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Bessy Rane: A Novel
Bessy Rane: A Novel

Chapter V

Cover illustration for Bessy Rane: A Novel
Context Illustration Reading 1/105 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
WATCHING THE FUNERAL.
In Mrs. Gass's comfortable dining-room, securely ensconced behind the closed blinds, drawn to-day, sat that lady and a visitor.
It was the day of the funeral of Edmund North; and Mrs. Gass had put on mourning out of respect to the family: a black silk gown and white net cap.
It need not be said that the change improved her appearance greatly: she looked, as she herself would have phrased it, genteel to-day.
This was her favourite sitting-room; she rarely used any other: for one thing it gave her the opportunity of seeing the movements of her neighbours.
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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.

Bessy Rane: A Novel

Chapter V

Reading 1/105 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
WATCHING THE FUNERAL.
Line 2
In Mrs. Gass's comfortable dining-room, securely ensconced behind the closed blinds, drawn to-day, sat that lady and a visitor.
Line 3
It was the day of the funeral of Edmund North; and Mrs. Gass had put on mourning out of respect to the family: a black silk gown and white net cap.
Line 4
It need not be said that the change improved her appearance greatly: she looked, as she herself would have phrased it, genteel to-day.
Line 5
This was her favourite sitting-room; she rarely used any other: for one thing it gave her the opportunity of seeing the movements of her neighbours.

Learner Dictionary

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

Appearance noun US /ˈappearance/

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

From this reading “It need not be said that the change improved her appearance greatly: she looked, as she herself would have phrased it, genteel to-day.”

Behind preposition US /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading “In Mrs. Gass's comfortable dining-room, securely ensconced behind the closed blinds, drawn to-day, sat that lady and a visitor.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “It need not be said that the change improved her appearance greatly: she looked, as she herself would have phrased it, genteel to-day.”

Herself pronoun US /hərˈself/

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading “It need not be said that the change improved her appearance greatly: she looked, as she herself would have phrased it, genteel to-day.”

Looked noun US /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It need not be said that the change improved her appearance greatly: she looked, as she herself would have phrased it, genteel to-day.”

Need noun US /need/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It need not be said that the change improved her appearance greatly: she looked, as she herself would have phrased it, genteel to-day.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “This was her favourite sitting-room; she rarely used any other: for one thing it gave her the opportunity of seeing the movements of her neighbours.”

Seeing noun US /seeing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “This was her favourite sitting-room; she rarely used any other: for one thing it gave her the opportunity of seeing the movements of her neighbours.”

Thing noun US /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “This was her favourite sitting-room; she rarely used any other: for one thing it gave her the opportunity of seeing the movements of her neighbours.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “It need not be said that the change improved her appearance greatly: she looked, as she herself would have phrased it, genteel to-day.”

All words in this reading · 74

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 In Mrs. Gass's comfortable dining-room, securely ensconced behind the closed blinds, drawn to-day, sat that lady and a visitor.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading In Mrs. Gass's comfortable dining-room, securely ensconced behind the closed blinds, drawn to-day, sat that lady and a visitor.

any

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

From this reading This was her favourite sitting-room; she rarely used any other: for one thing it gave her the opportunity of seeing the movements of her neighbours.

appearancenounUS /ˈappearance/

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

From this reading It need not be said that the change improved her appearance greatly: she looked, as she herself would have phrased it, genteel to-day.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading It need not be said that the change improved her appearance greatly: she looked, as she herself would have phrased it, genteel to-day.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading It need not be said that the change improved her appearance greatly: she looked, as she herself would have phrased it, genteel to-day.

behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading In Mrs. Gass's comfortable dining-room, securely ensconced behind the closed blinds, drawn to-day, sat that lady and a visitor.

black

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

From this reading It was the day of the funeral of Edmund North; and Mrs. Gass had put on mourning out of respect to the family: a black silk gown and white net cap.

blinds

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

From this reading In Mrs. Gass's comfortable dining-room, securely ensconced behind the closed blinds, drawn to-day, sat that lady and a visitor.

cap

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

From this reading It was the day of the funeral of Edmund North; and Mrs. Gass had put on mourning out of respect to the family: a black silk gown and white net cap.

change

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

From this reading It need not be said that the change improved her appearance greatly: she looked, as she herself would have phrased it, genteel to-day.

