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St. Cuthbert's tower
St. Cuthbert's tower

Chapter XXVI

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Context Illustration Reading 1/50 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Olivia hurried back towards the farm with the little packet in her hand which was to release her father from his hateful indebtedness to Fred Williams.
It was true it rendered her herself indebted to somebody else; but, with a woman’s perversity, she preferred the greater evil to the less.
It was rather an awkward matter, however, to acquaint her father with what she had done, especially as she found him in the lowest depths of despondency.
“Don’t speak to me, my dear; don’t speak to me,” was his greeting to his daughter when she pounced upon him, with a light-hearted laugh, from behind the hedge of one of his own cornfields.
He was contemplating the ripening crop with a most rueful face.
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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.

St. Cuthbert's tower

Chapter XXVI

Reading 1/50 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Olivia hurried back towards the farm with the little packet in her hand which was to release her father from his hateful indebtedness to Fred Williams.
Line 2
It was true it rendered her herself indebted to somebody else; but, with a woman’s perversity, she preferred the greater evil to the less.
Line 3
It was rather an awkward matter, however, to acquaint her father with what she had done, especially as she found him in the lowest depths of despondency.
Line 4
“Don’t speak to me, my dear; don’t speak to me,” was his greeting to his daughter when she pounced upon him, with a light-hearted laugh, from behind the hedge of one of his own cornfields.
Line 5
He was contemplating the ripening crop with a most rueful face.

Learner Dictionary

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

Behind preposition US /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading ““Don’t speak to me, my dear; don’t speak to me,” was his greeting to his daughter when she pounced upon him, with a light-hearted laugh, from behind the hedge of one of his own cornfields.”

Done noun US /done/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was rather an awkward matter, however, to acquaint her father with what she had done, especially as she found him in the lowest depths of despondency.”

Found noun US /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was rather an awkward matter, however, to acquaint her father with what she had done, especially as she found him in the lowest depths of despondency.”

Hand noun US /hand/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Olivia hurried back towards the farm with the little packet in her hand which was to release her father from his hateful indebtedness to Fred Williams.”

Herself pronoun US /hərˈself/

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

From this reading “It was true it rendered her herself indebted to somebody else; but, with a woman’s perversity, she preferred the greater evil to the less.”

However adverb US /ˌhaʊˈevər/

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading “It was rather an awkward matter, however, to acquaint her father with what she had done, especially as she found him in the lowest depths of despondency.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Olivia hurried back towards the farm with the little packet in her hand which was to release her father from his hateful indebtedness to Fred Williams.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading ““Don’t speak to me, my dear; don’t speak to me,” was his greeting to his daughter when she pounced upon him, with a light-hearted laugh, from behind the hedge of one of his own cornfields.”

Rueful adjective US /ˈruːfəl/

showing regret or mild sorrow

From this reading “He was contemplating the ripening crop with a most rueful face.”

Somebody pronoun US /ˈsʌmbɑːdi/

a person, without saying who

From this reading “It was true it rendered her herself indebted to somebody else; but, with a woman’s perversity, she preferred the greater evil to the less.”

Speak noun US /speak/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““Don’t speak to me, my dear; don’t speak to me,” was his greeting to his daughter when she pounced upon him, with a light-hearted laugh, from behind the hedge of one of his own cornfields.”

Towards preposition US /təˈwɔːrdz/

in the direction of

From this reading “Olivia hurried back towards the farm with the little packet in her hand which was to release her father from his hateful indebtedness to Fred Williams.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading ““Don’t speak to me, my dear; don’t speak to me,” was his greeting to his daughter when she pounced upon him, with a light-hearted laugh, from behind the hedge of one of his own cornfields.”

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 It was true it rendered her herself indebted to somebody else; but, with a woman’s perversity, she preferred the greater evil to the less.

acquaint

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

From this reading It was rather an awkward matter, however, to acquaint her father with what she had done, especially as she found him in the lowest depths of despondency.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading It was rather an awkward matter, however, to acquaint her father with what she had done, especially as she found him in the lowest depths of despondency.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading It was rather an awkward matter, however, to acquaint her father with what she had done, especially as she found him in the lowest depths of despondency.

awkward

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

From this reading It was rather an awkward matter, however, to acquaint her father with what she had done, especially as she found him in the lowest depths of despondency.

back

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

From this reading Olivia hurried back towards the farm with the little packet in her hand which was to release her father from his hateful indebtedness to Fred Williams.

behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading “Don’t speak to me, my dear; don’t speak to me,” was his greeting to his daughter when she pounced upon him, with a light-hearted laugh, from behind the hedge of one of his own cornfields.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading It was true it rendered her herself indebted to somebody else; but, with a woman’s perversity, she preferred the greater evil to the less.

contemplating

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

From this reading He was contemplating the ripening crop with a most rueful face.

cornfields

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

From this reading “Don’t speak to me, my dear; don’t speak to me,” was his greeting to his daughter when she pounced upon him, with a light-hearted laugh, from behind the hedge of one of his own cornfields.

