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Stella Maris
Stella Maris

Chapter I

Cover illustration for Stella Maris
Context Illustration Reading 1/26 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
STELLA MARIS--Star of the Sea!
That was not her real name.
No one could have christened an inoffensive babe so absurdly.
Her mother had, indeed, through the agency of godfathers and godmothers, called her Stella after a rich old maiden aunt, thereby showing her wisdom; for the maiden aunt died gratefully a year after the child was born, and bequeathed to her a comfortable fortune.
Her father had given her the respectable patronymic of Blount, which, as all the world knows, or ought to know, is not pronounced as it is spelled.
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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.

Stella Maris

Chapter I

Reading 1/26 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
STELLA MARIS--Star of the Sea!
Line 2
That was not her real name.
Line 3
No one could have christened an inoffensive babe so absurdly.
Line 4
Her mother had, indeed, through the agency of godfathers and godmothers, called her Stella after a rich old maiden aunt, thereby showing her wisdom; for the maiden aunt died gratefully a year after the child was born, and bequeathed to her a comfortable fortune.
Line 5
Her father had given her the respectable patronymic of Blount, which, as all the world knows, or ought to know, is not pronounced as it is spelled.

Learner Dictionary

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

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “Her mother had, indeed, through the agency of godfathers and godmothers, called her Stella after a rich old maiden aunt, thereby showing her wisdom; for the maiden aunt died gratefully a year after the child was born, and bequeathed to her a comfortable fortune.”

Born noun US /born/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Her mother had, indeed, through the agency of godfathers and godmothers, called her Stella after a rich old maiden aunt, thereby showing her wisdom; for the maiden aunt died gratefully a year after the child was born, and bequeathed to her a comfortable fortune.”

Christened noun US /ˈchristened/

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

From this reading “No one could have christened an inoffensive babe so absurdly.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading “No one could have christened an inoffensive babe so absurdly.”

Fortune noun US /ˈfortune/

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

From this reading “Her mother had, indeed, through the agency of godfathers and godmothers, called her Stella after a rich old maiden aunt, thereby showing her wisdom; for the maiden aunt died gratefully a year after the child was born, and bequeathed to her a comfortable fortune.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “No one could have christened an inoffensive babe so absurdly.”

Know noun US /know/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Her father had given her the respectable patronymic of Blount, which, as all the world knows, or ought to know, is not pronounced as it is spelled.”

Maiden noun, literary US /ˈmeɪdən/

a young woman who is not married

From this reading “Her mother had, indeed, through the agency of godfathers and godmothers, called her Stella after a rich old maiden aunt, thereby showing her wisdom; for the maiden aunt died gratefully a year after the child was born, and bequeathed to her a comfortable fortune.”

Name noun US /name/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “That was not her real name.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “No one could have christened an inoffensive babe so absurdly.”

Ought modal verb US /ɔːt/

used with “to” to say what is right or advisable

From this reading “Her father had given her the respectable patronymic of Blount, which, as all the world knows, or ought to know, is not pronounced as it is spelled.”

Through noun US /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading “Her mother had, indeed, through the agency of godfathers and godmothers, called her Stella after a rich old maiden aunt, thereby showing her wisdom; for the maiden aunt died gratefully a year after the child was born, and bequeathed to her a comfortable fortune.”

All words in this reading · 67

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 Her mother had, indeed, through the agency of godfathers and godmothers, called her Stella after a rich old maiden aunt, thereby showing her wisdom; for the maiden aunt died gratefully a year after the child was born, and bequeathed to her a comfortable fortune.

absurdly

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

From this reading No one could have christened an inoffensive babe so absurdly.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading Her mother had, indeed, through the agency of godfathers and godmothers, called her Stella after a rich old maiden aunt, thereby showing her wisdom; for the maiden aunt died gratefully a year after the child was born, and bequeathed to her a comfortable fortune.

agency

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

From this reading Her mother had, indeed, through the agency of godfathers and godmothers, called her Stella after a rich old maiden aunt, thereby showing her wisdom; for the maiden aunt died gratefully a year after the child was born, and bequeathed to her a comfortable fortune.

all

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

From this reading Her father had given her the respectable patronymic of Blount, which, as all the world knows, or ought to know, is not pronounced as it is spelled.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading No one could have christened an inoffensive babe so absurdly.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Her mother had, indeed, through the agency of godfathers and godmothers, called her Stella after a rich old maiden aunt, thereby showing her wisdom; for the maiden aunt died gratefully a year after the child was born, and bequeathed to her a comfortable fortune.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Her father had given her the respectable patronymic of Blount, which, as all the world knows, or ought to know, is not pronounced as it is spelled.

aunt

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

From this reading Her mother had, indeed, through the agency of godfathers and godmothers, called her Stella after a rich old maiden aunt, thereby showing her wisdom; for the maiden aunt died gratefully a year after the child was born, and bequeathed to her a comfortable fortune.

babe

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

From this reading No one could have christened an inoffensive babe so absurdly.

bequeathed

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

From this reading Her mother had, indeed, through the agency of godfathers and godmothers, called her Stella after a rich old maiden aunt, thereby showing her wisdom; for the maiden aunt died gratefully a year after the child was born, and bequeathed to her a comfortable fortune.

