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Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
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Chapter IX

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Context Illustration Reading 1/36 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
On Monday morning, shortly after the McKee prolonged breakfast was over, a small man of perhaps fifty, with iron-gray hair and a sparse goatee, made his way along the Street.
He moved with the air of one having a definite destination but a by no means definite reception.
As he walked along he eyed with a professional glance the ailanthus and maple trees which, with an occasional poplar, lined the Street.
At the door of Mrs. McKee's boarding-house he stopped.
Owing to a slight change in the grade of the street, the McKee house had no stoop, but one flat doorstep.
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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.

K

Chapter IX

Reading 1/36 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
On Monday morning, shortly after the McKee prolonged breakfast was over, a small man of perhaps fifty, with iron-gray hair and a sparse goatee, made his way along the Street.
Line 2
He moved with the air of one having a definite destination but a by no means definite reception.
Line 3
As he walked along he eyed with a professional glance the ailanthus and maple trees which, with an occasional poplar, lined the Street.
Line 4
At the door of Mrs. McKee's boarding-house he stopped.
Line 5
Owing to a slight change in the grade of the street, the McKee house had no stoop, but one flat doorstep.

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 “On Monday morning, shortly after the McKee prolonged breakfast was over, a small man of perhaps fifty, with iron-gray hair and a sparse goatee, made his way along the Street.”

Along preposition US /əˈlɔːŋ/

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading “On Monday morning, shortly after the McKee prolonged breakfast was over, a small man of perhaps fifty, with iron-gray hair and a sparse goatee, made his way along the Street.”

Having auxiliary verb US /ˈhævɪŋ/

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading “He moved with the air of one having a definite destination but a by no means definite reception.”

Morning noun US /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “On Monday morning, shortly after the McKee prolonged breakfast was over, a small man of perhaps fifty, with iron-gray hair and a sparse goatee, made his way along the Street.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “He moved with the air of one having a definite destination but a by no means definite reception.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “On Monday morning, shortly after the McKee prolonged breakfast was over, a small man of perhaps fifty, with iron-gray hair and a sparse goatee, made his way along the Street.”

Owing noun US /owing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Owing to a slight change in the grade of the street, the McKee house had no stoop, but one flat doorstep.”

Perhaps noun US /perhaps/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “On Monday morning, shortly after the McKee prolonged breakfast was over, a small man of perhaps fifty, with iron-gray hair and a sparse goatee, made his way along the Street.”

Stopped noun US /stopped/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “At the door of Mrs. McKee's boarding-house he stopped.”

All words in this reading · 70

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 On Monday morning, shortly after the McKee prolonged breakfast was over, a small man of perhaps fifty, with iron-gray hair and a sparse goatee, made his way along the Street.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading On Monday morning, shortly after the McKee prolonged breakfast was over, a small man of perhaps fifty, with iron-gray hair and a sparse goatee, made his way along the Street.

ailanthus

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

From this reading As he walked along he eyed with a professional glance the ailanthus and maple trees which, with an occasional poplar, lined the Street.

air

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

From this reading He moved with the air of one having a definite destination but a by no means definite reception.

alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading On Monday morning, shortly after the McKee prolonged breakfast was over, a small man of perhaps fifty, with iron-gray hair and a sparse goatee, made his way along the Street.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading As he walked along he eyed with a professional glance the ailanthus and maple trees which, with an occasional poplar, lined the Street.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading On Monday morning, shortly after the McKee prolonged breakfast was over, a small man of perhaps fifty, with iron-gray hair and a sparse goatee, made his way along the Street.

AsconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading As he walked along he eyed with a professional glance the ailanthus and maple trees which, with an occasional poplar, lined the Street.

AtprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading At the door of Mrs. McKee's boarding-house he stopped.

boarding-house

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

From this reading At the door of Mrs. McKee's boarding-house he stopped.

breakfast

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

From this reading On Monday morning, shortly after the McKee prolonged breakfast was over, a small man of perhaps fifty, with iron-gray hair and a sparse goatee, made his way along the Street.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading He moved with the air of one having a definite destination but a by no means definite reception.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading He moved with the air of one having a definite destination but a by no means definite reception.

change

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

From this reading Owing to a slight change in the grade of the street, the McKee house had no stoop, but one flat doorstep.

definite

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

From this reading He moved with the air of one having a definite destination but a by no means definite reception.

destination

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

From this reading He moved with the air of one having a definite destination but a by no means definite reception.

door

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

From this reading At the door of Mrs. McKee's boarding-house he stopped.

doorstep

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

From this reading Owing to a slight change in the grade of the street, the McKee house had no stoop, but one flat doorstep.

eyed

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

From this reading As he walked along he eyed with a professional glance the ailanthus and maple trees which, with an occasional poplar, lined the Street.

fifty

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

From this reading On Monday morning, shortly after the McKee prolonged breakfast was over, a small man of perhaps fifty, with iron-gray hair and a sparse goatee, made his way along the Street.

flat

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

From this reading Owing to a slight change in the grade of the street, the McKee house had no stoop, but one flat doorstep.

glance

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

From this reading As he walked along he eyed with a professional glance the ailanthus and maple trees which, with an occasional poplar, lined the Street.

goatee

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

From this reading On Monday morning, shortly after the McKee prolonged breakfast was over, a small man of perhaps fifty, with iron-gray hair and a sparse goatee, made his way along the Street.

grade

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

From this reading Owing to a slight change in the grade of the street, the McKee house had no stoop, but one flat doorstep.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Owing to a slight change in the grade of the street, the McKee house had no stoop, but one flat doorstep.

hair

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

From this reading On Monday morning, shortly after the McKee prolonged breakfast was over, a small man of perhaps fifty, with iron-gray hair and a sparse goatee, made his way along the Street.

havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading He moved with the air of one having a definite destination but a by no means definite reception.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He moved with the air of one having a definite destination but a by no means definite reception.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading On Monday morning, shortly after the McKee prolonged breakfast was over, a small man of perhaps fifty, with iron-gray hair and a sparse goatee, made his way along the Street.

house

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

From this reading Owing to a slight change in the grade of the street, the McKee house had no stoop, but one flat doorstep.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Owing to a slight change in the grade of the street, the McKee house had no stoop, but one flat doorstep.

iron-gray

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

From this reading On Monday morning, shortly after the McKee prolonged breakfast was over, a small man of perhaps fifty, with iron-gray hair and a sparse goatee, made his way along the Street.

lined

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

From this reading As he walked along he eyed with a professional glance the ailanthus and maple trees which, with an occasional poplar, lined the Street.

made

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

From this reading On Monday morning, shortly after the McKee prolonged breakfast was over, a small man of perhaps fifty, with iron-gray hair and a sparse goatee, made his way along the Street.

man

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

From this reading On Monday morning, shortly after the McKee prolonged breakfast was over, a small man of perhaps fifty, with iron-gray hair and a sparse goatee, made his way along the Street.

maple

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

From this reading As he walked along he eyed with a professional glance the ailanthus and maple trees which, with an occasional poplar, lined the Street.

McKee

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

From this reading On Monday morning, shortly after the McKee prolonged breakfast was over, a small man of perhaps fifty, with iron-gray hair and a sparse goatee, made his way along the Street.

McKee's

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

From this reading At the door of Mrs. McKee's boarding-house he stopped.

means

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

From this reading He moved with the air of one having a definite destination but a by no means definite reception.

Monday

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

From this reading On Monday morning, shortly after the McKee prolonged breakfast was over, a small man of perhaps fifty, with iron-gray hair and a sparse goatee, made his way along the Street.

morningnounUS /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading On Monday morning, shortly after the McKee prolonged breakfast was over, a small man of perhaps fifty, with iron-gray hair and a sparse goatee, made his way along the Street.

moved

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

From this reading He moved with the air of one having a definite destination but a by no means definite reception.

