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Chantry House
Chantry House

Chapter XIII · Rational Theories

Cover illustration for Chantry House
Context Illustration Reading 1/35 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
‘These are the reasons, they are natural.’
_Julius Cæsar_.
IF anything could have made our adventure more unpleasant to Mr. and Mrs. Winslow, it would have been the presence of guests.
However, inquiry was suppressed at breakfast, in deference to the signs my mother made to enjoin silence before the children, all unaware that Emily was nearly frantic with suppressed curiosity, and Martyn knew more about the popular version of the legend than any of us.
Clarence looked wan and heavy-eyed.
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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.

Chantry House

Chapter XIII · Rational Theories

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

Line 1
‘These are the reasons, they are natural.’
Line 2
_Julius Cæsar_.
Line 3
IF anything could have made our adventure more unpleasant to Mr. and Mrs. Winslow, it would have been the presence of guests.
Line 4
However, inquiry was suppressed at breakfast, in deference to the signs my mother made to enjoin silence before the children, all unaware that Emily was nearly frantic with suppressed curiosity, and Martyn knew more about the popular version of the legend than any of us.
Line 5
Clarence looked wan and heavy-eyed.

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 “However, inquiry was suppressed at breakfast, in deference to the signs my mother made to enjoin silence before the children, all unaware that Emily was nearly frantic with suppressed curiosity, and Martyn knew more about the popular version of the legend than any of us.”

Anything pronoun US /ˈeniθɪŋ/

any thing at all

From this reading “IF anything could have made our adventure more unpleasant to Mr. and Mrs. Winslow, it would have been the presence of guests.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “IF anything could have made our adventure more unpleasant to Mr. and Mrs. Winslow, it would have been the presence of guests.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “However, inquiry was suppressed at breakfast, in deference to the signs my mother made to enjoin silence before the children, all unaware that Emily was nearly frantic with suppressed curiosity, and Martyn knew more about the popular version of the legend than any of us.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading “IF anything could have made our adventure more unpleasant to Mr. and Mrs. Winslow, it would have been the presence of guests.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “IF anything could have made our adventure more unpleasant to Mr. and Mrs. Winslow, it would have been the presence of guests.”

However adverb US /ˌhaʊˈevər/

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading “However, inquiry was suppressed at breakfast, in deference to the signs my mother made to enjoin silence before the children, all unaware that Emily was nearly frantic with suppressed curiosity, and Martyn knew more about the popular version of the legend than any of us.”

Looked noun US /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Clarence looked wan and heavy-eyed.”

Reasons noun US /ˈreasons/

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

From this reading “‘These are the reasons, they are natural.’”

Silence noun US /ˈsaɪ.ləns/

Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.

From this reading “However, inquiry was suppressed at breakfast, in deference to the signs my mother made to enjoin silence before the children, all unaware that Emily was nearly frantic with suppressed curiosity, and Martyn knew more about the popular version of the legend than any of us.”

These determiner US /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading “‘These are the reasons, they are natural.’”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “IF anything could have made our adventure more unpleasant to Mr. and Mrs. Winslow, it would have been the presence of guests.”

All words in this reading · 64

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading However, inquiry was suppressed at breakfast, in deference to the signs my mother made to enjoin silence before the children, all unaware that Emily was nearly frantic with suppressed curiosity, and Martyn knew more about the popular version of the legend than any of us.

adventure

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

From this reading IF anything could have made our adventure more unpleasant to Mr. and Mrs. Winslow, it would have been the presence of guests.

all

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

From this reading However, inquiry was suppressed at breakfast, in deference to the signs my mother made to enjoin silence before the children, all unaware that Emily was nearly frantic with suppressed curiosity, and Martyn knew more about the popular version of the legend than any of us.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading IF anything could have made our adventure more unpleasant to Mr. and Mrs. Winslow, it would have been the presence of guests.

any

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

From this reading However, inquiry was suppressed at breakfast, in deference to the signs my mother made to enjoin silence before the children, all unaware that Emily was nearly frantic with suppressed curiosity, and Martyn knew more about the popular version of the legend than any of us.

anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/

any thing at all

From this reading IF anything could have made our adventure more unpleasant to Mr. and Mrs. Winslow, it would have been the presence of guests.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading ‘These are the reasons, they are natural.’

