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The New Tenant
The New Tenant

Chapter XIII

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Context Illustration Reading 1/29 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
HELEN THURWELL ASKS A DIRECT QUESTION At the summit of the little spur of cliff they paused.
Close on one side were the windows of Falcon's Nest, and on the other the batch of black firs which formed the background to it ran down the steep cliff side to the sea.
The path which they were following curved round the cottage, and crossed the moor within a few yards of the spot where Sir Geoffrey had been found.
As they stood together for a moment before parting, she noticed, with a sudden cold dismay, that thick shutters had recently been fitted to the windows of the little room into which she had stolen on the day of Sir Geoffrey's murder.
"Are you afraid of being robbed?" she asked.
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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 New Tenant

Chapter XIII

Reading 1/29 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
HELEN THURWELL ASKS A DIRECT QUESTION At the summit of the little spur of cliff they paused.
Line 2
Close on one side were the windows of Falcon's Nest, and on the other the batch of black firs which formed the background to it ran down the steep cliff side to the sea.
Line 3
The path which they were following curved round the cottage, and crossed the moor within a few yards of the spot where Sir Geoffrey had been found.
Line 4
As they stood together for a moment before parting, she noticed, with a sudden cold dismay, that thick shutters had recently been fitted to the windows of the little room into which she had stolen on the day of Sir Geoffrey's murder.
Line 5
"Are you afraid of being robbed?" she asked.

Learner Dictionary

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

Asked noun US /asked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"Are you afraid of being robbed?" she asked.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “The path which they were following curved round the cottage, and crossed the moor within a few yards of the spot where Sir Geoffrey had been found.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “As they stood together for a moment before parting, she noticed, with a sudden cold dismay, that thick shutters had recently been fitted to the windows of the little room into which she had stolen on the day of Sir Geoffrey's murder.”

Being auxiliary verb US /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading “"Are you afraid of being robbed?" she asked.”

Fitted adjective US /ˈfɪtɪd/

prepared and equipped for a particular purpose

From this reading “As they stood together for a moment before parting, she noticed, with a sudden cold dismay, that thick shutters had recently been fitted to the windows of the little room into which she had stolen on the day of Sir Geoffrey's murder.”

Found noun US /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The path which they were following curved round the cottage, and crossed the moor within a few yards of the spot where Sir Geoffrey had been found.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “HELEN THURWELL ASKS A DIRECT QUESTION At the summit of the little spur of cliff they paused.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “Close on one side were the windows of Falcon's Nest, and on the other the batch of black firs which formed the background to it ran down the steep cliff side to the sea.”

QUESTION noun US /ˈquestion/

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

From this reading “HELEN THURWELL ASKS A DIRECT QUESTION At the summit of the little spur of cliff they paused.”

Stood noun US /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “As they stood together for a moment before parting, she noticed, with a sudden cold dismay, that thick shutters had recently been fitted to the windows of the little room into which she had stolen on the day of Sir Geoffrey's murder.”

Sudden noun US /sudden/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “As they stood together for a moment before parting, she noticed, with a sudden cold dismay, that thick shutters had recently been fitted to the windows of the little room into which she had stolen on the day of Sir Geoffrey's murder.”

Within preposition US /wɪˈðɪn/

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading “The path which they were following curved round the cottage, and crossed the moor within a few yards of the spot where Sir Geoffrey had been found.”

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 HELEN THURWELL ASKS A DIRECT QUESTION At the summit of the little spur of cliff they paused.

afraid

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

From this reading "Are you afraid of being robbed?" she asked.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Close on one side were the windows of Falcon's Nest, and on the other the batch of black firs which formed the background to it ran down the steep cliff side to the sea.

Areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading "Are you afraid of being robbed?" she asked.

AsconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading As they stood together for a moment before parting, she noticed, with a sudden cold dismay, that thick shutters had recently been fitted to the windows of the little room into which she had stolen on the day of Sir Geoffrey's murder.

askednounUS /asked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "Are you afraid of being robbed?" she asked.

