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Jerome, A Poor Man: A Novel
Jerome, A Poor Man: A Novel

Chapter V

Cover illustration for Jerome, A Poor Man: A Novel
Context Illustration Reading 1/47 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The next morning Jerome arose at dawn, and crept down-stairs noiselessly on his bare feet, that he might not awake his mother.
However, still as he was, he had hardly crossed the threshold of the kitchen before his mother called to him from her bedroom, the door of which stood open.
"Who's that?" called Ann Edwards, in a strained voice; and Jerome knew that she had a wild hope that it was his father's step she heard instead of his.
The boy caught his breath, hesitating a second, and his mother called again: "Who's that?
Who's that out in the kitchen?"
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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.

Jerome, A Poor Man: A Novel

Chapter V

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

Line 1
The next morning Jerome arose at dawn, and crept down-stairs noiselessly on his bare feet, that he might not awake his mother.
Line 2
However, still as he was, he had hardly crossed the threshold of the kitchen before his mother called to him from her bedroom, the door of which stood open.
Line 3
"Who's that?" called Ann Edwards, in a strained voice; and Jerome knew that she had a wild hope that it was his father's step she heard instead of his.
Line 4
The boy caught his breath, hesitating a second, and his mother called again: "Who's that?
Line 5
Who's that out in the kitchen?"

Learner Dictionary

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

Again noun US /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The boy caught his breath, hesitating a second, and his mother called again: "Who's that?”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “However, still as he was, he had hardly crossed the threshold of the kitchen before his mother called to him from her bedroom, the door of which stood open.”

However adverb US /ˌhaʊˈevər/

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading “However, still as he was, he had hardly crossed the threshold of the kitchen before his mother called to him from her bedroom, the door of which stood open.”

Might modal verb US /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading “The next morning Jerome arose at dawn, and crept down-stairs noiselessly on his bare feet, that he might not awake his mother.”

Morning noun US /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The next morning Jerome arose at dawn, and crept down-stairs noiselessly on his bare feet, that he might not awake his mother.”

Next noun US /next/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The next morning Jerome arose at dawn, and crept down-stairs noiselessly on his bare feet, that he might not awake his mother.”

Open verb US /ˈoʊ.pən/

To move from a closed position.

From this reading “However, still as he was, he had hardly crossed the threshold of the kitchen before his mother called to him from her bedroom, the door of which stood open.”

Second noun US /second/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The boy caught his breath, hesitating a second, and his mother called again: "Who's that?”

Step noun US /step/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"Who's that?" called Ann Edwards, in a strained voice; and Jerome knew that she had a wild hope that it was his father's step she heard instead of his.”

Still noun US /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “However, still as he was, he had hardly crossed the threshold of the kitchen before his mother called to him from her bedroom, the door of which stood open.”

Stood noun US /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “However, still as he was, he had hardly crossed the threshold of the kitchen before his mother called to him from her bedroom, the door of which stood open.”

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 "Who's that?" called Ann Edwards, in a strained voice; and Jerome knew that she had a wild hope that it was his father's step she heard instead of his.

againnounUS /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The boy caught his breath, hesitating a second, and his mother called again: "Who's that?

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The next morning Jerome arose at dawn, and crept down-stairs noiselessly on his bare feet, that he might not awake his mother.

Ann

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

From this reading "Who's that?" called Ann Edwards, in a strained voice; and Jerome knew that she had a wild hope that it was his father's step she heard instead of his.

arose

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

From this reading The next morning Jerome arose at dawn, and crept down-stairs noiselessly on his bare feet, that he might not awake his mother.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading However, still as he was, he had hardly crossed the threshold of the kitchen before his mother called to him from her bedroom, the door of which stood open.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The next morning Jerome arose at dawn, and crept down-stairs noiselessly on his bare feet, that he might not awake his mother.

awake

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

From this reading The next morning Jerome arose at dawn, and crept down-stairs noiselessly on his bare feet, that he might not awake his mother.

