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A golden thread
A golden thread

Chapter I

Cover illustration for A golden thread
Context Illustration Reading 1/17 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Eileen and the Editor.
"PLEASE are you Mr. Charlton, the editor of 'Sunny Hours?'"
The fourteen-year-old girl who put the question—Eileen Bannister by name—looked a little puzzled as she spoke.
The man who had just risen from a deck-chair under the shadow of a tree was not Eileen's idea of an editor at all: she had expected to see some one much older.
"Yes," was the answer, pleasantly spoken, "I am; what can I do for you?"
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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.

A golden thread

Chapter I

Reading 1/17 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Eileen and the Editor.
Line 2
"PLEASE are you Mr. Charlton, the editor of 'Sunny Hours?'"
Line 3
The fourteen-year-old girl who put the question—Eileen Bannister by name—looked a little puzzled as she spoke.
Line 4
The man who had just risen from a deck-chair under the shadow of a tree was not Eileen's idea of an editor at all: she had expected to see some one much older.
Line 5
"Yes," was the answer, pleasantly spoken, "I am; what can I do for you?"

Learner Dictionary

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

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The fourteen-year-old girl who put the question—Eileen Bannister by name—looked a little puzzled as she spoke.”

Looked noun US /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The fourteen-year-old girl who put the question—Eileen Bannister by name—looked a little puzzled as she spoke.”

Name noun US /name/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The fourteen-year-old girl who put the question—Eileen Bannister by name—looked a little puzzled as she spoke.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “The man who had just risen from a deck-chair under the shadow of a tree was not Eileen's idea of an editor at all: she had expected to see some one much older.”

Question noun US /ˈquestion/

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

From this reading “The fourteen-year-old girl who put the question—Eileen Bannister by name—looked a little puzzled as she spoke.”

Shadow noun US /ˈʃæd.oʊ/

A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.

From this reading “The man who had just risen from a deck-chair under the shadow of a tree was not Eileen's idea of an editor at all: she had expected to see some one much older.”

Under preposition US /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading “The man who had just risen from a deck-chair under the shadow of a tree was not Eileen's idea of an editor at all: she had expected to see some one much older.”

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 The fourteen-year-old girl who put the question—Eileen Bannister by name—looked a little puzzled as she spoke.

all

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

From this reading The man who had just risen from a deck-chair under the shadow of a tree was not Eileen's idea of an editor at all: she had expected to see some one much older.

amauxiliary verbUS /æm/

the form of “be” used with “I”

From this reading "Yes," was the answer, pleasantly spoken, "I am; what can I do for you?"

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading The man who had just risen from a deck-chair under the shadow of a tree was not Eileen's idea of an editor at all: she had expected to see some one much older.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Eileen and the Editor.

answer

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

From this reading "Yes," was the answer, pleasantly spoken, "I am; what can I do for you?"

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading "PLEASE are you Mr. Charlton, the editor of 'Sunny Hours?'"

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading The fourteen-year-old girl who put the question—Eileen Bannister by name—looked a little puzzled as she spoke.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The man who had just risen from a deck-chair under the shadow of a tree was not Eileen's idea of an editor at all: she had expected to see some one much older.

Bannister

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

From this reading The fourteen-year-old girl who put the question—Eileen Bannister by name—looked a little puzzled as she spoke.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The fourteen-year-old girl who put the question—Eileen Bannister by name—looked a little puzzled as she spoke.

canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading "Yes," was the answer, pleasantly spoken, "I am; what can I do for you?"

Charlton

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

From this reading "PLEASE are you Mr. Charlton, the editor of 'Sunny Hours?'"

deck-chair

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

From this reading The man who had just risen from a deck-chair under the shadow of a tree was not Eileen's idea of an editor at all: she had expected to see some one much older.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading "Yes," was the answer, pleasantly spoken, "I am; what can I do for you?"

Editor

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

From this reading Eileen and the Editor.

Eileen

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

From this reading Eileen and the Editor.

Eileen's

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

From this reading The man who had just risen from a deck-chair under the shadow of a tree was not Eileen's idea of an editor at all: she had expected to see some one much older.

expected

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

From this reading The man who had just risen from a deck-chair under the shadow of a tree was not Eileen's idea of an editor at all: she had expected to see some one much older.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading "Yes," was the answer, pleasantly spoken, "I am; what can I do for you?"

fourteen-year-old

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

From this reading The fourteen-year-old girl who put the question—Eileen Bannister by name—looked a little puzzled as she spoke.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The man who had just risen from a deck-chair under the shadow of a tree was not Eileen's idea of an editor at all: she had expected to see some one much older.

girl

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

From this reading The fourteen-year-old girl who put the question—Eileen Bannister by name—looked a little puzzled as she spoke.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading The man who had just risen from a deck-chair under the shadow of a tree was not Eileen's idea of an editor at all: she had expected to see some one much older.

