Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
The Three Brothers
The Three Brothers

Chapter II

Cover illustration for The Three Brothers
Context Illustration Reading 1/36 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE WILL.
There was great consternation in the family when this sudden misfortune came upon it.
All the bustling household from the Cottage overflowed into the Manor in the excitement of the unlooked-for event; and the eldest and the youngest son came as fast as the telegraph could summon them to their father’s bedside.
During the two or three days of his illness the three young men wandered about the place, as young men do when there is fatal illness in a house--useless,--not liking to go about their usual employments, and not knowing what else to do.
They took silent walks up and down to the river, and cast wistful looks at the boats, and dropped now and then into ordinary conversation, only to break off and pull themselves up with contrition when they remembered.
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
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 Three Brothers

Chapter II

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

Line 1
THE WILL.
/ðə wɪl/
Line 2
There was great consternation in the family when this sudden misfortune came upon it.
Line 3
All the bustling household from the Cottage overflowed into the Manor in the excitement of the unlooked-for event; and the eldest and the youngest son came as fast as the telegraph could summon them to their father’s bedside.
Line 4
During the two or three days of his illness the three young men wandered about the place, as young men do when there is fatal illness in a house--useless,--not liking to go about their usual employments, and not knowing what else to do.
Line 5
They took silent walks up and down to the river, and cast wistful looks at the boats, and dropped now and then into ordinary conversation, only to break off and pull themselves up with contrition when they remembered.

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 “During the two or three days of his illness the three young men wandered about the place, as young men do when there is fatal illness in a house--useless,--not liking to go about their usual employments, and not knowing what else to do.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “All the bustling household from the Cottage overflowed into the Manor in the excitement of the unlooked-for event; and the eldest and the youngest son came as fast as the telegraph could summon them to their father’s bedside.”

During preposition US /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading “During the two or three days of his illness the three young men wandered about the place, as young men do when there is fatal illness in a house--useless,--not liking to go about their usual employments, and not knowing what else to do.”

Great noun US /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “There was great consternation in the family when this sudden misfortune came upon it.”

Sudden noun US /sudden/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “There was great consternation in the family when this sudden misfortune came upon it.”

Themselves pronoun US /ðemˈselvz/

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading “They took silent walks up and down to the river, and cast wistful looks at the boats, and dropped now and then into ordinary conversation, only to break off and pull themselves up with contrition when they remembered.”

Took noun US /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “They took silent walks up and down to the river, and cast wistful looks at the boats, and dropped now and then into ordinary conversation, only to break off and pull themselves up with contrition when they remembered.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “There was great consternation in the family when this sudden misfortune came upon it.”

All words in this reading · 92

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 During the two or three days of his illness the three young men wandered about the place, as young men do when there is fatal illness in a house--useless,--not liking to go about their usual employments, and not knowing what else to do.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading During the two or three days of his illness the three young men wandered about the place, as young men do when there is fatal illness in a house--useless,--not liking to go about their usual employments, and not knowing what else to do.

All

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

From this reading All the bustling household from the Cottage overflowed into the Manor in the excitement of the unlooked-for event; and the eldest and the youngest son came as fast as the telegraph could summon them to their father’s bedside.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading All the bustling household from the Cottage overflowed into the Manor in the excitement of the unlooked-for event; and the eldest and the youngest son came as fast as the telegraph could summon them to their father’s bedside.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading All the bustling household from the Cottage overflowed into the Manor in the excitement of the unlooked-for event; and the eldest and the youngest son came as fast as the telegraph could summon them to their father’s bedside.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading They took silent walks up and down to the river, and cast wistful looks at the boats, and dropped now and then into ordinary conversation, only to break off and pull themselves up with contrition when they remembered.

bedside

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

From this reading All the bustling household from the Cottage overflowed into the Manor in the excitement of the unlooked-for event; and the eldest and the youngest son came as fast as the telegraph could summon them to their father’s bedside.

boats

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

From this reading They took silent walks up and down to the river, and cast wistful looks at the boats, and dropped now and then into ordinary conversation, only to break off and pull themselves up with contrition when they remembered.

break

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

From this reading They took silent walks up and down to the river, and cast wistful looks at the boats, and dropped now and then into ordinary conversation, only to break off and pull themselves up with contrition when they remembered.

bustling

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

From this reading All the bustling household from the Cottage overflowed into the Manor in the excitement of the unlooked-for event; and the eldest and the youngest son came as fast as the telegraph could summon them to their father’s bedside.

