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The Governors
The Governors

Chapter XXII

Cover illustration for The Governors
Context Illustration Reading 1/26 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
AN APPOINTMENT Virginia seemed to find speech impossible, and it seemed to him that he could see the tears gathering in her eyes.
"Forgive me," he said, leaning over the table towards her.
"I ought to have asked you differently, I know, but I am so afraid that you will slip away, as you did before, and that I shall lose sight of you again.
You want some one to take care of you, dear, and I am going to do it."
She looked at him with swimming eyes, and he laid his hand softly for a moment upon hers.
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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 Governors

Chapter XXII

Reading 1/26 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
AN APPOINTMENT Virginia seemed to find speech impossible, and it seemed to him that he could see the tears gathering in her eyes.
Line 2
"Forgive me," he said, leaning over the table towards her.
Line 3
"I ought to have asked you differently, I know, but I am so afraid that you will slip away, as you did before, and that I shall lose sight of you again.
Line 4
You want some one to take care of you, dear, and I am going to do it."
Line 5
She looked at him with swimming eyes, and he laid his hand softly for a moment upon hers.

Learner Dictionary

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

Again noun US /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"I ought to have asked you differently, I know, but I am so afraid that you will slip away, as you did before, and that I shall lose sight of you again.”

Asked noun US /asked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"I ought to have asked you differently, I know, but I am so afraid that you will slip away, as you did before, and that I shall lose sight of you again.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “"I ought to have asked you differently, I know, but I am so afraid that you will slip away, as you did before, and that I shall lose sight of you again.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “AN APPOINTMENT Virginia seemed to find speech impossible, and it seemed to him that he could see the tears gathering in her eyes.”

Hand noun US /hand/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “She looked at him with swimming eyes, and he laid his hand softly for a moment upon hers.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “"I ought to have asked you differently, I know, but I am so afraid that you will slip away, as you did before, and that I shall lose sight of you again.”

Hers pronoun US /hərz/

the one or ones belonging to her

From this reading “She looked at him with swimming eyes, and he laid his hand softly for a moment upon hers.”

Know noun US /know/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"I ought to have asked you differently, I know, but I am so afraid that you will slip away, as you did before, and that I shall lose sight of you again.”

Looked noun US /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “She looked at him with swimming eyes, and he laid his hand softly for a moment upon hers.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “You want some one to take care of you, dear, and I am going to do it."”

Ought modal verb US /ɔːt/

used with “to” to say what is right or advisable

From this reading “"I ought to have asked you differently, I know, but I am so afraid that you will slip away, as you did before, and that I shall lose sight of you again.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “"Forgive me," he said, leaning over the table towards her.”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “AN APPOINTMENT Virginia seemed to find speech impossible, and it seemed to him that he could see the tears gathering in her eyes.”

Shall modal verb US /ʃæl/

used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest

From this reading “"I ought to have asked you differently, I know, but I am so afraid that you will slip away, as you did before, and that I shall lose sight of you again.”

Take noun US /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “You want some one to take care of you, dear, and I am going to do it."”

Towards preposition US /təˈwɔːrdz/

in the direction of

From this reading “"Forgive me," he said, leaning over the table towards her.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “She looked at him with swimming eyes, and he laid his hand softly for a moment upon hers.”

All words in this reading · 72

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 She looked at him with swimming eyes, and he laid his hand softly for a moment upon hers.

afraid

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

From this reading "I ought to have asked you differently, I know, but I am so afraid that you will slip away, as you did before, and that I shall lose sight of you again.

againnounUS /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "I ought to have asked you differently, I know, but I am so afraid that you will slip away, as you did before, and that I shall lose sight of you again.

amauxiliary verbUS /æm/

the form of “be” used with “I”

From this reading "I ought to have asked you differently, I know, but I am so afraid that you will slip away, as you did before, and that I shall lose sight of you again.

ANdeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading AN APPOINTMENT Virginia seemed to find speech impossible, and it seemed to him that he could see the tears gathering in her eyes.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading AN APPOINTMENT Virginia seemed to find speech impossible, and it seemed to him that he could see the tears gathering in her eyes.

APPOINTMENT

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

From this reading AN APPOINTMENT Virginia seemed to find speech impossible, and it seemed to him that he could see the tears gathering in her eyes.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading "I ought to have asked you differently, I know, but I am so afraid that you will slip away, as you did before, and that I shall lose sight of you again.

askednounUS /asked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "I ought to have asked you differently, I know, but I am so afraid that you will slip away, as you did before, and that I shall lose sight of you again.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading She looked at him with swimming eyes, and he laid his hand softly for a moment upon hers.

away

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

From this reading "I ought to have asked you differently, I know, but I am so afraid that you will slip away, as you did before, and that I shall lose sight of you again.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading "I ought to have asked you differently, I know, but I am so afraid that you will slip away, as you did before, and that I shall lose sight of you again.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading "I ought to have asked you differently, I know, but I am so afraid that you will slip away, as you did before, and that I shall lose sight of you again.

care

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

From this reading You want some one to take care of you, dear, and I am going to do it."

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading AN APPOINTMENT Virginia seemed to find speech impossible, and it seemed to him that he could see the tears gathering in her eyes.

dear

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

From this reading You want some one to take care of you, dear, and I am going to do it."

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading "I ought to have asked you differently, I know, but I am so afraid that you will slip away, as you did before, and that I shall lose sight of you again.

differently

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

From this reading "I ought to have asked you differently, I know, but I am so afraid that you will slip away, as you did before, and that I shall lose sight of you again.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading You want some one to take care of you, dear, and I am going to do it."

eyes

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

From this reading AN APPOINTMENT Virginia seemed to find speech impossible, and it seemed to him that he could see the tears gathering in her eyes.

find

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

From this reading AN APPOINTMENT Virginia seemed to find speech impossible, and it seemed to him that he could see the tears gathering in her eyes.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading She looked at him with swimming eyes, and he laid his hand softly for a moment upon hers.

Forgive

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

From this reading "Forgive me," he said, leaning over the table towards her.

gathering

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

From this reading AN APPOINTMENT Virginia seemed to find speech impossible, and it seemed to him that he could see the tears gathering in her eyes.

going

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

From this reading You want some one to take care of you, dear, and I am going to do it."

hand

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

From this reading She looked at him with swimming eyes, and he laid his hand softly for a moment upon hers.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading "I ought to have asked you differently, I know, but I am so afraid that you will slip away, as you did before, and that I shall lose sight of you again.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading AN APPOINTMENT Virginia seemed to find speech impossible, and it seemed to him that he could see the tears gathering in her eyes.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading AN APPOINTMENT Virginia seemed to find speech impossible, and it seemed to him that he could see the tears gathering in her eyes.

herspronounUS /hərz/

the one or ones belonging to her

From this reading She looked at him with swimming eyes, and he laid his hand softly for a moment upon hers.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading AN APPOINTMENT Virginia seemed to find speech impossible, and it seemed to him that he could see the tears gathering in her eyes.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading She looked at him with swimming eyes, and he laid his hand softly for a moment upon hers.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading "I ought to have asked you differently, I know, but I am so afraid that you will slip away, as you did before, and that I shall lose sight of you again.

impossible

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

From this reading AN APPOINTMENT Virginia seemed to find speech impossible, and it seemed to him that he could see the tears gathering in her eyes.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading AN APPOINTMENT Virginia seemed to find speech impossible, and it seemed to him that he could see the tears gathering in her eyes.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading AN APPOINTMENT Virginia seemed to find speech impossible, and it seemed to him that he could see the tears gathering in her eyes.

knownounUS /know/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "I ought to have asked you differently, I know, but I am so afraid that you will slip away, as you did before, and that I shall lose sight of you again.

laid

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

From this reading She looked at him with swimming eyes, and he laid his hand softly for a moment upon hers.

leaning

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

From this reading "Forgive me," he said, leaning over the table towards her.

lookednounUS /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading She looked at him with swimming eyes, and he laid his hand softly for a moment upon hers.

lose

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

From this reading "I ought to have asked you differently, I know, but I am so afraid that you will slip away, as you did before, and that I shall lose sight of you again.

