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Beth's wonder-winter
Beth's wonder-winter

Chapter II

Cover illustration for Beth's wonder-winter
Context Illustration Reading 1/38 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
WHEN THE TRAIN PULLED OUT Beth sat by the window in spotless order.
Her hands were clasped in her lap; she was so still that her favorite doll, sitting stiffly opposite to her, seemed, by contrast, to be romping.
But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.
Beth was watching for the arrival of her Aunt Alida Cortlandt’s maid, who was to carry her off to the crowded metropolis.
Beth had never seen a maid--she had seen “girls,” “help,” even “servants,” but a maid!
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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.

Beth's wonder-winter

Chapter II

Reading 1/38 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
WHEN THE TRAIN PULLED OUT Beth sat by the window in spotless order.
Line 2
Her hands were clasped in her lap; she was so still that her favorite doll, sitting stiffly opposite to her, seemed, by contrast, to be romping.
Line 3
But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.
Line 4
Beth was watching for the arrival of her Aunt Alida Cortlandt’s maid, who was to carry her off to the crowded metropolis.
Line 5
Beth had never seen a maid--she had seen “girls,” “help,” even “servants,” but a maid!

Learner Dictionary

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

Even noun US /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Beth had never seen a maid--she had seen “girls,” “help,” even “servants,” but a maid!”

Hands plural noun US /hændz/

members of a ship’s crew

From this reading “Her hands were clasped in her lap; she was so still that her favorite doll, sitting stiffly opposite to her, seemed, by contrast, to be romping.”

Help noun US /help/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Beth had never seen a maid--she had seen “girls,” “help,” even “servants,” but a maid!”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.”

Never noun US /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Beth had never seen a maid--she had seen “girls,” “help,” even “servants,” but a maid!”

Order noun US /order/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “WHEN THE TRAIN PULLED OUT Beth sat by the window in spotless order.”

PULLED noun US /pulled/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “WHEN THE TRAIN PULLED OUT Beth sat by the window in spotless order.”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Her hands were clasped in her lap; she was so still that her favorite doll, sitting stiffly opposite to her, seemed, by contrast, to be romping.”

Still noun US /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Her hands were clasped in her lap; she was so still that her favorite doll, sitting stiffly opposite to her, seemed, by contrast, to be romping.”

Told noun US /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.”

All words in this reading · 82

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 Beth had never seen a maid--she had seen “girls,” “help,” even “servants,” but a maid!

Alida

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

From this reading Beth was watching for the arrival of her Aunt Alida Cortlandt’s maid, who was to carry her off to the crowded metropolis.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.

arrival

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

From this reading Beth was watching for the arrival of her Aunt Alida Cortlandt’s maid, who was to carry her off to the crowded metropolis.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.

Aunt

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

From this reading Beth was watching for the arrival of her Aunt Alida Cortlandt’s maid, who was to carry her off to the crowded metropolis.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading Her hands were clasped in her lap; she was so still that her favorite doll, sitting stiffly opposite to her, seemed, by contrast, to be romping.

Beth

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

From this reading WHEN THE TRAIN PULLED OUT Beth sat by the window in spotless order.

betrayed

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

From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.

blackness

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

From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.

blue

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

From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading WHEN THE TRAIN PULLED OUT Beth sat by the window in spotless order.

carry

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

From this reading Beth was watching for the arrival of her Aunt Alida Cortlandt’s maid, who was to carry her off to the crowded metropolis.

clasped

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

From this reading Her hands were clasped in her lap; she was so still that her favorite doll, sitting stiffly opposite to her, seemed, by contrast, to be romping.

contrast

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

From this reading Her hands were clasped in her lap; she was so still that her favorite doll, sitting stiffly opposite to her, seemed, by contrast, to be romping.

Cortlandt's

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

From this reading Beth was watching for the arrival of her Aunt Alida Cortlandt’s maid, who was to carry her off to the crowded metropolis.

crowded

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

From this reading Beth was watching for the arrival of her Aunt Alida Cortlandt’s maid, who was to carry her off to the crowded metropolis.

dilated

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

From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.

doll

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

From this reading Her hands were clasped in her lap; she was so still that her favorite doll, sitting stiffly opposite to her, seemed, by contrast, to be romping.

effort

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

From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.

evennounUS /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Beth had never seen a maid--she had seen “girls,” “help,” even “servants,” but a maid!

eyes

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

From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.

face

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

From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.

favorite

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

From this reading Her hands were clasped in her lap; she was so still that her favorite doll, sitting stiffly opposite to her, seemed, by contrast, to be romping.

fingers

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

From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Beth was watching for the arrival of her Aunt Alida Cortlandt’s maid, who was to carry her off to the crowded metropolis.

girl

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

From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.

girls

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

From this reading Beth had never seen a maid--she had seen “girls,” “help,” even “servants,” but a maid!