Hours

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

From this reading "PLEASE are you Mr. Charlton, the editor of 'Sunny Hours?'"

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading "Yes," was the answer, pleasantly spoken, "I am; what can I do for you?"

idea

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

From this reading The man who had just risen from a deck-chair under the shadow of a tree was not Eileen's idea of an editor at all: she had expected to see some one much older.

just

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

From this reading The man who had just risen from a deck-chair under the shadow of a tree was not Eileen's idea of an editor at all: she had expected to see some one much older.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The fourteen-year-old girl who put the question—Eileen Bannister by name—looked a little puzzled as she spoke.

lookednounUS /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The fourteen-year-old girl who put the question—Eileen Bannister by name—looked a little puzzled as she spoke.

man

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

From this reading The man who had just risen from a deck-chair under the shadow of a tree was not Eileen's idea of an editor at all: she had expected to see some one much older.

Mr

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

From this reading "PLEASE are you Mr. Charlton, the editor of 'Sunny Hours?'"

much

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

From this reading The man who had just risen from a deck-chair under the shadow of a tree was not Eileen's idea of an editor at all: she had expected to see some one much older.

namenounUS /name/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The fourteen-year-old girl who put the question—Eileen Bannister by name—looked a little puzzled as she spoke.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading The man who had just risen from a deck-chair under the shadow of a tree was not Eileen's idea of an editor at all: she had expected to see some one much older.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading "PLEASE are you Mr. Charlton, the editor of 'Sunny Hours?'"

older

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

From this reading The man who had just risen from a deck-chair under the shadow of a tree was not Eileen's idea of an editor at all: she had expected to see some one much older.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading The man who had just risen from a deck-chair under the shadow of a tree was not Eileen's idea of an editor at all: she had expected to see some one much older.

pleasantly

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

From this reading "Yes," was the answer, pleasantly spoken, "I am; what can I do for you?"

PLEASE

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

From this reading "PLEASE are you Mr. Charlton, the editor of 'Sunny Hours?'"

put

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

From this reading The fourteen-year-old girl who put the question—Eileen Bannister by name—looked a little puzzled as she spoke.

puzzled

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

From this reading The fourteen-year-old girl who put the question—Eileen Bannister by name—looked a little puzzled as she spoke.

questionnounUS /ˈquestion/

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

From this reading The fourteen-year-old girl who put the question—Eileen Bannister by name—looked a little puzzled as she spoke.

risen

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

From this reading The man who had just risen from a deck-chair under the shadow of a tree was not Eileen's idea of an editor at all: she had expected to see some one much older.

see

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

From this reading The man who had just risen from a deck-chair under the shadow of a tree was not Eileen's idea of an editor at all: she had expected to see some one much older.

shadownounUS /ˈʃæd.oʊ/

A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.

From this reading The man who had just risen from a deck-chair under the shadow of a tree was not Eileen's idea of an editor at all: she had expected to see some one much older.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading The fourteen-year-old girl who put the question—Eileen Bannister by name—looked a little puzzled as she spoke.

some

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

From this reading The man who had just risen from a deck-chair under the shadow of a tree was not Eileen's idea of an editor at all: she had expected to see some one much older.

spoke

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

From this reading The fourteen-year-old girl who put the question—Eileen Bannister by name—looked a little puzzled as she spoke.

spoken

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

From this reading "Yes," was the answer, pleasantly spoken, "I am; what can I do for you?"

Sunny

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

From this reading "PLEASE are you Mr. Charlton, the editor of 'Sunny Hours?'"

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Eileen and the Editor.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The man who had just risen from a deck-chair under the shadow of a tree was not Eileen's idea of an editor at all: she had expected to see some one much older.

tree

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

From this reading The man who had just risen from a deck-chair under the shadow of a tree was not Eileen's idea of an editor at all: she had expected to see some one much older.

underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading The man who had just risen from a deck-chair under the shadow of a tree was not Eileen's idea of an editor at all: she had expected to see some one much older.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The man who had just risen from a deck-chair under the shadow of a tree was not Eileen's idea of an editor at all: she had expected to see some one much older.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading "Yes," was the answer, pleasantly spoken, "I am; what can I do for you?"

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading The fourteen-year-old girl who put the question—Eileen Bannister by name—looked a little puzzled as she spoke.

Yes

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

From this reading "Yes," was the answer, pleasantly spoken, "I am; what can I do for you?"

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "PLEASE are you Mr. Charlton, the editor of 'Sunny Hours?'"