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Armadale
Armadale

Chapter XX

Cover illustration for Armadale
Context Illustration Reading 1/74 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
When the dinner hour united the traveling companions again in their sitting-room at the hotel, a far less acute observer than young Pedgift must have noticed the marked change that appeared in Allan’s manner.
He looked vexed and puzzled, and sat drumming with his fingers on the dining-table without uttering a word.
“I’m afraid something has happened to annoy you, sir, since we parted company in the Park?” said Pedgift Junior.
“Excuse the question; I only ask it in case I can be of any use.”
“Something that I never expected has happened,” returned Allan; “I don’t know what to make of it.
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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.

Armadale

Chapter XX

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

Line 1
When the dinner hour united the traveling companions again in their sitting-room at the hotel, a far less acute observer than young Pedgift must have noticed the marked change that appeared in Allan’s manner.
Line 2
He looked vexed and puzzled, and sat drumming with his fingers on the dining-table without uttering a word.
Line 3
“I’m afraid something has happened to annoy you, sir, since we parted company in the Park?” said Pedgift Junior.
Line 4
“Excuse the question; I only ask it in case I can be of any use.”
Line 5
“Something that I never expected has happened,” returned Allan; “I don’t know what to make of it.

Learner Dictionary

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

Again noun US /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “When the dinner hour united the traveling companions again in their sitting-room at the hotel, a far less acute observer than young Pedgift must have noticed the marked change that appeared in Allan’s manner.”

Has auxiliary verb US /hæz/

the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading ““I’m afraid something has happened to annoy you, sir, since we parted company in the Park?” said Pedgift Junior.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “When the dinner hour united the traveling companions again in their sitting-room at the hotel, a far less acute observer than young Pedgift must have noticed the marked change that appeared in Allan’s manner.”

Know noun US /know/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““Something that I never expected has happened,” returned Allan; “I don’t know what to make of it.”

Looked noun US /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He looked vexed and puzzled, and sat drumming with his fingers on the dining-table without uttering a word.”

Make noun US /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““Something that I never expected has happened,” returned Allan; “I don’t know what to make of it.”

Must modal verb US /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading “When the dinner hour united the traveling companions again in their sitting-room at the hotel, a far less acute observer than young Pedgift must have noticed the marked change that appeared in Allan’s manner.”

Never noun US /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““Something that I never expected has happened,” returned Allan; “I don’t know what to make of it.”

Question noun US /ˈquestion/

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

From this reading ““Excuse the question; I only ask it in case I can be of any use.””

Returned noun US /ˈreturned/

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

From this reading ““Something that I never expected has happened,” returned Allan; “I don’t know what to make of it.”

Since preposition US /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading ““I’m afraid something has happened to annoy you, sir, since we parted company in the Park?” said Pedgift Junior.”

Something pronoun US /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading ““I’m afraid something has happened to annoy you, sir, since we parted company in the Park?” said Pedgift Junior.”

Without preposition US /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading “He looked vexed and puzzled, and sat drumming with his fingers on the dining-table without uttering a word.”

All words in this reading · 81

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 When the dinner hour united the traveling companions again in their sitting-room at the hotel, a far less acute observer than young Pedgift must have noticed the marked change that appeared in Allan’s manner.

acute

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

From this reading When the dinner hour united the traveling companions again in their sitting-room at the hotel, a far less acute observer than young Pedgift must have noticed the marked change that appeared in Allan’s manner.

afraid

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

From this reading “I’m afraid something has happened to annoy you, sir, since we parted company in the Park?” said Pedgift Junior.

againnounUS /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading When the dinner hour united the traveling companions again in their sitting-room at the hotel, a far less acute observer than young Pedgift must have noticed the marked change that appeared in Allan’s manner.

Allan

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

From this reading “Something that I never expected has happened,” returned Allan; “I don’t know what to make of it.

Allan's

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

From this reading When the dinner hour united the traveling companions again in their sitting-room at the hotel, a far less acute observer than young Pedgift must have noticed the marked change that appeared in Allan’s manner.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading He looked vexed and puzzled, and sat drumming with his fingers on the dining-table without uttering a word.

annoy

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

From this reading “I’m afraid something has happened to annoy you, sir, since we parted company in the Park?” said Pedgift Junior.

any

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

From this reading “Excuse the question; I only ask it in case I can be of any use.”

appeared

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

From this reading When the dinner hour united the traveling companions again in their sitting-room at the hotel, a far less acute observer than young Pedgift must have noticed the marked change that appeared in Allan’s manner.

ask

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

From this reading “Excuse the question; I only ask it in case I can be of any use.”

