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Gordon Keith
Gordon Keith

Chapter XVI

Cover illustration for Gordon Keith
Context Illustration Reading 1/81 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
KEITH VISITS NEW YORK, AND MRS.
LANCASTER SEES A GHOST For the next year or two the tide set in very strong toward the mountains, and New Leeds advanced with giant strides.
What had been a straggling village a year or two before was now a town, and was beginning to put on the airs of a city.
Brick buildings quite as pretentious as the town were springing up where a year before there were unsightly frame boxes; the roads where hogs had wallowed in mire not wholly of their own kneading were becoming well-paved streets.
Out on the heights, where had been a forest, were sprinkled sightly dwellings in pretty yards.
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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.

Gordon Keith

Chapter XVI

Reading 1/81 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
KEITH VISITS NEW YORK, AND MRS.
Line 2
LANCASTER SEES A GHOST For the next year or two the tide set in very strong toward the mountains, and New Leeds advanced with giant strides.
Line 3
What had been a straggling village a year or two before was now a town, and was beginning to put on the airs of a city.
Line 4
Brick buildings quite as pretentious as the town were springing up where a year before there were unsightly frame boxes; the roads where hogs had wallowed in mire not wholly of their own kneading were becoming well-paved streets.
Line 5
Out on the heights, where had been a forest, were sprinkled sightly dwellings in pretty yards.

Learner Dictionary

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

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “What had been a straggling village a year or two before was now a town, and was beginning to put on the airs of a city.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “What had been a straggling village a year or two before was now a town, and was beginning to put on the airs of a city.”

Beginning noun US /ˈbeginning/

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

From this reading “What had been a straggling village a year or two before was now a town, and was beginning to put on the airs of a city.”

Next noun US /next/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “LANCASTER SEES A GHOST For the next year or two the tide set in very strong toward the mountains, and New Leeds advanced with giant strides.”

Quite noun US /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Brick buildings quite as pretentious as the town were springing up where a year before there were unsightly frame boxes; the roads where hogs had wallowed in mire not wholly of their own kneading were becoming well-paved streets.”

Toward preposition US /təˈwɔːrd/

in the direction of

From this reading “LANCASTER SEES A GHOST For the next year or two the tide set in very strong toward the mountains, and New Leeds advanced with giant strides.”

All words in this reading · 77

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 LANCASTER SEES A GHOST For the next year or two the tide set in very strong toward the mountains, and New Leeds advanced with giant strides.

advanced

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

From this reading LANCASTER SEES A GHOST For the next year or two the tide set in very strong toward the mountains, and New Leeds advanced with giant strides.

airs

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

From this reading What had been a straggling village a year or two before was now a town, and was beginning to put on the airs of a city.

ANDconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading KEITH VISITS NEW YORK, AND MRS.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Brick buildings quite as pretentious as the town were springing up where a year before there were unsightly frame boxes; the roads where hogs had wallowed in mire not wholly of their own kneading were becoming well-paved streets.

becoming

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

From this reading Brick buildings quite as pretentious as the town were springing up where a year before there were unsightly frame boxes; the roads where hogs had wallowed in mire not wholly of their own kneading were becoming well-paved streets.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading What had been a straggling village a year or two before was now a town, and was beginning to put on the airs of a city.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading What had been a straggling village a year or two before was now a town, and was beginning to put on the airs of a city.

beginningnounUS /ˈbeginning/

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

From this reading What had been a straggling village a year or two before was now a town, and was beginning to put on the airs of a city.

boxes

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

From this reading Brick buildings quite as pretentious as the town were springing up where a year before there were unsightly frame boxes; the roads where hogs had wallowed in mire not wholly of their own kneading were becoming well-paved streets.

Brick

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

From this reading Brick buildings quite as pretentious as the town were springing up where a year before there were unsightly frame boxes; the roads where hogs had wallowed in mire not wholly of their own kneading were becoming well-paved streets.

buildings

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

From this reading Brick buildings quite as pretentious as the town were springing up where a year before there were unsightly frame boxes; the roads where hogs had wallowed in mire not wholly of their own kneading were becoming well-paved streets.

city

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

From this reading What had been a straggling village a year or two before was now a town, and was beginning to put on the airs of a city.

dwellings

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

From this reading Out on the heights, where had been a forest, were sprinkled sightly dwellings in pretty yards.

ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading LANCASTER SEES A GHOST For the next year or two the tide set in very strong toward the mountains, and New Leeds advanced with giant strides.

forest

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

From this reading Out on the heights, where had been a forest, were sprinkled sightly dwellings in pretty yards.

frame

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

From this reading Brick buildings quite as pretentious as the town were springing up where a year before there were unsightly frame boxes; the roads where hogs had wallowed in mire not wholly of their own kneading were becoming well-paved streets.

GHOST

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

From this reading LANCASTER SEES A GHOST For the next year or two the tide set in very strong toward the mountains, and New Leeds advanced with giant strides.

giant

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

From this reading LANCASTER SEES A GHOST For the next year or two the tide set in very strong toward the mountains, and New Leeds advanced with giant strides.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading What had been a straggling village a year or two before was now a town, and was beginning to put on the airs of a city.

heights

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

From this reading Out on the heights, where had been a forest, were sprinkled sightly dwellings in pretty yards.

hogs

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

From this reading Brick buildings quite as pretentious as the town were springing up where a year before there were unsightly frame boxes; the roads where hogs had wallowed in mire not wholly of their own kneading were becoming well-paved streets.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading LANCASTER SEES A GHOST For the next year or two the tide set in very strong toward the mountains, and New Leeds advanced with giant strides.

KEITH

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

From this reading KEITH VISITS NEW YORK, AND MRS.

kneading

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

From this reading Brick buildings quite as pretentious as the town were springing up where a year before there were unsightly frame boxes; the roads where hogs had wallowed in mire not wholly of their own kneading were becoming well-paved streets.

LANCASTER

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

From this reading LANCASTER SEES A GHOST For the next year or two the tide set in very strong toward the mountains, and New Leeds advanced with giant strides.

Leeds

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

From this reading LANCASTER SEES A GHOST For the next year or two the tide set in very strong toward the mountains, and New Leeds advanced with giant strides.

mire

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

From this reading Brick buildings quite as pretentious as the town were springing up where a year before there were unsightly frame boxes; the roads where hogs had wallowed in mire not wholly of their own kneading were becoming well-paved streets.

mountains

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

From this reading LANCASTER SEES A GHOST For the next year or two the tide set in very strong toward the mountains, and New Leeds advanced with giant strides.

MRS

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

From this reading KEITH VISITS NEW YORK, AND MRS.

NEW

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

From this reading KEITH VISITS NEW YORK, AND MRS.

nextnounUS /next/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading LANCASTER SEES A GHOST For the next year or two the tide set in very strong toward the mountains, and New Leeds advanced with giant strides.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Brick buildings quite as pretentious as the town were springing up where a year before there were unsightly frame boxes; the roads where hogs had wallowed in mire not wholly of their own kneading were becoming well-paved streets.

now

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

From this reading What had been a straggling village a year or two before was now a town, and was beginning to put on the airs of a city.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading What had been a straggling village a year or two before was now a town, and was beginning to put on the airs of a city.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading What had been a straggling village a year or two before was now a town, and was beginning to put on the airs of a city.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading LANCASTER SEES A GHOST For the next year or two the tide set in very strong toward the mountains, and New Leeds advanced with giant strides.

Out

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

From this reading Out on the heights, where had been a forest, were sprinkled sightly dwellings in pretty yards.

own

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

From this reading Brick buildings quite as pretentious as the town were springing up where a year before there were unsightly frame boxes; the roads where hogs had wallowed in mire not wholly of their own kneading were becoming well-paved streets.

pretentious

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

From this reading Brick buildings quite as pretentious as the town were springing up where a year before there were unsightly frame boxes; the roads where hogs had wallowed in mire not wholly of their own kneading were becoming well-paved streets.

pretty

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

From this reading Out on the heights, where had been a forest, were sprinkled sightly dwellings in pretty yards.

put

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

From this reading What had been a straggling village a year or two before was now a town, and was beginning to put on the airs of a city.

quitenounUS /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Brick buildings quite as pretentious as the town were springing up where a year before there were unsightly frame boxes; the roads where hogs had wallowed in mire not wholly of their own kneading were becoming well-paved streets.

roads

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

From this reading Brick buildings quite as pretentious as the town were springing up where a year before there were unsightly frame boxes; the roads where hogs had wallowed in mire not wholly of their own kneading were becoming well-paved streets.