ASKS

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

From this reading HELEN THURWELL ASKS A DIRECT QUESTION At the summit of the little spur of cliff they paused.

AtprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading HELEN THURWELL ASKS A DIRECT QUESTION At the summit of the little spur of cliff they paused.

background

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

From this reading Close on one side were the windows of Falcon's Nest, and on the other the batch of black firs which formed the background to it ran down the steep cliff side to the sea.

batch

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

From this reading Close on one side were the windows of Falcon's Nest, and on the other the batch of black firs which formed the background to it ran down the steep cliff side to the sea.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading The path which they were following curved round the cottage, and crossed the moor within a few yards of the spot where Sir Geoffrey had been found.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading As they stood together for a moment before parting, she noticed, with a sudden cold dismay, that thick shutters had recently been fitted to the windows of the little room into which she had stolen on the day of Sir Geoffrey's murder.

beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading "Are you afraid of being robbed?" she asked.

black

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

From this reading Close on one side were the windows of Falcon's Nest, and on the other the batch of black firs which formed the background to it ran down the steep cliff side to the sea.

cliff

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

From this reading HELEN THURWELL ASKS A DIRECT QUESTION At the summit of the little spur of cliff they paused.

Close

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

From this reading Close on one side were the windows of Falcon's Nest, and on the other the batch of black firs which formed the background to it ran down the steep cliff side to the sea.

cold

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

From this reading As they stood together for a moment before parting, she noticed, with a sudden cold dismay, that thick shutters had recently been fitted to the windows of the little room into which she had stolen on the day of Sir Geoffrey's murder.

cottage

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

From this reading The path which they were following curved round the cottage, and crossed the moor within a few yards of the spot where Sir Geoffrey had been found.

crossed

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

From this reading The path which they were following curved round the cottage, and crossed the moor within a few yards of the spot where Sir Geoffrey had been found.

curved

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

From this reading The path which they were following curved round the cottage, and crossed the moor within a few yards of the spot where Sir Geoffrey had been found.

day

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

From this reading As they stood together for a moment before parting, she noticed, with a sudden cold dismay, that thick shutters had recently been fitted to the windows of the little room into which she had stolen on the day of Sir Geoffrey's murder.

DIRECT

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

From this reading HELEN THURWELL ASKS A DIRECT QUESTION At the summit of the little spur of cliff they paused.

dismay

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

From this reading As they stood together for a moment before parting, she noticed, with a sudden cold dismay, that thick shutters had recently been fitted to the windows of the little room into which she had stolen on the day of Sir Geoffrey's murder.

down

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

From this reading Close on one side were the windows of Falcon's Nest, and on the other the batch of black firs which formed the background to it ran down the steep cliff side to the sea.

Falcon's

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

From this reading Close on one side were the windows of Falcon's Nest, and on the other the batch of black firs which formed the background to it ran down the steep cliff side to the sea.

few

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

From this reading The path which they were following curved round the cottage, and crossed the moor within a few yards of the spot where Sir Geoffrey had been found.

firs

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

From this reading Close on one side were the windows of Falcon's Nest, and on the other the batch of black firs which formed the background to it ran down the steep cliff side to the sea.

fittedadjectiveUS /ˈfɪtɪd/

prepared and equipped for a particular purpose

From this reading As they stood together for a moment before parting, she noticed, with a sudden cold dismay, that thick shutters had recently been fitted to the windows of the little room into which she had stolen on the day of Sir Geoffrey's murder.

following

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

From this reading The path which they were following curved round the cottage, and crossed the moor within a few yards of the spot where Sir Geoffrey had been found.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading As they stood together for a moment before parting, she noticed, with a sudden cold dismay, that thick shutters had recently been fitted to the windows of the little room into which she had stolen on the day of Sir Geoffrey's murder.

formed

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

From this reading Close on one side were the windows of Falcon's Nest, and on the other the batch of black firs which formed the background to it ran down the steep cliff side to the sea.

foundnounUS /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The path which they were following curved round the cottage, and crossed the moor within a few yards of the spot where Sir Geoffrey had been found.

