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The Golden Web
The Golden Web

Chapter XII

Cover illustration for The Golden Web
Context Illustration Reading 1/36 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
AN INFORMAL TEA-PARTY After all, the element of unconventionality was absent from Deane's tea-party.
About four o'clock, looking landwards from a little sandy knoll just in front of his strange abode, he saw two figures coming along the dyke path.
A few minutes later, Ruby Sinclair and her companion came across the last little strip of shingle, and approached the spot where Deane was waiting for them.
"My uncle would like to make your acquaintance, Mr. Deane," she said.
Deane held out his hand and welcomed his visitor--a small, fussy-looking little man with a gray moustache, and a somewhat awkward air of being at his ease.
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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 Golden Web

Chapter XII

Reading 1/36 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
AN INFORMAL TEA-PARTY After all, the element of unconventionality was absent from Deane's tea-party.
Line 2
About four o'clock, looking landwards from a little sandy knoll just in front of his strange abode, he saw two figures coming along the dyke path.
Line 3
A few minutes later, Ruby Sinclair and her companion came across the last little strip of shingle, and approached the spot where Deane was waiting for them.
Line 4
"My uncle would like to make your acquaintance, Mr. Deane," she said.
Line 5
Deane held out his hand and welcomed his visitor--a small, fussy-looking little man with a gray moustache, and a somewhat awkward air of being at his ease.

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 four o'clock, looking landwards from a little sandy knoll just in front of his strange abode, he saw two figures coming along the dyke path.”

Across preposition US /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading “A few minutes later, Ruby Sinclair and her companion came across the last little strip of shingle, and approached the spot where Deane was waiting for them.”

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “AN INFORMAL TEA-PARTY After all, the element of unconventionality was absent from Deane's tea-party.”

Along preposition US /əˈlɔːŋ/

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading “About four o'clock, looking landwards from a little sandy knoll just in front of his strange abode, he saw two figures coming along the dyke path.”

Being auxiliary verb US /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading “Deane held out his hand and welcomed his visitor--a small, fussy-looking little man with a gray moustache, and a somewhat awkward air of being at his ease.”

Hand noun US /hand/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Deane held out his hand and welcomed his visitor--a small, fussy-looking little man with a gray moustache, and a somewhat awkward air of being at his ease.”

Last noun US /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A few minutes later, Ruby Sinclair and her companion came across the last little strip of shingle, and approached the spot where Deane was waiting for them.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “About four o'clock, looking landwards from a little sandy knoll just in front of his strange abode, he saw two figures coming along the dyke path.”

Make noun US /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"My uncle would like to make your acquaintance, Mr. Deane," she said.”

Waiting noun US /ˈwaiting/

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

From this reading “A few minutes later, Ruby Sinclair and her companion came across the last little strip of shingle, and approached the spot where Deane was waiting for them.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “"My uncle would like to make your acquaintance, Mr. Deane," she said.”

All words in this reading · 84

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 About four o'clock, looking landwards from a little sandy knoll just in front of his strange abode, he saw two figures coming along the dyke path.

abode

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

From this reading About four o'clock, looking landwards from a little sandy knoll just in front of his strange abode, he saw two figures coming along the dyke path.

AboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading About four o'clock, looking landwards from a little sandy knoll just in front of his strange abode, he saw two figures coming along the dyke path.

absent

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

From this reading AN INFORMAL TEA-PARTY After all, the element of unconventionality was absent from Deane's tea-party.

acquaintance

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

From this reading "My uncle would like to make your acquaintance, Mr. Deane," she said.

acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading A few minutes later, Ruby Sinclair and her companion came across the last little strip of shingle, and approached the spot where Deane was waiting for them.

AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading AN INFORMAL TEA-PARTY After all, the element of unconventionality was absent from Deane's tea-party.

air

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

From this reading Deane held out his hand and welcomed his visitor--a small, fussy-looking little man with a gray moustache, and a somewhat awkward air of being at his ease.

all

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

From this reading AN INFORMAL TEA-PARTY After all, the element of unconventionality was absent from Deane's tea-party.

alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading About four o'clock, looking landwards from a little sandy knoll just in front of his strange abode, he saw two figures coming along the dyke path.

ANdeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading AN INFORMAL TEA-PARTY After all, the element of unconventionality was absent from Deane's tea-party.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading A few minutes later, Ruby Sinclair and her companion came across the last little strip of shingle, and approached the spot where Deane was waiting for them.

approached

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

From this reading A few minutes later, Ruby Sinclair and her companion came across the last little strip of shingle, and approached the spot where Deane was waiting for them.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Deane held out his hand and welcomed his visitor--a small, fussy-looking little man with a gray moustache, and a somewhat awkward air of being at his ease.

awkward

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

From this reading Deane held out his hand and welcomed his visitor--a small, fussy-looking little man with a gray moustache, and a somewhat awkward air of being at his ease.

beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading Deane held out his hand and welcomed his visitor--a small, fussy-looking little man with a gray moustache, and a somewhat awkward air of being at his ease.

came

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

From this reading A few minutes later, Ruby Sinclair and her companion came across the last little strip of shingle, and approached the spot where Deane was waiting for them.

coming

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

From this reading About four o'clock, looking landwards from a little sandy knoll just in front of his strange abode, he saw two figures coming along the dyke path.

companion

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

From this reading A few minutes later, Ruby Sinclair and her companion came across the last little strip of shingle, and approached the spot where Deane was waiting for them.

Deane

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

From this reading A few minutes later, Ruby Sinclair and her companion came across the last little strip of shingle, and approached the spot where Deane was waiting for them.

Deane's

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

From this reading AN INFORMAL TEA-PARTY After all, the element of unconventionality was absent from Deane's tea-party.

dyke

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

From this reading About four o'clock, looking landwards from a little sandy knoll just in front of his strange abode, he saw two figures coming along the dyke path.

ease

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

From this reading Deane held out his hand and welcomed his visitor--a small, fussy-looking little man with a gray moustache, and a somewhat awkward air of being at his ease.

element

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

From this reading AN INFORMAL TEA-PARTY After all, the element of unconventionality was absent from Deane's tea-party.

few

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

From this reading A few minutes later, Ruby Sinclair and her companion came across the last little strip of shingle, and approached the spot where Deane was waiting for them.

figures

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

From this reading About four o'clock, looking landwards from a little sandy knoll just in front of his strange abode, he saw two figures coming along the dyke path.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading A few minutes later, Ruby Sinclair and her companion came across the last little strip of shingle, and approached the spot where Deane was waiting for them.

four

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

From this reading About four o'clock, looking landwards from a little sandy knoll just in front of his strange abode, he saw two figures coming along the dyke path.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading AN INFORMAL TEA-PARTY After all, the element of unconventionality was absent from Deane's tea-party.

front

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

From this reading About four o'clock, looking landwards from a little sandy knoll just in front of his strange abode, he saw two figures coming along the dyke path.

fussy-looking

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

From this reading Deane held out his hand and welcomed his visitor--a small, fussy-looking little man with a gray moustache, and a somewhat awkward air of being at his ease.

gray

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

From this reading Deane held out his hand and welcomed his visitor--a small, fussy-looking little man with a gray moustache, and a somewhat awkward air of being at his ease.

hand

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

From this reading Deane held out his hand and welcomed his visitor--a small, fussy-looking little man with a gray moustache, and a somewhat awkward air of being at his ease.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading About four o'clock, looking landwards from a little sandy knoll just in front of his strange abode, he saw two figures coming along the dyke path.

held

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

From this reading Deane held out his hand and welcomed his visitor--a small, fussy-looking little man with a gray moustache, and a somewhat awkward air of being at his ease.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading A few minutes later, Ruby Sinclair and her companion came across the last little strip of shingle, and approached the spot where Deane was waiting for them.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading About four o'clock, looking landwards from a little sandy knoll just in front of his strange abode, he saw two figures coming along the dyke path.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading About four o'clock, looking landwards from a little sandy knoll just in front of his strange abode, he saw two figures coming along the dyke path.

INFORMAL

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

From this reading AN INFORMAL TEA-PARTY After all, the element of unconventionality was absent from Deane's tea-party.

just

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

From this reading About four o'clock, looking landwards from a little sandy knoll just in front of his strange abode, he saw two figures coming along the dyke path.

knoll

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

From this reading About four o'clock, looking landwards from a little sandy knoll just in front of his strange abode, he saw two figures coming along the dyke path.

landwards

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

From this reading About four o'clock, looking landwards from a little sandy knoll just in front of his strange abode, he saw two figures coming along the dyke path.

lastnounUS /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A few minutes later, Ruby Sinclair and her companion came across the last little strip of shingle, and approached the spot where Deane was waiting for them.

later

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

From this reading A few minutes later, Ruby Sinclair and her companion came across the last little strip of shingle, and approached the spot where Deane was waiting for them.

like

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

From this reading "My uncle would like to make your acquaintance, Mr. Deane," she said.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading About four o'clock, looking landwards from a little sandy knoll just in front of his strange abode, he saw two figures coming along the dyke path.

looking

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

From this reading About four o'clock, looking landwards from a little sandy knoll just in front of his strange abode, he saw two figures coming along the dyke path.

makenounUS /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "My uncle would like to make your acquaintance, Mr. Deane," she said.

man

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

From this reading Deane held out his hand and welcomed his visitor--a small, fussy-looking little man with a gray moustache, and a somewhat awkward air of being at his ease.

minutes

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

From this reading A few minutes later, Ruby Sinclair and her companion came across the last little strip of shingle, and approached the spot where Deane was waiting for them.

moustache

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

From this reading Deane held out his hand and welcomed his visitor--a small, fussy-looking little man with a gray moustache, and a somewhat awkward air of being at his ease.

