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Driven Back to Eden
Driven Back to Eden

Chapter IV

Cover illustration for Driven Back to Eden
Context Illustration Reading 1/9 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
A COUNTRY CHRISTMAS IN A CITY FLAT On Christmas morning we all brought out our purchases and arranged them on a table.
Merton was almost wild when he found a bright single-barrelled gun with accoutrements standing in the corner.
Even Mousie exclaimed with delight at the bright-colored papers of flower-seeds on her plate.
To Winnie were given half a dozen china eggs with which to lure the prospective biddies to lay in nests easily reached, and she tried to cackle over them in absurd imitation.
Little Bobsey had to have some toys and candy, but they all presented to his eyes the natural inmates of the barn-yard.
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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.

Driven Back to Eden

Chapter IV

Reading 1/9 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
A COUNTRY CHRISTMAS IN A CITY FLAT On Christmas morning we all brought out our purchases and arranged them on a table.
Line 2
Merton was almost wild when he found a bright single-barrelled gun with accoutrements standing in the corner.
Line 3
Even Mousie exclaimed with delight at the bright-colored papers of flower-seeds on her plate.
Line 4
To Winnie were given half a dozen china eggs with which to lure the prospective biddies to lay in nests easily reached, and she tried to cackle over them in absurd imitation.
Line 5
Little Bobsey had to have some toys and candy, but they all presented to his eyes the natural inmates of the barn-yard.

Learner Dictionary

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

Brought noun US /ˈbrought/

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

From this reading “A COUNTRY CHRISTMAS IN A CITY FLAT On Christmas morning we all brought out our purchases and arranged them on a table.”

Even noun US /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Even Mousie exclaimed with delight at the bright-colored papers of flower-seeds on her plate.”

Found noun US /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Merton was almost wild when he found a bright single-barrelled gun with accoutrements standing in the corner.”

Half noun US /half/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “To Winnie were given half a dozen china eggs with which to lure the prospective biddies to lay in nests easily reached, and she tried to cackle over them in absurd imitation.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “Little Bobsey had to have some toys and candy, but they all presented to his eyes the natural inmates of the barn-yard.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Little Bobsey had to have some toys and candy, but they all presented to his eyes the natural inmates of the barn-yard.”

Morning noun US /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A COUNTRY CHRISTMAS IN A CITY FLAT On Christmas morning we all brought out our purchases and arranged them on a table.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “To Winnie were given half a dozen china eggs with which to lure the prospective biddies to lay in nests easily reached, and she tried to cackle over them in absurd imitation.”

Standing noun US /ˈstanding/

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

From this reading “Merton was almost wild when he found a bright single-barrelled gun with accoutrements standing in the corner.”

All words in this reading · 81

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

AdeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading A COUNTRY CHRISTMAS IN A CITY FLAT On Christmas morning we all brought out our purchases and arranged them on a table.

absurd

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

From this reading To Winnie were given half a dozen china eggs with which to lure the prospective biddies to lay in nests easily reached, and she tried to cackle over them in absurd imitation.

accoutrements

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

From this reading Merton was almost wild when he found a bright single-barrelled gun with accoutrements standing in the corner.

all

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

From this reading A COUNTRY CHRISTMAS IN A CITY FLAT On Christmas morning we all brought out our purchases and arranged them on a table.

almost

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

From this reading Merton was almost wild when he found a bright single-barrelled gun with accoutrements standing in the corner.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading A COUNTRY CHRISTMAS IN A CITY FLAT On Christmas morning we all brought out our purchases and arranged them on a table.

arranged

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

From this reading A COUNTRY CHRISTMAS IN A CITY FLAT On Christmas morning we all brought out our purchases and arranged them on a table.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Even Mousie exclaimed with delight at the bright-colored papers of flower-seeds on her plate.

barn-yard

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

From this reading Little Bobsey had to have some toys and candy, but they all presented to his eyes the natural inmates of the barn-yard.

biddies

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

From this reading To Winnie were given half a dozen china eggs with which to lure the prospective biddies to lay in nests easily reached, and she tried to cackle over them in absurd imitation.

