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Sir Tom
Sir Tom

Chapter XXXI

Cover illustration for Sir Tom
Context Illustration Reading 1/29 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE DOWAGER'S EXPLANATION.
The Dowager was a woman far more clever than Lucy, who knew the world.
And she was apt perhaps, instead of missing the meaning of the facts around her, to put too much significance in them.
Now, when the little party met at dinner, Lady Randolph saw in the faces of both husband and wife more than was there, though much was there.
Sir Tom was more grave than became a man who had returned into life, as his aunt said, and was looking forward to resuming the better part of existence--the House, the clubs, the quick throb of living which is in London.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Sir Tom

Chapter XXXI

Reading 1/29 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE DOWAGER'S EXPLANATION.
Line 2
The Dowager was a woman far more clever than Lucy, who knew the world.
Line 3
And she was apt perhaps, instead of missing the meaning of the facts around her, to put too much significance in them.
Line 4
Now, when the little party met at dinner, Lady Randolph saw in the faces of both husband and wife more than was there, though much was there.
Line 5
Sir Tom was more grave than became a man who had returned into life, as his aunt said, and was looking forward to resuming the better part of existence--the House, the clubs, the quick throb of living which is in London.

Learner Dictionary

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

Around preposition US /ərˈaʊnd/

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading “And she was apt perhaps, instead of missing the meaning of the facts around her, to put too much significance in them.”

Forward noun US /forward/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Sir Tom was more grave than became a man who had returned into life, as his aunt said, and was looking forward to resuming the better part of existence--the House, the clubs, the quick throb of living which is in London.”

Life noun US /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Sir Tom was more grave than became a man who had returned into life, as his aunt said, and was looking forward to resuming the better part of existence--the House, the clubs, the quick throb of living which is in London.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Now, when the little party met at dinner, Lady Randolph saw in the faces of both husband and wife more than was there, though much was there.”

Part noun US /part/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Sir Tom was more grave than became a man who had returned into life, as his aunt said, and was looking forward to resuming the better part of existence--the House, the clubs, the quick throb of living which is in London.”

Party noun US /party/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Now, when the little party met at dinner, Lady Randolph saw in the faces of both husband and wife more than was there, though much was there.”

Perhaps noun US /perhaps/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “And she was apt perhaps, instead of missing the meaning of the facts around her, to put too much significance in them.”

Returned noun US /ˈreturned/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “Sir Tom was more grave than became a man who had returned into life, as his aunt said, and was looking forward to resuming the better part of existence--the House, the clubs, the quick throb of living which is in London.”

Though conjunction US /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “Now, when the little party met at dinner, Lady Randolph saw in the faces of both husband and wife more than was there, though much was there.”

All words in this reading · 76

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 The Dowager was a woman far more clever than Lucy, who knew the world.

AndconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading And she was apt perhaps, instead of missing the meaning of the facts around her, to put too much significance in them.

apt

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

From this reading And she was apt perhaps, instead of missing the meaning of the facts around her, to put too much significance in them.

aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading And she was apt perhaps, instead of missing the meaning of the facts around her, to put too much significance in them.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Sir Tom was more grave than became a man who had returned into life, as his aunt said, and was looking forward to resuming the better part of existence--the House, the clubs, the quick throb of living which is in London.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Now, when the little party met at dinner, Lady Randolph saw in the faces of both husband and wife more than was there, though much was there.

aunt

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

From this reading Sir Tom was more grave than became a man who had returned into life, as his aunt said, and was looking forward to resuming the better part of existence--the House, the clubs, the quick throb of living which is in London.

became

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

From this reading Sir Tom was more grave than became a man who had returned into life, as his aunt said, and was looking forward to resuming the better part of existence--the House, the clubs, the quick throb of living which is in London.

better

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

From this reading Sir Tom was more grave than became a man who had returned into life, as his aunt said, and was looking forward to resuming the better part of existence--the House, the clubs, the quick throb of living which is in London.

bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/

the two together, not just one

From this reading Now, when the little party met at dinner, Lady Randolph saw in the faces of both husband and wife more than was there, though much was there.

clever

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

From this reading The Dowager was a woman far more clever than Lucy, who knew the world.

clubs

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

From this reading Sir Tom was more grave than became a man who had returned into life, as his aunt said, and was looking forward to resuming the better part of existence--the House, the clubs, the quick throb of living which is in London.

dinner

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

From this reading Now, when the little party met at dinner, Lady Randolph saw in the faces of both husband and wife more than was there, though much was there.

