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Jocelyn
Jocelyn

Chapter III

Cover illustration for Jocelyn
Context Illustration Reading 1/21 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Jocelyn Ley’s mother died when she was born.
She was an only child, and her father, who was in the army, began immediately to idolise her with an abrupt and well-bred idolatry.
He came into some property shortly after his wife’s death, and, leaving the service, took a place in the country, where he used to spend the winters in hunting.
In the spring and summer he would go to London, or on a round of visits, sometimes taking Jocelyn with him.
She grew up in rather a lonely way, with dogs and horses for her companions, and her education was of a desultory nature.
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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.

Jocelyn

Chapter III

Reading 1/21 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Jocelyn Ley’s mother died when she was born.
Line 2
She was an only child, and her father, who was in the army, began immediately to idolise her with an abrupt and well-bred idolatry.
Line 3
He came into some property shortly after his wife’s death, and, leaving the service, took a place in the country, where he used to spend the winters in hunting.
Line 4
In the spring and summer he would go to London, or on a round of visits, sometimes taking Jocelyn with him.
Line 5
She grew up in rather a lonely way, with dogs and horses for her companions, and her education was of a desultory nature.

Learner Dictionary

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

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “He came into some property shortly after his wife’s death, and, leaving the service, took a place in the country, where he used to spend the winters in hunting.”

Began noun US /began/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “She was an only child, and her father, who was in the army, began immediately to idolise her with an abrupt and well-bred idolatry.”

Born noun US /born/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Jocelyn Ley’s mother died when she was born.”

Sometimes noun US /sometimes/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “In the spring and summer he would go to London, or on a round of visits, sometimes taking Jocelyn with him.”

Took noun US /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He came into some property shortly after his wife’s death, and, leaving the service, took a place in the country, where he used to spend the winters in hunting.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading “In the spring and summer he would go to London, or on a round of visits, sometimes taking Jocelyn with him.”

All words in this reading · 72

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 He came into some property shortly after his wife’s death, and, leaving the service, took a place in the country, where he used to spend the winters in hunting.

abrupt

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

From this reading She was an only child, and her father, who was in the army, began immediately to idolise her with an abrupt and well-bred idolatry.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading He came into some property shortly after his wife’s death, and, leaving the service, took a place in the country, where he used to spend the winters in hunting.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading She was an only child, and her father, who was in the army, began immediately to idolise her with an abrupt and well-bred idolatry.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading She was an only child, and her father, who was in the army, began immediately to idolise her with an abrupt and well-bred idolatry.

army

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

From this reading She was an only child, and her father, who was in the army, began immediately to idolise her with an abrupt and well-bred idolatry.

begannounUS /began/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading She was an only child, and her father, who was in the army, began immediately to idolise her with an abrupt and well-bred idolatry.

bornnounUS /born/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Jocelyn Ley’s mother died when she was born.

came

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

From this reading He came into some property shortly after his wife’s death, and, leaving the service, took a place in the country, where he used to spend the winters in hunting.

child

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

From this reading She was an only child, and her father, who was in the army, began immediately to idolise her with an abrupt and well-bred idolatry.

companions

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

From this reading She grew up in rather a lonely way, with dogs and horses for her companions, and her education was of a desultory nature.

country

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

From this reading He came into some property shortly after his wife’s death, and, leaving the service, took a place in the country, where he used to spend the winters in hunting.

death

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

From this reading He came into some property shortly after his wife’s death, and, leaving the service, took a place in the country, where he used to spend the winters in hunting.

desultory

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

From this reading She grew up in rather a lonely way, with dogs and horses for her companions, and her education was of a desultory nature.

died

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

From this reading Jocelyn Ley’s mother died when she was born.

dogs

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

From this reading She grew up in rather a lonely way, with dogs and horses for her companions, and her education was of a desultory nature.

education

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

From this reading She grew up in rather a lonely way, with dogs and horses for her companions, and her education was of a desultory nature.

father

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

From this reading She was an only child, and her father, who was in the army, began immediately to idolise her with an abrupt and well-bred idolatry.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading She grew up in rather a lonely way, with dogs and horses for her companions, and her education was of a desultory nature.

go

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

From this reading In the spring and summer he would go to London, or on a round of visits, sometimes taking Jocelyn with him.

grew

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

From this reading She grew up in rather a lonely way, with dogs and horses for her companions, and her education was of a desultory nature.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He came into some property shortly after his wife’s death, and, leaving the service, took a place in the country, where he used to spend the winters in hunting.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading She was an only child, and her father, who was in the army, began immediately to idolise her with an abrupt and well-bred idolatry.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading In the spring and summer he would go to London, or on a round of visits, sometimes taking Jocelyn with him.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading He came into some property shortly after his wife’s death, and, leaving the service, took a place in the country, where he used to spend the winters in hunting.

horses

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

From this reading She grew up in rather a lonely way, with dogs and horses for her companions, and her education was of a desultory nature.

hunting

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

From this reading He came into some property shortly after his wife’s death, and, leaving the service, took a place in the country, where he used to spend the winters in hunting.

idolatry

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

From this reading She was an only child, and her father, who was in the army, began immediately to idolise her with an abrupt and well-bred idolatry.

idolise

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

From this reading She was an only child, and her father, who was in the army, began immediately to idolise her with an abrupt and well-bred idolatry.

immediately

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

From this reading She was an only child, and her father, who was in the army, began immediately to idolise her with an abrupt and well-bred idolatry.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading She was an only child, and her father, who was in the army, began immediately to idolise her with an abrupt and well-bred idolatry.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading He came into some property shortly after his wife’s death, and, leaving the service, took a place in the country, where he used to spend the winters in hunting.

