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Dorothy at Oak Knowe
Dorothy at Oak Knowe

Chapter II

Cover illustration for Dorothy at Oak Knowe
Context Illustration Reading 1/53 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
UNFORTUNATE BEGINNINGS Even the most cultured Lady Principals do not enjoy being roused from their slumbers, an hour after midnight, by the tooting of a motor car beneath their bedroom windows.
It was annoying to have to dress again and descend to a dimly-lighted reception room to receive a new pupil who had missed a train, on the route, and misdirected her telegram.
Nor was there anything prepossessing about this especial girl, whose clothes steamed with moisture and whose travel-soiled cheeks were streaked by raindrops and tears.
So it was small wonder that Dorothy's reception by Miss Muriel Tross-Kingdon was decidedly cool and crisp.
"This is really unprecedented, Miss Calvert.
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Dorothy at Oak Knowe

Chapter II

Reading 1/53 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
UNFORTUNATE BEGINNINGS Even the most cultured Lady Principals do not enjoy being roused from their slumbers, an hour after midnight, by the tooting of a motor car beneath their bedroom windows.
Line 2
It was annoying to have to dress again and descend to a dimly-lighted reception room to receive a new pupil who had missed a train, on the route, and misdirected her telegram.
Line 3
Nor was there anything prepossessing about this especial girl, whose clothes steamed with moisture and whose travel-soiled cheeks were streaked by raindrops and tears.
Line 4
So it was small wonder that Dorothy's reception by Miss Muriel Tross-Kingdon was decidedly cool and crisp.
Line 5
"This is really unprecedented, Miss Calvert.

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 “Nor was there anything prepossessing about this especial girl, whose clothes steamed with moisture and whose travel-soiled cheeks were streaked by raindrops and tears.”

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “UNFORTUNATE BEGINNINGS Even the most cultured Lady Principals do not enjoy being roused from their slumbers, an hour after midnight, by the tooting of a motor car beneath their bedroom windows.”

Again noun US /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was annoying to have to dress again and descend to a dimly-lighted reception room to receive a new pupil who had missed a train, on the route, and misdirected her telegram.”

Anything pronoun US /ˈeniθɪŋ/

any thing at all

From this reading “Nor was there anything prepossessing about this especial girl, whose clothes steamed with moisture and whose travel-soiled cheeks were streaked by raindrops and tears.”

Being auxiliary verb US /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading “UNFORTUNATE BEGINNINGS Even the most cultured Lady Principals do not enjoy being roused from their slumbers, an hour after midnight, by the tooting of a motor car beneath their bedroom windows.”

Beneath preposition US /bɪˈniːθ/

Directly under; in or to a lower position than.

From this reading “UNFORTUNATE BEGINNINGS Even the most cultured Lady Principals do not enjoy being roused from their slumbers, an hour after midnight, by the tooting of a motor car beneath their bedroom windows.”

Even noun US /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “UNFORTUNATE BEGINNINGS Even the most cultured Lady Principals do not enjoy being roused from their slumbers, an hour after midnight, by the tooting of a motor car beneath their bedroom windows.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “It was annoying to have to dress again and descend to a dimly-lighted reception room to receive a new pupil who had missed a train, on the route, and misdirected her telegram.”

Whose determiner US /huːz/

belonging to which person

From this reading “Nor was there anything prepossessing about this especial girl, whose clothes steamed with moisture and whose travel-soiled cheeks were streaked by raindrops and tears.”

All words in this reading · 87

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 UNFORTUNATE BEGINNINGS Even the most cultured Lady Principals do not enjoy being roused from their slumbers, an hour after midnight, by the tooting of a motor car beneath their bedroom windows.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Nor was there anything prepossessing about this especial girl, whose clothes steamed with moisture and whose travel-soiled cheeks were streaked by raindrops and tears.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading UNFORTUNATE BEGINNINGS Even the most cultured Lady Principals do not enjoy being roused from their slumbers, an hour after midnight, by the tooting of a motor car beneath their bedroom windows.

againnounUS /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was annoying to have to dress again and descend to a dimly-lighted reception room to receive a new pupil who had missed a train, on the route, and misdirected her telegram.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading UNFORTUNATE BEGINNINGS Even the most cultured Lady Principals do not enjoy being roused from their slumbers, an hour after midnight, by the tooting of a motor car beneath their bedroom windows.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading It was annoying to have to dress again and descend to a dimly-lighted reception room to receive a new pupil who had missed a train, on the route, and misdirected her telegram.

annoying

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

From this reading It was annoying to have to dress again and descend to a dimly-lighted reception room to receive a new pupil who had missed a train, on the route, and misdirected her telegram.

anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/

any thing at all

From this reading Nor was there anything prepossessing about this especial girl, whose clothes steamed with moisture and whose travel-soiled cheeks were streaked by raindrops and tears.

bedroom

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

From this reading UNFORTUNATE BEGINNINGS Even the most cultured Lady Principals do not enjoy being roused from their slumbers, an hour after midnight, by the tooting of a motor car beneath their bedroom windows.

