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Kennedy Square
Kennedy Square

Chapter XXX

Cover illustration for Kennedy Square
Context Illustration Reading 1/46 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Ben let him in.
He came as an apparition, the old butler balancing the door in his hand, as if undecided what to do, trying to account for the change in the young man's appearance--the width of shoulders, the rough clothes, and the determined glance of his eye.
“Fo' Gawd, it's Marse Harry!” was all he said when he could get his mouth open.
“Yes, Ben--go and tell your mistress I am here,” and he brushed past him and pushed back the drawing-room door.
Once inside he crossed to the mantel and stood with his back to the hearth, his sailor's cap in his hand, his eyes fixed on the door he had just closed behind him.
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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.

Kennedy Square

Chapter XXX

Reading 1/46 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Ben let him in.
Line 2
He came as an apparition, the old butler balancing the door in his hand, as if undecided what to do, trying to account for the change in the young man's appearance--the width of shoulders, the rough clothes, and the determined glance of his eye.
Line 3
“Fo' Gawd, it's Marse Harry!” was all he said when he could get his mouth open.
Line 4
“Yes, Ben--go and tell your mistress I am here,” and he brushed past him and pushed back the drawing-room door.
Line 5
Once inside he crossed to the mantel and stood with his back to the hearth, his sailor's cap in his hand, his eyes fixed on the door he had just closed behind him.

Learner Dictionary

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

Appearance noun US /ˈappearance/

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

From this reading “He came as an apparition, the old butler balancing the door in his hand, as if undecided what to do, trying to account for the change in the young man's appearance--the width of shoulders, the rough clothes, and the determined glance of his eye.”

Behind preposition US /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading “Once inside he crossed to the mantel and stood with his back to the hearth, his sailor's cap in his hand, his eyes fixed on the door he had just closed behind him.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading ““Fo' Gawd, it's Marse Harry!” was all he said when he could get his mouth open.”

Determined adjective US /dɪˈtɜrmɪnd/

having firmly decided to do something

From this reading “He came as an apparition, the old butler balancing the door in his hand, as if undecided what to do, trying to account for the change in the young man's appearance--the width of shoulders, the rough clothes, and the determined glance of his eye.”

Hand noun US /hand/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He came as an apparition, the old butler balancing the door in his hand, as if undecided what to do, trying to account for the change in the young man's appearance--the width of shoulders, the rough clothes, and the determined glance of his eye.”

Here noun US /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““Yes, Ben--go and tell your mistress I am here,” and he brushed past him and pushed back the drawing-room door.”

Let auxiliary verb US /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading “Ben let him in.”

Once noun US /once/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Once inside he crossed to the mantel and stood with his back to the hearth, his sailor's cap in his hand, his eyes fixed on the door he had just closed behind him.”

Open verb US /ˈoʊ.pən/

To move from a closed position.

From this reading ““Fo' Gawd, it's Marse Harry!” was all he said when he could get his mouth open.”

Stood noun US /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Once inside he crossed to the mantel and stood with his back to the hearth, his sailor's cap in his hand, his eyes fixed on the door he had just closed behind him.”

Tell noun US /tell/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““Yes, Ben--go and tell your mistress I am here,” and he brushed past him and pushed back the drawing-room door.”

All words in this reading · 79

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

account

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

From this reading He came as an apparition, the old butler balancing the door in his hand, as if undecided what to do, trying to account for the change in the young man's appearance--the width of shoulders, the rough clothes, and the determined glance of his eye.

all

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

From this reading “Fo' Gawd, it's Marse Harry!” was all he said when he could get his mouth open.

amauxiliary verbUS /æm/

the form of “be” used with “I”

From this reading “Yes, Ben--go and tell your mistress I am here,” and he brushed past him and pushed back the drawing-room door.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading He came as an apparition, the old butler balancing the door in his hand, as if undecided what to do, trying to account for the change in the young man's appearance--the width of shoulders, the rough clothes, and the determined glance of his eye.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading He came as an apparition, the old butler balancing the door in his hand, as if undecided what to do, trying to account for the change in the young man's appearance--the width of shoulders, the rough clothes, and the determined glance of his eye.

apparition

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

From this reading He came as an apparition, the old butler balancing the door in his hand, as if undecided what to do, trying to account for the change in the young man's appearance--the width of shoulders, the rough clothes, and the determined glance of his eye.

appearancenounUS /ˈappearance/

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

From this reading He came as an apparition, the old butler balancing the door in his hand, as if undecided what to do, trying to account for the change in the young man's appearance--the width of shoulders, the rough clothes, and the determined glance of his eye.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading He came as an apparition, the old butler balancing the door in his hand, as if undecided what to do, trying to account for the change in the young man's appearance--the width of shoulders, the rough clothes, and the determined glance of his eye.

back

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

From this reading “Yes, Ben--go and tell your mistress I am here,” and he brushed past him and pushed back the drawing-room door.

balancing

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

From this reading He came as an apparition, the old butler balancing the door in his hand, as if undecided what to do, trying to account for the change in the young man's appearance--the width of shoulders, the rough clothes, and the determined glance of his eye.

behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading Once inside he crossed to the mantel and stood with his back to the hearth, his sailor's cap in his hand, his eyes fixed on the door he had just closed behind him.

