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The Firm of Girdlestone
The Firm of Girdlestone

Chapter V

Cover illustration for The Firm of Girdlestone
Context Illustration Reading 1/48 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
ENGLAND VERSUS SCOTLAND.
The rectorial election had come and had gone, but another great event had taken its place.
It was the day of the England and Scotland Rugby match.
Better weather could not have been desired.
The morning had been hazy, but as the sun shone out the fog had gradually risen, until now there remained but a suspicion of it, floating like a plume, above the frowning walls of Edinburgh Castle, and twining a fairy wreath round the unfinished columns of the national monument upon the Calton Hill.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Firm of Girdlestone

Chapter V

Reading 1/48 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
ENGLAND VERSUS SCOTLAND.
Line 2
The rectorial election had come and had gone, but another great event had taken its place.
Line 3
It was the day of the England and Scotland Rugby match.
Line 4
Better weather could not have been desired.
Line 5
The morning had been hazy, but as the sun shone out the fog had gradually risen, until now there remained but a suspicion of it, floating like a plume, above the frowning walls of Edinburgh Castle, and twining a fairy wreath round the unfinished columns of the national monument upon the Calton Hill.

Learner Dictionary

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

Above preposition US /əˈbʌv/

higher than, or over, something

From this reading “The morning had been hazy, but as the sun shone out the fog had gradually risen, until now there remained but a suspicion of it, floating like a plume, above the frowning walls of Edinburgh Castle, and twining a fairy wreath round the unfinished columns of the national monument upon the Calton Hill.”

Another noun US /ˈanother/

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

From this reading “The rectorial election had come and had gone, but another great event had taken its place.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “Better weather could not have been desired.”

Come noun US /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The rectorial election had come and had gone, but another great event had taken its place.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading “Better weather could not have been desired.”

Great noun US /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The rectorial election had come and had gone, but another great event had taken its place.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “Better weather could not have been desired.”

Hazy adjective US /ˈheɪzi/

unclear or blurred, especially from drink

From this reading “The morning had been hazy, but as the sun shone out the fog had gradually risen, until now there remained but a suspicion of it, floating like a plume, above the frowning walls of Edinburgh Castle, and twining a fairy wreath round the unfinished columns of the national monument upon the Calton Hill.”

Morning noun US /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The morning had been hazy, but as the sun shone out the fog had gradually risen, until now there remained but a suspicion of it, floating like a plume, above the frowning walls of Edinburgh Castle, and twining a fairy wreath round the unfinished columns of the national monument upon the Calton Hill.”

Remained noun US /ˈremained/

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

From this reading “The morning had been hazy, but as the sun shone out the fog had gradually risen, until now there remained but a suspicion of it, floating like a plume, above the frowning walls of Edinburgh Castle, and twining a fairy wreath round the unfinished columns of the national monument upon the Calton Hill.”

Until preposition US /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading “The morning had been hazy, but as the sun shone out the fog had gradually risen, until now there remained but a suspicion of it, floating like a plume, above the frowning walls of Edinburgh Castle, and twining a fairy wreath round the unfinished columns of the national monument upon the Calton Hill.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “The morning had been hazy, but as the sun shone out the fog had gradually risen, until now there remained but a suspicion of it, floating like a plume, above the frowning walls of Edinburgh Castle, and twining a fairy wreath round the unfinished columns of the national monument upon the Calton Hill.”

All words in this reading · 64

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 morning had been hazy, but as the sun shone out the fog had gradually risen, until now there remained but a suspicion of it, floating like a plume, above the frowning walls of Edinburgh Castle, and twining a fairy wreath round the unfinished columns of the national monument upon the Calton Hill.

aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/

higher than, or over, something

From this reading The morning had been hazy, but as the sun shone out the fog had gradually risen, until now there remained but a suspicion of it, floating like a plume, above the frowning walls of Edinburgh Castle, and twining a fairy wreath round the unfinished columns of the national monument upon the Calton Hill.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The rectorial election had come and had gone, but another great event had taken its place.

anothernounUS /ˈanother/

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

From this reading The rectorial election had come and had gone, but another great event had taken its place.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading The morning had been hazy, but as the sun shone out the fog had gradually risen, until now there remained but a suspicion of it, floating like a plume, above the frowning walls of Edinburgh Castle, and twining a fairy wreath round the unfinished columns of the national monument upon the Calton Hill.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Better weather could not have been desired.

Better

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

From this reading Better weather could not have been desired.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading The rectorial election had come and had gone, but another great event had taken its place.

Calton

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

From this reading The morning had been hazy, but as the sun shone out the fog had gradually risen, until now there remained but a suspicion of it, floating like a plume, above the frowning walls of Edinburgh Castle, and twining a fairy wreath round the unfinished columns of the national monument upon the Calton Hill.