came

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

From this reading There was great consternation in the family when this sudden misfortune came upon it.

cast

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

From this reading They took silent walks up and down to the river, and cast wistful looks at the boats, and dropped now and then into ordinary conversation, only to break off and pull themselves up with contrition when they remembered.

consternation

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

From this reading There was great consternation in the family when this sudden misfortune came upon it.

contrition

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

From this reading They took silent walks up and down to the river, and cast wistful looks at the boats, and dropped now and then into ordinary conversation, only to break off and pull themselves up with contrition when they remembered.

conversation

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

From this reading They took silent walks up and down to the river, and cast wistful looks at the boats, and dropped now and then into ordinary conversation, only to break off and pull themselves up with contrition when they remembered.

Cottage

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

From this reading All the bustling household from the Cottage overflowed into the Manor in the excitement of the unlooked-for event; and the eldest and the youngest son came as fast as the telegraph could summon them to their father’s bedside.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading All the bustling household from the Cottage overflowed into the Manor in the excitement of the unlooked-for event; and the eldest and the youngest son came as fast as the telegraph could summon them to their father’s bedside.

days

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

From this reading During the two or three days of his illness the three young men wandered about the place, as young men do when there is fatal illness in a house--useless,--not liking to go about their usual employments, and not knowing what else to do.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading During the two or three days of his illness the three young men wandered about the place, as young men do when there is fatal illness in a house--useless,--not liking to go about their usual employments, and not knowing what else to do.

down

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

From this reading They took silent walks up and down to the river, and cast wistful looks at the boats, and dropped now and then into ordinary conversation, only to break off and pull themselves up with contrition when they remembered.

dropped

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

From this reading They took silent walks up and down to the river, and cast wistful looks at the boats, and dropped now and then into ordinary conversation, only to break off and pull themselves up with contrition when they remembered.

DuringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading During the two or three days of his illness the three young men wandered about the place, as young men do when there is fatal illness in a house--useless,--not liking to go about their usual employments, and not knowing what else to do.

eldest

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

From this reading All the bustling household from the Cottage overflowed into the Manor in the excitement of the unlooked-for event; and the eldest and the youngest son came as fast as the telegraph could summon them to their father’s bedside.

else

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

From this reading During the two or three days of his illness the three young men wandered about the place, as young men do when there is fatal illness in a house--useless,--not liking to go about their usual employments, and not knowing what else to do.

employments

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

From this reading During the two or three days of his illness the three young men wandered about the place, as young men do when there is fatal illness in a house--useless,--not liking to go about their usual employments, and not knowing what else to do.

event

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

From this reading All the bustling household from the Cottage overflowed into the Manor in the excitement of the unlooked-for event; and the eldest and the youngest son came as fast as the telegraph could summon them to their father’s bedside.

excitement

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

From this reading All the bustling household from the Cottage overflowed into the Manor in the excitement of the unlooked-for event; and the eldest and the youngest son came as fast as the telegraph could summon them to their father’s bedside.

family

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

From this reading There was great consternation in the family when this sudden misfortune came upon it.

fast

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

From this reading All the bustling household from the Cottage overflowed into the Manor in the excitement of the unlooked-for event; and the eldest and the youngest son came as fast as the telegraph could summon them to their father’s bedside.

fatal

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

From this reading During the two or three days of his illness the three young men wandered about the place, as young men do when there is fatal illness in a house--useless,--not liking to go about their usual employments, and not knowing what else to do.

father's

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

From this reading All the bustling household from the Cottage overflowed into the Manor in the excitement of the unlooked-for event; and the eldest and the youngest son came as fast as the telegraph could summon them to their father’s bedside.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading All the bustling household from the Cottage overflowed into the Manor in the excitement of the unlooked-for event; and the eldest and the youngest son came as fast as the telegraph could summon them to their father’s bedside.

go

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

From this reading During the two or three days of his illness the three young men wandered about the place, as young men do when there is fatal illness in a house--useless,--not liking to go about their usual employments, and not knowing what else to do.

greatnounUS /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading There was great consternation in the family when this sudden misfortune came upon it.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading During the two or three days of his illness the three young men wandered about the place, as young men do when there is fatal illness in a house--useless,--not liking to go about their usual employments, and not knowing what else to do.

house

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

From this reading During the two or three days of his illness the three young men wandered about the place, as young men do when there is fatal illness in a house--useless,--not liking to go about their usual employments, and not knowing what else to do.

