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Snarled Identities
Snarled Identities

Chapter XXIII

Cover illustration for Snarled Identities
Context Illustration Reading 1/17 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
WHAT THE DOG BARKED AT.
About half past six the following morning, Mrs. Simpson’s maid, who had slept out, let herself into the house with her latchkey and quietly made her way to the kitchen.
As usual, her first act was to open the door and windows, for the weather was warm.
In doing so, she was attracted by a disturbance in the back yard, and realized that she had heard a dog barking furiously as she came along the street and through the house.
She had paid no particular attention to the persistent barking, but now that she found the animal was in the rear of the Simpson lot, and acting very strangely, her curiosity was fully aroused.
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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.

Snarled Identities

Chapter XXIII

Reading 1/17 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
WHAT THE DOG BARKED AT.
Line 2
About half past six the following morning, Mrs. Simpson’s maid, who had slept out, let herself into the house with her latchkey and quietly made her way to the kitchen.
Line 3
As usual, her first act was to open the door and windows, for the weather was warm.
Line 4
In doing so, she was attracted by a disturbance in the back yard, and realized that she had heard a dog barking furiously as she came along the street and through the house.
Line 5
She had paid no particular attention to the persistent barking, but now that she found the animal was in the rear of the Simpson lot, and acting very strangely, her curiosity was fully aroused.

Learner Dictionary

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

About preposition US /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “About half past six the following morning, Mrs. Simpson’s maid, who had slept out, let herself into the house with her latchkey and quietly made her way to the kitchen.”

Along preposition US /əˈlɔːŋ/

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading “In doing so, she was attracted by a disturbance in the back yard, and realized that she had heard a dog barking furiously as she came along the street and through the house.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “As usual, her first act was to open the door and windows, for the weather was warm.”

Found noun US /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “She had paid no particular attention to the persistent barking, but now that she found the animal was in the rear of the Simpson lot, and acting very strangely, her curiosity was fully aroused.”

Half noun US /half/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “About half past six the following morning, Mrs. Simpson’s maid, who had slept out, let herself into the house with her latchkey and quietly made her way to the kitchen.”

Herself pronoun US /hərˈself/

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading “About half past six the following morning, Mrs. Simpson’s maid, who had slept out, let herself into the house with her latchkey and quietly made her way to the kitchen.”

Let auxiliary verb US /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading “About half past six the following morning, Mrs. Simpson’s maid, who had slept out, let herself into the house with her latchkey and quietly made her way to the kitchen.”

Morning noun US /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “About half past six the following morning, Mrs. Simpson’s maid, who had slept out, let herself into the house with her latchkey and quietly made her way to the kitchen.”

Open verb US /ˈoʊ.pən/

To move from a closed position.

From this reading “As usual, her first act was to open the door and windows, for the weather was warm.”

Strangely noun US /ˈstrangely/

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

From this reading “She had paid no particular attention to the persistent barking, but now that she found the animal was in the rear of the Simpson lot, and acting very strangely, her curiosity was fully aroused.”

Through noun US /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading “In doing so, she was attracted by a disturbance in the back yard, and realized that she had heard a dog barking furiously as she came along the street and through the house.”

All words in this reading · 80

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 In doing so, she was attracted by a disturbance in the back yard, and realized that she had heard a dog barking furiously as she came along the street and through the house.

AboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading About half past six the following morning, Mrs. Simpson’s maid, who had slept out, let herself into the house with her latchkey and quietly made her way to the kitchen.

act

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

From this reading As usual, her first act was to open the door and windows, for the weather was warm.

acting

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

From this reading She had paid no particular attention to the persistent barking, but now that she found the animal was in the rear of the Simpson lot, and acting very strangely, her curiosity was fully aroused.

alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading In doing so, she was attracted by a disturbance in the back yard, and realized that she had heard a dog barking furiously as she came along the street and through the house.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading About half past six the following morning, Mrs. Simpson’s maid, who had slept out, let herself into the house with her latchkey and quietly made her way to the kitchen.

animal

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

From this reading She had paid no particular attention to the persistent barking, but now that she found the animal was in the rear of the Simpson lot, and acting very strangely, her curiosity was fully aroused.

aroused

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

From this reading She had paid no particular attention to the persistent barking, but now that she found the animal was in the rear of the Simpson lot, and acting very strangely, her curiosity was fully aroused.

AsconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading As usual, her first act was to open the door and windows, for the weather was warm.

ATprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading WHAT THE DOG BARKED AT.

attention

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

From this reading She had paid no particular attention to the persistent barking, but now that she found the animal was in the rear of the Simpson lot, and acting very strangely, her curiosity was fully aroused.

attracted

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

From this reading In doing so, she was attracted by a disturbance in the back yard, and realized that she had heard a dog barking furiously as she came along the street and through the house.

back

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

From this reading In doing so, she was attracted by a disturbance in the back yard, and realized that she had heard a dog barking furiously as she came along the street and through the house.

