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From the Housetops
From the Housetops

Chapter IV

Cover illustration for From the Housetops
Context Illustration Reading 1/74 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
A conspicuous but somewhat unimportant member of the Tresslyn family was a young man of twenty-four.
He was Anne's brother, and he had preceded her into the world by the small matter of a year and two months.
Mrs. Tresslyn had set great store by him.
Being a male child he did not present the grave difficulties that attend the successful launching and disposal of the female of the species to which the Tresslyn family belonged.
He was born with the divine right to pick and choose, and that is something that at present appears to be denied the sisters of men.
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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.

From the Housetops

Chapter IV

Reading 1/74 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
A conspicuous but somewhat unimportant member of the Tresslyn family was a young man of twenty-four.
Line 2
He was Anne's brother, and he had preceded her into the world by the small matter of a year and two months.
Line 3
Mrs. Tresslyn had set great store by him.
Line 4
Being a male child he did not present the grave difficulties that attend the successful launching and disposal of the female of the species to which the Tresslyn family belonged.
Line 5
He was born with the divine right to pick and choose, and that is something that at present appears to be denied the sisters of men.

Learner Dictionary

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

Being auxiliary verb US /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading “Being a male child he did not present the grave difficulties that attend the successful launching and disposal of the female of the species to which the Tresslyn family belonged.”

Born noun US /born/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He was born with the divine right to pick and choose, and that is something that at present appears to be denied the sisters of men.”

Choose noun US /choose/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He was born with the divine right to pick and choose, and that is something that at present appears to be denied the sisters of men.”

Great noun US /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Mrs. Tresslyn had set great store by him.”

Right noun US /right/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He was born with the divine right to pick and choose, and that is something that at present appears to be denied the sisters of men.”

Something pronoun US /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading “He was born with the divine right to pick and choose, and that is something that at present appears to be denied the sisters of men.”

All words in this reading · 66

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 conspicuous but somewhat unimportant member of the Tresslyn family was a young man of twenty-four.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading He was Anne's brother, and he had preceded her into the world by the small matter of a year and two months.

Anne's

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

From this reading He was Anne's brother, and he had preceded her into the world by the small matter of a year and two months.

appears

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

From this reading He was born with the divine right to pick and choose, and that is something that at present appears to be denied the sisters of men.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading He was born with the divine right to pick and choose, and that is something that at present appears to be denied the sisters of men.

attend

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

From this reading Being a male child he did not present the grave difficulties that attend the successful launching and disposal of the female of the species to which the Tresslyn family belonged.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading He was born with the divine right to pick and choose, and that is something that at present appears to be denied the sisters of men.

Beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading Being a male child he did not present the grave difficulties that attend the successful launching and disposal of the female of the species to which the Tresslyn family belonged.

belonged

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

From this reading Being a male child he did not present the grave difficulties that attend the successful launching and disposal of the female of the species to which the Tresslyn family belonged.

bornnounUS /born/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He was born with the divine right to pick and choose, and that is something that at present appears to be denied the sisters of men.

brother

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

From this reading He was Anne's brother, and he had preceded her into the world by the small matter of a year and two months.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading A conspicuous but somewhat unimportant member of the Tresslyn family was a young man of twenty-four.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading He was Anne's brother, and he had preceded her into the world by the small matter of a year and two months.

child

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

From this reading Being a male child he did not present the grave difficulties that attend the successful launching and disposal of the female of the species to which the Tresslyn family belonged.

choosenounUS /choose/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He was born with the divine right to pick and choose, and that is something that at present appears to be denied the sisters of men.

conspicuous

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

From this reading A conspicuous but somewhat unimportant member of the Tresslyn family was a young man of twenty-four.

denied

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

From this reading He was born with the divine right to pick and choose, and that is something that at present appears to be denied the sisters of men.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading Being a male child he did not present the grave difficulties that attend the successful launching and disposal of the female of the species to which the Tresslyn family belonged.

difficulties

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

From this reading Being a male child he did not present the grave difficulties that attend the successful launching and disposal of the female of the species to which the Tresslyn family belonged.

disposal

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

From this reading Being a male child he did not present the grave difficulties that attend the successful launching and disposal of the female of the species to which the Tresslyn family belonged.

divine

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

From this reading He was born with the divine right to pick and choose, and that is something that at present appears to be denied the sisters of men.

family

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

From this reading A conspicuous but somewhat unimportant member of the Tresslyn family was a young man of twenty-four.

female

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

From this reading Being a male child he did not present the grave difficulties that attend the successful launching and disposal of the female of the species to which the Tresslyn family belonged.

