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The Evil Shepherd
The Evil Shepherd

Chapter XXVIII

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Context Illustration Reading 1/30 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
There were incidents connected with that luncheon which Francis always remembered.
In the first place, Sir Timothy was a great deal more silent than usual.
A certain vein of half-cynical, half-amusing comment upon things and people of the moment, which seemed, whenever he cared to exert himself, to flow from his lips without effort, had deserted him.
He sat where the rather brilliant light from the high windows fell upon his face, and Francis wondered more than once whether there were not some change there, perhaps some prescience of trouble to come, which had subdued him and made him unusually thoughtful.
Another slighter but more amusing feature of the luncheon was the number of people who stopped to shake hands with Sir Timothy and made more or less clumsy efforts to obtain an invitation to his coming entertainment.
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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 Evil Shepherd

Chapter XXVIII

Reading 1/30 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
There were incidents connected with that luncheon which Francis always remembered.
Line 2
In the first place, Sir Timothy was a great deal more silent than usual.
Line 3
A certain vein of half-cynical, half-amusing comment upon things and people of the moment, which seemed, whenever he cared to exert himself, to flow from his lips without effort, had deserted him.
Line 4
He sat where the rather brilliant light from the high windows fell upon his face, and Francis wondered more than once whether there were not some change there, perhaps some prescience of trouble to come, which had subdued him and made him unusually thoughtful.
Line 5
Another slighter but more amusing feature of the luncheon was the number of people who stopped to shake hands with Sir Timothy and made more or less clumsy efforts to obtain an invitation to his coming entertainment.

Learner Dictionary

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

Another noun US /ˈanother/

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

From this reading “Another slighter but more amusing feature of the luncheon was the number of people who stopped to shake hands with Sir Timothy and made more or less clumsy efforts to obtain an invitation to his coming entertainment.”

Clumsy adjective US /ˈklʌmzi/

awkward in movement or handling things

From this reading “Another slighter but more amusing feature of the luncheon was the number of people who stopped to shake hands with Sir Timothy and made more or less clumsy efforts to obtain an invitation to his coming entertainment.”

Come noun US /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He sat where the rather brilliant light from the high windows fell upon his face, and Francis wondered more than once whether there were not some change there, perhaps some prescience of trouble to come, which had subdued him and made him unusually thoughtful.”

Deserted verb US /dɪˈzɜːrtɪd/

left a place or vessel without intending to return

From this reading “A certain vein of half-cynical, half-amusing comment upon things and people of the moment, which seemed, whenever he cared to exert himself, to flow from his lips without effort, had deserted him.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “In the first place, Sir Timothy was a great deal more silent than usual.”

Great noun US /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “In the first place, Sir Timothy was a great deal more silent than usual.”

Hands plural noun US /hændz/

members of a ship’s crew

From this reading “Another slighter but more amusing feature of the luncheon was the number of people who stopped to shake hands with Sir Timothy and made more or less clumsy efforts to obtain an invitation to his coming entertainment.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading “A certain vein of half-cynical, half-amusing comment upon things and people of the moment, which seemed, whenever he cared to exert himself, to flow from his lips without effort, had deserted him.”

Obtain verb US /əbˈteɪn/

to get something, especially through effort

From this reading “Another slighter but more amusing feature of the luncheon was the number of people who stopped to shake hands with Sir Timothy and made more or less clumsy efforts to obtain an invitation to his coming entertainment.”

Once noun US /once/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He sat where the rather brilliant light from the high windows fell upon his face, and Francis wondered more than once whether there were not some change there, perhaps some prescience of trouble to come, which had subdued him and made him unusually thoughtful.”

Perhaps noun US /perhaps/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He sat where the rather brilliant light from the high windows fell upon his face, and Francis wondered more than once whether there were not some change there, perhaps some prescience of trouble to come, which had subdued him and made him unusually thoughtful.”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A certain vein of half-cynical, half-amusing comment upon things and people of the moment, which seemed, whenever he cared to exert himself, to flow from his lips without effort, had deserted him.”

Stopped noun US /stopped/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Another slighter but more amusing feature of the luncheon was the number of people who stopped to shake hands with Sir Timothy and made more or less clumsy efforts to obtain an invitation to his coming entertainment.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “A certain vein of half-cynical, half-amusing comment upon things and people of the moment, which seemed, whenever he cared to exert himself, to flow from his lips without effort, had deserted him.”

