Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
Blake's Burden
Blake's Burden

Chapter VII

Cover illustration for Blake's Burden
Context Illustration Reading 1/35 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
MRS.
CHUDLEIGH GATHERS INFORMATION It was a fine morning when Mrs. Keith sat on the saloon deck of a river boat steaming with the ebb tide down the St. Lawrence.
The terraced heights of Quebec had faded astern; ahead a blaze of sunshine rested on the river, up which a big liner with crowded decks and her smoke-trail staining the clear blue sky moved majestically.
To starboard dark pinewoods, with here and there a sawmill stack, were faintly marked upon the lofty bank; to port rose rugged hills with wooden villages at their feet.
The light wind that rippled the blue water was pleasantly cool, and Mrs. Keith, laying down the book she had been reading, looked about with languid enjoyment.
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Blake's Burden

Chapter VII

Reading 1/35 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
MRS.
Line 2
CHUDLEIGH GATHERS INFORMATION It was a fine morning when Mrs. Keith sat on the saloon deck of a river boat steaming with the ebb tide down the St. Lawrence.
Line 3
The terraced heights of Quebec had faded astern; ahead a blaze of sunshine rested on the river, up which a big liner with crowded decks and her smoke-trail staining the clear blue sky moved majestically.
Line 4
To starboard dark pinewoods, with here and there a sawmill stack, were faintly marked upon the lofty bank; to port rose rugged hills with wooden villages at their feet.
Line 5
The light wind that rippled the blue water was pleasantly cool, and Mrs. Keith, laying down the book she had been reading, looked about with languid enjoyment.

Learner Dictionary

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

About preposition US /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “The light wind that rippled the blue water was pleasantly cool, and Mrs. Keith, laying down the book she had been reading, looked about with languid enjoyment.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “The light wind that rippled the blue water was pleasantly cool, and Mrs. Keith, laying down the book she had been reading, looked about with languid enjoyment.”

Ebb noun US /ɛb/

the movement of the tide away from the land

From this reading “CHUDLEIGH GATHERS INFORMATION It was a fine morning when Mrs. Keith sat on the saloon deck of a river boat steaming with the ebb tide down the St. Lawrence.”

Fine noun US /fine/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “CHUDLEIGH GATHERS INFORMATION It was a fine morning when Mrs. Keith sat on the saloon deck of a river boat steaming with the ebb tide down the St. Lawrence.”

Here noun US /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “To starboard dark pinewoods, with here and there a sawmill stack, were faintly marked upon the lofty bank; to port rose rugged hills with wooden villages at their feet.”

Looked noun US /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The light wind that rippled the blue water was pleasantly cool, and Mrs. Keith, laying down the book she had been reading, looked about with languid enjoyment.”

Morning noun US /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “CHUDLEIGH GATHERS INFORMATION It was a fine morning when Mrs. Keith sat on the saloon deck of a river boat steaming with the ebb tide down the St. Lawrence.”

Steaming noun US /ˈsteaming/

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

From this reading “CHUDLEIGH GATHERS INFORMATION It was a fine morning when Mrs. Keith sat on the saloon deck of a river boat steaming with the ebb tide down the St. Lawrence.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “To starboard dark pinewoods, with here and there a sawmill stack, were faintly marked upon the lofty bank; to port rose rugged hills with wooden villages at their feet.”

Wind noun US /wind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The light wind that rippled the blue water was pleasantly cool, and Mrs. Keith, laying down the book she had been reading, looked about with languid enjoyment.”

