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The Young Step-Mother
The Young Step-Mother

Chapter III

Cover illustration for The Young Step-Mother
Context Illustration Reading 1/71 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Fog greeted Mrs. Kendal’s eyes as she rose, and she resolved to make an attack on the pond without loss of time.
But Mr. Kendal was absorbed nearly all breakfast-time in a letter from India, containing a scrap in some uncouth character.
As he finished his last cup of tea, he looked up and said, ‘A letter from my old friend Penrose, of Bombay--an inscription in the Salsette caves.’
‘Have you seen the Salsette caves?
‘Yes.’
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 Young Step-Mother

Chapter III

Reading 1/71 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Fog greeted Mrs. Kendal’s eyes as she rose, and she resolved to make an attack on the pond without loss of time.
Line 2
But Mr. Kendal was absorbed nearly all breakfast-time in a letter from India, containing a scrap in some uncouth character.
Line 3
As he finished his last cup of tea, he looked up and said, ‘A letter from my old friend Penrose, of Bombay--an inscription in the Salsette caves.’
Line 4
‘Have you seen the Salsette caves?
Line 5
‘Yes.’

Learner Dictionary

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

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “‘Have you seen the Salsette caves?”

Last noun US /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “As he finished his last cup of tea, he looked up and said, ‘A letter from my old friend Penrose, of Bombay--an inscription in the Salsette caves.’”

Looked noun US /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “As he finished his last cup of tea, he looked up and said, ‘A letter from my old friend Penrose, of Bombay--an inscription in the Salsette caves.’”

Make noun US /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Fog greeted Mrs. Kendal’s eyes as she rose, and she resolved to make an attack on the pond without loss of time.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Fog greeted Mrs. Kendal’s eyes as she rose, and she resolved to make an attack on the pond without loss of time.”

Without preposition US /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading “Fog greeted Mrs. Kendal’s eyes as she rose, and she resolved to make an attack on the pond without loss of time.”

All words in this reading · 60

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 Mr. Kendal was absorbed nearly all breakfast-time in a letter from India, containing a scrap in some uncouth character.

absorbed

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

From this reading But Mr. Kendal was absorbed nearly all breakfast-time in a letter from India, containing a scrap in some uncouth character.

all

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

From this reading But Mr. Kendal was absorbed nearly all breakfast-time in a letter from India, containing a scrap in some uncouth character.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading Fog greeted Mrs. Kendal’s eyes as she rose, and she resolved to make an attack on the pond without loss of time.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Fog greeted Mrs. Kendal’s eyes as she rose, and she resolved to make an attack on the pond without loss of time.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Fog greeted Mrs. Kendal’s eyes as she rose, and she resolved to make an attack on the pond without loss of time.

attack

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

From this reading Fog greeted Mrs. Kendal’s eyes as she rose, and she resolved to make an attack on the pond without loss of time.

Bombay

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

From this reading As he finished his last cup of tea, he looked up and said, ‘A letter from my old friend Penrose, of Bombay--an inscription in the Salsette caves.’

breakfast-time

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

From this reading But Mr. Kendal was absorbed nearly all breakfast-time in a letter from India, containing a scrap in some uncouth character.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But Mr. Kendal was absorbed nearly all breakfast-time in a letter from India, containing a scrap in some uncouth character.

caves

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

From this reading As he finished his last cup of tea, he looked up and said, ‘A letter from my old friend Penrose, of Bombay--an inscription in the Salsette caves.’

character

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

From this reading But Mr. Kendal was absorbed nearly all breakfast-time in a letter from India, containing a scrap in some uncouth character.

containing

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

From this reading But Mr. Kendal was absorbed nearly all breakfast-time in a letter from India, containing a scrap in some uncouth character.

cup

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

From this reading As he finished his last cup of tea, he looked up and said, ‘A letter from my old friend Penrose, of Bombay--an inscription in the Salsette caves.’

eyes

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

From this reading Fog greeted Mrs. Kendal’s eyes as she rose, and she resolved to make an attack on the pond without loss of time.

finished

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

From this reading As he finished his last cup of tea, he looked up and said, ‘A letter from my old friend Penrose, of Bombay--an inscription in the Salsette caves.’

Fog

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

From this reading Fog greeted Mrs. Kendal’s eyes as she rose, and she resolved to make an attack on the pond without loss of time.

friend

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

From this reading As he finished his last cup of tea, he looked up and said, ‘A letter from my old friend Penrose, of Bombay--an inscription in the Salsette caves.’

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading But Mr. Kendal was absorbed nearly all breakfast-time in a letter from India, containing a scrap in some uncouth character.

greeted

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

From this reading Fog greeted Mrs. Kendal’s eyes as she rose, and she resolved to make an attack on the pond without loss of time.

Haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading ‘Have you seen the Salsette caves?

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading As he finished his last cup of tea, he looked up and said, ‘A letter from my old friend Penrose, of Bombay--an inscription in the Salsette caves.’

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading As he finished his last cup of tea, he looked up and said, ‘A letter from my old friend Penrose, of Bombay--an inscription in the Salsette caves.’

