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An Ambitious Man
An Ambitious Man

Chapter II

Cover illustration for An Ambitious Man
Context Illustration Reading 1/21 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
BERENE had been several months in her new home when Preston Cheney came to lodge at the Palace.
He met her on the stairway the first morning after his arrival, as he was descending to the street door.
Bringing up a tray covered with a snowy napkin, she stepped to one side and paused, to make room for him to pass.
Preston was not one of those young men who find pastime in flirtations with nursery maids or kitchen girls.
The very thought of it offended his good taste.
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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.

An Ambitious Man

Chapter II

Reading 1/21 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
BERENE had been several months in her new home when Preston Cheney came to lodge at the Palace.
Line 2
He met her on the stairway the first morning after his arrival, as he was descending to the street door.
Line 3
Bringing up a tray covered with a snowy napkin, she stepped to one side and paused, to make room for him to pass.
Line 4
Preston was not one of those young men who find pastime in flirtations with nursery maids or kitchen girls.
Line 5
The very thought of it offended his good taste.

Learner Dictionary

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

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “He met her on the stairway the first morning after his arrival, as he was descending to the street door.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “BERENE had been several months in her new home when Preston Cheney came to lodge at the Palace.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He met her on the stairway the first morning after his arrival, as he was descending to the street door.”

Good noun US /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The very thought of it offended his good taste.”

Make noun US /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Bringing up a tray covered with a snowy napkin, she stepped to one side and paused, to make room for him to pass.”

Morning noun US /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He met her on the stairway the first morning after his arrival, as he was descending to the street door.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “Bringing up a tray covered with a snowy napkin, she stepped to one side and paused, to make room for him to pass.”

Several noun US /ˈseveral/

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

From this reading “BERENE had been several months in her new home when Preston Cheney came to lodge at the Palace.”

Taste verb US /teɪst/

To perceive flavor through the mouth.

From this reading “The very thought of it offended his good taste.”

Those determiner US /ðoʊz/

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

From this reading “Preston was not one of those young men who find pastime in flirtations with nursery maids or kitchen girls.”

Thought noun US /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The very thought of it offended his good taste.”

All words in this reading · 71

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 Bringing up a tray covered with a snowy napkin, she stepped to one side and paused, to make room for him to pass.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading He met her on the stairway the first morning after his arrival, as he was descending to the street door.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Bringing up a tray covered with a snowy napkin, she stepped to one side and paused, to make room for him to pass.

arrival

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

From this reading He met her on the stairway the first morning after his arrival, as he was descending to the street door.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading He met her on the stairway the first morning after his arrival, as he was descending to the street door.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading BERENE had been several months in her new home when Preston Cheney came to lodge at the Palace.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading BERENE had been several months in her new home when Preston Cheney came to lodge at the Palace.

BERENE

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

From this reading BERENE had been several months in her new home when Preston Cheney came to lodge at the Palace.

Bringing

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

From this reading Bringing up a tray covered with a snowy napkin, she stepped to one side and paused, to make room for him to pass.

came

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

From this reading BERENE had been several months in her new home when Preston Cheney came to lodge at the Palace.

Cheney

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

From this reading BERENE had been several months in her new home when Preston Cheney came to lodge at the Palace.

covered

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

From this reading Bringing up a tray covered with a snowy napkin, she stepped to one side and paused, to make room for him to pass.

descending

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

From this reading He met her on the stairway the first morning after his arrival, as he was descending to the street door.

door

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

From this reading He met her on the stairway the first morning after his arrival, as he was descending to the street door.

find

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

From this reading Preston was not one of those young men who find pastime in flirtations with nursery maids or kitchen girls.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He met her on the stairway the first morning after his arrival, as he was descending to the street door.

flirtations

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

From this reading Preston was not one of those young men who find pastime in flirtations with nursery maids or kitchen girls.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Bringing up a tray covered with a snowy napkin, she stepped to one side and paused, to make room for him to pass.

girls

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

From this reading Preston was not one of those young men who find pastime in flirtations with nursery maids or kitchen girls.

goodnounUS /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The very thought of it offended his good taste.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading BERENE had been several months in her new home when Preston Cheney came to lodge at the Palace.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He met her on the stairway the first morning after his arrival, as he was descending to the street door.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading BERENE had been several months in her new home when Preston Cheney came to lodge at the Palace.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading Bringing up a tray covered with a snowy napkin, she stepped to one side and paused, to make room for him to pass.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading He met her on the stairway the first morning after his arrival, as he was descending to the street door.

