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Bressant: A Novel
Bressant: A Novel

Chapter XXIV

Cover illustration for Bressant: A Novel
Context Illustration Reading 1/26 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
ANOTHER INTERMISSION.
It was something of a surprise to Bressant, after his interview with Cornelia, that she still continued to avoid him.
But, after what she had said to him, to set his mind at rest regarding the spirit and manner of their intercourse, she felt an intuition that it would be as well he should believe that she herself was not over-anxious to be on any terms with him whatever.
Still, he often saw her, and always carried away a charming impression of what he saw.
Once, she had mounted a chair in the library, and was in the act of reaching down a book from a high shelf, when he entered unexpectedly.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Bressant: A Novel

Chapter XXIV

Reading 1/26 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
ANOTHER INTERMISSION.
Line 2
It was something of a surprise to Bressant, after his interview with Cornelia, that she still continued to avoid him.
Line 3
But, after what she had said to him, to set his mind at rest regarding the spirit and manner of their intercourse, she felt an intuition that it would be as well he should believe that she herself was not over-anxious to be on any terms with him whatever.
Line 4
Still, he often saw her, and always carried away a charming impression of what he saw.
Line 5
Once, she had mounted a chair in the library, and was in the act of reaching down a book from a high shelf, when he entered unexpectedly.

Learner Dictionary

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

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “It was something of a surprise to Bressant, after his interview with Cornelia, that she still continued to avoid him.”

ANOTHER noun US /ˈanother/

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

From this reading “ANOTHER INTERMISSION.”

Believe noun US /ˈbelieve/

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

From this reading “But, after what she had said to him, to set his mind at rest regarding the spirit and manner of their intercourse, she felt an intuition that it would be as well he should believe that she herself was not over-anxious to be on any terms with him whatever.”

Continued noun US /ˈcontinued/

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

From this reading “It was something of a surprise to Bressant, after his interview with Cornelia, that she still continued to avoid him.”

Herself pronoun US /hərˈself/

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

From this reading “But, after what she had said to him, to set his mind at rest regarding the spirit and manner of their intercourse, she felt an intuition that it would be as well he should believe that she herself was not over-anxious to be on any terms with him whatever.”

Mind noun US /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But, after what she had said to him, to set his mind at rest regarding the spirit and manner of their intercourse, she felt an intuition that it would be as well he should believe that she herself was not over-anxious to be on any terms with him whatever.”

Once noun US /once/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Once, she had mounted a chair in the library, and was in the act of reaching down a book from a high shelf, when he entered unexpectedly.”

Rest noun US /rest/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But, after what she had said to him, to set his mind at rest regarding the spirit and manner of their intercourse, she felt an intuition that it would be as well he should believe that she herself was not over-anxious to be on any terms with him whatever.”

Shelf noun US /ʃelf/

A flat horizontal plane used to hold books or scrolls in a library.

From this reading “Once, she had mounted a chair in the library, and was in the act of reaching down a book from a high shelf, when he entered unexpectedly.”

Something pronoun US /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading “It was something of a surprise to Bressant, after his interview with Cornelia, that she still continued to avoid him.”

Still noun US /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was something of a surprise to Bressant, after his interview with Cornelia, that she still continued to avoid him.”

Well noun US /well/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But, after what she had said to him, to set his mind at rest regarding the spirit and manner of their intercourse, she felt an intuition that it would be as well he should believe that she herself was not over-anxious to be on any terms with him whatever.”

Whatever determiner US /ˌwʌˈtevər/

any or all of a kind, it does not matter which

From this reading “But, after what she had said to him, to set his mind at rest regarding the spirit and manner of their intercourse, she felt an intuition that it would be as well he should believe that she herself was not over-anxious to be on any terms with him whatever.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “But, after what she had said to him, to set his mind at rest regarding the spirit and manner of their intercourse, she felt an intuition that it would be as well he should believe that she herself was not over-anxious to be on any terms with him whatever.”

