Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
According to Plato
According to Plato

Chapter XXII

Cover illustration for According to Plato
Context Illustration Reading 1/27 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Even when he was living for two days in the retirement of his cottage on the bank of the River Thames, Sir Creighton Severn was too busy a man to find time to join the little company who set out in his launch on the Sunday to pay the visit which his daughter had promised to the new proprietor of The Gables.
He was not so utterly overwhelmed with business, however, but that he could look forward to two hours of solitude and slumber during their absence.
He calculated, without the aid of logarithms, that the little company would be absent for two hours, and he proposed spending twenty minutes of this space in the enjoyment of his solitary cigar on the lawn and the remaining hour and forty minutes on one of the long cane chairs in a bower over-clustered by clematis, blue and white, and hidden away from the intrusive enquiries of impressionable flies and impossible visitors.
He had no doubt that a visit to The Gables would have been very interesting--as a matter of fact he found most things in the world very interesting--but, as he remarked with a sigh that fully expressed his gratification at the thought, a busy man must make up his mind to forego a good many of those enjoyments which he most detested.
The utmost enjoyment that he could allow himself in connection with this expedition was seeing the departure of the electric launch from the little staging at the water’s edge.
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

According to Plato

Chapter XXII

Reading 1/27 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Even when he was living for two days in the retirement of his cottage on the bank of the River Thames, Sir Creighton Severn was too busy a man to find time to join the little company who set out in his launch on the Sunday to pay the visit which his daughter had promised to the new proprietor of The Gables.
Line 2
He was not so utterly overwhelmed with business, however, but that he could look forward to two hours of solitude and slumber during their absence.
Line 3
He calculated, without the aid of logarithms, that the little company would be absent for two hours, and he proposed spending twenty minutes of this space in the enjoyment of his solitary cigar on the lawn and the remaining hour and forty minutes on one of the long cane chairs in a bower over-clustered by clematis, blue and white, and hidden away from the intrusive enquiries of impressionable flies and impossible visitors.
Line 4
He had no doubt that a visit to The Gables would have been very interesting--as a matter of fact he found most things in the world very interesting--but, as he remarked with a sigh that fully expressed his gratification at the thought, a busy man must make up his mind to forego a good many of those enjoyments which he most detested.
Line 5
The utmost enjoyment that he could allow himself in connection with this expedition was seeing the departure of the electric launch from the little staging at the water’s edge.

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 “He had no doubt that a visit to The Gables would have been very interesting--as a matter of fact he found most things in the world very interesting--but, as he remarked with a sigh that fully expressed his gratification at the thought, a busy man must make up his mind to forego a good many of those enjoyments which he most detested.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “He was not so utterly overwhelmed with business, however, but that he could look forward to two hours of solitude and slumber during their absence.”

During preposition US /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading “He was not so utterly overwhelmed with business, however, but that he could look forward to two hours of solitude and slumber during their absence.”

Even noun US /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Even when he was living for two days in the retirement of his cottage on the bank of the River Thames, Sir Creighton Severn was too busy a man to find time to join the little company who set out in his launch on the Sunday to pay the visit which his daughter had promised to the new proprietor of The Gables.”

Forward noun US /forward/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He was not so utterly overwhelmed with business, however, but that he could look forward to two hours of solitude and slumber during their absence.”

Found noun US /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He had no doubt that a visit to The Gables would have been very interesting--as a matter of fact he found most things in the world very interesting--but, as he remarked with a sigh that fully expressed his gratification at the thought, a busy man must make up his mind to forego a good many of those enjoyments which he most detested.”

Good noun US /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He had no doubt that a visit to The Gables would have been very interesting--as a matter of fact he found most things in the world very interesting--but, as he remarked with a sigh that fully expressed his gratification at the thought, a busy man must make up his mind to forego a good many of those enjoyments which he most detested.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “He had no doubt that a visit to The Gables would have been very interesting--as a matter of fact he found most things in the world very interesting--but, as he remarked with a sigh that fully expressed his gratification at the thought, a busy man must make up his mind to forego a good many of those enjoyments which he most detested.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading “The utmost enjoyment that he could allow himself in connection with this expedition was seeing the departure of the electric launch from the little staging at the water’s edge.”

However adverb US /ˌhaʊˈevər/

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading “He was not so utterly overwhelmed with business, however, but that he could look forward to two hours of solitude and slumber during their absence.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Even when he was living for two days in the retirement of his cottage on the bank of the River Thames, Sir Creighton Severn was too busy a man to find time to join the little company who set out in his launch on the Sunday to pay the visit which his daughter had promised to the new proprietor of The Gables.”

Long noun US /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He calculated, without the aid of logarithms, that the little company would be absent for two hours, and he proposed spending twenty minutes of this space in the enjoyment of his solitary cigar on the lawn and the remaining hour and forty minutes on one of the long cane chairs in a bower over-clustered by clematis, blue and white, and hidden away from the intrusive enquiries of impressionable flies and impossible visitors.”

Look noun US /look/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He was not so utterly overwhelmed with business, however, but that he could look forward to two hours of solitude and slumber during their absence.”

Make noun US /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He had no doubt that a visit to The Gables would have been very interesting--as a matter of fact he found most things in the world very interesting--but, as he remarked with a sigh that fully expressed his gratification at the thought, a busy man must make up his mind to forego a good many of those enjoyments which he most detested.”

Mind noun US /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He had no doubt that a visit to The Gables would have been very interesting--as a matter of fact he found most things in the world very interesting--but, as he remarked with a sigh that fully expressed his gratification at the thought, a busy man must make up his mind to forego a good many of those enjoyments which he most detested.”

