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Ships That Pass in the Night
Ships That Pass in the Night

Chapter III

Cover illustration for Ships That Pass in the Night
Context Illustration Reading 1/14 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
CONCERNING WÄRLI AND MARIE.
WÄRLI, the little hunchback postman, a cheery soul, came whistling up the Kurhaus stairs, carrying with him that precious parcel of registered letters, which gave him the position of being the most important person in Petershof.
He was a linguist, too, was Wärli, and could speak broken English in a most fascinating way, agreeable to every one, but intelligible only to himself.
Well, he came whistling up the stairs when he heard Marie's blithe voice humming her favourite spinning-song.
"Ei, Ei!" he said to himself; "Marie is in a good temper to-day.
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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.

Ships That Pass in the Night

Chapter III

Reading 1/14 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
CONCERNING WÄRLI AND MARIE.
Line 2
WÄRLI, the little hunchback postman, a cheery soul, came whistling up the Kurhaus stairs, carrying with him that precious parcel of registered letters, which gave him the position of being the most important person in Petershof.
Line 3
He was a linguist, too, was Wärli, and could speak broken English in a most fascinating way, agreeable to every one, but intelligible only to himself.
Line 4
Well, he came whistling up the stairs when he heard Marie's blithe voice humming her favourite spinning-song.
Line 5
"Ei, Ei!" he said to himself; "Marie is in a good temper to-day.

Learner Dictionary

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

Being auxiliary verb US /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading “WÄRLI, the little hunchback postman, a cheery soul, came whistling up the Kurhaus stairs, carrying with him that precious parcel of registered letters, which gave him the position of being the most important person in Petershof.”

Broken noun US /broken/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He was a linguist, too, was Wärli, and could speak broken English in a most fascinating way, agreeable to every one, but intelligible only to himself.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading “He was a linguist, too, was Wärli, and could speak broken English in a most fascinating way, agreeable to every one, but intelligible only to himself.”

Every determiner US /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading “He was a linguist, too, was Wärli, and could speak broken English in a most fascinating way, agreeable to every one, but intelligible only to himself.”

Good noun US /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"Ei, Ei!" he said to himself; "Marie is in a good temper to-day.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading “He was a linguist, too, was Wärli, and could speak broken English in a most fascinating way, agreeable to every one, but intelligible only to himself.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “WÄRLI, the little hunchback postman, a cheery soul, came whistling up the Kurhaus stairs, carrying with him that precious parcel of registered letters, which gave him the position of being the most important person in Petershof.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “He was a linguist, too, was Wärli, and could speak broken English in a most fascinating way, agreeable to every one, but intelligible only to himself.”

Precious adjective US /ˈpreʃəs/

rare and worth a great deal

From this reading “WÄRLI, the little hunchback postman, a cheery soul, came whistling up the Kurhaus stairs, carrying with him that precious parcel of registered letters, which gave him the position of being the most important person in Petershof.”

Speak noun US /speak/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He was a linguist, too, was Wärli, and could speak broken English in a most fascinating way, agreeable to every one, but intelligible only to himself.”

Well noun US /well/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Well, he came whistling up the stairs when he heard Marie's blithe voice humming her favourite spinning-song.”

All words in this reading · 68

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 WÄRLI, the little hunchback postman, a cheery soul, came whistling up the Kurhaus stairs, carrying with him that precious parcel of registered letters, which gave him the position of being the most important person in Petershof.

agreeable

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

From this reading He was a linguist, too, was Wärli, and could speak broken English in a most fascinating way, agreeable to every one, but intelligible only to himself.

ANDconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading CONCERNING WÄRLI AND MARIE.

beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading WÄRLI, the little hunchback postman, a cheery soul, came whistling up the Kurhaus stairs, carrying with him that precious parcel of registered letters, which gave him the position of being the most important person in Petershof.

blithe

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

From this reading Well, he came whistling up the stairs when he heard Marie's blithe voice humming her favourite spinning-song.

brokennounUS /broken/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He was a linguist, too, was Wärli, and could speak broken English in a most fascinating way, agreeable to every one, but intelligible only to himself.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading He was a linguist, too, was Wärli, and could speak broken English in a most fascinating way, agreeable to every one, but intelligible only to himself.

came

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

From this reading WÄRLI, the little hunchback postman, a cheery soul, came whistling up the Kurhaus stairs, carrying with him that precious parcel of registered letters, which gave him the position of being the most important person in Petershof.

carrying

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

From this reading WÄRLI, the little hunchback postman, a cheery soul, came whistling up the Kurhaus stairs, carrying with him that precious parcel of registered letters, which gave him the position of being the most important person in Petershof.

cheery

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

From this reading WÄRLI, the little hunchback postman, a cheery soul, came whistling up the Kurhaus stairs, carrying with him that precious parcel of registered letters, which gave him the position of being the most important person in Petershof.

