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Her Weight in Gold
Her Weight in Gold

Chapter V

Cover illustration for Her Weight in Gold
Context Illustration Reading 1/62 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE GRAND DUCHESS He went about it deliberately.
According to report, the Grand Duchess was worth fifteen millions.
Corky was not satisfied to accept rumour as fact, so he undertook an investigation on his own account.
From reliable sources, he soon learned that she possessed but ten millions, but, he argued, it was better to know it in the beginning than to wait until she died to find out that her fortune had undergone the customary shrinkage.
Moreover, he ascertained that she frequented half the baths in Europe in the effort to prolong a fast declining sense of humour--on the principle, no doubt, that life is a joke and death is not.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Her Weight in Gold

Chapter V

Reading 1/62 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE GRAND DUCHESS He went about it deliberately.
Line 2
According to report, the Grand Duchess was worth fifteen millions.
Line 3
Corky was not satisfied to accept rumour as fact, so he undertook an investigation on his own account.
Line 4
From reliable sources, he soon learned that she possessed but ten millions, but, he argued, it was better to know it in the beginning than to wait until she died to find out that her fortune had undergone the customary shrinkage.
Line 5
Moreover, he ascertained that she frequented half the baths in Europe in the effort to prolong a fast declining sense of humour--on the principle, no doubt, that life is a joke and death is not.

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 “THE GRAND DUCHESS He went about it deliberately.”

Beginning noun US /ˈbeginning/

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

From this reading “From reliable sources, he soon learned that she possessed but ten millions, but, he argued, it was better to know it in the beginning than to wait until she died to find out that her fortune had undergone the customary shrinkage.”

Fortune noun US /ˈfortune/

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

From this reading “From reliable sources, he soon learned that she possessed but ten millions, but, he argued, it was better to know it in the beginning than to wait until she died to find out that her fortune had undergone the customary shrinkage.”

Half noun US /half/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Moreover, he ascertained that she frequented half the baths in Europe in the effort to prolong a fast declining sense of humour--on the principle, no doubt, that life is a joke and death is not.”

Know noun US /know/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “From reliable sources, he soon learned that she possessed but ten millions, but, he argued, it was better to know it in the beginning than to wait until she died to find out that her fortune had undergone the customary shrinkage.”

Life noun US /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Moreover, he ascertained that she frequented half the baths in Europe in the effort to prolong a fast declining sense of humour--on the principle, no doubt, that life is a joke and death is not.”

Moreover adverb US /mɔːˈroʊvər/

in addition to what has just been said

From this reading “Moreover, he ascertained that she frequented half the baths in Europe in the effort to prolong a fast declining sense of humour--on the principle, no doubt, that life is a joke and death is not.”

Soon noun US /soon/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “From reliable sources, he soon learned that she possessed but ten millions, but, he argued, it was better to know it in the beginning than to wait until she died to find out that her fortune had undergone the customary shrinkage.”

Until preposition US /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading “From reliable sources, he soon learned that she possessed but ten millions, but, he argued, it was better to know it in the beginning than to wait until she died to find out that her fortune had undergone the customary shrinkage.”

Went noun US /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “THE GRAND DUCHESS He went about it deliberately.”

All words in this reading · 79

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 Moreover, he ascertained that she frequented half the baths in Europe in the effort to prolong a fast declining sense of humour--on the principle, no doubt, that life is a joke and death is not.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading THE GRAND DUCHESS He went about it deliberately.

accept

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

From this reading Corky was not satisfied to accept rumour as fact, so he undertook an investigation on his own account.

According

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

From this reading According to report, the Grand Duchess was worth fifteen millions.

account

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

From this reading Corky was not satisfied to accept rumour as fact, so he undertook an investigation on his own account.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading Corky was not satisfied to accept rumour as fact, so he undertook an investigation on his own account.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Moreover, he ascertained that she frequented half the baths in Europe in the effort to prolong a fast declining sense of humour--on the principle, no doubt, that life is a joke and death is not.

argued

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

From this reading From reliable sources, he soon learned that she possessed but ten millions, but, he argued, it was better to know it in the beginning than to wait until she died to find out that her fortune had undergone the customary shrinkage.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Corky was not satisfied to accept rumour as fact, so he undertook an investigation on his own account.

ascertained

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

From this reading Moreover, he ascertained that she frequented half the baths in Europe in the effort to prolong a fast declining sense of humour--on the principle, no doubt, that life is a joke and death is not.

baths

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

From this reading Moreover, he ascertained that she frequented half the baths in Europe in the effort to prolong a fast declining sense of humour--on the principle, no doubt, that life is a joke and death is not.

beginningnounUS /ˈbeginning/

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

From this reading From reliable sources, he soon learned that she possessed but ten millions, but, he argued, it was better to know it in the beginning than to wait until she died to find out that her fortune had undergone the customary shrinkage.

better

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

From this reading From reliable sources, he soon learned that she possessed but ten millions, but, he argued, it was better to know it in the beginning than to wait until she died to find out that her fortune had undergone the customary shrinkage.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading From reliable sources, he soon learned that she possessed but ten millions, but, he argued, it was better to know it in the beginning than to wait until she died to find out that her fortune had undergone the customary shrinkage.

