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Jude the Obscure
Jude the Obscure

Chapter XVI

Cover illustration for Jude the Obscure
Context Illustration Reading 1/82 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
But the mistake (as it was called) of their going away so secretly to do the business, kept up much of the mystery of their lives; and they found that they made not such advances with their neighbours as they had expected to do thereby.
A living mystery was not much less interesting than a dead scandal.
The baker’s lad and the grocer’s boy, who at first had used to lift their hats gallantly to Sue when they came to execute their errands, in these days no longer took the trouble to render her that homage, and the neighbouring artizans’ wives looked straight along the pavement when they encountered her.
Nobody molested them, it is true; but an oppressive atmosphere began to encircle their souls, particularly after their excursion to the show, as if that visit had brought some evil influence to bear on them.
And their temperaments were precisely of a kind to suffer from this atmosphere, and to be indisposed to lighten it by vigorous and open statements.
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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.

Jude the Obscure

Chapter XVI

Reading 1/82 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
But the mistake (as it was called) of their going away so secretly to do the business, kept up much of the mystery of their lives; and they found that they made not such advances with their neighbours as they had expected to do thereby.
Line 2
A living mystery was not much less interesting than a dead scandal.
Line 3
The baker’s lad and the grocer’s boy, who at first had used to lift their hats gallantly to Sue when they came to execute their errands, in these days no longer took the trouble to render her that homage, and the neighbouring artizans’ wives looked straight along the pavement when they encountered her.
Line 4
Nobody molested them, it is true; but an oppressive atmosphere began to encircle their souls, particularly after their excursion to the show, as if that visit had brought some evil influence to bear on them.
Line 5
And their temperaments were precisely of a kind to suffer from this atmosphere, and to be indisposed to lighten it by vigorous and open statements.

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 “Nobody molested them, it is true; but an oppressive atmosphere began to encircle their souls, particularly after their excursion to the show, as if that visit had brought some evil influence to bear on them.”

Along preposition US /əˈlɔːŋ/

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading “The baker’s lad and the grocer’s boy, who at first had used to lift their hats gallantly to Sue when they came to execute their errands, in these days no longer took the trouble to render her that homage, and the neighbouring artizans’ wives looked straight along the pavement when they encountered her.”

Began noun US /began/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Nobody molested them, it is true; but an oppressive atmosphere began to encircle their souls, particularly after their excursion to the show, as if that visit had brought some evil influence to bear on them.”

Brought noun US /ˈbrought/

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

From this reading “Nobody molested them, it is true; but an oppressive atmosphere began to encircle their souls, particularly after their excursion to the show, as if that visit had brought some evil influence to bear on them.”

Dead noun US /dead/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A living mystery was not much less interesting than a dead scandal.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The baker’s lad and the grocer’s boy, who at first had used to lift their hats gallantly to Sue when they came to execute their errands, in these days no longer took the trouble to render her that homage, and the neighbouring artizans’ wives looked straight along the pavement when they encountered her.”

Found noun US /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But the mistake (as it was called) of their going away so secretly to do the business, kept up much of the mystery of their lives; and they found that they made not such advances with their neighbours as they had expected to do thereby.”

Looked noun US /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The baker’s lad and the grocer’s boy, who at first had used to lift their hats gallantly to Sue when they came to execute their errands, in these days no longer took the trouble to render her that homage, and the neighbouring artizans’ wives looked straight along the pavement when they encountered her.”

Nobody pronoun US /ˈnoʊbɑːdiː/

no person; not anyone

From this reading “Nobody molested them, it is true; but an oppressive atmosphere began to encircle their souls, particularly after their excursion to the show, as if that visit had brought some evil influence to bear on them.”

Open verb US /ˈoʊ.pən/

To move from a closed position.

From this reading “And their temperaments were precisely of a kind to suffer from this atmosphere, and to be indisposed to lighten it by vigorous and open statements.”

These determiner US /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading “The baker’s lad and the grocer’s boy, who at first had used to lift their hats gallantly to Sue when they came to execute their errands, in these days no longer took the trouble to render her that homage, and the neighbouring artizans’ wives looked straight along the pavement when they encountered her.”

Took noun US /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The baker’s lad and the grocer’s boy, who at first had used to lift their hats gallantly to Sue when they came to execute their errands, in these days no longer took the trouble to render her that homage, and the neighbouring artizans’ wives looked straight along the pavement when they encountered her.”

