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Stella Maris
Stella Maris

Chapter IX

Cover illustration for Stella Maris
Context Illustration Reading 1/59 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
MISS LINDON moved her goods and chattels, together with Dandy, Dickie, and Phoebe, into the little house at Kilburn.
John and Unity followed with the furniture he had procured on the hire-purchase system for their respective rooms, and the curtain was rung up on the comic opera.
Herold had vainly tried to guide his friend in the matter of furnishing; but their ideas being in hopeless conflict, he had given up in despair.
John, by way of proving how far superior his methods were to Herold's, rushed into a vast emporium, selected the insides of two bedrooms and a library complete (as per advertisement), and the thing was done in a couple of minutes.
He girded triumphantly at Herold, who would have taken two years.
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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 IX

Reading 1/59 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
MISS LINDON moved her goods and chattels, together with Dandy, Dickie, and Phoebe, into the little house at Kilburn.
Line 2
John and Unity followed with the furniture he had procured on the hire-purchase system for their respective rooms, and the curtain was rung up on the comic opera.
Line 3
Herold had vainly tried to guide his friend in the matter of furnishing; but their ideas being in hopeless conflict, he had given up in despair.
Line 4
John, by way of proving how far superior his methods were to Herold's, rushed into a vast emporium, selected the insides of two bedrooms and a library complete (as per advertisement), and the thing was done in a couple of minutes.
Line 5
He girded triumphantly at Herold, who would have taken two years.

Learner Dictionary

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

Being auxiliary verb US /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading “Herold had vainly tried to guide his friend in the matter of furnishing; but their ideas being in hopeless conflict, he had given up in despair.”

Complete noun US /complete/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “John, by way of proving how far superior his methods were to Herold's, rushed into a vast emporium, selected the insides of two bedrooms and a library complete (as per advertisement), and the thing was done in a couple of minutes.”

Couple noun US /ˈkʌpəl/

two people or things considered together

From this reading “John, by way of proving how far superior his methods were to Herold's, rushed into a vast emporium, selected the insides of two bedrooms and a library complete (as per advertisement), and the thing was done in a couple of minutes.”

Done noun US /done/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “John, by way of proving how far superior his methods were to Herold's, rushed into a vast emporium, selected the insides of two bedrooms and a library complete (as per advertisement), and the thing was done in a couple of minutes.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “He girded triumphantly at Herold, who would have taken two years.”

John noun US /john/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “John and Unity followed with the furniture he had procured on the hire-purchase system for their respective rooms, and the curtain was rung up on the comic opera.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “MISS LINDON moved her goods and chattels, together with Dandy, Dickie, and Phoebe, into the little house at Kilburn.”

Per preposition US /pɜːr/

for each

From this reading “John, by way of proving how far superior his methods were to Herold's, rushed into a vast emporium, selected the insides of two bedrooms and a library complete (as per advertisement), and the thing was done in a couple of minutes.”

Thing noun US /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “John, by way of proving how far superior his methods were to Herold's, rushed into a vast emporium, selected the insides of two bedrooms and a library complete (as per advertisement), and the thing was done in a couple of minutes.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “He girded triumphantly at Herold, who would have taken two years.”

All words in this reading · 89

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 John, by way of proving how far superior his methods were to Herold's, rushed into a vast emporium, selected the insides of two bedrooms and a library complete (as per advertisement), and the thing was done in a couple of minutes.

advertisement

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

From this reading John, by way of proving how far superior his methods were to Herold's, rushed into a vast emporium, selected the insides of two bedrooms and a library complete (as per advertisement), and the thing was done in a couple of minutes.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading MISS LINDON moved her goods and chattels, together with Dandy, Dickie, and Phoebe, into the little house at Kilburn.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading John, by way of proving how far superior his methods were to Herold's, rushed into a vast emporium, selected the insides of two bedrooms and a library complete (as per advertisement), and the thing was done in a couple of minutes.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading MISS LINDON moved her goods and chattels, together with Dandy, Dickie, and Phoebe, into the little house at Kilburn.

bedrooms

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

From this reading John, by way of proving how far superior his methods were to Herold's, rushed into a vast emporium, selected the insides of two bedrooms and a library complete (as per advertisement), and the thing was done in a couple of minutes.

beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading Herold had vainly tried to guide his friend in the matter of furnishing; but their ideas being in hopeless conflict, he had given up in despair.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Herold had vainly tried to guide his friend in the matter of furnishing; but their ideas being in hopeless conflict, he had given up in despair.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading John, by way of proving how far superior his methods were to Herold's, rushed into a vast emporium, selected the insides of two bedrooms and a library complete (as per advertisement), and the thing was done in a couple of minutes.

chattels

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

From this reading MISS LINDON moved her goods and chattels, together with Dandy, Dickie, and Phoebe, into the little house at Kilburn.

comic

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

From this reading John and Unity followed with the furniture he had procured on the hire-purchase system for their respective rooms, and the curtain was rung up on the comic opera.

completenounUS /complete/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading John, by way of proving how far superior his methods were to Herold's, rushed into a vast emporium, selected the insides of two bedrooms and a library complete (as per advertisement), and the thing was done in a couple of minutes.

conflict

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

From this reading Herold had vainly tried to guide his friend in the matter of furnishing; but their ideas being in hopeless conflict, he had given up in despair.

couplenounUS /ˈkʌpəl/

two people or things considered together

From this reading John, by way of proving how far superior his methods were to Herold's, rushed into a vast emporium, selected the insides of two bedrooms and a library complete (as per advertisement), and the thing was done in a couple of minutes.

curtain

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

From this reading John and Unity followed with the furniture he had procured on the hire-purchase system for their respective rooms, and the curtain was rung up on the comic opera.

Dandy

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

From this reading MISS LINDON moved her goods and chattels, together with Dandy, Dickie, and Phoebe, into the little house at Kilburn.

despair

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

From this reading Herold had vainly tried to guide his friend in the matter of furnishing; but their ideas being in hopeless conflict, he had given up in despair.

Dickie

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

From this reading MISS LINDON moved her goods and chattels, together with Dandy, Dickie, and Phoebe, into the little house at Kilburn.

donenounUS /done/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading John, by way of proving how far superior his methods were to Herold's, rushed into a vast emporium, selected the insides of two bedrooms and a library complete (as per advertisement), and the thing was done in a couple of minutes.

emporium

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

From this reading John, by way of proving how far superior his methods were to Herold's, rushed into a vast emporium, selected the insides of two bedrooms and a library complete (as per advertisement), and the thing was done in a couple of minutes.

far

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

From this reading John, by way of proving how far superior his methods were to Herold's, rushed into a vast emporium, selected the insides of two bedrooms and a library complete (as per advertisement), and the thing was done in a couple of minutes.

followed

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

From this reading John and Unity followed with the furniture he had procured on the hire-purchase system for their respective rooms, and the curtain was rung up on the comic opera.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading John and Unity followed with the furniture he had procured on the hire-purchase system for their respective rooms, and the curtain was rung up on the comic opera.

friend

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

From this reading Herold had vainly tried to guide his friend in the matter of furnishing; but their ideas being in hopeless conflict, he had given up in despair.

furnishing

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

From this reading Herold had vainly tried to guide his friend in the matter of furnishing; but their ideas being in hopeless conflict, he had given up in despair.

furniture

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

From this reading John and Unity followed with the furniture he had procured on the hire-purchase system for their respective rooms, and the curtain was rung up on the comic opera.

girded

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

From this reading He girded triumphantly at Herold, who would have taken two years.

given

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

From this reading Herold had vainly tried to guide his friend in the matter of furnishing; but their ideas being in hopeless conflict, he had given up in despair.

goods

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

From this reading MISS LINDON moved her goods and chattels, together with Dandy, Dickie, and Phoebe, into the little house at Kilburn.

guide

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

From this reading Herold had vainly tried to guide his friend in the matter of furnishing; but their ideas being in hopeless conflict, he had given up in despair.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading John and Unity followed with the furniture he had procured on the hire-purchase system for their respective rooms, and the curtain was rung up on the comic opera.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading He girded triumphantly at Herold, who would have taken two years.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading John and Unity followed with the furniture he had procured on the hire-purchase system for their respective rooms, and the curtain was rung up on the comic opera.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading MISS LINDON moved her goods and chattels, together with Dandy, Dickie, and Phoebe, into the little house at Kilburn.