closed

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

From this reading In Mrs. Gass's comfortable dining-room, securely ensconced behind the closed blinds, drawn to-day, sat that lady and a visitor.

comfortable

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

From this reading In Mrs. Gass's comfortable dining-room, securely ensconced behind the closed blinds, drawn to-day, sat that lady and a visitor.

day

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

From this reading It was the day of the funeral of Edmund North; and Mrs. Gass had put on mourning out of respect to the family: a black silk gown and white net cap.

dining-room

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

From this reading In Mrs. Gass's comfortable dining-room, securely ensconced behind the closed blinds, drawn to-day, sat that lady and a visitor.

drawn

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

From this reading In Mrs. Gass's comfortable dining-room, securely ensconced behind the closed blinds, drawn to-day, sat that lady and a visitor.

Edmund

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

From this reading It was the day of the funeral of Edmund North; and Mrs. Gass had put on mourning out of respect to the family: a black silk gown and white net cap.

ensconced

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

From this reading In Mrs. Gass's comfortable dining-room, securely ensconced behind the closed blinds, drawn to-day, sat that lady and a visitor.

family

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

From this reading It was the day of the funeral of Edmund North; and Mrs. Gass had put on mourning out of respect to the family: a black silk gown and white net cap.

favourite

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

From this reading This was her favourite sitting-room; she rarely used any other: for one thing it gave her the opportunity of seeing the movements of her neighbours.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading This was her favourite sitting-room; she rarely used any other: for one thing it gave her the opportunity of seeing the movements of her neighbours.

FUNERAL

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

From this reading WATCHING THE FUNERAL.

Gass

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

From this reading It was the day of the funeral of Edmund North; and Mrs. Gass had put on mourning out of respect to the family: a black silk gown and white net cap.

Gass's

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

From this reading In Mrs. Gass's comfortable dining-room, securely ensconced behind the closed blinds, drawn to-day, sat that lady and a visitor.

gave

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

From this reading This was her favourite sitting-room; she rarely used any other: for one thing it gave her the opportunity of seeing the movements of her neighbours.

genteel

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

From this reading It need not be said that the change improved her appearance greatly: she looked, as she herself would have phrased it, genteel to-day.

gown

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

From this reading It was the day of the funeral of Edmund North; and Mrs. Gass had put on mourning out of respect to the family: a black silk gown and white net cap.

greatly

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

From this reading It need not be said that the change improved her appearance greatly: she looked, as she herself would have phrased it, genteel to-day.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading It was the day of the funeral of Edmund North; and Mrs. Gass had put on mourning out of respect to the family: a black silk gown and white net cap.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading It need not be said that the change improved her appearance greatly: she looked, as she herself would have phrased it, genteel to-day.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading It need not be said that the change improved her appearance greatly: she looked, as she herself would have phrased it, genteel to-day.

herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading It need not be said that the change improved her appearance greatly: she looked, as she herself would have phrased it, genteel to-day.

improved

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

From this reading It need not be said that the change improved her appearance greatly: she looked, as she herself would have phrased it, genteel to-day.

InprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading In Mrs. Gass's comfortable dining-room, securely ensconced behind the closed blinds, drawn to-day, sat that lady and a visitor.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was the day of the funeral of Edmund North; and Mrs. Gass had put on mourning out of respect to the family: a black silk gown and white net cap.

lady

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

From this reading In Mrs. Gass's comfortable dining-room, securely ensconced behind the closed blinds, drawn to-day, sat that lady and a visitor.

lookednounUS /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It need not be said that the change improved her appearance greatly: she looked, as she herself would have phrased it, genteel to-day.

mourning

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

From this reading It was the day of the funeral of Edmund North; and Mrs. Gass had put on mourning out of respect to the family: a black silk gown and white net cap.

movements

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

From this reading This was her favourite sitting-room; she rarely used any other: for one thing it gave her the opportunity of seeing the movements of her neighbours.

Mrs

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

From this reading In Mrs. Gass's comfortable dining-room, securely ensconced behind the closed blinds, drawn to-day, sat that lady and a visitor.

neednounUS /need/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It need not be said that the change improved her appearance greatly: she looked, as she herself would have phrased it, genteel to-day.

neighbours

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

From this reading This was her favourite sitting-room; she rarely used any other: for one thing it gave her the opportunity of seeing the movements of her neighbours.

net

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

From this reading It was the day of the funeral of Edmund North; and Mrs. Gass had put on mourning out of respect to the family: a black silk gown and white net cap.