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading When the dinner hour united the traveling companions again in their sitting-room at the hotel, a far less acute observer than young Pedgift must have noticed the marked change that appeared in Allan’s manner.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading “Excuse the question; I only ask it in case I can be of any use.”

canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading “Excuse the question; I only ask it in case I can be of any use.”

case

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

From this reading “Excuse the question; I only ask it in case I can be of any use.”

change

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

From this reading When the dinner hour united the traveling companions again in their sitting-room at the hotel, a far less acute observer than young Pedgift must have noticed the marked change that appeared in Allan’s manner.

companions

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

From this reading When the dinner hour united the traveling companions again in their sitting-room at the hotel, a far less acute observer than young Pedgift must have noticed the marked change that appeared in Allan’s manner.

company

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

From this reading “I’m afraid something has happened to annoy you, sir, since we parted company in the Park?” said Pedgift Junior.

dining-table

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

From this reading He looked vexed and puzzled, and sat drumming with his fingers on the dining-table without uttering a word.

dinner

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

From this reading When the dinner hour united the traveling companions again in their sitting-room at the hotel, a far less acute observer than young Pedgift must have noticed the marked change that appeared in Allan’s manner.

don't

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

From this reading “Something that I never expected has happened,” returned Allan; “I don’t know what to make of it.

drumming

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

From this reading He looked vexed and puzzled, and sat drumming with his fingers on the dining-table without uttering a word.

Excuse

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

From this reading “Excuse the question; I only ask it in case I can be of any use.”

expected

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

From this reading “Something that I never expected has happened,” returned Allan; “I don’t know what to make of it.

far

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

From this reading When the dinner hour united the traveling companions again in their sitting-room at the hotel, a far less acute observer than young Pedgift must have noticed the marked change that appeared in Allan’s manner.

fingers

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

From this reading He looked vexed and puzzled, and sat drumming with his fingers on the dining-table without uttering a word.

happened

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

From this reading “I’m afraid something has happened to annoy you, sir, since we parted company in the Park?” said Pedgift Junior.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading “I’m afraid something has happened to annoy you, sir, since we parted company in the Park?” said Pedgift Junior.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading When the dinner hour united the traveling companions again in their sitting-room at the hotel, a far less acute observer than young Pedgift must have noticed the marked change that appeared in Allan’s manner.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He looked vexed and puzzled, and sat drumming with his fingers on the dining-table without uttering a word.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading He looked vexed and puzzled, and sat drumming with his fingers on the dining-table without uttering a word.

hotel

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

From this reading When the dinner hour united the traveling companions again in their sitting-room at the hotel, a far less acute observer than young Pedgift must have noticed the marked change that appeared in Allan’s manner.

hour

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

From this reading When the dinner hour united the traveling companions again in their sitting-room at the hotel, a far less acute observer than young Pedgift must have noticed the marked change that appeared in Allan’s manner.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading “Excuse the question; I only ask it in case I can be of any use.”

I'm

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

From this reading “I’m afraid something has happened to annoy you, sir, since we parted company in the Park?” said Pedgift Junior.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading When the dinner hour united the traveling companions again in their sitting-room at the hotel, a far less acute observer than young Pedgift must have noticed the marked change that appeared in Allan’s manner.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading “Excuse the question; I only ask it in case I can be of any use.”

Junior

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

From this reading “I’m afraid something has happened to annoy you, sir, since we parted company in the Park?” said Pedgift Junior.

knownounUS /know/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Something that I never expected has happened,” returned Allan; “I don’t know what to make of it.

less

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

From this reading When the dinner hour united the traveling companions again in their sitting-room at the hotel, a far less acute observer than young Pedgift must have noticed the marked change that appeared in Allan’s manner.

lookednounUS /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He looked vexed and puzzled, and sat drumming with his fingers on the dining-table without uttering a word.

makenounUS /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Something that I never expected has happened,” returned Allan; “I don’t know what to make of it.

manner

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

From this reading When the dinner hour united the traveling companions again in their sitting-room at the hotel, a far less acute observer than young Pedgift must have noticed the marked change that appeared in Allan’s manner.

marked

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

From this reading When the dinner hour united the traveling companions again in their sitting-room at the hotel, a far less acute observer than young Pedgift must have noticed the marked change that appeared in Allan’s manner.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading When the dinner hour united the traveling companions again in their sitting-room at the hotel, a far less acute observer than young Pedgift must have noticed the marked change that appeared in Allan’s manner.

nevernounUS /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Something that I never expected has happened,” returned Allan; “I don’t know what to make of it.

noticed

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

From this reading When the dinner hour united the traveling companions again in their sitting-room at the hotel, a far less acute observer than young Pedgift must have noticed the marked change that appeared in Allan’s manner.

observer

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

From this reading When the dinner hour united the traveling companions again in their sitting-room at the hotel, a far less acute observer than young Pedgift must have noticed the marked change that appeared in Allan’s manner.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading “Excuse the question; I only ask it in case I can be of any use.”