Geoffrey

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

From this reading The path which they were following curved round the cottage, and crossed the moor within a few yards of the spot where Sir Geoffrey had been found.

Geoffrey's

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

From this reading As they stood together for a moment before parting, she noticed, with a sudden cold dismay, that thick shutters had recently been fitted to the windows of the little room into which she had stolen on the day of Sir Geoffrey's murder.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading The path which they were following curved round the cottage, and crossed the moor within a few yards of the spot where Sir Geoffrey had been found.

HELEN

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

From this reading HELEN THURWELL ASKS A DIRECT QUESTION At the summit of the little spur of cliff they paused.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading As they stood together for a moment before parting, she noticed, with a sudden cold dismay, that thick shutters had recently been fitted to the windows of the little room into which she had stolen on the day of Sir Geoffrey's murder.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Close on one side were the windows of Falcon's Nest, and on the other the batch of black firs which formed the background to it ran down the steep cliff side to the sea.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading HELEN THURWELL ASKS A DIRECT QUESTION At the summit of the little spur of cliff they paused.

moment

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

From this reading As they stood together for a moment before parting, she noticed, with a sudden cold dismay, that thick shutters had recently been fitted to the windows of the little room into which she had stolen on the day of Sir Geoffrey's murder.

moor

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

From this reading The path which they were following curved round the cottage, and crossed the moor within a few yards of the spot where Sir Geoffrey had been found.

murder

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

From this reading As they stood together for a moment before parting, she noticed, with a sudden cold dismay, that thick shutters had recently been fitted to the windows of the little room into which she had stolen on the day of Sir Geoffrey's murder.

Nest

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

From this reading Close on one side were the windows of Falcon's Nest, and on the other the batch of black firs which formed the background to it ran down the steep cliff side to the sea.

noticed

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

From this reading As they stood together for a moment before parting, she noticed, with a sudden cold dismay, that thick shutters had recently been fitted to the windows of the little room into which she had stolen on the day of Sir Geoffrey's murder.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading HELEN THURWELL ASKS A DIRECT QUESTION At the summit of the little spur of cliff they paused.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Close on one side were the windows of Falcon's Nest, and on the other the batch of black firs which formed the background to it ran down the steep cliff side to the sea.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Close on one side were the windows of Falcon's Nest, and on the other the batch of black firs which formed the background to it ran down the steep cliff side to the sea.

other

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

From this reading Close on one side were the windows of Falcon's Nest, and on the other the batch of black firs which formed the background to it ran down the steep cliff side to the sea.

parting

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

From this reading As they stood together for a moment before parting, she noticed, with a sudden cold dismay, that thick shutters had recently been fitted to the windows of the little room into which she had stolen on the day of Sir Geoffrey's murder.

path

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

From this reading The path which they were following curved round the cottage, and crossed the moor within a few yards of the spot where Sir Geoffrey had been found.

paused

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

From this reading HELEN THURWELL ASKS A DIRECT QUESTION At the summit of the little spur of cliff they paused.

QUESTIONnounUS /ˈquestion/

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

From this reading HELEN THURWELL ASKS A DIRECT QUESTION At the summit of the little spur of cliff they paused.

ran

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

From this reading Close on one side were the windows of Falcon's Nest, and on the other the batch of black firs which formed the background to it ran down the steep cliff side to the sea.

recently

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

From this reading As they stood together for a moment before parting, she noticed, with a sudden cold dismay, that thick shutters had recently been fitted to the windows of the little room into which she had stolen on the day of Sir Geoffrey's murder.

robbed

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

From this reading "Are you afraid of being robbed?" she asked.

room

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

From this reading As they stood together for a moment before parting, she noticed, with a sudden cold dismay, that thick shutters had recently been fitted to the windows of the little room into which she had stolen on the day of Sir Geoffrey's murder.

round

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

From this reading The path which they were following curved round the cottage, and crossed the moor within a few yards of the spot where Sir Geoffrey had been found.

sea

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

From this reading Close on one side were the windows of Falcon's Nest, and on the other the batch of black firs which formed the background to it ran down the steep cliff side to the sea.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading As they stood together for a moment before parting, she noticed, with a sudden cold dismay, that thick shutters had recently been fitted to the windows of the little room into which she had stolen on the day of Sir Geoffrey's murder.

shutters

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

From this reading As they stood together for a moment before parting, she noticed, with a sudden cold dismay, that thick shutters had recently been fitted to the windows of the little room into which she had stolen on the day of Sir Geoffrey's murder.

side

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

From this reading Close on one side were the windows of Falcon's Nest, and on the other the batch of black firs which formed the background to it ran down the steep cliff side to the sea.