All words in this reading · 76

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 It was something of a surprise to Bressant, after his interview with Cornelia, that she still continued to avoid him.

act

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

From this reading Once, she had mounted a chair in the library, and was in the act of reaching down a book from a high shelf, when he entered unexpectedly.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading It was something of a surprise to Bressant, after his interview with Cornelia, that she still continued to avoid him.

always

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

From this reading Still, he often saw her, and always carried away a charming impression of what he saw.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading But, after what she had said to him, to set his mind at rest regarding the spirit and manner of their intercourse, she felt an intuition that it would be as well he should believe that she herself was not over-anxious to be on any terms with him whatever.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading But, after what she had said to him, to set his mind at rest regarding the spirit and manner of their intercourse, she felt an intuition that it would be as well he should believe that she herself was not over-anxious to be on any terms with him whatever.

ANOTHERnounUS /ˈanother/

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

From this reading ANOTHER INTERMISSION.

any

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

From this reading But, after what she had said to him, to set his mind at rest regarding the spirit and manner of their intercourse, she felt an intuition that it would be as well he should believe that she herself was not over-anxious to be on any terms with him whatever.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading But, after what she had said to him, to set his mind at rest regarding the spirit and manner of their intercourse, she felt an intuition that it would be as well he should believe that she herself was not over-anxious to be on any terms with him whatever.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading But, after what she had said to him, to set his mind at rest regarding the spirit and manner of their intercourse, she felt an intuition that it would be as well he should believe that she herself was not over-anxious to be on any terms with him whatever.

avoid

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

From this reading It was something of a surprise to Bressant, after his interview with Cornelia, that she still continued to avoid him.

away

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

From this reading Still, he often saw her, and always carried away a charming impression of what he saw.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading But, after what she had said to him, to set his mind at rest regarding the spirit and manner of their intercourse, she felt an intuition that it would be as well he should believe that she herself was not over-anxious to be on any terms with him whatever.

believenounUS /ˈbelieve/

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

From this reading But, after what she had said to him, to set his mind at rest regarding the spirit and manner of their intercourse, she felt an intuition that it would be as well he should believe that she herself was not over-anxious to be on any terms with him whatever.

book

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

From this reading Once, she had mounted a chair in the library, and was in the act of reaching down a book from a high shelf, when he entered unexpectedly.

Bressant

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

From this reading It was something of a surprise to Bressant, after his interview with Cornelia, that she still continued to avoid him.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But, after what she had said to him, to set his mind at rest regarding the spirit and manner of their intercourse, she felt an intuition that it would be as well he should believe that she herself was not over-anxious to be on any terms with him whatever.

carried

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

From this reading Still, he often saw her, and always carried away a charming impression of what he saw.

chair

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

From this reading Once, she had mounted a chair in the library, and was in the act of reaching down a book from a high shelf, when he entered unexpectedly.

charming

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

From this reading Still, he often saw her, and always carried away a charming impression of what he saw.

continuednounUS /ˈcontinued/

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

From this reading It was something of a surprise to Bressant, after his interview with Cornelia, that she still continued to avoid him.

Cornelia

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

From this reading It was something of a surprise to Bressant, after his interview with Cornelia, that she still continued to avoid him.

down

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

From this reading Once, she had mounted a chair in the library, and was in the act of reaching down a book from a high shelf, when he entered unexpectedly.

entered

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

From this reading Once, she had mounted a chair in the library, and was in the act of reaching down a book from a high shelf, when he entered unexpectedly.

felt

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

From this reading But, after what she had said to him, to set his mind at rest regarding the spirit and manner of their intercourse, she felt an intuition that it would be as well he should believe that she herself was not over-anxious to be on any terms with him whatever.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Once, she had mounted a chair in the library, and was in the act of reaching down a book from a high shelf, when he entered unexpectedly.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading But, after what she had said to him, to set his mind at rest regarding the spirit and manner of their intercourse, she felt an intuition that it would be as well he should believe that she herself was not over-anxious to be on any terms with him whatever.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading But, after what she had said to him, to set his mind at rest regarding the spirit and manner of their intercourse, she felt an intuition that it would be as well he should believe that she herself was not over-anxious to be on any terms with him whatever.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading Still, he often saw her, and always carried away a charming impression of what he saw.

herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/

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

From this reading But, after what she had said to him, to set his mind at rest regarding the spirit and manner of their intercourse, she felt an intuition that it would be as well he should believe that she herself was not over-anxious to be on any terms with him whatever.

high

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

From this reading Once, she had mounted a chair in the library, and was in the act of reaching down a book from a high shelf, when he entered unexpectedly.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading It was something of a surprise to Bressant, after his interview with Cornelia, that she still continued to avoid him.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading It was something of a surprise to Bressant, after his interview with Cornelia, that she still continued to avoid him.

impression

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

From this reading Still, he often saw her, and always carried away a charming impression of what he saw.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Once, she had mounted a chair in the library, and was in the act of reaching down a book from a high shelf, when he entered unexpectedly.

intercourse

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

From this reading But, after what she had said to him, to set his mind at rest regarding the spirit and manner of their intercourse, she felt an intuition that it would be as well he should believe that she herself was not over-anxious to be on any terms with him whatever.

INTERMISSION

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

From this reading ANOTHER INTERMISSION.

interview

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

From this reading It was something of a surprise to Bressant, after his interview with Cornelia, that she still continued to avoid him.

intuition

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

From this reading But, after what she had said to him, to set his mind at rest regarding the spirit and manner of their intercourse, she felt an intuition that it would be as well he should believe that she herself was not over-anxious to be on any terms with him whatever.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was something of a surprise to Bressant, after his interview with Cornelia, that she still continued to avoid him.

library

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

From this reading Once, she had mounted a chair in the library, and was in the act of reaching down a book from a high shelf, when he entered unexpectedly.

manner

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

From this reading But, after what she had said to him, to set his mind at rest regarding the spirit and manner of their intercourse, she felt an intuition that it would be as well he should believe that she herself was not over-anxious to be on any terms with him whatever.

mindnounUS /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But, after what she had said to him, to set his mind at rest regarding the spirit and manner of their intercourse, she felt an intuition that it would be as well he should believe that she herself was not over-anxious to be on any terms with him whatever.

mounted

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

From this reading Once, she had mounted a chair in the library, and was in the act of reaching down a book from a high shelf, when he entered unexpectedly.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading But, after what she had said to him, to set his mind at rest regarding the spirit and manner of their intercourse, she felt an intuition that it would be as well he should believe that she herself was not over-anxious to be on any terms with him whatever.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading It was something of a surprise to Bressant, after his interview with Cornelia, that she still continued to avoid him.

often

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

From this reading Still, he often saw her, and always carried away a charming impression of what he saw.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading But, after what she had said to him, to set his mind at rest regarding the spirit and manner of their intercourse, she felt an intuition that it would be as well he should believe that she herself was not over-anxious to be on any terms with him whatever.

Once

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

From this reading Once, she had mounted a chair in the library, and was in the act of reaching down a book from a high shelf, when he entered unexpectedly.

over-anxious

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

From this reading But, after what she had said to him, to set his mind at rest regarding the spirit and manner of their intercourse, she felt an intuition that it would be as well he should believe that she herself was not over-anxious to be on any terms with him whatever.

reaching

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

From this reading Once, she had mounted a chair in the library, and was in the act of reaching down a book from a high shelf, when he entered unexpectedly.

regarding

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

From this reading But, after what she had said to him, to set his mind at rest regarding the spirit and manner of their intercourse, she felt an intuition that it would be as well he should believe that she herself was not over-anxious to be on any terms with him whatever.