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading He looked vexed and puzzled, and sat drumming with his fingers on the dining-table without uttering a word.

only

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

From this reading “Excuse the question; I only ask it in case I can be of any use.”

Park

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

From this reading “I’m afraid something has happened to annoy you, sir, since we parted company in the Park?” said Pedgift Junior.

parted

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

From this reading “I’m afraid something has happened to annoy you, sir, since we parted company in the Park?” said Pedgift Junior.

Pedgift

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

From this reading When the dinner hour united the traveling companions again in their sitting-room at the hotel, a far less acute observer than young Pedgift must have noticed the marked change that appeared in Allan’s manner.

puzzled

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

From this reading He looked vexed and puzzled, and sat drumming with his fingers on the dining-table without uttering a word.

questionnounUS /ˈquestion/

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

From this reading “Excuse the question; I only ask it in case I can be of any use.”

returnednounUS /ˈreturned/

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

From this reading “Something that I never expected has happened,” returned Allan; “I don’t know what to make of it.

said

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

From this reading “I’m afraid something has happened to annoy you, sir, since we parted company in the Park?” said Pedgift Junior.

sat

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

From this reading He looked vexed and puzzled, and sat drumming with his fingers on the dining-table without uttering a word.

sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading “I’m afraid something has happened to annoy you, sir, since we parted company in the Park?” said Pedgift Junior.

sir

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

From this reading “I’m afraid something has happened to annoy you, sir, since we parted company in the Park?” said Pedgift Junior.

sitting-room

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

From this reading When the dinner hour united the traveling companions again in their sitting-room at the hotel, a far less acute observer than young Pedgift must have noticed the marked change that appeared in Allan’s manner.

somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading “I’m afraid something has happened to annoy you, sir, since we parted company in the Park?” said Pedgift Junior.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading When the dinner hour united the traveling companions again in their sitting-room at the hotel, a far less acute observer than young Pedgift must have noticed the marked change that appeared in Allan’s manner.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading When the dinner hour united the traveling companions again in their sitting-room at the hotel, a far less acute observer than young Pedgift must have noticed the marked change that appeared in Allan’s manner.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading When the dinner hour united the traveling companions again in their sitting-room at the hotel, a far less acute observer than young Pedgift must have noticed the marked change that appeared in Allan’s manner.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading When the dinner hour united the traveling companions again in their sitting-room at the hotel, a far less acute observer than young Pedgift must have noticed the marked change that appeared in Allan’s manner.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading “I’m afraid something has happened to annoy you, sir, since we parted company in the Park?” said Pedgift Junior.

traveling

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

From this reading When the dinner hour united the traveling companions again in their sitting-room at the hotel, a far less acute observer than young Pedgift must have noticed the marked change that appeared in Allan’s manner.

united

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

From this reading When the dinner hour united the traveling companions again in their sitting-room at the hotel, a far less acute observer than young Pedgift must have noticed the marked change that appeared in Allan’s manner.

use

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

From this reading “Excuse the question; I only ask it in case I can be of any use.”

uttering

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

From this reading He looked vexed and puzzled, and sat drumming with his fingers on the dining-table without uttering a word.

vexed

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

From this reading He looked vexed and puzzled, and sat drumming with his fingers on the dining-table without uttering a word.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading “I’m afraid something has happened to annoy you, sir, since we parted company in the Park?” said Pedgift Junior.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading “Something that I never expected has happened,” returned Allan; “I don’t know what to make of it.

WhenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading When the dinner hour united the traveling companions again in their sitting-room at the hotel, a far less acute observer than young Pedgift must have noticed the marked change that appeared in Allan’s manner.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading He looked vexed and puzzled, and sat drumming with his fingers on the dining-table without uttering a word.

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading He looked vexed and puzzled, and sat drumming with his fingers on the dining-table without uttering a word.

word

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

From this reading He looked vexed and puzzled, and sat drumming with his fingers on the dining-table without uttering a word.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “I’m afraid something has happened to annoy you, sir, since we parted company in the Park?” said Pedgift Junior.

young

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

From this reading When the dinner hour united the traveling companions again in their sitting-room at the hotel, a far less acute observer than young Pedgift must have noticed the marked change that appeared in Allan’s manner.