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Driven Back to Eden
Driven Back to Eden

Chapter XXXVI

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Context Illustration Reading 1/13 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
A VISIT TO HOUGHTON FARM Houghton Farm, distant a few miles, is a magnificent estate of about one thousand acres, and the outbuildings upon it are princely in comparison with anything I could erect.
They had been constructed, however, on practical and scientific principles, and I hoped that a visit might suggest to me some useful points.
Sound principles might be applied, in a modest way, to even such a structure as would come within my means.
At any rate, a visit to such a farm would be full of interest and pleasure.
So we dug away at the potatoes, and worked like ants in gathering them, until we had nearly a hundred bushels stored.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
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A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Driven Back to Eden

Chapter XXXVI

Reading 1/13 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
A VISIT TO HOUGHTON FARM Houghton Farm, distant a few miles, is a magnificent estate of about one thousand acres, and the outbuildings upon it are princely in comparison with anything I could erect.
Line 2
They had been constructed, however, on practical and scientific principles, and I hoped that a visit might suggest to me some useful points.
Line 3
Sound principles might be applied, in a modest way, to even such a structure as would come within my means.
Line 4
At any rate, a visit to such a farm would be full of interest and pleasure.
Line 5
So we dug away at the potatoes, and worked like ants in gathering them, until we had nearly a hundred bushels stored.

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 “A VISIT TO HOUGHTON FARM Houghton Farm, distant a few miles, is a magnificent estate of about one thousand acres, and the outbuildings upon it are princely in comparison with anything I could erect.”

Anything pronoun US /ˈeniθɪŋ/

any thing at all

From this reading “A VISIT TO HOUGHTON FARM Houghton Farm, distant a few miles, is a magnificent estate of about one thousand acres, and the outbuildings upon it are princely in comparison with anything I could erect.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “They had been constructed, however, on practical and scientific principles, and I hoped that a visit might suggest to me some useful points.”

Come noun US /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Sound principles might be applied, in a modest way, to even such a structure as would come within my means.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “A VISIT TO HOUGHTON FARM Houghton Farm, distant a few miles, is a magnificent estate of about one thousand acres, and the outbuildings upon it are princely in comparison with anything I could erect.”

Distant adjective US /ˈdɪstənt/

not friendly or close

From this reading “A VISIT TO HOUGHTON FARM Houghton Farm, distant a few miles, is a magnificent estate of about one thousand acres, and the outbuildings upon it are princely in comparison with anything I could erect.”

Even noun US /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Sound principles might be applied, in a modest way, to even such a structure as would come within my means.”

However adverb US /ˌhaʊˈevər/

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading “They had been constructed, however, on practical and scientific principles, and I hoped that a visit might suggest to me some useful points.”

Might modal verb US /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading “They had been constructed, however, on practical and scientific principles, and I hoped that a visit might suggest to me some useful points.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “A VISIT TO HOUGHTON FARM Houghton Farm, distant a few miles, is a magnificent estate of about one thousand acres, and the outbuildings upon it are princely in comparison with anything I could erect.”

Until preposition US /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading “So we dug away at the potatoes, and worked like ants in gathering them, until we had nearly a hundred bushels stored.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “A VISIT TO HOUGHTON FARM Houghton Farm, distant a few miles, is a magnificent estate of about one thousand acres, and the outbuildings upon it are princely in comparison with anything I could erect.”

Within preposition US /wɪˈðɪn/

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading “Sound principles might be applied, in a modest way, to even such a structure as would come within my means.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “Sound principles might be applied, in a modest way, to even such a structure as would come within my means.”

All words in this reading · 82

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 VISIT TO HOUGHTON FARM Houghton Farm, distant a few miles, is a magnificent estate of about one thousand acres, and the outbuildings upon it are princely in comparison with anything I could erect.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading A VISIT TO HOUGHTON FARM Houghton Farm, distant a few miles, is a magnificent estate of about one thousand acres, and the outbuildings upon it are princely in comparison with anything I could erect.

acres

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

From this reading A VISIT TO HOUGHTON FARM Houghton Farm, distant a few miles, is a magnificent estate of about one thousand acres, and the outbuildings upon it are princely in comparison with anything I could erect.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading A VISIT TO HOUGHTON FARM Houghton Farm, distant a few miles, is a magnificent estate of about one thousand acres, and the outbuildings upon it are princely in comparison with anything I could erect.

ants

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

From this reading So we dug away at the potatoes, and worked like ants in gathering them, until we had nearly a hundred bushels stored.

any

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

From this reading At any rate, a visit to such a farm would be full of interest and pleasure.

anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/

any thing at all

From this reading A VISIT TO HOUGHTON FARM Houghton Farm, distant a few miles, is a magnificent estate of about one thousand acres, and the outbuildings upon it are princely in comparison with anything I could erect.

applied

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

From this reading Sound principles might be applied, in a modest way, to even such a structure as would come within my means.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading A VISIT TO HOUGHTON FARM Houghton Farm, distant a few miles, is a magnificent estate of about one thousand acres, and the outbuildings upon it are princely in comparison with anything I could erect.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Sound principles might be applied, in a modest way, to even such a structure as would come within my means.

AtprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading At any rate, a visit to such a farm would be full of interest and pleasure.

away

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

From this reading So we dug away at the potatoes, and worked like ants in gathering them, until we had nearly a hundred bushels stored.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading Sound principles might be applied, in a modest way, to even such a structure as would come within my means.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading They had been constructed, however, on practical and scientific principles, and I hoped that a visit might suggest to me some useful points.

bushels

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

From this reading So we dug away at the potatoes, and worked like ants in gathering them, until we had nearly a hundred bushels stored.

comenounUS /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Sound principles might be applied, in a modest way, to even such a structure as would come within my means.

comparison

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

From this reading A VISIT TO HOUGHTON FARM Houghton Farm, distant a few miles, is a magnificent estate of about one thousand acres, and the outbuildings upon it are princely in comparison with anything I could erect.

constructed

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

From this reading They had been constructed, however, on practical and scientific principles, and I hoped that a visit might suggest to me some useful points.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading A VISIT TO HOUGHTON FARM Houghton Farm, distant a few miles, is a magnificent estate of about one thousand acres, and the outbuildings upon it are princely in comparison with anything I could erect.

distantadjectiveUS /ˈdɪstənt/

not friendly or close

From this reading A VISIT TO HOUGHTON FARM Houghton Farm, distant a few miles, is a magnificent estate of about one thousand acres, and the outbuildings upon it are princely in comparison with anything I could erect.

dug

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

From this reading So we dug away at the potatoes, and worked like ants in gathering them, until we had nearly a hundred bushels stored.

erect

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

From this reading A VISIT TO HOUGHTON FARM Houghton Farm, distant a few miles, is a magnificent estate of about one thousand acres, and the outbuildings upon it are princely in comparison with anything I could erect.

estate

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

From this reading A VISIT TO HOUGHTON FARM Houghton Farm, distant a few miles, is a magnificent estate of about one thousand acres, and the outbuildings upon it are princely in comparison with anything I could erect.

evennounUS /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Sound principles might be applied, in a modest way, to even such a structure as would come within my means.

FARM

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

From this reading A VISIT TO HOUGHTON FARM Houghton Farm, distant a few miles, is a magnificent estate of about one thousand acres, and the outbuildings upon it are princely in comparison with anything I could erect.

few

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

From this reading A VISIT TO HOUGHTON FARM Houghton Farm, distant a few miles, is a magnificent estate of about one thousand acres, and the outbuildings upon it are princely in comparison with anything I could erect.

full

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

From this reading At any rate, a visit to such a farm would be full of interest and pleasure.

gathering

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

From this reading So we dug away at the potatoes, and worked like ants in gathering them, until we had nearly a hundred bushels stored.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading They had been constructed, however, on practical and scientific principles, and I hoped that a visit might suggest to me some useful points.

hoped

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

From this reading They had been constructed, however, on practical and scientific principles, and I hoped that a visit might suggest to me some useful points.

HOUGHTON

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

From this reading A VISIT TO HOUGHTON FARM Houghton Farm, distant a few miles, is a magnificent estate of about one thousand acres, and the outbuildings upon it are princely in comparison with anything I could erect.

howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading They had been constructed, however, on practical and scientific principles, and I hoped that a visit might suggest to me some useful points.

hundred

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

From this reading So we dug away at the potatoes, and worked like ants in gathering them, until we had nearly a hundred bushels stored.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading A VISIT TO HOUGHTON FARM Houghton Farm, distant a few miles, is a magnificent estate of about one thousand acres, and the outbuildings upon it are princely in comparison with anything I could erect.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading A VISIT TO HOUGHTON FARM Houghton Farm, distant a few miles, is a magnificent estate of about one thousand acres, and the outbuildings upon it are princely in comparison with anything I could erect.

interest

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

From this reading At any rate, a visit to such a farm would be full of interest and pleasure.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading A VISIT TO HOUGHTON FARM Houghton Farm, distant a few miles, is a magnificent estate of about one thousand acres, and the outbuildings upon it are princely in comparison with anything I could erect.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading A VISIT TO HOUGHTON FARM Houghton Farm, distant a few miles, is a magnificent estate of about one thousand acres, and the outbuildings upon it are princely in comparison with anything I could erect.

like

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

From this reading So we dug away at the potatoes, and worked like ants in gathering them, until we had nearly a hundred bushels stored.

magnificent

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

From this reading A VISIT TO HOUGHTON FARM Houghton Farm, distant a few miles, is a magnificent estate of about one thousand acres, and the outbuildings upon it are princely in comparison with anything I could erect.

