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Brought Home
Brought Home

Chapter X

Cover illustration for Brought Home
Context Illustration Reading 1/22 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
A SIN AND A SHAME It was May again; a soft, sunny day, with spring showers falling, or gathering in glistening clouds in the blue sky.
The bells chimed for morning service, as the people came up to church from the old-fashioned streets.
They greeted one another as they met in the churchyard, whispering that it had been a very bad week for poor Mr. Chantrey.
Every one knew how uncontrollable his wife had been for some time past, except a few strangers, who still drove in from a distance.
The congregation, some curiously, some wistfully, gazed earnestly at him, as with a worn and weary face, and with bowed-down head already streaked with gray, he took his place in the reading-desk.
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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.

Brought Home

Chapter X

Reading 1/22 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
A SIN AND A SHAME It was May again; a soft, sunny day, with spring showers falling, or gathering in glistening clouds in the blue sky.
Line 2
The bells chimed for morning service, as the people came up to church from the old-fashioned streets.
Line 3
They greeted one another as they met in the churchyard, whispering that it had been a very bad week for poor Mr. Chantrey.
Line 4
Every one knew how uncontrollable his wife had been for some time past, except a few strangers, who still drove in from a distance.
Line 5
The congregation, some curiously, some wistfully, gazed earnestly at him, as with a worn and weary face, and with bowed-down head already streaked with gray, he took his place in the reading-desk.

Learner Dictionary

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

Again noun US /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A SIN AND A SHAME It was May again; a soft, sunny day, with spring showers falling, or gathering in glistening clouds in the blue sky.”

Already noun US /already/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The congregation, some curiously, some wistfully, gazed earnestly at him, as with a worn and weary face, and with bowed-down head already streaked with gray, he took his place in the reading-desk.”

Another noun US /ˈanother/

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

From this reading “They greeted one another as they met in the churchyard, whispering that it had been a very bad week for poor Mr. Chantrey.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “They greeted one another as they met in the churchyard, whispering that it had been a very bad week for poor Mr. Chantrey.”

Every determiner US /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading “Every one knew how uncontrollable his wife had been for some time past, except a few strangers, who still drove in from a distance.”

Except preposition US /ɪkˈsept/

apart from; not including

From this reading “Every one knew how uncontrollable his wife had been for some time past, except a few strangers, who still drove in from a distance.”

May modal verb US /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading “A SIN AND A SHAME It was May again; a soft, sunny day, with spring showers falling, or gathering in glistening clouds in the blue sky.”

Morning noun US /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The bells chimed for morning service, as the people came up to church from the old-fashioned streets.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “They greeted one another as they met in the churchyard, whispering that it had been a very bad week for poor Mr. Chantrey.”

Poor noun US /poor/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “They greeted one another as they met in the churchyard, whispering that it had been a very bad week for poor Mr. Chantrey.”

Still noun US /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Every one knew how uncontrollable his wife had been for some time past, except a few strangers, who still drove in from a distance.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Every one knew how uncontrollable his wife had been for some time past, except a few strangers, who still drove in from a distance.”

Took noun US /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The congregation, some curiously, some wistfully, gazed earnestly at him, as with a worn and weary face, and with bowed-down head already streaked with gray, he took his place in the reading-desk.”

Worn verb US /wɔːrn/

Damaged or thinned by continuous use.

From this reading “The congregation, some curiously, some wistfully, gazed earnestly at him, as with a worn and weary face, and with bowed-down head already streaked with gray, he took his place in the reading-desk.”

All words in this reading · 88

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 A SIN AND A SHAME It was May again; a soft, sunny day, with spring showers falling, or gathering in glistening clouds in the blue sky.

againnounUS /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A SIN AND A SHAME It was May again; a soft, sunny day, with spring showers falling, or gathering in glistening clouds in the blue sky.

alreadynounUS /already/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The congregation, some curiously, some wistfully, gazed earnestly at him, as with a worn and weary face, and with bowed-down head already streaked with gray, he took his place in the reading-desk.

ANDconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading A SIN AND A SHAME It was May again; a soft, sunny day, with spring showers falling, or gathering in glistening clouds in the blue sky.

anothernounUS /ˈanother/

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

From this reading They greeted one another as they met in the churchyard, whispering that it had been a very bad week for poor Mr. Chantrey.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading The bells chimed for morning service, as the people came up to church from the old-fashioned streets.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The congregation, some curiously, some wistfully, gazed earnestly at him, as with a worn and weary face, and with bowed-down head already streaked with gray, he took his place in the reading-desk.

bad

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

From this reading They greeted one another as they met in the churchyard, whispering that it had been a very bad week for poor Mr. Chantrey.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading They greeted one another as they met in the churchyard, whispering that it had been a very bad week for poor Mr. Chantrey.

bells

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

From this reading The bells chimed for morning service, as the people came up to church from the old-fashioned streets.

blue

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

From this reading A SIN AND A SHAME It was May again; a soft, sunny day, with spring showers falling, or gathering in glistening clouds in the blue sky.

bowed-down

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

From this reading The congregation, some curiously, some wistfully, gazed earnestly at him, as with a worn and weary face, and with bowed-down head already streaked with gray, he took his place in the reading-desk.

came

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

From this reading The bells chimed for morning service, as the people came up to church from the old-fashioned streets.

Chantrey

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

From this reading They greeted one another as they met in the churchyard, whispering that it had been a very bad week for poor Mr. Chantrey.

chimed

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

From this reading The bells chimed for morning service, as the people came up to church from the old-fashioned streets.

church

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

From this reading The bells chimed for morning service, as the people came up to church from the old-fashioned streets.

churchyard

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

From this reading They greeted one another as they met in the churchyard, whispering that it had been a very bad week for poor Mr. Chantrey.

clouds

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

From this reading A SIN AND A SHAME It was May again; a soft, sunny day, with spring showers falling, or gathering in glistening clouds in the blue sky.

congregation

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

From this reading The congregation, some curiously, some wistfully, gazed earnestly at him, as with a worn and weary face, and with bowed-down head already streaked with gray, he took his place in the reading-desk.

curiously

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

From this reading The congregation, some curiously, some wistfully, gazed earnestly at him, as with a worn and weary face, and with bowed-down head already streaked with gray, he took his place in the reading-desk.

day

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

From this reading A SIN AND A SHAME It was May again; a soft, sunny day, with spring showers falling, or gathering in glistening clouds in the blue sky.

distance

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

From this reading Every one knew how uncontrollable his wife had been for some time past, except a few strangers, who still drove in from a distance.

drove

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

From this reading Every one knew how uncontrollable his wife had been for some time past, except a few strangers, who still drove in from a distance.

earnestly

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

From this reading The congregation, some curiously, some wistfully, gazed earnestly at him, as with a worn and weary face, and with bowed-down head already streaked with gray, he took his place in the reading-desk.

EverydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading Every one knew how uncontrollable his wife had been for some time past, except a few strangers, who still drove in from a distance.

exceptprepositionUS /ɪkˈsept/

apart from; not including

From this reading Every one knew how uncontrollable his wife had been for some time past, except a few strangers, who still drove in from a distance.

face

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

From this reading The congregation, some curiously, some wistfully, gazed earnestly at him, as with a worn and weary face, and with bowed-down head already streaked with gray, he took his place in the reading-desk.

falling

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

From this reading A SIN AND A SHAME It was May again; a soft, sunny day, with spring showers falling, or gathering in glistening clouds in the blue sky.

few

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

From this reading Every one knew how uncontrollable his wife had been for some time past, except a few strangers, who still drove in from a distance.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The bells chimed for morning service, as the people came up to church from the old-fashioned streets.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The bells chimed for morning service, as the people came up to church from the old-fashioned streets.