All words in this reading · 112

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 A living mystery was not much less interesting than a dead scandal.

advances

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

From this reading But the mistake (as it was called) of their going away so secretly to do the business, kept up much of the mystery of their lives; and they found that they made not such advances with their neighbours as they had expected to do thereby.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading Nobody molested them, it is true; but an oppressive atmosphere began to encircle their souls, particularly after their excursion to the show, as if that visit had brought some evil influence to bear on them.

alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading The baker’s lad and the grocer’s boy, who at first had used to lift their hats gallantly to Sue when they came to execute their errands, in these days no longer took the trouble to render her that homage, and the neighbouring artizans’ wives looked straight along the pavement when they encountered her.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading Nobody molested them, it is true; but an oppressive atmosphere began to encircle their souls, particularly after their excursion to the show, as if that visit had brought some evil influence to bear on them.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading But the mistake (as it was called) of their going away so secretly to do the business, kept up much of the mystery of their lives; and they found that they made not such advances with their neighbours as they had expected to do thereby.

artizans

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

From this reading The baker’s lad and the grocer’s boy, who at first had used to lift their hats gallantly to Sue when they came to execute their errands, in these days no longer took the trouble to render her that homage, and the neighbouring artizans’ wives looked straight along the pavement when they encountered her.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading But the mistake (as it was called) of their going away so secretly to do the business, kept up much of the mystery of their lives; and they found that they made not such advances with their neighbours as they had expected to do thereby.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The baker’s lad and the grocer’s boy, who at first had used to lift their hats gallantly to Sue when they came to execute their errands, in these days no longer took the trouble to render her that homage, and the neighbouring artizans’ wives looked straight along the pavement when they encountered her.

atmosphere

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

From this reading Nobody molested them, it is true; but an oppressive atmosphere began to encircle their souls, particularly after their excursion to the show, as if that visit had brought some evil influence to bear on them.

away

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

From this reading But the mistake (as it was called) of their going away so secretly to do the business, kept up much of the mystery of their lives; and they found that they made not such advances with their neighbours as they had expected to do thereby.

baker's

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

From this reading The baker’s lad and the grocer’s boy, who at first had used to lift their hats gallantly to Sue when they came to execute their errands, in these days no longer took the trouble to render her that homage, and the neighbouring artizans’ wives looked straight along the pavement when they encountered her.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading And their temperaments were precisely of a kind to suffer from this atmosphere, and to be indisposed to lighten it by vigorous and open statements.

bear

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

From this reading Nobody molested them, it is true; but an oppressive atmosphere began to encircle their souls, particularly after their excursion to the show, as if that visit had brought some evil influence to bear on them.

begannounUS /began/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Nobody molested them, it is true; but an oppressive atmosphere began to encircle their souls, particularly after their excursion to the show, as if that visit had brought some evil influence to bear on them.

boy

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

From this reading The baker’s lad and the grocer’s boy, who at first had used to lift their hats gallantly to Sue when they came to execute their errands, in these days no longer took the trouble to render her that homage, and the neighbouring artizans’ wives looked straight along the pavement when they encountered her.

broughtnounUS /ˈbrought/

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

From this reading Nobody molested them, it is true; but an oppressive atmosphere began to encircle their souls, particularly after their excursion to the show, as if that visit had brought some evil influence to bear on them.

business

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

From this reading But the mistake (as it was called) of their going away so secretly to do the business, kept up much of the mystery of their lives; and they found that they made not such advances with their neighbours as they had expected to do thereby.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But the mistake (as it was called) of their going away so secretly to do the business, kept up much of the mystery of their lives; and they found that they made not such advances with their neighbours as they had expected to do thereby.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading And their temperaments were precisely of a kind to suffer from this atmosphere, and to be indisposed to lighten it by vigorous and open statements.

called

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

From this reading But the mistake (as it was called) of their going away so secretly to do the business, kept up much of the mystery of their lives; and they found that they made not such advances with their neighbours as they had expected to do thereby.

came

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

From this reading The baker’s lad and the grocer’s boy, who at first had used to lift their hats gallantly to Sue when they came to execute their errands, in these days no longer took the trouble to render her that homage, and the neighbouring artizans’ wives looked straight along the pavement when they encountered her.