BARKED

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

From this reading WHAT THE DOG BARKED AT.

barking

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

From this reading In doing so, she was attracted by a disturbance in the back yard, and realized that she had heard a dog barking furiously as she came along the street and through the house.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading She had paid no particular attention to the persistent barking, but now that she found the animal was in the rear of the Simpson lot, and acting very strangely, her curiosity was fully aroused.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading In doing so, she was attracted by a disturbance in the back yard, and realized that she had heard a dog barking furiously as she came along the street and through the house.

came

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

From this reading In doing so, she was attracted by a disturbance in the back yard, and realized that she had heard a dog barking furiously as she came along the street and through the house.

curiosity

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

From this reading She had paid no particular attention to the persistent barking, but now that she found the animal was in the rear of the Simpson lot, and acting very strangely, her curiosity was fully aroused.

disturbance

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

From this reading In doing so, she was attracted by a disturbance in the back yard, and realized that she had heard a dog barking furiously as she came along the street and through the house.

DOG

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

From this reading WHAT THE DOG BARKED AT.

doing

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

From this reading In doing so, she was attracted by a disturbance in the back yard, and realized that she had heard a dog barking furiously as she came along the street and through the house.

door

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

From this reading As usual, her first act was to open the door and windows, for the weather was warm.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading As usual, her first act was to open the door and windows, for the weather was warm.

following

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

From this reading About half past six the following morning, Mrs. Simpson’s maid, who had slept out, let herself into the house with her latchkey and quietly made her way to the kitchen.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading As usual, her first act was to open the door and windows, for the weather was warm.

foundnounUS /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading She had paid no particular attention to the persistent barking, but now that she found the animal was in the rear of the Simpson lot, and acting very strangely, her curiosity was fully aroused.

fully

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

From this reading She had paid no particular attention to the persistent barking, but now that she found the animal was in the rear of the Simpson lot, and acting very strangely, her curiosity was fully aroused.

furiously

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

From this reading In doing so, she was attracted by a disturbance in the back yard, and realized that she had heard a dog barking furiously as she came along the street and through the house.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading About half past six the following morning, Mrs. Simpson’s maid, who had slept out, let herself into the house with her latchkey and quietly made her way to the kitchen.

halfnounUS /half/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading About half past six the following morning, Mrs. Simpson’s maid, who had slept out, let herself into the house with her latchkey and quietly made her way to the kitchen.

heard

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

From this reading In doing so, she was attracted by a disturbance in the back yard, and realized that she had heard a dog barking furiously as she came along the street and through the house.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading About half past six the following morning, Mrs. Simpson’s maid, who had slept out, let herself into the house with her latchkey and quietly made her way to the kitchen.

herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading About half past six the following morning, Mrs. Simpson’s maid, who had slept out, let herself into the house with her latchkey and quietly made her way to the kitchen.

house

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

From this reading About half past six the following morning, Mrs. Simpson’s maid, who had slept out, let herself into the house with her latchkey and quietly made her way to the kitchen.

InprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading In doing so, she was attracted by a disturbance in the back yard, and realized that she had heard a dog barking furiously as she came along the street and through the house.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading About half past six the following morning, Mrs. Simpson’s maid, who had slept out, let herself into the house with her latchkey and quietly made her way to the kitchen.

kitchen

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

From this reading About half past six the following morning, Mrs. Simpson’s maid, who had slept out, let herself into the house with her latchkey and quietly made her way to the kitchen.

latchkey

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

From this reading About half past six the following morning, Mrs. Simpson’s maid, who had slept out, let herself into the house with her latchkey and quietly made her way to the kitchen.

letauxiliary verbUS /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading About half past six the following morning, Mrs. Simpson’s maid, who had slept out, let herself into the house with her latchkey and quietly made her way to the kitchen.

lot

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

From this reading She had paid no particular attention to the persistent barking, but now that she found the animal was in the rear of the Simpson lot, and acting very strangely, her curiosity was fully aroused.

made

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

From this reading About half past six the following morning, Mrs. Simpson’s maid, who had slept out, let herself into the house with her latchkey and quietly made her way to the kitchen.

maid

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

From this reading About half past six the following morning, Mrs. Simpson’s maid, who had slept out, let herself into the house with her latchkey and quietly made her way to the kitchen.

morningnounUS /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading About half past six the following morning, Mrs. Simpson’s maid, who had slept out, let herself into the house with her latchkey and quietly made her way to the kitchen.