SEES

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

From this reading LANCASTER SEES A GHOST For the next year or two the tide set in very strong toward the mountains, and New Leeds advanced with giant strides.

set

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

From this reading LANCASTER SEES A GHOST For the next year or two the tide set in very strong toward the mountains, and New Leeds advanced with giant strides.

sightly

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

From this reading Out on the heights, where had been a forest, were sprinkled sightly dwellings in pretty yards.

springing

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

From this reading Brick buildings quite as pretentious as the town were springing up where a year before there were unsightly frame boxes; the roads where hogs had wallowed in mire not wholly of their own kneading were becoming well-paved streets.

sprinkled

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

From this reading Out on the heights, where had been a forest, were sprinkled sightly dwellings in pretty yards.

straggling

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

From this reading What had been a straggling village a year or two before was now a town, and was beginning to put on the airs of a city.

streets

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

From this reading Brick buildings quite as pretentious as the town were springing up where a year before there were unsightly frame boxes; the roads where hogs had wallowed in mire not wholly of their own kneading were becoming well-paved streets.

strides

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

From this reading LANCASTER SEES A GHOST For the next year or two the tide set in very strong toward the mountains, and New Leeds advanced with giant strides.

strong

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

From this reading LANCASTER SEES A GHOST For the next year or two the tide set in very strong toward the mountains, and New Leeds advanced with giant strides.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading LANCASTER SEES A GHOST For the next year or two the tide set in very strong toward the mountains, and New Leeds advanced with giant strides.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Brick buildings quite as pretentious as the town were springing up where a year before there were unsightly frame boxes; the roads where hogs had wallowed in mire not wholly of their own kneading were becoming well-paved streets.

there

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

From this reading Brick buildings quite as pretentious as the town were springing up where a year before there were unsightly frame boxes; the roads where hogs had wallowed in mire not wholly of their own kneading were becoming well-paved streets.

tide

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

From this reading LANCASTER SEES A GHOST For the next year or two the tide set in very strong toward the mountains, and New Leeds advanced with giant strides.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading What had been a straggling village a year or two before was now a town, and was beginning to put on the airs of a city.

towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/

in the direction of

From this reading LANCASTER SEES A GHOST For the next year or two the tide set in very strong toward the mountains, and New Leeds advanced with giant strides.

town

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

From this reading What had been a straggling village a year or two before was now a town, and was beginning to put on the airs of a city.

two

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

From this reading LANCASTER SEES A GHOST For the next year or two the tide set in very strong toward the mountains, and New Leeds advanced with giant strides.

unsightly

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

From this reading Brick buildings quite as pretentious as the town were springing up where a year before there were unsightly frame boxes; the roads where hogs had wallowed in mire not wholly of their own kneading were becoming well-paved streets.

up

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

From this reading Brick buildings quite as pretentious as the town were springing up where a year before there were unsightly frame boxes; the roads where hogs had wallowed in mire not wholly of their own kneading were becoming well-paved streets.

very

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

From this reading LANCASTER SEES A GHOST For the next year or two the tide set in very strong toward the mountains, and New Leeds advanced with giant strides.

village

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

From this reading What had been a straggling village a year or two before was now a town, and was beginning to put on the airs of a city.

VISITS

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

From this reading KEITH VISITS NEW YORK, AND MRS.

wallowed

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

From this reading Brick buildings quite as pretentious as the town were springing up where a year before there were unsightly frame boxes; the roads where hogs had wallowed in mire not wholly of their own kneading were becoming well-paved streets.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading What had been a straggling village a year or two before was now a town, and was beginning to put on the airs of a city.

well-paved

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

From this reading Brick buildings quite as pretentious as the town were springing up where a year before there were unsightly frame boxes; the roads where hogs had wallowed in mire not wholly of their own kneading were becoming well-paved streets.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading Brick buildings quite as pretentious as the town were springing up where a year before there were unsightly frame boxes; the roads where hogs had wallowed in mire not wholly of their own kneading were becoming well-paved streets.

WhatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading What had been a straggling village a year or two before was now a town, and was beginning to put on the airs of a city.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading Brick buildings quite as pretentious as the town were springing up where a year before there were unsightly frame boxes; the roads where hogs had wallowed in mire not wholly of their own kneading were becoming well-paved streets.

wholly

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

From this reading Brick buildings quite as pretentious as the town were springing up where a year before there were unsightly frame boxes; the roads where hogs had wallowed in mire not wholly of their own kneading were becoming well-paved streets.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading LANCASTER SEES A GHOST For the next year or two the tide set in very strong toward the mountains, and New Leeds advanced with giant strides.

yards

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

From this reading Out on the heights, where had been a forest, were sprinkled sightly dwellings in pretty yards.

year

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

From this reading LANCASTER SEES A GHOST For the next year or two the tide set in very strong toward the mountains, and New Leeds advanced with giant strides.

YORK

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

From this reading KEITH VISITS NEW YORK, AND MRS.