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The Hall and the Grange: A Novel
The Hall and the Grange: A Novel

Chapter XXVII

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Context Illustration Reading 1/51 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
TWO YOUNG MEN Colonel Eldridge was sitting in his room over the fire, which was unusual with him in the middle of the morning.
But the weather was atrocious, and he had the beginnings of a cold on him, which disinclined him for activity either physical or mental.
The door opened, and Fred Comfrey was announced.
He was a little surprised to see him, for though he had frequented the Hall when at Hayslope he had not come straight to him; and this was his first appearance in the Christmas holidays.
But his visit was not unwelcome.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Hall and the Grange: A Novel

Chapter XXVII

Reading 1/51 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
TWO YOUNG MEN Colonel Eldridge was sitting in his room over the fire, which was unusual with him in the middle of the morning.
Line 2
But the weather was atrocious, and he had the beginnings of a cold on him, which disinclined him for activity either physical or mental.
Line 3
The door opened, and Fred Comfrey was announced.
Line 4
He was a little surprised to see him, for though he had frequented the Hall when at Hayslope he had not come straight to him; and this was his first appearance in the Christmas holidays.
Line 5
But his visit was not unwelcome.

Learner Dictionary

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

Appearance noun US /ˈappearance/

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

From this reading “He was a little surprised to see him, for though he had frequented the Hall when at Hayslope he had not come straight to him; and this was his first appearance in the Christmas holidays.”

Atrocious adjective US /əˈtroʊʃəs/

shockingly wicked, cruel, or extremely bad

From this reading “But the weather was atrocious, and he had the beginnings of a cold on him, which disinclined him for activity either physical or mental.”

Come noun US /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He was a little surprised to see him, for though he had frequented the Hall when at Hayslope he had not come straight to him; and this was his first appearance in the Christmas holidays.”

Either determiner US /ˈiːðər/

one or the other of two

From this reading “But the weather was atrocious, and he had the beginnings of a cold on him, which disinclined him for activity either physical or mental.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He was a little surprised to see him, for though he had frequented the Hall when at Hayslope he had not come straight to him; and this was his first appearance in the Christmas holidays.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He was a little surprised to see him, for though he had frequented the Hall when at Hayslope he had not come straight to him; and this was his first appearance in the Christmas holidays.”

Morning noun US /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “TWO YOUNG MEN Colonel Eldridge was sitting in his room over the fire, which was unusual with him in the middle of the morning.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “TWO YOUNG MEN Colonel Eldridge was sitting in his room over the fire, which was unusual with him in the middle of the morning.”

Surprised noun US /surprised/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He was a little surprised to see him, for though he had frequented the Hall when at Hayslope he had not come straight to him; and this was his first appearance in the Christmas holidays.”

Though conjunction US /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “He was a little surprised to see him, for though he had frequented the Hall when at Hayslope he had not come straight to him; and this was his first appearance in the Christmas holidays.”

All words in this reading · 62

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 But the weather was atrocious, and he had the beginnings of a cold on him, which disinclined him for activity either physical or mental.

activity

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

From this reading But the weather was atrocious, and he had the beginnings of a cold on him, which disinclined him for activity either physical or mental.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading But the weather was atrocious, and he had the beginnings of a cold on him, which disinclined him for activity either physical or mental.

announced

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

From this reading The door opened, and Fred Comfrey was announced.

appearancenounUS /ˈappearance/

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

From this reading He was a little surprised to see him, for though he had frequented the Hall when at Hayslope he had not come straight to him; and this was his first appearance in the Christmas holidays.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading He was a little surprised to see him, for though he had frequented the Hall when at Hayslope he had not come straight to him; and this was his first appearance in the Christmas holidays.

atrociousadjectiveUS /əˈtroʊʃəs/

shockingly wicked, cruel, or extremely bad

From this reading But the weather was atrocious, and he had the beginnings of a cold on him, which disinclined him for activity either physical or mental.

beginnings

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

From this reading But the weather was atrocious, and he had the beginnings of a cold on him, which disinclined him for activity either physical or mental.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But the weather was atrocious, and he had the beginnings of a cold on him, which disinclined him for activity either physical or mental.

Christmas

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

From this reading He was a little surprised to see him, for though he had frequented the Hall when at Hayslope he had not come straight to him; and this was his first appearance in the Christmas holidays.

cold

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

From this reading But the weather was atrocious, and he had the beginnings of a cold on him, which disinclined him for activity either physical or mental.

Colonel

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

From this reading TWO YOUNG MEN Colonel Eldridge was sitting in his room over the fire, which was unusual with him in the middle of the morning.

comenounUS /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He was a little surprised to see him, for though he had frequented the Hall when at Hayslope he had not come straight to him; and this was his first appearance in the Christmas holidays.

Comfrey

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

From this reading The door opened, and Fred Comfrey was announced.

disinclined

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

From this reading But the weather was atrocious, and he had the beginnings of a cold on him, which disinclined him for activity either physical or mental.

door

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

From this reading The door opened, and Fred Comfrey was announced.

eitherdeterminerUS /ˈiːðər/

one or the other of two

From this reading But the weather was atrocious, and he had the beginnings of a cold on him, which disinclined him for activity either physical or mental.

Eldridge

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

From this reading TWO YOUNG MEN Colonel Eldridge was sitting in his room over the fire, which was unusual with him in the middle of the morning.

fire

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

From this reading TWO YOUNG MEN Colonel Eldridge was sitting in his room over the fire, which was unusual with him in the middle of the morning.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He was a little surprised to see him, for though he had frequented the Hall when at Hayslope he had not come straight to him; and this was his first appearance in the Christmas holidays.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading But the weather was atrocious, and he had the beginnings of a cold on him, which disinclined him for activity either physical or mental.

