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Zelda Dameron
Zelda Dameron

Chapter IV

Cover illustration for Zelda Dameron
Context Illustration Reading 1/41 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
MR.
MERRIAM MAKES SUGGESTIONS The law offices of Knight, Kittredge and Carr were tucked away in the rear of an old building that stood at the apex of a triangle formed by Jefferson Street and Commonwealth Avenue.
The firm had been tenants of the same rooms for so many years that any outward sign of their occupancy had ceased to be necessary.
There was, to be sure, a battered tin sign at the entrance, but its inscription could be read only by persons who remembered it from bygone days.
The woodwork in the series of low rooms occupied by the firm had once been white, but it was now yellow, as though from years of intimacy with dusty file-boxes and law sheep.
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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.

Zelda Dameron

Chapter IV

Reading 1/41 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
MR.
Line 2
MERRIAM MAKES SUGGESTIONS The law offices of Knight, Kittredge and Carr were tucked away in the rear of an old building that stood at the apex of a triangle formed by Jefferson Street and Commonwealth Avenue.
Line 3
The firm had been tenants of the same rooms for so many years that any outward sign of their occupancy had ceased to be necessary.
Line 4
There was, to be sure, a battered tin sign at the entrance, but its inscription could be read only by persons who remembered it from bygone days.
Line 5
The woodwork in the series of low rooms occupied by the firm had once been white, but it was now yellow, as though from years of intimacy with dusty file-boxes and law sheep.

Learner Dictionary

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

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “The firm had been tenants of the same rooms for so many years that any outward sign of their occupancy had ceased to be necessary.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “There was, to be sure, a battered tin sign at the entrance, but its inscription could be read only by persons who remembered it from bygone days.”

Once noun US /once/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The woodwork in the series of low rooms occupied by the firm had once been white, but it was now yellow, as though from years of intimacy with dusty file-boxes and law sheep.”

Same noun US /same/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The firm had been tenants of the same rooms for so many years that any outward sign of their occupancy had ceased to be necessary.”

Stood noun US /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “MERRIAM MAKES SUGGESTIONS The law offices of Knight, Kittredge and Carr were tucked away in the rear of an old building that stood at the apex of a triangle formed by Jefferson Street and Commonwealth Avenue.”

Sure noun US /sure/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “There was, to be sure, a battered tin sign at the entrance, but its inscription could be read only by persons who remembered it from bygone days.”

Though conjunction US /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “The woodwork in the series of low rooms occupied by the firm had once been white, but it was now yellow, as though from years of intimacy with dusty file-boxes and law sheep.”

All words in this reading · 85

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 MERRIAM MAKES SUGGESTIONS The law offices of Knight, Kittredge and Carr were tucked away in the rear of an old building that stood at the apex of a triangle formed by Jefferson Street and Commonwealth Avenue.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading MERRIAM MAKES SUGGESTIONS The law offices of Knight, Kittredge and Carr were tucked away in the rear of an old building that stood at the apex of a triangle formed by Jefferson Street and Commonwealth Avenue.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading MERRIAM MAKES SUGGESTIONS The law offices of Knight, Kittredge and Carr were tucked away in the rear of an old building that stood at the apex of a triangle formed by Jefferson Street and Commonwealth Avenue.

any

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

From this reading The firm had been tenants of the same rooms for so many years that any outward sign of their occupancy had ceased to be necessary.

apex

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

From this reading MERRIAM MAKES SUGGESTIONS The law offices of Knight, Kittredge and Carr were tucked away in the rear of an old building that stood at the apex of a triangle formed by Jefferson Street and Commonwealth Avenue.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading The woodwork in the series of low rooms occupied by the firm had once been white, but it was now yellow, as though from years of intimacy with dusty file-boxes and law sheep.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading MERRIAM MAKES SUGGESTIONS The law offices of Knight, Kittredge and Carr were tucked away in the rear of an old building that stood at the apex of a triangle formed by Jefferson Street and Commonwealth Avenue.

