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Some Short Stories [by Henry James]
Some Short Stories [by Henry James]

Chapter IV

Cover illustration for Some Short Stories [by Henry James]
Context Illustration Reading 1/20 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
It was for the elucidation of a mystery in one of these works that I first tried Mrs. Monarch.
Her husband came with her, to be useful if necessary--it was sufficiently clear that as a general thing he would prefer to come with her.
At first I wondered if this were for "propriety's" sake--if he were going to be jealous and meddling.
The idea was too tiresome, and if it had been confirmed it would speedily have brought our acquaintance to a close.
But I soon saw there was nothing in it and that if he accompanied Mrs. Monarch it was--in addition to the chance of being wanted--simply because he had nothing else to do.
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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 Short Stories [by Henry James]

Chapter IV

Reading 1/20 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
It was for the elucidation of a mystery in one of these works that I first tried Mrs. Monarch.
Line 2
Her husband came with her, to be useful if necessary--it was sufficiently clear that as a general thing he would prefer to come with her.
Line 3
At first I wondered if this were for "propriety's" sake--if he were going to be jealous and meddling.
Line 4
The idea was too tiresome, and if it had been confirmed it would speedily have brought our acquaintance to a close.
Line 5
But I soon saw there was nothing in it and that if he accompanied Mrs. Monarch it was--in addition to the chance of being wanted--simply because he had nothing else to do.

Learner Dictionary

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

Because conjunction US /bɪˈkɔːz/

for the reason that

From this reading “But I soon saw there was nothing in it and that if he accompanied Mrs. Monarch it was--in addition to the chance of being wanted--simply because he had nothing else to do.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “The idea was too tiresome, and if it had been confirmed it would speedily have brought our acquaintance to a close.”

Being auxiliary verb US /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading “But I soon saw there was nothing in it and that if he accompanied Mrs. Monarch it was--in addition to the chance of being wanted--simply because he had nothing else to do.”

Brought noun US /ˈbrought/

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

From this reading “The idea was too tiresome, and if it had been confirmed it would speedily have brought our acquaintance to a close.”

Come noun US /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Her husband came with her, to be useful if necessary--it was sufficiently clear that as a general thing he would prefer to come with her.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was for the elucidation of a mystery in one of these works that I first tried Mrs. Monarch.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “The idea was too tiresome, and if it had been confirmed it would speedily have brought our acquaintance to a close.”

Nothing pronoun US /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading “But I soon saw there was nothing in it and that if he accompanied Mrs. Monarch it was--in addition to the chance of being wanted--simply because he had nothing else to do.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “It was for the elucidation of a mystery in one of these works that I first tried Mrs. Monarch.”

Soon noun US /soon/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But I soon saw there was nothing in it and that if he accompanied Mrs. Monarch it was--in addition to the chance of being wanted--simply because he had nothing else to do.”

These determiner US /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading “It was for the elucidation of a mystery in one of these works that I first tried Mrs. Monarch.”

Thing noun US /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Her husband came with her, to be useful if necessary--it was sufficiently clear that as a general thing he would prefer to come with her.”

Wondered noun US /wondered/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “At first I wondered if this were for "propriety's" sake--if he were going to be jealous and meddling.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “Her husband came with her, to be useful if necessary--it was sufficiently clear that as a general thing he would prefer to come with her.”

All words in this reading · 72

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 It was for the elucidation of a mystery in one of these works that I first tried Mrs. Monarch.

accompanied

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

From this reading But I soon saw there was nothing in it and that if he accompanied Mrs. Monarch it was--in addition to the chance of being wanted--simply because he had nothing else to do.

acquaintance

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

From this reading The idea was too tiresome, and if it had been confirmed it would speedily have brought our acquaintance to a close.

addition

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

From this reading But I soon saw there was nothing in it and that if he accompanied Mrs. Monarch it was--in addition to the chance of being wanted--simply because he had nothing else to do.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading At first I wondered if this were for "propriety's" sake--if he were going to be jealous and meddling.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Her husband came with her, to be useful if necessary--it was sufficiently clear that as a general thing he would prefer to come with her.

AtprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading At first I wondered if this were for "propriety's" sake--if he were going to be jealous and meddling.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading Her husband came with her, to be useful if necessary--it was sufficiently clear that as a general thing he would prefer to come with her.

becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/

for the reason that

From this reading But I soon saw there was nothing in it and that if he accompanied Mrs. Monarch it was--in addition to the chance of being wanted--simply because he had nothing else to do.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading The idea was too tiresome, and if it had been confirmed it would speedily have brought our acquaintance to a close.

beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading But I soon saw there was nothing in it and that if he accompanied Mrs. Monarch it was--in addition to the chance of being wanted--simply because he had nothing else to do.

broughtnounUS /ˈbrought/

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

From this reading The idea was too tiresome, and if it had been confirmed it would speedily have brought our acquaintance to a close.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But I soon saw there was nothing in it and that if he accompanied Mrs. Monarch it was--in addition to the chance of being wanted--simply because he had nothing else to do.

came

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

From this reading Her husband came with her, to be useful if necessary--it was sufficiently clear that as a general thing he would prefer to come with her.

chance

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

From this reading But I soon saw there was nothing in it and that if he accompanied Mrs. Monarch it was--in addition to the chance of being wanted--simply because he had nothing else to do.

clear

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

From this reading Her husband came with her, to be useful if necessary--it was sufficiently clear that as a general thing he would prefer to come with her.

close

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

From this reading The idea was too tiresome, and if it had been confirmed it would speedily have brought our acquaintance to a close.

comenounUS /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Her husband came with her, to be useful if necessary--it was sufficiently clear that as a general thing he would prefer to come with her.

confirmed

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

From this reading The idea was too tiresome, and if it had been confirmed it would speedily have brought our acquaintance to a close.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading But I soon saw there was nothing in it and that if he accompanied Mrs. Monarch it was--in addition to the chance of being wanted--simply because he had nothing else to do.

else

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

From this reading But I soon saw there was nothing in it and that if he accompanied Mrs. Monarch it was--in addition to the chance of being wanted--simply because he had nothing else to do.

elucidation

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

From this reading It was for the elucidation of a mystery in one of these works that I first tried Mrs. Monarch.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was for the elucidation of a mystery in one of these works that I first tried Mrs. Monarch.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading It was for the elucidation of a mystery in one of these works that I first tried Mrs. Monarch.

general

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

From this reading Her husband came with her, to be useful if necessary--it was sufficiently clear that as a general thing he would prefer to come with her.

going

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

From this reading At first I wondered if this were for "propriety's" sake--if he were going to be jealous and meddling.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading The idea was too tiresome, and if it had been confirmed it would speedily have brought our acquaintance to a close.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading The idea was too tiresome, and if it had been confirmed it would speedily have brought our acquaintance to a close.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Her husband came with her, to be useful if necessary--it was sufficiently clear that as a general thing he would prefer to come with her.

HerdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading Her husband came with her, to be useful if necessary--it was sufficiently clear that as a general thing he would prefer to come with her.

husband

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

From this reading Her husband came with her, to be useful if necessary--it was sufficiently clear that as a general thing he would prefer to come with her.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading It was for the elucidation of a mystery in one of these works that I first tried Mrs. Monarch.

idea

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

From this reading The idea was too tiresome, and if it had been confirmed it would speedily have brought our acquaintance to a close.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading Her husband came with her, to be useful if necessary--it was sufficiently clear that as a general thing he would prefer to come with her.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading It was for the elucidation of a mystery in one of these works that I first tried Mrs. Monarch.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was for the elucidation of a mystery in one of these works that I first tried Mrs. Monarch.

jealous

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

From this reading At first I wondered if this were for "propriety's" sake--if he were going to be jealous and meddling.

meddling

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

From this reading At first I wondered if this were for "propriety's" sake--if he were going to be jealous and meddling.

Monarch

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

From this reading It was for the elucidation of a mystery in one of these works that I first tried Mrs. Monarch.