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading However, inquiry was suppressed at breakfast, in deference to the signs my mother made to enjoin silence before the children, all unaware that Emily was nearly frantic with suppressed curiosity, and Martyn knew more about the popular version of the legend than any of us.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading IF anything could have made our adventure more unpleasant to Mr. and Mrs. Winslow, it would have been the presence of guests.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading However, inquiry was suppressed at breakfast, in deference to the signs my mother made to enjoin silence before the children, all unaware that Emily was nearly frantic with suppressed curiosity, and Martyn knew more about the popular version of the legend than any of us.

breakfast

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

From this reading However, inquiry was suppressed at breakfast, in deference to the signs my mother made to enjoin silence before the children, all unaware that Emily was nearly frantic with suppressed curiosity, and Martyn knew more about the popular version of the legend than any of us.

children

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

From this reading However, inquiry was suppressed at breakfast, in deference to the signs my mother made to enjoin silence before the children, all unaware that Emily was nearly frantic with suppressed curiosity, and Martyn knew more about the popular version of the legend than any of us.

Clarence

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

From this reading Clarence looked wan and heavy-eyed.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading IF anything could have made our adventure more unpleasant to Mr. and Mrs. Winslow, it would have been the presence of guests.

curiosity

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

From this reading However, inquiry was suppressed at breakfast, in deference to the signs my mother made to enjoin silence before the children, all unaware that Emily was nearly frantic with suppressed curiosity, and Martyn knew more about the popular version of the legend than any of us.

Cæsar

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

From this reading _Julius Cæsar_.

deference

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

From this reading However, inquiry was suppressed at breakfast, in deference to the signs my mother made to enjoin silence before the children, all unaware that Emily was nearly frantic with suppressed curiosity, and Martyn knew more about the popular version of the legend than any of us.

Emily

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

From this reading However, inquiry was suppressed at breakfast, in deference to the signs my mother made to enjoin silence before the children, all unaware that Emily was nearly frantic with suppressed curiosity, and Martyn knew more about the popular version of the legend than any of us.

enjoin

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

From this reading However, inquiry was suppressed at breakfast, in deference to the signs my mother made to enjoin silence before the children, all unaware that Emily was nearly frantic with suppressed curiosity, and Martyn knew more about the popular version of the legend than any of us.

frantic

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

From this reading However, inquiry was suppressed at breakfast, in deference to the signs my mother made to enjoin silence before the children, all unaware that Emily was nearly frantic with suppressed curiosity, and Martyn knew more about the popular version of the legend than any of us.

guests

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

From this reading IF anything could have made our adventure more unpleasant to Mr. and Mrs. Winslow, it would have been the presence of guests.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading IF anything could have made our adventure more unpleasant to Mr. and Mrs. Winslow, it would have been the presence of guests.

heavy-eyed

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

From this reading Clarence looked wan and heavy-eyed.

HoweveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading However, inquiry was suppressed at breakfast, in deference to the signs my mother made to enjoin silence before the children, all unaware that Emily was nearly frantic with suppressed curiosity, and Martyn knew more about the popular version of the legend than any of us.

IFconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading IF anything could have made our adventure more unpleasant to Mr. and Mrs. Winslow, it would have been the presence of guests.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading However, inquiry was suppressed at breakfast, in deference to the signs my mother made to enjoin silence before the children, all unaware that Emily was nearly frantic with suppressed curiosity, and Martyn knew more about the popular version of the legend than any of us.

inquiry

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

From this reading However, inquiry was suppressed at breakfast, in deference to the signs my mother made to enjoin silence before the children, all unaware that Emily was nearly frantic with suppressed curiosity, and Martyn knew more about the popular version of the legend than any of us.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading IF anything could have made our adventure more unpleasant to Mr. and Mrs. Winslow, it would have been the presence of guests.

Julius

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

From this reading _Julius Cæsar_.

knew

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

From this reading However, inquiry was suppressed at breakfast, in deference to the signs my mother made to enjoin silence before the children, all unaware that Emily was nearly frantic with suppressed curiosity, and Martyn knew more about the popular version of the legend than any of us.

legend

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

From this reading However, inquiry was suppressed at breakfast, in deference to the signs my mother made to enjoin silence before the children, all unaware that Emily was nearly frantic with suppressed curiosity, and Martyn knew more about the popular version of the legend than any of us.

lookednounUS /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Clarence looked wan and heavy-eyed.

made

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

From this reading IF anything could have made our adventure more unpleasant to Mr. and Mrs. Winslow, it would have been the presence of guests.

Martyn

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

From this reading However, inquiry was suppressed at breakfast, in deference to the signs my mother made to enjoin silence before the children, all unaware that Emily was nearly frantic with suppressed curiosity, and Martyn knew more about the popular version of the legend than any of us.

more

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

From this reading IF anything could have made our adventure more unpleasant to Mr. and Mrs. Winslow, it would have been the presence of guests.

mother

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

From this reading However, inquiry was suppressed at breakfast, in deference to the signs my mother made to enjoin silence before the children, all unaware that Emily was nearly frantic with suppressed curiosity, and Martyn knew more about the popular version of the legend than any of us.

