Sorrento has thrust out its rocky spur with its ancient Roman masonry, and the island itself has moved so far round to the south that Sorrento, which fronts north, has lost sight of it.

spur

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

From this reading But now the promontory has risen, the Capo di Sorrento has thrust out its rocky spur with its ancient Roman masonry, and the island itself has moved so far round to the south that Sorrento, which fronts north, has lost sight of it.

steeps

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

From this reading We like to climb the steeps here, especially towards Massa, and look at Capri.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Should we dare return to the great Republic, and own that we had not been into the Blue Grotto?

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Should we dare return to the great Republic, and own that we had not been into the Blue Grotto?

thrust

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

From this reading But now the promontory has risen, the Capo di Sorrento has thrust out its rocky spur with its ancient Roman masonry, and the island itself has moved so far round to the south that Sorrento, which fronts north, has lost sight of it.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Shall we go to Capri?

towardsprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrdz/

in the direction of

From this reading We like to climb the steeps here, especially towards Massa, and look at Capri.

used

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

From this reading I have read in some book that it used to be always visible from Sorrento.

visible

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

From this reading I have read in some book that it used to be always visible from Sorrento.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading Shall we go to Capri?

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading But now the promontory has risen, the Capo di Sorrento has thrust out its rocky spur with its ancient Roman masonry, and the island itself has moved so far round to the south that Sorrento, which fronts north, has lost sight of it.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading But now the promontory has risen, the Capo di Sorrento has thrust out its rocky spur with its ancient Roman masonry, and the island itself has moved so far round to the south that Sorrento, which fronts north, has lost sight of it.