gathering

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

From this reading A SIN AND A SHAME It was May again; a soft, sunny day, with spring showers falling, or gathering in glistening clouds in the blue sky.

gazed

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

From this reading The congregation, some curiously, some wistfully, gazed earnestly at him, as with a worn and weary face, and with bowed-down head already streaked with gray, he took his place in the reading-desk.

glistening

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

From this reading A SIN AND A SHAME It was May again; a soft, sunny day, with spring showers falling, or gathering in glistening clouds in the blue sky.

gray

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

From this reading The congregation, some curiously, some wistfully, gazed earnestly at him, as with a worn and weary face, and with bowed-down head already streaked with gray, he took his place in the reading-desk.

greeted

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

From this reading They greeted one another as they met in the churchyard, whispering that it had been a very bad week for poor Mr. Chantrey.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading They greeted one another as they met in the churchyard, whispering that it had been a very bad week for poor Mr. Chantrey.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading The congregation, some curiously, some wistfully, gazed earnestly at him, as with a worn and weary face, and with bowed-down head already streaked with gray, he took his place in the reading-desk.

head

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

From this reading The congregation, some curiously, some wistfully, gazed earnestly at him, as with a worn and weary face, and with bowed-down head already streaked with gray, he took his place in the reading-desk.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading The congregation, some curiously, some wistfully, gazed earnestly at him, as with a worn and weary face, and with bowed-down head already streaked with gray, he took his place in the reading-desk.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Every one knew how uncontrollable his wife had been for some time past, except a few strangers, who still drove in from a distance.

how

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

From this reading Every one knew how uncontrollable his wife had been for some time past, except a few strangers, who still drove in from a distance.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading A SIN AND A SHAME It was May again; a soft, sunny day, with spring showers falling, or gathering in glistening clouds in the blue sky.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading A SIN AND A SHAME It was May again; a soft, sunny day, with spring showers falling, or gathering in glistening clouds in the blue sky.

knew

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

From this reading Every one knew how uncontrollable his wife had been for some time past, except a few strangers, who still drove in from a distance.

Maymodal verbUS /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading A SIN AND A SHAME It was May again; a soft, sunny day, with spring showers falling, or gathering in glistening clouds in the blue sky.

met

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

From this reading They greeted one another as they met in the churchyard, whispering that it had been a very bad week for poor Mr. Chantrey.

morningnounUS /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The bells chimed for morning service, as the people came up to church from the old-fashioned streets.

Mr

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

From this reading They greeted one another as they met in the churchyard, whispering that it had been a very bad week for poor Mr. Chantrey.

old-fashioned

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

From this reading The bells chimed for morning service, as the people came up to church from the old-fashioned streets.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading They greeted one another as they met in the churchyard, whispering that it had been a very bad week for poor Mr. Chantrey.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading A SIN AND A SHAME It was May again; a soft, sunny day, with spring showers falling, or gathering in glistening clouds in the blue sky.

past

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

From this reading Every one knew how uncontrollable his wife had been for some time past, except a few strangers, who still drove in from a distance.

people

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

From this reading The bells chimed for morning service, as the people came up to church from the old-fashioned streets.

place

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

From this reading The congregation, some curiously, some wistfully, gazed earnestly at him, as with a worn and weary face, and with bowed-down head already streaked with gray, he took his place in the reading-desk.

poornounUS /poor/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading They greeted one another as they met in the churchyard, whispering that it had been a very bad week for poor Mr. Chantrey.

reading-desk

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

From this reading The congregation, some curiously, some wistfully, gazed earnestly at him, as with a worn and weary face, and with bowed-down head already streaked with gray, he took his place in the reading-desk.

service

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

From this reading The bells chimed for morning service, as the people came up to church from the old-fashioned streets.

SHAME

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

From this reading A SIN AND A SHAME It was May again; a soft, sunny day, with spring showers falling, or gathering in glistening clouds in the blue sky.

showers

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

From this reading A SIN AND A SHAME It was May again; a soft, sunny day, with spring showers falling, or gathering in glistening clouds in the blue sky.