household

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

From this reading All the bustling household from the Cottage overflowed into the Manor in the excitement of the unlooked-for event; and the eldest and the youngest son came as fast as the telegraph could summon them to their father’s bedside.

illness

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

From this reading During the two or three days of his illness the three young men wandered about the place, as young men do when there is fatal illness in a house--useless,--not liking to go about their usual employments, and not knowing what else to do.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading There was great consternation in the family when this sudden misfortune came upon it.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading All the bustling household from the Cottage overflowed into the Manor in the excitement of the unlooked-for event; and the eldest and the youngest son came as fast as the telegraph could summon them to their father’s bedside.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading During the two or three days of his illness the three young men wandered about the place, as young men do when there is fatal illness in a house--useless,--not liking to go about their usual employments, and not knowing what else to do.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading There was great consternation in the family when this sudden misfortune came upon it.

knowing

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

From this reading During the two or three days of his illness the three young men wandered about the place, as young men do when there is fatal illness in a house--useless,--not liking to go about their usual employments, and not knowing what else to do.

liking

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

From this reading During the two or three days of his illness the three young men wandered about the place, as young men do when there is fatal illness in a house--useless,--not liking to go about their usual employments, and not knowing what else to do.

looks

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

From this reading They took silent walks up and down to the river, and cast wistful looks at the boats, and dropped now and then into ordinary conversation, only to break off and pull themselves up with contrition when they remembered.

Manor

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

From this reading All the bustling household from the Cottage overflowed into the Manor in the excitement of the unlooked-for event; and the eldest and the youngest son came as fast as the telegraph could summon them to their father’s bedside.

men

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

From this reading During the two or three days of his illness the three young men wandered about the place, as young men do when there is fatal illness in a house--useless,--not liking to go about their usual employments, and not knowing what else to do.

misfortune

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

From this reading There was great consternation in the family when this sudden misfortune came upon it.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading During the two or three days of his illness the three young men wandered about the place, as young men do when there is fatal illness in a house--useless,--not liking to go about their usual employments, and not knowing what else to do.

now

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

From this reading They took silent walks up and down to the river, and cast wistful looks at the boats, and dropped now and then into ordinary conversation, only to break off and pull themselves up with contrition when they remembered.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading All the bustling household from the Cottage overflowed into the Manor in the excitement of the unlooked-for event; and the eldest and the youngest son came as fast as the telegraph could summon them to their father’s bedside.

off

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

From this reading They took silent walks up and down to the river, and cast wistful looks at the boats, and dropped now and then into ordinary conversation, only to break off and pull themselves up with contrition when they remembered.

only

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

From this reading They took silent walks up and down to the river, and cast wistful looks at the boats, and dropped now and then into ordinary conversation, only to break off and pull themselves up with contrition when they remembered.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading During the two or three days of his illness the three young men wandered about the place, as young men do when there is fatal illness in a house--useless,--not liking to go about their usual employments, and not knowing what else to do.

ordinary

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

From this reading They took silent walks up and down to the river, and cast wistful looks at the boats, and dropped now and then into ordinary conversation, only to break off and pull themselves up with contrition when they remembered.

overflowed

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

From this reading All the bustling household from the Cottage overflowed into the Manor in the excitement of the unlooked-for event; and the eldest and the youngest son came as fast as the telegraph could summon them to their father’s bedside.

place

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

From this reading During the two or three days of his illness the three young men wandered about the place, as young men do when there is fatal illness in a house--useless,--not liking to go about their usual employments, and not knowing what else to do.

pull

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

From this reading They took silent walks up and down to the river, and cast wistful looks at the boats, and dropped now and then into ordinary conversation, only to break off and pull themselves up with contrition when they remembered.

remembered

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

From this reading They took silent walks up and down to the river, and cast wistful looks at the boats, and dropped now and then into ordinary conversation, only to break off and pull themselves up with contrition when they remembered.

river

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

From this reading They took silent walks up and down to the river, and cast wistful looks at the boats, and dropped now and then into ordinary conversation, only to break off and pull themselves up with contrition when they remembered.

silent

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

From this reading They took silent walks up and down to the river, and cast wistful looks at the boats, and dropped now and then into ordinary conversation, only to break off and pull themselves up with contrition when they remembered.

son

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

From this reading All the bustling household from the Cottage overflowed into the Manor in the excitement of the unlooked-for event; and the eldest and the youngest son came as fast as the telegraph could summon them to their father’s bedside.

suddennounUS /sudden/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading There was great consternation in the family when this sudden misfortune came upon it.