Mr

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

From this reading "My uncle would like to make your acquaintance, Mr. Deane," she said.

MydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading "My uncle would like to make your acquaintance, Mr. Deane," she said.

o'clock

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

From this reading About four o'clock, looking landwards from a little sandy knoll just in front of his strange abode, he saw two figures coming along the dyke path.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading AN INFORMAL TEA-PARTY After all, the element of unconventionality was absent from Deane's tea-party.

out

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

From this reading Deane held out his hand and welcomed his visitor--a small, fussy-looking little man with a gray moustache, and a somewhat awkward air of being at his ease.

path

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

From this reading About four o'clock, looking landwards from a little sandy knoll just in front of his strange abode, he saw two figures coming along the dyke path.

Ruby

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

From this reading A few minutes later, Ruby Sinclair and her companion came across the last little strip of shingle, and approached the spot where Deane was waiting for them.

said

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

From this reading "My uncle would like to make your acquaintance, Mr. Deane," she said.

sandy

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

From this reading About four o'clock, looking landwards from a little sandy knoll just in front of his strange abode, he saw two figures coming along the dyke path.

saw

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

From this reading About four o'clock, looking landwards from a little sandy knoll just in front of his strange abode, he saw two figures coming along the dyke path.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading "My uncle would like to make your acquaintance, Mr. Deane," she said.

shingle

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

From this reading A few minutes later, Ruby Sinclair and her companion came across the last little strip of shingle, and approached the spot where Deane was waiting for them.

Sinclair

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

From this reading A few minutes later, Ruby Sinclair and her companion came across the last little strip of shingle, and approached the spot where Deane was waiting for them.

small

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

From this reading Deane held out his hand and welcomed his visitor--a small, fussy-looking little man with a gray moustache, and a somewhat awkward air of being at his ease.

somewhat

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

From this reading Deane held out his hand and welcomed his visitor--a small, fussy-looking little man with a gray moustache, and a somewhat awkward air of being at his ease.

spot

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

From this reading A few minutes later, Ruby Sinclair and her companion came across the last little strip of shingle, and approached the spot where Deane was waiting for them.

strange

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

From this reading About four o'clock, looking landwards from a little sandy knoll just in front of his strange abode, he saw two figures coming along the dyke path.

strip

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

From this reading A few minutes later, Ruby Sinclair and her companion came across the last little strip of shingle, and approached the spot where Deane was waiting for them.

TEA-PARTY

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

From this reading AN INFORMAL TEA-PARTY After all, the element of unconventionality was absent from Deane's tea-party.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading AN INFORMAL TEA-PARTY After all, the element of unconventionality was absent from Deane's tea-party.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading A few minutes later, Ruby Sinclair and her companion came across the last little strip of shingle, and approached the spot where Deane was waiting for them.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading "My uncle would like to make your acquaintance, Mr. Deane," she said.

two

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

From this reading About four o'clock, looking landwards from a little sandy knoll just in front of his strange abode, he saw two figures coming along the dyke path.

uncle

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

From this reading "My uncle would like to make your acquaintance, Mr. Deane," she said.

unconventionality

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

From this reading AN INFORMAL TEA-PARTY After all, the element of unconventionality was absent from Deane's tea-party.

visitor

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

From this reading Deane held out his hand and welcomed his visitor--a small, fussy-looking little man with a gray moustache, and a somewhat awkward air of being at his ease.

waiting

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

From this reading A few minutes later, Ruby Sinclair and her companion came across the last little strip of shingle, and approached the spot where Deane was waiting for them.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading AN INFORMAL TEA-PARTY After all, the element of unconventionality was absent from Deane's tea-party.

welcomed

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

From this reading Deane held out his hand and welcomed his visitor--a small, fussy-looking little man with a gray moustache, and a somewhat awkward air of being at his ease.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading A few minutes later, Ruby Sinclair and her companion came across the last little strip of shingle, and approached the spot where Deane was waiting for them.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Deane held out his hand and welcomed his visitor--a small, fussy-looking little man with a gray moustache, and a somewhat awkward air of being at his ease.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading "My uncle would like to make your acquaintance, Mr. Deane," she said.

yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "My uncle would like to make your acquaintance, Mr. Deane," she said.