Mrs

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

From this reading It was for the elucidation of a mystery in one of these works that I first tried Mrs. Monarch.

mystery

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

From this reading It was for the elucidation of a mystery in one of these works that I first tried Mrs. Monarch.

necessary

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

From this reading Her husband came with her, to be useful if necessary--it was sufficiently clear that as a general thing he would prefer to come with her.

nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading But I soon saw there was nothing in it and that if he accompanied Mrs. Monarch it was--in addition to the chance of being wanted--simply because he had nothing else to do.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading It was for the elucidation of a mystery in one of these works that I first tried Mrs. Monarch.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading It was for the elucidation of a mystery in one of these works that I first tried Mrs. Monarch.

ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading The idea was too tiresome, and if it had been confirmed it would speedily have brought our acquaintance to a close.

prefer

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

From this reading Her husband came with her, to be useful if necessary--it was sufficiently clear that as a general thing he would prefer to come with her.

propriety's

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

From this reading At first I wondered if this were for "propriety's" sake--if he were going to be jealous and meddling.

sake

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

From this reading At first I wondered if this were for "propriety's" sake--if he were going to be jealous and meddling.

saw

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

From this reading But I soon saw there was nothing in it and that if he accompanied Mrs. Monarch it was--in addition to the chance of being wanted--simply because he had nothing else to do.

simply

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

From this reading But I soon saw there was nothing in it and that if he accompanied Mrs. Monarch it was--in addition to the chance of being wanted--simply because he had nothing else to do.

soon

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

From this reading But I soon saw there was nothing in it and that if he accompanied Mrs. Monarch it was--in addition to the chance of being wanted--simply because he had nothing else to do.

speedily

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

From this reading The idea was too tiresome, and if it had been confirmed it would speedily have brought our acquaintance to a close.

sufficiently

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

From this reading Her husband came with her, to be useful if necessary--it was sufficiently clear that as a general thing he would prefer to come with her.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It was for the elucidation of a mystery in one of these works that I first tried Mrs. Monarch.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading It was for the elucidation of a mystery in one of these works that I first tried Mrs. Monarch.

there

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

From this reading But I soon saw there was nothing in it and that if he accompanied Mrs. Monarch it was--in addition to the chance of being wanted--simply because he had nothing else to do.

thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading It was for the elucidation of a mystery in one of these works that I first tried Mrs. Monarch.

thingnounUS /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Her husband came with her, to be useful if necessary--it was sufficiently clear that as a general thing he would prefer to come with her.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading At first I wondered if this were for "propriety's" sake--if he were going to be jealous and meddling.

tiresome

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

From this reading The idea was too tiresome, and if it had been confirmed it would speedily have brought our acquaintance to a close.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Her husband came with her, to be useful if necessary--it was sufficiently clear that as a general thing he would prefer to come with her.

too

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

From this reading The idea was too tiresome, and if it had been confirmed it would speedily have brought our acquaintance to a close.

tried

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

From this reading It was for the elucidation of a mystery in one of these works that I first tried Mrs. Monarch.

useful

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

From this reading Her husband came with her, to be useful if necessary--it was sufficiently clear that as a general thing he would prefer to come with her.

wanted

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

From this reading But I soon saw there was nothing in it and that if he accompanied Mrs. Monarch it was--in addition to the chance of being wanted--simply because he had nothing else to do.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading It was for the elucidation of a mystery in one of these works that I first tried Mrs. Monarch.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading At first I wondered if this were for "propriety's" sake--if he were going to be jealous and meddling.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Her husband came with her, to be useful if necessary--it was sufficiently clear that as a general thing he would prefer to come with her.

wonderednounUS /wondered/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading At first I wondered if this were for "propriety's" sake--if he were going to be jealous and meddling.

works

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

From this reading It was for the elucidation of a mystery in one of these works that I first tried Mrs. Monarch.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading Her husband came with her, to be useful if necessary--it was sufficiently clear that as a general thing he would prefer to come with her.