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading "Forgive me," he said, leaning over the table towards her.

moment

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

From this reading She looked at him with swimming eyes, and he laid his hand softly for a moment upon hers.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading "I ought to have asked you differently, I know, but I am so afraid that you will slip away, as you did before, and that I shall lose sight of you again.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading You want some one to take care of you, dear, and I am going to do it."

oughtmodal verbUS /ɔːt/

used with “to” to say what is right or advisable

From this reading "I ought to have asked you differently, I know, but I am so afraid that you will slip away, as you did before, and that I shall lose sight of you again.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading "Forgive me," he said, leaning over the table towards her.

said

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

From this reading "Forgive me," he said, leaning over the table towards her.

see

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

From this reading AN APPOINTMENT Virginia seemed to find speech impossible, and it seemed to him that he could see the tears gathering in her eyes.

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading AN APPOINTMENT Virginia seemed to find speech impossible, and it seemed to him that he could see the tears gathering in her eyes.

shallmodal verbUS /ʃæl/

used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest

From this reading "I ought to have asked you differently, I know, but I am so afraid that you will slip away, as you did before, and that I shall lose sight of you again.

ShepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading She looked at him with swimming eyes, and he laid his hand softly for a moment upon hers.

sight

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

From this reading "I ought to have asked you differently, I know, but I am so afraid that you will slip away, as you did before, and that I shall lose sight of you again.

slip

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

From this reading "I ought to have asked you differently, I know, but I am so afraid that you will slip away, as you did before, and that I shall lose sight of you again.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading "I ought to have asked you differently, I know, but I am so afraid that you will slip away, as you did before, and that I shall lose sight of you again.

softly

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

From this reading She looked at him with swimming eyes, and he laid his hand softly for a moment upon hers.

some

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

From this reading You want some one to take care of you, dear, and I am going to do it."

speech

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

From this reading AN APPOINTMENT Virginia seemed to find speech impossible, and it seemed to him that he could see the tears gathering in her eyes.

swimming

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

From this reading She looked at him with swimming eyes, and he laid his hand softly for a moment upon hers.

table

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

From this reading "Forgive me," he said, leaning over the table towards her.

takenounUS /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading You want some one to take care of you, dear, and I am going to do it."

tears

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

From this reading AN APPOINTMENT Virginia seemed to find speech impossible, and it seemed to him that he could see the tears gathering in her eyes.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading AN APPOINTMENT Virginia seemed to find speech impossible, and it seemed to him that he could see the tears gathering in her eyes.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading AN APPOINTMENT Virginia seemed to find speech impossible, and it seemed to him that he could see the tears gathering in her eyes.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading AN APPOINTMENT Virginia seemed to find speech impossible, and it seemed to him that he could see the tears gathering in her eyes.

towardsprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrdz/

in the direction of

From this reading "Forgive me," he said, leaning over the table towards her.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading She looked at him with swimming eyes, and he laid his hand softly for a moment upon hers.

Virginia

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

From this reading AN APPOINTMENT Virginia seemed to find speech impossible, and it seemed to him that he could see the tears gathering in her eyes.

want

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

From this reading You want some one to take care of you, dear, and I am going to do it."

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading "I ought to have asked you differently, I know, but I am so afraid that you will slip away, as you did before, and that I shall lose sight of you again.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading She looked at him with swimming eyes, and he laid his hand softly for a moment upon hers.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "I ought to have asked you differently, I know, but I am so afraid that you will slip away, as you did before, and that I shall lose sight of you again.