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Sister Carrie: A Novel
Sister Carrie: A Novel

Chapter XIII · The Irk of the Old Ties: The Magic of Youth

Cover illustration for Sister Carrie: A Novel
Context Illustration Reading 1/55 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The complete ignoring by Hurstwood of his own home came with the growth of his affection for Carrie.
His actions, in all that related to his family, were of the most perfunctory kind.
He sat at breakfast with his wife and children, absorbed in his own fancies, which reached far without the realm of their interests.
He read his paper, which was heightened in interest by the shallowness of the themes discussed by his son and daughter.
Between himself and his wife ran a river of indifference.
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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.

Sister Carrie: A Novel

Chapter XIII · The Irk of the Old Ties: The Magic of Youth

Reading 1/55 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The complete ignoring by Hurstwood of his own home came with the growth of his affection for Carrie.
Line 2
His actions, in all that related to his family, were of the most perfunctory kind.
Line 3
He sat at breakfast with his wife and children, absorbed in his own fancies, which reached far without the realm of their interests.
Line 4
He read his paper, which was heightened in interest by the shallowness of the themes discussed by his son and daughter.
Line 5
Between himself and his wife ran a river of indifference.

Learner Dictionary

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

Between preposition US /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading “Between himself and his wife ran a river of indifference.”

Complete noun US /complete/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The complete ignoring by Hurstwood of his own home came with the growth of his affection for Carrie.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading “Between himself and his wife ran a river of indifference.”

Without preposition US /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading “He sat at breakfast with his wife and children, absorbed in his own fancies, which reached far without the realm of their interests.”

All words in this reading · 58

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 Between himself and his wife ran a river of indifference.

absorbed

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

From this reading He sat at breakfast with his wife and children, absorbed in his own fancies, which reached far without the realm of their interests.

actions

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

From this reading His actions, in all that related to his family, were of the most perfunctory kind.

affection

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

From this reading The complete ignoring by Hurstwood of his own home came with the growth of his affection for Carrie.

all

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

From this reading His actions, in all that related to his family, were of the most perfunctory kind.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading He sat at breakfast with his wife and children, absorbed in his own fancies, which reached far without the realm of their interests.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading He sat at breakfast with his wife and children, absorbed in his own fancies, which reached far without the realm of their interests.

BetweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading Between himself and his wife ran a river of indifference.

breakfast

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

From this reading He sat at breakfast with his wife and children, absorbed in his own fancies, which reached far without the realm of their interests.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The complete ignoring by Hurstwood of his own home came with the growth of his affection for Carrie.

came

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

From this reading The complete ignoring by Hurstwood of his own home came with the growth of his affection for Carrie.

Carrie

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

From this reading The complete ignoring by Hurstwood of his own home came with the growth of his affection for Carrie.

children

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

From this reading He sat at breakfast with his wife and children, absorbed in his own fancies, which reached far without the realm of their interests.

completenounUS /complete/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The complete ignoring by Hurstwood of his own home came with the growth of his affection for Carrie.

daughter

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

From this reading He read his paper, which was heightened in interest by the shallowness of the themes discussed by his son and daughter.

discussed

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

From this reading He read his paper, which was heightened in interest by the shallowness of the themes discussed by his son and daughter.

family

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

From this reading His actions, in all that related to his family, were of the most perfunctory kind.

fancies

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

From this reading He sat at breakfast with his wife and children, absorbed in his own fancies, which reached far without the realm of their interests.

far

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

From this reading He sat at breakfast with his wife and children, absorbed in his own fancies, which reached far without the realm of their interests.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The complete ignoring by Hurstwood of his own home came with the growth of his affection for Carrie.

growth

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

From this reading The complete ignoring by Hurstwood of his own home came with the growth of his affection for Carrie.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He sat at breakfast with his wife and children, absorbed in his own fancies, which reached far without the realm of their interests.

heightened

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

From this reading He read his paper, which was heightened in interest by the shallowness of the themes discussed by his son and daughter.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading Between himself and his wife ran a river of indifference.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading The complete ignoring by Hurstwood of his own home came with the growth of his affection for Carrie.

home

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

From this reading The complete ignoring by Hurstwood of his own home came with the growth of his affection for Carrie.

Hurstwood

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

From this reading The complete ignoring by Hurstwood of his own home came with the growth of his affection for Carrie.

ignoring

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

From this reading The complete ignoring by Hurstwood of his own home came with the growth of his affection for Carrie.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading His actions, in all that related to his family, were of the most perfunctory kind.

indifference

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

From this reading Between himself and his wife ran a river of indifference.

interest

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

From this reading He read his paper, which was heightened in interest by the shallowness of the themes discussed by his son and daughter.

interests

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

From this reading He sat at breakfast with his wife and children, absorbed in his own fancies, which reached far without the realm of their interests.

kind

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

From this reading His actions, in all that related to his family, were of the most perfunctory kind.

most

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

From this reading His actions, in all that related to his family, were of the most perfunctory kind.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The complete ignoring by Hurstwood of his own home came with the growth of his affection for Carrie.

own

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

From this reading The complete ignoring by Hurstwood of his own home came with the growth of his affection for Carrie.

paper

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

From this reading He read his paper, which was heightened in interest by the shallowness of the themes discussed by his son and daughter.

perfunctory

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

From this reading His actions, in all that related to his family, were of the most perfunctory kind.

ran

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

From this reading Between himself and his wife ran a river of indifference.

reached

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

From this reading He sat at breakfast with his wife and children, absorbed in his own fancies, which reached far without the realm of their interests.

read

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

From this reading He read his paper, which was heightened in interest by the shallowness of the themes discussed by his son and daughter.

realm

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

From this reading He sat at breakfast with his wife and children, absorbed in his own fancies, which reached far without the realm of their interests.

related

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

From this reading His actions, in all that related to his family, were of the most perfunctory kind.

river

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

From this reading Between himself and his wife ran a river of indifference.

sat

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

From this reading He sat at breakfast with his wife and children, absorbed in his own fancies, which reached far without the realm of their interests.

shallowness

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

From this reading He read his paper, which was heightened in interest by the shallowness of the themes discussed by his son and daughter.

son

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

From this reading He read his paper, which was heightened in interest by the shallowness of the themes discussed by his son and daughter.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading His actions, in all that related to his family, were of the most perfunctory kind.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The complete ignoring by Hurstwood of his own home came with the growth of his affection for Carrie.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading He sat at breakfast with his wife and children, absorbed in his own fancies, which reached far without the realm of their interests.

themes

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

From this reading He read his paper, which was heightened in interest by the shallowness of the themes discussed by his son and daughter.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading His actions, in all that related to his family, were of the most perfunctory kind.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading He read his paper, which was heightened in interest by the shallowness of the themes discussed by his son and daughter.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading His actions, in all that related to his family, were of the most perfunctory kind.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading He sat at breakfast with his wife and children, absorbed in his own fancies, which reached far without the realm of their interests.

wife

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

From this reading He sat at breakfast with his wife and children, absorbed in his own fancies, which reached far without the realm of their interests.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The complete ignoring by Hurstwood of his own home came with the growth of his affection for Carrie.

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading He sat at breakfast with his wife and children, absorbed in his own fancies, which reached far without the realm of their interests.