BEGINNINGS

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

From this reading UNFORTUNATE BEGINNINGS Even the most cultured Lady Principals do not enjoy being roused from their slumbers, an hour after midnight, by the tooting of a motor car beneath their bedroom windows.

beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading UNFORTUNATE BEGINNINGS Even the most cultured Lady Principals do not enjoy being roused from their slumbers, an hour after midnight, by the tooting of a motor car beneath their bedroom windows.

beneathprepositionUS /bɪˈniːθ/

Directly under; in or to a lower position than.

From this reading UNFORTUNATE BEGINNINGS Even the most cultured Lady Principals do not enjoy being roused from their slumbers, an hour after midnight, by the tooting of a motor car beneath their bedroom windows.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading UNFORTUNATE BEGINNINGS Even the most cultured Lady Principals do not enjoy being roused from their slumbers, an hour after midnight, by the tooting of a motor car beneath their bedroom windows.

Calvert

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

From this reading "This is really unprecedented, Miss Calvert.

car

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

From this reading UNFORTUNATE BEGINNINGS Even the most cultured Lady Principals do not enjoy being roused from their slumbers, an hour after midnight, by the tooting of a motor car beneath their bedroom windows.

cheeks

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

From this reading Nor was there anything prepossessing about this especial girl, whose clothes steamed with moisture and whose travel-soiled cheeks were streaked by raindrops and tears.

clothes

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

From this reading Nor was there anything prepossessing about this especial girl, whose clothes steamed with moisture and whose travel-soiled cheeks were streaked by raindrops and tears.

cool

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

From this reading So it was small wonder that Dorothy's reception by Miss Muriel Tross-Kingdon was decidedly cool and crisp.

crisp

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

From this reading So it was small wonder that Dorothy's reception by Miss Muriel Tross-Kingdon was decidedly cool and crisp.

cultured

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

From this reading UNFORTUNATE BEGINNINGS Even the most cultured Lady Principals do not enjoy being roused from their slumbers, an hour after midnight, by the tooting of a motor car beneath their bedroom windows.

decidedly

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

From this reading So it was small wonder that Dorothy's reception by Miss Muriel Tross-Kingdon was decidedly cool and crisp.

descend

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

From this reading It was annoying to have to dress again and descend to a dimly-lighted reception room to receive a new pupil who had missed a train, on the route, and misdirected her telegram.

dimly-lighted

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

From this reading It was annoying to have to dress again and descend to a dimly-lighted reception room to receive a new pupil who had missed a train, on the route, and misdirected her telegram.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading UNFORTUNATE BEGINNINGS Even the most cultured Lady Principals do not enjoy being roused from their slumbers, an hour after midnight, by the tooting of a motor car beneath their bedroom windows.

Dorothy's

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

From this reading So it was small wonder that Dorothy's reception by Miss Muriel Tross-Kingdon was decidedly cool and crisp.

dress

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

From this reading It was annoying to have to dress again and descend to a dimly-lighted reception room to receive a new pupil who had missed a train, on the route, and misdirected her telegram.

enjoy

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

From this reading UNFORTUNATE BEGINNINGS Even the most cultured Lady Principals do not enjoy being roused from their slumbers, an hour after midnight, by the tooting of a motor car beneath their bedroom windows.

especial

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

From this reading Nor was there anything prepossessing about this especial girl, whose clothes steamed with moisture and whose travel-soiled cheeks were streaked by raindrops and tears.

EvennounUS /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading UNFORTUNATE BEGINNINGS Even the most cultured Lady Principals do not enjoy being roused from their slumbers, an hour after midnight, by the tooting of a motor car beneath their bedroom windows.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading UNFORTUNATE BEGINNINGS Even the most cultured Lady Principals do not enjoy being roused from their slumbers, an hour after midnight, by the tooting of a motor car beneath their bedroom windows.

girl

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

From this reading Nor was there anything prepossessing about this especial girl, whose clothes steamed with moisture and whose travel-soiled cheeks were streaked by raindrops and tears.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading It was annoying to have to dress again and descend to a dimly-lighted reception room to receive a new pupil who had missed a train, on the route, and misdirected her telegram.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading It was annoying to have to dress again and descend to a dimly-lighted reception room to receive a new pupil who had missed a train, on the route, and misdirected her telegram.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading It was annoying to have to dress again and descend to a dimly-lighted reception room to receive a new pupil who had missed a train, on the route, and misdirected her telegram.

hour

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

From this reading UNFORTUNATE BEGINNINGS Even the most cultured Lady Principals do not enjoy being roused from their slumbers, an hour after midnight, by the tooting of a motor car beneath their bedroom windows.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading "This is really unprecedented, Miss Calvert.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was annoying to have to dress again and descend to a dimly-lighted reception room to receive a new pupil who had missed a train, on the route, and misdirected her telegram.

