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A Girl of the People
A Girl of the People

Chapter XX

Cover illustration for A Girl of the People
Context Illustration Reading 1/12 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The police were searching everywhere for a sailor called Dent.
They set detectives to work, and had little doubt that long before the week had expired for which Will had been remanded they would find their man, and establish the truth, or otherwise, of Will's story.
When it commenced it seemed quite an easy search; but the days flew quickly, and neither about the docks, nor loafing round the quays, could anyone least bearing Isaac Dent's description be found.
His name was not on any ship's log, and the police came to the conclusion that Liverpool really did not contain him.
They advertised--they even offered rewards for the slightest information; but no clue could they obtain.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
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A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

A Girl of the People

Chapter XX

Reading 1/12 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The police were searching everywhere for a sailor called Dent.
Line 2
They set detectives to work, and had little doubt that long before the week had expired for which Will had been remanded they would find their man, and establish the truth, or otherwise, of Will's story.
Line 3
When it commenced it seemed quite an easy search; but the days flew quickly, and neither about the docks, nor loafing round the quays, could anyone least bearing Isaac Dent's description be found.
Line 4
His name was not on any ship's log, and the police came to the conclusion that Liverpool really did not contain him.
Line 5
They advertised--they even offered rewards for the slightest information; but no clue could they obtain.

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 “When it commenced it seemed quite an easy search; but the days flew quickly, and neither about the docks, nor loafing round the quays, could anyone least bearing Isaac Dent's description be found.”

Anyone pronoun US /ˈeniwʌn/

any person at all

From this reading “When it commenced it seemed quite an easy search; but the days flew quickly, and neither about the docks, nor loafing round the quays, could anyone least bearing Isaac Dent's description be found.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “They set detectives to work, and had little doubt that long before the week had expired for which Will had been remanded they would find their man, and establish the truth, or otherwise, of Will's story.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “They set detectives to work, and had little doubt that long before the week had expired for which Will had been remanded they would find their man, and establish the truth, or otherwise, of Will's story.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “When it commenced it seemed quite an easy search; but the days flew quickly, and neither about the docks, nor loafing round the quays, could anyone least bearing Isaac Dent's description be found.”

Even noun US /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “They advertised--they even offered rewards for the slightest information; but no clue could they obtain.”

Found noun US /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “When it commenced it seemed quite an easy search; but the days flew quickly, and neither about the docks, nor loafing round the quays, could anyone least bearing Isaac Dent's description be found.”

Least noun US /least/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “When it commenced it seemed quite an easy search; but the days flew quickly, and neither about the docks, nor loafing round the quays, could anyone least bearing Isaac Dent's description be found.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “They set detectives to work, and had little doubt that long before the week had expired for which Will had been remanded they would find their man, and establish the truth, or otherwise, of Will's story.”

Long noun US /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “They set detectives to work, and had little doubt that long before the week had expired for which Will had been remanded they would find their man, and establish the truth, or otherwise, of Will's story.”

Name noun US /name/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “His name was not on any ship's log, and the police came to the conclusion that Liverpool really did not contain him.”

Neither determiner US /ˈniːðər/

not one and not the other of two

From this reading “When it commenced it seemed quite an easy search; but the days flew quickly, and neither about the docks, nor loafing round the quays, could anyone least bearing Isaac Dent's description be found.”

Obtain verb US /əbˈteɪn/

to get something, especially through effort

From this reading “They advertised--they even offered rewards for the slightest information; but no clue could they obtain.”

Quite noun US /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “When it commenced it seemed quite an easy search; but the days flew quickly, and neither about the docks, nor loafing round the quays, could anyone least bearing Isaac Dent's description be found.”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “When it commenced it seemed quite an easy search; but the days flew quickly, and neither about the docks, nor loafing round the quays, could anyone least bearing Isaac Dent's description be found.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading “They set detectives to work, and had little doubt that long before the week had expired for which Will had been remanded they would find their man, and establish the truth, or otherwise, of Will's story.”