Mr

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

From this reading IF anything could have made our adventure more unpleasant to Mr. and Mrs. Winslow, it would have been the presence of guests.

Mrs

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

From this reading IF anything could have made our adventure more unpleasant to Mr. and Mrs. Winslow, it would have been the presence of guests.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading However, inquiry was suppressed at breakfast, in deference to the signs my mother made to enjoin silence before the children, all unaware that Emily was nearly frantic with suppressed curiosity, and Martyn knew more about the popular version of the legend than any of us.

natural

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

From this reading ‘These are the reasons, they are natural.’

nearly

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

From this reading However, inquiry was suppressed at breakfast, in deference to the signs my mother made to enjoin silence before the children, all unaware that Emily was nearly frantic with suppressed curiosity, and Martyn knew more about the popular version of the legend than any of us.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading IF anything could have made our adventure more unpleasant to Mr. and Mrs. Winslow, it would have been the presence of guests.

ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading IF anything could have made our adventure more unpleasant to Mr. and Mrs. Winslow, it would have been the presence of guests.

popular

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

From this reading However, inquiry was suppressed at breakfast, in deference to the signs my mother made to enjoin silence before the children, all unaware that Emily was nearly frantic with suppressed curiosity, and Martyn knew more about the popular version of the legend than any of us.

presence

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

From this reading IF anything could have made our adventure more unpleasant to Mr. and Mrs. Winslow, it would have been the presence of guests.

reasonsnounUS /ˈreasons/

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

From this reading ‘These are the reasons, they are natural.’

signs

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

From this reading However, inquiry was suppressed at breakfast, in deference to the signs my mother made to enjoin silence before the children, all unaware that Emily was nearly frantic with suppressed curiosity, and Martyn knew more about the popular version of the legend than any of us.

silencenounUS /ˈsaɪ.ləns/

Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.

From this reading However, inquiry was suppressed at breakfast, in deference to the signs my mother made to enjoin silence before the children, all unaware that Emily was nearly frantic with suppressed curiosity, and Martyn knew more about the popular version of the legend than any of us.

suppressed

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

From this reading However, inquiry was suppressed at breakfast, in deference to the signs my mother made to enjoin silence before the children, all unaware that Emily was nearly frantic with suppressed curiosity, and Martyn knew more about the popular version of the legend than any of us.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading However, inquiry was suppressed at breakfast, in deference to the signs my mother made to enjoin silence before the children, all unaware that Emily was nearly frantic with suppressed curiosity, and Martyn knew more about the popular version of the legend than any of us.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading However, inquiry was suppressed at breakfast, in deference to the signs my mother made to enjoin silence before the children, all unaware that Emily was nearly frantic with suppressed curiosity, and Martyn knew more about the popular version of the legend than any of us.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading ‘These are the reasons, they are natural.’

ThesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading ‘These are the reasons, they are natural.’

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading ‘These are the reasons, they are natural.’

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading IF anything could have made our adventure more unpleasant to Mr. and Mrs. Winslow, it would have been the presence of guests.

unaware

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

From this reading However, inquiry was suppressed at breakfast, in deference to the signs my mother made to enjoin silence before the children, all unaware that Emily was nearly frantic with suppressed curiosity, and Martyn knew more about the popular version of the legend than any of us.

unpleasant

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

From this reading IF anything could have made our adventure more unpleasant to Mr. and Mrs. Winslow, it would have been the presence of guests.

uspronounUS /ʌs/

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading However, inquiry was suppressed at breakfast, in deference to the signs my mother made to enjoin silence before the children, all unaware that Emily was nearly frantic with suppressed curiosity, and Martyn knew more about the popular version of the legend than any of us.

version

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

From this reading However, inquiry was suppressed at breakfast, in deference to the signs my mother made to enjoin silence before the children, all unaware that Emily was nearly frantic with suppressed curiosity, and Martyn knew more about the popular version of the legend than any of us.

wan

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

From this reading Clarence looked wan and heavy-eyed.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading However, inquiry was suppressed at breakfast, in deference to the signs my mother made to enjoin silence before the children, all unaware that Emily was nearly frantic with suppressed curiosity, and Martyn knew more about the popular version of the legend than any of us.

Winslow

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

From this reading IF anything could have made our adventure more unpleasant to Mr. and Mrs. Winslow, it would have been the presence of guests.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading However, inquiry was suppressed at breakfast, in deference to the signs my mother made to enjoin silence before the children, all unaware that Emily was nearly frantic with suppressed curiosity, and Martyn knew more about the popular version of the legend than any of us.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading IF anything could have made our adventure more unpleasant to Mr. and Mrs. Winslow, it would have been the presence of guests.