Sir

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

From this reading The path which they were following curved round the cottage, and crossed the moor within a few yards of the spot where Sir Geoffrey had been found.

spot

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

From this reading The path which they were following curved round the cottage, and crossed the moor within a few yards of the spot where Sir Geoffrey had been found.

spur

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

From this reading HELEN THURWELL ASKS A DIRECT QUESTION At the summit of the little spur of cliff they paused.

steep

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

From this reading Close on one side were the windows of Falcon's Nest, and on the other the batch of black firs which formed the background to it ran down the steep cliff side to the sea.

stolen

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

From this reading As they stood together for a moment before parting, she noticed, with a sudden cold dismay, that thick shutters had recently been fitted to the windows of the little room into which she had stolen on the day of Sir Geoffrey's murder.

stoodnounUS /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading As they stood together for a moment before parting, she noticed, with a sudden cold dismay, that thick shutters had recently been fitted to the windows of the little room into which she had stolen on the day of Sir Geoffrey's murder.

suddennounUS /sudden/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading As they stood together for a moment before parting, she noticed, with a sudden cold dismay, that thick shutters had recently been fitted to the windows of the little room into which she had stolen on the day of Sir Geoffrey's murder.

summit

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

From this reading HELEN THURWELL ASKS A DIRECT QUESTION At the summit of the little spur of cliff they paused.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading As they stood together for a moment before parting, she noticed, with a sudden cold dismay, that thick shutters had recently been fitted to the windows of the little room into which she had stolen on the day of Sir Geoffrey's murder.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading HELEN THURWELL ASKS A DIRECT QUESTION At the summit of the little spur of cliff they paused.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading HELEN THURWELL ASKS A DIRECT QUESTION At the summit of the little spur of cliff they paused.

thick

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

From this reading As they stood together for a moment before parting, she noticed, with a sudden cold dismay, that thick shutters had recently been fitted to the windows of the little room into which she had stolen on the day of Sir Geoffrey's murder.

THURWELL

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

From this reading HELEN THURWELL ASKS A DIRECT QUESTION At the summit of the little spur of cliff they paused.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Close on one side were the windows of Falcon's Nest, and on the other the batch of black firs which formed the background to it ran down the steep cliff side to the sea.

together

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

From this reading As they stood together for a moment before parting, she noticed, with a sudden cold dismay, that thick shutters had recently been fitted to the windows of the little room into which she had stolen on the day of Sir Geoffrey's murder.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading Close on one side were the windows of Falcon's Nest, and on the other the batch of black firs which formed the background to it ran down the steep cliff side to the sea.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading The path which they were following curved round the cottage, and crossed the moor within a few yards of the spot where Sir Geoffrey had been found.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading Close on one side were the windows of Falcon's Nest, and on the other the batch of black firs which formed the background to it ran down the steep cliff side to the sea.

windows

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

From this reading Close on one side were the windows of Falcon's Nest, and on the other the batch of black firs which formed the background to it ran down the steep cliff side to the sea.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading As they stood together for a moment before parting, she noticed, with a sudden cold dismay, that thick shutters had recently been fitted to the windows of the little room into which she had stolen on the day of Sir Geoffrey's murder.

withinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading The path which they were following curved round the cottage, and crossed the moor within a few yards of the spot where Sir Geoffrey had been found.

yards

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

From this reading The path which they were following curved round the cottage, and crossed the moor within a few yards of the spot where Sir Geoffrey had been found.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "Are you afraid of being robbed?" she asked.