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The Baronet's Bride
The Baronet's Bride

Chapter XVII

Cover illustration for The Baronet's Bride
Context Illustration Reading 1/44 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
MR.
PARMALEE'S LITTLE MYSTERY.
Kingsland Court had from time immemorial been one of the show-places of the county, Thursday being always set apart as the visitors' day.
The portly old housekeeper used to play cicerone, but the portly old housekeeper, growing portlier and older every day, got in time quite unable to waddle up and down and pant out gasping explanations to the strangers.
So Miss Sybilla Silver, with her usual good nature, came to the rescue, got the history of the old house, and the old pictures, and cabinets, and curiosities, and suits of armor and things by heart, and took Mrs. Comfit's place.
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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 Baronet's Bride

Chapter XVII

Reading 1/44 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
MR.
Line 2
PARMALEE'S LITTLE MYSTERY.
Line 3
Kingsland Court had from time immemorial been one of the show-places of the county, Thursday being always set apart as the visitors' day.
Line 4
The portly old housekeeper used to play cicerone, but the portly old housekeeper, growing portlier and older every day, got in time quite unable to waddle up and down and pant out gasping explanations to the strangers.
Line 5
So Miss Sybilla Silver, with her usual good nature, came to the rescue, got the history of the old house, and the old pictures, and cabinets, and curiosities, and suits of armor and things by heart, and took Mrs. Comfit's place.

Learner Dictionary

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

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “Kingsland Court had from time immemorial been one of the show-places of the county, Thursday being always set apart as the visitors' day.”

Being auxiliary verb US /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading “Kingsland Court had from time immemorial been one of the show-places of the county, Thursday being always set apart as the visitors' day.”

Every determiner US /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading “The portly old housekeeper used to play cicerone, but the portly old housekeeper, growing portlier and older every day, got in time quite unable to waddle up and down and pant out gasping explanations to the strangers.”

Good noun US /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “So Miss Sybilla Silver, with her usual good nature, came to the rescue, got the history of the old house, and the old pictures, and cabinets, and curiosities, and suits of armor and things by heart, and took Mrs. Comfit's place.”

LITTLE noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “PARMALEE'S LITTLE MYSTERY.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “Kingsland Court had from time immemorial been one of the show-places of the county, Thursday being always set apart as the visitors' day.”

Quite noun US /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The portly old housekeeper used to play cicerone, but the portly old housekeeper, growing portlier and older every day, got in time quite unable to waddle up and down and pant out gasping explanations to the strangers.”

Silver noun US /silver/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “So Miss Sybilla Silver, with her usual good nature, came to the rescue, got the history of the old house, and the old pictures, and cabinets, and curiosities, and suits of armor and things by heart, and took Mrs. Comfit's place.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Kingsland Court had from time immemorial been one of the show-places of the county, Thursday being always set apart as the visitors' day.”

Took noun US /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “So Miss Sybilla Silver, with her usual good nature, came to the rescue, got the history of the old house, and the old pictures, and cabinets, and curiosities, and suits of armor and things by heart, and took Mrs. Comfit's place.”

All words in this reading · 74

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

always

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

From this reading Kingsland Court had from time immemorial been one of the show-places of the county, Thursday being always set apart as the visitors' day.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The portly old housekeeper used to play cicerone, but the portly old housekeeper, growing portlier and older every day, got in time quite unable to waddle up and down and pant out gasping explanations to the strangers.

apart

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

From this reading Kingsland Court had from time immemorial been one of the show-places of the county, Thursday being always set apart as the visitors' day.

armor

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

From this reading So Miss Sybilla Silver, with her usual good nature, came to the rescue, got the history of the old house, and the old pictures, and cabinets, and curiosities, and suits of armor and things by heart, and took Mrs. Comfit's place.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Kingsland Court had from time immemorial been one of the show-places of the county, Thursday being always set apart as the visitors' day.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Kingsland Court had from time immemorial been one of the show-places of the county, Thursday being always set apart as the visitors' day.

beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading Kingsland Court had from time immemorial been one of the show-places of the county, Thursday being always set apart as the visitors' day.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading The portly old housekeeper used to play cicerone, but the portly old housekeeper, growing portlier and older every day, got in time quite unable to waddle up and down and pant out gasping explanations to the strangers.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading So Miss Sybilla Silver, with her usual good nature, came to the rescue, got the history of the old house, and the old pictures, and cabinets, and curiosities, and suits of armor and things by heart, and took Mrs. Comfit's place.

cabinets

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

From this reading So Miss Sybilla Silver, with her usual good nature, came to the rescue, got the history of the old house, and the old pictures, and cabinets, and curiosities, and suits of armor and things by heart, and took Mrs. Comfit's place.

came

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

From this reading So Miss Sybilla Silver, with her usual good nature, came to the rescue, got the history of the old house, and the old pictures, and cabinets, and curiosities, and suits of armor and things by heart, and took Mrs. Comfit's place.

cicerone

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

From this reading The portly old housekeeper used to play cicerone, but the portly old housekeeper, growing portlier and older every day, got in time quite unable to waddle up and down and pant out gasping explanations to the strangers.

Comfit's

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

From this reading So Miss Sybilla Silver, with her usual good nature, came to the rescue, got the history of the old house, and the old pictures, and cabinets, and curiosities, and suits of armor and things by heart, and took Mrs. Comfit's place.

county

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

From this reading Kingsland Court had from time immemorial been one of the show-places of the county, Thursday being always set apart as the visitors' day.

Court

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

From this reading Kingsland Court had from time immemorial been one of the show-places of the county, Thursday being always set apart as the visitors' day.

curiosities

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

From this reading So Miss Sybilla Silver, with her usual good nature, came to the rescue, got the history of the old house, and the old pictures, and cabinets, and curiosities, and suits of armor and things by heart, and took Mrs. Comfit's place.

day

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

From this reading Kingsland Court had from time immemorial been one of the show-places of the county, Thursday being always set apart as the visitors' day.

down

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

From this reading The portly old housekeeper used to play cicerone, but the portly old housekeeper, growing portlier and older every day, got in time quite unable to waddle up and down and pant out gasping explanations to the strangers.

everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading The portly old housekeeper used to play cicerone, but the portly old housekeeper, growing portlier and older every day, got in time quite unable to waddle up and down and pant out gasping explanations to the strangers.

explanations

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

From this reading The portly old housekeeper used to play cicerone, but the portly old housekeeper, growing portlier and older every day, got in time quite unable to waddle up and down and pant out gasping explanations to the strangers.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Kingsland Court had from time immemorial been one of the show-places of the county, Thursday being always set apart as the visitors' day.

gasping

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

From this reading The portly old housekeeper used to play cicerone, but the portly old housekeeper, growing portlier and older every day, got in time quite unable to waddle up and down and pant out gasping explanations to the strangers.

goodnounUS /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading So Miss Sybilla Silver, with her usual good nature, came to the rescue, got the history of the old house, and the old pictures, and cabinets, and curiosities, and suits of armor and things by heart, and took Mrs. Comfit's place.

got

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

From this reading The portly old housekeeper used to play cicerone, but the portly old housekeeper, growing portlier and older every day, got in time quite unable to waddle up and down and pant out gasping explanations to the strangers.

growing

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

From this reading The portly old housekeeper used to play cicerone, but the portly old housekeeper, growing portlier and older every day, got in time quite unable to waddle up and down and pant out gasping explanations to the strangers.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Kingsland Court had from time immemorial been one of the show-places of the county, Thursday being always set apart as the visitors' day.

heart

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

From this reading So Miss Sybilla Silver, with her usual good nature, came to the rescue, got the history of the old house, and the old pictures, and cabinets, and curiosities, and suits of armor and things by heart, and took Mrs. Comfit's place.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading So Miss Sybilla Silver, with her usual good nature, came to the rescue, got the history of the old house, and the old pictures, and cabinets, and curiosities, and suits of armor and things by heart, and took Mrs. Comfit's place.