SIN

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

From this reading A SIN AND A SHAME It was May again; a soft, sunny day, with spring showers falling, or gathering in glistening clouds in the blue sky.

sky

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

From this reading A SIN AND A SHAME It was May again; a soft, sunny day, with spring showers falling, or gathering in glistening clouds in the blue sky.

soft

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

From this reading A SIN AND A SHAME It was May again; a soft, sunny day, with spring showers falling, or gathering in glistening clouds in the blue sky.

some

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

From this reading Every one knew how uncontrollable his wife had been for some time past, except a few strangers, who still drove in from a distance.

spring

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

From this reading A SIN AND A SHAME It was May again; a soft, sunny day, with spring showers falling, or gathering in glistening clouds in the blue sky.

stillnounUS /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Every one knew how uncontrollable his wife had been for some time past, except a few strangers, who still drove in from a distance.

strangers

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

From this reading Every one knew how uncontrollable his wife had been for some time past, except a few strangers, who still drove in from a distance.

streaked

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

From this reading The congregation, some curiously, some wistfully, gazed earnestly at him, as with a worn and weary face, and with bowed-down head already streaked with gray, he took his place in the reading-desk.

streets

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

From this reading The bells chimed for morning service, as the people came up to church from the old-fashioned streets.

sunny

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

From this reading A SIN AND A SHAME It was May again; a soft, sunny day, with spring showers falling, or gathering in glistening clouds in the blue sky.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading They greeted one another as they met in the churchyard, whispering that it had been a very bad week for poor Mr. Chantrey.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading A SIN AND A SHAME It was May again; a soft, sunny day, with spring showers falling, or gathering in glistening clouds in the blue sky.

TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading They greeted one another as they met in the churchyard, whispering that it had been a very bad week for poor Mr. Chantrey.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Every one knew how uncontrollable his wife had been for some time past, except a few strangers, who still drove in from a distance.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The bells chimed for morning service, as the people came up to church from the old-fashioned streets.

tooknounUS /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The congregation, some curiously, some wistfully, gazed earnestly at him, as with a worn and weary face, and with bowed-down head already streaked with gray, he took his place in the reading-desk.

uncontrollable

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

From this reading Every one knew how uncontrollable his wife had been for some time past, except a few strangers, who still drove in from a distance.

up

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

From this reading The bells chimed for morning service, as the people came up to church from the old-fashioned streets.

very

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

From this reading They greeted one another as they met in the churchyard, whispering that it had been a very bad week for poor Mr. Chantrey.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading A SIN AND A SHAME It was May again; a soft, sunny day, with spring showers falling, or gathering in glistening clouds in the blue sky.

weary

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

From this reading The congregation, some curiously, some wistfully, gazed earnestly at him, as with a worn and weary face, and with bowed-down head already streaked with gray, he took his place in the reading-desk.

week

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

From this reading They greeted one another as they met in the churchyard, whispering that it had been a very bad week for poor Mr. Chantrey.

whispering

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

From this reading They greeted one another as they met in the churchyard, whispering that it had been a very bad week for poor Mr. Chantrey.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading Every one knew how uncontrollable his wife had been for some time past, except a few strangers, who still drove in from a distance.

wife

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

From this reading Every one knew how uncontrollable his wife had been for some time past, except a few strangers, who still drove in from a distance.

wistfully

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

From this reading The congregation, some curiously, some wistfully, gazed earnestly at him, as with a worn and weary face, and with bowed-down head already streaked with gray, he took his place in the reading-desk.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading A SIN AND A SHAME It was May again; a soft, sunny day, with spring showers falling, or gathering in glistening clouds in the blue sky.

wornverbUS /wɔːrn/

Damaged or thinned by continuous use.

From this reading The congregation, some curiously, some wistfully, gazed earnestly at him, as with a worn and weary face, and with bowed-down head already streaked with gray, he took his place in the reading-desk.