Mrs

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

From this reading About half past six the following morning, Mrs. Simpson’s maid, who had slept out, let herself into the house with her latchkey and quietly made her way to the kitchen.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading She had paid no particular attention to the persistent barking, but now that she found the animal was in the rear of the Simpson lot, and acting very strangely, her curiosity was fully aroused.

now

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

From this reading She had paid no particular attention to the persistent barking, but now that she found the animal was in the rear of the Simpson lot, and acting very strangely, her curiosity was fully aroused.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading She had paid no particular attention to the persistent barking, but now that she found the animal was in the rear of the Simpson lot, and acting very strangely, her curiosity was fully aroused.

openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/

To move from a closed position.

From this reading As usual, her first act was to open the door and windows, for the weather was warm.

out

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

From this reading About half past six the following morning, Mrs. Simpson’s maid, who had slept out, let herself into the house with her latchkey and quietly made her way to the kitchen.

paid

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

From this reading She had paid no particular attention to the persistent barking, but now that she found the animal was in the rear of the Simpson lot, and acting very strangely, her curiosity was fully aroused.

particular

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

From this reading She had paid no particular attention to the persistent barking, but now that she found the animal was in the rear of the Simpson lot, and acting very strangely, her curiosity was fully aroused.

past

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

From this reading About half past six the following morning, Mrs. Simpson’s maid, who had slept out, let herself into the house with her latchkey and quietly made her way to the kitchen.

persistent

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

From this reading She had paid no particular attention to the persistent barking, but now that she found the animal was in the rear of the Simpson lot, and acting very strangely, her curiosity was fully aroused.

quietly

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

From this reading About half past six the following morning, Mrs. Simpson’s maid, who had slept out, let herself into the house with her latchkey and quietly made her way to the kitchen.

realized

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

From this reading In doing so, she was attracted by a disturbance in the back yard, and realized that she had heard a dog barking furiously as she came along the street and through the house.

rear

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

From this reading She had paid no particular attention to the persistent barking, but now that she found the animal was in the rear of the Simpson lot, and acting very strangely, her curiosity was fully aroused.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading In doing so, she was attracted by a disturbance in the back yard, and realized that she had heard a dog barking furiously as she came along the street and through the house.

Simpson

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

From this reading She had paid no particular attention to the persistent barking, but now that she found the animal was in the rear of the Simpson lot, and acting very strangely, her curiosity was fully aroused.

Simpson's

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

From this reading About half past six the following morning, Mrs. Simpson’s maid, who had slept out, let herself into the house with her latchkey and quietly made her way to the kitchen.

six

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

From this reading About half past six the following morning, Mrs. Simpson’s maid, who had slept out, let herself into the house with her latchkey and quietly made her way to the kitchen.

slept

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

From this reading About half past six the following morning, Mrs. Simpson’s maid, who had slept out, let herself into the house with her latchkey and quietly made her way to the kitchen.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading In doing so, she was attracted by a disturbance in the back yard, and realized that she had heard a dog barking furiously as she came along the street and through the house.

strangelynounUS /ˈstrangely/

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

From this reading She had paid no particular attention to the persistent barking, but now that she found the animal was in the rear of the Simpson lot, and acting very strangely, her curiosity was fully aroused.

street

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

From this reading In doing so, she was attracted by a disturbance in the back yard, and realized that she had heard a dog barking furiously as she came along the street and through the house.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading In doing so, she was attracted by a disturbance in the back yard, and realized that she had heard a dog barking furiously as she came along the street and through the house.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading WHAT THE DOG BARKED AT.

throughnounUS /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading In doing so, she was attracted by a disturbance in the back yard, and realized that she had heard a dog barking furiously as she came along the street and through the house.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading About half past six the following morning, Mrs. Simpson’s maid, who had slept out, let herself into the house with her latchkey and quietly made her way to the kitchen.

usual

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

From this reading As usual, her first act was to open the door and windows, for the weather was warm.

very

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

From this reading She had paid no particular attention to the persistent barking, but now that she found the animal was in the rear of the Simpson lot, and acting very strangely, her curiosity was fully aroused.

warm

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

From this reading As usual, her first act was to open the door and windows, for the weather was warm.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading As usual, her first act was to open the door and windows, for the weather was warm.

way

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

From this reading About half past six the following morning, Mrs. Simpson’s maid, who had slept out, let herself into the house with her latchkey and quietly made her way to the kitchen.

weather

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

From this reading As usual, her first act was to open the door and windows, for the weather was warm.

WHATpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading WHAT THE DOG BARKED AT.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading About half past six the following morning, Mrs. Simpson’s maid, who had slept out, let herself into the house with her latchkey and quietly made her way to the kitchen.

windows

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

From this reading As usual, her first act was to open the door and windows, for the weather was warm.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading About half past six the following morning, Mrs. Simpson’s maid, who had slept out, let herself into the house with her latchkey and quietly made her way to the kitchen.

yard

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

From this reading In doing so, she was attracted by a disturbance in the back yard, and realized that she had heard a dog barking furiously as she came along the street and through the house.