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An Original Belle
An Original Belle

Chapter VI

Cover illustration for An Original Belle
Context Illustration Reading 1/74 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
CHARMED BY A CRITIC.
"WHAT next?" was Marian's wondering query after Mr. Strahan's departure.
The change of motive which already had had no slight influence on her own action and feeling had apparently ushered in a new era in her experience; but the sense of novelty in personal affairs was quite lost as she contemplated the transformation in the mercurial Strahan, who had apparently been an irredeemable fop.
That the fastidious exquisite should tramp through Virginia mud, and face a battery of hostile cannon, appeared to her the most marvellous of human paradoxes.
An hour before she would have declared the idea preposterous.
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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 Original Belle

Chapter VI

Reading 1/74 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
CHARMED BY A CRITIC.
Line 2
"WHAT next?" was Marian's wondering query after Mr. Strahan's departure.
Line 3
The change of motive which already had had no slight influence on her own action and feeling had apparently ushered in a new era in her experience; but the sense of novelty in personal affairs was quite lost as she contemplated the transformation in the mercurial Strahan, who had apparently been an irredeemable fop.
Line 4
That the fastidious exquisite should tramp through Virginia mud, and face a battery of hostile cannon, appeared to her the most marvellous of human paradoxes.
Line 5
An hour before she would have declared the idea preposterous.

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 “"WHAT next?" was Marian's wondering query after Mr. Strahan's departure.”

Already noun US /already/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The change of motive which already had had no slight influence on her own action and feeling had apparently ushered in a new era in her experience; but the sense of novelty in personal affairs was quite lost as she contemplated the transformation in the mercurial Strahan, who had apparently been an irredeemable fop.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “The change of motive which already had had no slight influence on her own action and feeling had apparently ushered in a new era in her experience; but the sense of novelty in personal affairs was quite lost as she contemplated the transformation in the mercurial Strahan, who had apparently been an irredeemable fop.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “An hour before she would have declared the idea preposterous.”

Feeling noun US /ˈfeeling/

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

From this reading “The change of motive which already had had no slight influence on her own action and feeling had apparently ushered in a new era in her experience; but the sense of novelty in personal affairs was quite lost as she contemplated the transformation in the mercurial Strahan, who had apparently been an irredeemable fop.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “An hour before she would have declared the idea preposterous.”

Next noun US /next/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"WHAT next?" was Marian's wondering query after Mr. Strahan's departure.”

Quite noun US /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The change of motive which already had had no slight influence on her own action and feeling had apparently ushered in a new era in her experience; but the sense of novelty in personal affairs was quite lost as she contemplated the transformation in the mercurial Strahan, who had apparently been an irredeemable fop.”

Through noun US /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading “That the fastidious exquisite should tramp through Virginia mud, and face a battery of hostile cannon, appeared to her the most marvellous of human paradoxes.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “An hour before she would have declared the idea preposterous.”

All words in this reading · 79

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 CHARMED BY A CRITIC.

action

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

From this reading The change of motive which already had had no slight influence on her own action and feeling had apparently ushered in a new era in her experience; but the sense of novelty in personal affairs was quite lost as she contemplated the transformation in the mercurial Strahan, who had apparently been an irredeemable fop.

affairs

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

From this reading The change of motive which already had had no slight influence on her own action and feeling had apparently ushered in a new era in her experience; but the sense of novelty in personal affairs was quite lost as she contemplated the transformation in the mercurial Strahan, who had apparently been an irredeemable fop.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading "WHAT next?" was Marian's wondering query after Mr. Strahan's departure.

alreadynounUS /already/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The change of motive which already had had no slight influence on her own action and feeling had apparently ushered in a new era in her experience; but the sense of novelty in personal affairs was quite lost as she contemplated the transformation in the mercurial Strahan, who had apparently been an irredeemable fop.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading The change of motive which already had had no slight influence on her own action and feeling had apparently ushered in a new era in her experience; but the sense of novelty in personal affairs was quite lost as she contemplated the transformation in the mercurial Strahan, who had apparently been an irredeemable fop.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The change of motive which already had had no slight influence on her own action and feeling had apparently ushered in a new era in her experience; but the sense of novelty in personal affairs was quite lost as she contemplated the transformation in the mercurial Strahan, who had apparently been an irredeemable fop.

