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From the Housetops
From the Housetops

Chapter VII

Cover illustration for From the Housetops
Context Illustration Reading 1/47 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
An hour later, Mr. Simeon Dodge appeared at the home of Anne Tresslyn.
In place of his usual care-free manner there now rested upon him an air of extreme gravity.
This late afternoon visit was the result of an inspiration.
After leaving Thorpe he found himself deeply buried in reflection which amounted almost to abstraction.
He was disturbed by the persistency of the thoughts that nagged at him, no matter whither his aimless footsteps carried him.
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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 VII

Reading 1/47 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
An hour later, Mr. Simeon Dodge appeared at the home of Anne Tresslyn.
Line 2
In place of his usual care-free manner there now rested upon him an air of extreme gravity.
Line 3
This late afternoon visit was the result of an inspiration.
Line 4
After leaving Thorpe he found himself deeply buried in reflection which amounted almost to abstraction.
Line 5
He was disturbed by the persistency of the thoughts that nagged at him, no matter whither his aimless footsteps carried him.

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 “After leaving Thorpe he found himself deeply buried in reflection which amounted almost to abstraction.”

Afternoon noun US /ˈafternoon/

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

From this reading “This late afternoon visit was the result of an inspiration.”

Found noun US /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “After leaving Thorpe he found himself deeply buried in reflection which amounted almost to abstraction.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading “After leaving Thorpe he found himself deeply buried in reflection which amounted almost to abstraction.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “In place of his usual care-free manner there now rested upon him an air of extreme gravity.”

Whither adverb US /ˈwɪðər/

an old word meaning “to where”

From this reading “He was disturbed by the persistency of the thoughts that nagged at him, no matter whither his aimless footsteps carried him.”

All words in this reading · 60

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

abstraction

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

From this reading After leaving Thorpe he found himself deeply buried in reflection which amounted almost to abstraction.

AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading After leaving Thorpe he found himself deeply buried in reflection which amounted almost to abstraction.

afternoonnounUS /ˈafternoon/

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

From this reading This late afternoon visit was the result of an inspiration.

aimless

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

From this reading He was disturbed by the persistency of the thoughts that nagged at him, no matter whither his aimless footsteps carried him.

air

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

From this reading In place of his usual care-free manner there now rested upon him an air of extreme gravity.

almost

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

From this reading After leaving Thorpe he found himself deeply buried in reflection which amounted almost to abstraction.

amounted

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

From this reading After leaving Thorpe he found himself deeply buried in reflection which amounted almost to abstraction.

AndeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading An hour later, Mr. Simeon Dodge appeared at the home of Anne Tresslyn.

Anne

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

From this reading An hour later, Mr. Simeon Dodge appeared at the home of Anne Tresslyn.

appeared

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

From this reading An hour later, Mr. Simeon Dodge appeared at the home of Anne Tresslyn.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading An hour later, Mr. Simeon Dodge appeared at the home of Anne Tresslyn.

buried

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

From this reading After leaving Thorpe he found himself deeply buried in reflection which amounted almost to abstraction.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading He was disturbed by the persistency of the thoughts that nagged at him, no matter whither his aimless footsteps carried him.

care-free

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

From this reading In place of his usual care-free manner there now rested upon him an air of extreme gravity.

carried

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

From this reading He was disturbed by the persistency of the thoughts that nagged at him, no matter whither his aimless footsteps carried him.

deeply

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

From this reading After leaving Thorpe he found himself deeply buried in reflection which amounted almost to abstraction.

disturbed

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

From this reading He was disturbed by the persistency of the thoughts that nagged at him, no matter whither his aimless footsteps carried him.

