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The Squire's Daughter
The Squire's Daughter

Chapter VIII

Cover illustration for The Squire's Daughter
Context Illustration Reading 1/51 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
BY THE LAKE Whitsuntide that year fell early in June, and the weather was glorious.
Cicely awoke on Friday morning with a sense of happiness.
She slept with her blinds up, and both her windows were wide open.
She could see from her pillow a great red mass of peonies backed by dark shrubs across the lawn, and in another part of the garden laburnums and lilacs and flowering thorns, and all variations of young green from trees and grass under a sky of light blue.
Thrushes and blackbirds were piping sweetly.
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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 Squire's Daughter

Chapter VIII

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

Line 1
BY THE LAKE Whitsuntide that year fell early in June, and the weather was glorious.
Line 2
Cicely awoke on Friday morning with a sense of happiness.
Line 3
She slept with her blinds up, and both her windows were wide open.
Line 4
She could see from her pillow a great red mass of peonies backed by dark shrubs across the lawn, and in another part of the garden laburnums and lilacs and flowering thorns, and all variations of young green from trees and grass under a sky of light blue.
Line 5
Thrushes and blackbirds were piping sweetly.

Learner Dictionary

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

Across preposition US /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading “She could see from her pillow a great red mass of peonies backed by dark shrubs across the lawn, and in another part of the garden laburnums and lilacs and flowering thorns, and all variations of young green from trees and grass under a sky of light blue.”

Another noun US /ˈanother/

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

From this reading “She could see from her pillow a great red mass of peonies backed by dark shrubs across the lawn, and in another part of the garden laburnums and lilacs and flowering thorns, and all variations of young green from trees and grass under a sky of light blue.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “She could see from her pillow a great red mass of peonies backed by dark shrubs across the lawn, and in another part of the garden laburnums and lilacs and flowering thorns, and all variations of young green from trees and grass under a sky of light blue.”

Great noun US /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “She could see from her pillow a great red mass of peonies backed by dark shrubs across the lawn, and in another part of the garden laburnums and lilacs and flowering thorns, and all variations of young green from trees and grass under a sky of light blue.”

Morning noun US /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Cicely awoke on Friday morning with a sense of happiness.”

Open verb US /ˈoʊ.pən/

To move from a closed position.

From this reading “She slept with her blinds up, and both her windows were wide open.”

Part noun US /part/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “She could see from her pillow a great red mass of peonies backed by dark shrubs across the lawn, and in another part of the garden laburnums and lilacs and flowering thorns, and all variations of young green from trees and grass under a sky of light blue.”

Under preposition US /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading “She could see from her pillow a great red mass of peonies backed by dark shrubs across the lawn, and in another part of the garden laburnums and lilacs and flowering thorns, and all variations of young green from trees and grass under a sky of light blue.”

All words in this reading · 68

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 Cicely awoke on Friday morning with a sense of happiness.

acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading She could see from her pillow a great red mass of peonies backed by dark shrubs across the lawn, and in another part of the garden laburnums and lilacs and flowering thorns, and all variations of young green from trees and grass under a sky of light blue.

all

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

From this reading She could see from her pillow a great red mass of peonies backed by dark shrubs across the lawn, and in another part of the garden laburnums and lilacs and flowering thorns, and all variations of young green from trees and grass under a sky of light blue.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading BY THE LAKE Whitsuntide that year fell early in June, and the weather was glorious.

anothernounUS /ˈanother/

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

From this reading She could see from her pillow a great red mass of peonies backed by dark shrubs across the lawn, and in another part of the garden laburnums and lilacs and flowering thorns, and all variations of young green from trees and grass under a sky of light blue.

awoke

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

From this reading Cicely awoke on Friday morning with a sense of happiness.

backed

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

From this reading She could see from her pillow a great red mass of peonies backed by dark shrubs across the lawn, and in another part of the garden laburnums and lilacs and flowering thorns, and all variations of young green from trees and grass under a sky of light blue.

blackbirds

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

From this reading Thrushes and blackbirds were piping sweetly.

blinds

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

From this reading She slept with her blinds up, and both her windows were wide open.

blue

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

From this reading She could see from her pillow a great red mass of peonies backed by dark shrubs across the lawn, and in another part of the garden laburnums and lilacs and flowering thorns, and all variations of young green from trees and grass under a sky of light blue.

bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/

the two together, not just one

From this reading She slept with her blinds up, and both her windows were wide open.

BYprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading BY THE LAKE Whitsuntide that year fell early in June, and the weather was glorious.

Cicely

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

From this reading Cicely awoke on Friday morning with a sense of happiness.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading She could see from her pillow a great red mass of peonies backed by dark shrubs across the lawn, and in another part of the garden laburnums and lilacs and flowering thorns, and all variations of young green from trees and grass under a sky of light blue.

dark

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

From this reading She could see from her pillow a great red mass of peonies backed by dark shrubs across the lawn, and in another part of the garden laburnums and lilacs and flowering thorns, and all variations of young green from trees and grass under a sky of light blue.

early

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

From this reading BY THE LAKE Whitsuntide that year fell early in June, and the weather was glorious.

fell

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

From this reading BY THE LAKE Whitsuntide that year fell early in June, and the weather was glorious.

flowering

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

From this reading She could see from her pillow a great red mass of peonies backed by dark shrubs across the lawn, and in another part of the garden laburnums and lilacs and flowering thorns, and all variations of young green from trees and grass under a sky of light blue.

Friday

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

From this reading Cicely awoke on Friday morning with a sense of happiness.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading She could see from her pillow a great red mass of peonies backed by dark shrubs across the lawn, and in another part of the garden laburnums and lilacs and flowering thorns, and all variations of young green from trees and grass under a sky of light blue.

garden

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

From this reading She could see from her pillow a great red mass of peonies backed by dark shrubs across the lawn, and in another part of the garden laburnums and lilacs and flowering thorns, and all variations of young green from trees and grass under a sky of light blue.

glorious

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

From this reading BY THE LAKE Whitsuntide that year fell early in June, and the weather was glorious.

grass

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

From this reading She could see from her pillow a great red mass of peonies backed by dark shrubs across the lawn, and in another part of the garden laburnums and lilacs and flowering thorns, and all variations of young green from trees and grass under a sky of light blue.

greatnounUS /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading She could see from her pillow a great red mass of peonies backed by dark shrubs across the lawn, and in another part of the garden laburnums and lilacs and flowering thorns, and all variations of young green from trees and grass under a sky of light blue.

green

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

From this reading She could see from her pillow a great red mass of peonies backed by dark shrubs across the lawn, and in another part of the garden laburnums and lilacs and flowering thorns, and all variations of young green from trees and grass under a sky of light blue.

happiness

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

From this reading Cicely awoke on Friday morning with a sense of happiness.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading She slept with her blinds up, and both her windows were wide open.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading BY THE LAKE Whitsuntide that year fell early in June, and the weather was glorious.

June

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

From this reading BY THE LAKE Whitsuntide that year fell early in June, and the weather was glorious.

laburnums

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

From this reading She could see from her pillow a great red mass of peonies backed by dark shrubs across the lawn, and in another part of the garden laburnums and lilacs and flowering thorns, and all variations of young green from trees and grass under a sky of light blue.

LAKE

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

From this reading BY THE LAKE Whitsuntide that year fell early in June, and the weather was glorious.

lawn

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

From this reading She could see from her pillow a great red mass of peonies backed by dark shrubs across the lawn, and in another part of the garden laburnums and lilacs and flowering thorns, and all variations of young green from trees and grass under a sky of light blue.

light

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

From this reading She could see from her pillow a great red mass of peonies backed by dark shrubs across the lawn, and in another part of the garden laburnums and lilacs and flowering thorns, and all variations of young green from trees and grass under a sky of light blue.

lilacs

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

From this reading She could see from her pillow a great red mass of peonies backed by dark shrubs across the lawn, and in another part of the garden laburnums and lilacs and flowering thorns, and all variations of young green from trees and grass under a sky of light blue.

mass

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

From this reading She could see from her pillow a great red mass of peonies backed by dark shrubs across the lawn, and in another part of the garden laburnums and lilacs and flowering thorns, and all variations of young green from trees and grass under a sky of light blue.

morningnounUS /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Cicely awoke on Friday morning with a sense of happiness.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Cicely awoke on Friday morning with a sense of happiness.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Cicely awoke on Friday morning with a sense of happiness.

openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/

To move from a closed position.