apparently

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

From this reading The change of motive which already had had no slight influence on her own action and feeling had apparently ushered in a new era in her experience; but the sense of novelty in personal affairs was quite lost as she contemplated the transformation in the mercurial Strahan, who had apparently been an irredeemable fop.

appeared

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

From this reading That the fastidious exquisite should tramp through Virginia mud, and face a battery of hostile cannon, appeared to her the most marvellous of human paradoxes.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading The change of motive which already had had no slight influence on her own action and feeling had apparently ushered in a new era in her experience; but the sense of novelty in personal affairs was quite lost as she contemplated the transformation in the mercurial Strahan, who had apparently been an irredeemable fop.

battery

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

From this reading That the fastidious exquisite should tramp through Virginia mud, and face a battery of hostile cannon, appeared to her the most marvellous of human paradoxes.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading The change of motive which already had had no slight influence on her own action and feeling had apparently ushered in a new era in her experience; but the sense of novelty in personal affairs was quite lost as she contemplated the transformation in the mercurial Strahan, who had apparently been an irredeemable fop.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading An hour before she would have declared the idea preposterous.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading The change of motive which already had had no slight influence on her own action and feeling had apparently ushered in a new era in her experience; but the sense of novelty in personal affairs was quite lost as she contemplated the transformation in the mercurial Strahan, who had apparently been an irredeemable fop.

BYprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading CHARMED BY A CRITIC.

cannon

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

From this reading That the fastidious exquisite should tramp through Virginia mud, and face a battery of hostile cannon, appeared to her the most marvellous of human paradoxes.

change

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

From this reading The change of motive which already had had no slight influence on her own action and feeling had apparently ushered in a new era in her experience; but the sense of novelty in personal affairs was quite lost as she contemplated the transformation in the mercurial Strahan, who had apparently been an irredeemable fop.

CHARMED

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

From this reading CHARMED BY A CRITIC.

contemplated

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

From this reading The change of motive which already had had no slight influence on her own action and feeling had apparently ushered in a new era in her experience; but the sense of novelty in personal affairs was quite lost as she contemplated the transformation in the mercurial Strahan, who had apparently been an irredeemable fop.

CRITIC

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

From this reading CHARMED BY A CRITIC.

declared

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

From this reading An hour before she would have declared the idea preposterous.

departure

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

From this reading "WHAT next?" was Marian's wondering query after Mr. Strahan's departure.

era

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

From this reading The change of motive which already had had no slight influence on her own action and feeling had apparently ushered in a new era in her experience; but the sense of novelty in personal affairs was quite lost as she contemplated the transformation in the mercurial Strahan, who had apparently been an irredeemable fop.

experience

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

From this reading The change of motive which already had had no slight influence on her own action and feeling had apparently ushered in a new era in her experience; but the sense of novelty in personal affairs was quite lost as she contemplated the transformation in the mercurial Strahan, who had apparently been an irredeemable fop.

exquisite

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

From this reading That the fastidious exquisite should tramp through Virginia mud, and face a battery of hostile cannon, appeared to her the most marvellous of human paradoxes.

face

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

From this reading That the fastidious exquisite should tramp through Virginia mud, and face a battery of hostile cannon, appeared to her the most marvellous of human paradoxes.

fastidious

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

From this reading That the fastidious exquisite should tramp through Virginia mud, and face a battery of hostile cannon, appeared to her the most marvellous of human paradoxes.

feelingnounUS /ˈfeeling/

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

From this reading The change of motive which already had had no slight influence on her own action and feeling had apparently ushered in a new era in her experience; but the sense of novelty in personal affairs was quite lost as she contemplated the transformation in the mercurial Strahan, who had apparently been an irredeemable fop.

fop

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

From this reading The change of motive which already had had no slight influence on her own action and feeling had apparently ushered in a new era in her experience; but the sense of novelty in personal affairs was quite lost as she contemplated the transformation in the mercurial Strahan, who had apparently been an irredeemable fop.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading The change of motive which already had had no slight influence on her own action and feeling had apparently ushered in a new era in her experience; but the sense of novelty in personal affairs was quite lost as she contemplated the transformation in the mercurial Strahan, who had apparently been an irredeemable fop.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading An hour before she would have declared the idea preposterous.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading The change of motive which already had had no slight influence on her own action and feeling had apparently ushered in a new era in her experience; but the sense of novelty in personal affairs was quite lost as she contemplated the transformation in the mercurial Strahan, who had apparently been an irredeemable fop.

