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Gretchen: A Novel
Gretchen: A Novel

Chapter XXIII

Cover illustration for Gretchen: A Novel
Context Illustration Reading 1/24 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE WALK HOME.
All the way from the station to the gate Harold was trying to think of something to say besides the merest commonplaces, and wondering at Jerrie's silence.
She had seemed glad to see him, he had seen that in her eyes, and seen there something else which puzzled and troubled him, and he was about to ask her what it was when she stopped so abruptly, and said:
"Why didn't you come to commencement?
Tom Tracy said you were shingling a roof, and Billy Peterkin said Maude was helping you."
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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.

Gretchen: A Novel

Chapter XXIII

Reading 1/24 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE WALK HOME.
Line 2
All the way from the station to the gate Harold was trying to think of something to say besides the merest commonplaces, and wondering at Jerrie's silence.
Line 3
She had seemed glad to see him, he had seen that in her eyes, and seen there something else which puzzled and troubled him, and he was about to ask her what it was when she stopped so abruptly, and said:
Line 4
"Why didn't you come to commencement?
Line 5
Tom Tracy said you were shingling a roof, and Billy Peterkin said Maude was helping you."

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 “She had seemed glad to see him, he had seen that in her eyes, and seen there something else which puzzled and troubled him, and he was about to ask her what it was when she stopped so abruptly, and said:”

Besides preposition US /bɪˈsaɪdz/

in addition to; as well as

From this reading “All the way from the station to the gate Harold was trying to think of something to say besides the merest commonplaces, and wondering at Jerrie's silence.”

Come noun US /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"Why didn't you come to commencement?”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “She had seemed glad to see him, he had seen that in her eyes, and seen there something else which puzzled and troubled him, and he was about to ask her what it was when she stopped so abruptly, and said:”

Silence noun US /ˈsaɪ.ləns/

Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.

From this reading “All the way from the station to the gate Harold was trying to think of something to say besides the merest commonplaces, and wondering at Jerrie's silence.”

Something pronoun US /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading “All the way from the station to the gate Harold was trying to think of something to say besides the merest commonplaces, and wondering at Jerrie's silence.”

Stopped noun US /stopped/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “She had seemed glad to see him, he had seen that in her eyes, and seen there something else which puzzled and troubled him, and he was about to ask her what it was when she stopped so abruptly, and said:”

Think noun US /think/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “All the way from the station to the gate Harold was trying to think of something to say besides the merest commonplaces, and wondering at Jerrie's silence.”

All words in this reading · 65

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 Tom Tracy said you were shingling a roof, and Billy Peterkin said Maude was helping you."

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading She had seemed glad to see him, he had seen that in her eyes, and seen there something else which puzzled and troubled him, and he was about to ask her what it was when she stopped so abruptly, and said:

abruptly

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

From this reading She had seemed glad to see him, he had seen that in her eyes, and seen there something else which puzzled and troubled him, and he was about to ask her what it was when she stopped so abruptly, and said:

All

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

From this reading All the way from the station to the gate Harold was trying to think of something to say besides the merest commonplaces, and wondering at Jerrie's silence.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading All the way from the station to the gate Harold was trying to think of something to say besides the merest commonplaces, and wondering at Jerrie's silence.

ask

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

From this reading She had seemed glad to see him, he had seen that in her eyes, and seen there something else which puzzled and troubled him, and he was about to ask her what it was when she stopped so abruptly, and said:

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading All the way from the station to the gate Harold was trying to think of something to say besides the merest commonplaces, and wondering at Jerrie's silence.

besidesprepositionUS /bɪˈsaɪdz/

in addition to; as well as

From this reading All the way from the station to the gate Harold was trying to think of something to say besides the merest commonplaces, and wondering at Jerrie's silence.

