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Driven Back to Eden
Driven Back to Eden

Chapter V

Cover illustration for Driven Back to Eden
Context Illustration Reading 1/11 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
A BLUFF FRIEND The almanac had announced spring; nature appeared quite unaware of the fact, but, so far as we were concerned, the almanac was right.
Spring was the era of hope, of change, and hope was growing in our hearts like "Jack's bean," in spite of lowering wintry skies.
We were as eager as robins, sojourning in the south, to take our flight northward.
My duties to my employers had ceased the 1st of March: I had secured tenants who would take possession of our rooms as soon as we should leave them; and now every spare moment was given to studying the problem of country living and to preparations for departure.
I obtained illustrated catalogues from several dealers in seeds, and we pored over them every evening.
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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 V

Reading 1/11 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
A BLUFF FRIEND The almanac had announced spring; nature appeared quite unaware of the fact, but, so far as we were concerned, the almanac was right.
Line 2
Spring was the era of hope, of change, and hope was growing in our hearts like "Jack's bean," in spite of lowering wintry skies.
Line 3
We were as eager as robins, sojourning in the south, to take our flight northward.
Line 4
My duties to my employers had ceased the 1st of March: I had secured tenants who would take possession of our rooms as soon as we should leave them; and now every spare moment was given to studying the problem of country living and to preparations for departure.
Line 5
I obtained illustrated catalogues from several dealers in seeds, and we pored over them every evening.

Learner Dictionary

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

BLUFF adjective US /blʌf/

direct and plain-spoken in manner, sometimes seeming rough

From this reading “A BLUFF FRIEND The almanac had announced spring; nature appeared quite unaware of the fact, but, so far as we were concerned, the almanac was right.”

Every determiner US /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading “My duties to my employers had ceased the 1st of March: I had secured tenants who would take possession of our rooms as soon as we should leave them; and now every spare moment was given to studying the problem of country living and to preparations for departure.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “I obtained illustrated catalogues from several dealers in seeds, and we pored over them every evening.”

Quite noun US /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A BLUFF FRIEND The almanac had announced spring; nature appeared quite unaware of the fact, but, so far as we were concerned, the almanac was right.”

Right noun US /right/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A BLUFF FRIEND The almanac had announced spring; nature appeared quite unaware of the fact, but, so far as we were concerned, the almanac was right.”

Several noun US /ˈseveral/

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

From this reading “I obtained illustrated catalogues from several dealers in seeds, and we pored over them every evening.”

Soon noun US /soon/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “My duties to my employers had ceased the 1st of March: I had secured tenants who would take possession of our rooms as soon as we should leave them; and now every spare moment was given to studying the problem of country living and to preparations for departure.”

Take noun US /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “We were as eager as robins, sojourning in the south, to take our flight northward.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “My duties to my employers had ceased the 1st of March: I had secured tenants who would take possession of our rooms as soon as we should leave them; and now every spare moment was given to studying the problem of country living and to preparations for departure.”

All words in this reading · 85

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

1st

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

From this reading My duties to my employers had ceased the 1st of March: I had secured tenants who would take possession of our rooms as soon as we should leave them; and now every spare moment was given to studying the problem of country living and to preparations for departure.

AdeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading A BLUFF FRIEND The almanac had announced spring; nature appeared quite unaware of the fact, but, so far as we were concerned, the almanac was right.

almanac

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

From this reading A BLUFF FRIEND The almanac had announced spring; nature appeared quite unaware of the fact, but, so far as we were concerned, the almanac was right.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Spring was the era of hope, of change, and hope was growing in our hearts like "Jack's bean," in spite of lowering wintry skies.

announced

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

From this reading A BLUFF FRIEND The almanac had announced spring; nature appeared quite unaware of the fact, but, so far as we were concerned, the almanac was right.

appeared

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

From this reading A BLUFF FRIEND The almanac had announced spring; nature appeared quite unaware of the fact, but, so far as we were concerned, the almanac was right.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading A BLUFF FRIEND The almanac had announced spring; nature appeared quite unaware of the fact, but, so far as we were concerned, the almanac was right.

bean

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

From this reading Spring was the era of hope, of change, and hope was growing in our hearts like "Jack's bean," in spite of lowering wintry skies.