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Beth had never seen a maid--she had seen “girls,” “help,” even “servants,” but a maid!

handsplural nounUS /hændz/

members of a ship’s crew

From this reading Her hands were clasped in her lap; she was so still that her favorite doll, sitting stiffly opposite to her, seemed, by contrast, to be romping.

held

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

From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.

helpnounUS /help/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Beth had never seen a maid--she had seen “girls,” “help,” even “servants,” but a maid!

HerdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading Her hands were clasped in her lap; she was so still that her favorite doll, sitting stiffly opposite to her, seemed, by contrast, to be romping.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading WHEN THE TRAIN PULLED OUT Beth sat by the window in spotless order.

kept

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

From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.

lap

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

From this reading Her hands were clasped in her lap; she was so still that her favorite doll, sitting stiffly opposite to her, seemed, by contrast, to be romping.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.

maid

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

From this reading Beth was watching for the arrival of her Aunt Alida Cortlandt’s maid, who was to carry her off to the crowded metropolis.

metropolis

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

From this reading Beth was watching for the arrival of her Aunt Alida Cortlandt’s maid, who was to carry her off to the crowded metropolis.

motionless

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

From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.

nevernounUS /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Beth had never seen a maid--she had seen “girls,” “help,” even “servants,” but a maid!

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.

off

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

From this reading Beth was watching for the arrival of her Aunt Alida Cortlandt’s maid, who was to carry her off to the crowded metropolis.

opposite

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

From this reading Her hands were clasped in her lap; she was so still that her favorite doll, sitting stiffly opposite to her, seemed, by contrast, to be romping.

ordernounUS /order/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading WHEN THE TRAIN PULLED OUT Beth sat by the window in spotless order.

OUT

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

From this reading WHEN THE TRAIN PULLED OUT Beth sat by the window in spotless order.

pallor

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

From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.

post

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

From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.

pressure

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

From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.

PULLEDnounUS /pulled/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading WHEN THE TRAIN PULLED OUT Beth sat by the window in spotless order.

quiet

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

From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.

reddened

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

From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.

romping

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

From this reading Her hands were clasped in her lap; she was so still that her favorite doll, sitting stiffly opposite to her, seemed, by contrast, to be romping.

rosy

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

From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.

round

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

From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.

sat

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

From this reading WHEN THE TRAIN PULLED OUT Beth sat by the window in spotless order.

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Her hands were clasped in her lap; she was so still that her favorite doll, sitting stiffly opposite to her, seemed, by contrast, to be romping.

seen

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

From this reading Beth had never seen a maid--she had seen “girls,” “help,” even “servants,” but a maid!

servants

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

From this reading Beth had never seen a maid--she had seen “girls,” “help,” even “servants,” but a maid!

severe

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

From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading Her hands were clasped in her lap; she was so still that her favorite doll, sitting stiffly opposite to her, seemed, by contrast, to be romping.

sitting

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

From this reading Her hands were clasped in her lap; she was so still that her favorite doll, sitting stiffly opposite to her, seemed, by contrast, to be romping.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Her hands were clasped in her lap; she was so still that her favorite doll, sitting stiffly opposite to her, seemed, by contrast, to be romping.

spotless

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

From this reading WHEN THE TRAIN PULLED OUT Beth sat by the window in spotless order.

stiffly

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

From this reading Her hands were clasped in her lap; she was so still that her favorite doll, sitting stiffly opposite to her, seemed, by contrast, to be romping.

stillnounUS /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Her hands were clasped in her lap; she was so still that her favorite doll, sitting stiffly opposite to her, seemed, by contrast, to be romping.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Her hands were clasped in her lap; she was so still that her favorite doll, sitting stiffly opposite to her, seemed, by contrast, to be romping.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading WHEN THE TRAIN PULLED OUT Beth sat by the window in spotless order.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.

tips

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

From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Her hands were clasped in her lap; she was so still that her favorite doll, sitting stiffly opposite to her, seemed, by contrast, to be romping.

toldnounUS /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.

TRAIN

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

From this reading WHEN THE TRAIN PULLED OUT Beth sat by the window in spotless order.

usually

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

From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Her hands were clasped in her lap; she was so still that her favorite doll, sitting stiffly opposite to her, seemed, by contrast, to be romping.

watching

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

From this reading Beth was watching for the arrival of her Aunt Alida Cortlandt’s maid, who was to carry her off to the crowded metropolis.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading Her hands were clasped in her lap; she was so still that her favorite doll, sitting stiffly opposite to her, seemed, by contrast, to be romping.

WHENconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading WHEN THE TRAIN PULLED OUT Beth sat by the window in spotless order.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading But the reddened tips of the clasped fingers betrayed the severe pressure that held them so motionless, and the pallor of the usually rosy round face, and the dilated blackness of the blue eyes told the effort which kept the little girl so quiet at her post.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading Beth was watching for the arrival of her Aunt Alida Cortlandt’s maid, who was to carry her off to the crowded metropolis.

window

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

From this reading WHEN THE TRAIN PULLED OUT Beth sat by the window in spotless order.