Fred

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

From this reading The door opened, and Fred Comfrey was announced.

frequented

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

From this reading He was a little surprised to see him, for though he had frequented the Hall when at Hayslope he had not come straight to him; and this was his first appearance in the Christmas holidays.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading But the weather was atrocious, and he had the beginnings of a cold on him, which disinclined him for activity either physical or mental.

Hall

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

From this reading He was a little surprised to see him, for though he had frequented the Hall when at Hayslope he had not come straight to him; and this was his first appearance in the Christmas holidays.

Hayslope

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

From this reading He was a little surprised to see him, for though he had frequented the Hall when at Hayslope he had not come straight to him; and this was his first appearance in the Christmas holidays.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading But the weather was atrocious, and he had the beginnings of a cold on him, which disinclined him for activity either physical or mental.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading TWO YOUNG MEN Colonel Eldridge was sitting in his room over the fire, which was unusual with him in the middle of the morning.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading TWO YOUNG MEN Colonel Eldridge was sitting in his room over the fire, which was unusual with him in the middle of the morning.

holidays

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

From this reading He was a little surprised to see him, for though he had frequented the Hall when at Hayslope he had not come straight to him; and this was his first appearance in the Christmas holidays.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading TWO YOUNG MEN Colonel Eldridge was sitting in his room over the fire, which was unusual with him in the middle of the morning.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He was a little surprised to see him, for though he had frequented the Hall when at Hayslope he had not come straight to him; and this was his first appearance in the Christmas holidays.

MEN

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

From this reading TWO YOUNG MEN Colonel Eldridge was sitting in his room over the fire, which was unusual with him in the middle of the morning.

mental

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

From this reading But the weather was atrocious, and he had the beginnings of a cold on him, which disinclined him for activity either physical or mental.

middle

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

From this reading TWO YOUNG MEN Colonel Eldridge was sitting in his room over the fire, which was unusual with him in the middle of the morning.

morningnounUS /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading TWO YOUNG MEN Colonel Eldridge was sitting in his room over the fire, which was unusual with him in the middle of the morning.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading He was a little surprised to see him, for though he had frequented the Hall when at Hayslope he had not come straight to him; and this was his first appearance in the Christmas holidays.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading TWO YOUNG MEN Colonel Eldridge was sitting in his room over the fire, which was unusual with him in the middle of the morning.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading But the weather was atrocious, and he had the beginnings of a cold on him, which disinclined him for activity either physical or mental.

opened

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

From this reading The door opened, and Fred Comfrey was announced.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading But the weather was atrocious, and he had the beginnings of a cold on him, which disinclined him for activity either physical or mental.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading TWO YOUNG MEN Colonel Eldridge was sitting in his room over the fire, which was unusual with him in the middle of the morning.

physical

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

From this reading But the weather was atrocious, and he had the beginnings of a cold on him, which disinclined him for activity either physical or mental.

room

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

From this reading TWO YOUNG MEN Colonel Eldridge was sitting in his room over the fire, which was unusual with him in the middle of the morning.

see

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

From this reading He was a little surprised to see him, for though he had frequented the Hall when at Hayslope he had not come straight to him; and this was his first appearance in the Christmas holidays.

sitting

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

From this reading TWO YOUNG MEN Colonel Eldridge was sitting in his room over the fire, which was unusual with him in the middle of the morning.

straight

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

From this reading He was a little surprised to see him, for though he had frequented the Hall when at Hayslope he had not come straight to him; and this was his first appearance in the Christmas holidays.

surprisednounUS /surprised/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He was a little surprised to see him, for though he had frequented the Hall when at Hayslope he had not come straight to him; and this was his first appearance in the Christmas holidays.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading TWO YOUNG MEN Colonel Eldridge was sitting in his room over the fire, which was unusual with him in the middle of the morning.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading He was a little surprised to see him, for though he had frequented the Hall when at Hayslope he had not come straight to him; and this was his first appearance in the Christmas holidays.

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading He was a little surprised to see him, for though he had frequented the Hall when at Hayslope he had not come straight to him; and this was his first appearance in the Christmas holidays.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading He was a little surprised to see him, for though he had frequented the Hall when at Hayslope he had not come straight to him; and this was his first appearance in the Christmas holidays.

TWO

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

From this reading TWO YOUNG MEN Colonel Eldridge was sitting in his room over the fire, which was unusual with him in the middle of the morning.

unusual

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

From this reading TWO YOUNG MEN Colonel Eldridge was sitting in his room over the fire, which was unusual with him in the middle of the morning.

unwelcome

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

From this reading But his visit was not unwelcome.

visit

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

From this reading But his visit was not unwelcome.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading TWO YOUNG MEN Colonel Eldridge was sitting in his room over the fire, which was unusual with him in the middle of the morning.

weather

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

From this reading But the weather was atrocious, and he had the beginnings of a cold on him, which disinclined him for activity either physical or mental.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading He was a little surprised to see him, for though he had frequented the Hall when at Hayslope he had not come straight to him; and this was his first appearance in the Christmas holidays.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading TWO YOUNG MEN Colonel Eldridge was sitting in his room over the fire, which was unusual with him in the middle of the morning.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading TWO YOUNG MEN Colonel Eldridge was sitting in his room over the fire, which was unusual with him in the middle of the morning.

YOUNG

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

From this reading TWO YOUNG MEN Colonel Eldridge was sitting in his room over the fire, which was unusual with him in the middle of the morning.