bare

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

From this reading The next morning Jerome arose at dawn, and crept down-stairs noiselessly on his bare feet, that he might not awake his mother.

bedroom

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

From this reading However, still as he was, he had hardly crossed the threshold of the kitchen before his mother called to him from her bedroom, the door of which stood open.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading However, still as he was, he had hardly crossed the threshold of the kitchen before his mother called to him from her bedroom, the door of which stood open.

boy

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

From this reading The boy caught his breath, hesitating a second, and his mother called again: "Who's that?

breath

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

From this reading The boy caught his breath, hesitating a second, and his mother called again: "Who's that?

called

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

From this reading However, still as he was, he had hardly crossed the threshold of the kitchen before his mother called to him from her bedroom, the door of which stood open.

caught

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

From this reading The boy caught his breath, hesitating a second, and his mother called again: "Who's that?

crept

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

From this reading The next morning Jerome arose at dawn, and crept down-stairs noiselessly on his bare feet, that he might not awake his mother.

crossed

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

From this reading However, still as he was, he had hardly crossed the threshold of the kitchen before his mother called to him from her bedroom, the door of which stood open.

dawn

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

From this reading The next morning Jerome arose at dawn, and crept down-stairs noiselessly on his bare feet, that he might not awake his mother.

door

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

From this reading However, still as he was, he had hardly crossed the threshold of the kitchen before his mother called to him from her bedroom, the door of which stood open.

down-stairs

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

From this reading The next morning Jerome arose at dawn, and crept down-stairs noiselessly on his bare feet, that he might not awake his mother.

Edwards

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

From this reading "Who's that?" called Ann Edwards, in a strained voice; and Jerome knew that she had a wild hope that it was his father's step she heard instead of his.

father's

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

From this reading "Who's that?" called Ann Edwards, in a strained voice; and Jerome knew that she had a wild hope that it was his father's step she heard instead of his.

feet

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

From this reading The next morning Jerome arose at dawn, and crept down-stairs noiselessly on his bare feet, that he might not awake his mother.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading However, still as he was, he had hardly crossed the threshold of the kitchen before his mother called to him from her bedroom, the door of which stood open.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading However, still as he was, he had hardly crossed the threshold of the kitchen before his mother called to him from her bedroom, the door of which stood open.

hardly

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

From this reading However, still as he was, he had hardly crossed the threshold of the kitchen before his mother called to him from her bedroom, the door of which stood open.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading The next morning Jerome arose at dawn, and crept down-stairs noiselessly on his bare feet, that he might not awake his mother.

heard

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

From this reading "Who's that?" called Ann Edwards, in a strained voice; and Jerome knew that she had a wild hope that it was his father's step she heard instead of his.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading However, still as he was, he had hardly crossed the threshold of the kitchen before his mother called to him from her bedroom, the door of which stood open.

hesitating

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

From this reading The boy caught his breath, hesitating a second, and his mother called again: "Who's that?

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading However, still as he was, he had hardly crossed the threshold of the kitchen before his mother called to him from her bedroom, the door of which stood open.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading The next morning Jerome arose at dawn, and crept down-stairs noiselessly on his bare feet, that he might not awake his mother.

hope

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

From this reading "Who's that?" called Ann Edwards, in a strained voice; and Jerome knew that she had a wild hope that it was his father's step she heard instead of his.

HoweveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading However, still as he was, he had hardly crossed the threshold of the kitchen before his mother called to him from her bedroom, the door of which stood open.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading "Who's that?" called Ann Edwards, in a strained voice; and Jerome knew that she had a wild hope that it was his father's step she heard instead of his.

instead

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

From this reading "Who's that?" called Ann Edwards, in a strained voice; and Jerome knew that she had a wild hope that it was his father's step she heard instead of his.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading "Who's that?" called Ann Edwards, in a strained voice; and Jerome knew that she had a wild hope that it was his father's step she heard instead of his.