All words in this reading · 90

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 CHUDLEIGH GATHERS INFORMATION It was a fine morning when Mrs. Keith sat on the saloon deck of a river boat steaming with the ebb tide down the St. Lawrence.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading The light wind that rippled the blue water was pleasantly cool, and Mrs. Keith, laying down the book she had been reading, looked about with languid enjoyment.

ahead

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

From this reading The terraced heights of Quebec had faded astern; ahead a blaze of sunshine rested on the river, up which a big liner with crowded decks and her smoke-trail staining the clear blue sky moved majestically.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The terraced heights of Quebec had faded astern; ahead a blaze of sunshine rested on the river, up which a big liner with crowded decks and her smoke-trail staining the clear blue sky moved majestically.

astern

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

From this reading The terraced heights of Quebec had faded astern; ahead a blaze of sunshine rested on the river, up which a big liner with crowded decks and her smoke-trail staining the clear blue sky moved majestically.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading To starboard dark pinewoods, with here and there a sawmill stack, were faintly marked upon the lofty bank; to port rose rugged hills with wooden villages at their feet.

bank

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

From this reading To starboard dark pinewoods, with here and there a sawmill stack, were faintly marked upon the lofty bank; to port rose rugged hills with wooden villages at their feet.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading The light wind that rippled the blue water was pleasantly cool, and Mrs. Keith, laying down the book she had been reading, looked about with languid enjoyment.

big

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

From this reading The terraced heights of Quebec had faded astern; ahead a blaze of sunshine rested on the river, up which a big liner with crowded decks and her smoke-trail staining the clear blue sky moved majestically.

blaze

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

From this reading The terraced heights of Quebec had faded astern; ahead a blaze of sunshine rested on the river, up which a big liner with crowded decks and her smoke-trail staining the clear blue sky moved majestically.

blue

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

From this reading The terraced heights of Quebec had faded astern; ahead a blaze of sunshine rested on the river, up which a big liner with crowded decks and her smoke-trail staining the clear blue sky moved majestically.

boat

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

From this reading CHUDLEIGH GATHERS INFORMATION It was a fine morning when Mrs. Keith sat on the saloon deck of a river boat steaming with the ebb tide down the St. Lawrence.

book

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

From this reading The light wind that rippled the blue water was pleasantly cool, and Mrs. Keith, laying down the book she had been reading, looked about with languid enjoyment.

CHUDLEIGH

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

From this reading CHUDLEIGH GATHERS INFORMATION It was a fine morning when Mrs. Keith sat on the saloon deck of a river boat steaming with the ebb tide down the St. Lawrence.

clear

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

From this reading The terraced heights of Quebec had faded astern; ahead a blaze of sunshine rested on the river, up which a big liner with crowded decks and her smoke-trail staining the clear blue sky moved majestically.

cool

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

From this reading The light wind that rippled the blue water was pleasantly cool, and Mrs. Keith, laying down the book she had been reading, looked about with languid enjoyment.

crowded

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

From this reading The terraced heights of Quebec had faded astern; ahead a blaze of sunshine rested on the river, up which a big liner with crowded decks and her smoke-trail staining the clear blue sky moved majestically.

dark

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

From this reading To starboard dark pinewoods, with here and there a sawmill stack, were faintly marked upon the lofty bank; to port rose rugged hills with wooden villages at their feet.

deck

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

From this reading CHUDLEIGH GATHERS INFORMATION It was a fine morning when Mrs. Keith sat on the saloon deck of a river boat steaming with the ebb tide down the St. Lawrence.

decks

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

From this reading The terraced heights of Quebec had faded astern; ahead a blaze of sunshine rested on the river, up which a big liner with crowded decks and her smoke-trail staining the clear blue sky moved majestically.

down

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

From this reading CHUDLEIGH GATHERS INFORMATION It was a fine morning when Mrs. Keith sat on the saloon deck of a river boat steaming with the ebb tide down the St. Lawrence.

ebbnounUS /ɛb/

the movement of the tide away from the land

From this reading CHUDLEIGH GATHERS INFORMATION It was a fine morning when Mrs. Keith sat on the saloon deck of a river boat steaming with the ebb tide down the St. Lawrence.

enjoyment

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

From this reading The light wind that rippled the blue water was pleasantly cool, and Mrs. Keith, laying down the book she had been reading, looked about with languid enjoyment.

faded

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

From this reading The terraced heights of Quebec had faded astern; ahead a blaze of sunshine rested on the river, up which a big liner with crowded decks and her smoke-trail staining the clear blue sky moved majestically.

faintly

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

From this reading To starboard dark pinewoods, with here and there a sawmill stack, were faintly marked upon the lofty bank; to port rose rugged hills with wooden villages at their feet.

feet

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

From this reading To starboard dark pinewoods, with here and there a sawmill stack, were faintly marked upon the lofty bank; to port rose rugged hills with wooden villages at their feet.

finenounUS /fine/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading CHUDLEIGH GATHERS INFORMATION It was a fine morning when Mrs. Keith sat on the saloon deck of a river boat steaming with the ebb tide down the St. Lawrence.

