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A Window in Thrums
A Window in Thrums

Chapter XV

Cover illustration for A Window in Thrums
Context Illustration Reading 1/26 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
HOW GAVIN BIRSE PUT IT TO MAG LOWNIE In a wet day the rain gathered in blobs on the road that passed our garden.
Then it crawled into the cart-tracks until the road was streaked with water.
Lastly, the water gathered in heavy yellow pools.
If the on-ding still continued, clods of earth toppled from the garden dyke into the ditch.
On such a day, when even the dulseman had gone into shelter, and the women scudded by with their wrappers over their heads, came Gavin Birse to our door.
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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 Window in Thrums

Chapter XV

Reading 1/26 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
HOW GAVIN BIRSE PUT IT TO MAG LOWNIE In a wet day the rain gathered in blobs on the road that passed our garden.
Line 2
Then it crawled into the cart-tracks until the road was streaked with water.
Line 3
Lastly, the water gathered in heavy yellow pools.
Line 4
If the on-ding still continued, clods of earth toppled from the garden dyke into the ditch.
Line 5
On such a day, when even the dulseman had gone into shelter, and the women scudded by with their wrappers over their heads, came Gavin Birse to our door.

Learner Dictionary

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

Continued noun US /ˈcontinued/

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

From this reading “If the on-ding still continued, clods of earth toppled from the garden dyke into the ditch.”

Even noun US /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “On such a day, when even the dulseman had gone into shelter, and the women scudded by with their wrappers over their heads, came Gavin Birse to our door.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “On such a day, when even the dulseman had gone into shelter, and the women scudded by with their wrappers over their heads, came Gavin Birse to our door.”

Passed noun US /passed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “HOW GAVIN BIRSE PUT IT TO MAG LOWNIE In a wet day the rain gathered in blobs on the road that passed our garden.”

Still noun US /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “If the on-ding still continued, clods of earth toppled from the garden dyke into the ditch.”

Until preposition US /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading “Then it crawled into the cart-tracks until the road was streaked with water.”

All words in this reading · 63

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 HOW GAVIN BIRSE PUT IT TO MAG LOWNIE In a wet day the rain gathered in blobs on the road that passed our garden.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading On such a day, when even the dulseman had gone into shelter, and the women scudded by with their wrappers over their heads, came Gavin Birse to our door.

BIRSE

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

From this reading HOW GAVIN BIRSE PUT IT TO MAG LOWNIE In a wet day the rain gathered in blobs on the road that passed our garden.

blobs

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

From this reading HOW GAVIN BIRSE PUT IT TO MAG LOWNIE In a wet day the rain gathered in blobs on the road that passed our garden.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading On such a day, when even the dulseman had gone into shelter, and the women scudded by with their wrappers over their heads, came Gavin Birse to our door.

came

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

From this reading On such a day, when even the dulseman had gone into shelter, and the women scudded by with their wrappers over their heads, came Gavin Birse to our door.

cart-tracks

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

From this reading Then it crawled into the cart-tracks until the road was streaked with water.

clods

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

From this reading If the on-ding still continued, clods of earth toppled from the garden dyke into the ditch.

continuednounUS /ˈcontinued/

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

From this reading If the on-ding still continued, clods of earth toppled from the garden dyke into the ditch.

crawled

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

From this reading Then it crawled into the cart-tracks until the road was streaked with water.

day

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

From this reading HOW GAVIN BIRSE PUT IT TO MAG LOWNIE In a wet day the rain gathered in blobs on the road that passed our garden.

ditch

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

From this reading If the on-ding still continued, clods of earth toppled from the garden dyke into the ditch.

door

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

From this reading On such a day, when even the dulseman had gone into shelter, and the women scudded by with their wrappers over their heads, came Gavin Birse to our door.

dulseman

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

From this reading On such a day, when even the dulseman had gone into shelter, and the women scudded by with their wrappers over their heads, came Gavin Birse to our door.

dyke

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

From this reading If the on-ding still continued, clods of earth toppled from the garden dyke into the ditch.

earth

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

From this reading If the on-ding still continued, clods of earth toppled from the garden dyke into the ditch.

evennounUS /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading On such a day, when even the dulseman had gone into shelter, and the women scudded by with their wrappers over their heads, came Gavin Birse to our door.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading If the on-ding still continued, clods of earth toppled from the garden dyke into the ditch.

garden

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

From this reading HOW GAVIN BIRSE PUT IT TO MAG LOWNIE In a wet day the rain gathered in blobs on the road that passed our garden.

gathered

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

From this reading HOW GAVIN BIRSE PUT IT TO MAG LOWNIE In a wet day the rain gathered in blobs on the road that passed our garden.

GAVIN

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

From this reading HOW GAVIN BIRSE PUT IT TO MAG LOWNIE In a wet day the rain gathered in blobs on the road that passed our garden.

gone

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

From this reading On such a day, when even the dulseman had gone into shelter, and the women scudded by with their wrappers over their heads, came Gavin Birse to our door.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading On such a day, when even the dulseman had gone into shelter, and the women scudded by with their wrappers over their heads, came Gavin Birse to our door.

heads

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

From this reading On such a day, when even the dulseman had gone into shelter, and the women scudded by with their wrappers over their heads, came Gavin Birse to our door.

heavy

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

From this reading Lastly, the water gathered in heavy yellow pools.