Dodge

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

From this reading An hour later, Mr. Simeon Dodge appeared at the home of Anne Tresslyn.

extreme

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

From this reading In place of his usual care-free manner there now rested upon him an air of extreme gravity.

footsteps

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

From this reading He was disturbed by the persistency of the thoughts that nagged at him, no matter whither his aimless footsteps carried him.

foundnounUS /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading After leaving Thorpe he found himself deeply buried in reflection which amounted almost to abstraction.

gravity

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

From this reading In place of his usual care-free manner there now rested upon him an air of extreme gravity.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading After leaving Thorpe he found himself deeply buried in reflection which amounted almost to abstraction.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading In place of his usual care-free manner there now rested upon him an air of extreme gravity.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading After leaving Thorpe he found himself deeply buried in reflection which amounted almost to abstraction.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading In place of his usual care-free manner there now rested upon him an air of extreme gravity.

home

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

From this reading An hour later, Mr. Simeon Dodge appeared at the home of Anne Tresslyn.

hour

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

From this reading An hour later, Mr. Simeon Dodge appeared at the home of Anne Tresslyn.

InprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading In place of his usual care-free manner there now rested upon him an air of extreme gravity.

inspiration

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

From this reading This late afternoon visit was the result of an inspiration.

late

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

From this reading This late afternoon visit was the result of an inspiration.

later

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

From this reading An hour later, Mr. Simeon Dodge appeared at the home of Anne Tresslyn.

leaving

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

From this reading After leaving Thorpe he found himself deeply buried in reflection which amounted almost to abstraction.

manner

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

From this reading In place of his usual care-free manner there now rested upon him an air of extreme gravity.

matter

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

From this reading He was disturbed by the persistency of the thoughts that nagged at him, no matter whither his aimless footsteps carried him.

Mr

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

From this reading An hour later, Mr. Simeon Dodge appeared at the home of Anne Tresslyn.

nagged

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

From this reading He was disturbed by the persistency of the thoughts that nagged at him, no matter whither his aimless footsteps carried him.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading He was disturbed by the persistency of the thoughts that nagged at him, no matter whither his aimless footsteps carried him.

now

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

From this reading In place of his usual care-free manner there now rested upon him an air of extreme gravity.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading An hour later, Mr. Simeon Dodge appeared at the home of Anne Tresslyn.

persistency

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

From this reading He was disturbed by the persistency of the thoughts that nagged at him, no matter whither his aimless footsteps carried him.

place

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

From this reading In place of his usual care-free manner there now rested upon him an air of extreme gravity.

reflection

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

From this reading After leaving Thorpe he found himself deeply buried in reflection which amounted almost to abstraction.

rested

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

From this reading In place of his usual care-free manner there now rested upon him an air of extreme gravity.

result

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

From this reading This late afternoon visit was the result of an inspiration.

Simeon

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

From this reading An hour later, Mr. Simeon Dodge appeared at the home of Anne Tresslyn.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He was disturbed by the persistency of the thoughts that nagged at him, no matter whither his aimless footsteps carried him.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading An hour later, Mr. Simeon Dodge appeared at the home of Anne Tresslyn.

there

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

From this reading In place of his usual care-free manner there now rested upon him an air of extreme gravity.

ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading This late afternoon visit was the result of an inspiration.

Thorpe

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

From this reading After leaving Thorpe he found himself deeply buried in reflection which amounted almost to abstraction.

thoughts

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

From this reading He was disturbed by the persistency of the thoughts that nagged at him, no matter whither his aimless footsteps carried him.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading After leaving Thorpe he found himself deeply buried in reflection which amounted almost to abstraction.

Tresslyn

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

From this reading An hour later, Mr. Simeon Dodge appeared at the home of Anne Tresslyn.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading In place of his usual care-free manner there now rested upon him an air of extreme gravity.

usual

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

From this reading In place of his usual care-free manner there now rested upon him an air of extreme gravity.

visit

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

From this reading This late afternoon visit was the result of an inspiration.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading This late afternoon visit was the result of an inspiration.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading After leaving Thorpe he found himself deeply buried in reflection which amounted almost to abstraction.

whitheradverbUS /ˈwɪðər/

an old word meaning “to where”

From this reading He was disturbed by the persistency of the thoughts that nagged at him, no matter whither his aimless footsteps carried him.