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Hilda Lessways
Hilda Lessways

Chapter VIII

Cover illustration for Hilda Lessways
Context Illustration Reading 1/35 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
JANET ORGREAVE I "Our friend is waiting for that letter to Brunt," said Arthur Dayson, emerging from the inner room, a little later.
"In one moment," Hilda replied coldly, though she had not begun to write the letter.
Dayson disappeared, nodding.
She resented his referring to Mr. Cannon as 'our friend,' but she did not know why, unless it was that she vaguely regarded it as presumptuous, or, in the alternative, if he meant to be facetious, as ill-bred, on the part of Arthur Dayson.
She chose a sheet of paper, and wrote the letter in longhand, as quickly as she could, but with arduous care in the formation of every character; she wrote with the whole of her faculties fully applied.
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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.

Hilda Lessways

Chapter VIII

Reading 1/35 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
JANET ORGREAVE I "Our friend is waiting for that letter to Brunt," said Arthur Dayson, emerging from the inner room, a little later.
Line 2
"In one moment," Hilda replied coldly, though she had not begun to write the letter.
Line 3
Dayson disappeared, nodding.
Line 4
She resented his referring to Mr. Cannon as 'our friend,' but she did not know why, unless it was that she vaguely regarded it as presumptuous, or, in the alternative, if he meant to be facetious, as ill-bred, on the part of Arthur Dayson.
Line 5
She chose a sheet of paper, and wrote the letter in longhand, as quickly as she could, but with arduous care in the formation of every character; she wrote with the whole of her faculties fully applied.

Learner Dictionary

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

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading “She chose a sheet of paper, and wrote the letter in longhand, as quickly as she could, but with arduous care in the formation of every character; she wrote with the whole of her faculties fully applied.”

Disappeared noun US /ˈdisappeared/

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

From this reading “Dayson disappeared, nodding.”

Every determiner US /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading “She chose a sheet of paper, and wrote the letter in longhand, as quickly as she could, but with arduous care in the formation of every character; she wrote with the whole of her faculties fully applied.”

Know noun US /know/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “She resented his referring to Mr. Cannon as 'our friend,' but she did not know why, unless it was that she vaguely regarded it as presumptuous, or, in the alternative, if he meant to be facetious, as ill-bred, on the part of Arthur Dayson.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “JANET ORGREAVE I "Our friend is waiting for that letter to Brunt," said Arthur Dayson, emerging from the inner room, a little later.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “"In one moment," Hilda replied coldly, though she had not begun to write the letter.”

Part noun US /part/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “She resented his referring to Mr. Cannon as 'our friend,' but she did not know why, unless it was that she vaguely regarded it as presumptuous, or, in the alternative, if he meant to be facetious, as ill-bred, on the part of Arthur Dayson.”

Replied noun US /replied/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"In one moment," Hilda replied coldly, though she had not begun to write the letter.”

Though conjunction US /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “"In one moment," Hilda replied coldly, though she had not begun to write the letter.”

Unless conjunction US /ənˈles/

except if; if not

From this reading “She resented his referring to Mr. Cannon as 'our friend,' but she did not know why, unless it was that she vaguely regarded it as presumptuous, or, in the alternative, if he meant to be facetious, as ill-bred, on the part of Arthur Dayson.”

Waiting noun US /ˈwaiting/

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

From this reading “JANET ORGREAVE I "Our friend is waiting for that letter to Brunt," said Arthur Dayson, emerging from the inner room, a little later.”

All words in this reading · 83

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 JANET ORGREAVE I "Our friend is waiting for that letter to Brunt," said Arthur Dayson, emerging from the inner room, a little later.

alternative

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

From this reading She resented his referring to Mr. Cannon as 'our friend,' but she did not know why, unless it was that she vaguely regarded it as presumptuous, or, in the alternative, if he meant to be facetious, as ill-bred, on the part of Arthur Dayson.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading She chose a sheet of paper, and wrote the letter in longhand, as quickly as she could, but with arduous care in the formation of every character; she wrote with the whole of her faculties fully applied.

applied

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

From this reading She chose a sheet of paper, and wrote the letter in longhand, as quickly as she could, but with arduous care in the formation of every character; she wrote with the whole of her faculties fully applied.

arduous

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

From this reading She chose a sheet of paper, and wrote the letter in longhand, as quickly as she could, but with arduous care in the formation of every character; she wrote with the whole of her faculties fully applied.