crop

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

From this reading He was contemplating the ripening crop with a most rueful face.

daughter

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

From this reading “Don’t speak to me, my dear; don’t speak to me,” was his greeting to his daughter when she pounced upon him, with a light-hearted laugh, from behind the hedge of one of his own cornfields.

dear

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

From this reading “Don’t speak to me, my dear; don’t speak to me,” was his greeting to his daughter when she pounced upon him, with a light-hearted laugh, from behind the hedge of one of his own cornfields.

depths

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

From this reading It was rather an awkward matter, however, to acquaint her father with what she had done, especially as she found him in the lowest depths of despondency.

despondency

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

From this reading It was rather an awkward matter, however, to acquaint her father with what she had done, especially as she found him in the lowest depths of despondency.

Don't

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

From this reading “Don’t speak to me, my dear; don’t speak to me,” was his greeting to his daughter when she pounced upon him, with a light-hearted laugh, from behind the hedge of one of his own cornfields.

donenounUS /done/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was rather an awkward matter, however, to acquaint her father with what she had done, especially as she found him in the lowest depths of despondency.

else

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

From this reading It was true it rendered her herself indebted to somebody else; but, with a woman’s perversity, she preferred the greater evil to the less.

especially

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

From this reading It was rather an awkward matter, however, to acquaint her father with what she had done, especially as she found him in the lowest depths of despondency.

evil

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

From this reading It was true it rendered her herself indebted to somebody else; but, with a woman’s perversity, she preferred the greater evil to the less.

face

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

From this reading He was contemplating the ripening crop with a most rueful face.

farm

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

From this reading Olivia hurried back towards the farm with the little packet in her hand which was to release her father from his hateful indebtedness to Fred Williams.

father

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

From this reading Olivia hurried back towards the farm with the little packet in her hand which was to release her father from his hateful indebtedness to Fred Williams.

foundnounUS /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was rather an awkward matter, however, to acquaint her father with what she had done, especially as she found him in the lowest depths of despondency.

Fred

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

From this reading Olivia hurried back towards the farm with the little packet in her hand which was to release her father from his hateful indebtedness to Fred Williams.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Olivia hurried back towards the farm with the little packet in her hand which was to release her father from his hateful indebtedness to Fred Williams.

greater

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

From this reading It was true it rendered her herself indebted to somebody else; but, with a woman’s perversity, she preferred the greater evil to the less.

greeting

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

From this reading “Don’t speak to me, my dear; don’t speak to me,” was his greeting to his daughter when she pounced upon him, with a light-hearted laugh, from behind the hedge of one of his own cornfields.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading It was rather an awkward matter, however, to acquaint her father with what she had done, especially as she found him in the lowest depths of despondency.

hand

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

From this reading Olivia hurried back towards the farm with the little packet in her hand which was to release her father from his hateful indebtedness to Fred Williams.

hateful

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

From this reading Olivia hurried back towards the farm with the little packet in her hand which was to release her father from his hateful indebtedness to Fred Williams.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He was contemplating the ripening crop with a most rueful face.

hedge

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

From this reading “Don’t speak to me, my dear; don’t speak to me,” was his greeting to his daughter when she pounced upon him, with a light-hearted laugh, from behind the hedge of one of his own cornfields.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading Olivia hurried back towards the farm with the little packet in her hand which was to release her father from his hateful indebtedness to Fred Williams.

herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/

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

From this reading It was true it rendered her herself indebted to somebody else; but, with a woman’s perversity, she preferred the greater evil to the less.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading It was rather an awkward matter, however, to acquaint her father with what she had done, especially as she found him in the lowest depths of despondency.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Olivia hurried back towards the farm with the little packet in her hand which was to release her father from his hateful indebtedness to Fred Williams.

howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading It was rather an awkward matter, however, to acquaint her father with what she had done, especially as she found him in the lowest depths of despondency.

hurried

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

From this reading Olivia hurried back towards the farm with the little packet in her hand which was to release her father from his hateful indebtedness to Fred Williams.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Olivia hurried back towards the farm with the little packet in her hand which was to release her father from his hateful indebtedness to Fred Williams.

indebted

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

From this reading It was true it rendered her herself indebted to somebody else; but, with a woman’s perversity, she preferred the greater evil to the less.

indebtedness

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

From this reading Olivia hurried back towards the farm with the little packet in her hand which was to release her father from his hateful indebtedness to Fred Williams.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was true it rendered her herself indebted to somebody else; but, with a woman’s perversity, she preferred the greater evil to the less.

laugh

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

From this reading “Don’t speak to me, my dear; don’t speak to me,” was his greeting to his daughter when she pounced upon him, with a light-hearted laugh, from behind the hedge of one of his own cornfields.

less

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

From this reading It was true it rendered her herself indebted to somebody else; but, with a woman’s perversity, she preferred the greater evil to the less.

light-hearted

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

From this reading “Don’t speak to me, my dear; don’t speak to me,” was his greeting to his daughter when she pounced upon him, with a light-hearted laugh, from behind the hedge of one of his own cornfields.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Olivia hurried back towards the farm with the little packet in her hand which was to release her father from his hateful indebtedness to Fred Williams.

lowest

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

From this reading It was rather an awkward matter, however, to acquaint her father with what she had done, especially as she found him in the lowest depths of despondency.

matter

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

From this reading It was rather an awkward matter, however, to acquaint her father with what she had done, especially as she found him in the lowest depths of despondency.