Dowager

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From this reading The Dowager was a woman far more clever than Lucy, who knew the world.

DOWAGER'S

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From this reading THE DOWAGER'S EXPLANATION.

existence

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From this reading Sir Tom was more grave than became a man who had returned into life, as his aunt said, and was looking forward to resuming the better part of existence--the House, the clubs, the quick throb of living which is in London.

EXPLANATION

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From this reading THE DOWAGER'S EXPLANATION.

faces

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From this reading Now, when the little party met at dinner, Lady Randolph saw in the faces of both husband and wife more than was there, though much was there.

facts

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

From this reading And she was apt perhaps, instead of missing the meaning of the facts around her, to put too much significance in them.

far

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

From this reading The Dowager was a woman far more clever than Lucy, who knew the world.

forwardnounUS /forward/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Sir Tom was more grave than became a man who had returned into life, as his aunt said, and was looking forward to resuming the better part of existence--the House, the clubs, the quick throb of living which is in London.

grave

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

From this reading Sir Tom was more grave than became a man who had returned into life, as his aunt said, and was looking forward to resuming the better part of existence--the House, the clubs, the quick throb of living which is in London.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Sir Tom was more grave than became a man who had returned into life, as his aunt said, and was looking forward to resuming the better part of existence--the House, the clubs, the quick throb of living which is in London.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading And she was apt perhaps, instead of missing the meaning of the facts around her, to put too much significance in them.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Sir Tom was more grave than became a man who had returned into life, as his aunt said, and was looking forward to resuming the better part of existence--the House, the clubs, the quick throb of living which is in London.

House

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

From this reading Sir Tom was more grave than became a man who had returned into life, as his aunt said, and was looking forward to resuming the better part of existence--the House, the clubs, the quick throb of living which is in London.

husband

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

From this reading Now, when the little party met at dinner, Lady Randolph saw in the faces of both husband and wife more than was there, though much was there.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading And she was apt perhaps, instead of missing the meaning of the facts around her, to put too much significance in them.

instead

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

From this reading And she was apt perhaps, instead of missing the meaning of the facts around her, to put too much significance in them.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Sir Tom was more grave than became a man who had returned into life, as his aunt said, and was looking forward to resuming the better part of existence--the House, the clubs, the quick throb of living which is in London.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading Sir Tom was more grave than became a man who had returned into life, as his aunt said, and was looking forward to resuming the better part of existence--the House, the clubs, the quick throb of living which is in London.

knew

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

From this reading The Dowager was a woman far more clever than Lucy, who knew the world.

Lady

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

From this reading Now, when the little party met at dinner, Lady Randolph saw in the faces of both husband and wife more than was there, though much was there.

lifenounUS /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Sir Tom was more grave than became a man who had returned into life, as his aunt said, and was looking forward to resuming the better part of existence--the House, the clubs, the quick throb of living which is in London.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Now, when the little party met at dinner, Lady Randolph saw in the faces of both husband and wife more than was there, though much was there.

living

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

From this reading Sir Tom was more grave than became a man who had returned into life, as his aunt said, and was looking forward to resuming the better part of existence--the House, the clubs, the quick throb of living which is in London.

London

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

From this reading Sir Tom was more grave than became a man who had returned into life, as his aunt said, and was looking forward to resuming the better part of existence--the House, the clubs, the quick throb of living which is in London.

looking

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

From this reading Sir Tom was more grave than became a man who had returned into life, as his aunt said, and was looking forward to resuming the better part of existence--the House, the clubs, the quick throb of living which is in London.

Lucy

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

From this reading The Dowager was a woman far more clever than Lucy, who knew the world.

man

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

From this reading Sir Tom was more grave than became a man who had returned into life, as his aunt said, and was looking forward to resuming the better part of existence--the House, the clubs, the quick throb of living which is in London.

meaning

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

From this reading And she was apt perhaps, instead of missing the meaning of the facts around her, to put too much significance in them.

met

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

From this reading Now, when the little party met at dinner, Lady Randolph saw in the faces of both husband and wife more than was there, though much was there.

missing

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

From this reading And she was apt perhaps, instead of missing the meaning of the facts around her, to put too much significance in them.

more

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

From this reading The Dowager was a woman far more clever than Lucy, who knew the world.

much

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

From this reading And she was apt perhaps, instead of missing the meaning of the facts around her, to put too much significance in them.