From this reading She slept with her blinds up, and both her windows were wide open.

partnounUS /part/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading She could see from her pillow a great red mass of peonies backed by dark shrubs across the lawn, and in another part of the garden laburnums and lilacs and flowering thorns, and all variations of young green from trees and grass under a sky of light blue.

peonies

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

From this reading She could see from her pillow a great red mass of peonies backed by dark shrubs across the lawn, and in another part of the garden laburnums and lilacs and flowering thorns, and all variations of young green from trees and grass under a sky of light blue.

pillow

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

From this reading She could see from her pillow a great red mass of peonies backed by dark shrubs across the lawn, and in another part of the garden laburnums and lilacs and flowering thorns, and all variations of young green from trees and grass under a sky of light blue.

piping

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

From this reading Thrushes and blackbirds were piping sweetly.

red

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

From this reading She could see from her pillow a great red mass of peonies backed by dark shrubs across the lawn, and in another part of the garden laburnums and lilacs and flowering thorns, and all variations of young green from trees and grass under a sky of light blue.

see

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

From this reading She could see from her pillow a great red mass of peonies backed by dark shrubs across the lawn, and in another part of the garden laburnums and lilacs and flowering thorns, and all variations of young green from trees and grass under a sky of light blue.

sense

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

From this reading Cicely awoke on Friday morning with a sense of happiness.

ShepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading She slept with her blinds up, and both her windows were wide open.

shrubs

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

From this reading She could see from her pillow a great red mass of peonies backed by dark shrubs across the lawn, and in another part of the garden laburnums and lilacs and flowering thorns, and all variations of young green from trees and grass under a sky of light blue.

sky

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

From this reading She could see from her pillow a great red mass of peonies backed by dark shrubs across the lawn, and in another part of the garden laburnums and lilacs and flowering thorns, and all variations of young green from trees and grass under a sky of light blue.

slept

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

From this reading She slept with her blinds up, and both her windows were wide open.

sweetly

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

From this reading Thrushes and blackbirds were piping sweetly.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading BY THE LAKE Whitsuntide that year fell early in June, and the weather was glorious.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading BY THE LAKE Whitsuntide that year fell early in June, and the weather was glorious.

thorns

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

From this reading She could see from her pillow a great red mass of peonies backed by dark shrubs across the lawn, and in another part of the garden laburnums and lilacs and flowering thorns, and all variations of young green from trees and grass under a sky of light blue.

Thrushes

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

From this reading Thrushes and blackbirds were piping sweetly.

trees

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

From this reading She could see from her pillow a great red mass of peonies backed by dark shrubs across the lawn, and in another part of the garden laburnums and lilacs and flowering thorns, and all variations of young green from trees and grass under a sky of light blue.

underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading She could see from her pillow a great red mass of peonies backed by dark shrubs across the lawn, and in another part of the garden laburnums and lilacs and flowering thorns, and all variations of young green from trees and grass under a sky of light blue.

up

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

From this reading She slept with her blinds up, and both her windows were wide open.

variations

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

From this reading She could see from her pillow a great red mass of peonies backed by dark shrubs across the lawn, and in another part of the garden laburnums and lilacs and flowering thorns, and all variations of young green from trees and grass under a sky of light blue.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading BY THE LAKE Whitsuntide that year fell early in June, and the weather was glorious.

weather

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

From this reading BY THE LAKE Whitsuntide that year fell early in June, and the weather was glorious.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading She slept with her blinds up, and both her windows were wide open.

Whitsuntide

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

From this reading BY THE LAKE Whitsuntide that year fell early in June, and the weather was glorious.

wide

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

From this reading She slept with her blinds up, and both her windows were wide open.

windows

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

From this reading She slept with her blinds up, and both her windows were wide open.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Cicely awoke on Friday morning with a sense of happiness.

year

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

From this reading BY THE LAKE Whitsuntide that year fell early in June, and the weather was glorious.

young

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

From this reading She could see from her pillow a great red mass of peonies backed by dark shrubs across the lawn, and in another part of the garden laburnums and lilacs and flowering thorns, and all variations of young green from trees and grass under a sky of light blue.