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Eleanor
Eleanor

Chapter XIII

Cover illustration for Eleanor
Context Illustration Reading 1/110 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
They were all going down to the midday train for Rome.
At last the Ambassador--who had been passing through a series of political and domestic difficulties, culminating in the mutiny of his Neapolitan cook--had been able to carry out his whim.
A luncheon had been arranged for the young American girl who had taken his fancy.
At the head of his house for the time being was his married daughter, Lady Mary, who had come from India for the winter to look after her babies and her father.
When she was told to write the notes for this luncheon, she lifted her eyebrows in good-humoured astonishment.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Eleanor

Chapter XIII

Reading 1/110 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
They were all going down to the midday train for Rome.
Line 2
At last the Ambassador--who had been passing through a series of political and domestic difficulties, culminating in the mutiny of his Neapolitan cook--had been able to carry out his whim.
Line 3
A luncheon had been arranged for the young American girl who had taken his fancy.
Line 4
At the head of his house for the time being was his married daughter, Lady Mary, who had come from India for the winter to look after her babies and her father.
Line 5
When she was told to write the notes for this luncheon, she lifted her eyebrows in good-humoured astonishment.

Learner Dictionary

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

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “At the head of his house for the time being was his married daughter, Lady Mary, who had come from India for the winter to look after her babies and her father.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “At last the Ambassador--who had been passing through a series of political and domestic difficulties, culminating in the mutiny of his Neapolitan cook--had been able to carry out his whim.”

Being auxiliary verb US /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading “At the head of his house for the time being was his married daughter, Lady Mary, who had come from India for the winter to look after her babies and her father.”

Come noun US /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “At the head of his house for the time being was his married daughter, Lady Mary, who had come from India for the winter to look after her babies and her father.”

Last noun US /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “At last the Ambassador--who had been passing through a series of political and domestic difficulties, culminating in the mutiny of his Neapolitan cook--had been able to carry out his whim.”

Look noun US /look/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “At the head of his house for the time being was his married daughter, Lady Mary, who had come from India for the winter to look after her babies and her father.”

Through noun US /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading “At last the Ambassador--who had been passing through a series of political and domestic difficulties, culminating in the mutiny of his Neapolitan cook--had been able to carry out his whim.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “At the head of his house for the time being was his married daughter, Lady Mary, who had come from India for the winter to look after her babies and her father.”

Told noun US /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “When she was told to write the notes for this luncheon, she lifted her eyebrows in good-humoured astonishment.”

All words in this reading · 71

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 At last the Ambassador--who had been passing through a series of political and domestic difficulties, culminating in the mutiny of his Neapolitan cook--had been able to carry out his whim.

able

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

From this reading At last the Ambassador--who had been passing through a series of political and domestic difficulties, culminating in the mutiny of his Neapolitan cook--had been able to carry out his whim.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading At the head of his house for the time being was his married daughter, Lady Mary, who had come from India for the winter to look after her babies and her father.

all

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

From this reading They were all going down to the midday train for Rome.

Ambassador

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

From this reading At last the Ambassador--who had been passing through a series of political and domestic difficulties, culminating in the mutiny of his Neapolitan cook--had been able to carry out his whim.

American

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

From this reading A luncheon had been arranged for the young American girl who had taken his fancy.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading At last the Ambassador--who had been passing through a series of political and domestic difficulties, culminating in the mutiny of his Neapolitan cook--had been able to carry out his whim.

arranged

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

From this reading A luncheon had been arranged for the young American girl who had taken his fancy.

astonishment

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

From this reading When she was told to write the notes for this luncheon, she lifted her eyebrows in good-humoured astonishment.

AtprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading At last the Ambassador--who had been passing through a series of political and domestic difficulties, culminating in the mutiny of his Neapolitan cook--had been able to carry out his whim.

babies

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

From this reading At the head of his house for the time being was his married daughter, Lady Mary, who had come from India for the winter to look after her babies and her father.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading At last the Ambassador--who had been passing through a series of political and domestic difficulties, culminating in the mutiny of his Neapolitan cook--had been able to carry out his whim.

beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading At the head of his house for the time being was his married daughter, Lady Mary, who had come from India for the winter to look after her babies and her father.

carry

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

From this reading At last the Ambassador--who had been passing through a series of political and domestic difficulties, culminating in the mutiny of his Neapolitan cook--had been able to carry out his whim.

comenounUS /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading At the head of his house for the time being was his married daughter, Lady Mary, who had come from India for the winter to look after her babies and her father.

cook

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

From this reading At last the Ambassador--who had been passing through a series of political and domestic difficulties, culminating in the mutiny of his Neapolitan cook--had been able to carry out his whim.

culminating

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

From this reading At last the Ambassador--who had been passing through a series of political and domestic difficulties, culminating in the mutiny of his Neapolitan cook--had been able to carry out his whim.

daughter

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

From this reading At the head of his house for the time being was his married daughter, Lady Mary, who had come from India for the winter to look after her babies and her father.

difficulties

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

From this reading At last the Ambassador--who had been passing through a series of political and domestic difficulties, culminating in the mutiny of his Neapolitan cook--had been able to carry out his whim.

domestic

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

From this reading At last the Ambassador--who had been passing through a series of political and domestic difficulties, culminating in the mutiny of his Neapolitan cook--had been able to carry out his whim.

down

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

From this reading They were all going down to the midday train for Rome.

eyebrows

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

From this reading When she was told to write the notes for this luncheon, she lifted her eyebrows in good-humoured astonishment.

fancy

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

From this reading A luncheon had been arranged for the young American girl who had taken his fancy.