summon

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

From this reading All the bustling household from the Cottage overflowed into the Manor in the excitement of the unlooked-for event; and the eldest and the youngest son came as fast as the telegraph could summon them to their father’s bedside.

telegraph

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

From this reading All the bustling household from the Cottage overflowed into the Manor in the excitement of the unlooked-for event; and the eldest and the youngest son came as fast as the telegraph could summon them to their father’s bedside.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE WILL.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading All the bustling household from the Cottage overflowed into the Manor in the excitement of the unlooked-for event; and the eldest and the youngest son came as fast as the telegraph could summon them to their father’s bedside.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading All the bustling household from the Cottage overflowed into the Manor in the excitement of the unlooked-for event; and the eldest and the youngest son came as fast as the telegraph could summon them to their father’s bedside.

themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading They took silent walks up and down to the river, and cast wistful looks at the boats, and dropped now and then into ordinary conversation, only to break off and pull themselves up with contrition when they remembered.

then

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

From this reading They took silent walks up and down to the river, and cast wistful looks at the boats, and dropped now and then into ordinary conversation, only to break off and pull themselves up with contrition when they remembered.

There

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

From this reading There was great consternation in the family when this sudden misfortune came upon it.

TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading They took silent walks up and down to the river, and cast wistful looks at the boats, and dropped now and then into ordinary conversation, only to break off and pull themselves up with contrition when they remembered.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading There was great consternation in the family when this sudden misfortune came upon it.

three

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

From this reading During the two or three days of his illness the three young men wandered about the place, as young men do when there is fatal illness in a house--useless,--not liking to go about their usual employments, and not knowing what else to do.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading All the bustling household from the Cottage overflowed into the Manor in the excitement of the unlooked-for event; and the eldest and the youngest son came as fast as the telegraph could summon them to their father’s bedside.

tooknounUS /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading They took silent walks up and down to the river, and cast wistful looks at the boats, and dropped now and then into ordinary conversation, only to break off and pull themselves up with contrition when they remembered.

two

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

From this reading During the two or three days of his illness the three young men wandered about the place, as young men do when there is fatal illness in a house--useless,--not liking to go about their usual employments, and not knowing what else to do.

unlooked-for

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

From this reading All the bustling household from the Cottage overflowed into the Manor in the excitement of the unlooked-for event; and the eldest and the youngest son came as fast as the telegraph could summon them to their father’s bedside.

up

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

From this reading They took silent walks up and down to the river, and cast wistful looks at the boats, and dropped now and then into ordinary conversation, only to break off and pull themselves up with contrition when they remembered.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading There was great consternation in the family when this sudden misfortune came upon it.

useless

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

From this reading During the two or three days of his illness the three young men wandered about the place, as young men do when there is fatal illness in a house--useless,--not liking to go about their usual employments, and not knowing what else to do.

usual

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

From this reading During the two or three days of his illness the three young men wandered about the place, as young men do when there is fatal illness in a house--useless,--not liking to go about their usual employments, and not knowing what else to do.

walks

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

From this reading They took silent walks up and down to the river, and cast wistful looks at the boats, and dropped now and then into ordinary conversation, only to break off and pull themselves up with contrition when they remembered.

wandered

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

From this reading During the two or three days of his illness the three young men wandered about the place, as young men do when there is fatal illness in a house--useless,--not liking to go about their usual employments, and not knowing what else to do.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading There was great consternation in the family when this sudden misfortune came upon it.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading During the two or three days of his illness the three young men wandered about the place, as young men do when there is fatal illness in a house--useless,--not liking to go about their usual employments, and not knowing what else to do.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading There was great consternation in the family when this sudden misfortune came upon it.

WILLmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading THE WILL.

wistful

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

From this reading They took silent walks up and down to the river, and cast wistful looks at the boats, and dropped now and then into ordinary conversation, only to break off and pull themselves up with contrition when they remembered.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading They took silent walks up and down to the river, and cast wistful looks at the boats, and dropped now and then into ordinary conversation, only to break off and pull themselves up with contrition when they remembered.

young

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

From this reading During the two or three days of his illness the three young men wandered about the place, as young men do when there is fatal illness in a house--useless,--not liking to go about their usual employments, and not knowing what else to do.

youngest

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

From this reading All the bustling household from the Cottage overflowed into the Manor in the excitement of the unlooked-for event; and the eldest and the youngest son came as fast as the telegraph could summon them to their father’s bedside.