Corky

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

From this reading Corky was not satisfied to accept rumour as fact, so he undertook an investigation on his own account.

customary

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

From this reading From reliable sources, he soon learned that she possessed but ten millions, but, he argued, it was better to know it in the beginning than to wait until she died to find out that her fortune had undergone the customary shrinkage.

death

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

From this reading Moreover, he ascertained that she frequented half the baths in Europe in the effort to prolong a fast declining sense of humour--on the principle, no doubt, that life is a joke and death is not.

declining

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

From this reading Moreover, he ascertained that she frequented half the baths in Europe in the effort to prolong a fast declining sense of humour--on the principle, no doubt, that life is a joke and death is not.

deliberately

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

From this reading THE GRAND DUCHESS He went about it deliberately.

died

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

From this reading From reliable sources, he soon learned that she possessed but ten millions, but, he argued, it was better to know it in the beginning than to wait until she died to find out that her fortune had undergone the customary shrinkage.

doubt

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

From this reading Moreover, he ascertained that she frequented half the baths in Europe in the effort to prolong a fast declining sense of humour--on the principle, no doubt, that life is a joke and death is not.

DUCHESS

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

From this reading THE GRAND DUCHESS He went about it deliberately.

effort

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

From this reading Moreover, he ascertained that she frequented half the baths in Europe in the effort to prolong a fast declining sense of humour--on the principle, no doubt, that life is a joke and death is not.

Europe

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

From this reading Moreover, he ascertained that she frequented half the baths in Europe in the effort to prolong a fast declining sense of humour--on the principle, no doubt, that life is a joke and death is not.

fact

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

From this reading Corky was not satisfied to accept rumour as fact, so he undertook an investigation on his own account.

fast

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

From this reading Moreover, he ascertained that she frequented half the baths in Europe in the effort to prolong a fast declining sense of humour--on the principle, no doubt, that life is a joke and death is not.

fifteen

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

From this reading According to report, the Grand Duchess was worth fifteen millions.

find

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

From this reading From reliable sources, he soon learned that she possessed but ten millions, but, he argued, it was better to know it in the beginning than to wait until she died to find out that her fortune had undergone the customary shrinkage.

fortunenounUS /ˈfortune/

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

From this reading From reliable sources, he soon learned that she possessed but ten millions, but, he argued, it was better to know it in the beginning than to wait until she died to find out that her fortune had undergone the customary shrinkage.

frequented

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

From this reading Moreover, he ascertained that she frequented half the baths in Europe in the effort to prolong a fast declining sense of humour--on the principle, no doubt, that life is a joke and death is not.

FromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading From reliable sources, he soon learned that she possessed but ten millions, but, he argued, it was better to know it in the beginning than to wait until she died to find out that her fortune had undergone the customary shrinkage.

GRAND

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

From this reading THE GRAND DUCHESS He went about it deliberately.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading From reliable sources, he soon learned that she possessed but ten millions, but, he argued, it was better to know it in the beginning than to wait until she died to find out that her fortune had undergone the customary shrinkage.

halfnounUS /half/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Moreover, he ascertained that she frequented half the baths in Europe in the effort to prolong a fast declining sense of humour--on the principle, no doubt, that life is a joke and death is not.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading THE GRAND DUCHESS He went about it deliberately.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading From reliable sources, he soon learned that she possessed but ten millions, but, he argued, it was better to know it in the beginning than to wait until she died to find out that her fortune had undergone the customary shrinkage.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Corky was not satisfied to accept rumour as fact, so he undertook an investigation on his own account.

humour

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

From this reading Moreover, he ascertained that she frequented half the baths in Europe in the effort to prolong a fast declining sense of humour--on the principle, no doubt, that life is a joke and death is not.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading From reliable sources, he soon learned that she possessed but ten millions, but, he argued, it was better to know it in the beginning than to wait until she died to find out that her fortune had undergone the customary shrinkage.

investigation

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

From this reading Corky was not satisfied to accept rumour as fact, so he undertook an investigation on his own account.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading Moreover, he ascertained that she frequented half the baths in Europe in the effort to prolong a fast declining sense of humour--on the principle, no doubt, that life is a joke and death is not.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading THE GRAND DUCHESS He went about it deliberately.

joke

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

From this reading Moreover, he ascertained that she frequented half the baths in Europe in the effort to prolong a fast declining sense of humour--on the principle, no doubt, that life is a joke and death is not.

knownounUS /know/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading From reliable sources, he soon learned that she possessed but ten millions, but, he argued, it was better to know it in the beginning than to wait until she died to find out that her fortune had undergone the customary shrinkage.

learned

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

From this reading From reliable sources, he soon learned that she possessed but ten millions, but, he argued, it was better to know it in the beginning than to wait until she died to find out that her fortune had undergone the customary shrinkage.

lifenounUS /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Moreover, he ascertained that she frequented half the baths in Europe in the effort to prolong a fast declining sense of humour--on the principle, no doubt, that life is a joke and death is not.

millions

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

From this reading According to report, the Grand Duchess was worth fifteen millions.