hostile

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

From this reading That the fastidious exquisite should tramp through Virginia mud, and face a battery of hostile cannon, appeared to her the most marvellous of human paradoxes.

hour

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

From this reading An hour before she would have declared the idea preposterous.

human

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

From this reading That the fastidious exquisite should tramp through Virginia mud, and face a battery of hostile cannon, appeared to her the most marvellous of human paradoxes.

idea

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

From this reading An hour before she would have declared the idea preposterous.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The change of motive which already had had no slight influence on her own action and feeling had apparently ushered in a new era in her experience; but the sense of novelty in personal affairs was quite lost as she contemplated the transformation in the mercurial Strahan, who had apparently been an irredeemable fop.

influence

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

From this reading The change of motive which already had had no slight influence on her own action and feeling had apparently ushered in a new era in her experience; but the sense of novelty in personal affairs was quite lost as she contemplated the transformation in the mercurial Strahan, who had apparently been an irredeemable fop.

irredeemable

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

From this reading The change of motive which already had had no slight influence on her own action and feeling had apparently ushered in a new era in her experience; but the sense of novelty in personal affairs was quite lost as she contemplated the transformation in the mercurial Strahan, who had apparently been an irredeemable fop.

lost

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

From this reading The change of motive which already had had no slight influence on her own action and feeling had apparently ushered in a new era in her experience; but the sense of novelty in personal affairs was quite lost as she contemplated the transformation in the mercurial Strahan, who had apparently been an irredeemable fop.

Marian's

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

From this reading "WHAT next?" was Marian's wondering query after Mr. Strahan's departure.

marvellous

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

From this reading That the fastidious exquisite should tramp through Virginia mud, and face a battery of hostile cannon, appeared to her the most marvellous of human paradoxes.

mercurial

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

From this reading The change of motive which already had had no slight influence on her own action and feeling had apparently ushered in a new era in her experience; but the sense of novelty in personal affairs was quite lost as she contemplated the transformation in the mercurial Strahan, who had apparently been an irredeemable fop.

most

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

From this reading That the fastidious exquisite should tramp through Virginia mud, and face a battery of hostile cannon, appeared to her the most marvellous of human paradoxes.

motive

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

From this reading The change of motive which already had had no slight influence on her own action and feeling had apparently ushered in a new era in her experience; but the sense of novelty in personal affairs was quite lost as she contemplated the transformation in the mercurial Strahan, who had apparently been an irredeemable fop.

Mr

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

From this reading "WHAT next?" was Marian's wondering query after Mr. Strahan's departure.

mud

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

From this reading That the fastidious exquisite should tramp through Virginia mud, and face a battery of hostile cannon, appeared to her the most marvellous of human paradoxes.

new

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

From this reading The change of motive which already had had no slight influence on her own action and feeling had apparently ushered in a new era in her experience; but the sense of novelty in personal affairs was quite lost as she contemplated the transformation in the mercurial Strahan, who had apparently been an irredeemable fop.

nextnounUS /next/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "WHAT next?" was Marian's wondering query after Mr. Strahan's departure.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading The change of motive which already had had no slight influence on her own action and feeling had apparently ushered in a new era in her experience; but the sense of novelty in personal affairs was quite lost as she contemplated the transformation in the mercurial Strahan, who had apparently been an irredeemable fop.

novelty

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

From this reading The change of motive which already had had no slight influence on her own action and feeling had apparently ushered in a new era in her experience; but the sense of novelty in personal affairs was quite lost as she contemplated the transformation in the mercurial Strahan, who had apparently been an irredeemable fop.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The change of motive which already had had no slight influence on her own action and feeling had apparently ushered in a new era in her experience; but the sense of novelty in personal affairs was quite lost as she contemplated the transformation in the mercurial Strahan, who had apparently been an irredeemable fop.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The change of motive which already had had no slight influence on her own action and feeling had apparently ushered in a new era in her experience; but the sense of novelty in personal affairs was quite lost as she contemplated the transformation in the mercurial Strahan, who had apparently been an irredeemable fop.

own

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

From this reading The change of motive which already had had no slight influence on her own action and feeling had apparently ushered in a new era in her experience; but the sense of novelty in personal affairs was quite lost as she contemplated the transformation in the mercurial Strahan, who had apparently been an irredeemable fop.

paradoxes

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

From this reading That the fastidious exquisite should tramp through Virginia mud, and face a battery of hostile cannon, appeared to her the most marvellous of human paradoxes.