CONCERNING

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

From this reading CONCERNING WÄRLI AND MARIE.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading He was a linguist, too, was Wärli, and could speak broken English in a most fascinating way, agreeable to every one, but intelligible only to himself.

Ei

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

From this reading "Ei, Ei!" he said to himself; "Marie is in a good temper to-day.

English

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

From this reading He was a linguist, too, was Wärli, and could speak broken English in a most fascinating way, agreeable to every one, but intelligible only to himself.

everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading He was a linguist, too, was Wärli, and could speak broken English in a most fascinating way, agreeable to every one, but intelligible only to himself.

fascinating

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

From this reading He was a linguist, too, was Wärli, and could speak broken English in a most fascinating way, agreeable to every one, but intelligible only to himself.

favourite

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

From this reading Well, he came whistling up the stairs when he heard Marie's blithe voice humming her favourite spinning-song.

gave

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

From this reading WÄRLI, the little hunchback postman, a cheery soul, came whistling up the Kurhaus stairs, carrying with him that precious parcel of registered letters, which gave him the position of being the most important person in Petershof.

goodnounUS /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "Ei, Ei!" he said to himself; "Marie is in a good temper to-day.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He was a linguist, too, was Wärli, and could speak broken English in a most fascinating way, agreeable to every one, but intelligible only to himself.

heard

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

From this reading Well, he came whistling up the stairs when he heard Marie's blithe voice humming her favourite spinning-song.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading Well, he came whistling up the stairs when he heard Marie's blithe voice humming her favourite spinning-song.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading WÄRLI, the little hunchback postman, a cheery soul, came whistling up the Kurhaus stairs, carrying with him that precious parcel of registered letters, which gave him the position of being the most important person in Petershof.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading He was a linguist, too, was Wärli, and could speak broken English in a most fascinating way, agreeable to every one, but intelligible only to himself.

humming

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

From this reading Well, he came whistling up the stairs when he heard Marie's blithe voice humming her favourite spinning-song.

hunchback

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

From this reading WÄRLI, the little hunchback postman, a cheery soul, came whistling up the Kurhaus stairs, carrying with him that precious parcel of registered letters, which gave him the position of being the most important person in Petershof.

important

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

From this reading WÄRLI, the little hunchback postman, a cheery soul, came whistling up the Kurhaus stairs, carrying with him that precious parcel of registered letters, which gave him the position of being the most important person in Petershof.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading WÄRLI, the little hunchback postman, a cheery soul, came whistling up the Kurhaus stairs, carrying with him that precious parcel of registered letters, which gave him the position of being the most important person in Petershof.

intelligible

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

From this reading He was a linguist, too, was Wärli, and could speak broken English in a most fascinating way, agreeable to every one, but intelligible only to himself.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading "Ei, Ei!" he said to himself; "Marie is in a good temper to-day.

Kurhaus

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

From this reading WÄRLI, the little hunchback postman, a cheery soul, came whistling up the Kurhaus stairs, carrying with him that precious parcel of registered letters, which gave him the position of being the most important person in Petershof.

letters

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

From this reading WÄRLI, the little hunchback postman, a cheery soul, came whistling up the Kurhaus stairs, carrying with him that precious parcel of registered letters, which gave him the position of being the most important person in Petershof.

linguist

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

From this reading He was a linguist, too, was Wärli, and could speak broken English in a most fascinating way, agreeable to every one, but intelligible only to himself.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading WÄRLI, the little hunchback postman, a cheery soul, came whistling up the Kurhaus stairs, carrying with him that precious parcel of registered letters, which gave him the position of being the most important person in Petershof.

MARIE

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

From this reading CONCERNING WÄRLI AND MARIE.

Marie's

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

From this reading Well, he came whistling up the stairs when he heard Marie's blithe voice humming her favourite spinning-song.

most

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

From this reading WÄRLI, the little hunchback postman, a cheery soul, came whistling up the Kurhaus stairs, carrying with him that precious parcel of registered letters, which gave him the position of being the most important person in Petershof.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading WÄRLI, the little hunchback postman, a cheery soul, came whistling up the Kurhaus stairs, carrying with him that precious parcel of registered letters, which gave him the position of being the most important person in Petershof.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading He was a linguist, too, was Wärli, and could speak broken English in a most fascinating way, agreeable to every one, but intelligible only to himself.

only

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

From this reading He was a linguist, too, was Wärli, and could speak broken English in a most fascinating way, agreeable to every one, but intelligible only to himself.

parcel

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

From this reading WÄRLI, the little hunchback postman, a cheery soul, came whistling up the Kurhaus stairs, carrying with him that precious parcel of registered letters, which gave him the position of being the most important person in Petershof.

person

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

From this reading WÄRLI, the little hunchback postman, a cheery soul, came whistling up the Kurhaus stairs, carrying with him that precious parcel of registered letters, which gave him the position of being the most important person in Petershof.