days

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

From this reading The baker’s lad and the grocer’s boy, who at first had used to lift their hats gallantly to Sue when they came to execute their errands, in these days no longer took the trouble to render her that homage, and the neighbouring artizans’ wives looked straight along the pavement when they encountered her.

deadnounUS /dead/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A living mystery was not much less interesting than a dead scandal.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading But the mistake (as it was called) of their going away so secretly to do the business, kept up much of the mystery of their lives; and they found that they made not such advances with their neighbours as they had expected to do thereby.

encircle

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

From this reading Nobody molested them, it is true; but an oppressive atmosphere began to encircle their souls, particularly after their excursion to the show, as if that visit had brought some evil influence to bear on them.

encountered

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

From this reading The baker’s lad and the grocer’s boy, who at first had used to lift their hats gallantly to Sue when they came to execute their errands, in these days no longer took the trouble to render her that homage, and the neighbouring artizans’ wives looked straight along the pavement when they encountered her.

errands

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

From this reading The baker’s lad and the grocer’s boy, who at first had used to lift their hats gallantly to Sue when they came to execute their errands, in these days no longer took the trouble to render her that homage, and the neighbouring artizans’ wives looked straight along the pavement when they encountered her.

evil

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

From this reading Nobody molested them, it is true; but an oppressive atmosphere began to encircle their souls, particularly after their excursion to the show, as if that visit had brought some evil influence to bear on them.

excursion

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

From this reading Nobody molested them, it is true; but an oppressive atmosphere began to encircle their souls, particularly after their excursion to the show, as if that visit had brought some evil influence to bear on them.

execute

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

From this reading The baker’s lad and the grocer’s boy, who at first had used to lift their hats gallantly to Sue when they came to execute their errands, in these days no longer took the trouble to render her that homage, and the neighbouring artizans’ wives looked straight along the pavement when they encountered her.

expected

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

From this reading But the mistake (as it was called) of their going away so secretly to do the business, kept up much of the mystery of their lives; and they found that they made not such advances with their neighbours as they had expected to do thereby.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The baker’s lad and the grocer’s boy, who at first had used to lift their hats gallantly to Sue when they came to execute their errands, in these days no longer took the trouble to render her that homage, and the neighbouring artizans’ wives looked straight along the pavement when they encountered her.

foundnounUS /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But the mistake (as it was called) of their going away so secretly to do the business, kept up much of the mystery of their lives; and they found that they made not such advances with their neighbours as they had expected to do thereby.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading And their temperaments were precisely of a kind to suffer from this atmosphere, and to be indisposed to lighten it by vigorous and open statements.

gallantly

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

From this reading The baker’s lad and the grocer’s boy, who at first had used to lift their hats gallantly to Sue when they came to execute their errands, in these days no longer took the trouble to render her that homage, and the neighbouring artizans’ wives looked straight along the pavement when they encountered her.

going

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

From this reading But the mistake (as it was called) of their going away so secretly to do the business, kept up much of the mystery of their lives; and they found that they made not such advances with their neighbours as they had expected to do thereby.

grocer's

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

From this reading The baker’s lad and the grocer’s boy, who at first had used to lift their hats gallantly to Sue when they came to execute their errands, in these days no longer took the trouble to render her that homage, and the neighbouring artizans’ wives looked straight along the pavement when they encountered her.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading But the mistake (as it was called) of their going away so secretly to do the business, kept up much of the mystery of their lives; and they found that they made not such advances with their neighbours as they had expected to do thereby.

hats

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

From this reading The baker’s lad and the grocer’s boy, who at first had used to lift their hats gallantly to Sue when they came to execute their errands, in these days no longer took the trouble to render her that homage, and the neighbouring artizans’ wives looked straight along the pavement when they encountered her.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading The baker’s lad and the grocer’s boy, who at first had used to lift their hats gallantly to Sue when they came to execute their errands, in these days no longer took the trouble to render her that homage, and the neighbouring artizans’ wives looked straight along the pavement when they encountered her.

homage

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

From this reading The baker’s lad and the grocer’s boy, who at first had used to lift their hats gallantly to Sue when they came to execute their errands, in these days no longer took the trouble to render her that homage, and the neighbouring artizans’ wives looked straight along the pavement when they encountered her.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading Nobody molested them, it is true; but an oppressive atmosphere began to encircle their souls, particularly after their excursion to the show, as if that visit had brought some evil influence to bear on them.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The baker’s lad and the grocer’s boy, who at first had used to lift their hats gallantly to Sue when they came to execute their errands, in these days no longer took the trouble to render her that homage, and the neighbouring artizans’ wives looked straight along the pavement when they encountered her.