Lady

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

From this reading UNFORTUNATE BEGINNINGS Even the most cultured Lady Principals do not enjoy being roused from their slumbers, an hour after midnight, by the tooting of a motor car beneath their bedroom windows.

midnight

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

From this reading UNFORTUNATE BEGINNINGS Even the most cultured Lady Principals do not enjoy being roused from their slumbers, an hour after midnight, by the tooting of a motor car beneath their bedroom windows.

misdirected

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

From this reading It was annoying to have to dress again and descend to a dimly-lighted reception room to receive a new pupil who had missed a train, on the route, and misdirected her telegram.

Miss

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

From this reading So it was small wonder that Dorothy's reception by Miss Muriel Tross-Kingdon was decidedly cool and crisp.

missed

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

From this reading It was annoying to have to dress again and descend to a dimly-lighted reception room to receive a new pupil who had missed a train, on the route, and misdirected her telegram.

moisture

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

From this reading Nor was there anything prepossessing about this especial girl, whose clothes steamed with moisture and whose travel-soiled cheeks were streaked by raindrops and tears.

most

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

From this reading UNFORTUNATE BEGINNINGS Even the most cultured Lady Principals do not enjoy being roused from their slumbers, an hour after midnight, by the tooting of a motor car beneath their bedroom windows.

motor

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

From this reading UNFORTUNATE BEGINNINGS Even the most cultured Lady Principals do not enjoy being roused from their slumbers, an hour after midnight, by the tooting of a motor car beneath their bedroom windows.

Muriel

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

From this reading So it was small wonder that Dorothy's reception by Miss Muriel Tross-Kingdon was decidedly cool and crisp.

new

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

From this reading It was annoying to have to dress again and descend to a dimly-lighted reception room to receive a new pupil who had missed a train, on the route, and misdirected her telegram.

NorconjunctionUS /nɔːr/

and not; used after a negative to add a second negative

From this reading Nor was there anything prepossessing about this especial girl, whose clothes steamed with moisture and whose travel-soiled cheeks were streaked by raindrops and tears.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading UNFORTUNATE BEGINNINGS Even the most cultured Lady Principals do not enjoy being roused from their slumbers, an hour after midnight, by the tooting of a motor car beneath their bedroom windows.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading UNFORTUNATE BEGINNINGS Even the most cultured Lady Principals do not enjoy being roused from their slumbers, an hour after midnight, by the tooting of a motor car beneath their bedroom windows.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading It was annoying to have to dress again and descend to a dimly-lighted reception room to receive a new pupil who had missed a train, on the route, and misdirected her telegram.

prepossessing

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

From this reading Nor was there anything prepossessing about this especial girl, whose clothes steamed with moisture and whose travel-soiled cheeks were streaked by raindrops and tears.

Principals

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

From this reading UNFORTUNATE BEGINNINGS Even the most cultured Lady Principals do not enjoy being roused from their slumbers, an hour after midnight, by the tooting of a motor car beneath their bedroom windows.

pupil

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

From this reading It was annoying to have to dress again and descend to a dimly-lighted reception room to receive a new pupil who had missed a train, on the route, and misdirected her telegram.

raindrops

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

From this reading Nor was there anything prepossessing about this especial girl, whose clothes steamed with moisture and whose travel-soiled cheeks were streaked by raindrops and tears.

really

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

From this reading "This is really unprecedented, Miss Calvert.

receive

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

From this reading It was annoying to have to dress again and descend to a dimly-lighted reception room to receive a new pupil who had missed a train, on the route, and misdirected her telegram.

reception

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

From this reading It was annoying to have to dress again and descend to a dimly-lighted reception room to receive a new pupil who had missed a train, on the route, and misdirected her telegram.

room

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

From this reading It was annoying to have to dress again and descend to a dimly-lighted reception room to receive a new pupil who had missed a train, on the route, and misdirected her telegram.

roused

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

From this reading UNFORTUNATE BEGINNINGS Even the most cultured Lady Principals do not enjoy being roused from their slumbers, an hour after midnight, by the tooting of a motor car beneath their bedroom windows.

route

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

From this reading It was annoying to have to dress again and descend to a dimly-lighted reception room to receive a new pupil who had missed a train, on the route, and misdirected her telegram.

slumbers

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

From this reading UNFORTUNATE BEGINNINGS Even the most cultured Lady Principals do not enjoy being roused from their slumbers, an hour after midnight, by the tooting of a motor car beneath their bedroom windows.

small

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

From this reading So it was small wonder that Dorothy's reception by Miss Muriel Tross-Kingdon was decidedly cool and crisp.

SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading So it was small wonder that Dorothy's reception by Miss Muriel Tross-Kingdon was decidedly cool and crisp.

steamed

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

From this reading Nor was there anything prepossessing about this especial girl, whose clothes steamed with moisture and whose travel-soiled cheeks were streaked by raindrops and tears.

streaked

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

From this reading Nor was there anything prepossessing about this especial girl, whose clothes steamed with moisture and whose travel-soiled cheeks were streaked by raindrops and tears.

tears

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

From this reading Nor was there anything prepossessing about this especial girl, whose clothes steamed with moisture and whose travel-soiled cheeks were streaked by raindrops and tears.

telegram

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

From this reading It was annoying to have to dress again and descend to a dimly-lighted reception room to receive a new pupil who had missed a train, on the route, and misdirected her telegram.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading So it was small wonder that Dorothy's reception by Miss Muriel Tross-Kingdon was decidedly cool and crisp.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading UNFORTUNATE BEGINNINGS Even the most cultured Lady Principals do not enjoy being roused from their slumbers, an hour after midnight, by the tooting of a motor car beneath their bedroom windows.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading UNFORTUNATE BEGINNINGS Even the most cultured Lady Principals do not enjoy being roused from their slumbers, an hour after midnight, by the tooting of a motor car beneath their bedroom windows.

there

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

From this reading Nor was there anything prepossessing about this especial girl, whose clothes steamed with moisture and whose travel-soiled cheeks were streaked by raindrops and tears.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading Nor was there anything prepossessing about this especial girl, whose clothes steamed with moisture and whose travel-soiled cheeks were streaked by raindrops and tears.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading It was annoying to have to dress again and descend to a dimly-lighted reception room to receive a new pupil who had missed a train, on the route, and misdirected her telegram.

tooting

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

From this reading UNFORTUNATE BEGINNINGS Even the most cultured Lady Principals do not enjoy being roused from their slumbers, an hour after midnight, by the tooting of a motor car beneath their bedroom windows.

train

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

From this reading It was annoying to have to dress again and descend to a dimly-lighted reception room to receive a new pupil who had missed a train, on the route, and misdirected her telegram.

travel-soiled

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

From this reading Nor was there anything prepossessing about this especial girl, whose clothes steamed with moisture and whose travel-soiled cheeks were streaked by raindrops and tears.

Tross-Kingdon

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

From this reading So it was small wonder that Dorothy's reception by Miss Muriel Tross-Kingdon was decidedly cool and crisp.

UNFORTUNATE

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

From this reading UNFORTUNATE BEGINNINGS Even the most cultured Lady Principals do not enjoy being roused from their slumbers, an hour after midnight, by the tooting of a motor car beneath their bedroom windows.

unprecedented

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

From this reading "This is really unprecedented, Miss Calvert.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading It was annoying to have to dress again and descend to a dimly-lighted reception room to receive a new pupil who had missed a train, on the route, and misdirected her telegram.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading Nor was there anything prepossessing about this especial girl, whose clothes steamed with moisture and whose travel-soiled cheeks were streaked by raindrops and tears.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading It was annoying to have to dress again and descend to a dimly-lighted reception room to receive a new pupil who had missed a train, on the route, and misdirected her telegram.

whosedeterminerUS /huːz/

belonging to which person

From this reading Nor was there anything prepossessing about this especial girl, whose clothes steamed with moisture and whose travel-soiled cheeks were streaked by raindrops and tears.

windows

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

From this reading UNFORTUNATE BEGINNINGS Even the most cultured Lady Principals do not enjoy being roused from their slumbers, an hour after midnight, by the tooting of a motor car beneath their bedroom windows.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Nor was there anything prepossessing about this especial girl, whose clothes steamed with moisture and whose travel-soiled cheeks were streaked by raindrops and tears.

wonder

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

From this reading So it was small wonder that Dorothy's reception by Miss Muriel Tross-Kingdon was decidedly cool and crisp.