Petershof

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

From this reading WÄRLI, the little hunchback postman, a cheery soul, came whistling up the Kurhaus stairs, carrying with him that precious parcel of registered letters, which gave him the position of being the most important person in Petershof.

position

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

From this reading WÄRLI, the little hunchback postman, a cheery soul, came whistling up the Kurhaus stairs, carrying with him that precious parcel of registered letters, which gave him the position of being the most important person in Petershof.

postman

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

From this reading WÄRLI, the little hunchback postman, a cheery soul, came whistling up the Kurhaus stairs, carrying with him that precious parcel of registered letters, which gave him the position of being the most important person in Petershof.

preciousadjectiveUS /ˈpreʃəs/

rare and worth a great deal

From this reading WÄRLI, the little hunchback postman, a cheery soul, came whistling up the Kurhaus stairs, carrying with him that precious parcel of registered letters, which gave him the position of being the most important person in Petershof.

registered

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

From this reading WÄRLI, the little hunchback postman, a cheery soul, came whistling up the Kurhaus stairs, carrying with him that precious parcel of registered letters, which gave him the position of being the most important person in Petershof.

said

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

From this reading "Ei, Ei!" he said to himself; "Marie is in a good temper to-day.

soul

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

From this reading WÄRLI, the little hunchback postman, a cheery soul, came whistling up the Kurhaus stairs, carrying with him that precious parcel of registered letters, which gave him the position of being the most important person in Petershof.

speak

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

From this reading He was a linguist, too, was Wärli, and could speak broken English in a most fascinating way, agreeable to every one, but intelligible only to himself.

spinning-song

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

From this reading Well, he came whistling up the stairs when he heard Marie's blithe voice humming her favourite spinning-song.

stairs

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

From this reading WÄRLI, the little hunchback postman, a cheery soul, came whistling up the Kurhaus stairs, carrying with him that precious parcel of registered letters, which gave him the position of being the most important person in Petershof.

temper

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

From this reading "Ei, Ei!" he said to himself; "Marie is in a good temper to-day.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading WÄRLI, the little hunchback postman, a cheery soul, came whistling up the Kurhaus stairs, carrying with him that precious parcel of registered letters, which gave him the position of being the most important person in Petershof.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading WÄRLI, the little hunchback postman, a cheery soul, came whistling up the Kurhaus stairs, carrying with him that precious parcel of registered letters, which gave him the position of being the most important person in Petershof.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading He was a linguist, too, was Wärli, and could speak broken English in a most fascinating way, agreeable to every one, but intelligible only to himself.

to-day

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

From this reading "Ei, Ei!" he said to himself; "Marie is in a good temper to-day.

too

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

From this reading He was a linguist, too, was Wärli, and could speak broken English in a most fascinating way, agreeable to every one, but intelligible only to himself.

up

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

From this reading WÄRLI, the little hunchback postman, a cheery soul, came whistling up the Kurhaus stairs, carrying with him that precious parcel of registered letters, which gave him the position of being the most important person in Petershof.

voice

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

From this reading Well, he came whistling up the stairs when he heard Marie's blithe voice humming her favourite spinning-song.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading He was a linguist, too, was Wärli, and could speak broken English in a most fascinating way, agreeable to every one, but intelligible only to himself.

way

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

From this reading He was a linguist, too, was Wärli, and could speak broken English in a most fascinating way, agreeable to every one, but intelligible only to himself.

Well

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

From this reading Well, he came whistling up the stairs when he heard Marie's blithe voice humming her favourite spinning-song.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading Well, he came whistling up the stairs when he heard Marie's blithe voice humming her favourite spinning-song.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading WÄRLI, the little hunchback postman, a cheery soul, came whistling up the Kurhaus stairs, carrying with him that precious parcel of registered letters, which gave him the position of being the most important person in Petershof.

whistling

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

From this reading WÄRLI, the little hunchback postman, a cheery soul, came whistling up the Kurhaus stairs, carrying with him that precious parcel of registered letters, which gave him the position of being the most important person in Petershof.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading WÄRLI, the little hunchback postman, a cheery soul, came whistling up the Kurhaus stairs, carrying with him that precious parcel of registered letters, which gave him the position of being the most important person in Petershof.

WÄRLI

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

From this reading CONCERNING WÄRLI AND MARIE.