Bobsey

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

From this reading Little Bobsey had to have some toys and candy, but they all presented to his eyes the natural inmates of the barn-yard.

bright

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

From this reading Merton was almost wild when he found a bright single-barrelled gun with accoutrements standing in the corner.

bright-colored

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

From this reading Even Mousie exclaimed with delight at the bright-colored papers of flower-seeds on her plate.

broughtnounUS /ˈbrought/

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

From this reading A COUNTRY CHRISTMAS IN A CITY FLAT On Christmas morning we all brought out our purchases and arranged them on a table.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Little Bobsey had to have some toys and candy, but they all presented to his eyes the natural inmates of the barn-yard.

cackle

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

From this reading To Winnie were given half a dozen china eggs with which to lure the prospective biddies to lay in nests easily reached, and she tried to cackle over them in absurd imitation.

candy

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

From this reading Little Bobsey had to have some toys and candy, but they all presented to his eyes the natural inmates of the barn-yard.

china

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

From this reading To Winnie were given half a dozen china eggs with which to lure the prospective biddies to lay in nests easily reached, and she tried to cackle over them in absurd imitation.

CHRISTMAS

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

From this reading A COUNTRY CHRISTMAS IN A CITY FLAT On Christmas morning we all brought out our purchases and arranged them on a table.

CITY

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

From this reading A COUNTRY CHRISTMAS IN A CITY FLAT On Christmas morning we all brought out our purchases and arranged them on a table.

corner

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

From this reading Merton was almost wild when he found a bright single-barrelled gun with accoutrements standing in the corner.

COUNTRY

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

From this reading A COUNTRY CHRISTMAS IN A CITY FLAT On Christmas morning we all brought out our purchases and arranged them on a table.

delight

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

From this reading Even Mousie exclaimed with delight at the bright-colored papers of flower-seeds on her plate.

dozen

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

From this reading To Winnie were given half a dozen china eggs with which to lure the prospective biddies to lay in nests easily reached, and she tried to cackle over them in absurd imitation.

easily

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

From this reading To Winnie were given half a dozen china eggs with which to lure the prospective biddies to lay in nests easily reached, and she tried to cackle over them in absurd imitation.

eggs

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

From this reading To Winnie were given half a dozen china eggs with which to lure the prospective biddies to lay in nests easily reached, and she tried to cackle over them in absurd imitation.

EvennounUS /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Even Mousie exclaimed with delight at the bright-colored papers of flower-seeds on her plate.

exclaimed

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

From this reading Even Mousie exclaimed with delight at the bright-colored papers of flower-seeds on her plate.

eyes

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

From this reading Little Bobsey had to have some toys and candy, but they all presented to his eyes the natural inmates of the barn-yard.

FLAT

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

From this reading A COUNTRY CHRISTMAS IN A CITY FLAT On Christmas morning we all brought out our purchases and arranged them on a table.

flower-seeds

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

From this reading Even Mousie exclaimed with delight at the bright-colored papers of flower-seeds on her plate.

foundnounUS /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Merton was almost wild when he found a bright single-barrelled gun with accoutrements standing in the corner.

given

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

From this reading To Winnie were given half a dozen china eggs with which to lure the prospective biddies to lay in nests easily reached, and she tried to cackle over them in absurd imitation.

gun

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

From this reading Merton was almost wild when he found a bright single-barrelled gun with accoutrements standing in the corner.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Little Bobsey had to have some toys and candy, but they all presented to his eyes the natural inmates of the barn-yard.

halfnounUS /half/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading To Winnie were given half a dozen china eggs with which to lure the prospective biddies to lay in nests easily reached, and she tried to cackle over them in absurd imitation.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Little Bobsey had to have some toys and candy, but they all presented to his eyes the natural inmates of the barn-yard.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Merton was almost wild when he found a bright single-barrelled gun with accoutrements standing in the corner.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading Even Mousie exclaimed with delight at the bright-colored papers of flower-seeds on her plate.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Little Bobsey had to have some toys and candy, but they all presented to his eyes the natural inmates of the barn-yard.

imitation

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

From this reading To Winnie were given half a dozen china eggs with which to lure the prospective biddies to lay in nests easily reached, and she tried to cackle over them in absurd imitation.

INprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading A COUNTRY CHRISTMAS IN A CITY FLAT On Christmas morning we all brought out our purchases and arranged them on a table.

inmates

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

From this reading Little Bobsey had to have some toys and candy, but they all presented to his eyes the natural inmates of the barn-yard.

lay

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

From this reading To Winnie were given half a dozen china eggs with which to lure the prospective biddies to lay in nests easily reached, and she tried to cackle over them in absurd imitation.

LittlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Little Bobsey had to have some toys and candy, but they all presented to his eyes the natural inmates of the barn-yard.

lure

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

From this reading To Winnie were given half a dozen china eggs with which to lure the prospective biddies to lay in nests easily reached, and she tried to cackle over them in absurd imitation.

