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Castle Craneycrow
Castle Craneycrow

Chapter XIII

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Context Illustration Reading 1/77 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
One morning, therefore, shortly after the visit of Father Bivot, he asked Lord Saxondale for the use of a conveyance, announcing his intention to drive with Dorothy to the nearest railway station.
There was dismay in the heart of everyone who sat at what had been a cheerful breakfast table.
Quentin deliberately went on to say that he would take no lackey, preferring to expose none but himself in the undertaking.
“Can you be ready in an hour, Dorothy?” he asked, after Saxondale had reluctantly consented.
“Do you insist on carrying out this Quixotic plan, Phil?” she asked, after a long pause.
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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.

Castle Craneycrow

Chapter XIII

Reading 1/77 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
One morning, therefore, shortly after the visit of Father Bivot, he asked Lord Saxondale for the use of a conveyance, announcing his intention to drive with Dorothy to the nearest railway station.
Line 2
There was dismay in the heart of everyone who sat at what had been a cheerful breakfast table.
Line 3
Quentin deliberately went on to say that he would take no lackey, preferring to expose none but himself in the undertaking.
Line 4
“Can you be ready in an hour, Dorothy?” he asked, after Saxondale had reluctantly consented.
Line 5
“Do you insist on carrying out this Quixotic plan, Phil?” she asked, after a long pause.

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 “One morning, therefore, shortly after the visit of Father Bivot, he asked Lord Saxondale for the use of a conveyance, announcing his intention to drive with Dorothy to the nearest railway station.”

Asked noun US /asked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “One morning, therefore, shortly after the visit of Father Bivot, he asked Lord Saxondale for the use of a conveyance, announcing his intention to drive with Dorothy to the nearest railway station.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “There was dismay in the heart of everyone who sat at what had been a cheerful breakfast table.”

Everyone pronoun US /ˈevriwʌn/

every person

From this reading “There was dismay in the heart of everyone who sat at what had been a cheerful breakfast table.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading “Quentin deliberately went on to say that he would take no lackey, preferring to expose none but himself in the undertaking.”

Long noun US /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““Do you insist on carrying out this Quixotic plan, Phil?” she asked, after a long pause.”

Morning noun US /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “One morning, therefore, shortly after the visit of Father Bivot, he asked Lord Saxondale for the use of a conveyance, announcing his intention to drive with Dorothy to the nearest railway station.”

None pronoun US /nʌn/

not one, and not any

From this reading “Quentin deliberately went on to say that he would take no lackey, preferring to expose none but himself in the undertaking.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “One morning, therefore, shortly after the visit of Father Bivot, he asked Lord Saxondale for the use of a conveyance, announcing his intention to drive with Dorothy to the nearest railway station.”

Take noun US /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Quentin deliberately went on to say that he would take no lackey, preferring to expose none but himself in the undertaking.”

Therefore adverb US /ˈðerfɔːr/

for that reason; as a result

From this reading “One morning, therefore, shortly after the visit of Father Bivot, he asked Lord Saxondale for the use of a conveyance, announcing his intention to drive with Dorothy to the nearest railway station.”

Undertaking noun US /ˌʌndərˈteɪkɪŋ/

a serious task, project, or venture that someone agrees to do

From this reading “Quentin deliberately went on to say that he would take no lackey, preferring to expose none but himself in the undertaking.”

Went noun US /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Quentin deliberately went on to say that he would take no lackey, preferring to expose none but himself in the undertaking.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “Quentin deliberately went on to say that he would take no lackey, preferring to expose none but himself in the undertaking.”

All words in this reading · 78

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 One morning, therefore, shortly after the visit of Father Bivot, he asked Lord Saxondale for the use of a conveyance, announcing his intention to drive with Dorothy to the nearest railway station.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading One morning, therefore, shortly after the visit of Father Bivot, he asked Lord Saxondale for the use of a conveyance, announcing his intention to drive with Dorothy to the nearest railway station.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading “Can you be ready in an hour, Dorothy?” he asked, after Saxondale had reluctantly consented.

announcing

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

From this reading One morning, therefore, shortly after the visit of Father Bivot, he asked Lord Saxondale for the use of a conveyance, announcing his intention to drive with Dorothy to the nearest railway station.

askednounUS /asked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading One morning, therefore, shortly after the visit of Father Bivot, he asked Lord Saxondale for the use of a conveyance, announcing his intention to drive with Dorothy to the nearest railway station.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading There was dismay in the heart of everyone who sat at what had been a cheerful breakfast table.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading “Can you be ready in an hour, Dorothy?” he asked, after Saxondale had reluctantly consented.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading There was dismay in the heart of everyone who sat at what had been a cheerful breakfast table.