personal

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

From this reading The change of motive which already had had no slight influence on her own action and feeling had apparently ushered in a new era in her experience; but the sense of novelty in personal affairs was quite lost as she contemplated the transformation in the mercurial Strahan, who had apparently been an irredeemable fop.

preposterous

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

From this reading An hour before she would have declared the idea preposterous.

query

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

From this reading "WHAT next?" was Marian's wondering query after Mr. Strahan's departure.

quitenounUS /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The change of motive which already had had no slight influence on her own action and feeling had apparently ushered in a new era in her experience; but the sense of novelty in personal affairs was quite lost as she contemplated the transformation in the mercurial Strahan, who had apparently been an irredeemable fop.

sense

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

From this reading The change of motive which already had had no slight influence on her own action and feeling had apparently ushered in a new era in her experience; but the sense of novelty in personal affairs was quite lost as she contemplated the transformation in the mercurial Strahan, who had apparently been an irredeemable fop.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading The change of motive which already had had no slight influence on her own action and feeling had apparently ushered in a new era in her experience; but the sense of novelty in personal affairs was quite lost as she contemplated the transformation in the mercurial Strahan, who had apparently been an irredeemable fop.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading That the fastidious exquisite should tramp through Virginia mud, and face a battery of hostile cannon, appeared to her the most marvellous of human paradoxes.

slight

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

From this reading The change of motive which already had had no slight influence on her own action and feeling had apparently ushered in a new era in her experience; but the sense of novelty in personal affairs was quite lost as she contemplated the transformation in the mercurial Strahan, who had apparently been an irredeemable fop.

Strahan

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

From this reading The change of motive which already had had no slight influence on her own action and feeling had apparently ushered in a new era in her experience; but the sense of novelty in personal affairs was quite lost as she contemplated the transformation in the mercurial Strahan, who had apparently been an irredeemable fop.

Strahan's

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

From this reading "WHAT next?" was Marian's wondering query after Mr. Strahan's departure.

ThatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading That the fastidious exquisite should tramp through Virginia mud, and face a battery of hostile cannon, appeared to her the most marvellous of human paradoxes.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The change of motive which already had had no slight influence on her own action and feeling had apparently ushered in a new era in her experience; but the sense of novelty in personal affairs was quite lost as she contemplated the transformation in the mercurial Strahan, who had apparently been an irredeemable fop.

throughnounUS /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading That the fastidious exquisite should tramp through Virginia mud, and face a battery of hostile cannon, appeared to her the most marvellous of human paradoxes.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading That the fastidious exquisite should tramp through Virginia mud, and face a battery of hostile cannon, appeared to her the most marvellous of human paradoxes.

tramp

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

From this reading That the fastidious exquisite should tramp through Virginia mud, and face a battery of hostile cannon, appeared to her the most marvellous of human paradoxes.

transformation

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

From this reading The change of motive which already had had no slight influence on her own action and feeling had apparently ushered in a new era in her experience; but the sense of novelty in personal affairs was quite lost as she contemplated the transformation in the mercurial Strahan, who had apparently been an irredeemable fop.

ushered

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

From this reading The change of motive which already had had no slight influence on her own action and feeling had apparently ushered in a new era in her experience; but the sense of novelty in personal affairs was quite lost as she contemplated the transformation in the mercurial Strahan, who had apparently been an irredeemable fop.

Virginia

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

From this reading That the fastidious exquisite should tramp through Virginia mud, and face a battery of hostile cannon, appeared to her the most marvellous of human paradoxes.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading "WHAT next?" was Marian's wondering query after Mr. Strahan's departure.

WHATpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading "WHAT next?" was Marian's wondering query after Mr. Strahan's departure.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading The change of motive which already had had no slight influence on her own action and feeling had apparently ushered in a new era in her experience; but the sense of novelty in personal affairs was quite lost as she contemplated the transformation in the mercurial Strahan, who had apparently been an irredeemable fop.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading The change of motive which already had had no slight influence on her own action and feeling had apparently ushered in a new era in her experience; but the sense of novelty in personal affairs was quite lost as she contemplated the transformation in the mercurial Strahan, who had apparently been an irredeemable fop.

wondering

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

From this reading "WHAT next?" was Marian's wondering query after Mr. Strahan's departure.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading An hour before she would have declared the idea preposterous.