indisposed

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

From this reading And their temperaments were precisely of a kind to suffer from this atmosphere, and to be indisposed to lighten it by vigorous and open statements.

influence

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

From this reading Nobody molested them, it is true; but an oppressive atmosphere began to encircle their souls, particularly after their excursion to the show, as if that visit had brought some evil influence to bear on them.

interesting

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

From this reading A living mystery was not much less interesting than a dead scandal.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading Nobody molested them, it is true; but an oppressive atmosphere began to encircle their souls, particularly after their excursion to the show, as if that visit had brought some evil influence to bear on them.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading But the mistake (as it was called) of their going away so secretly to do the business, kept up much of the mystery of their lives; and they found that they made not such advances with their neighbours as they had expected to do thereby.

kept

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

From this reading But the mistake (as it was called) of their going away so secretly to do the business, kept up much of the mystery of their lives; and they found that they made not such advances with their neighbours as they had expected to do thereby.

kind

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

From this reading And their temperaments were precisely of a kind to suffer from this atmosphere, and to be indisposed to lighten it by vigorous and open statements.

lad

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

From this reading The baker’s lad and the grocer’s boy, who at first had used to lift their hats gallantly to Sue when they came to execute their errands, in these days no longer took the trouble to render her that homage, and the neighbouring artizans’ wives looked straight along the pavement when they encountered her.

less

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

From this reading A living mystery was not much less interesting than a dead scandal.

lift

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

From this reading The baker’s lad and the grocer’s boy, who at first had used to lift their hats gallantly to Sue when they came to execute their errands, in these days no longer took the trouble to render her that homage, and the neighbouring artizans’ wives looked straight along the pavement when they encountered her.

lighten

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

From this reading And their temperaments were precisely of a kind to suffer from this atmosphere, and to be indisposed to lighten it by vigorous and open statements.

lives

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

From this reading But the mistake (as it was called) of their going away so secretly to do the business, kept up much of the mystery of their lives; and they found that they made not such advances with their neighbours as they had expected to do thereby.

living

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

From this reading A living mystery was not much less interesting than a dead scandal.

longer

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

From this reading The baker’s lad and the grocer’s boy, who at first had used to lift their hats gallantly to Sue when they came to execute their errands, in these days no longer took the trouble to render her that homage, and the neighbouring artizans’ wives looked straight along the pavement when they encountered her.

lookednounUS /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The baker’s lad and the grocer’s boy, who at first had used to lift their hats gallantly to Sue when they came to execute their errands, in these days no longer took the trouble to render her that homage, and the neighbouring artizans’ wives looked straight along the pavement when they encountered her.

made

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

From this reading But the mistake (as it was called) of their going away so secretly to do the business, kept up much of the mystery of their lives; and they found that they made not such advances with their neighbours as they had expected to do thereby.

mistake

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

From this reading But the mistake (as it was called) of their going away so secretly to do the business, kept up much of the mystery of their lives; and they found that they made not such advances with their neighbours as they had expected to do thereby.

molested

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

From this reading Nobody molested them, it is true; but an oppressive atmosphere began to encircle their souls, particularly after their excursion to the show, as if that visit had brought some evil influence to bear on them.

much

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

From this reading But the mistake (as it was called) of their going away so secretly to do the business, kept up much of the mystery of their lives; and they found that they made not such advances with their neighbours as they had expected to do thereby.

mystery

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

From this reading But the mistake (as it was called) of their going away so secretly to do the business, kept up much of the mystery of their lives; and they found that they made not such advances with their neighbours as they had expected to do thereby.

neighbouring

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

From this reading The baker’s lad and the grocer’s boy, who at first had used to lift their hats gallantly to Sue when they came to execute their errands, in these days no longer took the trouble to render her that homage, and the neighbouring artizans’ wives looked straight along the pavement when they encountered her.

neighbours

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

From this reading But the mistake (as it was called) of their going away so secretly to do the business, kept up much of the mystery of their lives; and they found that they made not such advances with their neighbours as they had expected to do thereby.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading The baker’s lad and the grocer’s boy, who at first had used to lift their hats gallantly to Sue when they came to execute their errands, in these days no longer took the trouble to render her that homage, and the neighbouring artizans’ wives looked straight along the pavement when they encountered her.