Bivot

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

From this reading One morning, therefore, shortly after the visit of Father Bivot, he asked Lord Saxondale for the use of a conveyance, announcing his intention to drive with Dorothy to the nearest railway station.

breakfast

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

From this reading There was dismay in the heart of everyone who sat at what had been a cheerful breakfast table.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Quentin deliberately went on to say that he would take no lackey, preferring to expose none but himself in the undertaking.

Canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading “Can you be ready in an hour, Dorothy?” he asked, after Saxondale had reluctantly consented.

carrying

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

From this reading “Do you insist on carrying out this Quixotic plan, Phil?” she asked, after a long pause.

cheerful

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

From this reading There was dismay in the heart of everyone who sat at what had been a cheerful breakfast table.

consented

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

From this reading “Can you be ready in an hour, Dorothy?” he asked, after Saxondale had reluctantly consented.

conveyance

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

From this reading One morning, therefore, shortly after the visit of Father Bivot, he asked Lord Saxondale for the use of a conveyance, announcing his intention to drive with Dorothy to the nearest railway station.

deliberately

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

From this reading Quentin deliberately went on to say that he would take no lackey, preferring to expose none but himself in the undertaking.

dismay

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

From this reading There was dismay in the heart of everyone who sat at what had been a cheerful breakfast table.

Doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading “Do you insist on carrying out this Quixotic plan, Phil?” she asked, after a long pause.

Dorothy

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

From this reading One morning, therefore, shortly after the visit of Father Bivot, he asked Lord Saxondale for the use of a conveyance, announcing his intention to drive with Dorothy to the nearest railway station.

drive

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

From this reading One morning, therefore, shortly after the visit of Father Bivot, he asked Lord Saxondale for the use of a conveyance, announcing his intention to drive with Dorothy to the nearest railway station.

everyonepronounUS /ˈevriwʌn/

every person

From this reading There was dismay in the heart of everyone who sat at what had been a cheerful breakfast table.

expose

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

From this reading Quentin deliberately went on to say that he would take no lackey, preferring to expose none but himself in the undertaking.

Father

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

From this reading One morning, therefore, shortly after the visit of Father Bivot, he asked Lord Saxondale for the use of a conveyance, announcing his intention to drive with Dorothy to the nearest railway station.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading One morning, therefore, shortly after the visit of Father Bivot, he asked Lord Saxondale for the use of a conveyance, announcing his intention to drive with Dorothy to the nearest railway station.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading There was dismay in the heart of everyone who sat at what had been a cheerful breakfast table.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading One morning, therefore, shortly after the visit of Father Bivot, he asked Lord Saxondale for the use of a conveyance, announcing his intention to drive with Dorothy to the nearest railway station.

heart

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

From this reading There was dismay in the heart of everyone who sat at what had been a cheerful breakfast table.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading Quentin deliberately went on to say that he would take no lackey, preferring to expose none but himself in the undertaking.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading One morning, therefore, shortly after the visit of Father Bivot, he asked Lord Saxondale for the use of a conveyance, announcing his intention to drive with Dorothy to the nearest railway station.

hour

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

From this reading “Can you be ready in an hour, Dorothy?” he asked, after Saxondale had reluctantly consented.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading There was dismay in the heart of everyone who sat at what had been a cheerful breakfast table.

insist

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

From this reading “Do you insist on carrying out this Quixotic plan, Phil?” she asked, after a long pause.

intention

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

From this reading One morning, therefore, shortly after the visit of Father Bivot, he asked Lord Saxondale for the use of a conveyance, announcing his intention to drive with Dorothy to the nearest railway station.

lackey

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

From this reading Quentin deliberately went on to say that he would take no lackey, preferring to expose none but himself in the undertaking.

longnounUS /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Do you insist on carrying out this Quixotic plan, Phil?” she asked, after a long pause.

Lord

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

From this reading One morning, therefore, shortly after the visit of Father Bivot, he asked Lord Saxondale for the use of a conveyance, announcing his intention to drive with Dorothy to the nearest railway station.

morningnounUS /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading One morning, therefore, shortly after the visit of Father Bivot, he asked Lord Saxondale for the use of a conveyance, announcing his intention to drive with Dorothy to the nearest railway station.

nearest

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

From this reading One morning, therefore, shortly after the visit of Father Bivot, he asked Lord Saxondale for the use of a conveyance, announcing his intention to drive with Dorothy to the nearest railway station.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading Quentin deliberately went on to say that he would take no lackey, preferring to expose none but himself in the undertaking.

nonepronounUS /nʌn/

not one, and not any

From this reading Quentin deliberately went on to say that he would take no lackey, preferring to expose none but himself in the undertaking.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading One morning, therefore, shortly after the visit of Father Bivot, he asked Lord Saxondale for the use of a conveyance, announcing his intention to drive with Dorothy to the nearest railway station.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Quentin deliberately went on to say that he would take no lackey, preferring to expose none but himself in the undertaking.

OnepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading One morning, therefore, shortly after the visit of Father Bivot, he asked Lord Saxondale for the use of a conveyance, announcing his intention to drive with Dorothy to the nearest railway station.

out

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

From this reading “Do you insist on carrying out this Quixotic plan, Phil?” she asked, after a long pause.

pause

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

From this reading “Do you insist on carrying out this Quixotic plan, Phil?” she asked, after a long pause.

Phil

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

From this reading “Do you insist on carrying out this Quixotic plan, Phil?” she asked, after a long pause.

plan

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

From this reading “Do you insist on carrying out this Quixotic plan, Phil?” she asked, after a long pause.

preferring

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

From this reading Quentin deliberately went on to say that he would take no lackey, preferring to expose none but himself in the undertaking.

Quentin

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

From this reading Quentin deliberately went on to say that he would take no lackey, preferring to expose none but himself in the undertaking.

Quixotic

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

From this reading “Do you insist on carrying out this Quixotic plan, Phil?” she asked, after a long pause.

railway

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

From this reading One morning, therefore, shortly after the visit of Father Bivot, he asked Lord Saxondale for the use of a conveyance, announcing his intention to drive with Dorothy to the nearest railway station.

ready

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

From this reading “Can you be ready in an hour, Dorothy?” he asked, after Saxondale had reluctantly consented.

reluctantly

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

From this reading “Can you be ready in an hour, Dorothy?” he asked, after Saxondale had reluctantly consented.

sat

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

From this reading There was dismay in the heart of everyone who sat at what had been a cheerful breakfast table.

Saxondale

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

From this reading One morning, therefore, shortly after the visit of Father Bivot, he asked Lord Saxondale for the use of a conveyance, announcing his intention to drive with Dorothy to the nearest railway station.

say

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

From this reading Quentin deliberately went on to say that he would take no lackey, preferring to expose none but himself in the undertaking.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading “Do you insist on carrying out this Quixotic plan, Phil?” she asked, after a long pause.

shortly

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

From this reading One morning, therefore, shortly after the visit of Father Bivot, he asked Lord Saxondale for the use of a conveyance, announcing his intention to drive with Dorothy to the nearest railway station.

station

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

From this reading One morning, therefore, shortly after the visit of Father Bivot, he asked Lord Saxondale for the use of a conveyance, announcing his intention to drive with Dorothy to the nearest railway station.

table

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

From this reading There was dismay in the heart of everyone who sat at what had been a cheerful breakfast table.

takenounUS /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Quentin deliberately went on to say that he would take no lackey, preferring to expose none but himself in the undertaking.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Quentin deliberately went on to say that he would take no lackey, preferring to expose none but himself in the undertaking.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading One morning, therefore, shortly after the visit of Father Bivot, he asked Lord Saxondale for the use of a conveyance, announcing his intention to drive with Dorothy to the nearest railway station.

There

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

From this reading There was dismay in the heart of everyone who sat at what had been a cheerful breakfast table.

thereforeadverbUS /ˈðerfɔːr/

for that reason; as a result

From this reading One morning, therefore, shortly after the visit of Father Bivot, he asked Lord Saxondale for the use of a conveyance, announcing his intention to drive with Dorothy to the nearest railway station.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading “Do you insist on carrying out this Quixotic plan, Phil?” she asked, after a long pause.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading One morning, therefore, shortly after the visit of Father Bivot, he asked Lord Saxondale for the use of a conveyance, announcing his intention to drive with Dorothy to the nearest railway station.

undertakingnounUS /ˌʌndərˈteɪkɪŋ/

a serious task, project, or venture that someone agrees to do

From this reading Quentin deliberately went on to say that he would take no lackey, preferring to expose none but himself in the undertaking.

use

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

From this reading One morning, therefore, shortly after the visit of Father Bivot, he asked Lord Saxondale for the use of a conveyance, announcing his intention to drive with Dorothy to the nearest railway station.

visit

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

From this reading One morning, therefore, shortly after the visit of Father Bivot, he asked Lord Saxondale for the use of a conveyance, announcing his intention to drive with Dorothy to the nearest railway station.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading There was dismay in the heart of everyone who sat at what had been a cheerful breakfast table.

wentnounUS /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Quentin deliberately went on to say that he would take no lackey, preferring to expose none but himself in the undertaking.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading There was dismay in the heart of everyone who sat at what had been a cheerful breakfast table.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading There was dismay in the heart of everyone who sat at what had been a cheerful breakfast table.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading One morning, therefore, shortly after the visit of Father Bivot, he asked Lord Saxondale for the use of a conveyance, announcing his intention to drive with Dorothy to the nearest railway station.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading Quentin deliberately went on to say that he would take no lackey, preferring to expose none but himself in the undertaking.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “Can you be ready in an hour, Dorothy?” he asked, after Saxondale had reluctantly consented.