Must modal verb US /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading “He had no doubt that a visit to The Gables would have been very interesting--as a matter of fact he found most things in the world very interesting--but, as he remarked with a sigh that fully expressed his gratification at the thought, a busy man must make up his mind to forego a good many of those enjoyments which he most detested.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “He calculated, without the aid of logarithms, that the little company would be absent for two hours, and he proposed spending twenty minutes of this space in the enjoyment of his solitary cigar on the lawn and the remaining hour and forty minutes on one of the long cane chairs in a bower over-clustered by clematis, blue and white, and hidden away from the intrusive enquiries of impressionable flies and impossible visitors.”

Seeing noun US /seeing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The utmost enjoyment that he could allow himself in connection with this expedition was seeing the departure of the electric launch from the little staging at the water’s edge.”

Spending noun US /ˈspending/

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

From this reading “He calculated, without the aid of logarithms, that the little company would be absent for two hours, and he proposed spending twenty minutes of this space in the enjoyment of his solitary cigar on the lawn and the remaining hour and forty minutes on one of the long cane chairs in a bower over-clustered by clematis, blue and white, and hidden away from the intrusive enquiries of impressionable flies and impossible visitors.”

Those determiner US /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading “He had no doubt that a visit to The Gables would have been very interesting--as a matter of fact he found most things in the world very interesting--but, as he remarked with a sigh that fully expressed his gratification at the thought, a busy man must make up his mind to forego a good many of those enjoyments which he most detested.”

Thought noun US /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He had no doubt that a visit to The Gables would have been very interesting--as a matter of fact he found most things in the world very interesting--but, as he remarked with a sigh that fully expressed his gratification at the thought, a busy man must make up his mind to forego a good many of those enjoyments which he most detested.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Even when he was living for two days in the retirement of his cottage on the bank of the River Thames, Sir Creighton Severn was too busy a man to find time to join the little company who set out in his launch on the Sunday to pay the visit which his daughter had promised to the new proprietor of The Gables.”

Without preposition US /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading “He calculated, without the aid of logarithms, that the little company would be absent for two hours, and he proposed spending twenty minutes of this space in the enjoyment of his solitary cigar on the lawn and the remaining hour and forty minutes on one of the long cane chairs in a bower over-clustered by clematis, blue and white, and hidden away from the intrusive enquiries of impressionable flies and impossible visitors.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “He calculated, without the aid of logarithms, that the little company would be absent for two hours, and he proposed spending twenty minutes of this space in the enjoyment of his solitary cigar on the lawn and the remaining hour and forty minutes on one of the long cane chairs in a bower over-clustered by clematis, blue and white, and hidden away from the intrusive enquiries of impressionable flies and impossible visitors.”

All words in this reading · 144

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 Even when he was living for two days in the retirement of his cottage on the bank of the River Thames, Sir Creighton Severn was too busy a man to find time to join the little company who set out in his launch on the Sunday to pay the visit which his daughter had promised to the new proprietor of The Gables.

absence

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

From this reading He was not so utterly overwhelmed with business, however, but that he could look forward to two hours of solitude and slumber during their absence.

absent

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

From this reading He calculated, without the aid of logarithms, that the little company would be absent for two hours, and he proposed spending twenty minutes of this space in the enjoyment of his solitary cigar on the lawn and the remaining hour and forty minutes on one of the long cane chairs in a bower over-clustered by clematis, blue and white, and hidden away from the intrusive enquiries of impressionable flies and impossible visitors.

aid

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

From this reading He calculated, without the aid of logarithms, that the little company would be absent for two hours, and he proposed spending twenty minutes of this space in the enjoyment of his solitary cigar on the lawn and the remaining hour and forty minutes on one of the long cane chairs in a bower over-clustered by clematis, blue and white, and hidden away from the intrusive enquiries of impressionable flies and impossible visitors.

allow

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

From this reading The utmost enjoyment that he could allow himself in connection with this expedition was seeing the departure of the electric launch from the little staging at the water’s edge.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading He was not so utterly overwhelmed with business, however, but that he could look forward to two hours of solitude and slumber during their absence.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading He had no doubt that a visit to The Gables would have been very interesting--as a matter of fact he found most things in the world very interesting--but, as he remarked with a sigh that fully expressed his gratification at the thought, a busy man must make up his mind to forego a good many of those enjoyments which he most detested.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading He had no doubt that a visit to The Gables would have been very interesting--as a matter of fact he found most things in the world very interesting--but, as he remarked with a sigh that fully expressed his gratification at the thought, a busy man must make up his mind to forego a good many of those enjoyments which he most detested.

away

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

From this reading He calculated, without the aid of logarithms, that the little company would be absent for two hours, and he proposed spending twenty minutes of this space in the enjoyment of his solitary cigar on the lawn and the remaining hour and forty minutes on one of the long cane chairs in a bower over-clustered by clematis, blue and white, and hidden away from the intrusive enquiries of impressionable flies and impossible visitors.

bank

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

From this reading Even when he was living for two days in the retirement of his cottage on the bank of the River Thames, Sir Creighton Severn was too busy a man to find time to join the little company who set out in his launch on the Sunday to pay the visit which his daughter had promised to the new proprietor of The Gables.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading He calculated, without the aid of logarithms, that the little company would be absent for two hours, and he proposed spending twenty minutes of this space in the enjoyment of his solitary cigar on the lawn and the remaining hour and forty minutes on one of the long cane chairs in a bower over-clustered by clematis, blue and white, and hidden away from the intrusive enquiries of impressionable flies and impossible visitors.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading He had no doubt that a visit to The Gables would have been very interesting--as a matter of fact he found most things in the world very interesting--but, as he remarked with a sigh that fully expressed his gratification at the thought, a busy man must make up his mind to forego a good many of those enjoyments which he most detested.