Arthur

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

From this reading JANET ORGREAVE I "Our friend is waiting for that letter to Brunt," said Arthur Dayson, emerging from the inner room, a little later.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading She resented his referring to Mr. Cannon as 'our friend,' but she did not know why, unless it was that she vaguely regarded it as presumptuous, or, in the alternative, if he meant to be facetious, as ill-bred, on the part of Arthur Dayson.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading She resented his referring to Mr. Cannon as 'our friend,' but she did not know why, unless it was that she vaguely regarded it as presumptuous, or, in the alternative, if he meant to be facetious, as ill-bred, on the part of Arthur Dayson.

begun

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

From this reading "In one moment," Hilda replied coldly, though she had not begun to write the letter.

Brunt

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

From this reading JANET ORGREAVE I "Our friend is waiting for that letter to Brunt," said Arthur Dayson, emerging from the inner room, a little later.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading She resented his referring to Mr. Cannon as 'our friend,' but she did not know why, unless it was that she vaguely regarded it as presumptuous, or, in the alternative, if he meant to be facetious, as ill-bred, on the part of Arthur Dayson.

Cannon

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

From this reading She resented his referring to Mr. Cannon as 'our friend,' but she did not know why, unless it was that she vaguely regarded it as presumptuous, or, in the alternative, if he meant to be facetious, as ill-bred, on the part of Arthur Dayson.

care

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

From this reading She chose a sheet of paper, and wrote the letter in longhand, as quickly as she could, but with arduous care in the formation of every character; she wrote with the whole of her faculties fully applied.

character

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

From this reading She chose a sheet of paper, and wrote the letter in longhand, as quickly as she could, but with arduous care in the formation of every character; she wrote with the whole of her faculties fully applied.

chose

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

From this reading She chose a sheet of paper, and wrote the letter in longhand, as quickly as she could, but with arduous care in the formation of every character; she wrote with the whole of her faculties fully applied.

coldly

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

From this reading "In one moment," Hilda replied coldly, though she had not begun to write the letter.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading She chose a sheet of paper, and wrote the letter in longhand, as quickly as she could, but with arduous care in the formation of every character; she wrote with the whole of her faculties fully applied.

Dayson

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

From this reading JANET ORGREAVE I "Our friend is waiting for that letter to Brunt," said Arthur Dayson, emerging from the inner room, a little later.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

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

From this reading She resented his referring to Mr. Cannon as 'our friend,' but she did not know why, unless it was that she vaguely regarded it as presumptuous, or, in the alternative, if he meant to be facetious, as ill-bred, on the part of Arthur Dayson.

disappearednounUS /ˈdisappeared/

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

From this reading Dayson disappeared, nodding.

emerging

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

From this reading JANET ORGREAVE I "Our friend is waiting for that letter to Brunt," said Arthur Dayson, emerging from the inner room, a little later.

everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading She chose a sheet of paper, and wrote the letter in longhand, as quickly as she could, but with arduous care in the formation of every character; she wrote with the whole of her faculties fully applied.

facetious

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

From this reading She resented his referring to Mr. Cannon as 'our friend,' but she did not know why, unless it was that she vaguely regarded it as presumptuous, or, in the alternative, if he meant to be facetious, as ill-bred, on the part of Arthur Dayson.

faculties

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

From this reading She chose a sheet of paper, and wrote the letter in longhand, as quickly as she could, but with arduous care in the formation of every character; she wrote with the whole of her faculties fully applied.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading JANET ORGREAVE I "Our friend is waiting for that letter to Brunt," said Arthur Dayson, emerging from the inner room, a little later.

formation

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

From this reading She chose a sheet of paper, and wrote the letter in longhand, as quickly as she could, but with arduous care in the formation of every character; she wrote with the whole of her faculties fully applied.

friend

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

From this reading JANET ORGREAVE I "Our friend is waiting for that letter to Brunt," said Arthur Dayson, emerging from the inner room, a little later.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading JANET ORGREAVE I "Our friend is waiting for that letter to Brunt," said Arthur Dayson, emerging from the inner room, a little later.

fully

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

From this reading She chose a sheet of paper, and wrote the letter in longhand, as quickly as she could, but with arduous care in the formation of every character; she wrote with the whole of her faculties fully applied.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading "In one moment," Hilda replied coldly, though she had not begun to write the letter.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading She resented his referring to Mr. Cannon as 'our friend,' but she did not know why, unless it was that she vaguely regarded it as presumptuous, or, in the alternative, if he meant to be facetious, as ill-bred, on the part of Arthur Dayson.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading She chose a sheet of paper, and wrote the letter in longhand, as quickly as she could, but with arduous care in the formation of every character; she wrote with the whole of her faculties fully applied.