MoreoveradverbUS /mɔːˈroʊvər/

in addition to what has just been said

From this reading Moreover, he ascertained that she frequented half the baths in Europe in the effort to prolong a fast declining sense of humour--on the principle, no doubt, that life is a joke and death is not.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading Moreover, he ascertained that she frequented half the baths in Europe in the effort to prolong a fast declining sense of humour--on the principle, no doubt, that life is a joke and death is not.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Corky was not satisfied to accept rumour as fact, so he undertook an investigation on his own account.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Moreover, he ascertained that she frequented half the baths in Europe in the effort to prolong a fast declining sense of humour--on the principle, no doubt, that life is a joke and death is not.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Corky was not satisfied to accept rumour as fact, so he undertook an investigation on his own account.

out

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

From this reading From reliable sources, he soon learned that she possessed but ten millions, but, he argued, it was better to know it in the beginning than to wait until she died to find out that her fortune had undergone the customary shrinkage.

own

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

From this reading Corky was not satisfied to accept rumour as fact, so he undertook an investigation on his own account.

possessed

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

From this reading From reliable sources, he soon learned that she possessed but ten millions, but, he argued, it was better to know it in the beginning than to wait until she died to find out that her fortune had undergone the customary shrinkage.

principle

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

From this reading Moreover, he ascertained that she frequented half the baths in Europe in the effort to prolong a fast declining sense of humour--on the principle, no doubt, that life is a joke and death is not.

prolong

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

From this reading Moreover, he ascertained that she frequented half the baths in Europe in the effort to prolong a fast declining sense of humour--on the principle, no doubt, that life is a joke and death is not.

reliable

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

From this reading From reliable sources, he soon learned that she possessed but ten millions, but, he argued, it was better to know it in the beginning than to wait until she died to find out that her fortune had undergone the customary shrinkage.

report

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

From this reading According to report, the Grand Duchess was worth fifteen millions.

rumour

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

From this reading Corky was not satisfied to accept rumour as fact, so he undertook an investigation on his own account.

satisfied

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

From this reading Corky was not satisfied to accept rumour as fact, so he undertook an investigation on his own account.

sense

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

From this reading Moreover, he ascertained that she frequented half the baths in Europe in the effort to prolong a fast declining sense of humour--on the principle, no doubt, that life is a joke and death is not.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading From reliable sources, he soon learned that she possessed but ten millions, but, he argued, it was better to know it in the beginning than to wait until she died to find out that her fortune had undergone the customary shrinkage.

shrinkage

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

From this reading From reliable sources, he soon learned that she possessed but ten millions, but, he argued, it was better to know it in the beginning than to wait until she died to find out that her fortune had undergone the customary shrinkage.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Corky was not satisfied to accept rumour as fact, so he undertook an investigation on his own account.

soon

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

From this reading From reliable sources, he soon learned that she possessed but ten millions, but, he argued, it was better to know it in the beginning than to wait until she died to find out that her fortune had undergone the customary shrinkage.

sources

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

From this reading From reliable sources, he soon learned that she possessed but ten millions, but, he argued, it was better to know it in the beginning than to wait until she died to find out that her fortune had undergone the customary shrinkage.

ten

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

From this reading From reliable sources, he soon learned that she possessed but ten millions, but, he argued, it was better to know it in the beginning than to wait until she died to find out that her fortune had undergone the customary shrinkage.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading From reliable sources, he soon learned that she possessed but ten millions, but, he argued, it was better to know it in the beginning than to wait until she died to find out that her fortune had undergone the customary shrinkage.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading From reliable sources, he soon learned that she possessed but ten millions, but, he argued, it was better to know it in the beginning than to wait until she died to find out that her fortune had undergone the customary shrinkage.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE GRAND DUCHESS He went about it deliberately.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading According to report, the Grand Duchess was worth fifteen millions.

undergone

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

From this reading From reliable sources, he soon learned that she possessed but ten millions, but, he argued, it was better to know it in the beginning than to wait until she died to find out that her fortune had undergone the customary shrinkage.

undertook

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

From this reading Corky was not satisfied to accept rumour as fact, so he undertook an investigation on his own account.

untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading From reliable sources, he soon learned that she possessed but ten millions, but, he argued, it was better to know it in the beginning than to wait until she died to find out that her fortune had undergone the customary shrinkage.

wait

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

From this reading From reliable sources, he soon learned that she possessed but ten millions, but, he argued, it was better to know it in the beginning than to wait until she died to find out that her fortune had undergone the customary shrinkage.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading According to report, the Grand Duchess was worth fifteen millions.

wentnounUS /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading THE GRAND DUCHESS He went about it deliberately.

worth

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

From this reading According to report, the Grand Duchess was worth fifteen millions.