North

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

From this reading It was the day of the funeral of Edmund North; and Mrs. Gass had put on mourning out of respect to the family: a black silk gown and white net cap.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading It need not be said that the change improved her appearance greatly: she looked, as she herself would have phrased it, genteel to-day.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading It was the day of the funeral of Edmund North; and Mrs. Gass had put on mourning out of respect to the family: a black silk gown and white net cap.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading It was the day of the funeral of Edmund North; and Mrs. Gass had put on mourning out of respect to the family: a black silk gown and white net cap.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading This was her favourite sitting-room; she rarely used any other: for one thing it gave her the opportunity of seeing the movements of her neighbours.

opportunity

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

From this reading This was her favourite sitting-room; she rarely used any other: for one thing it gave her the opportunity of seeing the movements of her neighbours.

other

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

From this reading This was her favourite sitting-room; she rarely used any other: for one thing it gave her the opportunity of seeing the movements of her neighbours.

out

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

From this reading It was the day of the funeral of Edmund North; and Mrs. Gass had put on mourning out of respect to the family: a black silk gown and white net cap.

phrased

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

From this reading It need not be said that the change improved her appearance greatly: she looked, as she herself would have phrased it, genteel to-day.

put

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

From this reading It was the day of the funeral of Edmund North; and Mrs. Gass had put on mourning out of respect to the family: a black silk gown and white net cap.

rarely

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

From this reading This was her favourite sitting-room; she rarely used any other: for one thing it gave her the opportunity of seeing the movements of her neighbours.

respect

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

From this reading It was the day of the funeral of Edmund North; and Mrs. Gass had put on mourning out of respect to the family: a black silk gown and white net cap.

said

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

From this reading It need not be said that the change improved her appearance greatly: she looked, as she herself would have phrased it, genteel to-day.

sat

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

From this reading In Mrs. Gass's comfortable dining-room, securely ensconced behind the closed blinds, drawn to-day, sat that lady and a visitor.

securely

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

From this reading In Mrs. Gass's comfortable dining-room, securely ensconced behind the closed blinds, drawn to-day, sat that lady and a visitor.

seeing

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

From this reading This was her favourite sitting-room; she rarely used any other: for one thing it gave her the opportunity of seeing the movements of her neighbours.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading It need not be said that the change improved her appearance greatly: she looked, as she herself would have phrased it, genteel to-day.

silk

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

From this reading It was the day of the funeral of Edmund North; and Mrs. Gass had put on mourning out of respect to the family: a black silk gown and white net cap.

sitting-room

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

From this reading This was her favourite sitting-room; she rarely used any other: for one thing it gave her the opportunity of seeing the movements of her neighbours.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading In Mrs. Gass's comfortable dining-room, securely ensconced behind the closed blinds, drawn to-day, sat that lady and a visitor.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading WATCHING THE FUNERAL.

thingnounUS /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading This was her favourite sitting-room; she rarely used any other: for one thing it gave her the opportunity of seeing the movements of her neighbours.

ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading This was her favourite sitting-room; she rarely used any other: for one thing it gave her the opportunity of seeing the movements of her neighbours.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading It was the day of the funeral of Edmund North; and Mrs. Gass had put on mourning out of respect to the family: a black silk gown and white net cap.

to-day

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

From this reading In Mrs. Gass's comfortable dining-room, securely ensconced behind the closed blinds, drawn to-day, sat that lady and a visitor.

used

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

From this reading This was her favourite sitting-room; she rarely used any other: for one thing it gave her the opportunity of seeing the movements of her neighbours.

visitor

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

From this reading In Mrs. Gass's comfortable dining-room, securely ensconced behind the closed blinds, drawn to-day, sat that lady and a visitor.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading It was the day of the funeral of Edmund North; and Mrs. Gass had put on mourning out of respect to the family: a black silk gown and white net cap.

WATCHING

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

From this reading WATCHING THE FUNERAL.

white

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

From this reading It was the day of the funeral of Edmund North; and Mrs. Gass had put on mourning out of respect to the family: a black silk gown and white net cap.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading It need not be said that the change improved her appearance greatly: she looked, as she herself would have phrased it, genteel to-day.