Hilda

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

From this reading "In one moment," Hilda replied coldly, though she had not begun to write the letter.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading She resented his referring to Mr. Cannon as 'our friend,' but she did not know why, unless it was that she vaguely regarded it as presumptuous, or, in the alternative, if he meant to be facetious, as ill-bred, on the part of Arthur Dayson.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading JANET ORGREAVE I "Our friend is waiting for that letter to Brunt," said Arthur Dayson, emerging from the inner room, a little later.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading She resented his referring to Mr. Cannon as 'our friend,' but she did not know why, unless it was that she vaguely regarded it as presumptuous, or, in the alternative, if he meant to be facetious, as ill-bred, on the part of Arthur Dayson.

ill-bred

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

From this reading She resented his referring to Mr. Cannon as 'our friend,' but she did not know why, unless it was that she vaguely regarded it as presumptuous, or, in the alternative, if he meant to be facetious, as ill-bred, on the part of Arthur Dayson.

InprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading "In one moment," Hilda replied coldly, though she had not begun to write the letter.

inner

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

From this reading JANET ORGREAVE I "Our friend is waiting for that letter to Brunt," said Arthur Dayson, emerging from the inner room, a little later.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading JANET ORGREAVE I "Our friend is waiting for that letter to Brunt," said Arthur Dayson, emerging from the inner room, a little later.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading She resented his referring to Mr. Cannon as 'our friend,' but she did not know why, unless it was that she vaguely regarded it as presumptuous, or, in the alternative, if he meant to be facetious, as ill-bred, on the part of Arthur Dayson.

JANET

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

From this reading JANET ORGREAVE I "Our friend is waiting for that letter to Brunt," said Arthur Dayson, emerging from the inner room, a little later.

knownounUS /know/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading She resented his referring to Mr. Cannon as 'our friend,' but she did not know why, unless it was that she vaguely regarded it as presumptuous, or, in the alternative, if he meant to be facetious, as ill-bred, on the part of Arthur Dayson.

later

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

From this reading JANET ORGREAVE I "Our friend is waiting for that letter to Brunt," said Arthur Dayson, emerging from the inner room, a little later.

letter

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

From this reading JANET ORGREAVE I "Our friend is waiting for that letter to Brunt," said Arthur Dayson, emerging from the inner room, a little later.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading JANET ORGREAVE I "Our friend is waiting for that letter to Brunt," said Arthur Dayson, emerging from the inner room, a little later.

longhand

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

From this reading She chose a sheet of paper, and wrote the letter in longhand, as quickly as she could, but with arduous care in the formation of every character; she wrote with the whole of her faculties fully applied.

meant

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

From this reading She resented his referring to Mr. Cannon as 'our friend,' but she did not know why, unless it was that she vaguely regarded it as presumptuous, or, in the alternative, if he meant to be facetious, as ill-bred, on the part of Arthur Dayson.

moment

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

From this reading "In one moment," Hilda replied coldly, though she had not begun to write the letter.

Mr

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

From this reading She resented his referring to Mr. Cannon as 'our friend,' but she did not know why, unless it was that she vaguely regarded it as presumptuous, or, in the alternative, if he meant to be facetious, as ill-bred, on the part of Arthur Dayson.

nodding

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

From this reading Dayson disappeared, nodding.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading "In one moment," Hilda replied coldly, though she had not begun to write the letter.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading She resented his referring to Mr. Cannon as 'our friend,' but she did not know why, unless it was that she vaguely regarded it as presumptuous, or, in the alternative, if he meant to be facetious, as ill-bred, on the part of Arthur Dayson.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading She resented his referring to Mr. Cannon as 'our friend,' but she did not know why, unless it was that she vaguely regarded it as presumptuous, or, in the alternative, if he meant to be facetious, as ill-bred, on the part of Arthur Dayson.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading "In one moment," Hilda replied coldly, though she had not begun to write the letter.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading She resented his referring to Mr. Cannon as 'our friend,' but she did not know why, unless it was that she vaguely regarded it as presumptuous, or, in the alternative, if he meant to be facetious, as ill-bred, on the part of Arthur Dayson.

ORGREAVE

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

From this reading JANET ORGREAVE I "Our friend is waiting for that letter to Brunt," said Arthur Dayson, emerging from the inner room, a little later.

OurdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading JANET ORGREAVE I "Our friend is waiting for that letter to Brunt," said Arthur Dayson, emerging from the inner room, a little later.

paper

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

From this reading She chose a sheet of paper, and wrote the letter in longhand, as quickly as she could, but with arduous care in the formation of every character; she wrote with the whole of her faculties fully applied.

partnounUS /part/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading She resented his referring to Mr. Cannon as 'our friend,' but she did not know why, unless it was that she vaguely regarded it as presumptuous, or, in the alternative, if he meant to be facetious, as ill-bred, on the part of Arthur Dayson.

presumptuous

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

From this reading She resented his referring to Mr. Cannon as 'our friend,' but she did not know why, unless it was that she vaguely regarded it as presumptuous, or, in the alternative, if he meant to be facetious, as ill-bred, on the part of Arthur Dayson.

quickly

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

From this reading She chose a sheet of paper, and wrote the letter in longhand, as quickly as she could, but with arduous care in the formation of every character; she wrote with the whole of her faculties fully applied.

referring

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

From this reading She resented his referring to Mr. Cannon as 'our friend,' but she did not know why, unless it was that she vaguely regarded it as presumptuous, or, in the alternative, if he meant to be facetious, as ill-bred, on the part of Arthur Dayson.

regarded

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

From this reading She resented his referring to Mr. Cannon as 'our friend,' but she did not know why, unless it was that she vaguely regarded it as presumptuous, or, in the alternative, if he meant to be facetious, as ill-bred, on the part of Arthur Dayson.

repliednounUS /replied/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "In one moment," Hilda replied coldly, though she had not begun to write the letter.

resented

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

From this reading She resented his referring to Mr. Cannon as 'our friend,' but she did not know why, unless it was that she vaguely regarded it as presumptuous, or, in the alternative, if he meant to be facetious, as ill-bred, on the part of Arthur Dayson.

room

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

From this reading JANET ORGREAVE I "Our friend is waiting for that letter to Brunt," said Arthur Dayson, emerging from the inner room, a little later.

said

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

From this reading JANET ORGREAVE I "Our friend is waiting for that letter to Brunt," said Arthur Dayson, emerging from the inner room, a little later.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading "In one moment," Hilda replied coldly, though she had not begun to write the letter.

sheet

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

From this reading She chose a sheet of paper, and wrote the letter in longhand, as quickly as she could, but with arduous care in the formation of every character; she wrote with the whole of her faculties fully applied.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading JANET ORGREAVE I "Our friend is waiting for that letter to Brunt," said Arthur Dayson, emerging from the inner room, a little later.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading JANET ORGREAVE I "Our friend is waiting for that letter to Brunt," said Arthur Dayson, emerging from the inner room, a little later.

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading "In one moment," Hilda replied coldly, though she had not begun to write the letter.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading JANET ORGREAVE I "Our friend is waiting for that letter to Brunt," said Arthur Dayson, emerging from the inner room, a little later.

unlessconjunctionUS /ənˈles/

except if; if not

From this reading She resented his referring to Mr. Cannon as 'our friend,' but she did not know why, unless it was that she vaguely regarded it as presumptuous, or, in the alternative, if he meant to be facetious, as ill-bred, on the part of Arthur Dayson.

vaguely

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

From this reading She resented his referring to Mr. Cannon as 'our friend,' but she did not know why, unless it was that she vaguely regarded it as presumptuous, or, in the alternative, if he meant to be facetious, as ill-bred, on the part of Arthur Dayson.

waiting

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

From this reading JANET ORGREAVE I "Our friend is waiting for that letter to Brunt," said Arthur Dayson, emerging from the inner room, a little later.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading She resented his referring to Mr. Cannon as 'our friend,' but she did not know why, unless it was that she vaguely regarded it as presumptuous, or, in the alternative, if he meant to be facetious, as ill-bred, on the part of Arthur Dayson.

whole

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

From this reading She chose a sheet of paper, and wrote the letter in longhand, as quickly as she could, but with arduous care in the formation of every character; she wrote with the whole of her faculties fully applied.

why

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

From this reading She resented his referring to Mr. Cannon as 'our friend,' but she did not know why, unless it was that she vaguely regarded it as presumptuous, or, in the alternative, if he meant to be facetious, as ill-bred, on the part of Arthur Dayson.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading She chose a sheet of paper, and wrote the letter in longhand, as quickly as she could, but with arduous care in the formation of every character; she wrote with the whole of her faculties fully applied.

write

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

From this reading "In one moment," Hilda replied coldly, though she had not begun to write the letter.

wrote

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

From this reading She chose a sheet of paper, and wrote the letter in longhand, as quickly as she could, but with arduous care in the formation of every character; she wrote with the whole of her faculties fully applied.