All words in this reading · 91

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 The police were searching everywhere for a sailor called Dent.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading When it commenced it seemed quite an easy search; but the days flew quickly, and neither about the docks, nor loafing round the quays, could anyone least bearing Isaac Dent's description be found.

advertised

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

From this reading They advertised--they even offered rewards for the slightest information; but no clue could they obtain.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading When it commenced it seemed quite an easy search; but the days flew quickly, and neither about the docks, nor loafing round the quays, could anyone least bearing Isaac Dent's description be found.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading They set detectives to work, and had little doubt that long before the week had expired for which Will had been remanded they would find their man, and establish the truth, or otherwise, of Will's story.

any

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

From this reading His name was not on any ship's log, and the police came to the conclusion that Liverpool really did not contain him.

anyonepronounUS /ˈeniwʌn/

any person at all

From this reading When it commenced it seemed quite an easy search; but the days flew quickly, and neither about the docks, nor loafing round the quays, could anyone least bearing Isaac Dent's description be found.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading When it commenced it seemed quite an easy search; but the days flew quickly, and neither about the docks, nor loafing round the quays, could anyone least bearing Isaac Dent's description be found.

bearing

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

From this reading When it commenced it seemed quite an easy search; but the days flew quickly, and neither about the docks, nor loafing round the quays, could anyone least bearing Isaac Dent's description be found.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading They set detectives to work, and had little doubt that long before the week had expired for which Will had been remanded they would find their man, and establish the truth, or otherwise, of Will's story.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading They set detectives to work, and had little doubt that long before the week had expired for which Will had been remanded they would find their man, and establish the truth, or otherwise, of Will's story.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading When it commenced it seemed quite an easy search; but the days flew quickly, and neither about the docks, nor loafing round the quays, could anyone least bearing Isaac Dent's description be found.

called

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

From this reading The police were searching everywhere for a sailor called Dent.

came

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

From this reading His name was not on any ship's log, and the police came to the conclusion that Liverpool really did not contain him.

clue

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

From this reading They advertised--they even offered rewards for the slightest information; but no clue could they obtain.

commenced

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

From this reading When it commenced it seemed quite an easy search; but the days flew quickly, and neither about the docks, nor loafing round the quays, could anyone least bearing Isaac Dent's description be found.

conclusion

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

From this reading His name was not on any ship's log, and the police came to the conclusion that Liverpool really did not contain him.

contain

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

From this reading His name was not on any ship's log, and the police came to the conclusion that Liverpool really did not contain him.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading When it commenced it seemed quite an easy search; but the days flew quickly, and neither about the docks, nor loafing round the quays, could anyone least bearing Isaac Dent's description be found.

days

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

From this reading When it commenced it seemed quite an easy search; but the days flew quickly, and neither about the docks, nor loafing round the quays, could anyone least bearing Isaac Dent's description be found.

Dent

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

From this reading The police were searching everywhere for a sailor called Dent.

Dent's

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

From this reading When it commenced it seemed quite an easy search; but the days flew quickly, and neither about the docks, nor loafing round the quays, could anyone least bearing Isaac Dent's description be found.

description

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

From this reading When it commenced it seemed quite an easy search; but the days flew quickly, and neither about the docks, nor loafing round the quays, could anyone least bearing Isaac Dent's description be found.

detectives

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

From this reading They set detectives to work, and had little doubt that long before the week had expired for which Will had been remanded they would find their man, and establish the truth, or otherwise, of Will's story.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading His name was not on any ship's log, and the police came to the conclusion that Liverpool really did not contain him.

docks

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

From this reading When it commenced it seemed quite an easy search; but the days flew quickly, and neither about the docks, nor loafing round the quays, could anyone least bearing Isaac Dent's description be found.

doubt

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

From this reading They set detectives to work, and had little doubt that long before the week had expired for which Will had been remanded they would find their man, and establish the truth, or otherwise, of Will's story.

easy

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

From this reading When it commenced it seemed quite an easy search; but the days flew quickly, and neither about the docks, nor loafing round the quays, could anyone least bearing Isaac Dent's description be found.

establish

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

From this reading They set detectives to work, and had little doubt that long before the week had expired for which Will had been remanded they would find their man, and establish the truth, or otherwise, of Will's story.

evennounUS /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading They advertised--they even offered rewards for the slightest information; but no clue could they obtain.

everywhere

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

From this reading The police were searching everywhere for a sailor called Dent.