Now

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

From this reading Now, when the little party met at dinner, Lady Randolph saw in the faces of both husband and wife more than was there, though much was there.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading And she was apt perhaps, instead of missing the meaning of the facts around her, to put too much significance in them.

partnounUS /part/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Sir Tom was more grave than became a man who had returned into life, as his aunt said, and was looking forward to resuming the better part of existence--the House, the clubs, the quick throb of living which is in London.

partynounUS /party/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Now, when the little party met at dinner, Lady Randolph saw in the faces of both husband and wife more than was there, though much was there.

perhaps

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

From this reading And she was apt perhaps, instead of missing the meaning of the facts around her, to put too much significance in them.

put

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

From this reading And she was apt perhaps, instead of missing the meaning of the facts around her, to put too much significance in them.

quick

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

From this reading Sir Tom was more grave than became a man who had returned into life, as his aunt said, and was looking forward to resuming the better part of existence--the House, the clubs, the quick throb of living which is in London.

Randolph

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

From this reading Now, when the little party met at dinner, Lady Randolph saw in the faces of both husband and wife more than was there, though much was there.

resuming

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

From this reading Sir Tom was more grave than became a man who had returned into life, as his aunt said, and was looking forward to resuming the better part of existence--the House, the clubs, the quick throb of living which is in London.

returnednounUS /ˈreturned/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading Sir Tom was more grave than became a man who had returned into life, as his aunt said, and was looking forward to resuming the better part of existence--the House, the clubs, the quick throb of living which is in London.

said

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

From this reading Sir Tom was more grave than became a man who had returned into life, as his aunt said, and was looking forward to resuming the better part of existence--the House, the clubs, the quick throb of living which is in London.

saw

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

From this reading Now, when the little party met at dinner, Lady Randolph saw in the faces of both husband and wife more than was there, though much was there.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading And she was apt perhaps, instead of missing the meaning of the facts around her, to put too much significance in them.

significance

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

From this reading And she was apt perhaps, instead of missing the meaning of the facts around her, to put too much significance in them.

Sir

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

From this reading Sir Tom was more grave than became a man who had returned into life, as his aunt said, and was looking forward to resuming the better part of existence--the House, the clubs, the quick throb of living which is in London.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading The Dowager was a woman far more clever than Lucy, who knew the world.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE DOWAGER'S EXPLANATION.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading And she was apt perhaps, instead of missing the meaning of the facts around her, to put too much significance in them.

there

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

From this reading Now, when the little party met at dinner, Lady Randolph saw in the faces of both husband and wife more than was there, though much was there.

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading Now, when the little party met at dinner, Lady Randolph saw in the faces of both husband and wife more than was there, though much was there.

throb

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

From this reading Sir Tom was more grave than became a man who had returned into life, as his aunt said, and was looking forward to resuming the better part of existence--the House, the clubs, the quick throb of living which is in London.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading And she was apt perhaps, instead of missing the meaning of the facts around her, to put too much significance in them.

Tom

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

From this reading Sir Tom was more grave than became a man who had returned into life, as his aunt said, and was looking forward to resuming the better part of existence--the House, the clubs, the quick throb of living which is in London.

too

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

From this reading And she was apt perhaps, instead of missing the meaning of the facts around her, to put too much significance in them.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The Dowager was a woman far more clever than Lucy, who knew the world.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading Now, when the little party met at dinner, Lady Randolph saw in the faces of both husband and wife more than was there, though much was there.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading Sir Tom was more grave than became a man who had returned into life, as his aunt said, and was looking forward to resuming the better part of existence--the House, the clubs, the quick throb of living which is in London.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading The Dowager was a woman far more clever than Lucy, who knew the world.

wife

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

From this reading Now, when the little party met at dinner, Lady Randolph saw in the faces of both husband and wife more than was there, though much was there.

woman

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

From this reading The Dowager was a woman far more clever than Lucy, who knew the world.

world

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

From this reading The Dowager was a woman far more clever than Lucy, who knew the world.