Avenue

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

From this reading MERRIAM MAKES SUGGESTIONS The law offices of Knight, Kittredge and Carr were tucked away in the rear of an old building that stood at the apex of a triangle formed by Jefferson Street and Commonwealth Avenue.

away

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

From this reading MERRIAM MAKES SUGGESTIONS The law offices of Knight, Kittredge and Carr were tucked away in the rear of an old building that stood at the apex of a triangle formed by Jefferson Street and Commonwealth Avenue.

battered

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

From this reading There was, to be sure, a battered tin sign at the entrance, but its inscription could be read only by persons who remembered it from bygone days.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading The firm had been tenants of the same rooms for so many years that any outward sign of their occupancy had ceased to be necessary.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading The firm had been tenants of the same rooms for so many years that any outward sign of their occupancy had ceased to be necessary.

building

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

From this reading MERRIAM MAKES SUGGESTIONS The law offices of Knight, Kittredge and Carr were tucked away in the rear of an old building that stood at the apex of a triangle formed by Jefferson Street and Commonwealth Avenue.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading There was, to be sure, a battered tin sign at the entrance, but its inscription could be read only by persons who remembered it from bygone days.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading MERRIAM MAKES SUGGESTIONS The law offices of Knight, Kittredge and Carr were tucked away in the rear of an old building that stood at the apex of a triangle formed by Jefferson Street and Commonwealth Avenue.

bygone

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

From this reading There was, to be sure, a battered tin sign at the entrance, but its inscription could be read only by persons who remembered it from bygone days.

Carr

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

From this reading MERRIAM MAKES SUGGESTIONS The law offices of Knight, Kittredge and Carr were tucked away in the rear of an old building that stood at the apex of a triangle formed by Jefferson Street and Commonwealth Avenue.

ceased

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

From this reading The firm had been tenants of the same rooms for so many years that any outward sign of their occupancy had ceased to be necessary.

Commonwealth

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

From this reading MERRIAM MAKES SUGGESTIONS The law offices of Knight, Kittredge and Carr were tucked away in the rear of an old building that stood at the apex of a triangle formed by Jefferson Street and Commonwealth Avenue.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading There was, to be sure, a battered tin sign at the entrance, but its inscription could be read only by persons who remembered it from bygone days.

days

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

From this reading There was, to be sure, a battered tin sign at the entrance, but its inscription could be read only by persons who remembered it from bygone days.

dusty

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

From this reading The woodwork in the series of low rooms occupied by the firm had once been white, but it was now yellow, as though from years of intimacy with dusty file-boxes and law sheep.

entrance

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

From this reading There was, to be sure, a battered tin sign at the entrance, but its inscription could be read only by persons who remembered it from bygone days.

file-boxes

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

From this reading The woodwork in the series of low rooms occupied by the firm had once been white, but it was now yellow, as though from years of intimacy with dusty file-boxes and law sheep.

firm

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

From this reading The firm had been tenants of the same rooms for so many years that any outward sign of their occupancy had ceased to be necessary.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The firm had been tenants of the same rooms for so many years that any outward sign of their occupancy had ceased to be necessary.

formed

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

From this reading MERRIAM MAKES SUGGESTIONS The law offices of Knight, Kittredge and Carr were tucked away in the rear of an old building that stood at the apex of a triangle formed by Jefferson Street and Commonwealth Avenue.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading There was, to be sure, a battered tin sign at the entrance, but its inscription could be read only by persons who remembered it from bygone days.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading The firm had been tenants of the same rooms for so many years that any outward sign of their occupancy had ceased to be necessary.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading MERRIAM MAKES SUGGESTIONS The law offices of Knight, Kittredge and Carr were tucked away in the rear of an old building that stood at the apex of a triangle formed by Jefferson Street and Commonwealth Avenue.

inscription

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

From this reading There was, to be sure, a battered tin sign at the entrance, but its inscription could be read only by persons who remembered it from bygone days.

intimacy

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

From this reading The woodwork in the series of low rooms occupied by the firm had once been white, but it was now yellow, as though from years of intimacy with dusty file-boxes and law sheep.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading There was, to be sure, a battered tin sign at the entrance, but its inscription could be read only by persons who remembered it from bygone days.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading There was, to be sure, a battered tin sign at the entrance, but its inscription could be read only by persons who remembered it from bygone days.

Jefferson

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

From this reading MERRIAM MAKES SUGGESTIONS The law offices of Knight, Kittredge and Carr were tucked away in the rear of an old building that stood at the apex of a triangle formed by Jefferson Street and Commonwealth Avenue.