expired

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

From this reading They set detectives to work, and had little doubt that long before the week had expired for which Will had been remanded they would find their man, and establish the truth, or otherwise, of Will's story.

find

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

From this reading They set detectives to work, and had little doubt that long before the week had expired for which Will had been remanded they would find their man, and establish the truth, or otherwise, of Will's story.

flew

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

From this reading When it commenced it seemed quite an easy search; but the days flew quickly, and neither about the docks, nor loafing round the quays, could anyone least bearing Isaac Dent's description be found.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The police were searching everywhere for a sailor called Dent.

foundnounUS /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading When it commenced it seemed quite an easy search; but the days flew quickly, and neither about the docks, nor loafing round the quays, could anyone least bearing Isaac Dent's description be found.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading They set detectives to work, and had little doubt that long before the week had expired for which Will had been remanded they would find their man, and establish the truth, or otherwise, of Will's story.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading His name was not on any ship's log, and the police came to the conclusion that Liverpool really did not contain him.

HisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading His name was not on any ship's log, and the police came to the conclusion that Liverpool really did not contain him.

information

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

From this reading They advertised--they even offered rewards for the slightest information; but no clue could they obtain.

Isaac

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

From this reading When it commenced it seemed quite an easy search; but the days flew quickly, and neither about the docks, nor loafing round the quays, could anyone least bearing Isaac Dent's description be found.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading When it commenced it seemed quite an easy search; but the days flew quickly, and neither about the docks, nor loafing round the quays, could anyone least bearing Isaac Dent's description be found.

leastnounUS /least/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading When it commenced it seemed quite an easy search; but the days flew quickly, and neither about the docks, nor loafing round the quays, could anyone least bearing Isaac Dent's description be found.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading They set detectives to work, and had little doubt that long before the week had expired for which Will had been remanded they would find their man, and establish the truth, or otherwise, of Will's story.

Liverpool

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

From this reading His name was not on any ship's log, and the police came to the conclusion that Liverpool really did not contain him.

loafing

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

From this reading When it commenced it seemed quite an easy search; but the days flew quickly, and neither about the docks, nor loafing round the quays, could anyone least bearing Isaac Dent's description be found.

log

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

From this reading His name was not on any ship's log, and the police came to the conclusion that Liverpool really did not contain him.

longnounUS /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading They set detectives to work, and had little doubt that long before the week had expired for which Will had been remanded they would find their man, and establish the truth, or otherwise, of Will's story.

man

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

From this reading They set detectives to work, and had little doubt that long before the week had expired for which Will had been remanded they would find their man, and establish the truth, or otherwise, of Will's story.

namenounUS /name/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading His name was not on any ship's log, and the police came to the conclusion that Liverpool really did not contain him.

neitherdeterminerUS /ˈniːðər/

not one and not the other of two

From this reading When it commenced it seemed quite an easy search; but the days flew quickly, and neither about the docks, nor loafing round the quays, could anyone least bearing Isaac Dent's description be found.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading They advertised--they even offered rewards for the slightest information; but no clue could they obtain.

norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/

and not; used after a negative to add a second negative

From this reading When it commenced it seemed quite an easy search; but the days flew quickly, and neither about the docks, nor loafing round the quays, could anyone least bearing Isaac Dent's description be found.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading His name was not on any ship's log, and the police came to the conclusion that Liverpool really did not contain him.

obtainverbUS /əbˈteɪn/

to get something, especially through effort

From this reading They advertised--they even offered rewards for the slightest information; but no clue could they obtain.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading They set detectives to work, and had little doubt that long before the week had expired for which Will had been remanded they would find their man, and establish the truth, or otherwise, of Will's story.

offered

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

From this reading They advertised--they even offered rewards for the slightest information; but no clue could they obtain.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading His name was not on any ship's log, and the police came to the conclusion that Liverpool really did not contain him.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading They set detectives to work, and had little doubt that long before the week had expired for which Will had been remanded they would find their man, and establish the truth, or otherwise, of Will's story.

otherwise

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

From this reading They set detectives to work, and had little doubt that long before the week had expired for which Will had been remanded they would find their man, and establish the truth, or otherwise, of Will's story.

police

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

From this reading The police were searching everywhere for a sailor called Dent.