Mrs

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

From this reading At the door of Mrs. McKee's boarding-house he stopped.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading He moved with the air of one having a definite destination but a by no means definite reception.

occasional

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

From this reading As he walked along he eyed with a professional glance the ailanthus and maple trees which, with an occasional poplar, lined the Street.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading On Monday morning, shortly after the McKee prolonged breakfast was over, a small man of perhaps fifty, with iron-gray hair and a sparse goatee, made his way along the Street.

OnprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading On Monday morning, shortly after the McKee prolonged breakfast was over, a small man of perhaps fifty, with iron-gray hair and a sparse goatee, made his way along the Street.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading He moved with the air of one having a definite destination but a by no means definite reception.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading On Monday morning, shortly after the McKee prolonged breakfast was over, a small man of perhaps fifty, with iron-gray hair and a sparse goatee, made his way along the Street.

Owing

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

From this reading Owing to a slight change in the grade of the street, the McKee house had no stoop, but one flat doorstep.

perhaps

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

From this reading On Monday morning, shortly after the McKee prolonged breakfast was over, a small man of perhaps fifty, with iron-gray hair and a sparse goatee, made his way along the Street.

poplar

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

From this reading As he walked along he eyed with a professional glance the ailanthus and maple trees which, with an occasional poplar, lined the Street.

professional

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

From this reading As he walked along he eyed with a professional glance the ailanthus and maple trees which, with an occasional poplar, lined the Street.

prolonged

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

From this reading On Monday morning, shortly after the McKee prolonged breakfast was over, a small man of perhaps fifty, with iron-gray hair and a sparse goatee, made his way along the Street.

reception

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

From this reading He moved with the air of one having a definite destination but a by no means definite reception.

shortly

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

From this reading On Monday morning, shortly after the McKee prolonged breakfast was over, a small man of perhaps fifty, with iron-gray hair and a sparse goatee, made his way along the Street.

slight

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

From this reading Owing to a slight change in the grade of the street, the McKee house had no stoop, but one flat doorstep.

small

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

From this reading On Monday morning, shortly after the McKee prolonged breakfast was over, a small man of perhaps fifty, with iron-gray hair and a sparse goatee, made his way along the Street.

sparse

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

From this reading On Monday morning, shortly after the McKee prolonged breakfast was over, a small man of perhaps fifty, with iron-gray hair and a sparse goatee, made his way along the Street.

stoop

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

From this reading Owing to a slight change in the grade of the street, the McKee house had no stoop, but one flat doorstep.

stoppednounUS /stopped/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading At the door of Mrs. McKee's boarding-house he stopped.

Street

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

From this reading On Monday morning, shortly after the McKee prolonged breakfast was over, a small man of perhaps fifty, with iron-gray hair and a sparse goatee, made his way along the Street.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading On Monday morning, shortly after the McKee prolonged breakfast was over, a small man of perhaps fifty, with iron-gray hair and a sparse goatee, made his way along the Street.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Owing to a slight change in the grade of the street, the McKee house had no stoop, but one flat doorstep.

trees

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

From this reading As he walked along he eyed with a professional glance the ailanthus and maple trees which, with an occasional poplar, lined the Street.

walked

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

From this reading As he walked along he eyed with a professional glance the ailanthus and maple trees which, with an occasional poplar, lined the Street.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading On Monday morning, shortly after the McKee prolonged breakfast was over, a small man of perhaps fifty, with iron-gray hair and a sparse goatee, made his way along the Street.

way

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

From this reading On Monday morning, shortly after the McKee prolonged breakfast was over, a small man of perhaps fifty, with iron-gray hair and a sparse goatee, made his way along the Street.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading As he walked along he eyed with a professional glance the ailanthus and maple trees which, with an occasional poplar, lined the Street.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading On Monday morning, shortly after the McKee prolonged breakfast was over, a small man of perhaps fifty, with iron-gray hair and a sparse goatee, made his way along the Street.