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Some builders
Some builders

Chapter XIII

Cover illustration for Some builders
Context Illustration Reading 1/68 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE MAJOR'S NEWS THE very next day Jockie burst in upon Sidney like a whirlwind.
"Oh, Miss Urquhart, haven't you a contempt for women who scratch each other?
Mrs. Norman and I have been doing it with smiling faces, and I feel disgusted with myself, and yet I would do it again gladly if she were here to provoke me.
Do let me confess to you.
First of all, of course, you know that the Major and she are on the eve of making their engagement known?"
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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.

Some builders

Chapter XIII

Reading 1/68 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE MAJOR'S NEWS THE very next day Jockie burst in upon Sidney like a whirlwind.
Line 2
"Oh, Miss Urquhart, haven't you a contempt for women who scratch each other?
Line 3
Mrs. Norman and I have been doing it with smiling faces, and I feel disgusted with myself, and yet I would do it again gladly if she were here to provoke me.
Line 4
Do let me confess to you.
Line 5
First of all, of course, you know that the Major and she are on the eve of making their engagement known?"

Learner Dictionary

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

Again noun US /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Mrs. Norman and I have been doing it with smiling faces, and I feel disgusted with myself, and yet I would do it again gladly if she were here to provoke me.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “Mrs. Norman and I have been doing it with smiling faces, and I feel disgusted with myself, and yet I would do it again gladly if she were here to provoke me.”

Course noun US /course/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “First of all, of course, you know that the Major and she are on the eve of making their engagement known?"”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “First of all, of course, you know that the Major and she are on the eve of making their engagement known?"”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “Mrs. Norman and I have been doing it with smiling faces, and I feel disgusted with myself, and yet I would do it again gladly if she were here to provoke me.”

Here noun US /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Mrs. Norman and I have been doing it with smiling faces, and I feel disgusted with myself, and yet I would do it again gladly if she were here to provoke me.”

Know noun US /know/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “First of all, of course, you know that the Major and she are on the eve of making their engagement known?"”

Let auxiliary verb US /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading “Do let me confess to you.”

Myself pronoun US /ˌmaɪˈself/

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading “Mrs. Norman and I have been doing it with smiling faces, and I feel disgusted with myself, and yet I would do it again gladly if she were here to provoke me.”

Next noun US /next/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “THE MAJOR'S NEWS THE very next day Jockie burst in upon Sidney like a whirlwind.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “THE MAJOR'S NEWS THE very next day Jockie burst in upon Sidney like a whirlwind.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading “Mrs. Norman and I have been doing it with smiling faces, and I feel disgusted with myself, and yet I would do it again gladly if she were here to provoke me.”

Yet conjunction US /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading “Mrs. Norman and I have been doing it with smiling faces, and I feel disgusted with myself, and yet I would do it again gladly if she were here to provoke me.”

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 THE MAJOR'S NEWS THE very next day Jockie burst in upon Sidney like a whirlwind.

againnounUS /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Mrs. Norman and I have been doing it with smiling faces, and I feel disgusted with myself, and yet I would do it again gladly if she were here to provoke me.

all

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

From this reading First of all, of course, you know that the Major and she are on the eve of making their engagement known?"

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Mrs. Norman and I have been doing it with smiling faces, and I feel disgusted with myself, and yet I would do it again gladly if she were here to provoke me.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading First of all, of course, you know that the Major and she are on the eve of making their engagement known?"

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Mrs. Norman and I have been doing it with smiling faces, and I feel disgusted with myself, and yet I would do it again gladly if she were here to provoke me.

burst

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

From this reading THE MAJOR'S NEWS THE very next day Jockie burst in upon Sidney like a whirlwind.

confess

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

From this reading Do let me confess to you.

contempt

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

From this reading "Oh, Miss Urquhart, haven't you a contempt for women who scratch each other?

coursenounUS /course/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading First of all, of course, you know that the Major and she are on the eve of making their engagement known?"

day

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

From this reading THE MAJOR'S NEWS THE very next day Jockie burst in upon Sidney like a whirlwind.

disgusted

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

From this reading Mrs. Norman and I have been doing it with smiling faces, and I feel disgusted with myself, and yet I would do it again gladly if she were here to provoke me.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading Mrs. Norman and I have been doing it with smiling faces, and I feel disgusted with myself, and yet I would do it again gladly if she were here to provoke me.

doing

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

From this reading Mrs. Norman and I have been doing it with smiling faces, and I feel disgusted with myself, and yet I would do it again gladly if she were here to provoke me.

eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading "Oh, Miss Urquhart, haven't you a contempt for women who scratch each other?

engagement

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

From this reading First of all, of course, you know that the Major and she are on the eve of making their engagement known?"

eve

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

From this reading First of all, of course, you know that the Major and she are on the eve of making their engagement known?"

faces

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

From this reading Mrs. Norman and I have been doing it with smiling faces, and I feel disgusted with myself, and yet I would do it again gladly if she were here to provoke me.

feel

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

From this reading Mrs. Norman and I have been doing it with smiling faces, and I feel disgusted with myself, and yet I would do it again gladly if she were here to provoke me.

FirstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading First of all, of course, you know that the Major and she are on the eve of making their engagement known?"

