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The Zeppelin's Passenger
The Zeppelin's Passenger

Chapter VII

Cover illustration for The Zeppelin's Passenger
Context Illustration Reading 1/47 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Sir Henry was in a pleasant and expansive humour that evening.
The new cook was an unqualified success, and he was conscious of having dined exceedingly well.
He sat in a comfortable easy-chair before a blazing wood fire, he had just lit one of his favourite brand of cigarettes, and his wife, whom he adored, was seated only a few feet away.
“Quite a remarkable change in Helen,” he observed.
“She was in the depths of depression when I went away, and to-night she seems positively cheerful.”
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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 Zeppelin's Passenger

Chapter VII

Reading 1/47 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Sir Henry was in a pleasant and expansive humour that evening.
Line 2
The new cook was an unqualified success, and he was conscious of having dined exceedingly well.
Line 3
He sat in a comfortable easy-chair before a blazing wood fire, he had just lit one of his favourite brand of cigarettes, and his wife, whom he adored, was seated only a few feet away.
Line 4
“Quite a remarkable change in Helen,” he observed.
Line 5
“She was in the depths of depression when I went away, and to-night she seems positively cheerful.”

Learner Dictionary

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

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “He sat in a comfortable easy-chair before a blazing wood fire, he had just lit one of his favourite brand of cigarettes, and his wife, whom he adored, was seated only a few feet away.”

Having auxiliary verb US /ˈhævɪŋ/

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading “The new cook was an unqualified success, and he was conscious of having dined exceedingly well.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “He sat in a comfortable easy-chair before a blazing wood fire, he had just lit one of his favourite brand of cigarettes, and his wife, whom he adored, was seated only a few feet away.”

Pleasant noun US /pleasant/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Sir Henry was in a pleasant and expansive humour that evening.”

Quite noun US /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““Quite a remarkable change in Helen,” he observed.”

Remarkable noun US /ˈremarkable/

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

From this reading ““Quite a remarkable change in Helen,” he observed.”

Well noun US /well/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The new cook was an unqualified success, and he was conscious of having dined exceedingly well.”

Went noun US /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““She was in the depths of depression when I went away, and to-night she seems positively cheerful.””

All words in this reading · 62

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading Sir Henry was in a pleasant and expansive humour that evening.

adored

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

From this reading He sat in a comfortable easy-chair before a blazing wood fire, he had just lit one of his favourite brand of cigarettes, and his wife, whom he adored, was seated only a few feet away.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading The new cook was an unqualified success, and he was conscious of having dined exceedingly well.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Sir Henry was in a pleasant and expansive humour that evening.

away

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

From this reading He sat in a comfortable easy-chair before a blazing wood fire, he had just lit one of his favourite brand of cigarettes, and his wife, whom he adored, was seated only a few feet away.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading He sat in a comfortable easy-chair before a blazing wood fire, he had just lit one of his favourite brand of cigarettes, and his wife, whom he adored, was seated only a few feet away.

blazing

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

From this reading He sat in a comfortable easy-chair before a blazing wood fire, he had just lit one of his favourite brand of cigarettes, and his wife, whom he adored, was seated only a few feet away.

brand

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

From this reading He sat in a comfortable easy-chair before a blazing wood fire, he had just lit one of his favourite brand of cigarettes, and his wife, whom he adored, was seated only a few feet away.

change

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

From this reading “Quite a remarkable change in Helen,” he observed.

cheerful

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

From this reading “She was in the depths of depression when I went away, and to-night she seems positively cheerful.”

cigarettes

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

From this reading He sat in a comfortable easy-chair before a blazing wood fire, he had just lit one of his favourite brand of cigarettes, and his wife, whom he adored, was seated only a few feet away.

comfortable

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

From this reading He sat in a comfortable easy-chair before a blazing wood fire, he had just lit one of his favourite brand of cigarettes, and his wife, whom he adored, was seated only a few feet away.

conscious

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

From this reading The new cook was an unqualified success, and he was conscious of having dined exceedingly well.

cook

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

From this reading The new cook was an unqualified success, and he was conscious of having dined exceedingly well.

depression

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

From this reading “She was in the depths of depression when I went away, and to-night she seems positively cheerful.”

depths

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

From this reading “She was in the depths of depression when I went away, and to-night she seems positively cheerful.”

dined

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

From this reading The new cook was an unqualified success, and he was conscious of having dined exceedingly well.

easy-chair

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

From this reading He sat in a comfortable easy-chair before a blazing wood fire, he had just lit one of his favourite brand of cigarettes, and his wife, whom he adored, was seated only a few feet away.

evening

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

From this reading Sir Henry was in a pleasant and expansive humour that evening.

exceedingly

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

From this reading The new cook was an unqualified success, and he was conscious of having dined exceedingly well.

expansive

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

From this reading Sir Henry was in a pleasant and expansive humour that evening.

