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The Babbington case
The Babbington case

Chapter XVI

Cover illustration for The Babbington case
Context Illustration Reading 1/9 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE BIRTH OF A MYSTERY.
“The Babbington case!”
One heard those three words on the cars, in the streets, in the corridors of hotels, in parlors and dining rooms, across the breakfast table, in the lobby at the theater--everywhere one went one heard the repetition of those three words, “the Babbington case.”
One of the columns on the front page of every paper, morning and evening, was sure to be headed by those three words, or by others which conveyed precisely the same meaning.
Always the Babbington case; everywhere the Babbington case.
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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.

The Babbington case

Chapter XVI

Reading 1/9 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE BIRTH OF A MYSTERY.
Line 2
“The Babbington case!”
Line 3
One heard those three words on the cars, in the streets, in the corridors of hotels, in parlors and dining rooms, across the breakfast table, in the lobby at the theater--everywhere one went one heard the repetition of those three words, “the Babbington case.”
Line 4
One of the columns on the front page of every paper, morning and evening, was sure to be headed by those three words, or by others which conveyed precisely the same meaning.
Line 5
Always the Babbington case; everywhere the Babbington case.

Learner Dictionary

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

Across preposition US /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading “One heard those three words on the cars, in the streets, in the corridors of hotels, in parlors and dining rooms, across the breakfast table, in the lobby at the theater--everywhere one went one heard the repetition of those three words, “the Babbington case.””

Every determiner US /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading “One of the columns on the front page of every paper, morning and evening, was sure to be headed by those three words, or by others which conveyed precisely the same meaning.”

Morning noun US /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “One of the columns on the front page of every paper, morning and evening, was sure to be headed by those three words, or by others which conveyed precisely the same meaning.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “One heard those three words on the cars, in the streets, in the corridors of hotels, in parlors and dining rooms, across the breakfast table, in the lobby at the theater--everywhere one went one heard the repetition of those three words, “the Babbington case.””

Same noun US /same/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “One of the columns on the front page of every paper, morning and evening, was sure to be headed by those three words, or by others which conveyed precisely the same meaning.”

Sure noun US /sure/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “One of the columns on the front page of every paper, morning and evening, was sure to be headed by those three words, or by others which conveyed precisely the same meaning.”

Those determiner US /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading “One heard those three words on the cars, in the streets, in the corridors of hotels, in parlors and dining rooms, across the breakfast table, in the lobby at the theater--everywhere one went one heard the repetition of those three words, “the Babbington case.””

Went noun US /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “One heard those three words on the cars, in the streets, in the corridors of hotels, in parlors and dining rooms, across the breakfast table, in the lobby at the theater--everywhere one went one heard the repetition of those three words, “the Babbington case.””

All words in this reading · 52

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

AdeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading THE BIRTH OF A MYSTERY.

acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading One heard those three words on the cars, in the streets, in the corridors of hotels, in parlors and dining rooms, across the breakfast table, in the lobby at the theater--everywhere one went one heard the repetition of those three words, “the Babbington case.”

Always

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

From this reading Always the Babbington case; everywhere the Babbington case.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading One heard those three words on the cars, in the streets, in the corridors of hotels, in parlors and dining rooms, across the breakfast table, in the lobby at the theater--everywhere one went one heard the repetition of those three words, “the Babbington case.”

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading One heard those three words on the cars, in the streets, in the corridors of hotels, in parlors and dining rooms, across the breakfast table, in the lobby at the theater--everywhere one went one heard the repetition of those three words, “the Babbington case.”

Babbington

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

From this reading “The Babbington case!”

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading One of the columns on the front page of every paper, morning and evening, was sure to be headed by those three words, or by others which conveyed precisely the same meaning.

BIRTH

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

From this reading THE BIRTH OF A MYSTERY.

breakfast

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

From this reading One heard those three words on the cars, in the streets, in the corridors of hotels, in parlors and dining rooms, across the breakfast table, in the lobby at the theater--everywhere one went one heard the repetition of those three words, “the Babbington case.”

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading One of the columns on the front page of every paper, morning and evening, was sure to be headed by those three words, or by others which conveyed precisely the same meaning.

cars

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

From this reading One heard those three words on the cars, in the streets, in the corridors of hotels, in parlors and dining rooms, across the breakfast table, in the lobby at the theater--everywhere one went one heard the repetition of those three words, “the Babbington case.”

case

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

From this reading “The Babbington case!”

columns

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

From this reading One of the columns on the front page of every paper, morning and evening, was sure to be headed by those three words, or by others which conveyed precisely the same meaning.

conveyed

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

From this reading One of the columns on the front page of every paper, morning and evening, was sure to be headed by those three words, or by others which conveyed precisely the same meaning.

corridors

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

From this reading One heard those three words on the cars, in the streets, in the corridors of hotels, in parlors and dining rooms, across the breakfast table, in the lobby at the theater--everywhere one went one heard the repetition of those three words, “the Babbington case.”

dining

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

From this reading One heard those three words on the cars, in the streets, in the corridors of hotels, in parlors and dining rooms, across the breakfast table, in the lobby at the theater--everywhere one went one heard the repetition of those three words, “the Babbington case.”

evening

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

From this reading One of the columns on the front page of every paper, morning and evening, was sure to be headed by those three words, or by others which conveyed precisely the same meaning.

everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading One of the columns on the front page of every paper, morning and evening, was sure to be headed by those three words, or by others which conveyed precisely the same meaning.

everywhere

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

From this reading One heard those three words on the cars, in the streets, in the corridors of hotels, in parlors and dining rooms, across the breakfast table, in the lobby at the theater--everywhere one went one heard the repetition of those three words, “the Babbington case.”

front

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

From this reading One of the columns on the front page of every paper, morning and evening, was sure to be headed by those three words, or by others which conveyed precisely the same meaning.

headed

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

From this reading One of the columns on the front page of every paper, morning and evening, was sure to be headed by those three words, or by others which conveyed precisely the same meaning.

heard

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

From this reading One heard those three words on the cars, in the streets, in the corridors of hotels, in parlors and dining rooms, across the breakfast table, in the lobby at the theater--everywhere one went one heard the repetition of those three words, “the Babbington case.”

hotels

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

From this reading One heard those three words on the cars, in the streets, in the corridors of hotels, in parlors and dining rooms, across the breakfast table, in the lobby at the theater--everywhere one went one heard the repetition of those three words, “the Babbington case.”