Kittredge

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

From this reading MERRIAM MAKES SUGGESTIONS The law offices of Knight, Kittredge and Carr were tucked away in the rear of an old building that stood at the apex of a triangle formed by Jefferson Street and Commonwealth Avenue.

Knight

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

From this reading MERRIAM MAKES SUGGESTIONS The law offices of Knight, Kittredge and Carr were tucked away in the rear of an old building that stood at the apex of a triangle formed by Jefferson Street and Commonwealth Avenue.

law

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

From this reading MERRIAM MAKES SUGGESTIONS The law offices of Knight, Kittredge and Carr were tucked away in the rear of an old building that stood at the apex of a triangle formed by Jefferson Street and Commonwealth Avenue.

low

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

From this reading The woodwork in the series of low rooms occupied by the firm had once been white, but it was now yellow, as though from years of intimacy with dusty file-boxes and law sheep.

MAKES

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

From this reading MERRIAM MAKES SUGGESTIONS The law offices of Knight, Kittredge and Carr were tucked away in the rear of an old building that stood at the apex of a triangle formed by Jefferson Street and Commonwealth Avenue.

many

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

From this reading The firm had been tenants of the same rooms for so many years that any outward sign of their occupancy had ceased to be necessary.

MERRIAM

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

From this reading MERRIAM MAKES SUGGESTIONS The law offices of Knight, Kittredge and Carr were tucked away in the rear of an old building that stood at the apex of a triangle formed by Jefferson Street and Commonwealth Avenue.

MR

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

From this reading MR.

necessary

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

From this reading The firm had been tenants of the same rooms for so many years that any outward sign of their occupancy had ceased to be necessary.

now

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

From this reading The woodwork in the series of low rooms occupied by the firm had once been white, but it was now yellow, as though from years of intimacy with dusty file-boxes and law sheep.

occupancy

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

From this reading The firm had been tenants of the same rooms for so many years that any outward sign of their occupancy had ceased to be necessary.

occupied

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

From this reading The woodwork in the series of low rooms occupied by the firm had once been white, but it was now yellow, as though from years of intimacy with dusty file-boxes and law sheep.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading MERRIAM MAKES SUGGESTIONS The law offices of Knight, Kittredge and Carr were tucked away in the rear of an old building that stood at the apex of a triangle formed by Jefferson Street and Commonwealth Avenue.

offices

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

From this reading MERRIAM MAKES SUGGESTIONS The law offices of Knight, Kittredge and Carr were tucked away in the rear of an old building that stood at the apex of a triangle formed by Jefferson Street and Commonwealth Avenue.

old

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

From this reading MERRIAM MAKES SUGGESTIONS The law offices of Knight, Kittredge and Carr were tucked away in the rear of an old building that stood at the apex of a triangle formed by Jefferson Street and Commonwealth Avenue.

once

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

From this reading The woodwork in the series of low rooms occupied by the firm had once been white, but it was now yellow, as though from years of intimacy with dusty file-boxes and law sheep.

only

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

From this reading There was, to be sure, a battered tin sign at the entrance, but its inscription could be read only by persons who remembered it from bygone days.

outward

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

From this reading The firm had been tenants of the same rooms for so many years that any outward sign of their occupancy had ceased to be necessary.

persons

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

From this reading There was, to be sure, a battered tin sign at the entrance, but its inscription could be read only by persons who remembered it from bygone days.

read

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

From this reading There was, to be sure, a battered tin sign at the entrance, but its inscription could be read only by persons who remembered it from bygone days.

rear

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

From this reading MERRIAM MAKES SUGGESTIONS The law offices of Knight, Kittredge and Carr were tucked away in the rear of an old building that stood at the apex of a triangle formed by Jefferson Street and Commonwealth Avenue.

remembered

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

From this reading There was, to be sure, a battered tin sign at the entrance, but its inscription could be read only by persons who remembered it from bygone days.

rooms

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

From this reading The firm had been tenants of the same rooms for so many years that any outward sign of their occupancy had ceased to be necessary.

samenounUS /same/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The firm had been tenants of the same rooms for so many years that any outward sign of their occupancy had ceased to be necessary.

series

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

From this reading The woodwork in the series of low rooms occupied by the firm had once been white, but it was now yellow, as though from years of intimacy with dusty file-boxes and law sheep.