favourite

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

From this reading He sat in a comfortable easy-chair before a blazing wood fire, he had just lit one of his favourite brand of cigarettes, and his wife, whom he adored, was seated only a few feet away.

feet

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

From this reading He sat in a comfortable easy-chair before a blazing wood fire, he had just lit one of his favourite brand of cigarettes, and his wife, whom he adored, was seated only a few feet away.

few

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

From this reading He sat in a comfortable easy-chair before a blazing wood fire, he had just lit one of his favourite brand of cigarettes, and his wife, whom he adored, was seated only a few feet away.

fire

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

From this reading He sat in a comfortable easy-chair before a blazing wood fire, he had just lit one of his favourite brand of cigarettes, and his wife, whom he adored, was seated only a few feet away.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading He sat in a comfortable easy-chair before a blazing wood fire, he had just lit one of his favourite brand of cigarettes, and his wife, whom he adored, was seated only a few feet away.

havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading The new cook was an unqualified success, and he was conscious of having dined exceedingly well.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading The new cook was an unqualified success, and he was conscious of having dined exceedingly well.

Helen

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

From this reading “Quite a remarkable change in Helen,” he observed.

Henry

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

From this reading Sir Henry was in a pleasant and expansive humour that evening.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading He sat in a comfortable easy-chair before a blazing wood fire, he had just lit one of his favourite brand of cigarettes, and his wife, whom he adored, was seated only a few feet away.

humour

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

From this reading Sir Henry was in a pleasant and expansive humour that evening.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading “She was in the depths of depression when I went away, and to-night she seems positively cheerful.”

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Sir Henry was in a pleasant and expansive humour that evening.

just

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

From this reading He sat in a comfortable easy-chair before a blazing wood fire, he had just lit one of his favourite brand of cigarettes, and his wife, whom he adored, was seated only a few feet away.

lit

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

From this reading He sat in a comfortable easy-chair before a blazing wood fire, he had just lit one of his favourite brand of cigarettes, and his wife, whom he adored, was seated only a few feet away.

new

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

From this reading The new cook was an unqualified success, and he was conscious of having dined exceedingly well.

observed

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

From this reading “Quite a remarkable change in Helen,” he observed.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The new cook was an unqualified success, and he was conscious of having dined exceedingly well.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading He sat in a comfortable easy-chair before a blazing wood fire, he had just lit one of his favourite brand of cigarettes, and his wife, whom he adored, was seated only a few feet away.

only

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

From this reading He sat in a comfortable easy-chair before a blazing wood fire, he had just lit one of his favourite brand of cigarettes, and his wife, whom he adored, was seated only a few feet away.

pleasantnounUS /pleasant/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Sir Henry was in a pleasant and expansive humour that evening.

positively

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

From this reading “She was in the depths of depression when I went away, and to-night she seems positively cheerful.”

QuitenounUS /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Quite a remarkable change in Helen,” he observed.

remarkablenounUS /ˈremarkable/

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

From this reading “Quite a remarkable change in Helen,” he observed.

sat

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

From this reading He sat in a comfortable easy-chair before a blazing wood fire, he had just lit one of his favourite brand of cigarettes, and his wife, whom he adored, was seated only a few feet away.

seated

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

From this reading He sat in a comfortable easy-chair before a blazing wood fire, he had just lit one of his favourite brand of cigarettes, and his wife, whom he adored, was seated only a few feet away.

seems

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

From this reading “She was in the depths of depression when I went away, and to-night she seems positively cheerful.”

ShepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading “She was in the depths of depression when I went away, and to-night she seems positively cheerful.”

Sir

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

From this reading Sir Henry was in a pleasant and expansive humour that evening.

success

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

From this reading The new cook was an unqualified success, and he was conscious of having dined exceedingly well.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Sir Henry was in a pleasant and expansive humour that evening.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The new cook was an unqualified success, and he was conscious of having dined exceedingly well.

to-night

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

From this reading “She was in the depths of depression when I went away, and to-night she seems positively cheerful.”

unqualified

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

From this reading The new cook was an unqualified success, and he was conscious of having dined exceedingly well.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Sir Henry was in a pleasant and expansive humour that evening.

well

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

From this reading The new cook was an unqualified success, and he was conscious of having dined exceedingly well.

wentnounUS /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “She was in the depths of depression when I went away, and to-night she seems positively cheerful.”

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading “She was in the depths of depression when I went away, and to-night she seems positively cheerful.”

whompronounUS /huːm/

the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading He sat in a comfortable easy-chair before a blazing wood fire, he had just lit one of his favourite brand of cigarettes, and his wife, whom he adored, was seated only a few feet away.

wife

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

From this reading He sat in a comfortable easy-chair before a blazing wood fire, he had just lit one of his favourite brand of cigarettes, and his wife, whom he adored, was seated only a few feet away.

wood

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

From this reading He sat in a comfortable easy-chair before a blazing wood fire, he had just lit one of his favourite brand of cigarettes, and his wife, whom he adored, was seated only a few feet away.