NobodypronounUS /ˈnoʊbɑːdiː/

no person; not anyone

From this reading Nobody molested them, it is true; but an oppressive atmosphere began to encircle their souls, particularly after their excursion to the show, as if that visit had brought some evil influence to bear on them.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading But the mistake (as it was called) of their going away so secretly to do the business, kept up much of the mystery of their lives; and they found that they made not such advances with their neighbours as they had expected to do thereby.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading But the mistake (as it was called) of their going away so secretly to do the business, kept up much of the mystery of their lives; and they found that they made not such advances with their neighbours as they had expected to do thereby.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Nobody molested them, it is true; but an oppressive atmosphere began to encircle their souls, particularly after their excursion to the show, as if that visit had brought some evil influence to bear on them.

openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/

To move from a closed position.

From this reading And their temperaments were precisely of a kind to suffer from this atmosphere, and to be indisposed to lighten it by vigorous and open statements.

oppressive

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

From this reading Nobody molested them, it is true; but an oppressive atmosphere began to encircle their souls, particularly after their excursion to the show, as if that visit had brought some evil influence to bear on them.

particularly

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

From this reading Nobody molested them, it is true; but an oppressive atmosphere began to encircle their souls, particularly after their excursion to the show, as if that visit had brought some evil influence to bear on them.

pavement

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

From this reading The baker’s lad and the grocer’s boy, who at first had used to lift their hats gallantly to Sue when they came to execute their errands, in these days no longer took the trouble to render her that homage, and the neighbouring artizans’ wives looked straight along the pavement when they encountered her.

precisely

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

From this reading And their temperaments were precisely of a kind to suffer from this atmosphere, and to be indisposed to lighten it by vigorous and open statements.

render

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

From this reading The baker’s lad and the grocer’s boy, who at first had used to lift their hats gallantly to Sue when they came to execute their errands, in these days no longer took the trouble to render her that homage, and the neighbouring artizans’ wives looked straight along the pavement when they encountered her.

scandal

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

From this reading A living mystery was not much less interesting than a dead scandal.

secretly

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

From this reading But the mistake (as it was called) of their going away so secretly to do the business, kept up much of the mystery of their lives; and they found that they made not such advances with their neighbours as they had expected to do thereby.

show

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

From this reading Nobody molested them, it is true; but an oppressive atmosphere began to encircle their souls, particularly after their excursion to the show, as if that visit had brought some evil influence to bear on them.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading But the mistake (as it was called) of their going away so secretly to do the business, kept up much of the mystery of their lives; and they found that they made not such advances with their neighbours as they had expected to do thereby.

some

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

From this reading Nobody molested them, it is true; but an oppressive atmosphere began to encircle their souls, particularly after their excursion to the show, as if that visit had brought some evil influence to bear on them.

souls

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

From this reading Nobody molested them, it is true; but an oppressive atmosphere began to encircle their souls, particularly after their excursion to the show, as if that visit had brought some evil influence to bear on them.

statements

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

From this reading And their temperaments were precisely of a kind to suffer from this atmosphere, and to be indisposed to lighten it by vigorous and open statements.

straight

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

From this reading The baker’s lad and the grocer’s boy, who at first had used to lift their hats gallantly to Sue when they came to execute their errands, in these days no longer took the trouble to render her that homage, and the neighbouring artizans’ wives looked straight along the pavement when they encountered her.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading But the mistake (as it was called) of their going away so secretly to do the business, kept up much of the mystery of their lives; and they found that they made not such advances with their neighbours as they had expected to do thereby.