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading But Mr. Kendal was absorbed nearly all breakfast-time in a letter from India, containing a scrap in some uncouth character.

India

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

From this reading But Mr. Kendal was absorbed nearly all breakfast-time in a letter from India, containing a scrap in some uncouth character.

inscription

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

From this reading As he finished his last cup of tea, he looked up and said, ‘A letter from my old friend Penrose, of Bombay--an inscription in the Salsette caves.’

Kendal

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

From this reading But Mr. Kendal was absorbed nearly all breakfast-time in a letter from India, containing a scrap in some uncouth character.

Kendal's

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

From this reading Fog greeted Mrs. Kendal’s eyes as she rose, and she resolved to make an attack on the pond without loss of time.

lastnounUS /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading As he finished his last cup of tea, he looked up and said, ‘A letter from my old friend Penrose, of Bombay--an inscription in the Salsette caves.’

letter

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

From this reading But Mr. Kendal was absorbed nearly all breakfast-time in a letter from India, containing a scrap in some uncouth character.

lookednounUS /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading As he finished his last cup of tea, he looked up and said, ‘A letter from my old friend Penrose, of Bombay--an inscription in the Salsette caves.’

loss

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

From this reading Fog greeted Mrs. Kendal’s eyes as she rose, and she resolved to make an attack on the pond without loss of time.

makenounUS /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Fog greeted Mrs. Kendal’s eyes as she rose, and she resolved to make an attack on the pond without loss of time.

Mr

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

From this reading But Mr. Kendal was absorbed nearly all breakfast-time in a letter from India, containing a scrap in some uncouth character.

Mrs

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

From this reading Fog greeted Mrs. Kendal’s eyes as she rose, and she resolved to make an attack on the pond without loss of time.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading As he finished his last cup of tea, he looked up and said, ‘A letter from my old friend Penrose, of Bombay--an inscription in the Salsette caves.’

nearly

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

From this reading But Mr. Kendal was absorbed nearly all breakfast-time in a letter from India, containing a scrap in some uncouth character.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Fog greeted Mrs. Kendal’s eyes as she rose, and she resolved to make an attack on the pond without loss of time.

old

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

From this reading As he finished his last cup of tea, he looked up and said, ‘A letter from my old friend Penrose, of Bombay--an inscription in the Salsette caves.’

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Fog greeted Mrs. Kendal’s eyes as she rose, and she resolved to make an attack on the pond without loss of time.

Penrose

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

From this reading As he finished his last cup of tea, he looked up and said, ‘A letter from my old friend Penrose, of Bombay--an inscription in the Salsette caves.’

pond

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

From this reading Fog greeted Mrs. Kendal’s eyes as she rose, and she resolved to make an attack on the pond without loss of time.

resolved

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

From this reading Fog greeted Mrs. Kendal’s eyes as she rose, and she resolved to make an attack on the pond without loss of time.

rose

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

From this reading Fog greeted Mrs. Kendal’s eyes as she rose, and she resolved to make an attack on the pond without loss of time.

said

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

From this reading As he finished his last cup of tea, he looked up and said, ‘A letter from my old friend Penrose, of Bombay--an inscription in the Salsette caves.’

Salsette

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

From this reading As he finished his last cup of tea, he looked up and said, ‘A letter from my old friend Penrose, of Bombay--an inscription in the Salsette caves.’

scrap

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

From this reading But Mr. Kendal was absorbed nearly all breakfast-time in a letter from India, containing a scrap in some uncouth character.

seen

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

From this reading ‘Have you seen the Salsette caves?

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading Fog greeted Mrs. Kendal’s eyes as she rose, and she resolved to make an attack on the pond without loss of time.

some

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

From this reading But Mr. Kendal was absorbed nearly all breakfast-time in a letter from India, containing a scrap in some uncouth character.

tea

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

From this reading As he finished his last cup of tea, he looked up and said, ‘A letter from my old friend Penrose, of Bombay--an inscription in the Salsette caves.’

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Fog greeted Mrs. Kendal’s eyes as she rose, and she resolved to make an attack on the pond without loss of time.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Fog greeted Mrs. Kendal’s eyes as she rose, and she resolved to make an attack on the pond without loss of time.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Fog greeted Mrs. Kendal’s eyes as she rose, and she resolved to make an attack on the pond without loss of time.

uncouth

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

From this reading But Mr. Kendal was absorbed nearly all breakfast-time in a letter from India, containing a scrap in some uncouth character.

up

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

From this reading As he finished his last cup of tea, he looked up and said, ‘A letter from my old friend Penrose, of Bombay--an inscription in the Salsette caves.’

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading But Mr. Kendal was absorbed nearly all breakfast-time in a letter from India, containing a scrap in some uncouth character.

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading Fog greeted Mrs. Kendal’s eyes as she rose, and she resolved to make an attack on the pond without loss of time.

Yes

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

From this reading ‘Yes.’

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading ‘Have you seen the Salsette caves?