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The Cryptogram: A Novel
The Cryptogram: A Novel

Chapter IX

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Context Illustration Reading 1/76 · 5 lines
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THE AMERICAN EXPEDITION.
About three years had passed away since Zillah had first come to Chetwynde, and the life which she had lived there had gradually come to be grateful and pleasant and happy.
Mr. Hilaire was attentive to his duty and devoted to his pupil, and Zillah applied herself assiduously to her music and drawing.
At the end of a year Mr. Hilaire waited upon the Earl with a request to withdraw, as he wanted to go to the Continent.
He informed the Earl, however, that Mr. Gualtier was coming back, and would like to get his old situation, if possible.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Cryptogram: A Novel

Chapter IX

Reading 1/76 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE AMERICAN EXPEDITION.
Line 2
About three years had passed away since Zillah had first come to Chetwynde, and the life which she had lived there had gradually come to be grateful and pleasant and happy.
Line 3
Mr. Hilaire was attentive to his duty and devoted to his pupil, and Zillah applied herself assiduously to her music and drawing.
Line 4
At the end of a year Mr. Hilaire waited upon the Earl with a request to withdraw, as he wanted to go to the Continent.
Line 5
He informed the Earl, however, that Mr. Gualtier was coming back, and would like to get his old situation, if possible.

Learner Dictionary

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

About preposition US /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “About three years had passed away since Zillah had first come to Chetwynde, and the life which she had lived there had gradually come to be grateful and pleasant and happy.”

Come noun US /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “About three years had passed away since Zillah had first come to Chetwynde, and the life which she had lived there had gradually come to be grateful and pleasant and happy.”

Duty noun US /ˈduːti/

a responsibility that must be carried out

From this reading “Mr. Hilaire was attentive to his duty and devoted to his pupil, and Zillah applied herself assiduously to her music and drawing.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “About three years had passed away since Zillah had first come to Chetwynde, and the life which she had lived there had gradually come to be grateful and pleasant and happy.”

Herself pronoun US /hərˈself/

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

From this reading “Mr. Hilaire was attentive to his duty and devoted to his pupil, and Zillah applied herself assiduously to her music and drawing.”

However adverb US /ˌhaʊˈevər/

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading “He informed the Earl, however, that Mr. Gualtier was coming back, and would like to get his old situation, if possible.”

Life noun US /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “About three years had passed away since Zillah had first come to Chetwynde, and the life which she had lived there had gradually come to be grateful and pleasant and happy.”

Passed noun US /passed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “About three years had passed away since Zillah had first come to Chetwynde, and the life which she had lived there had gradually come to be grateful and pleasant and happy.”

Pleasant noun US /pleasant/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “About three years had passed away since Zillah had first come to Chetwynde, and the life which she had lived there had gradually come to be grateful and pleasant and happy.”

Since preposition US /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading “About three years had passed away since Zillah had first come to Chetwynde, and the life which she had lived there had gradually come to be grateful and pleasant and happy.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “At the end of a year Mr. Hilaire waited upon the Earl with a request to withdraw, as he wanted to go to the Continent.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “He informed the Earl, however, that Mr. Gualtier was coming back, and would like to get his old situation, if possible.”

All words in this reading · 69

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 At the end of a year Mr. Hilaire waited upon the Earl with a request to withdraw, as he wanted to go to the Continent.

AboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading About three years had passed away since Zillah had first come to Chetwynde, and the life which she had lived there had gradually come to be grateful and pleasant and happy.

AMERICAN

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

From this reading THE AMERICAN EXPEDITION.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading About three years had passed away since Zillah had first come to Chetwynde, and the life which she had lived there had gradually come to be grateful and pleasant and happy.

applied

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

From this reading Mr. Hilaire was attentive to his duty and devoted to his pupil, and Zillah applied herself assiduously to her music and drawing.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading At the end of a year Mr. Hilaire waited upon the Earl with a request to withdraw, as he wanted to go to the Continent.

assiduously

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

From this reading Mr. Hilaire was attentive to his duty and devoted to his pupil, and Zillah applied herself assiduously to her music and drawing.

AtprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading At the end of a year Mr. Hilaire waited upon the Earl with a request to withdraw, as he wanted to go to the Continent.

attentive

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

From this reading Mr. Hilaire was attentive to his duty and devoted to his pupil, and Zillah applied herself assiduously to her music and drawing.

away

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

From this reading About three years had passed away since Zillah had first come to Chetwynde, and the life which she had lived there had gradually come to be grateful and pleasant and happy.

back

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

From this reading He informed the Earl, however, that Mr. Gualtier was coming back, and would like to get his old situation, if possible.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading About three years had passed away since Zillah had first come to Chetwynde, and the life which she had lived there had gradually come to be grateful and pleasant and happy.

Chetwynde

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

From this reading About three years had passed away since Zillah had first come to Chetwynde, and the life which she had lived there had gradually come to be grateful and pleasant and happy.

comenounUS /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading About three years had passed away since Zillah had first come to Chetwynde, and the life which she had lived there had gradually come to be grateful and pleasant and happy.

coming

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

From this reading He informed the Earl, however, that Mr. Gualtier was coming back, and would like to get his old situation, if possible.

Continent

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

From this reading At the end of a year Mr. Hilaire waited upon the Earl with a request to withdraw, as he wanted to go to the Continent.

devoted

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

From this reading Mr. Hilaire was attentive to his duty and devoted to his pupil, and Zillah applied herself assiduously to her music and drawing.

drawing

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

From this reading Mr. Hilaire was attentive to his duty and devoted to his pupil, and Zillah applied herself assiduously to her music and drawing.

dutynounUS /ˈduːti/

a responsibility that must be carried out

From this reading Mr. Hilaire was attentive to his duty and devoted to his pupil, and Zillah applied herself assiduously to her music and drawing.

Earl

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

From this reading At the end of a year Mr. Hilaire waited upon the Earl with a request to withdraw, as he wanted to go to the Continent.

end

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

From this reading At the end of a year Mr. Hilaire waited upon the Earl with a request to withdraw, as he wanted to go to the Continent.

EXPEDITION

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

From this reading THE AMERICAN EXPEDITION.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading About three years had passed away since Zillah had first come to Chetwynde, and the life which she had lived there had gradually come to be grateful and pleasant and happy.

get

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

From this reading He informed the Earl, however, that Mr. Gualtier was coming back, and would like to get his old situation, if possible.

go

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

From this reading At the end of a year Mr. Hilaire waited upon the Earl with a request to withdraw, as he wanted to go to the Continent.

gradually

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

From this reading About three years had passed away since Zillah had first come to Chetwynde, and the life which she had lived there had gradually come to be grateful and pleasant and happy.

grateful

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

From this reading About three years had passed away since Zillah had first come to Chetwynde, and the life which she had lived there had gradually come to be grateful and pleasant and happy.

Gualtier

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

From this reading He informed the Earl, however, that Mr. Gualtier was coming back, and would like to get his old situation, if possible.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading About three years had passed away since Zillah had first come to Chetwynde, and the life which she had lived there had gradually come to be grateful and pleasant and happy.

happy

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

From this reading About three years had passed away since Zillah had first come to Chetwynde, and the life which she had lived there had gradually come to be grateful and pleasant and happy.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading At the end of a year Mr. Hilaire waited upon the Earl with a request to withdraw, as he wanted to go to the Continent.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading Mr. Hilaire was attentive to his duty and devoted to his pupil, and Zillah applied herself assiduously to her music and drawing.

herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/

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

From this reading Mr. Hilaire was attentive to his duty and devoted to his pupil, and Zillah applied herself assiduously to her music and drawing.

Hilaire

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

From this reading Mr. Hilaire was attentive to his duty and devoted to his pupil, and Zillah applied herself assiduously to her music and drawing.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Mr. Hilaire was attentive to his duty and devoted to his pupil, and Zillah applied herself assiduously to her music and drawing.

howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading He informed the Earl, however, that Mr. Gualtier was coming back, and would like to get his old situation, if possible.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading He informed the Earl, however, that Mr. Gualtier was coming back, and would like to get his old situation, if possible.

informed

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

From this reading He informed the Earl, however, that Mr. Gualtier was coming back, and would like to get his old situation, if possible.

lifenounUS /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading About three years had passed away since Zillah had first come to Chetwynde, and the life which she had lived there had gradually come to be grateful and pleasant and happy.

like

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

From this reading He informed the Earl, however, that Mr. Gualtier was coming back, and would like to get his old situation, if possible.

lived

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

From this reading About three years had passed away since Zillah had first come to Chetwynde, and the life which she had lived there had gradually come to be grateful and pleasant and happy.