Sue

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

From this reading The baker’s lad and the grocer’s boy, who at first had used to lift their hats gallantly to Sue when they came to execute their errands, in these days no longer took the trouble to render her that homage, and the neighbouring artizans’ wives looked straight along the pavement when they encountered her.

suffer

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

From this reading And their temperaments were precisely of a kind to suffer from this atmosphere, and to be indisposed to lighten it by vigorous and open statements.

temperaments

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

From this reading And their temperaments were precisely of a kind to suffer from this atmosphere, and to be indisposed to lighten it by vigorous and open statements.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading A living mystery was not much less interesting than a dead scandal.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading But the mistake (as it was called) of their going away so secretly to do the business, kept up much of the mystery of their lives; and they found that they made not such advances with their neighbours as they had expected to do thereby.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading But the mistake (as it was called) of their going away so secretly to do the business, kept up much of the mystery of their lives; and they found that they made not such advances with their neighbours as they had expected to do thereby.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading But the mistake (as it was called) of their going away so secretly to do the business, kept up much of the mystery of their lives; and they found that they made not such advances with their neighbours as they had expected to do thereby.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Nobody molested them, it is true; but an oppressive atmosphere began to encircle their souls, particularly after their excursion to the show, as if that visit had brought some evil influence to bear on them.

thereby

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

From this reading But the mistake (as it was called) of their going away so secretly to do the business, kept up much of the mystery of their lives; and they found that they made not such advances with their neighbours as they had expected to do thereby.

thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading The baker’s lad and the grocer’s boy, who at first had used to lift their hats gallantly to Sue when they came to execute their errands, in these days no longer took the trouble to render her that homage, and the neighbouring artizans’ wives looked straight along the pavement when they encountered her.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading But the mistake (as it was called) of their going away so secretly to do the business, kept up much of the mystery of their lives; and they found that they made not such advances with their neighbours as they had expected to do thereby.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading And their temperaments were precisely of a kind to suffer from this atmosphere, and to be indisposed to lighten it by vigorous and open statements.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading But the mistake (as it was called) of their going away so secretly to do the business, kept up much of the mystery of their lives; and they found that they made not such advances with their neighbours as they had expected to do thereby.

tooknounUS /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The baker’s lad and the grocer’s boy, who at first had used to lift their hats gallantly to Sue when they came to execute their errands, in these days no longer took the trouble to render her that homage, and the neighbouring artizans’ wives looked straight along the pavement when they encountered her.

trouble

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

From this reading The baker’s lad and the grocer’s boy, who at first had used to lift their hats gallantly to Sue when they came to execute their errands, in these days no longer took the trouble to render her that homage, and the neighbouring artizans’ wives looked straight along the pavement when they encountered her.

true

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

From this reading Nobody molested them, it is true; but an oppressive atmosphere began to encircle their souls, particularly after their excursion to the show, as if that visit had brought some evil influence to bear on them.

up

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

From this reading But the mistake (as it was called) of their going away so secretly to do the business, kept up much of the mystery of their lives; and they found that they made not such advances with their neighbours as they had expected to do thereby.

used

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

From this reading The baker’s lad and the grocer’s boy, who at first had used to lift their hats gallantly to Sue when they came to execute their errands, in these days no longer took the trouble to render her that homage, and the neighbouring artizans’ wives looked straight along the pavement when they encountered her.

vigorous

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

From this reading And their temperaments were precisely of a kind to suffer from this atmosphere, and to be indisposed to lighten it by vigorous and open statements.

visit

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

From this reading Nobody molested them, it is true; but an oppressive atmosphere began to encircle their souls, particularly after their excursion to the show, as if that visit had brought some evil influence to bear on them.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading But the mistake (as it was called) of their going away so secretly to do the business, kept up much of the mystery of their lives; and they found that they made not such advances with their neighbours as they had expected to do thereby.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading And their temperaments were precisely of a kind to suffer from this atmosphere, and to be indisposed to lighten it by vigorous and open statements.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading The baker’s lad and the grocer’s boy, who at first had used to lift their hats gallantly to Sue when they came to execute their errands, in these days no longer took the trouble to render her that homage, and the neighbouring artizans’ wives looked straight along the pavement when they encountered her.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading The baker’s lad and the grocer’s boy, who at first had used to lift their hats gallantly to Sue when they came to execute their errands, in these days no longer took the trouble to render her that homage, and the neighbouring artizans’ wives looked straight along the pavement when they encountered her.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading But the mistake (as it was called) of their going away so secretly to do the business, kept up much of the mystery of their lives; and they found that they made not such advances with their neighbours as they had expected to do thereby.

wives

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

From this reading The baker’s lad and the grocer’s boy, who at first had used to lift their hats gallantly to Sue when they came to execute their errands, in these days no longer took the trouble to render her that homage, and the neighbouring artizans’ wives looked straight along the pavement when they encountered her.