Herold

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

From this reading Herold had vainly tried to guide his friend in the matter of furnishing; but their ideas being in hopeless conflict, he had given up in despair.

Herold's

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

From this reading John, by way of proving how far superior his methods were to Herold's, rushed into a vast emporium, selected the insides of two bedrooms and a library complete (as per advertisement), and the thing was done in a couple of minutes.

hire-purchase

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

From this reading John and Unity followed with the furniture he had procured on the hire-purchase system for their respective rooms, and the curtain was rung up on the comic opera.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Herold had vainly tried to guide his friend in the matter of furnishing; but their ideas being in hopeless conflict, he had given up in despair.

hopeless

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

From this reading Herold had vainly tried to guide his friend in the matter of furnishing; but their ideas being in hopeless conflict, he had given up in despair.

house

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

From this reading MISS LINDON moved her goods and chattels, together with Dandy, Dickie, and Phoebe, into the little house at Kilburn.

how

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

From this reading John, by way of proving how far superior his methods were to Herold's, rushed into a vast emporium, selected the insides of two bedrooms and a library complete (as per advertisement), and the thing was done in a couple of minutes.

ideas

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

From this reading Herold had vainly tried to guide his friend in the matter of furnishing; but their ideas being in hopeless conflict, he had given up in despair.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Herold had vainly tried to guide his friend in the matter of furnishing; but their ideas being in hopeless conflict, he had given up in despair.

insides

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

From this reading John, by way of proving how far superior his methods were to Herold's, rushed into a vast emporium, selected the insides of two bedrooms and a library complete (as per advertisement), and the thing was done in a couple of minutes.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading MISS LINDON moved her goods and chattels, together with Dandy, Dickie, and Phoebe, into the little house at Kilburn.

John

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

From this reading John and Unity followed with the furniture he had procured on the hire-purchase system for their respective rooms, and the curtain was rung up on the comic opera.

Kilburn

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

From this reading MISS LINDON moved her goods and chattels, together with Dandy, Dickie, and Phoebe, into the little house at Kilburn.

library

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

From this reading John, by way of proving how far superior his methods were to Herold's, rushed into a vast emporium, selected the insides of two bedrooms and a library complete (as per advertisement), and the thing was done in a couple of minutes.

LINDON

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

From this reading MISS LINDON moved her goods and chattels, together with Dandy, Dickie, and Phoebe, into the little house at Kilburn.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading MISS LINDON moved her goods and chattels, together with Dandy, Dickie, and Phoebe, into the little house at Kilburn.

matter

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

From this reading Herold had vainly tried to guide his friend in the matter of furnishing; but their ideas being in hopeless conflict, he had given up in despair.

methods

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

From this reading John, by way of proving how far superior his methods were to Herold's, rushed into a vast emporium, selected the insides of two bedrooms and a library complete (as per advertisement), and the thing was done in a couple of minutes.

minutes

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

From this reading John, by way of proving how far superior his methods were to Herold's, rushed into a vast emporium, selected the insides of two bedrooms and a library complete (as per advertisement), and the thing was done in a couple of minutes.

MISS

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

From this reading MISS LINDON moved her goods and chattels, together with Dandy, Dickie, and Phoebe, into the little house at Kilburn.

moved

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

From this reading MISS LINDON moved her goods and chattels, together with Dandy, Dickie, and Phoebe, into the little house at Kilburn.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Herold had vainly tried to guide his friend in the matter of furnishing; but their ideas being in hopeless conflict, he had given up in despair.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading John and Unity followed with the furniture he had procured on the hire-purchase system for their respective rooms, and the curtain was rung up on the comic opera.

opera

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

From this reading John and Unity followed with the furniture he had procured on the hire-purchase system for their respective rooms, and the curtain was rung up on the comic opera.

perprepositionUS /pɜːr/

for each

From this reading John, by way of proving how far superior his methods were to Herold's, rushed into a vast emporium, selected the insides of two bedrooms and a library complete (as per advertisement), and the thing was done in a couple of minutes.