Blount

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

From this reading Her father had given her the respectable patronymic of Blount, which, as all the world knows, or ought to know, is not pronounced as it is spelled.

bornnounUS /born/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Her mother had, indeed, through the agency of godfathers and godmothers, called her Stella after a rich old maiden aunt, thereby showing her wisdom; for the maiden aunt died gratefully a year after the child was born, and bequeathed to her a comfortable fortune.

called

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

From this reading Her mother had, indeed, through the agency of godfathers and godmothers, called her Stella after a rich old maiden aunt, thereby showing her wisdom; for the maiden aunt died gratefully a year after the child was born, and bequeathed to her a comfortable fortune.

child

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

From this reading Her mother had, indeed, through the agency of godfathers and godmothers, called her Stella after a rich old maiden aunt, thereby showing her wisdom; for the maiden aunt died gratefully a year after the child was born, and bequeathed to her a comfortable fortune.

christenednounUS /ˈchristened/

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

From this reading No one could have christened an inoffensive babe so absurdly.

comfortable

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

From this reading Her mother had, indeed, through the agency of godfathers and godmothers, called her Stella after a rich old maiden aunt, thereby showing her wisdom; for the maiden aunt died gratefully a year after the child was born, and bequeathed to her a comfortable fortune.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading No one could have christened an inoffensive babe so absurdly.

died

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

From this reading Her mother had, indeed, through the agency of godfathers and godmothers, called her Stella after a rich old maiden aunt, thereby showing her wisdom; for the maiden aunt died gratefully a year after the child was born, and bequeathed to her a comfortable fortune.

father

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

From this reading Her father had given her the respectable patronymic of Blount, which, as all the world knows, or ought to know, is not pronounced as it is spelled.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Her mother had, indeed, through the agency of godfathers and godmothers, called her Stella after a rich old maiden aunt, thereby showing her wisdom; for the maiden aunt died gratefully a year after the child was born, and bequeathed to her a comfortable fortune.

fortunenounUS /ˈfortune/

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

From this reading Her mother had, indeed, through the agency of godfathers and godmothers, called her Stella after a rich old maiden aunt, thereby showing her wisdom; for the maiden aunt died gratefully a year after the child was born, and bequeathed to her a comfortable fortune.

given

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

From this reading Her father had given her the respectable patronymic of Blount, which, as all the world knows, or ought to know, is not pronounced as it is spelled.

godfathers

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

From this reading Her mother had, indeed, through the agency of godfathers and godmothers, called her Stella after a rich old maiden aunt, thereby showing her wisdom; for the maiden aunt died gratefully a year after the child was born, and bequeathed to her a comfortable fortune.

godmothers

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

From this reading Her mother had, indeed, through the agency of godfathers and godmothers, called her Stella after a rich old maiden aunt, thereby showing her wisdom; for the maiden aunt died gratefully a year after the child was born, and bequeathed to her a comfortable fortune.

gratefully

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

From this reading Her mother had, indeed, through the agency of godfathers and godmothers, called her Stella after a rich old maiden aunt, thereby showing her wisdom; for the maiden aunt died gratefully a year after the child was born, and bequeathed to her a comfortable fortune.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Her mother had, indeed, through the agency of godfathers and godmothers, called her Stella after a rich old maiden aunt, thereby showing her wisdom; for the maiden aunt died gratefully a year after the child was born, and bequeathed to her a comfortable fortune.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading No one could have christened an inoffensive babe so absurdly.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading That was not her real name.

indeed

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

From this reading Her mother had, indeed, through the agency of godfathers and godmothers, called her Stella after a rich old maiden aunt, thereby showing her wisdom; for the maiden aunt died gratefully a year after the child was born, and bequeathed to her a comfortable fortune.

inoffensive

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

From this reading No one could have christened an inoffensive babe so absurdly.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading Her father had given her the respectable patronymic of Blount, which, as all the world knows, or ought to know, is not pronounced as it is spelled.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Her father had given her the respectable patronymic of Blount, which, as all the world knows, or ought to know, is not pronounced as it is spelled.

knownounUS /know/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Her father had given her the respectable patronymic of Blount, which, as all the world knows, or ought to know, is not pronounced as it is spelled.

knows

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

From this reading Her father had given her the respectable patronymic of Blount, which, as all the world knows, or ought to know, is not pronounced as it is spelled.

maidennoun, literaryUS /ˈmeɪdən/

a young woman who is not married

From this reading Her mother had, indeed, through the agency of godfathers and godmothers, called her Stella after a rich old maiden aunt, thereby showing her wisdom; for the maiden aunt died gratefully a year after the child was born, and bequeathed to her a comfortable fortune.