Whenever conjunction US /weˈnevər/

at any time that; every time that

From this reading “A certain vein of half-cynical, half-amusing comment upon things and people of the moment, which seemed, whenever he cared to exert himself, to flow from his lips without effort, had deserted him.”

Whether conjunction US /ˈweðər/

used to introduce two or more possibilities

From this reading “He sat where the rather brilliant light from the high windows fell upon his face, and Francis wondered more than once whether there were not some change there, perhaps some prescience of trouble to come, which had subdued him and made him unusually thoughtful.”

Without preposition US /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading “A certain vein of half-cynical, half-amusing comment upon things and people of the moment, which seemed, whenever he cared to exert himself, to flow from his lips without effort, had deserted him.”

Wondered noun US /wondered/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He sat where the rather brilliant light from the high windows fell upon his face, and Francis wondered more than once whether there were not some change there, perhaps some prescience of trouble to come, which had subdued him and made him unusually thoughtful.”

All words in this reading · 94

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 In the first place, Sir Timothy was a great deal more silent than usual.

always

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

From this reading There were incidents connected with that luncheon which Francis always remembered.

amusing

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

From this reading Another slighter but more amusing feature of the luncheon was the number of people who stopped to shake hands with Sir Timothy and made more or less clumsy efforts to obtain an invitation to his coming entertainment.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading Another slighter but more amusing feature of the luncheon was the number of people who stopped to shake hands with Sir Timothy and made more or less clumsy efforts to obtain an invitation to his coming entertainment.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading A certain vein of half-cynical, half-amusing comment upon things and people of the moment, which seemed, whenever he cared to exert himself, to flow from his lips without effort, had deserted him.

AnothernounUS /ˈanother/

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

From this reading Another slighter but more amusing feature of the luncheon was the number of people who stopped to shake hands with Sir Timothy and made more or less clumsy efforts to obtain an invitation to his coming entertainment.

brilliant

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

From this reading He sat where the rather brilliant light from the high windows fell upon his face, and Francis wondered more than once whether there were not some change there, perhaps some prescience of trouble to come, which had subdued him and made him unusually thoughtful.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Another slighter but more amusing feature of the luncheon was the number of people who stopped to shake hands with Sir Timothy and made more or less clumsy efforts to obtain an invitation to his coming entertainment.

cared

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

From this reading A certain vein of half-cynical, half-amusing comment upon things and people of the moment, which seemed, whenever he cared to exert himself, to flow from his lips without effort, had deserted him.

certain

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

From this reading A certain vein of half-cynical, half-amusing comment upon things and people of the moment, which seemed, whenever he cared to exert himself, to flow from his lips without effort, had deserted him.

change

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

From this reading He sat where the rather brilliant light from the high windows fell upon his face, and Francis wondered more than once whether there were not some change there, perhaps some prescience of trouble to come, which had subdued him and made him unusually thoughtful.

clumsyadjectiveUS /ˈklʌmzi/

awkward in movement or handling things

From this reading Another slighter but more amusing feature of the luncheon was the number of people who stopped to shake hands with Sir Timothy and made more or less clumsy efforts to obtain an invitation to his coming entertainment.

comenounUS /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He sat where the rather brilliant light from the high windows fell upon his face, and Francis wondered more than once whether there were not some change there, perhaps some prescience of trouble to come, which had subdued him and made him unusually thoughtful.

coming

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

From this reading Another slighter but more amusing feature of the luncheon was the number of people who stopped to shake hands with Sir Timothy and made more or less clumsy efforts to obtain an invitation to his coming entertainment.

comment

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

From this reading A certain vein of half-cynical, half-amusing comment upon things and people of the moment, which seemed, whenever he cared to exert himself, to flow from his lips without effort, had deserted him.

connected

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

From this reading There were incidents connected with that luncheon which Francis always remembered.

deal

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

From this reading In the first place, Sir Timothy was a great deal more silent than usual.

desertedverbUS /dɪˈzɜːrtɪd/

left a place or vessel without intending to return

From this reading A certain vein of half-cynical, half-amusing comment upon things and people of the moment, which seemed, whenever he cared to exert himself, to flow from his lips without effort, had deserted him.

