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Dorothy's House Party
Dorothy's House Party

Chapter XII

Cover illustration for Dorothy's House Party
Context Illustration Reading 1/42 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH Deerhurst was deserted.
With a down-sinking heart old Ephraim had watched the last of the merry-makers vanish through the gateway, even gray haired Hans and Griselda joining their fellow employees on this trip to the circus.
The watcher's disappointment was almost more than he could bear.
His love of junketing was like a child's and for many days, as he drove his bays about the countryside, he had gloated over the brilliant posters which heralded the coming of "The Greatest Show on Earth."
He had even invited Aunt Malinda to accompany him at his expense, and now she had gone but he was left.
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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.

Dorothy's House Party

Chapter XII

Reading 1/42 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH Deerhurst was deserted.
Line 2
With a down-sinking heart old Ephraim had watched the last of the merry-makers vanish through the gateway, even gray haired Hans and Griselda joining their fellow employees on this trip to the circus.
Line 3
The watcher's disappointment was almost more than he could bear.
Line 4
His love of junketing was like a child's and for many days, as he drove his bays about the countryside, he had gloated over the brilliant posters which heralded the coming of "The Greatest Show on Earth."
Line 5
He had even invited Aunt Malinda to accompany him at his expense, and now she had gone but he was left.

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 “His love of junketing was like a child's and for many days, as he drove his bays about the countryside, he had gloated over the brilliant posters which heralded the coming of "The Greatest Show on Earth."”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “The watcher's disappointment was almost more than he could bear.”

Deserted verb US /dɪˈzɜːrtɪd/

left a place or vessel without intending to return

From this reading “THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH Deerhurst was deserted.”

Disappointment noun US /ˈdisappointment/

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

From this reading “The watcher's disappointment was almost more than he could bear.”

Even noun US /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “With a down-sinking heart old Ephraim had watched the last of the merry-makers vanish through the gateway, even gray haired Hans and Griselda joining their fellow employees on this trip to the circus.”

Last noun US /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “With a down-sinking heart old Ephraim had watched the last of the merry-makers vanish through the gateway, even gray haired Hans and Griselda joining their fellow employees on this trip to the circus.”

Left noun US /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He had even invited Aunt Malinda to accompany him at his expense, and now she had gone but he was left.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “His love of junketing was like a child's and for many days, as he drove his bays about the countryside, he had gloated over the brilliant posters which heralded the coming of "The Greatest Show on Earth."”

Through noun US /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading “With a down-sinking heart old Ephraim had watched the last of the merry-makers vanish through the gateway, even gray haired Hans and Griselda joining their fellow employees on this trip to the circus.”

All words in this reading · 76

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

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading With a down-sinking heart old Ephraim had watched the last of the merry-makers vanish through the gateway, even gray haired Hans and Griselda joining their fellow employees on this trip to the circus.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading His love of junketing was like a child's and for many days, as he drove his bays about the countryside, he had gloated over the brilliant posters which heralded the coming of "The Greatest Show on Earth."

accompany

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

From this reading He had even invited Aunt Malinda to accompany him at his expense, and now she had gone but he was left.

almost

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

From this reading The watcher's disappointment was almost more than he could bear.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading With a down-sinking heart old Ephraim had watched the last of the merry-makers vanish through the gateway, even gray haired Hans and Griselda joining their fellow employees on this trip to the circus.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading His love of junketing was like a child's and for many days, as he drove his bays about the countryside, he had gloated over the brilliant posters which heralded the coming of "The Greatest Show on Earth."

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading He had even invited Aunt Malinda to accompany him at his expense, and now she had gone but he was left.

Aunt

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

From this reading He had even invited Aunt Malinda to accompany him at his expense, and now she had gone but he was left.

bays

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

From this reading His love of junketing was like a child's and for many days, as he drove his bays about the countryside, he had gloated over the brilliant posters which heralded the coming of "The Greatest Show on Earth."

bear

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

From this reading The watcher's disappointment was almost more than he could bear.

brilliant

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

From this reading His love of junketing was like a child's and for many days, as he drove his bays about the countryside, he had gloated over the brilliant posters which heralded the coming of "The Greatest Show on Earth."

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading He had even invited Aunt Malinda to accompany him at his expense, and now she had gone but he was left.

child's

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

From this reading His love of junketing was like a child's and for many days, as he drove his bays about the countryside, he had gloated over the brilliant posters which heralded the coming of "The Greatest Show on Earth."

circus

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

From this reading With a down-sinking heart old Ephraim had watched the last of the merry-makers vanish through the gateway, even gray haired Hans and Griselda joining their fellow employees on this trip to the circus.

coming

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

From this reading His love of junketing was like a child's and for many days, as he drove his bays about the countryside, he had gloated over the brilliant posters which heralded the coming of "The Greatest Show on Earth."