MARIS

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

From this reading STELLA MARIS--Star of the Sea!

mother

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

From this reading Her mother had, indeed, through the agency of godfathers and godmothers, called her Stella after a rich old maiden aunt, thereby showing her wisdom; for the maiden aunt died gratefully a year after the child was born, and bequeathed to her a comfortable fortune.

namenounUS /name/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading That was not her real name.

NodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading No one could have christened an inoffensive babe so absurdly.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading That was not her real name.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading STELLA MARIS--Star of the Sea!

old

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

From this reading Her mother had, indeed, through the agency of godfathers and godmothers, called her Stella after a rich old maiden aunt, thereby showing her wisdom; for the maiden aunt died gratefully a year after the child was born, and bequeathed to her a comfortable fortune.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading No one could have christened an inoffensive babe so absurdly.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Her father had given her the respectable patronymic of Blount, which, as all the world knows, or ought to know, is not pronounced as it is spelled.

oughtmodal verbUS /ɔːt/

used with “to” to say what is right or advisable

From this reading Her father had given her the respectable patronymic of Blount, which, as all the world knows, or ought to know, is not pronounced as it is spelled.

patronymic

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

From this reading Her father had given her the respectable patronymic of Blount, which, as all the world knows, or ought to know, is not pronounced as it is spelled.

pronounced

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

From this reading Her father had given her the respectable patronymic of Blount, which, as all the world knows, or ought to know, is not pronounced as it is spelled.

real

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

From this reading That was not her real name.

respectable

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

From this reading Her father had given her the respectable patronymic of Blount, which, as all the world knows, or ought to know, is not pronounced as it is spelled.

rich

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

From this reading Her mother had, indeed, through the agency of godfathers and godmothers, called her Stella after a rich old maiden aunt, thereby showing her wisdom; for the maiden aunt died gratefully a year after the child was born, and bequeathed to her a comfortable fortune.

Sea

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

From this reading STELLA MARIS--Star of the Sea!

showing

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

From this reading Her mother had, indeed, through the agency of godfathers and godmothers, called her Stella after a rich old maiden aunt, thereby showing her wisdom; for the maiden aunt died gratefully a year after the child was born, and bequeathed to her a comfortable fortune.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading No one could have christened an inoffensive babe so absurdly.

spelled

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

From this reading Her father had given her the respectable patronymic of Blount, which, as all the world knows, or ought to know, is not pronounced as it is spelled.

Star

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

From this reading STELLA MARIS--Star of the Sea!

STELLA

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

From this reading STELLA MARIS--Star of the Sea!

ThatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading That was not her real name.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading STELLA MARIS--Star of the Sea!

thereby

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

From this reading Her mother had, indeed, through the agency of godfathers and godmothers, called her Stella after a rich old maiden aunt, thereby showing her wisdom; for the maiden aunt died gratefully a year after the child was born, and bequeathed to her a comfortable fortune.

throughnounUS /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading Her mother had, indeed, through the agency of godfathers and godmothers, called her Stella after a rich old maiden aunt, thereby showing her wisdom; for the maiden aunt died gratefully a year after the child was born, and bequeathed to her a comfortable fortune.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Her mother had, indeed, through the agency of godfathers and godmothers, called her Stella after a rich old maiden aunt, thereby showing her wisdom; for the maiden aunt died gratefully a year after the child was born, and bequeathed to her a comfortable fortune.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading That was not her real name.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading Her father had given her the respectable patronymic of Blount, which, as all the world knows, or ought to know, is not pronounced as it is spelled.

wisdom

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

From this reading Her mother had, indeed, through the agency of godfathers and godmothers, called her Stella after a rich old maiden aunt, thereby showing her wisdom; for the maiden aunt died gratefully a year after the child was born, and bequeathed to her a comfortable fortune.

world

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

From this reading Her father had given her the respectable patronymic of Blount, which, as all the world knows, or ought to know, is not pronounced as it is spelled.

year

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

From this reading Her mother had, indeed, through the agency of godfathers and godmothers, called her Stella after a rich old maiden aunt, thereby showing her wisdom; for the maiden aunt died gratefully a year after the child was born, and bequeathed to her a comfortable fortune.