effort

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

From this reading A certain vein of half-cynical, half-amusing comment upon things and people of the moment, which seemed, whenever he cared to exert himself, to flow from his lips without effort, had deserted him.

efforts

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

From this reading Another slighter but more amusing feature of the luncheon was the number of people who stopped to shake hands with Sir Timothy and made more or less clumsy efforts to obtain an invitation to his coming entertainment.

entertainment

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

From this reading Another slighter but more amusing feature of the luncheon was the number of people who stopped to shake hands with Sir Timothy and made more or less clumsy efforts to obtain an invitation to his coming entertainment.

exert

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

From this reading A certain vein of half-cynical, half-amusing comment upon things and people of the moment, which seemed, whenever he cared to exert himself, to flow from his lips without effort, had deserted him.

face

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

From this reading He sat where the rather brilliant light from the high windows fell upon his face, and Francis wondered more than once whether there were not some change there, perhaps some prescience of trouble to come, which had subdued him and made him unusually thoughtful.

feature

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

From this reading Another slighter but more amusing feature of the luncheon was the number of people who stopped to shake hands with Sir Timothy and made more or less clumsy efforts to obtain an invitation to his coming entertainment.

fell

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

From this reading He sat where the rather brilliant light from the high windows fell upon his face, and Francis wondered more than once whether there were not some change there, perhaps some prescience of trouble to come, which had subdued him and made him unusually thoughtful.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading In the first place, Sir Timothy was a great deal more silent than usual.

flow

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

From this reading A certain vein of half-cynical, half-amusing comment upon things and people of the moment, which seemed, whenever he cared to exert himself, to flow from his lips without effort, had deserted him.

Francis

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

From this reading There were incidents connected with that luncheon which Francis always remembered.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading A certain vein of half-cynical, half-amusing comment upon things and people of the moment, which seemed, whenever he cared to exert himself, to flow from his lips without effort, had deserted him.

greatnounUS /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading In the first place, Sir Timothy was a great deal more silent than usual.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading A certain vein of half-cynical, half-amusing comment upon things and people of the moment, which seemed, whenever he cared to exert himself, to flow from his lips without effort, had deserted him.

half-amusing

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

From this reading A certain vein of half-cynical, half-amusing comment upon things and people of the moment, which seemed, whenever he cared to exert himself, to flow from his lips without effort, had deserted him.

half-cynical

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

From this reading A certain vein of half-cynical, half-amusing comment upon things and people of the moment, which seemed, whenever he cared to exert himself, to flow from his lips without effort, had deserted him.

handsplural nounUS /hændz/

members of a ship’s crew

From this reading Another slighter but more amusing feature of the luncheon was the number of people who stopped to shake hands with Sir Timothy and made more or less clumsy efforts to obtain an invitation to his coming entertainment.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading A certain vein of half-cynical, half-amusing comment upon things and people of the moment, which seemed, whenever he cared to exert himself, to flow from his lips without effort, had deserted him.

high

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

From this reading He sat where the rather brilliant light from the high windows fell upon his face, and Francis wondered more than once whether there were not some change there, perhaps some prescience of trouble to come, which had subdued him and made him unusually thoughtful.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading A certain vein of half-cynical, half-amusing comment upon things and people of the moment, which seemed, whenever he cared to exert himself, to flow from his lips without effort, had deserted him.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading A certain vein of half-cynical, half-amusing comment upon things and people of the moment, which seemed, whenever he cared to exert himself, to flow from his lips without effort, had deserted him.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading A certain vein of half-cynical, half-amusing comment upon things and people of the moment, which seemed, whenever he cared to exert himself, to flow from his lips without effort, had deserted him.

InprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading In the first place, Sir Timothy was a great deal more silent than usual.

incidents

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

From this reading There were incidents connected with that luncheon which Francis always remembered.

invitation

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

From this reading Another slighter but more amusing feature of the luncheon was the number of people who stopped to shake hands with Sir Timothy and made more or less clumsy efforts to obtain an invitation to his coming entertainment.

less

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

From this reading Another slighter but more amusing feature of the luncheon was the number of people who stopped to shake hands with Sir Timothy and made more or less clumsy efforts to obtain an invitation to his coming entertainment.

light

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

From this reading He sat where the rather brilliant light from the high windows fell upon his face, and Francis wondered more than once whether there were not some change there, perhaps some prescience of trouble to come, which had subdued him and made him unusually thoughtful.

lips

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

From this reading A certain vein of half-cynical, half-amusing comment upon things and people of the moment, which seemed, whenever he cared to exert himself, to flow from his lips without effort, had deserted him.

luncheon

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

From this reading There were incidents connected with that luncheon which Francis always remembered.

made

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

From this reading He sat where the rather brilliant light from the high windows fell upon his face, and Francis wondered more than once whether there were not some change there, perhaps some prescience of trouble to come, which had subdued him and made him unusually thoughtful.

moment

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

From this reading A certain vein of half-cynical, half-amusing comment upon things and people of the moment, which seemed, whenever he cared to exert himself, to flow from his lips without effort, had deserted him.

more

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

From this reading In the first place, Sir Timothy was a great deal more silent than usual.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading He sat where the rather brilliant light from the high windows fell upon his face, and Francis wondered more than once whether there were not some change there, perhaps some prescience of trouble to come, which had subdued him and made him unusually thoughtful.

number

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

From this reading Another slighter but more amusing feature of the luncheon was the number of people who stopped to shake hands with Sir Timothy and made more or less clumsy efforts to obtain an invitation to his coming entertainment.

obtainverbUS /əbˈteɪn/

to get something, especially through effort

From this reading Another slighter but more amusing feature of the luncheon was the number of people who stopped to shake hands with Sir Timothy and made more or less clumsy efforts to obtain an invitation to his coming entertainment.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading A certain vein of half-cynical, half-amusing comment upon things and people of the moment, which seemed, whenever he cared to exert himself, to flow from his lips without effort, had deserted him.

once

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

From this reading He sat where the rather brilliant light from the high windows fell upon his face, and Francis wondered more than once whether there were not some change there, perhaps some prescience of trouble to come, which had subdued him and made him unusually thoughtful.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Another slighter but more amusing feature of the luncheon was the number of people who stopped to shake hands with Sir Timothy and made more or less clumsy efforts to obtain an invitation to his coming entertainment.

people

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

From this reading A certain vein of half-cynical, half-amusing comment upon things and people of the moment, which seemed, whenever he cared to exert himself, to flow from his lips without effort, had deserted him.

perhaps

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

From this reading He sat where the rather brilliant light from the high windows fell upon his face, and Francis wondered more than once whether there were not some change there, perhaps some prescience of trouble to come, which had subdued him and made him unusually thoughtful.

place

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

From this reading In the first place, Sir Timothy was a great deal more silent than usual.

prescience

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

From this reading He sat where the rather brilliant light from the high windows fell upon his face, and Francis wondered more than once whether there were not some change there, perhaps some prescience of trouble to come, which had subdued him and made him unusually thoughtful.

rather

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

From this reading He sat where the rather brilliant light from the high windows fell upon his face, and Francis wondered more than once whether there were not some change there, perhaps some prescience of trouble to come, which had subdued him and made him unusually thoughtful.

remembered

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

From this reading There were incidents connected with that luncheon which Francis always remembered.

sat

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

From this reading He sat where the rather brilliant light from the high windows fell upon his face, and Francis wondered more than once whether there were not some change there, perhaps some prescience of trouble to come, which had subdued him and made him unusually thoughtful.

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A certain vein of half-cynical, half-amusing comment upon things and people of the moment, which seemed, whenever he cared to exert himself, to flow from his lips without effort, had deserted him.

shake

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

From this reading Another slighter but more amusing feature of the luncheon was the number of people who stopped to shake hands with Sir Timothy and made more or less clumsy efforts to obtain an invitation to his coming entertainment.

silent

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

From this reading In the first place, Sir Timothy was a great deal more silent than usual.