HOW

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

From this reading HOW GAVIN BIRSE PUT IT TO MAG LOWNIE In a wet day the rain gathered in blobs on the road that passed our garden.

IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading If the on-ding still continued, clods of earth toppled from the garden dyke into the ditch.

InprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading HOW GAVIN BIRSE PUT IT TO MAG LOWNIE In a wet day the rain gathered in blobs on the road that passed our garden.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Then it crawled into the cart-tracks until the road was streaked with water.

ITpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading HOW GAVIN BIRSE PUT IT TO MAG LOWNIE In a wet day the rain gathered in blobs on the road that passed our garden.

Lastly

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

From this reading Lastly, the water gathered in heavy yellow pools.

LOWNIE

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

From this reading HOW GAVIN BIRSE PUT IT TO MAG LOWNIE In a wet day the rain gathered in blobs on the road that passed our garden.

MAG

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

From this reading HOW GAVIN BIRSE PUT IT TO MAG LOWNIE In a wet day the rain gathered in blobs on the road that passed our garden.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading If the on-ding still continued, clods of earth toppled from the garden dyke into the ditch.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading HOW GAVIN BIRSE PUT IT TO MAG LOWNIE In a wet day the rain gathered in blobs on the road that passed our garden.

on-ding

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

From this reading If the on-ding still continued, clods of earth toppled from the garden dyke into the ditch.

ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading HOW GAVIN BIRSE PUT IT TO MAG LOWNIE In a wet day the rain gathered in blobs on the road that passed our garden.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading On such a day, when even the dulseman had gone into shelter, and the women scudded by with their wrappers over their heads, came Gavin Birse to our door.

passednounUS /passed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading HOW GAVIN BIRSE PUT IT TO MAG LOWNIE In a wet day the rain gathered in blobs on the road that passed our garden.

pools

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

From this reading Lastly, the water gathered in heavy yellow pools.

PUT

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

From this reading HOW GAVIN BIRSE PUT IT TO MAG LOWNIE In a wet day the rain gathered in blobs on the road that passed our garden.

rain

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

From this reading HOW GAVIN BIRSE PUT IT TO MAG LOWNIE In a wet day the rain gathered in blobs on the road that passed our garden.

road

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

From this reading HOW GAVIN BIRSE PUT IT TO MAG LOWNIE In a wet day the rain gathered in blobs on the road that passed our garden.

scudded

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

From this reading On such a day, when even the dulseman had gone into shelter, and the women scudded by with their wrappers over their heads, came Gavin Birse to our door.

shelter

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

From this reading On such a day, when even the dulseman had gone into shelter, and the women scudded by with their wrappers over their heads, came Gavin Birse to our door.

stillnounUS /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading If the on-ding still continued, clods of earth toppled from the garden dyke into the ditch.

streaked

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

From this reading Then it crawled into the cart-tracks until the road was streaked with water.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading On such a day, when even the dulseman had gone into shelter, and the women scudded by with their wrappers over their heads, came Gavin Birse to our door.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading HOW GAVIN BIRSE PUT IT TO MAG LOWNIE In a wet day the rain gathered in blobs on the road that passed our garden.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading HOW GAVIN BIRSE PUT IT TO MAG LOWNIE In a wet day the rain gathered in blobs on the road that passed our garden.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading On such a day, when even the dulseman had gone into shelter, and the women scudded by with their wrappers over their heads, came Gavin Birse to our door.

Then

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

From this reading Then it crawled into the cart-tracks until the road was streaked with water.

TOparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading HOW GAVIN BIRSE PUT IT TO MAG LOWNIE In a wet day the rain gathered in blobs on the road that passed our garden.

toppled

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

From this reading If the on-ding still continued, clods of earth toppled from the garden dyke into the ditch.

untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading Then it crawled into the cart-tracks until the road was streaked with water.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Then it crawled into the cart-tracks until the road was streaked with water.

water

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

From this reading Then it crawled into the cart-tracks until the road was streaked with water.

wet

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

From this reading HOW GAVIN BIRSE PUT IT TO MAG LOWNIE In a wet day the rain gathered in blobs on the road that passed our garden.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading On such a day, when even the dulseman had gone into shelter, and the women scudded by with their wrappers over their heads, came Gavin Birse to our door.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Then it crawled into the cart-tracks until the road was streaked with water.

women

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

From this reading On such a day, when even the dulseman had gone into shelter, and the women scudded by with their wrappers over their heads, came Gavin Birse to our door.

wrappers

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

From this reading On such a day, when even the dulseman had gone into shelter, and the women scudded by with their wrappers over their heads, came Gavin Birse to our door.

yellow

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

From this reading Lastly, the water gathered in heavy yellow pools.