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading They had been constructed, however, on practical and scientific principles, and I hoped that a visit might suggest to me some useful points.

means

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

From this reading Sound principles might be applied, in a modest way, to even such a structure as would come within my means.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading They had been constructed, however, on practical and scientific principles, and I hoped that a visit might suggest to me some useful points.

miles

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

From this reading A VISIT TO HOUGHTON FARM Houghton Farm, distant a few miles, is a magnificent estate of about one thousand acres, and the outbuildings upon it are princely in comparison with anything I could erect.

modest

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

From this reading Sound principles might be applied, in a modest way, to even such a structure as would come within my means.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading Sound principles might be applied, in a modest way, to even such a structure as would come within my means.

nearly

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

From this reading So we dug away at the potatoes, and worked like ants in gathering them, until we had nearly a hundred bushels stored.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading A VISIT TO HOUGHTON FARM Houghton Farm, distant a few miles, is a magnificent estate of about one thousand acres, and the outbuildings upon it are princely in comparison with anything I could erect.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading They had been constructed, however, on practical and scientific principles, and I hoped that a visit might suggest to me some useful points.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading A VISIT TO HOUGHTON FARM Houghton Farm, distant a few miles, is a magnificent estate of about one thousand acres, and the outbuildings upon it are princely in comparison with anything I could erect.

outbuildings

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

From this reading A VISIT TO HOUGHTON FARM Houghton Farm, distant a few miles, is a magnificent estate of about one thousand acres, and the outbuildings upon it are princely in comparison with anything I could erect.

pleasure

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

From this reading At any rate, a visit to such a farm would be full of interest and pleasure.

points

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

From this reading They had been constructed, however, on practical and scientific principles, and I hoped that a visit might suggest to me some useful points.

potatoes

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

From this reading So we dug away at the potatoes, and worked like ants in gathering them, until we had nearly a hundred bushels stored.

practical

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

From this reading They had been constructed, however, on practical and scientific principles, and I hoped that a visit might suggest to me some useful points.

princely

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

From this reading A VISIT TO HOUGHTON FARM Houghton Farm, distant a few miles, is a magnificent estate of about one thousand acres, and the outbuildings upon it are princely in comparison with anything I could erect.

principles

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

From this reading They had been constructed, however, on practical and scientific principles, and I hoped that a visit might suggest to me some useful points.

rate

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

From this reading At any rate, a visit to such a farm would be full of interest and pleasure.

scientific

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

From this reading They had been constructed, however, on practical and scientific principles, and I hoped that a visit might suggest to me some useful points.

SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading So we dug away at the potatoes, and worked like ants in gathering them, until we had nearly a hundred bushels stored.

some

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

From this reading They had been constructed, however, on practical and scientific principles, and I hoped that a visit might suggest to me some useful points.

Sound

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

From this reading Sound principles might be applied, in a modest way, to even such a structure as would come within my means.

stored

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

From this reading So we dug away at the potatoes, and worked like ants in gathering them, until we had nearly a hundred bushels stored.

structure

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

From this reading Sound principles might be applied, in a modest way, to even such a structure as would come within my means.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading Sound principles might be applied, in a modest way, to even such a structure as would come within my means.

suggest

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

From this reading They had been constructed, however, on practical and scientific principles, and I hoped that a visit might suggest to me some useful points.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading They had been constructed, however, on practical and scientific principles, and I hoped that a visit might suggest to me some useful points.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading A VISIT TO HOUGHTON FARM Houghton Farm, distant a few miles, is a magnificent estate of about one thousand acres, and the outbuildings upon it are princely in comparison with anything I could erect.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading So we dug away at the potatoes, and worked like ants in gathering them, until we had nearly a hundred bushels stored.

TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading They had been constructed, however, on practical and scientific principles, and I hoped that a visit might suggest to me some useful points.

thousand

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

From this reading A VISIT TO HOUGHTON FARM Houghton Farm, distant a few miles, is a magnificent estate of about one thousand acres, and the outbuildings upon it are princely in comparison with anything I could erect.

TOparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading A VISIT TO HOUGHTON FARM Houghton Farm, distant a few miles, is a magnificent estate of about one thousand acres, and the outbuildings upon it are princely in comparison with anything I could erect.

untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading So we dug away at the potatoes, and worked like ants in gathering them, until we had nearly a hundred bushels stored.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading A VISIT TO HOUGHTON FARM Houghton Farm, distant a few miles, is a magnificent estate of about one thousand acres, and the outbuildings upon it are princely in comparison with anything I could erect.

useful

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

From this reading They had been constructed, however, on practical and scientific principles, and I hoped that a visit might suggest to me some useful points.

VISIT

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

From this reading A VISIT TO HOUGHTON FARM Houghton Farm, distant a few miles, is a magnificent estate of about one thousand acres, and the outbuildings upon it are princely in comparison with anything I could erect.

way

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

From this reading Sound principles might be applied, in a modest way, to even such a structure as would come within my means.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading So we dug away at the potatoes, and worked like ants in gathering them, until we had nearly a hundred bushels stored.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading A VISIT TO HOUGHTON FARM Houghton Farm, distant a few miles, is a magnificent estate of about one thousand acres, and the outbuildings upon it are princely in comparison with anything I could erect.

withinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading Sound principles might be applied, in a modest way, to even such a structure as would come within my means.

worked

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

From this reading So we dug away at the potatoes, and worked like ants in gathering them, until we had nearly a hundred bushels stored.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading Sound principles might be applied, in a modest way, to even such a structure as would come within my means.