restnounUS /rest/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But, after what she had said to him, to set his mind at rest regarding the spirit and manner of their intercourse, she felt an intuition that it would be as well he should believe that she herself was not over-anxious to be on any terms with him whatever.

said

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

From this reading But, after what she had said to him, to set his mind at rest regarding the spirit and manner of their intercourse, she felt an intuition that it would be as well he should believe that she herself was not over-anxious to be on any terms with him whatever.

saw

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

From this reading Still, he often saw her, and always carried away a charming impression of what he saw.

set

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

From this reading But, after what she had said to him, to set his mind at rest regarding the spirit and manner of their intercourse, she felt an intuition that it would be as well he should believe that she herself was not over-anxious to be on any terms with him whatever.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading It was something of a surprise to Bressant, after his interview with Cornelia, that she still continued to avoid him.

shelfnounUS /ʃelf/

A flat horizontal plane used to hold books or scrolls in a library.

From this reading Once, she had mounted a chair in the library, and was in the act of reaching down a book from a high shelf, when he entered unexpectedly.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading But, after what she had said to him, to set his mind at rest regarding the spirit and manner of their intercourse, she felt an intuition that it would be as well he should believe that she herself was not over-anxious to be on any terms with him whatever.

somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading It was something of a surprise to Bressant, after his interview with Cornelia, that she still continued to avoid him.

spirit

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

From this reading But, after what she had said to him, to set his mind at rest regarding the spirit and manner of their intercourse, she felt an intuition that it would be as well he should believe that she herself was not over-anxious to be on any terms with him whatever.

stillnounUS /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was something of a surprise to Bressant, after his interview with Cornelia, that she still continued to avoid him.

surprise

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

From this reading It was something of a surprise to Bressant, after his interview with Cornelia, that she still continued to avoid him.

terms

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

From this reading But, after what she had said to him, to set his mind at rest regarding the spirit and manner of their intercourse, she felt an intuition that it would be as well he should believe that she herself was not over-anxious to be on any terms with him whatever.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It was something of a surprise to Bressant, after his interview with Cornelia, that she still continued to avoid him.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading But, after what she had said to him, to set his mind at rest regarding the spirit and manner of their intercourse, she felt an intuition that it would be as well he should believe that she herself was not over-anxious to be on any terms with him whatever.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading But, after what she had said to him, to set his mind at rest regarding the spirit and manner of their intercourse, she felt an intuition that it would be as well he should believe that she herself was not over-anxious to be on any terms with him whatever.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading It was something of a surprise to Bressant, after his interview with Cornelia, that she still continued to avoid him.

unexpectedly

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

From this reading Once, she had mounted a chair in the library, and was in the act of reaching down a book from a high shelf, when he entered unexpectedly.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading It was something of a surprise to Bressant, after his interview with Cornelia, that she still continued to avoid him.

well

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

From this reading But, after what she had said to him, to set his mind at rest regarding the spirit and manner of their intercourse, she felt an intuition that it would be as well he should believe that she herself was not over-anxious to be on any terms with him whatever.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading But, after what she had said to him, to set his mind at rest regarding the spirit and manner of their intercourse, she felt an intuition that it would be as well he should believe that she herself was not over-anxious to be on any terms with him whatever.

whateverdeterminerUS /ˌwʌˈtevər/

any or all of a kind, it does not matter which

From this reading But, after what she had said to him, to set his mind at rest regarding the spirit and manner of their intercourse, she felt an intuition that it would be as well he should believe that she herself was not over-anxious to be on any terms with him whatever.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading Once, she had mounted a chair in the library, and was in the act of reaching down a book from a high shelf, when he entered unexpectedly.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading It was something of a surprise to Bressant, after his interview with Cornelia, that she still continued to avoid him.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading But, after what she had said to him, to set his mind at rest regarding the spirit and manner of their intercourse, she felt an intuition that it would be as well he should believe that she herself was not over-anxious to be on any terms with him whatever.