Jerome

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

From this reading The next morning Jerome arose at dawn, and crept down-stairs noiselessly on his bare feet, that he might not awake his mother.

kitchen

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

From this reading However, still as he was, he had hardly crossed the threshold of the kitchen before his mother called to him from her bedroom, the door of which stood open.

knew

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

From this reading "Who's that?" called Ann Edwards, in a strained voice; and Jerome knew that she had a wild hope that it was his father's step she heard instead of his.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading The next morning Jerome arose at dawn, and crept down-stairs noiselessly on his bare feet, that he might not awake his mother.

morningnounUS /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The next morning Jerome arose at dawn, and crept down-stairs noiselessly on his bare feet, that he might not awake his mother.

mother

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

From this reading The next morning Jerome arose at dawn, and crept down-stairs noiselessly on his bare feet, that he might not awake his mother.

nextnounUS /next/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The next morning Jerome arose at dawn, and crept down-stairs noiselessly on his bare feet, that he might not awake his mother.

noiselessly

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

From this reading The next morning Jerome arose at dawn, and crept down-stairs noiselessly on his bare feet, that he might not awake his mother.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading The next morning Jerome arose at dawn, and crept down-stairs noiselessly on his bare feet, that he might not awake his mother.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading However, still as he was, he had hardly crossed the threshold of the kitchen before his mother called to him from her bedroom, the door of which stood open.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The next morning Jerome arose at dawn, and crept down-stairs noiselessly on his bare feet, that he might not awake his mother.

openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/

To move from a closed position.

From this reading However, still as he was, he had hardly crossed the threshold of the kitchen before his mother called to him from her bedroom, the door of which stood open.

out

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

From this reading Who's that out in the kitchen?"

second

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

From this reading The boy caught his breath, hesitating a second, and his mother called again: "Who's that?

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading "Who's that?" called Ann Edwards, in a strained voice; and Jerome knew that she had a wild hope that it was his father's step she heard instead of his.

stepnounUS /step/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "Who's that?" called Ann Edwards, in a strained voice; and Jerome knew that she had a wild hope that it was his father's step she heard instead of his.

stillnounUS /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading However, still as he was, he had hardly crossed the threshold of the kitchen before his mother called to him from her bedroom, the door of which stood open.

stoodnounUS /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading However, still as he was, he had hardly crossed the threshold of the kitchen before his mother called to him from her bedroom, the door of which stood open.

strained

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

From this reading "Who's that?" called Ann Edwards, in a strained voice; and Jerome knew that she had a wild hope that it was his father's step she heard instead of his.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The next morning Jerome arose at dawn, and crept down-stairs noiselessly on his bare feet, that he might not awake his mother.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The next morning Jerome arose at dawn, and crept down-stairs noiselessly on his bare feet, that he might not awake his mother.

threshold

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

From this reading However, still as he was, he had hardly crossed the threshold of the kitchen before his mother called to him from her bedroom, the door of which stood open.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading However, still as he was, he had hardly crossed the threshold of the kitchen before his mother called to him from her bedroom, the door of which stood open.

voice

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

From this reading "Who's that?" called Ann Edwards, in a strained voice; and Jerome knew that she had a wild hope that it was his father's step she heard instead of his.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading However, still as he was, he had hardly crossed the threshold of the kitchen before his mother called to him from her bedroom, the door of which stood open.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading However, still as he was, he had hardly crossed the threshold of the kitchen before his mother called to him from her bedroom, the door of which stood open.

Who's

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

From this reading "Who's that?" called Ann Edwards, in a strained voice; and Jerome knew that she had a wild hope that it was his father's step she heard instead of his.

wild

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

From this reading "Who's that?" called Ann Edwards, in a strained voice; and Jerome knew that she had a wild hope that it was his father's step she heard instead of his.