blue

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

From this reading He calculated, without the aid of logarithms, that the little company would be absent for two hours, and he proposed spending twenty minutes of this space in the enjoyment of his solitary cigar on the lawn and the remaining hour and forty minutes on one of the long cane chairs in a bower over-clustered by clematis, blue and white, and hidden away from the intrusive enquiries of impressionable flies and impossible visitors.

bower

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

From this reading He calculated, without the aid of logarithms, that the little company would be absent for two hours, and he proposed spending twenty minutes of this space in the enjoyment of his solitary cigar on the lawn and the remaining hour and forty minutes on one of the long cane chairs in a bower over-clustered by clematis, blue and white, and hidden away from the intrusive enquiries of impressionable flies and impossible visitors.

business

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

From this reading He was not so utterly overwhelmed with business, however, but that he could look forward to two hours of solitude and slumber during their absence.

busy

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

From this reading Even when he was living for two days in the retirement of his cottage on the bank of the River Thames, Sir Creighton Severn was too busy a man to find time to join the little company who set out in his launch on the Sunday to pay the visit which his daughter had promised to the new proprietor of The Gables.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading He was not so utterly overwhelmed with business, however, but that he could look forward to two hours of solitude and slumber during their absence.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading He calculated, without the aid of logarithms, that the little company would be absent for two hours, and he proposed spending twenty minutes of this space in the enjoyment of his solitary cigar on the lawn and the remaining hour and forty minutes on one of the long cane chairs in a bower over-clustered by clematis, blue and white, and hidden away from the intrusive enquiries of impressionable flies and impossible visitors.

calculated

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

From this reading He calculated, without the aid of logarithms, that the little company would be absent for two hours, and he proposed spending twenty minutes of this space in the enjoyment of his solitary cigar on the lawn and the remaining hour and forty minutes on one of the long cane chairs in a bower over-clustered by clematis, blue and white, and hidden away from the intrusive enquiries of impressionable flies and impossible visitors.

cane

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

From this reading He calculated, without the aid of logarithms, that the little company would be absent for two hours, and he proposed spending twenty minutes of this space in the enjoyment of his solitary cigar on the lawn and the remaining hour and forty minutes on one of the long cane chairs in a bower over-clustered by clematis, blue and white, and hidden away from the intrusive enquiries of impressionable flies and impossible visitors.

chairs

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

From this reading He calculated, without the aid of logarithms, that the little company would be absent for two hours, and he proposed spending twenty minutes of this space in the enjoyment of his solitary cigar on the lawn and the remaining hour and forty minutes on one of the long cane chairs in a bower over-clustered by clematis, blue and white, and hidden away from the intrusive enquiries of impressionable flies and impossible visitors.

cigar

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

From this reading He calculated, without the aid of logarithms, that the little company would be absent for two hours, and he proposed spending twenty minutes of this space in the enjoyment of his solitary cigar on the lawn and the remaining hour and forty minutes on one of the long cane chairs in a bower over-clustered by clematis, blue and white, and hidden away from the intrusive enquiries of impressionable flies and impossible visitors.

clematis

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

From this reading He calculated, without the aid of logarithms, that the little company would be absent for two hours, and he proposed spending twenty minutes of this space in the enjoyment of his solitary cigar on the lawn and the remaining hour and forty minutes on one of the long cane chairs in a bower over-clustered by clematis, blue and white, and hidden away from the intrusive enquiries of impressionable flies and impossible visitors.

company

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

From this reading Even when he was living for two days in the retirement of his cottage on the bank of the River Thames, Sir Creighton Severn was too busy a man to find time to join the little company who set out in his launch on the Sunday to pay the visit which his daughter had promised to the new proprietor of The Gables.

connection

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

From this reading The utmost enjoyment that he could allow himself in connection with this expedition was seeing the departure of the electric launch from the little staging at the water’s edge.

cottage

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

From this reading Even when he was living for two days in the retirement of his cottage on the bank of the River Thames, Sir Creighton Severn was too busy a man to find time to join the little company who set out in his launch on the Sunday to pay the visit which his daughter had promised to the new proprietor of The Gables.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading He was not so utterly overwhelmed with business, however, but that he could look forward to two hours of solitude and slumber during their absence.

Creighton

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

From this reading Even when he was living for two days in the retirement of his cottage on the bank of the River Thames, Sir Creighton Severn was too busy a man to find time to join the little company who set out in his launch on the Sunday to pay the visit which his daughter had promised to the new proprietor of The Gables.

daughter

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

From this reading Even when he was living for two days in the retirement of his cottage on the bank of the River Thames, Sir Creighton Severn was too busy a man to find time to join the little company who set out in his launch on the Sunday to pay the visit which his daughter had promised to the new proprietor of The Gables.

days

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

From this reading Even when he was living for two days in the retirement of his cottage on the bank of the River Thames, Sir Creighton Severn was too busy a man to find time to join the little company who set out in his launch on the Sunday to pay the visit which his daughter had promised to the new proprietor of The Gables.

departure

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

From this reading The utmost enjoyment that he could allow himself in connection with this expedition was seeing the departure of the electric launch from the little staging at the water’s edge.

detested

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

From this reading He had no doubt that a visit to The Gables would have been very interesting--as a matter of fact he found most things in the world very interesting--but, as he remarked with a sigh that fully expressed his gratification at the thought, a busy man must make up his mind to forego a good many of those enjoyments which he most detested.

doubt

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

From this reading He had no doubt that a visit to The Gables would have been very interesting--as a matter of fact he found most things in the world very interesting--but, as he remarked with a sigh that fully expressed his gratification at the thought, a busy man must make up his mind to forego a good many of those enjoyments which he most detested.

duringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading He was not so utterly overwhelmed with business, however, but that he could look forward to two hours of solitude and slumber during their absence.