BLUFFadjectiveUS /blʌf/

direct and plain-spoken in manner, sometimes seeming rough

From this reading A BLUFF FRIEND The almanac had announced spring; nature appeared quite unaware of the fact, but, so far as we were concerned, the almanac was right.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading A BLUFF FRIEND The almanac had announced spring; nature appeared quite unaware of the fact, but, so far as we were concerned, the almanac was right.

catalogues

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

From this reading I obtained illustrated catalogues from several dealers in seeds, and we pored over them every evening.

ceased

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

From this reading My duties to my employers had ceased the 1st of March: I had secured tenants who would take possession of our rooms as soon as we should leave them; and now every spare moment was given to studying the problem of country living and to preparations for departure.

change

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

From this reading Spring was the era of hope, of change, and hope was growing in our hearts like "Jack's bean," in spite of lowering wintry skies.

concerned

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

From this reading A BLUFF FRIEND The almanac had announced spring; nature appeared quite unaware of the fact, but, so far as we were concerned, the almanac was right.

country

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

From this reading My duties to my employers had ceased the 1st of March: I had secured tenants who would take possession of our rooms as soon as we should leave them; and now every spare moment was given to studying the problem of country living and to preparations for departure.

dealers

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

From this reading I obtained illustrated catalogues from several dealers in seeds, and we pored over them every evening.

departure

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

From this reading My duties to my employers had ceased the 1st of March: I had secured tenants who would take possession of our rooms as soon as we should leave them; and now every spare moment was given to studying the problem of country living and to preparations for departure.

duties

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

From this reading My duties to my employers had ceased the 1st of March: I had secured tenants who would take possession of our rooms as soon as we should leave them; and now every spare moment was given to studying the problem of country living and to preparations for departure.

eager

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

From this reading We were as eager as robins, sojourning in the south, to take our flight northward.

employers

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

From this reading My duties to my employers had ceased the 1st of March: I had secured tenants who would take possession of our rooms as soon as we should leave them; and now every spare moment was given to studying the problem of country living and to preparations for departure.

era

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

From this reading Spring was the era of hope, of change, and hope was growing in our hearts like "Jack's bean," in spite of lowering wintry skies.

evening

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

From this reading I obtained illustrated catalogues from several dealers in seeds, and we pored over them every evening.

everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading My duties to my employers had ceased the 1st of March: I had secured tenants who would take possession of our rooms as soon as we should leave them; and now every spare moment was given to studying the problem of country living and to preparations for departure.

fact

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

From this reading A BLUFF FRIEND The almanac had announced spring; nature appeared quite unaware of the fact, but, so far as we were concerned, the almanac was right.

far

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

From this reading A BLUFF FRIEND The almanac had announced spring; nature appeared quite unaware of the fact, but, so far as we were concerned, the almanac was right.

flight

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

From this reading We were as eager as robins, sojourning in the south, to take our flight northward.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading My duties to my employers had ceased the 1st of March: I had secured tenants who would take possession of our rooms as soon as we should leave them; and now every spare moment was given to studying the problem of country living and to preparations for departure.

FRIEND

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

From this reading A BLUFF FRIEND The almanac had announced spring; nature appeared quite unaware of the fact, but, so far as we were concerned, the almanac was right.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading I obtained illustrated catalogues from several dealers in seeds, and we pored over them every evening.

given

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

From this reading My duties to my employers had ceased the 1st of March: I had secured tenants who would take possession of our rooms as soon as we should leave them; and now every spare moment was given to studying the problem of country living and to preparations for departure.

growing

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

From this reading Spring was the era of hope, of change, and hope was growing in our hearts like "Jack's bean," in spite of lowering wintry skies.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading A BLUFF FRIEND The almanac had announced spring; nature appeared quite unaware of the fact, but, so far as we were concerned, the almanac was right.

hearts

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

From this reading Spring was the era of hope, of change, and hope was growing in our hearts like "Jack's bean," in spite of lowering wintry skies.