father

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

From this reading At the head of his house for the time being was his married daughter, Lady Mary, who had come from India for the winter to look after her babies and her father.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading They were all going down to the midday train for Rome.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading At the head of his house for the time being was his married daughter, Lady Mary, who had come from India for the winter to look after her babies and her father.

girl

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

From this reading A luncheon had been arranged for the young American girl who had taken his fancy.

going

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

From this reading They were all going down to the midday train for Rome.

good-humoured

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

From this reading When she was told to write the notes for this luncheon, she lifted her eyebrows in good-humoured astonishment.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading At last the Ambassador--who had been passing through a series of political and domestic difficulties, culminating in the mutiny of his Neapolitan cook--had been able to carry out his whim.

head

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

From this reading At the head of his house for the time being was his married daughter, Lady Mary, who had come from India for the winter to look after her babies and her father.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading At the head of his house for the time being was his married daughter, Lady Mary, who had come from India for the winter to look after her babies and her father.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading At last the Ambassador--who had been passing through a series of political and domestic difficulties, culminating in the mutiny of his Neapolitan cook--had been able to carry out his whim.

house

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

From this reading At the head of his house for the time being was his married daughter, Lady Mary, who had come from India for the winter to look after her babies and her father.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading At last the Ambassador--who had been passing through a series of political and domestic difficulties, culminating in the mutiny of his Neapolitan cook--had been able to carry out his whim.

India

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

From this reading At the head of his house for the time being was his married daughter, Lady Mary, who had come from India for the winter to look after her babies and her father.

Lady

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

From this reading At the head of his house for the time being was his married daughter, Lady Mary, who had come from India for the winter to look after her babies and her father.

lastnounUS /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading At last the Ambassador--who had been passing through a series of political and domestic difficulties, culminating in the mutiny of his Neapolitan cook--had been able to carry out his whim.

lifted

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

From this reading When she was told to write the notes for this luncheon, she lifted her eyebrows in good-humoured astonishment.

looknounUS /look/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading At the head of his house for the time being was his married daughter, Lady Mary, who had come from India for the winter to look after her babies and her father.

luncheon

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

From this reading A luncheon had been arranged for the young American girl who had taken his fancy.

married

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

From this reading At the head of his house for the time being was his married daughter, Lady Mary, who had come from India for the winter to look after her babies and her father.

Mary

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

From this reading At the head of his house for the time being was his married daughter, Lady Mary, who had come from India for the winter to look after her babies and her father.

midday

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

From this reading They were all going down to the midday train for Rome.

mutiny

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

From this reading At last the Ambassador--who had been passing through a series of political and domestic difficulties, culminating in the mutiny of his Neapolitan cook--had been able to carry out his whim.

Neapolitan

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

From this reading At last the Ambassador--who had been passing through a series of political and domestic difficulties, culminating in the mutiny of his Neapolitan cook--had been able to carry out his whim.

notes

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

From this reading When she was told to write the notes for this luncheon, she lifted her eyebrows in good-humoured astonishment.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading At last the Ambassador--who had been passing through a series of political and domestic difficulties, culminating in the mutiny of his Neapolitan cook--had been able to carry out his whim.

out

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

From this reading At last the Ambassador--who had been passing through a series of political and domestic difficulties, culminating in the mutiny of his Neapolitan cook--had been able to carry out his whim.

passing

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

From this reading At last the Ambassador--who had been passing through a series of political and domestic difficulties, culminating in the mutiny of his Neapolitan cook--had been able to carry out his whim.

political

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

From this reading At last the Ambassador--who had been passing through a series of political and domestic difficulties, culminating in the mutiny of his Neapolitan cook--had been able to carry out his whim.

Rome

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

From this reading They were all going down to the midday train for Rome.

series

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

From this reading At last the Ambassador--who had been passing through a series of political and domestic difficulties, culminating in the mutiny of his Neapolitan cook--had been able to carry out his whim.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading When she was told to write the notes for this luncheon, she lifted her eyebrows in good-humoured astonishment.

taken

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

From this reading A luncheon had been arranged for the young American girl who had taken his fancy.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading They were all going down to the midday train for Rome.

TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading They were all going down to the midday train for Rome.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading When she was told to write the notes for this luncheon, she lifted her eyebrows in good-humoured astonishment.

throughnounUS /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading At last the Ambassador--who had been passing through a series of political and domestic difficulties, culminating in the mutiny of his Neapolitan cook--had been able to carry out his whim.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading At the head of his house for the time being was his married daughter, Lady Mary, who had come from India for the winter to look after her babies and her father.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading They were all going down to the midday train for Rome.

toldnounUS /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading When she was told to write the notes for this luncheon, she lifted her eyebrows in good-humoured astonishment.

train

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

From this reading They were all going down to the midday train for Rome.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading At the head of his house for the time being was his married daughter, Lady Mary, who had come from India for the winter to look after her babies and her father.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading They were all going down to the midday train for Rome.

WhenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading When she was told to write the notes for this luncheon, she lifted her eyebrows in good-humoured astonishment.

whim

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

From this reading At last the Ambassador--who had been passing through a series of political and domestic difficulties, culminating in the mutiny of his Neapolitan cook--had been able to carry out his whim.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading At last the Ambassador--who had been passing through a series of political and domestic difficulties, culminating in the mutiny of his Neapolitan cook--had been able to carry out his whim.

winter

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

From this reading At the head of his house for the time being was his married daughter, Lady Mary, who had come from India for the winter to look after her babies and her father.

write

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

From this reading When she was told to write the notes for this luncheon, she lifted her eyebrows in good-humoured astonishment.

young

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

From this reading A luncheon had been arranged for the young American girl who had taken his fancy.