Sir

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

From this reading In the first place, Sir Timothy was a great deal more silent than usual.

slighter

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

From this reading Another slighter but more amusing feature of the luncheon was the number of people who stopped to shake hands with Sir Timothy and made more or less clumsy efforts to obtain an invitation to his coming entertainment.

some

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

From this reading He sat where the rather brilliant light from the high windows fell upon his face, and Francis wondered more than once whether there were not some change there, perhaps some prescience of trouble to come, which had subdued him and made him unusually thoughtful.

stoppednounUS /stopped/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Another slighter but more amusing feature of the luncheon was the number of people who stopped to shake hands with Sir Timothy and made more or less clumsy efforts to obtain an invitation to his coming entertainment.

subdued

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

From this reading He sat where the rather brilliant light from the high windows fell upon his face, and Francis wondered more than once whether there were not some change there, perhaps some prescience of trouble to come, which had subdued him and made him unusually thoughtful.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading In the first place, Sir Timothy was a great deal more silent than usual.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading There were incidents connected with that luncheon which Francis always remembered.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading In the first place, Sir Timothy was a great deal more silent than usual.

There

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

From this reading There were incidents connected with that luncheon which Francis always remembered.

things

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

From this reading A certain vein of half-cynical, half-amusing comment upon things and people of the moment, which seemed, whenever he cared to exert himself, to flow from his lips without effort, had deserted him.

thoughtful

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

From this reading He sat where the rather brilliant light from the high windows fell upon his face, and Francis wondered more than once whether there were not some change there, perhaps some prescience of trouble to come, which had subdued him and made him unusually thoughtful.

Timothy

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

From this reading In the first place, Sir Timothy was a great deal more silent than usual.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading A certain vein of half-cynical, half-amusing comment upon things and people of the moment, which seemed, whenever he cared to exert himself, to flow from his lips without effort, had deserted him.

trouble

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

From this reading He sat where the rather brilliant light from the high windows fell upon his face, and Francis wondered more than once whether there were not some change there, perhaps some prescience of trouble to come, which had subdued him and made him unusually thoughtful.

unusually

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

From this reading He sat where the rather brilliant light from the high windows fell upon his face, and Francis wondered more than once whether there were not some change there, perhaps some prescience of trouble to come, which had subdued him and made him unusually thoughtful.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading A certain vein of half-cynical, half-amusing comment upon things and people of the moment, which seemed, whenever he cared to exert himself, to flow from his lips without effort, had deserted him.

usual

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

From this reading In the first place, Sir Timothy was a great deal more silent than usual.

vein

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

From this reading A certain vein of half-cynical, half-amusing comment upon things and people of the moment, which seemed, whenever he cared to exert himself, to flow from his lips without effort, had deserted him.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading In the first place, Sir Timothy was a great deal more silent than usual.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading There were incidents connected with that luncheon which Francis always remembered.

wheneverconjunctionUS /weˈnevər/

at any time that; every time that

From this reading A certain vein of half-cynical, half-amusing comment upon things and people of the moment, which seemed, whenever he cared to exert himself, to flow from his lips without effort, had deserted him.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading He sat where the rather brilliant light from the high windows fell upon his face, and Francis wondered more than once whether there were not some change there, perhaps some prescience of trouble to come, which had subdued him and made him unusually thoughtful.

whetherconjunctionUS /ˈweðər/

used to introduce two or more possibilities

From this reading He sat where the rather brilliant light from the high windows fell upon his face, and Francis wondered more than once whether there were not some change there, perhaps some prescience of trouble to come, which had subdued him and made him unusually thoughtful.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading There were incidents connected with that luncheon which Francis always remembered.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading Another slighter but more amusing feature of the luncheon was the number of people who stopped to shake hands with Sir Timothy and made more or less clumsy efforts to obtain an invitation to his coming entertainment.

windows

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

From this reading He sat where the rather brilliant light from the high windows fell upon his face, and Francis wondered more than once whether there were not some change there, perhaps some prescience of trouble to come, which had subdued him and made him unusually thoughtful.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading There were incidents connected with that luncheon which Francis always remembered.

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading A certain vein of half-cynical, half-amusing comment upon things and people of the moment, which seemed, whenever he cared to exert himself, to flow from his lips without effort, had deserted him.

wonderednounUS /wondered/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He sat where the rather brilliant light from the high windows fell upon his face, and Francis wondered more than once whether there were not some change there, perhaps some prescience of trouble to come, which had subdued him and made him unusually thoughtful.