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading “Don’t speak to me, my dear; don’t speak to me,” was his greeting to his daughter when she pounced upon him, with a light-hearted laugh, from behind the hedge of one of his own cornfields.

most

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

From this reading He was contemplating the ripening crop with a most rueful face.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading “Don’t speak to me, my dear; don’t speak to me,” was his greeting to his daughter when she pounced upon him, with a light-hearted laugh, from behind the hedge of one of his own cornfields.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading It was rather an awkward matter, however, to acquaint her father with what she had done, especially as she found him in the lowest depths of despondency.

Olivia

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

From this reading Olivia hurried back towards the farm with the little packet in her hand which was to release her father from his hateful indebtedness to Fred Williams.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “Don’t speak to me, my dear; don’t speak to me,” was his greeting to his daughter when she pounced upon him, with a light-hearted laugh, from behind the hedge of one of his own cornfields.

own

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

From this reading “Don’t speak to me, my dear; don’t speak to me,” was his greeting to his daughter when she pounced upon him, with a light-hearted laugh, from behind the hedge of one of his own cornfields.

packet

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

From this reading Olivia hurried back towards the farm with the little packet in her hand which was to release her father from his hateful indebtedness to Fred Williams.

perversity

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

From this reading It was true it rendered her herself indebted to somebody else; but, with a woman’s perversity, she preferred the greater evil to the less.

pounced

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

From this reading “Don’t speak to me, my dear; don’t speak to me,” was his greeting to his daughter when she pounced upon him, with a light-hearted laugh, from behind the hedge of one of his own cornfields.

preferred

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

From this reading It was true it rendered her herself indebted to somebody else; but, with a woman’s perversity, she preferred the greater evil to the less.

rather

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

From this reading It was rather an awkward matter, however, to acquaint her father with what she had done, especially as she found him in the lowest depths of despondency.

release

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

From this reading Olivia hurried back towards the farm with the little packet in her hand which was to release her father from his hateful indebtedness to Fred Williams.

rendered

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

From this reading It was true it rendered her herself indebted to somebody else; but, with a woman’s perversity, she preferred the greater evil to the less.

ripening

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

From this reading He was contemplating the ripening crop with a most rueful face.

ruefuladjectiveUS /ˈruːfəl/

showing regret or mild sorrow

From this reading He was contemplating the ripening crop with a most rueful face.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading It was true it rendered her herself indebted to somebody else; but, with a woman’s perversity, she preferred the greater evil to the less.

somebodypronounUS /ˈsʌmbɑːdi/

a person, without saying who

From this reading It was true it rendered her herself indebted to somebody else; but, with a woman’s perversity, she preferred the greater evil to the less.

speak

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

From this reading “Don’t speak to me, my dear; don’t speak to me,” was his greeting to his daughter when she pounced upon him, with a light-hearted laugh, from behind the hedge of one of his own cornfields.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Olivia hurried back towards the farm with the little packet in her hand which was to release her father from his hateful indebtedness to Fred Williams.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Olivia hurried back towards the farm with the little packet in her hand which was to release her father from his hateful indebtedness to Fred Williams.

towardsprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrdz/

in the direction of

From this reading Olivia hurried back towards the farm with the little packet in her hand which was to release her father from his hateful indebtedness to Fred Williams.

true

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

From this reading It was true it rendered her herself indebted to somebody else; but, with a woman’s perversity, she preferred the greater evil to the less.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “Don’t speak to me, my dear; don’t speak to me,” was his greeting to his daughter when she pounced upon him, with a light-hearted laugh, from behind the hedge of one of his own cornfields.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Olivia hurried back towards the farm with the little packet in her hand which was to release her father from his hateful indebtedness to Fred Williams.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading It was rather an awkward matter, however, to acquaint her father with what she had done, especially as she found him in the lowest depths of despondency.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading “Don’t speak to me, my dear; don’t speak to me,” was his greeting to his daughter when she pounced upon him, with a light-hearted laugh, from behind the hedge of one of his own cornfields.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading Olivia hurried back towards the farm with the little packet in her hand which was to release her father from his hateful indebtedness to Fred Williams.

Williams

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

From this reading Olivia hurried back towards the farm with the little packet in her hand which was to release her father from his hateful indebtedness to Fred Williams.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Olivia hurried back towards the farm with the little packet in her hand which was to release her father from his hateful indebtedness to Fred Williams.

woman's

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

From this reading It was true it rendered her herself indebted to somebody else; but, with a woman’s perversity, she preferred the greater evil to the less.