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading One heard those three words on the cars, in the streets, in the corridors of hotels, in parlors and dining rooms, across the breakfast table, in the lobby at the theater--everywhere one went one heard the repetition of those three words, “the Babbington case.”

lobby

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

From this reading One heard those three words on the cars, in the streets, in the corridors of hotels, in parlors and dining rooms, across the breakfast table, in the lobby at the theater--everywhere one went one heard the repetition of those three words, “the Babbington case.”

meaning

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

From this reading One of the columns on the front page of every paper, morning and evening, was sure to be headed by those three words, or by others which conveyed precisely the same meaning.

morningnounUS /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading One of the columns on the front page of every paper, morning and evening, was sure to be headed by those three words, or by others which conveyed precisely the same meaning.

MYSTERY

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

From this reading THE BIRTH OF A MYSTERY.

OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE BIRTH OF A MYSTERY.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading One heard those three words on the cars, in the streets, in the corridors of hotels, in parlors and dining rooms, across the breakfast table, in the lobby at the theater--everywhere one went one heard the repetition of those three words, “the Babbington case.”

OnepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading One heard those three words on the cars, in the streets, in the corridors of hotels, in parlors and dining rooms, across the breakfast table, in the lobby at the theater--everywhere one went one heard the repetition of those three words, “the Babbington case.”

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading One of the columns on the front page of every paper, morning and evening, was sure to be headed by those three words, or by others which conveyed precisely the same meaning.

others

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

From this reading One of the columns on the front page of every paper, morning and evening, was sure to be headed by those three words, or by others which conveyed precisely the same meaning.

page

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

From this reading One of the columns on the front page of every paper, morning and evening, was sure to be headed by those three words, or by others which conveyed precisely the same meaning.

paper

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

From this reading One of the columns on the front page of every paper, morning and evening, was sure to be headed by those three words, or by others which conveyed precisely the same meaning.

parlors

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

From this reading One heard those three words on the cars, in the streets, in the corridors of hotels, in parlors and dining rooms, across the breakfast table, in the lobby at the theater--everywhere one went one heard the repetition of those three words, “the Babbington case.”

precisely

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

From this reading One of the columns on the front page of every paper, morning and evening, was sure to be headed by those three words, or by others which conveyed precisely the same meaning.

repetition

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

From this reading One heard those three words on the cars, in the streets, in the corridors of hotels, in parlors and dining rooms, across the breakfast table, in the lobby at the theater--everywhere one went one heard the repetition of those three words, “the Babbington case.”

rooms

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

From this reading One heard those three words on the cars, in the streets, in the corridors of hotels, in parlors and dining rooms, across the breakfast table, in the lobby at the theater--everywhere one went one heard the repetition of those three words, “the Babbington case.”

samenounUS /same/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading One of the columns on the front page of every paper, morning and evening, was sure to be headed by those three words, or by others which conveyed precisely the same meaning.

streets

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

From this reading One heard those three words on the cars, in the streets, in the corridors of hotels, in parlors and dining rooms, across the breakfast table, in the lobby at the theater--everywhere one went one heard the repetition of those three words, “the Babbington case.”

surenounUS /sure/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading One of the columns on the front page of every paper, morning and evening, was sure to be headed by those three words, or by others which conveyed precisely the same meaning.

table

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

From this reading One heard those three words on the cars, in the streets, in the corridors of hotels, in parlors and dining rooms, across the breakfast table, in the lobby at the theater--everywhere one went one heard the repetition of those three words, “the Babbington case.”

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE BIRTH OF A MYSTERY.

theater

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

From this reading One heard those three words on the cars, in the streets, in the corridors of hotels, in parlors and dining rooms, across the breakfast table, in the lobby at the theater--everywhere one went one heard the repetition of those three words, “the Babbington case.”

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading One heard those three words on the cars, in the streets, in the corridors of hotels, in parlors and dining rooms, across the breakfast table, in the lobby at the theater--everywhere one went one heard the repetition of those three words, “the Babbington case.”

three

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

From this reading One heard those three words on the cars, in the streets, in the corridors of hotels, in parlors and dining rooms, across the breakfast table, in the lobby at the theater--everywhere one went one heard the repetition of those three words, “the Babbington case.”

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading One of the columns on the front page of every paper, morning and evening, was sure to be headed by those three words, or by others which conveyed precisely the same meaning.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading One of the columns on the front page of every paper, morning and evening, was sure to be headed by those three words, or by others which conveyed precisely the same meaning.

wentnounUS /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading One heard those three words on the cars, in the streets, in the corridors of hotels, in parlors and dining rooms, across the breakfast table, in the lobby at the theater--everywhere one went one heard the repetition of those three words, “the Babbington case.”

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading One of the columns on the front page of every paper, morning and evening, was sure to be headed by those three words, or by others which conveyed precisely the same meaning.

words

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

From this reading One heard those three words on the cars, in the streets, in the corridors of hotels, in parlors and dining rooms, across the breakfast table, in the lobby at the theater--everywhere one went one heard the repetition of those three words, “the Babbington case.”