GATHERS

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

From this reading CHUDLEIGH GATHERS INFORMATION It was a fine morning when Mrs. Keith sat on the saloon deck of a river boat steaming with the ebb tide down the St. Lawrence.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading The terraced heights of Quebec had faded astern; ahead a blaze of sunshine rested on the river, up which a big liner with crowded decks and her smoke-trail staining the clear blue sky moved majestically.

heights

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

From this reading The terraced heights of Quebec had faded astern; ahead a blaze of sunshine rested on the river, up which a big liner with crowded decks and her smoke-trail staining the clear blue sky moved majestically.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading The terraced heights of Quebec had faded astern; ahead a blaze of sunshine rested on the river, up which a big liner with crowded decks and her smoke-trail staining the clear blue sky moved majestically.

herenounUS /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading To starboard dark pinewoods, with here and there a sawmill stack, were faintly marked upon the lofty bank; to port rose rugged hills with wooden villages at their feet.

hills

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

From this reading To starboard dark pinewoods, with here and there a sawmill stack, were faintly marked upon the lofty bank; to port rose rugged hills with wooden villages at their feet.

INFORMATION

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

From this reading CHUDLEIGH GATHERS INFORMATION It was a fine morning when Mrs. Keith sat on the saloon deck of a river boat steaming with the ebb tide down the St. Lawrence.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading CHUDLEIGH GATHERS INFORMATION It was a fine morning when Mrs. Keith sat on the saloon deck of a river boat steaming with the ebb tide down the St. Lawrence.

Keith

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

From this reading CHUDLEIGH GATHERS INFORMATION It was a fine morning when Mrs. Keith sat on the saloon deck of a river boat steaming with the ebb tide down the St. Lawrence.

languid

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

From this reading The light wind that rippled the blue water was pleasantly cool, and Mrs. Keith, laying down the book she had been reading, looked about with languid enjoyment.

Lawrence

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

From this reading CHUDLEIGH GATHERS INFORMATION It was a fine morning when Mrs. Keith sat on the saloon deck of a river boat steaming with the ebb tide down the St. Lawrence.

laying

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

From this reading The light wind that rippled the blue water was pleasantly cool, and Mrs. Keith, laying down the book she had been reading, looked about with languid enjoyment.

light

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

From this reading The light wind that rippled the blue water was pleasantly cool, and Mrs. Keith, laying down the book she had been reading, looked about with languid enjoyment.

liner

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

From this reading The terraced heights of Quebec had faded astern; ahead a blaze of sunshine rested on the river, up which a big liner with crowded decks and her smoke-trail staining the clear blue sky moved majestically.

lofty

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

From this reading To starboard dark pinewoods, with here and there a sawmill stack, were faintly marked upon the lofty bank; to port rose rugged hills with wooden villages at their feet.

lookednounUS /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The light wind that rippled the blue water was pleasantly cool, and Mrs. Keith, laying down the book she had been reading, looked about with languid enjoyment.

majestically

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

From this reading The terraced heights of Quebec had faded astern; ahead a blaze of sunshine rested on the river, up which a big liner with crowded decks and her smoke-trail staining the clear blue sky moved majestically.

marked

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

From this reading To starboard dark pinewoods, with here and there a sawmill stack, were faintly marked upon the lofty bank; to port rose rugged hills with wooden villages at their feet.

morningnounUS /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading CHUDLEIGH GATHERS INFORMATION It was a fine morning when Mrs. Keith sat on the saloon deck of a river boat steaming with the ebb tide down the St. Lawrence.

moved

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

From this reading The terraced heights of Quebec had faded astern; ahead a blaze of sunshine rested on the river, up which a big liner with crowded decks and her smoke-trail staining the clear blue sky moved majestically.