edge

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

From this reading The utmost enjoyment that he could allow himself in connection with this expedition was seeing the departure of the electric launch from the little staging at the water’s edge.

electric

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

From this reading The utmost enjoyment that he could allow himself in connection with this expedition was seeing the departure of the electric launch from the little staging at the water’s edge.

enjoyment

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

From this reading He calculated, without the aid of logarithms, that the little company would be absent for two hours, and he proposed spending twenty minutes of this space in the enjoyment of his solitary cigar on the lawn and the remaining hour and forty minutes on one of the long cane chairs in a bower over-clustered by clematis, blue and white, and hidden away from the intrusive enquiries of impressionable flies and impossible visitors.

enjoyments

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

From this reading He had no doubt that a visit to The Gables would have been very interesting--as a matter of fact he found most things in the world very interesting--but, as he remarked with a sigh that fully expressed his gratification at the thought, a busy man must make up his mind to forego a good many of those enjoyments which he most detested.

enquiries

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

From this reading He calculated, without the aid of logarithms, that the little company would be absent for two hours, and he proposed spending twenty minutes of this space in the enjoyment of his solitary cigar on the lawn and the remaining hour and forty minutes on one of the long cane chairs in a bower over-clustered by clematis, blue and white, and hidden away from the intrusive enquiries of impressionable flies and impossible visitors.

EvennounUS /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Even when he was living for two days in the retirement of his cottage on the bank of the River Thames, Sir Creighton Severn was too busy a man to find time to join the little company who set out in his launch on the Sunday to pay the visit which his daughter had promised to the new proprietor of The Gables.

expedition

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

From this reading The utmost enjoyment that he could allow himself in connection with this expedition was seeing the departure of the electric launch from the little staging at the water’s edge.

expressed

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

From this reading He had no doubt that a visit to The Gables would have been very interesting--as a matter of fact he found most things in the world very interesting--but, as he remarked with a sigh that fully expressed his gratification at the thought, a busy man must make up his mind to forego a good many of those enjoyments which he most detested.

fact

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

From this reading He had no doubt that a visit to The Gables would have been very interesting--as a matter of fact he found most things in the world very interesting--but, as he remarked with a sigh that fully expressed his gratification at the thought, a busy man must make up his mind to forego a good many of those enjoyments which he most detested.

find

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

From this reading Even when he was living for two days in the retirement of his cottage on the bank of the River Thames, Sir Creighton Severn was too busy a man to find time to join the little company who set out in his launch on the Sunday to pay the visit which his daughter had promised to the new proprietor of The Gables.

flies

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

From this reading He calculated, without the aid of logarithms, that the little company would be absent for two hours, and he proposed spending twenty minutes of this space in the enjoyment of his solitary cigar on the lawn and the remaining hour and forty minutes on one of the long cane chairs in a bower over-clustered by clematis, blue and white, and hidden away from the intrusive enquiries of impressionable flies and impossible visitors.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Even when he was living for two days in the retirement of his cottage on the bank of the River Thames, Sir Creighton Severn was too busy a man to find time to join the little company who set out in his launch on the Sunday to pay the visit which his daughter had promised to the new proprietor of The Gables.

forego

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

From this reading He had no doubt that a visit to The Gables would have been very interesting--as a matter of fact he found most things in the world very interesting--but, as he remarked with a sigh that fully expressed his gratification at the thought, a busy man must make up his mind to forego a good many of those enjoyments which he most detested.

forty

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

From this reading He calculated, without the aid of logarithms, that the little company would be absent for two hours, and he proposed spending twenty minutes of this space in the enjoyment of his solitary cigar on the lawn and the remaining hour and forty minutes on one of the long cane chairs in a bower over-clustered by clematis, blue and white, and hidden away from the intrusive enquiries of impressionable flies and impossible visitors.

forwardnounUS /forward/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He was not so utterly overwhelmed with business, however, but that he could look forward to two hours of solitude and slumber during their absence.

foundnounUS /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He had no doubt that a visit to The Gables would have been very interesting--as a matter of fact he found most things in the world very interesting--but, as he remarked with a sigh that fully expressed his gratification at the thought, a busy man must make up his mind to forego a good many of those enjoyments which he most detested.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading He calculated, without the aid of logarithms, that the little company would be absent for two hours, and he proposed spending twenty minutes of this space in the enjoyment of his solitary cigar on the lawn and the remaining hour and forty minutes on one of the long cane chairs in a bower over-clustered by clematis, blue and white, and hidden away from the intrusive enquiries of impressionable flies and impossible visitors.

fully

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

From this reading He had no doubt that a visit to The Gables would have been very interesting--as a matter of fact he found most things in the world very interesting--but, as he remarked with a sigh that fully expressed his gratification at the thought, a busy man must make up his mind to forego a good many of those enjoyments which he most detested.

Gables

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

From this reading Even when he was living for two days in the retirement of his cottage on the bank of the River Thames, Sir Creighton Severn was too busy a man to find time to join the little company who set out in his launch on the Sunday to pay the visit which his daughter had promised to the new proprietor of The Gables.

goodnounUS /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He had no doubt that a visit to The Gables would have been very interesting--as a matter of fact he found most things in the world very interesting--but, as he remarked with a sigh that fully expressed his gratification at the thought, a busy man must make up his mind to forego a good many of those enjoyments which he most detested.