Merton

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

From this reading Merton was almost wild when he found a bright single-barrelled gun with accoutrements standing in the corner.

morningnounUS /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A COUNTRY CHRISTMAS IN A CITY FLAT On Christmas morning we all brought out our purchases and arranged them on a table.

Mousie

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

From this reading Even Mousie exclaimed with delight at the bright-colored papers of flower-seeds on her plate.

natural

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

From this reading Little Bobsey had to have some toys and candy, but they all presented to his eyes the natural inmates of the barn-yard.

nests

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

From this reading To Winnie were given half a dozen china eggs with which to lure the prospective biddies to lay in nests easily reached, and she tried to cackle over them in absurd imitation.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Even Mousie exclaimed with delight at the bright-colored papers of flower-seeds on her plate.

OnprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading A COUNTRY CHRISTMAS IN A CITY FLAT On Christmas morning we all brought out our purchases and arranged them on a table.

ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading A COUNTRY CHRISTMAS IN A CITY FLAT On Christmas morning we all brought out our purchases and arranged them on a table.

out

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

From this reading A COUNTRY CHRISTMAS IN A CITY FLAT On Christmas morning we all brought out our purchases and arranged them on a table.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading To Winnie were given half a dozen china eggs with which to lure the prospective biddies to lay in nests easily reached, and she tried to cackle over them in absurd imitation.

papers

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

From this reading Even Mousie exclaimed with delight at the bright-colored papers of flower-seeds on her plate.

plate

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

From this reading Even Mousie exclaimed with delight at the bright-colored papers of flower-seeds on her plate.

presented

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

From this reading Little Bobsey had to have some toys and candy, but they all presented to his eyes the natural inmates of the barn-yard.

prospective

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

From this reading To Winnie were given half a dozen china eggs with which to lure the prospective biddies to lay in nests easily reached, and she tried to cackle over them in absurd imitation.

purchases

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

From this reading A COUNTRY CHRISTMAS IN A CITY FLAT On Christmas morning we all brought out our purchases and arranged them on a table.

reached

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

From this reading To Winnie were given half a dozen china eggs with which to lure the prospective biddies to lay in nests easily reached, and she tried to cackle over them in absurd imitation.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading To Winnie were given half a dozen china eggs with which to lure the prospective biddies to lay in nests easily reached, and she tried to cackle over them in absurd imitation.

single-barrelled

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

From this reading Merton was almost wild when he found a bright single-barrelled gun with accoutrements standing in the corner.

some

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

From this reading Little Bobsey had to have some toys and candy, but they all presented to his eyes the natural inmates of the barn-yard.

standingnounUS /ˈstanding/

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

From this reading Merton was almost wild when he found a bright single-barrelled gun with accoutrements standing in the corner.

table

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

From this reading A COUNTRY CHRISTMAS IN A CITY FLAT On Christmas morning we all brought out our purchases and arranged them on a table.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Merton was almost wild when he found a bright single-barrelled gun with accoutrements standing in the corner.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading A COUNTRY CHRISTMAS IN A CITY FLAT On Christmas morning we all brought out our purchases and arranged them on a table.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading Little Bobsey had to have some toys and candy, but they all presented to his eyes the natural inmates of the barn-yard.

ToparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading To Winnie were given half a dozen china eggs with which to lure the prospective biddies to lay in nests easily reached, and she tried to cackle over them in absurd imitation.

toys

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

From this reading Little Bobsey had to have some toys and candy, but they all presented to his eyes the natural inmates of the barn-yard.

tried

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

From this reading To Winnie were given half a dozen china eggs with which to lure the prospective biddies to lay in nests easily reached, and she tried to cackle over them in absurd imitation.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Merton was almost wild when he found a bright single-barrelled gun with accoutrements standing in the corner.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading A COUNTRY CHRISTMAS IN A CITY FLAT On Christmas morning we all brought out our purchases and arranged them on a table.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading To Winnie were given half a dozen china eggs with which to lure the prospective biddies to lay in nests easily reached, and she tried to cackle over them in absurd imitation.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading Merton was almost wild when he found a bright single-barrelled gun with accoutrements standing in the corner.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading To Winnie were given half a dozen china eggs with which to lure the prospective biddies to lay in nests easily reached, and she tried to cackle over them in absurd imitation.

wild

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

From this reading Merton was almost wild when he found a bright single-barrelled gun with accoutrements standing in the corner.

Winnie

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

From this reading To Winnie were given half a dozen china eggs with which to lure the prospective biddies to lay in nests easily reached, and she tried to cackle over them in absurd imitation.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Merton was almost wild when he found a bright single-barrelled gun with accoutrements standing in the corner.