quays

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

From this reading When it commenced it seemed quite an easy search; but the days flew quickly, and neither about the docks, nor loafing round the quays, could anyone least bearing Isaac Dent's description be found.

quickly

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

From this reading When it commenced it seemed quite an easy search; but the days flew quickly, and neither about the docks, nor loafing round the quays, could anyone least bearing Isaac Dent's description be found.

quitenounUS /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading When it commenced it seemed quite an easy search; but the days flew quickly, and neither about the docks, nor loafing round the quays, could anyone least bearing Isaac Dent's description be found.

really

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

From this reading His name was not on any ship's log, and the police came to the conclusion that Liverpool really did not contain him.

remanded

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

From this reading They set detectives to work, and had little doubt that long before the week had expired for which Will had been remanded they would find their man, and establish the truth, or otherwise, of Will's story.

rewards

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

From this reading They advertised--they even offered rewards for the slightest information; but no clue could they obtain.

round

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

From this reading When it commenced it seemed quite an easy search; but the days flew quickly, and neither about the docks, nor loafing round the quays, could anyone least bearing Isaac Dent's description be found.

sailor

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

From this reading The police were searching everywhere for a sailor called Dent.

search

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

From this reading When it commenced it seemed quite an easy search; but the days flew quickly, and neither about the docks, nor loafing round the quays, could anyone least bearing Isaac Dent's description be found.

searching

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

From this reading The police were searching everywhere for a sailor called Dent.

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading When it commenced it seemed quite an easy search; but the days flew quickly, and neither about the docks, nor loafing round the quays, could anyone least bearing Isaac Dent's description be found.

set

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

From this reading They set detectives to work, and had little doubt that long before the week had expired for which Will had been remanded they would find their man, and establish the truth, or otherwise, of Will's story.

ship's

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

From this reading His name was not on any ship's log, and the police came to the conclusion that Liverpool really did not contain him.

slightest

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

From this reading They advertised--they even offered rewards for the slightest information; but no clue could they obtain.

story

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

From this reading They set detectives to work, and had little doubt that long before the week had expired for which Will had been remanded they would find their man, and establish the truth, or otherwise, of Will's story.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading They set detectives to work, and had little doubt that long before the week had expired for which Will had been remanded they would find their man, and establish the truth, or otherwise, of Will's story.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The police were searching everywhere for a sailor called Dent.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading They set detectives to work, and had little doubt that long before the week had expired for which Will had been remanded they would find their man, and establish the truth, or otherwise, of Will's story.

TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading They set detectives to work, and had little doubt that long before the week had expired for which Will had been remanded they would find their man, and establish the truth, or otherwise, of Will's story.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading They set detectives to work, and had little doubt that long before the week had expired for which Will had been remanded they would find their man, and establish the truth, or otherwise, of Will's story.

truth

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

From this reading They set detectives to work, and had little doubt that long before the week had expired for which Will had been remanded they would find their man, and establish the truth, or otherwise, of Will's story.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading His name was not on any ship's log, and the police came to the conclusion that Liverpool really did not contain him.

week

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

From this reading They set detectives to work, and had little doubt that long before the week had expired for which Will had been remanded they would find their man, and establish the truth, or otherwise, of Will's story.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading The police were searching everywhere for a sailor called Dent.

WhenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading When it commenced it seemed quite an easy search; but the days flew quickly, and neither about the docks, nor loafing round the quays, could anyone least bearing Isaac Dent's description be found.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading They set detectives to work, and had little doubt that long before the week had expired for which Will had been remanded they would find their man, and establish the truth, or otherwise, of Will's story.

Willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading They set detectives to work, and had little doubt that long before the week had expired for which Will had been remanded they would find their man, and establish the truth, or otherwise, of Will's story.

Will's

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

From this reading They set detectives to work, and had little doubt that long before the week had expired for which Will had been remanded they would find their man, and establish the truth, or otherwise, of Will's story.

work

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

From this reading They set detectives to work, and had little doubt that long before the week had expired for which Will had been remanded they would find their man, and establish the truth, or otherwise, of Will's story.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading They set detectives to work, and had little doubt that long before the week had expired for which Will had been remanded they would find their man, and establish the truth, or otherwise, of Will's story.