gratification

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

From this reading He had no doubt that a visit to The Gables would have been very interesting--as a matter of fact he found most things in the world very interesting--but, as he remarked with a sigh that fully expressed his gratification at the thought, a busy man must make up his mind to forego a good many of those enjoyments which he most detested.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Even when he was living for two days in the retirement of his cottage on the bank of the River Thames, Sir Creighton Severn was too busy a man to find time to join the little company who set out in his launch on the Sunday to pay the visit which his daughter had promised to the new proprietor of The Gables.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading He had no doubt that a visit to The Gables would have been very interesting--as a matter of fact he found most things in the world very interesting--but, as he remarked with a sigh that fully expressed his gratification at the thought, a busy man must make up his mind to forego a good many of those enjoyments which he most detested.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Even when he was living for two days in the retirement of his cottage on the bank of the River Thames, Sir Creighton Severn was too busy a man to find time to join the little company who set out in his launch on the Sunday to pay the visit which his daughter had promised to the new proprietor of The Gables.

hidden

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

From this reading He calculated, without the aid of logarithms, that the little company would be absent for two hours, and he proposed spending twenty minutes of this space in the enjoyment of his solitary cigar on the lawn and the remaining hour and forty minutes on one of the long cane chairs in a bower over-clustered by clematis, blue and white, and hidden away from the intrusive enquiries of impressionable flies and impossible visitors.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading The utmost enjoyment that he could allow himself in connection with this expedition was seeing the departure of the electric launch from the little staging at the water’s edge.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Even when he was living for two days in the retirement of his cottage on the bank of the River Thames, Sir Creighton Severn was too busy a man to find time to join the little company who set out in his launch on the Sunday to pay the visit which his daughter had promised to the new proprietor of The Gables.

hour

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

From this reading He calculated, without the aid of logarithms, that the little company would be absent for two hours, and he proposed spending twenty minutes of this space in the enjoyment of his solitary cigar on the lawn and the remaining hour and forty minutes on one of the long cane chairs in a bower over-clustered by clematis, blue and white, and hidden away from the intrusive enquiries of impressionable flies and impossible visitors.

hours

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

From this reading He was not so utterly overwhelmed with business, however, but that he could look forward to two hours of solitude and slumber during their absence.

howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading He was not so utterly overwhelmed with business, however, but that he could look forward to two hours of solitude and slumber during their absence.

impossible

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

From this reading He calculated, without the aid of logarithms, that the little company would be absent for two hours, and he proposed spending twenty minutes of this space in the enjoyment of his solitary cigar on the lawn and the remaining hour and forty minutes on one of the long cane chairs in a bower over-clustered by clematis, blue and white, and hidden away from the intrusive enquiries of impressionable flies and impossible visitors.

impressionable

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

From this reading He calculated, without the aid of logarithms, that the little company would be absent for two hours, and he proposed spending twenty minutes of this space in the enjoyment of his solitary cigar on the lawn and the remaining hour and forty minutes on one of the long cane chairs in a bower over-clustered by clematis, blue and white, and hidden away from the intrusive enquiries of impressionable flies and impossible visitors.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Even when he was living for two days in the retirement of his cottage on the bank of the River Thames, Sir Creighton Severn was too busy a man to find time to join the little company who set out in his launch on the Sunday to pay the visit which his daughter had promised to the new proprietor of The Gables.

interesting

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

From this reading He had no doubt that a visit to The Gables would have been very interesting--as a matter of fact he found most things in the world very interesting--but, as he remarked with a sigh that fully expressed his gratification at the thought, a busy man must make up his mind to forego a good many of those enjoyments which he most detested.

intrusive

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

From this reading He calculated, without the aid of logarithms, that the little company would be absent for two hours, and he proposed spending twenty minutes of this space in the enjoyment of his solitary cigar on the lawn and the remaining hour and forty minutes on one of the long cane chairs in a bower over-clustered by clematis, blue and white, and hidden away from the intrusive enquiries of impressionable flies and impossible visitors.

join

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

From this reading Even when he was living for two days in the retirement of his cottage on the bank of the River Thames, Sir Creighton Severn was too busy a man to find time to join the little company who set out in his launch on the Sunday to pay the visit which his daughter had promised to the new proprietor of The Gables.

launch

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

From this reading Even when he was living for two days in the retirement of his cottage on the bank of the River Thames, Sir Creighton Severn was too busy a man to find time to join the little company who set out in his launch on the Sunday to pay the visit which his daughter had promised to the new proprietor of The Gables.

lawn

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

From this reading He calculated, without the aid of logarithms, that the little company would be absent for two hours, and he proposed spending twenty minutes of this space in the enjoyment of his solitary cigar on the lawn and the remaining hour and forty minutes on one of the long cane chairs in a bower over-clustered by clematis, blue and white, and hidden away from the intrusive enquiries of impressionable flies and impossible visitors.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Even when he was living for two days in the retirement of his cottage on the bank of the River Thames, Sir Creighton Severn was too busy a man to find time to join the little company who set out in his launch on the Sunday to pay the visit which his daughter had promised to the new proprietor of The Gables.

living

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

From this reading Even when he was living for two days in the retirement of his cottage on the bank of the River Thames, Sir Creighton Severn was too busy a man to find time to join the little company who set out in his launch on the Sunday to pay the visit which his daughter had promised to the new proprietor of The Gables.

logarithms

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

From this reading He calculated, without the aid of logarithms, that the little company would be absent for two hours, and he proposed spending twenty minutes of this space in the enjoyment of his solitary cigar on the lawn and the remaining hour and forty minutes on one of the long cane chairs in a bower over-clustered by clematis, blue and white, and hidden away from the intrusive enquiries of impressionable flies and impossible visitors.

longnounUS /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He calculated, without the aid of logarithms, that the little company would be absent for two hours, and he proposed spending twenty minutes of this space in the enjoyment of his solitary cigar on the lawn and the remaining hour and forty minutes on one of the long cane chairs in a bower over-clustered by clematis, blue and white, and hidden away from the intrusive enquiries of impressionable flies and impossible visitors.