MRS

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

From this reading MRS.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading CHUDLEIGH GATHERS INFORMATION It was a fine morning when Mrs. Keith sat on the saloon deck of a river boat steaming with the ebb tide down the St. Lawrence.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading CHUDLEIGH GATHERS INFORMATION It was a fine morning when Mrs. Keith sat on the saloon deck of a river boat steaming with the ebb tide down the St. Lawrence.

pinewoods

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

From this reading To starboard dark pinewoods, with here and there a sawmill stack, were faintly marked upon the lofty bank; to port rose rugged hills with wooden villages at their feet.

pleasantly

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

From this reading The light wind that rippled the blue water was pleasantly cool, and Mrs. Keith, laying down the book she had been reading, looked about with languid enjoyment.

port

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

From this reading To starboard dark pinewoods, with here and there a sawmill stack, were faintly marked upon the lofty bank; to port rose rugged hills with wooden villages at their feet.

Quebec

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

From this reading The terraced heights of Quebec had faded astern; ahead a blaze of sunshine rested on the river, up which a big liner with crowded decks and her smoke-trail staining the clear blue sky moved majestically.

reading

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

From this reading The light wind that rippled the blue water was pleasantly cool, and Mrs. Keith, laying down the book she had been reading, looked about with languid enjoyment.

rested

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

From this reading The terraced heights of Quebec had faded astern; ahead a blaze of sunshine rested on the river, up which a big liner with crowded decks and her smoke-trail staining the clear blue sky moved majestically.

rippled

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

From this reading The light wind that rippled the blue water was pleasantly cool, and Mrs. Keith, laying down the book she had been reading, looked about with languid enjoyment.

river

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

From this reading CHUDLEIGH GATHERS INFORMATION It was a fine morning when Mrs. Keith sat on the saloon deck of a river boat steaming with the ebb tide down the St. Lawrence.

rose

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

From this reading To starboard dark pinewoods, with here and there a sawmill stack, were faintly marked upon the lofty bank; to port rose rugged hills with wooden villages at their feet.

rugged

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

From this reading To starboard dark pinewoods, with here and there a sawmill stack, were faintly marked upon the lofty bank; to port rose rugged hills with wooden villages at their feet.

saloon

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

From this reading CHUDLEIGH GATHERS INFORMATION It was a fine morning when Mrs. Keith sat on the saloon deck of a river boat steaming with the ebb tide down the St. Lawrence.

sat

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

From this reading CHUDLEIGH GATHERS INFORMATION It was a fine morning when Mrs. Keith sat on the saloon deck of a river boat steaming with the ebb tide down the St. Lawrence.

sawmill

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

From this reading To starboard dark pinewoods, with here and there a sawmill stack, were faintly marked upon the lofty bank; to port rose rugged hills with wooden villages at their feet.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading The light wind that rippled the blue water was pleasantly cool, and Mrs. Keith, laying down the book she had been reading, looked about with languid enjoyment.

sky

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

From this reading The terraced heights of Quebec had faded astern; ahead a blaze of sunshine rested on the river, up which a big liner with crowded decks and her smoke-trail staining the clear blue sky moved majestically.

smoke-trail

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

From this reading The terraced heights of Quebec had faded astern; ahead a blaze of sunshine rested on the river, up which a big liner with crowded decks and her smoke-trail staining the clear blue sky moved majestically.