history

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

From this reading So Miss Sybilla Silver, with her usual good nature, came to the rescue, got the history of the old house, and the old pictures, and cabinets, and curiosities, and suits of armor and things by heart, and took Mrs. Comfit's place.

house

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

From this reading So Miss Sybilla Silver, with her usual good nature, came to the rescue, got the history of the old house, and the old pictures, and cabinets, and curiosities, and suits of armor and things by heart, and took Mrs. Comfit's place.

housekeeper

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

From this reading The portly old housekeeper used to play cicerone, but the portly old housekeeper, growing portlier and older every day, got in time quite unable to waddle up and down and pant out gasping explanations to the strangers.

immemorial

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

From this reading Kingsland Court had from time immemorial been one of the show-places of the county, Thursday being always set apart as the visitors' day.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The portly old housekeeper used to play cicerone, but the portly old housekeeper, growing portlier and older every day, got in time quite unable to waddle up and down and pant out gasping explanations to the strangers.

Kingsland

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

From this reading Kingsland Court had from time immemorial been one of the show-places of the county, Thursday being always set apart as the visitors' day.

LITTLEnounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading PARMALEE'S LITTLE MYSTERY.

Miss

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

From this reading So Miss Sybilla Silver, with her usual good nature, came to the rescue, got the history of the old house, and the old pictures, and cabinets, and curiosities, and suits of armor and things by heart, and took Mrs. Comfit's place.

MR

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

From this reading MR.

Mrs

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

From this reading So Miss Sybilla Silver, with her usual good nature, came to the rescue, got the history of the old house, and the old pictures, and cabinets, and curiosities, and suits of armor and things by heart, and took Mrs. Comfit's place.

MYSTERY

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

From this reading PARMALEE'S LITTLE MYSTERY.

nature

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

From this reading So Miss Sybilla Silver, with her usual good nature, came to the rescue, got the history of the old house, and the old pictures, and cabinets, and curiosities, and suits of armor and things by heart, and took Mrs. Comfit's place.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Kingsland Court had from time immemorial been one of the show-places of the county, Thursday being always set apart as the visitors' day.

old

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

From this reading The portly old housekeeper used to play cicerone, but the portly old housekeeper, growing portlier and older every day, got in time quite unable to waddle up and down and pant out gasping explanations to the strangers.

older

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

From this reading The portly old housekeeper used to play cicerone, but the portly old housekeeper, growing portlier and older every day, got in time quite unable to waddle up and down and pant out gasping explanations to the strangers.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Kingsland Court had from time immemorial been one of the show-places of the county, Thursday being always set apart as the visitors' day.

out

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

From this reading The portly old housekeeper used to play cicerone, but the portly old housekeeper, growing portlier and older every day, got in time quite unable to waddle up and down and pant out gasping explanations to the strangers.

pant

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

From this reading The portly old housekeeper used to play cicerone, but the portly old housekeeper, growing portlier and older every day, got in time quite unable to waddle up and down and pant out gasping explanations to the strangers.

PARMALEE'S

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

From this reading PARMALEE'S LITTLE MYSTERY.

pictures

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

From this reading So Miss Sybilla Silver, with her usual good nature, came to the rescue, got the history of the old house, and the old pictures, and cabinets, and curiosities, and suits of armor and things by heart, and took Mrs. Comfit's place.

place

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

From this reading So Miss Sybilla Silver, with her usual good nature, came to the rescue, got the history of the old house, and the old pictures, and cabinets, and curiosities, and suits of armor and things by heart, and took Mrs. Comfit's place.

play

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

From this reading The portly old housekeeper used to play cicerone, but the portly old housekeeper, growing portlier and older every day, got in time quite unable to waddle up and down and pant out gasping explanations to the strangers.

portlier

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

From this reading The portly old housekeeper used to play cicerone, but the portly old housekeeper, growing portlier and older every day, got in time quite unable to waddle up and down and pant out gasping explanations to the strangers.

portly

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

From this reading The portly old housekeeper used to play cicerone, but the portly old housekeeper, growing portlier and older every day, got in time quite unable to waddle up and down and pant out gasping explanations to the strangers.