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading The watcher's disappointment was almost more than he could bear.

countryside

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

From this reading His love of junketing was like a child's and for many days, as he drove his bays about the countryside, he had gloated over the brilliant posters which heralded the coming of "The Greatest Show on Earth."

days

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

From this reading His love of junketing was like a child's and for many days, as he drove his bays about the countryside, he had gloated over the brilliant posters which heralded the coming of "The Greatest Show on Earth."

Deerhurst

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

From this reading THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH Deerhurst was deserted.

desertedverbUS /dɪˈzɜːrtɪd/

left a place or vessel without intending to return

From this reading THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH Deerhurst was deserted.

disappointmentnounUS /ˈdisappointment/

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

From this reading The watcher's disappointment was almost more than he could bear.

down-sinking

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

From this reading With a down-sinking heart old Ephraim had watched the last of the merry-makers vanish through the gateway, even gray haired Hans and Griselda joining their fellow employees on this trip to the circus.

drove

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

From this reading His love of junketing was like a child's and for many days, as he drove his bays about the countryside, he had gloated over the brilliant posters which heralded the coming of "The Greatest Show on Earth."

EARTH

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

From this reading THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH Deerhurst was deserted.

employees

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

From this reading With a down-sinking heart old Ephraim had watched the last of the merry-makers vanish through the gateway, even gray haired Hans and Griselda joining their fellow employees on this trip to the circus.

Ephraim

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

From this reading With a down-sinking heart old Ephraim had watched the last of the merry-makers vanish through the gateway, even gray haired Hans and Griselda joining their fellow employees on this trip to the circus.

evennounUS /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading With a down-sinking heart old Ephraim had watched the last of the merry-makers vanish through the gateway, even gray haired Hans and Griselda joining their fellow employees on this trip to the circus.

expense

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

From this reading He had even invited Aunt Malinda to accompany him at his expense, and now she had gone but he was left.

fellow

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

From this reading With a down-sinking heart old Ephraim had watched the last of the merry-makers vanish through the gateway, even gray haired Hans and Griselda joining their fellow employees on this trip to the circus.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading His love of junketing was like a child's and for many days, as he drove his bays about the countryside, he had gloated over the brilliant posters which heralded the coming of "The Greatest Show on Earth."

gateway

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

From this reading With a down-sinking heart old Ephraim had watched the last of the merry-makers vanish through the gateway, even gray haired Hans and Griselda joining their fellow employees on this trip to the circus.

gloated

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

From this reading His love of junketing was like a child's and for many days, as he drove his bays about the countryside, he had gloated over the brilliant posters which heralded the coming of "The Greatest Show on Earth."

gone

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

From this reading He had even invited Aunt Malinda to accompany him at his expense, and now she had gone but he was left.

gray

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

From this reading With a down-sinking heart old Ephraim had watched the last of the merry-makers vanish through the gateway, even gray haired Hans and Griselda joining their fellow employees on this trip to the circus.

GREATEST

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

From this reading THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH Deerhurst was deserted.

Griselda

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

From this reading With a down-sinking heart old Ephraim had watched the last of the merry-makers vanish through the gateway, even gray haired Hans and Griselda joining their fellow employees on this trip to the circus.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading With a down-sinking heart old Ephraim had watched the last of the merry-makers vanish through the gateway, even gray haired Hans and Griselda joining their fellow employees on this trip to the circus.

haired

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

From this reading With a down-sinking heart old Ephraim had watched the last of the merry-makers vanish through the gateway, even gray haired Hans and Griselda joining their fellow employees on this trip to the circus.

Hans

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

From this reading With a down-sinking heart old Ephraim had watched the last of the merry-makers vanish through the gateway, even gray haired Hans and Griselda joining their fellow employees on this trip to the circus.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading The watcher's disappointment was almost more than he could bear.

heart

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

From this reading With a down-sinking heart old Ephraim had watched the last of the merry-makers vanish through the gateway, even gray haired Hans and Griselda joining their fellow employees on this trip to the circus.

heralded

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

From this reading His love of junketing was like a child's and for many days, as he drove his bays about the countryside, he had gloated over the brilliant posters which heralded the coming of "The Greatest Show on Earth."

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading He had even invited Aunt Malinda to accompany him at his expense, and now she had gone but he was left.

HisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading His love of junketing was like a child's and for many days, as he drove his bays about the countryside, he had gloated over the brilliant posters which heralded the coming of "The Greatest Show on Earth."

invited

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

From this reading He had even invited Aunt Malinda to accompany him at his expense, and now she had gone but he was left.

joining

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

From this reading With a down-sinking heart old Ephraim had watched the last of the merry-makers vanish through the gateway, even gray haired Hans and Griselda joining their fellow employees on this trip to the circus.

junketing

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

From this reading His love of junketing was like a child's and for many days, as he drove his bays about the countryside, he had gloated over the brilliant posters which heralded the coming of "The Greatest Show on Earth."

lastnounUS /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading With a down-sinking heart old Ephraim had watched the last of the merry-makers vanish through the gateway, even gray haired Hans and Griselda joining their fellow employees on this trip to the circus.

leftnounUS /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He had even invited Aunt Malinda to accompany him at his expense, and now she had gone but he was left.

like

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

From this reading His love of junketing was like a child's and for many days, as he drove his bays about the countryside, he had gloated over the brilliant posters which heralded the coming of "The Greatest Show on Earth."

love

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

From this reading His love of junketing was like a child's and for many days, as he drove his bays about the countryside, he had gloated over the brilliant posters which heralded the coming of "The Greatest Show on Earth."

Malinda

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

From this reading He had even invited Aunt Malinda to accompany him at his expense, and now she had gone but he was left.

many

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

From this reading His love of junketing was like a child's and for many days, as he drove his bays about the countryside, he had gloated over the brilliant posters which heralded the coming of "The Greatest Show on Earth."

merry-makers

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

From this reading With a down-sinking heart old Ephraim had watched the last of the merry-makers vanish through the gateway, even gray haired Hans and Griselda joining their fellow employees on this trip to the circus.

more

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

From this reading The watcher's disappointment was almost more than he could bear.

now

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

From this reading He had even invited Aunt Malinda to accompany him at his expense, and now she had gone but he was left.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading With a down-sinking heart old Ephraim had watched the last of the merry-makers vanish through the gateway, even gray haired Hans and Griselda joining their fellow employees on this trip to the circus.

old

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

From this reading With a down-sinking heart old Ephraim had watched the last of the merry-makers vanish through the gateway, even gray haired Hans and Griselda joining their fellow employees on this trip to the circus.

ONprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH Deerhurst was deserted.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading His love of junketing was like a child's and for many days, as he drove his bays about the countryside, he had gloated over the brilliant posters which heralded the coming of "The Greatest Show on Earth."

posters

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

From this reading His love of junketing was like a child's and for many days, as he drove his bays about the countryside, he had gloated over the brilliant posters which heralded the coming of "The Greatest Show on Earth."

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading He had even invited Aunt Malinda to accompany him at his expense, and now she had gone but he was left.

SHOW

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

From this reading THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH Deerhurst was deserted.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading The watcher's disappointment was almost more than he could bear.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH Deerhurst was deserted.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading With a down-sinking heart old Ephraim had watched the last of the merry-makers vanish through the gateway, even gray haired Hans and Griselda joining their fellow employees on this trip to the circus.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading With a down-sinking heart old Ephraim had watched the last of the merry-makers vanish through the gateway, even gray haired Hans and Griselda joining their fellow employees on this trip to the circus.

throughnounUS /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading With a down-sinking heart old Ephraim had watched the last of the merry-makers vanish through the gateway, even gray haired Hans and Griselda joining their fellow employees on this trip to the circus.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading With a down-sinking heart old Ephraim had watched the last of the merry-makers vanish through the gateway, even gray haired Hans and Griselda joining their fellow employees on this trip to the circus.

trip

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

From this reading With a down-sinking heart old Ephraim had watched the last of the merry-makers vanish through the gateway, even gray haired Hans and Griselda joining their fellow employees on this trip to the circus.

vanish

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

From this reading With a down-sinking heart old Ephraim had watched the last of the merry-makers vanish through the gateway, even gray haired Hans and Griselda joining their fellow employees on this trip to the circus.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH Deerhurst was deserted.

watched

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

From this reading With a down-sinking heart old Ephraim had watched the last of the merry-makers vanish through the gateway, even gray haired Hans and Griselda joining their fellow employees on this trip to the circus.

watcher's

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

From this reading The watcher's disappointment was almost more than he could bear.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading His love of junketing was like a child's and for many days, as he drove his bays about the countryside, he had gloated over the brilliant posters which heralded the coming of "The Greatest Show on Earth."

WithprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading With a down-sinking heart old Ephraim had watched the last of the merry-makers vanish through the gateway, even gray haired Hans and Griselda joining their fellow employees on this trip to the circus.