looknounUS /look/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He was not so utterly overwhelmed with business, however, but that he could look forward to two hours of solitude and slumber during their absence.

makenounUS /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He had no doubt that a visit to The Gables would have been very interesting--as a matter of fact he found most things in the world very interesting--but, as he remarked with a sigh that fully expressed his gratification at the thought, a busy man must make up his mind to forego a good many of those enjoyments which he most detested.

man

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

From this reading Even when he was living for two days in the retirement of his cottage on the bank of the River Thames, Sir Creighton Severn was too busy a man to find time to join the little company who set out in his launch on the Sunday to pay the visit which his daughter had promised to the new proprietor of The Gables.

many

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

From this reading He had no doubt that a visit to The Gables would have been very interesting--as a matter of fact he found most things in the world very interesting--but, as he remarked with a sigh that fully expressed his gratification at the thought, a busy man must make up his mind to forego a good many of those enjoyments which he most detested.

matter

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

From this reading He had no doubt that a visit to The Gables would have been very interesting--as a matter of fact he found most things in the world very interesting--but, as he remarked with a sigh that fully expressed his gratification at the thought, a busy man must make up his mind to forego a good many of those enjoyments which he most detested.

mindnounUS /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He had no doubt that a visit to The Gables would have been very interesting--as a matter of fact he found most things in the world very interesting--but, as he remarked with a sigh that fully expressed his gratification at the thought, a busy man must make up his mind to forego a good many of those enjoyments which he most detested.

minutes

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

From this reading He calculated, without the aid of logarithms, that the little company would be absent for two hours, and he proposed spending twenty minutes of this space in the enjoyment of his solitary cigar on the lawn and the remaining hour and forty minutes on one of the long cane chairs in a bower over-clustered by clematis, blue and white, and hidden away from the intrusive enquiries of impressionable flies and impossible visitors.

most

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

From this reading He had no doubt that a visit to The Gables would have been very interesting--as a matter of fact he found most things in the world very interesting--but, as he remarked with a sigh that fully expressed his gratification at the thought, a busy man must make up his mind to forego a good many of those enjoyments which he most detested.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading He had no doubt that a visit to The Gables would have been very interesting--as a matter of fact he found most things in the world very interesting--but, as he remarked with a sigh that fully expressed his gratification at the thought, a busy man must make up his mind to forego a good many of those enjoyments which he most detested.

new

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

From this reading Even when he was living for two days in the retirement of his cottage on the bank of the River Thames, Sir Creighton Severn was too busy a man to find time to join the little company who set out in his launch on the Sunday to pay the visit which his daughter had promised to the new proprietor of The Gables.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading He had no doubt that a visit to The Gables would have been very interesting--as a matter of fact he found most things in the world very interesting--but, as he remarked with a sigh that fully expressed his gratification at the thought, a busy man must make up his mind to forego a good many of those enjoyments which he most detested.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading He was not so utterly overwhelmed with business, however, but that he could look forward to two hours of solitude and slumber during their absence.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Even when he was living for two days in the retirement of his cottage on the bank of the River Thames, Sir Creighton Severn was too busy a man to find time to join the little company who set out in his launch on the Sunday to pay the visit which his daughter had promised to the new proprietor of The Gables.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Even when he was living for two days in the retirement of his cottage on the bank of the River Thames, Sir Creighton Severn was too busy a man to find time to join the little company who set out in his launch on the Sunday to pay the visit which his daughter had promised to the new proprietor of The Gables.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading He calculated, without the aid of logarithms, that the little company would be absent for two hours, and he proposed spending twenty minutes of this space in the enjoyment of his solitary cigar on the lawn and the remaining hour and forty minutes on one of the long cane chairs in a bower over-clustered by clematis, blue and white, and hidden away from the intrusive enquiries of impressionable flies and impossible visitors.

out

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

From this reading Even when he was living for two days in the retirement of his cottage on the bank of the River Thames, Sir Creighton Severn was too busy a man to find time to join the little company who set out in his launch on the Sunday to pay the visit which his daughter had promised to the new proprietor of The Gables.

over-clustered

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

From this reading He calculated, without the aid of logarithms, that the little company would be absent for two hours, and he proposed spending twenty minutes of this space in the enjoyment of his solitary cigar on the lawn and the remaining hour and forty minutes on one of the long cane chairs in a bower over-clustered by clematis, blue and white, and hidden away from the intrusive enquiries of impressionable flies and impossible visitors.

overwhelmed

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

From this reading He was not so utterly overwhelmed with business, however, but that he could look forward to two hours of solitude and slumber during their absence.

pay

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

From this reading Even when he was living for two days in the retirement of his cottage on the bank of the River Thames, Sir Creighton Severn was too busy a man to find time to join the little company who set out in his launch on the Sunday to pay the visit which his daughter had promised to the new proprietor of The Gables.

promised

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

From this reading Even when he was living for two days in the retirement of his cottage on the bank of the River Thames, Sir Creighton Severn was too busy a man to find time to join the little company who set out in his launch on the Sunday to pay the visit which his daughter had promised to the new proprietor of The Gables.

proposed

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

From this reading He calculated, without the aid of logarithms, that the little company would be absent for two hours, and he proposed spending twenty minutes of this space in the enjoyment of his solitary cigar on the lawn and the remaining hour and forty minutes on one of the long cane chairs in a bower over-clustered by clematis, blue and white, and hidden away from the intrusive enquiries of impressionable flies and impossible visitors.

proprietor

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

From this reading Even when he was living for two days in the retirement of his cottage on the bank of the River Thames, Sir Creighton Severn was too busy a man to find time to join the little company who set out in his launch on the Sunday to pay the visit which his daughter had promised to the new proprietor of The Gables.

remaining

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

From this reading He calculated, without the aid of logarithms, that the little company would be absent for two hours, and he proposed spending twenty minutes of this space in the enjoyment of his solitary cigar on the lawn and the remaining hour and forty minutes on one of the long cane chairs in a bower over-clustered by clematis, blue and white, and hidden away from the intrusive enquiries of impressionable flies and impossible visitors.

remarked

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

From this reading He had no doubt that a visit to The Gables would have been very interesting--as a matter of fact he found most things in the world very interesting--but, as he remarked with a sigh that fully expressed his gratification at the thought, a busy man must make up his mind to forego a good many of those enjoyments which he most detested.

retirement

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

From this reading Even when he was living for two days in the retirement of his cottage on the bank of the River Thames, Sir Creighton Severn was too busy a man to find time to join the little company who set out in his launch on the Sunday to pay the visit which his daughter had promised to the new proprietor of The Gables.