hope

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

From this reading Spring was the era of hope, of change, and hope was growing in our hearts like "Jack's bean," in spite of lowering wintry skies.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading My duties to my employers had ceased the 1st of March: I had secured tenants who would take possession of our rooms as soon as we should leave them; and now every spare moment was given to studying the problem of country living and to preparations for departure.

illustrated

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

From this reading I obtained illustrated catalogues from several dealers in seeds, and we pored over them every evening.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Spring was the era of hope, of change, and hope was growing in our hearts like "Jack's bean," in spite of lowering wintry skies.

Jack's

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

From this reading Spring was the era of hope, of change, and hope was growing in our hearts like "Jack's bean," in spite of lowering wintry skies.

leave

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

From this reading My duties to my employers had ceased the 1st of March: I had secured tenants who would take possession of our rooms as soon as we should leave them; and now every spare moment was given to studying the problem of country living and to preparations for departure.

like

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

From this reading Spring was the era of hope, of change, and hope was growing in our hearts like "Jack's bean," in spite of lowering wintry skies.

living

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

From this reading My duties to my employers had ceased the 1st of March: I had secured tenants who would take possession of our rooms as soon as we should leave them; and now every spare moment was given to studying the problem of country living and to preparations for departure.

lowering

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

From this reading Spring was the era of hope, of change, and hope was growing in our hearts like "Jack's bean," in spite of lowering wintry skies.

March

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

From this reading My duties to my employers had ceased the 1st of March: I had secured tenants who would take possession of our rooms as soon as we should leave them; and now every spare moment was given to studying the problem of country living and to preparations for departure.

moment

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

From this reading My duties to my employers had ceased the 1st of March: I had secured tenants who would take possession of our rooms as soon as we should leave them; and now every spare moment was given to studying the problem of country living and to preparations for departure.

MydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading My duties to my employers had ceased the 1st of March: I had secured tenants who would take possession of our rooms as soon as we should leave them; and now every spare moment was given to studying the problem of country living and to preparations for departure.

nature

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

From this reading A BLUFF FRIEND The almanac had announced spring; nature appeared quite unaware of the fact, but, so far as we were concerned, the almanac was right.

northward

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

From this reading We were as eager as robins, sojourning in the south, to take our flight northward.

now

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

From this reading My duties to my employers had ceased the 1st of March: I had secured tenants who would take possession of our rooms as soon as we should leave them; and now every spare moment was given to studying the problem of country living and to preparations for departure.

obtained

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

From this reading I obtained illustrated catalogues from several dealers in seeds, and we pored over them every evening.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading A BLUFF FRIEND The almanac had announced spring; nature appeared quite unaware of the fact, but, so far as we were concerned, the almanac was right.

ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading Spring was the era of hope, of change, and hope was growing in our hearts like "Jack's bean," in spite of lowering wintry skies.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading I obtained illustrated catalogues from several dealers in seeds, and we pored over them every evening.

pored

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

From this reading I obtained illustrated catalogues from several dealers in seeds, and we pored over them every evening.

possession

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

From this reading My duties to my employers had ceased the 1st of March: I had secured tenants who would take possession of our rooms as soon as we should leave them; and now every spare moment was given to studying the problem of country living and to preparations for departure.

preparations

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

From this reading My duties to my employers had ceased the 1st of March: I had secured tenants who would take possession of our rooms as soon as we should leave them; and now every spare moment was given to studying the problem of country living and to preparations for departure.

problem

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

From this reading My duties to my employers had ceased the 1st of March: I had secured tenants who would take possession of our rooms as soon as we should leave them; and now every spare moment was given to studying the problem of country living and to preparations for departure.

quitenounUS /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A BLUFF FRIEND The almanac had announced spring; nature appeared quite unaware of the fact, but, so far as we were concerned, the almanac was right.

rightnounUS /right/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A BLUFF FRIEND The almanac had announced spring; nature appeared quite unaware of the fact, but, so far as we were concerned, the almanac was right.