Jocelyn

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

From this reading Jocelyn Ley’s mother died when she was born.

leaving

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

From this reading He came into some property shortly after his wife’s death, and, leaving the service, took a place in the country, where he used to spend the winters in hunting.

Ley's

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

From this reading Jocelyn Ley’s mother died when she was born.

London

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

From this reading In the spring and summer he would go to London, or on a round of visits, sometimes taking Jocelyn with him.

lonely

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

From this reading She grew up in rather a lonely way, with dogs and horses for her companions, and her education was of a desultory nature.

mother

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

From this reading Jocelyn Ley’s mother died when she was born.

nature

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

From this reading She grew up in rather a lonely way, with dogs and horses for her companions, and her education was of a desultory nature.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading In the spring and summer he would go to London, or on a round of visits, sometimes taking Jocelyn with him.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading In the spring and summer he would go to London, or on a round of visits, sometimes taking Jocelyn with him.

only

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

From this reading She was an only child, and her father, who was in the army, began immediately to idolise her with an abrupt and well-bred idolatry.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading In the spring and summer he would go to London, or on a round of visits, sometimes taking Jocelyn with him.

place

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

From this reading He came into some property shortly after his wife’s death, and, leaving the service, took a place in the country, where he used to spend the winters in hunting.

property

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

From this reading He came into some property shortly after his wife’s death, and, leaving the service, took a place in the country, where he used to spend the winters in hunting.

rather

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

From this reading She grew up in rather a lonely way, with dogs and horses for her companions, and her education was of a desultory nature.

round

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

From this reading In the spring and summer he would go to London, or on a round of visits, sometimes taking Jocelyn with him.

service

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

From this reading He came into some property shortly after his wife’s death, and, leaving the service, took a place in the country, where he used to spend the winters in hunting.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading Jocelyn Ley’s mother died when she was born.

shortly

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

From this reading He came into some property shortly after his wife’s death, and, leaving the service, took a place in the country, where he used to spend the winters in hunting.

some

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

From this reading He came into some property shortly after his wife’s death, and, leaving the service, took a place in the country, where he used to spend the winters in hunting.

sometimes

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

From this reading In the spring and summer he would go to London, or on a round of visits, sometimes taking Jocelyn with him.

spend

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

From this reading He came into some property shortly after his wife’s death, and, leaving the service, took a place in the country, where he used to spend the winters in hunting.

spring

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

From this reading In the spring and summer he would go to London, or on a round of visits, sometimes taking Jocelyn with him.

summer

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

From this reading In the spring and summer he would go to London, or on a round of visits, sometimes taking Jocelyn with him.

taking

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

From this reading In the spring and summer he would go to London, or on a round of visits, sometimes taking Jocelyn with him.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading She was an only child, and her father, who was in the army, began immediately to idolise her with an abrupt and well-bred idolatry.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading She was an only child, and her father, who was in the army, began immediately to idolise her with an abrupt and well-bred idolatry.

tooknounUS /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He came into some property shortly after his wife’s death, and, leaving the service, took a place in the country, where he used to spend the winters in hunting.

up

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

From this reading She grew up in rather a lonely way, with dogs and horses for her companions, and her education was of a desultory nature.

used

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

From this reading He came into some property shortly after his wife’s death, and, leaving the service, took a place in the country, where he used to spend the winters in hunting.

visits

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

From this reading In the spring and summer he would go to London, or on a round of visits, sometimes taking Jocelyn with him.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Jocelyn Ley’s mother died when she was born.

way

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

From this reading She grew up in rather a lonely way, with dogs and horses for her companions, and her education was of a desultory nature.

well-bred

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

From this reading She was an only child, and her father, who was in the army, began immediately to idolise her with an abrupt and well-bred idolatry.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading Jocelyn Ley’s mother died when she was born.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading He came into some property shortly after his wife’s death, and, leaving the service, took a place in the country, where he used to spend the winters in hunting.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading She was an only child, and her father, who was in the army, began immediately to idolise her with an abrupt and well-bred idolatry.

wife's

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

From this reading He came into some property shortly after his wife’s death, and, leaving the service, took a place in the country, where he used to spend the winters in hunting.

winters

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

From this reading He came into some property shortly after his wife’s death, and, leaving the service, took a place in the country, where he used to spend the winters in hunting.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading She was an only child, and her father, who was in the army, began immediately to idolise her with an abrupt and well-bred idolatry.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading In the spring and summer he would go to London, or on a round of visits, sometimes taking Jocelyn with him.