grave

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

From this reading Being a male child he did not present the grave difficulties that attend the successful launching and disposal of the female of the species to which the Tresslyn family belonged.

greatnounUS /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Mrs. Tresslyn had set great store by him.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading He was Anne's brother, and he had preceded her into the world by the small matter of a year and two months.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He was Anne's brother, and he had preceded her into the world by the small matter of a year and two months.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading He was Anne's brother, and he had preceded her into the world by the small matter of a year and two months.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading Mrs. Tresslyn had set great store by him.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading He was Anne's brother, and he had preceded her into the world by the small matter of a year and two months.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading He was born with the divine right to pick and choose, and that is something that at present appears to be denied the sisters of men.

launching

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

From this reading Being a male child he did not present the grave difficulties that attend the successful launching and disposal of the female of the species to which the Tresslyn family belonged.

male

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

From this reading Being a male child he did not present the grave difficulties that attend the successful launching and disposal of the female of the species to which the Tresslyn family belonged.

man

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

From this reading A conspicuous but somewhat unimportant member of the Tresslyn family was a young man of twenty-four.

matter

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

From this reading He was Anne's brother, and he had preceded her into the world by the small matter of a year and two months.

member

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

From this reading A conspicuous but somewhat unimportant member of the Tresslyn family was a young man of twenty-four.

men

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

From this reading He was born with the divine right to pick and choose, and that is something that at present appears to be denied the sisters of men.

months

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

From this reading He was Anne's brother, and he had preceded her into the world by the small matter of a year and two months.

Mrs

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

From this reading Mrs. Tresslyn had set great store by him.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Being a male child he did not present the grave difficulties that attend the successful launching and disposal of the female of the species to which the Tresslyn family belonged.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading A conspicuous but somewhat unimportant member of the Tresslyn family was a young man of twenty-four.

pick

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

From this reading He was born with the divine right to pick and choose, and that is something that at present appears to be denied the sisters of men.

preceded

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

From this reading He was Anne's brother, and he had preceded her into the world by the small matter of a year and two months.

present

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

From this reading Being a male child he did not present the grave difficulties that attend the successful launching and disposal of the female of the species to which the Tresslyn family belonged.

rightnounUS /right/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He was born with the divine right to pick and choose, and that is something that at present appears to be denied the sisters of men.

set

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

From this reading Mrs. Tresslyn had set great store by him.

sisters

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

From this reading He was born with the divine right to pick and choose, and that is something that at present appears to be denied the sisters of men.

small

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

From this reading He was Anne's brother, and he had preceded her into the world by the small matter of a year and two months.

somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading He was born with the divine right to pick and choose, and that is something that at present appears to be denied the sisters of men.

somewhat

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

From this reading A conspicuous but somewhat unimportant member of the Tresslyn family was a young man of twenty-four.

species

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

From this reading Being a male child he did not present the grave difficulties that attend the successful launching and disposal of the female of the species to which the Tresslyn family belonged.

store

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

From this reading Mrs. Tresslyn had set great store by him.

successful

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

From this reading Being a male child he did not present the grave difficulties that attend the successful launching and disposal of the female of the species to which the Tresslyn family belonged.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Being a male child he did not present the grave difficulties that attend the successful launching and disposal of the female of the species to which the Tresslyn family belonged.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading A conspicuous but somewhat unimportant member of the Tresslyn family was a young man of twenty-four.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Being a male child he did not present the grave difficulties that attend the successful launching and disposal of the female of the species to which the Tresslyn family belonged.

Tresslyn

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

From this reading A conspicuous but somewhat unimportant member of the Tresslyn family was a young man of twenty-four.

twenty-four

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

From this reading A conspicuous but somewhat unimportant member of the Tresslyn family was a young man of twenty-four.

two

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

From this reading He was Anne's brother, and he had preceded her into the world by the small matter of a year and two months.

unimportant

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

From this reading A conspicuous but somewhat unimportant member of the Tresslyn family was a young man of twenty-four.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading A conspicuous but somewhat unimportant member of the Tresslyn family was a young man of twenty-four.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading Being a male child he did not present the grave difficulties that attend the successful launching and disposal of the female of the species to which the Tresslyn family belonged.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading He was born with the divine right to pick and choose, and that is something that at present appears to be denied the sisters of men.

world

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

From this reading He was Anne's brother, and he had preceded her into the world by the small matter of a year and two months.

year

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

From this reading He was Anne's brother, and he had preceded her into the world by the small matter of a year and two months.

young

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

From this reading A conspicuous but somewhat unimportant member of the Tresslyn family was a young man of twenty-four.