Billy

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

From this reading Tom Tracy said you were shingling a roof, and Billy Peterkin said Maude was helping you."

comenounUS /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "Why didn't you come to commencement?

commencement

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

From this reading "Why didn't you come to commencement?

commonplaces

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

From this reading All the way from the station to the gate Harold was trying to think of something to say besides the merest commonplaces, and wondering at Jerrie's silence.

didn't

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

From this reading "Why didn't you come to commencement?

else

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

From this reading She had seemed glad to see him, he had seen that in her eyes, and seen there something else which puzzled and troubled him, and he was about to ask her what it was when she stopped so abruptly, and said:

eyes

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

From this reading She had seemed glad to see him, he had seen that in her eyes, and seen there something else which puzzled and troubled him, and he was about to ask her what it was when she stopped so abruptly, and said:

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading All the way from the station to the gate Harold was trying to think of something to say besides the merest commonplaces, and wondering at Jerrie's silence.

gate

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

From this reading All the way from the station to the gate Harold was trying to think of something to say besides the merest commonplaces, and wondering at Jerrie's silence.

glad

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

From this reading She had seemed glad to see him, he had seen that in her eyes, and seen there something else which puzzled and troubled him, and he was about to ask her what it was when she stopped so abruptly, and said:

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading She had seemed glad to see him, he had seen that in her eyes, and seen there something else which puzzled and troubled him, and he was about to ask her what it was when she stopped so abruptly, and said:

Harold

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

From this reading All the way from the station to the gate Harold was trying to think of something to say besides the merest commonplaces, and wondering at Jerrie's silence.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading She had seemed glad to see him, he had seen that in her eyes, and seen there something else which puzzled and troubled him, and he was about to ask her what it was when she stopped so abruptly, and said:

helping

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

From this reading Tom Tracy said you were shingling a roof, and Billy Peterkin said Maude was helping you."

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading She had seemed glad to see him, he had seen that in her eyes, and seen there something else which puzzled and troubled him, and he was about to ask her what it was when she stopped so abruptly, and said:

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading She had seemed glad to see him, he had seen that in her eyes, and seen there something else which puzzled and troubled him, and he was about to ask her what it was when she stopped so abruptly, and said:

HOME

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

From this reading THE WALK HOME.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading She had seemed glad to see him, he had seen that in her eyes, and seen there something else which puzzled and troubled him, and he was about to ask her what it was when she stopped so abruptly, and said:

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading She had seemed glad to see him, he had seen that in her eyes, and seen there something else which puzzled and troubled him, and he was about to ask her what it was when she stopped so abruptly, and said:

Jerrie's

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

From this reading All the way from the station to the gate Harold was trying to think of something to say besides the merest commonplaces, and wondering at Jerrie's silence.

Maude

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

From this reading Tom Tracy said you were shingling a roof, and Billy Peterkin said Maude was helping you."

merest

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

From this reading All the way from the station to the gate Harold was trying to think of something to say besides the merest commonplaces, and wondering at Jerrie's silence.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading All the way from the station to the gate Harold was trying to think of something to say besides the merest commonplaces, and wondering at Jerrie's silence.

Peterkin

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

From this reading Tom Tracy said you were shingling a roof, and Billy Peterkin said Maude was helping you."

puzzled

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

From this reading She had seemed glad to see him, he had seen that in her eyes, and seen there something else which puzzled and troubled him, and he was about to ask her what it was when she stopped so abruptly, and said:

roof

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

From this reading Tom Tracy said you were shingling a roof, and Billy Peterkin said Maude was helping you."

said

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

From this reading She had seemed glad to see him, he had seen that in her eyes, and seen there something else which puzzled and troubled him, and he was about to ask her what it was when she stopped so abruptly, and said:

say

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

From this reading All the way from the station to the gate Harold was trying to think of something to say besides the merest commonplaces, and wondering at Jerrie's silence.

see

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

From this reading She had seemed glad to see him, he had seen that in her eyes, and seen there something else which puzzled and troubled him, and he was about to ask her what it was when she stopped so abruptly, and said:

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading She had seemed glad to see him, he had seen that in her eyes, and seen there something else which puzzled and troubled him, and he was about to ask her what it was when she stopped so abruptly, and said:

seen

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

From this reading She had seemed glad to see him, he had seen that in her eyes, and seen there something else which puzzled and troubled him, and he was about to ask her what it was when she stopped so abruptly, and said:

ShepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading She had seemed glad to see him, he had seen that in her eyes, and seen there something else which puzzled and troubled him, and he was about to ask her what it was when she stopped so abruptly, and said:

shingling

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

From this reading Tom Tracy said you were shingling a roof, and Billy Peterkin said Maude was helping you."

silencenounUS /ˈsaɪ.ləns/

Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.

From this reading All the way from the station to the gate Harold was trying to think of something to say besides the merest commonplaces, and wondering at Jerrie's silence.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading She had seemed glad to see him, he had seen that in her eyes, and seen there something else which puzzled and troubled him, and he was about to ask her what it was when she stopped so abruptly, and said:

somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading All the way from the station to the gate Harold was trying to think of something to say besides the merest commonplaces, and wondering at Jerrie's silence.

station

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

From this reading All the way from the station to the gate Harold was trying to think of something to say besides the merest commonplaces, and wondering at Jerrie's silence.

stoppednounUS /stopped/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading She had seemed glad to see him, he had seen that in her eyes, and seen there something else which puzzled and troubled him, and he was about to ask her what it was when she stopped so abruptly, and said:

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading She had seemed glad to see him, he had seen that in her eyes, and seen there something else which puzzled and troubled him, and he was about to ask her what it was when she stopped so abruptly, and said:

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE WALK HOME.

there

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

From this reading She had seemed glad to see him, he had seen that in her eyes, and seen there something else which puzzled and troubled him, and he was about to ask her what it was when she stopped so abruptly, and said:

thinknounUS /think/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading All the way from the station to the gate Harold was trying to think of something to say besides the merest commonplaces, and wondering at Jerrie's silence.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading All the way from the station to the gate Harold was trying to think of something to say besides the merest commonplaces, and wondering at Jerrie's silence.

Tom

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

From this reading Tom Tracy said you were shingling a roof, and Billy Peterkin said Maude was helping you."

Tracy

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

From this reading Tom Tracy said you were shingling a roof, and Billy Peterkin said Maude was helping you."

troubled

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

From this reading She had seemed glad to see him, he had seen that in her eyes, and seen there something else which puzzled and troubled him, and he was about to ask her what it was when she stopped so abruptly, and said:

trying

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

From this reading All the way from the station to the gate Harold was trying to think of something to say besides the merest commonplaces, and wondering at Jerrie's silence.

WALK

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

From this reading THE WALK HOME.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading All the way from the station to the gate Harold was trying to think of something to say besides the merest commonplaces, and wondering at Jerrie's silence.

way

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

From this reading All the way from the station to the gate Harold was trying to think of something to say besides the merest commonplaces, and wondering at Jerrie's silence.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading Tom Tracy said you were shingling a roof, and Billy Peterkin said Maude was helping you."

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading She had seemed glad to see him, he had seen that in her eyes, and seen there something else which puzzled and troubled him, and he was about to ask her what it was when she stopped so abruptly, and said:

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading She had seemed glad to see him, he had seen that in her eyes, and seen there something else which puzzled and troubled him, and he was about to ask her what it was when she stopped so abruptly, and said:

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading She had seemed glad to see him, he had seen that in her eyes, and seen there something else which puzzled and troubled him, and he was about to ask her what it was when she stopped so abruptly, and said:

Why

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

From this reading "Why didn't you come to commencement?

wondering

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

From this reading All the way from the station to the gate Harold was trying to think of something to say besides the merest commonplaces, and wondering at Jerrie's silence.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "Why didn't you come to commencement?