home

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

From this reading BERENE had been several months in her new home when Preston Cheney came to lodge at the Palace.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading BERENE had been several months in her new home when Preston Cheney came to lodge at the Palace.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading The very thought of it offended his good taste.

kitchen

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

From this reading Preston was not one of those young men who find pastime in flirtations with nursery maids or kitchen girls.

lodge

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

From this reading BERENE had been several months in her new home when Preston Cheney came to lodge at the Palace.

maids

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

From this reading Preston was not one of those young men who find pastime in flirtations with nursery maids or kitchen girls.

makenounUS /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Bringing up a tray covered with a snowy napkin, she stepped to one side and paused, to make room for him to pass.

men

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

From this reading Preston was not one of those young men who find pastime in flirtations with nursery maids or kitchen girls.

met

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

From this reading He met her on the stairway the first morning after his arrival, as he was descending to the street door.

months

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

From this reading BERENE had been several months in her new home when Preston Cheney came to lodge at the Palace.

morningnounUS /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He met her on the stairway the first morning after his arrival, as he was descending to the street door.

napkin

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

From this reading Bringing up a tray covered with a snowy napkin, she stepped to one side and paused, to make room for him to pass.

new

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

From this reading BERENE had been several months in her new home when Preston Cheney came to lodge at the Palace.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Preston was not one of those young men who find pastime in flirtations with nursery maids or kitchen girls.

nursery

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

From this reading Preston was not one of those young men who find pastime in flirtations with nursery maids or kitchen girls.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Preston was not one of those young men who find pastime in flirtations with nursery maids or kitchen girls.

offended

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

From this reading The very thought of it offended his good taste.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading He met her on the stairway the first morning after his arrival, as he was descending to the street door.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Bringing up a tray covered with a snowy napkin, she stepped to one side and paused, to make room for him to pass.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Preston was not one of those young men who find pastime in flirtations with nursery maids or kitchen girls.

Palace

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

From this reading BERENE had been several months in her new home when Preston Cheney came to lodge at the Palace.

pass

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

From this reading Bringing up a tray covered with a snowy napkin, she stepped to one side and paused, to make room for him to pass.

pastime

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

From this reading Preston was not one of those young men who find pastime in flirtations with nursery maids or kitchen girls.

paused

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

From this reading Bringing up a tray covered with a snowy napkin, she stepped to one side and paused, to make room for him to pass.

Preston

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

From this reading BERENE had been several months in her new home when Preston Cheney came to lodge at the Palace.

room

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

From this reading Bringing up a tray covered with a snowy napkin, she stepped to one side and paused, to make room for him to pass.

several

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

From this reading BERENE had been several months in her new home when Preston Cheney came to lodge at the Palace.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading Bringing up a tray covered with a snowy napkin, she stepped to one side and paused, to make room for him to pass.

side

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

From this reading Bringing up a tray covered with a snowy napkin, she stepped to one side and paused, to make room for him to pass.

snowy

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

From this reading Bringing up a tray covered with a snowy napkin, she stepped to one side and paused, to make room for him to pass.

stairway

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

From this reading He met her on the stairway the first morning after his arrival, as he was descending to the street door.

stepped

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

From this reading Bringing up a tray covered with a snowy napkin, she stepped to one side and paused, to make room for him to pass.

street

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

From this reading He met her on the stairway the first morning after his arrival, as he was descending to the street door.

tasteverbUS /teɪst/

To perceive flavor through the mouth.

From this reading The very thought of it offended his good taste.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading BERENE had been several months in her new home when Preston Cheney came to lodge at the Palace.

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

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

From this reading Preston was not one of those young men who find pastime in flirtations with nursery maids or kitchen girls.

thoughtnounUS /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The very thought of it offended his good taste.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading BERENE had been several months in her new home when Preston Cheney came to lodge at the Palace.

tray

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

From this reading Bringing up a tray covered with a snowy napkin, she stepped to one side and paused, to make room for him to pass.

up

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

From this reading Bringing up a tray covered with a snowy napkin, she stepped to one side and paused, to make room for him to pass.

very

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

From this reading The very thought of it offended his good taste.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading He met her on the stairway the first morning after his arrival, as he was descending to the street door.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading BERENE had been several months in her new home when Preston Cheney came to lodge at the Palace.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading Preston was not one of those young men who find pastime in flirtations with nursery maids or kitchen girls.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Bringing up a tray covered with a snowy napkin, she stepped to one side and paused, to make room for him to pass.

young

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

From this reading Preston was not one of those young men who find pastime in flirtations with nursery maids or kitchen girls.