sheep

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

From this reading The woodwork in the series of low rooms occupied by the firm had once been white, but it was now yellow, as though from years of intimacy with dusty file-boxes and law sheep.

sign

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

From this reading The firm had been tenants of the same rooms for so many years that any outward sign of their occupancy had ceased to be necessary.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading The firm had been tenants of the same rooms for so many years that any outward sign of their occupancy had ceased to be necessary.

stoodnounUS /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading MERRIAM MAKES SUGGESTIONS The law offices of Knight, Kittredge and Carr were tucked away in the rear of an old building that stood at the apex of a triangle formed by Jefferson Street and Commonwealth Avenue.

Street

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

From this reading MERRIAM MAKES SUGGESTIONS The law offices of Knight, Kittredge and Carr were tucked away in the rear of an old building that stood at the apex of a triangle formed by Jefferson Street and Commonwealth Avenue.

SUGGESTIONS

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

From this reading MERRIAM MAKES SUGGESTIONS The law offices of Knight, Kittredge and Carr were tucked away in the rear of an old building that stood at the apex of a triangle formed by Jefferson Street and Commonwealth Avenue.

surenounUS /sure/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading There was, to be sure, a battered tin sign at the entrance, but its inscription could be read only by persons who remembered it from bygone days.

tenants

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

From this reading The firm had been tenants of the same rooms for so many years that any outward sign of their occupancy had ceased to be necessary.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading MERRIAM MAKES SUGGESTIONS The law offices of Knight, Kittredge and Carr were tucked away in the rear of an old building that stood at the apex of a triangle formed by Jefferson Street and Commonwealth Avenue.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading MERRIAM MAKES SUGGESTIONS The law offices of Knight, Kittredge and Carr were tucked away in the rear of an old building that stood at the apex of a triangle formed by Jefferson Street and Commonwealth Avenue.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading The firm had been tenants of the same rooms for so many years that any outward sign of their occupancy had ceased to be necessary.

There

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

From this reading There was, to be sure, a battered tin sign at the entrance, but its inscription could be read only by persons who remembered it from bygone days.

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading The woodwork in the series of low rooms occupied by the firm had once been white, but it was now yellow, as though from years of intimacy with dusty file-boxes and law sheep.

tin

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

From this reading There was, to be sure, a battered tin sign at the entrance, but its inscription could be read only by persons who remembered it from bygone days.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The firm had been tenants of the same rooms for so many years that any outward sign of their occupancy had ceased to be necessary.

triangle

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

From this reading MERRIAM MAKES SUGGESTIONS The law offices of Knight, Kittredge and Carr were tucked away in the rear of an old building that stood at the apex of a triangle formed by Jefferson Street and Commonwealth Avenue.

tucked

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

From this reading MERRIAM MAKES SUGGESTIONS The law offices of Knight, Kittredge and Carr were tucked away in the rear of an old building that stood at the apex of a triangle formed by Jefferson Street and Commonwealth Avenue.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading There was, to be sure, a battered tin sign at the entrance, but its inscription could be read only by persons who remembered it from bygone days.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading MERRIAM MAKES SUGGESTIONS The law offices of Knight, Kittredge and Carr were tucked away in the rear of an old building that stood at the apex of a triangle formed by Jefferson Street and Commonwealth Avenue.

white

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

From this reading The woodwork in the series of low rooms occupied by the firm had once been white, but it was now yellow, as though from years of intimacy with dusty file-boxes and law sheep.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading There was, to be sure, a battered tin sign at the entrance, but its inscription could be read only by persons who remembered it from bygone days.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The woodwork in the series of low rooms occupied by the firm had once been white, but it was now yellow, as though from years of intimacy with dusty file-boxes and law sheep.

woodwork

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

From this reading The woodwork in the series of low rooms occupied by the firm had once been white, but it was now yellow, as though from years of intimacy with dusty file-boxes and law sheep.

years

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

From this reading The firm had been tenants of the same rooms for so many years that any outward sign of their occupancy had ceased to be necessary.

yellow

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

From this reading The woodwork in the series of low rooms occupied by the firm had once been white, but it was now yellow, as though from years of intimacy with dusty file-boxes and law sheep.