Mr

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

From this reading Mr. Hilaire was attentive to his duty and devoted to his pupil, and Zillah applied herself assiduously to her music and drawing.

music

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

From this reading Mr. Hilaire was attentive to his duty and devoted to his pupil, and Zillah applied herself assiduously to her music and drawing.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading At the end of a year Mr. Hilaire waited upon the Earl with a request to withdraw, as he wanted to go to the Continent.

old

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

From this reading He informed the Earl, however, that Mr. Gualtier was coming back, and would like to get his old situation, if possible.

passednounUS /passed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading About three years had passed away since Zillah had first come to Chetwynde, and the life which she had lived there had gradually come to be grateful and pleasant and happy.

pleasantnounUS /pleasant/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading About three years had passed away since Zillah had first come to Chetwynde, and the life which she had lived there had gradually come to be grateful and pleasant and happy.

possible

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

From this reading He informed the Earl, however, that Mr. Gualtier was coming back, and would like to get his old situation, if possible.

pupil

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

From this reading Mr. Hilaire was attentive to his duty and devoted to his pupil, and Zillah applied herself assiduously to her music and drawing.

request

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

From this reading At the end of a year Mr. Hilaire waited upon the Earl with a request to withdraw, as he wanted to go to the Continent.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading About three years had passed away since Zillah had first come to Chetwynde, and the life which she had lived there had gradually come to be grateful and pleasant and happy.

sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading About three years had passed away since Zillah had first come to Chetwynde, and the life which she had lived there had gradually come to be grateful and pleasant and happy.

situation

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

From this reading He informed the Earl, however, that Mr. Gualtier was coming back, and would like to get his old situation, if possible.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He informed the Earl, however, that Mr. Gualtier was coming back, and would like to get his old situation, if possible.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE AMERICAN EXPEDITION.

there

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

From this reading About three years had passed away since Zillah had first come to Chetwynde, and the life which she had lived there had gradually come to be grateful and pleasant and happy.

three

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

From this reading About three years had passed away since Zillah had first come to Chetwynde, and the life which she had lived there had gradually come to be grateful and pleasant and happy.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading About three years had passed away since Zillah had first come to Chetwynde, and the life which she had lived there had gradually come to be grateful and pleasant and happy.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading At the end of a year Mr. Hilaire waited upon the Earl with a request to withdraw, as he wanted to go to the Continent.

waited

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

From this reading At the end of a year Mr. Hilaire waited upon the Earl with a request to withdraw, as he wanted to go to the Continent.

wanted

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

From this reading At the end of a year Mr. Hilaire waited upon the Earl with a request to withdraw, as he wanted to go to the Continent.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Mr. Hilaire was attentive to his duty and devoted to his pupil, and Zillah applied herself assiduously to her music and drawing.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading About three years had passed away since Zillah had first come to Chetwynde, and the life which she had lived there had gradually come to be grateful and pleasant and happy.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading At the end of a year Mr. Hilaire waited upon the Earl with a request to withdraw, as he wanted to go to the Continent.

withdraw

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

From this reading At the end of a year Mr. Hilaire waited upon the Earl with a request to withdraw, as he wanted to go to the Continent.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading He informed the Earl, however, that Mr. Gualtier was coming back, and would like to get his old situation, if possible.

year

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

From this reading At the end of a year Mr. Hilaire waited upon the Earl with a request to withdraw, as he wanted to go to the Continent.

years

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

From this reading About three years had passed away since Zillah had first come to Chetwynde, and the life which she had lived there had gradually come to be grateful and pleasant and happy.

Zillah

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

From this reading About three years had passed away since Zillah had first come to Chetwynde, and the life which she had lived there had gradually come to be grateful and pleasant and happy.