Castle

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

From this reading The morning had been hazy, but as the sun shone out the fog had gradually risen, until now there remained but a suspicion of it, floating like a plume, above the frowning walls of Edinburgh Castle, and twining a fairy wreath round the unfinished columns of the national monument upon the Calton Hill.

columns

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

From this reading The morning had been hazy, but as the sun shone out the fog had gradually risen, until now there remained but a suspicion of it, floating like a plume, above the frowning walls of Edinburgh Castle, and twining a fairy wreath round the unfinished columns of the national monument upon the Calton Hill.

comenounUS /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The rectorial election had come and had gone, but another great event had taken its place.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading Better weather could not have been desired.

day

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

From this reading It was the day of the England and Scotland Rugby match.

desired

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

From this reading Better weather could not have been desired.

Edinburgh

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

From this reading The morning had been hazy, but as the sun shone out the fog had gradually risen, until now there remained but a suspicion of it, floating like a plume, above the frowning walls of Edinburgh Castle, and twining a fairy wreath round the unfinished columns of the national monument upon the Calton Hill.

election

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

From this reading The rectorial election had come and had gone, but another great event had taken its place.

ENGLAND

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

From this reading ENGLAND VERSUS SCOTLAND.

event

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

From this reading The rectorial election had come and had gone, but another great event had taken its place.

fairy

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

From this reading The morning had been hazy, but as the sun shone out the fog had gradually risen, until now there remained but a suspicion of it, floating like a plume, above the frowning walls of Edinburgh Castle, and twining a fairy wreath round the unfinished columns of the national monument upon the Calton Hill.

floating

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

From this reading The morning had been hazy, but as the sun shone out the fog had gradually risen, until now there remained but a suspicion of it, floating like a plume, above the frowning walls of Edinburgh Castle, and twining a fairy wreath round the unfinished columns of the national monument upon the Calton Hill.

fog

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

From this reading The morning had been hazy, but as the sun shone out the fog had gradually risen, until now there remained but a suspicion of it, floating like a plume, above the frowning walls of Edinburgh Castle, and twining a fairy wreath round the unfinished columns of the national monument upon the Calton Hill.

frowning

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

From this reading The morning had been hazy, but as the sun shone out the fog had gradually risen, until now there remained but a suspicion of it, floating like a plume, above the frowning walls of Edinburgh Castle, and twining a fairy wreath round the unfinished columns of the national monument upon the Calton Hill.

gone

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

From this reading The rectorial election had come and had gone, but another great event had taken its place.

gradually

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

From this reading The morning had been hazy, but as the sun shone out the fog had gradually risen, until now there remained but a suspicion of it, floating like a plume, above the frowning walls of Edinburgh Castle, and twining a fairy wreath round the unfinished columns of the national monument upon the Calton Hill.

greatnounUS /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The rectorial election had come and had gone, but another great event had taken its place.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading The rectorial election had come and had gone, but another great event had taken its place.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Better weather could not have been desired.

hazyadjectiveUS /ˈheɪzi/

unclear or blurred, especially from drink

From this reading The morning had been hazy, but as the sun shone out the fog had gradually risen, until now there remained but a suspicion of it, floating like a plume, above the frowning walls of Edinburgh Castle, and twining a fairy wreath round the unfinished columns of the national monument upon the Calton Hill.

Hill

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

From this reading The morning had been hazy, but as the sun shone out the fog had gradually risen, until now there remained but a suspicion of it, floating like a plume, above the frowning walls of Edinburgh Castle, and twining a fairy wreath round the unfinished columns of the national monument upon the Calton Hill.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was the day of the England and Scotland Rugby match.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading The rectorial election had come and had gone, but another great event had taken its place.

like

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

From this reading The morning had been hazy, but as the sun shone out the fog had gradually risen, until now there remained but a suspicion of it, floating like a plume, above the frowning walls of Edinburgh Castle, and twining a fairy wreath round the unfinished columns of the national monument upon the Calton Hill.

match

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

From this reading It was the day of the England and Scotland Rugby match.

monument

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

From this reading The morning had been hazy, but as the sun shone out the fog had gradually risen, until now there remained but a suspicion of it, floating like a plume, above the frowning walls of Edinburgh Castle, and twining a fairy wreath round the unfinished columns of the national monument upon the Calton Hill.

morningnounUS /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The morning had been hazy, but as the sun shone out the fog had gradually risen, until now there remained but a suspicion of it, floating like a plume, above the frowning walls of Edinburgh Castle, and twining a fairy wreath round the unfinished columns of the national monument upon the Calton Hill.

national

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

From this reading The morning had been hazy, but as the sun shone out the fog had gradually risen, until now there remained but a suspicion of it, floating like a plume, above the frowning walls of Edinburgh Castle, and twining a fairy wreath round the unfinished columns of the national monument upon the Calton Hill.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Better weather could not have been desired.

now

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

From this reading The morning had been hazy, but as the sun shone out the fog had gradually risen, until now there remained but a suspicion of it, floating like a plume, above the frowning walls of Edinburgh Castle, and twining a fairy wreath round the unfinished columns of the national monument upon the Calton Hill.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading It was the day of the England and Scotland Rugby match.