Phoebe

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

From this reading MISS LINDON moved her goods and chattels, together with Dandy, Dickie, and Phoebe, into the little house at Kilburn.

procured

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

From this reading John and Unity followed with the furniture he had procured on the hire-purchase system for their respective rooms, and the curtain was rung up on the comic opera.

proving

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

From this reading John, by way of proving how far superior his methods were to Herold's, rushed into a vast emporium, selected the insides of two bedrooms and a library complete (as per advertisement), and the thing was done in a couple of minutes.

respective

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

From this reading John and Unity followed with the furniture he had procured on the hire-purchase system for their respective rooms, and the curtain was rung up on the comic opera.

rooms

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

From this reading John and Unity followed with the furniture he had procured on the hire-purchase system for their respective rooms, and the curtain was rung up on the comic opera.

rung

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

From this reading John and Unity followed with the furniture he had procured on the hire-purchase system for their respective rooms, and the curtain was rung up on the comic opera.

rushed

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

From this reading John, by way of proving how far superior his methods were to Herold's, rushed into a vast emporium, selected the insides of two bedrooms and a library complete (as per advertisement), and the thing was done in a couple of minutes.

selected

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

From this reading John, by way of proving how far superior his methods were to Herold's, rushed into a vast emporium, selected the insides of two bedrooms and a library complete (as per advertisement), and the thing was done in a couple of minutes.

superior

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

From this reading John, by way of proving how far superior his methods were to Herold's, rushed into a vast emporium, selected the insides of two bedrooms and a library complete (as per advertisement), and the thing was done in a couple of minutes.

system

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

From this reading John and Unity followed with the furniture he had procured on the hire-purchase system for their respective rooms, and the curtain was rung up on the comic opera.

taken

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

From this reading He girded triumphantly at Herold, who would have taken two years.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading MISS LINDON moved her goods and chattels, together with Dandy, Dickie, and Phoebe, into the little house at Kilburn.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading John and Unity followed with the furniture he had procured on the hire-purchase system for their respective rooms, and the curtain was rung up on the comic opera.

thingnounUS /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading John, by way of proving how far superior his methods were to Herold's, rushed into a vast emporium, selected the insides of two bedrooms and a library complete (as per advertisement), and the thing was done in a couple of minutes.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Herold had vainly tried to guide his friend in the matter of furnishing; but their ideas being in hopeless conflict, he had given up in despair.

together

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

From this reading MISS LINDON moved her goods and chattels, together with Dandy, Dickie, and Phoebe, into the little house at Kilburn.

tried

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

From this reading Herold had vainly tried to guide his friend in the matter of furnishing; but their ideas being in hopeless conflict, he had given up in despair.

triumphantly

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

From this reading He girded triumphantly at Herold, who would have taken two years.

two

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

From this reading John, by way of proving how far superior his methods were to Herold's, rushed into a vast emporium, selected the insides of two bedrooms and a library complete (as per advertisement), and the thing was done in a couple of minutes.

Unity

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

From this reading John and Unity followed with the furniture he had procured on the hire-purchase system for their respective rooms, and the curtain was rung up on the comic opera.

up

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

From this reading John and Unity followed with the furniture he had procured on the hire-purchase system for their respective rooms, and the curtain was rung up on the comic opera.

vainly

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

From this reading Herold had vainly tried to guide his friend in the matter of furnishing; but their ideas being in hopeless conflict, he had given up in despair.

vast

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

From this reading John, by way of proving how far superior his methods were to Herold's, rushed into a vast emporium, selected the insides of two bedrooms and a library complete (as per advertisement), and the thing was done in a couple of minutes.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading John and Unity followed with the furniture he had procured on the hire-purchase system for their respective rooms, and the curtain was rung up on the comic opera.

way

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

From this reading John, by way of proving how far superior his methods were to Herold's, rushed into a vast emporium, selected the insides of two bedrooms and a library complete (as per advertisement), and the thing was done in a couple of minutes.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading John, by way of proving how far superior his methods were to Herold's, rushed into a vast emporium, selected the insides of two bedrooms and a library complete (as per advertisement), and the thing was done in a couple of minutes.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading He girded triumphantly at Herold, who would have taken two years.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading MISS LINDON moved her goods and chattels, together with Dandy, Dickie, and Phoebe, into the little house at Kilburn.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading He girded triumphantly at Herold, who would have taken two years.

years

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

From this reading He girded triumphantly at Herold, who would have taken two years.