robins

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

From this reading We were as eager as robins, sojourning in the south, to take our flight northward.

rooms

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

From this reading My duties to my employers had ceased the 1st of March: I had secured tenants who would take possession of our rooms as soon as we should leave them; and now every spare moment was given to studying the problem of country living and to preparations for departure.

secured

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

From this reading My duties to my employers had ceased the 1st of March: I had secured tenants who would take possession of our rooms as soon as we should leave them; and now every spare moment was given to studying the problem of country living and to preparations for departure.

seeds

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

From this reading I obtained illustrated catalogues from several dealers in seeds, and we pored over them every evening.

several

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

From this reading I obtained illustrated catalogues from several dealers in seeds, and we pored over them every evening.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading My duties to my employers had ceased the 1st of March: I had secured tenants who would take possession of our rooms as soon as we should leave them; and now every spare moment was given to studying the problem of country living and to preparations for departure.

skies

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

From this reading Spring was the era of hope, of change, and hope was growing in our hearts like "Jack's bean," in spite of lowering wintry skies.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading A BLUFF FRIEND The almanac had announced spring; nature appeared quite unaware of the fact, but, so far as we were concerned, the almanac was right.

sojourning

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

From this reading We were as eager as robins, sojourning in the south, to take our flight northward.

soon

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

From this reading My duties to my employers had ceased the 1st of March: I had secured tenants who would take possession of our rooms as soon as we should leave them; and now every spare moment was given to studying the problem of country living and to preparations for departure.

south

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

From this reading We were as eager as robins, sojourning in the south, to take our flight northward.

spare

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

From this reading My duties to my employers had ceased the 1st of March: I had secured tenants who would take possession of our rooms as soon as we should leave them; and now every spare moment was given to studying the problem of country living and to preparations for departure.

spite

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

From this reading Spring was the era of hope, of change, and hope was growing in our hearts like "Jack's bean," in spite of lowering wintry skies.

spring

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

From this reading A BLUFF FRIEND The almanac had announced spring; nature appeared quite unaware of the fact, but, so far as we were concerned, the almanac was right.

studying

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

From this reading My duties to my employers had ceased the 1st of March: I had secured tenants who would take possession of our rooms as soon as we should leave them; and now every spare moment was given to studying the problem of country living and to preparations for departure.

takenounUS /take/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading We were as eager as robins, sojourning in the south, to take our flight northward.

tenants

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

From this reading My duties to my employers had ceased the 1st of March: I had secured tenants who would take possession of our rooms as soon as we should leave them; and now every spare moment was given to studying the problem of country living and to preparations for departure.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading A BLUFF FRIEND The almanac had announced spring; nature appeared quite unaware of the fact, but, so far as we were concerned, the almanac was right.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading My duties to my employers had ceased the 1st of March: I had secured tenants who would take possession of our rooms as soon as we should leave them; and now every spare moment was given to studying the problem of country living and to preparations for departure.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading We were as eager as robins, sojourning in the south, to take our flight northward.

unaware

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

From this reading A BLUFF FRIEND The almanac had announced spring; nature appeared quite unaware of the fact, but, so far as we were concerned, the almanac was right.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading A BLUFF FRIEND The almanac had announced spring; nature appeared quite unaware of the fact, but, so far as we were concerned, the almanac was right.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading A BLUFF FRIEND The almanac had announced spring; nature appeared quite unaware of the fact, but, so far as we were concerned, the almanac was right.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading A BLUFF FRIEND The almanac had announced spring; nature appeared quite unaware of the fact, but, so far as we were concerned, the almanac was right.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading My duties to my employers had ceased the 1st of March: I had secured tenants who would take possession of our rooms as soon as we should leave them; and now every spare moment was given to studying the problem of country living and to preparations for departure.

wintry

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

From this reading Spring was the era of hope, of change, and hope was growing in our hearts like "Jack's bean," in spite of lowering wintry skies.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading My duties to my employers had ceased the 1st of March: I had secured tenants who would take possession of our rooms as soon as we should leave them; and now every spare moment was given to studying the problem of country living and to preparations for departure.