River

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

From this reading Even when he was living for two days in the retirement of his cottage on the bank of the River Thames, Sir Creighton Severn was too busy a man to find time to join the little company who set out in his launch on the Sunday to pay the visit which his daughter had promised to the new proprietor of The Gables.

seeing

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

From this reading The utmost enjoyment that he could allow himself in connection with this expedition was seeing the departure of the electric launch from the little staging at the water’s edge.

set

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

From this reading Even when he was living for two days in the retirement of his cottage on the bank of the River Thames, Sir Creighton Severn was too busy a man to find time to join the little company who set out in his launch on the Sunday to pay the visit which his daughter had promised to the new proprietor of The Gables.

Severn

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

From this reading Even when he was living for two days in the retirement of his cottage on the bank of the River Thames, Sir Creighton Severn was too busy a man to find time to join the little company who set out in his launch on the Sunday to pay the visit which his daughter had promised to the new proprietor of The Gables.

sigh

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

From this reading He had no doubt that a visit to The Gables would have been very interesting--as a matter of fact he found most things in the world very interesting--but, as he remarked with a sigh that fully expressed his gratification at the thought, a busy man must make up his mind to forego a good many of those enjoyments which he most detested.

Sir

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

From this reading Even when he was living for two days in the retirement of his cottage on the bank of the River Thames, Sir Creighton Severn was too busy a man to find time to join the little company who set out in his launch on the Sunday to pay the visit which his daughter had promised to the new proprietor of The Gables.

slumber

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

From this reading He was not so utterly overwhelmed with business, however, but that he could look forward to two hours of solitude and slumber during their absence.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading He was not so utterly overwhelmed with business, however, but that he could look forward to two hours of solitude and slumber during their absence.

solitary

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

From this reading He calculated, without the aid of logarithms, that the little company would be absent for two hours, and he proposed spending twenty minutes of this space in the enjoyment of his solitary cigar on the lawn and the remaining hour and forty minutes on one of the long cane chairs in a bower over-clustered by clematis, blue and white, and hidden away from the intrusive enquiries of impressionable flies and impossible visitors.

solitude

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

From this reading He was not so utterly overwhelmed with business, however, but that he could look forward to two hours of solitude and slumber during their absence.

space

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

From this reading He calculated, without the aid of logarithms, that the little company would be absent for two hours, and he proposed spending twenty minutes of this space in the enjoyment of his solitary cigar on the lawn and the remaining hour and forty minutes on one of the long cane chairs in a bower over-clustered by clematis, blue and white, and hidden away from the intrusive enquiries of impressionable flies and impossible visitors.

spendingnounUS /ˈspending/

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

From this reading He calculated, without the aid of logarithms, that the little company would be absent for two hours, and he proposed spending twenty minutes of this space in the enjoyment of his solitary cigar on the lawn and the remaining hour and forty minutes on one of the long cane chairs in a bower over-clustered by clematis, blue and white, and hidden away from the intrusive enquiries of impressionable flies and impossible visitors.

staging

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

From this reading The utmost enjoyment that he could allow himself in connection with this expedition was seeing the departure of the electric launch from the little staging at the water’s edge.

Sunday

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

From this reading Even when he was living for two days in the retirement of his cottage on the bank of the River Thames, Sir Creighton Severn was too busy a man to find time to join the little company who set out in his launch on the Sunday to pay the visit which his daughter had promised to the new proprietor of The Gables.

Thames

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

From this reading Even when he was living for two days in the retirement of his cottage on the bank of the River Thames, Sir Creighton Severn was too busy a man to find time to join the little company who set out in his launch on the Sunday to pay the visit which his daughter had promised to the new proprietor of The Gables.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He was not so utterly overwhelmed with business, however, but that he could look forward to two hours of solitude and slumber during their absence.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Even when he was living for two days in the retirement of his cottage on the bank of the River Thames, Sir Creighton Severn was too busy a man to find time to join the little company who set out in his launch on the Sunday to pay the visit which his daughter had promised to the new proprietor of The Gables.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading He was not so utterly overwhelmed with business, however, but that he could look forward to two hours of solitude and slumber during their absence.

things

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

From this reading He had no doubt that a visit to The Gables would have been very interesting--as a matter of fact he found most things in the world very interesting--but, as he remarked with a sigh that fully expressed his gratification at the thought, a busy man must make up his mind to forego a good many of those enjoyments which he most detested.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading He calculated, without the aid of logarithms, that the little company would be absent for two hours, and he proposed spending twenty minutes of this space in the enjoyment of his solitary cigar on the lawn and the remaining hour and forty minutes on one of the long cane chairs in a bower over-clustered by clematis, blue and white, and hidden away from the intrusive enquiries of impressionable flies and impossible visitors.