St

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

From this reading CHUDLEIGH GATHERS INFORMATION It was a fine morning when Mrs. Keith sat on the saloon deck of a river boat steaming with the ebb tide down the St. Lawrence.

stack

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

From this reading To starboard dark pinewoods, with here and there a sawmill stack, were faintly marked upon the lofty bank; to port rose rugged hills with wooden villages at their feet.

staining

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

From this reading The terraced heights of Quebec had faded astern; ahead a blaze of sunshine rested on the river, up which a big liner with crowded decks and her smoke-trail staining the clear blue sky moved majestically.

starboard

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

From this reading To starboard dark pinewoods, with here and there a sawmill stack, were faintly marked upon the lofty bank; to port rose rugged hills with wooden villages at their feet.

steamingnounUS /ˈsteaming/

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

From this reading CHUDLEIGH GATHERS INFORMATION It was a fine morning when Mrs. Keith sat on the saloon deck of a river boat steaming with the ebb tide down the St. Lawrence.

sunshine

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

From this reading The terraced heights of Quebec had faded astern; ahead a blaze of sunshine rested on the river, up which a big liner with crowded decks and her smoke-trail staining the clear blue sky moved majestically.

terraced

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

From this reading The terraced heights of Quebec had faded astern; ahead a blaze of sunshine rested on the river, up which a big liner with crowded decks and her smoke-trail staining the clear blue sky moved majestically.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The light wind that rippled the blue water was pleasantly cool, and Mrs. Keith, laying down the book she had been reading, looked about with languid enjoyment.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading CHUDLEIGH GATHERS INFORMATION It was a fine morning when Mrs. Keith sat on the saloon deck of a river boat steaming with the ebb tide down the St. Lawrence.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading To starboard dark pinewoods, with here and there a sawmill stack, were faintly marked upon the lofty bank; to port rose rugged hills with wooden villages at their feet.

there

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

From this reading To starboard dark pinewoods, with here and there a sawmill stack, were faintly marked upon the lofty bank; to port rose rugged hills with wooden villages at their feet.

tide

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

From this reading CHUDLEIGH GATHERS INFORMATION It was a fine morning when Mrs. Keith sat on the saloon deck of a river boat steaming with the ebb tide down the St. Lawrence.

ToparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading To starboard dark pinewoods, with here and there a sawmill stack, were faintly marked upon the lofty bank; to port rose rugged hills with wooden villages at their feet.

up

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

From this reading The terraced heights of Quebec had faded astern; ahead a blaze of sunshine rested on the river, up which a big liner with crowded decks and her smoke-trail staining the clear blue sky moved majestically.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading To starboard dark pinewoods, with here and there a sawmill stack, were faintly marked upon the lofty bank; to port rose rugged hills with wooden villages at their feet.

villages

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

From this reading To starboard dark pinewoods, with here and there a sawmill stack, were faintly marked upon the lofty bank; to port rose rugged hills with wooden villages at their feet.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading CHUDLEIGH GATHERS INFORMATION It was a fine morning when Mrs. Keith sat on the saloon deck of a river boat steaming with the ebb tide down the St. Lawrence.

water

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

From this reading The light wind that rippled the blue water was pleasantly cool, and Mrs. Keith, laying down the book she had been reading, looked about with languid enjoyment.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading To starboard dark pinewoods, with here and there a sawmill stack, were faintly marked upon the lofty bank; to port rose rugged hills with wooden villages at their feet.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading CHUDLEIGH GATHERS INFORMATION It was a fine morning when Mrs. Keith sat on the saloon deck of a river boat steaming with the ebb tide down the St. Lawrence.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading The terraced heights of Quebec had faded astern; ahead a blaze of sunshine rested on the river, up which a big liner with crowded decks and her smoke-trail staining the clear blue sky moved majestically.

windnounUS /wind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The light wind that rippled the blue water was pleasantly cool, and Mrs. Keith, laying down the book she had been reading, looked about with languid enjoyment.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading CHUDLEIGH GATHERS INFORMATION It was a fine morning when Mrs. Keith sat on the saloon deck of a river boat steaming with the ebb tide down the St. Lawrence.

wooden

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

From this reading To starboard dark pinewoods, with here and there a sawmill stack, were faintly marked upon the lofty bank; to port rose rugged hills with wooden villages at their feet.