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading "Oh, Miss Urquhart, haven't you a contempt for women who scratch each other?

gladly

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

From this reading Mrs. Norman and I have been doing it with smiling faces, and I feel disgusted with myself, and yet I would do it again gladly if she were here to provoke me.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Mrs. Norman and I have been doing it with smiling faces, and I feel disgusted with myself, and yet I would do it again gladly if she were here to provoke me.

haven't

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

From this reading "Oh, Miss Urquhart, haven't you a contempt for women who scratch each other?

herenounUS /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Mrs. Norman and I have been doing it with smiling faces, and I feel disgusted with myself, and yet I would do it again gladly if she were here to provoke me.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading Mrs. Norman and I have been doing it with smiling faces, and I feel disgusted with myself, and yet I would do it again gladly if she were here to provoke me.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading Mrs. Norman and I have been doing it with smiling faces, and I feel disgusted with myself, and yet I would do it again gladly if she were here to provoke me.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading THE MAJOR'S NEWS THE very next day Jockie burst in upon Sidney like a whirlwind.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Mrs. Norman and I have been doing it with smiling faces, and I feel disgusted with myself, and yet I would do it again gladly if she were here to provoke me.

Jockie

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

From this reading THE MAJOR'S NEWS THE very next day Jockie burst in upon Sidney like a whirlwind.

knownounUS /know/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading First of all, of course, you know that the Major and she are on the eve of making their engagement known?"

known

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

From this reading First of all, of course, you know that the Major and she are on the eve of making their engagement known?"

letauxiliary verbUS /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading Do let me confess to you.

like

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

From this reading THE MAJOR'S NEWS THE very next day Jockie burst in upon Sidney like a whirlwind.

Major

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

From this reading First of all, of course, you know that the Major and she are on the eve of making their engagement known?"

MAJOR'S

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

From this reading THE MAJOR'S NEWS THE very next day Jockie burst in upon Sidney like a whirlwind.

making

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

From this reading First of all, of course, you know that the Major and she are on the eve of making their engagement known?"

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Mrs. Norman and I have been doing it with smiling faces, and I feel disgusted with myself, and yet I would do it again gladly if she were here to provoke me.

Miss

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

From this reading "Oh, Miss Urquhart, haven't you a contempt for women who scratch each other?

Mrs

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

From this reading Mrs. Norman and I have been doing it with smiling faces, and I feel disgusted with myself, and yet I would do it again gladly if she were here to provoke me.

myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading Mrs. Norman and I have been doing it with smiling faces, and I feel disgusted with myself, and yet I would do it again gladly if she were here to provoke me.

NEWS

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

From this reading THE MAJOR'S NEWS THE very next day Jockie burst in upon Sidney like a whirlwind.

nextnounUS /next/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading THE MAJOR'S NEWS THE very next day Jockie burst in upon Sidney like a whirlwind.

Norman

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

From this reading Mrs. Norman and I have been doing it with smiling faces, and I feel disgusted with myself, and yet I would do it again gladly if she were here to provoke me.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading First of all, of course, you know that the Major and she are on the eve of making their engagement known?"

Oh

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

From this reading "Oh, Miss Urquhart, haven't you a contempt for women who scratch each other?

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading First of all, of course, you know that the Major and she are on the eve of making their engagement known?"

other

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

From this reading "Oh, Miss Urquhart, haven't you a contempt for women who scratch each other?

provoke

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

From this reading Mrs. Norman and I have been doing it with smiling faces, and I feel disgusted with myself, and yet I would do it again gladly if she were here to provoke me.

scratch

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

From this reading "Oh, Miss Urquhart, haven't you a contempt for women who scratch each other?

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading Mrs. Norman and I have been doing it with smiling faces, and I feel disgusted with myself, and yet I would do it again gladly if she were here to provoke me.

Sidney

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

From this reading THE MAJOR'S NEWS THE very next day Jockie burst in upon Sidney like a whirlwind.

smiling

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

From this reading Mrs. Norman and I have been doing it with smiling faces, and I feel disgusted with myself, and yet I would do it again gladly if she were here to provoke me.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading First of all, of course, you know that the Major and she are on the eve of making their engagement known?"

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE MAJOR'S NEWS THE very next day Jockie burst in upon Sidney like a whirlwind.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading First of all, of course, you know that the Major and she are on the eve of making their engagement known?"

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Mrs. Norman and I have been doing it with smiling faces, and I feel disgusted with myself, and yet I would do it again gladly if she were here to provoke me.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading THE MAJOR'S NEWS THE very next day Jockie burst in upon Sidney like a whirlwind.

Urquhart

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

From this reading "Oh, Miss Urquhart, haven't you a contempt for women who scratch each other?

very

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

From this reading THE MAJOR'S NEWS THE very next day Jockie burst in upon Sidney like a whirlwind.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading Mrs. Norman and I have been doing it with smiling faces, and I feel disgusted with myself, and yet I would do it again gladly if she were here to provoke me.

whirlwind

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

From this reading THE MAJOR'S NEWS THE very next day Jockie burst in upon Sidney like a whirlwind.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading "Oh, Miss Urquhart, haven't you a contempt for women who scratch each other?

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Mrs. Norman and I have been doing it with smiling faces, and I feel disgusted with myself, and yet I would do it again gladly if she were here to provoke me.

women

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

From this reading "Oh, Miss Urquhart, haven't you a contempt for women who scratch each other?

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading Mrs. Norman and I have been doing it with smiling faces, and I feel disgusted with myself, and yet I would do it again gladly if she were here to provoke me.

yetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading Mrs. Norman and I have been doing it with smiling faces, and I feel disgusted with myself, and yet I would do it again gladly if she were here to provoke me.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "Oh, Miss Urquhart, haven't you a contempt for women who scratch each other?