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading He had no doubt that a visit to The Gables would have been very interesting--as a matter of fact he found most things in the world very interesting--but, as he remarked with a sigh that fully expressed his gratification at the thought, a busy man must make up his mind to forego a good many of those enjoyments which he most detested.

thoughtnounUS /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He had no doubt that a visit to The Gables would have been very interesting--as a matter of fact he found most things in the world very interesting--but, as he remarked with a sigh that fully expressed his gratification at the thought, a busy man must make up his mind to forego a good many of those enjoyments which he most detested.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Even when he was living for two days in the retirement of his cottage on the bank of the River Thames, Sir Creighton Severn was too busy a man to find time to join the little company who set out in his launch on the Sunday to pay the visit which his daughter had promised to the new proprietor of The Gables.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Even when he was living for two days in the retirement of his cottage on the bank of the River Thames, Sir Creighton Severn was too busy a man to find time to join the little company who set out in his launch on the Sunday to pay the visit which his daughter had promised to the new proprietor of The Gables.

too

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

From this reading Even when he was living for two days in the retirement of his cottage on the bank of the River Thames, Sir Creighton Severn was too busy a man to find time to join the little company who set out in his launch on the Sunday to pay the visit which his daughter had promised to the new proprietor of The Gables.

twenty

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

From this reading He calculated, without the aid of logarithms, that the little company would be absent for two hours, and he proposed spending twenty minutes of this space in the enjoyment of his solitary cigar on the lawn and the remaining hour and forty minutes on one of the long cane chairs in a bower over-clustered by clematis, blue and white, and hidden away from the intrusive enquiries of impressionable flies and impossible visitors.

two

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

From this reading Even when he was living for two days in the retirement of his cottage on the bank of the River Thames, Sir Creighton Severn was too busy a man to find time to join the little company who set out in his launch on the Sunday to pay the visit which his daughter had promised to the new proprietor of The Gables.

up

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

From this reading He had no doubt that a visit to The Gables would have been very interesting--as a matter of fact he found most things in the world very interesting--but, as he remarked with a sigh that fully expressed his gratification at the thought, a busy man must make up his mind to forego a good many of those enjoyments which he most detested.

utmost

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

From this reading The utmost enjoyment that he could allow himself in connection with this expedition was seeing the departure of the electric launch from the little staging at the water’s edge.

utterly

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

From this reading He was not so utterly overwhelmed with business, however, but that he could look forward to two hours of solitude and slumber during their absence.

very

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

From this reading He had no doubt that a visit to The Gables would have been very interesting--as a matter of fact he found most things in the world very interesting--but, as he remarked with a sigh that fully expressed his gratification at the thought, a busy man must make up his mind to forego a good many of those enjoyments which he most detested.

visit

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

From this reading Even when he was living for two days in the retirement of his cottage on the bank of the River Thames, Sir Creighton Severn was too busy a man to find time to join the little company who set out in his launch on the Sunday to pay the visit which his daughter had promised to the new proprietor of The Gables.

visitors

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

From this reading He calculated, without the aid of logarithms, that the little company would be absent for two hours, and he proposed spending twenty minutes of this space in the enjoyment of his solitary cigar on the lawn and the remaining hour and forty minutes on one of the long cane chairs in a bower over-clustered by clematis, blue and white, and hidden away from the intrusive enquiries of impressionable flies and impossible visitors.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Even when he was living for two days in the retirement of his cottage on the bank of the River Thames, Sir Creighton Severn was too busy a man to find time to join the little company who set out in his launch on the Sunday to pay the visit which his daughter had promised to the new proprietor of The Gables.

water's

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

From this reading The utmost enjoyment that he could allow himself in connection with this expedition was seeing the departure of the electric launch from the little staging at the water’s edge.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading Even when he was living for two days in the retirement of his cottage on the bank of the River Thames, Sir Creighton Severn was too busy a man to find time to join the little company who set out in his launch on the Sunday to pay the visit which his daughter had promised to the new proprietor of The Gables.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading Even when he was living for two days in the retirement of his cottage on the bank of the River Thames, Sir Creighton Severn was too busy a man to find time to join the little company who set out in his launch on the Sunday to pay the visit which his daughter had promised to the new proprietor of The Gables.

white

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

From this reading He calculated, without the aid of logarithms, that the little company would be absent for two hours, and he proposed spending twenty minutes of this space in the enjoyment of his solitary cigar on the lawn and the remaining hour and forty minutes on one of the long cane chairs in a bower over-clustered by clematis, blue and white, and hidden away from the intrusive enquiries of impressionable flies and impossible visitors.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading Even when he was living for two days in the retirement of his cottage on the bank of the River Thames, Sir Creighton Severn was too busy a man to find time to join the little company who set out in his launch on the Sunday to pay the visit which his daughter had promised to the new proprietor of The Gables.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading He was not so utterly overwhelmed with business, however, but that he could look forward to two hours of solitude and slumber during their absence.

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading He calculated, without the aid of logarithms, that the little company would be absent for two hours, and he proposed spending twenty minutes of this space in the enjoyment of his solitary cigar on the lawn and the remaining hour and forty minutes on one of the long cane chairs in a bower over-clustered by clematis, blue and white, and hidden away from the intrusive enquiries of impressionable flies and impossible visitors.

world

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

From this reading He had no doubt that a visit to The Gables would have been very interesting--as a matter of fact he found most things in the world very interesting--but, as he remarked with a sigh that fully expressed his gratification at the thought, a busy man must make up his mind to forego a good many of those enjoyments which he most detested.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading He calculated, without the aid of logarithms, that the little company would be absent for two hours, and he proposed spending twenty minutes of this space in the enjoyment of his solitary cigar on the lawn and the remaining hour and forty minutes on one of the long cane chairs in a bower over-clustered by clematis, blue and white, and hidden away from the intrusive enquiries of impressionable flies and impossible visitors.