out

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

From this reading The morning had been hazy, but as the sun shone out the fog had gradually risen, until now there remained but a suspicion of it, floating like a plume, above the frowning walls of Edinburgh Castle, and twining a fairy wreath round the unfinished columns of the national monument upon the Calton Hill.

place

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

From this reading The rectorial election had come and had gone, but another great event had taken its place.

plume

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

From this reading The morning had been hazy, but as the sun shone out the fog had gradually risen, until now there remained but a suspicion of it, floating like a plume, above the frowning walls of Edinburgh Castle, and twining a fairy wreath round the unfinished columns of the national monument upon the Calton Hill.

rectorial

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

From this reading The rectorial election had come and had gone, but another great event had taken its place.

remainednounUS /ˈremained/

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

From this reading The morning had been hazy, but as the sun shone out the fog had gradually risen, until now there remained but a suspicion of it, floating like a plume, above the frowning walls of Edinburgh Castle, and twining a fairy wreath round the unfinished columns of the national monument upon the Calton Hill.

risen

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

From this reading The morning had been hazy, but as the sun shone out the fog had gradually risen, until now there remained but a suspicion of it, floating like a plume, above the frowning walls of Edinburgh Castle, and twining a fairy wreath round the unfinished columns of the national monument upon the Calton Hill.

round

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

From this reading The morning had been hazy, but as the sun shone out the fog had gradually risen, until now there remained but a suspicion of it, floating like a plume, above the frowning walls of Edinburgh Castle, and twining a fairy wreath round the unfinished columns of the national monument upon the Calton Hill.

Rugby

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

From this reading It was the day of the England and Scotland Rugby match.

SCOTLAND

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

From this reading ENGLAND VERSUS SCOTLAND.

shone

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

From this reading The morning had been hazy, but as the sun shone out the fog had gradually risen, until now there remained but a suspicion of it, floating like a plume, above the frowning walls of Edinburgh Castle, and twining a fairy wreath round the unfinished columns of the national monument upon the Calton Hill.

sun

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

From this reading The morning had been hazy, but as the sun shone out the fog had gradually risen, until now there remained but a suspicion of it, floating like a plume, above the frowning walls of Edinburgh Castle, and twining a fairy wreath round the unfinished columns of the national monument upon the Calton Hill.

suspicion

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

From this reading The morning had been hazy, but as the sun shone out the fog had gradually risen, until now there remained but a suspicion of it, floating like a plume, above the frowning walls of Edinburgh Castle, and twining a fairy wreath round the unfinished columns of the national monument upon the Calton Hill.

taken

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

From this reading The rectorial election had come and had gone, but another great event had taken its place.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The rectorial election had come and had gone, but another great event had taken its place.

there

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

From this reading The morning had been hazy, but as the sun shone out the fog had gradually risen, until now there remained but a suspicion of it, floating like a plume, above the frowning walls of Edinburgh Castle, and twining a fairy wreath round the unfinished columns of the national monument upon the Calton Hill.

twining

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

From this reading The morning had been hazy, but as the sun shone out the fog had gradually risen, until now there remained but a suspicion of it, floating like a plume, above the frowning walls of Edinburgh Castle, and twining a fairy wreath round the unfinished columns of the national monument upon the Calton Hill.

unfinished

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

From this reading The morning had been hazy, but as the sun shone out the fog had gradually risen, until now there remained but a suspicion of it, floating like a plume, above the frowning walls of Edinburgh Castle, and twining a fairy wreath round the unfinished columns of the national monument upon the Calton Hill.

untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading The morning had been hazy, but as the sun shone out the fog had gradually risen, until now there remained but a suspicion of it, floating like a plume, above the frowning walls of Edinburgh Castle, and twining a fairy wreath round the unfinished columns of the national monument upon the Calton Hill.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading The morning had been hazy, but as the sun shone out the fog had gradually risen, until now there remained but a suspicion of it, floating like a plume, above the frowning walls of Edinburgh Castle, and twining a fairy wreath round the unfinished columns of the national monument upon the Calton Hill.

VERSUS

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

From this reading ENGLAND VERSUS SCOTLAND.

walls

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

From this reading The morning had been hazy, but as the sun shone out the fog had gradually risen, until now there remained but a suspicion of it, floating like a plume, above the frowning walls of Edinburgh Castle, and twining a fairy wreath round the unfinished columns of the national monument upon the Calton Hill.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading It was the day of the England and Scotland Rugby match.

weather

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

From this reading Better weather could not have been desired.

wreath

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

From this reading The morning had been hazy, but as the sun shone out the fog had gradually risen, until now there remained but a suspicion of it, floating like a plume, above the frowning walls of Edinburgh Castle, and twining a fairy wreath round the unfinished columns of the national monument upon the Calton Hill.