quitenounUS /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The portly old housekeeper used to play cicerone, but the portly old housekeeper, growing portlier and older every day, got in time quite unable to waddle up and down and pant out gasping explanations to the strangers.

rescue

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

From this reading So Miss Sybilla Silver, with her usual good nature, came to the rescue, got the history of the old house, and the old pictures, and cabinets, and curiosities, and suits of armor and things by heart, and took Mrs. Comfit's place.

set

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

From this reading Kingsland Court had from time immemorial been one of the show-places of the county, Thursday being always set apart as the visitors' day.

show-places

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

From this reading Kingsland Court had from time immemorial been one of the show-places of the county, Thursday being always set apart as the visitors' day.

Silver

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

From this reading So Miss Sybilla Silver, with her usual good nature, came to the rescue, got the history of the old house, and the old pictures, and cabinets, and curiosities, and suits of armor and things by heart, and took Mrs. Comfit's place.

SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading So Miss Sybilla Silver, with her usual good nature, came to the rescue, got the history of the old house, and the old pictures, and cabinets, and curiosities, and suits of armor and things by heart, and took Mrs. Comfit's place.

strangers

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

From this reading The portly old housekeeper used to play cicerone, but the portly old housekeeper, growing portlier and older every day, got in time quite unable to waddle up and down and pant out gasping explanations to the strangers.

suits

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

From this reading So Miss Sybilla Silver, with her usual good nature, came to the rescue, got the history of the old house, and the old pictures, and cabinets, and curiosities, and suits of armor and things by heart, and took Mrs. Comfit's place.

Sybilla

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

From this reading So Miss Sybilla Silver, with her usual good nature, came to the rescue, got the history of the old house, and the old pictures, and cabinets, and curiosities, and suits of armor and things by heart, and took Mrs. Comfit's place.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Kingsland Court had from time immemorial been one of the show-places of the county, Thursday being always set apart as the visitors' day.

things

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

From this reading So Miss Sybilla Silver, with her usual good nature, came to the rescue, got the history of the old house, and the old pictures, and cabinets, and curiosities, and suits of armor and things by heart, and took Mrs. Comfit's place.

Thursday

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

From this reading Kingsland Court had from time immemorial been one of the show-places of the county, Thursday being always set apart as the visitors' day.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Kingsland Court had from time immemorial been one of the show-places of the county, Thursday being always set apart as the visitors' day.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The portly old housekeeper used to play cicerone, but the portly old housekeeper, growing portlier and older every day, got in time quite unable to waddle up and down and pant out gasping explanations to the strangers.

tooknounUS /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading So Miss Sybilla Silver, with her usual good nature, came to the rescue, got the history of the old house, and the old pictures, and cabinets, and curiosities, and suits of armor and things by heart, and took Mrs. Comfit's place.

unable

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

From this reading The portly old housekeeper used to play cicerone, but the portly old housekeeper, growing portlier and older every day, got in time quite unable to waddle up and down and pant out gasping explanations to the strangers.

up

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

From this reading The portly old housekeeper used to play cicerone, but the portly old housekeeper, growing portlier and older every day, got in time quite unable to waddle up and down and pant out gasping explanations to the strangers.

used

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

From this reading The portly old housekeeper used to play cicerone, but the portly old housekeeper, growing portlier and older every day, got in time quite unable to waddle up and down and pant out gasping explanations to the strangers.

usual

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

From this reading So Miss Sybilla Silver, with her usual good nature, came to the rescue, got the history of the old house, and the old pictures, and cabinets, and curiosities, and suits of armor and things by heart, and took Mrs. Comfit's place.

visitors

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

From this reading Kingsland Court had from time immemorial been one of the show-places of the county, Thursday being always set apart as the visitors' day.

waddle

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

From this reading The portly old housekeeper used to play cicerone, but the portly old housekeeper, growing portlier and older every day, got in time quite unable to waddle up and down and pant out gasping explanations to the strangers.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading So Miss Sybilla Silver, with her usual good nature, came to the rescue, got the history of the old house, and the old pictures, and cabinets, and curiosities, and suits of armor and things by heart, and took Mrs. Comfit's place.