Ben

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

From this reading Ben let him in.

brushed

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

From this reading “Yes, Ben--go and tell your mistress I am here,” and he brushed past him and pushed back the drawing-room door.

butler

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

From this reading He came as an apparition, the old butler balancing the door in his hand, as if undecided what to do, trying to account for the change in the young man's appearance--the width of shoulders, the rough clothes, and the determined glance of his eye.

came

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

From this reading He came as an apparition, the old butler balancing the door in his hand, as if undecided what to do, trying to account for the change in the young man's appearance--the width of shoulders, the rough clothes, and the determined glance of his eye.

cap

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

From this reading Once inside he crossed to the mantel and stood with his back to the hearth, his sailor's cap in his hand, his eyes fixed on the door he had just closed behind him.

change

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

From this reading He came as an apparition, the old butler balancing the door in his hand, as if undecided what to do, trying to account for the change in the young man's appearance--the width of shoulders, the rough clothes, and the determined glance of his eye.

closed

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

From this reading Once inside he crossed to the mantel and stood with his back to the hearth, his sailor's cap in his hand, his eyes fixed on the door he had just closed behind him.

clothes

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

From this reading He came as an apparition, the old butler balancing the door in his hand, as if undecided what to do, trying to account for the change in the young man's appearance--the width of shoulders, the rough clothes, and the determined glance of his eye.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading “Fo' Gawd, it's Marse Harry!” was all he said when he could get his mouth open.

crossed

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

From this reading Once inside he crossed to the mantel and stood with his back to the hearth, his sailor's cap in his hand, his eyes fixed on the door he had just closed behind him.

determinedadjectiveUS /dɪˈtɜrmɪnd/

having firmly decided to do something

From this reading He came as an apparition, the old butler balancing the door in his hand, as if undecided what to do, trying to account for the change in the young man's appearance--the width of shoulders, the rough clothes, and the determined glance of his eye.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading He came as an apparition, the old butler balancing the door in his hand, as if undecided what to do, trying to account for the change in the young man's appearance--the width of shoulders, the rough clothes, and the determined glance of his eye.

door

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

From this reading He came as an apparition, the old butler balancing the door in his hand, as if undecided what to do, trying to account for the change in the young man's appearance--the width of shoulders, the rough clothes, and the determined glance of his eye.

drawing-room

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

From this reading “Yes, Ben--go and tell your mistress I am here,” and he brushed past him and pushed back the drawing-room door.

eye

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

From this reading He came as an apparition, the old butler balancing the door in his hand, as if undecided what to do, trying to account for the change in the young man's appearance--the width of shoulders, the rough clothes, and the determined glance of his eye.

eyes

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

From this reading Once inside he crossed to the mantel and stood with his back to the hearth, his sailor's cap in his hand, his eyes fixed on the door he had just closed behind him.

fixed

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

From this reading Once inside he crossed to the mantel and stood with his back to the hearth, his sailor's cap in his hand, his eyes fixed on the door he had just closed behind him.

Fo

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

From this reading “Fo' Gawd, it's Marse Harry!” was all he said when he could get his mouth open.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading He came as an apparition, the old butler balancing the door in his hand, as if undecided what to do, trying to account for the change in the young man's appearance--the width of shoulders, the rough clothes, and the determined glance of his eye.

Gawd

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

From this reading “Fo' Gawd, it's Marse Harry!” was all he said when he could get his mouth open.

get

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

From this reading “Fo' Gawd, it's Marse Harry!” was all he said when he could get his mouth open.

glance

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

From this reading He came as an apparition, the old butler balancing the door in his hand, as if undecided what to do, trying to account for the change in the young man's appearance--the width of shoulders, the rough clothes, and the determined glance of his eye.

go

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

From this reading “Yes, Ben--go and tell your mistress I am here,” and he brushed past him and pushed back the drawing-room door.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Once inside he crossed to the mantel and stood with his back to the hearth, his sailor's cap in his hand, his eyes fixed on the door he had just closed behind him.

hand

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

From this reading He came as an apparition, the old butler balancing the door in his hand, as if undecided what to do, trying to account for the change in the young man's appearance--the width of shoulders, the rough clothes, and the determined glance of his eye.

Harry

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

From this reading “Fo' Gawd, it's Marse Harry!” was all he said when he could get his mouth open.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He came as an apparition, the old butler balancing the door in his hand, as if undecided what to do, trying to account for the change in the young man's appearance--the width of shoulders, the rough clothes, and the determined glance of his eye.

hearth

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

From this reading Once inside he crossed to the mantel and stood with his back to the hearth, his sailor's cap in his hand, his eyes fixed on the door he had just closed behind him.

herenounUS /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Yes, Ben--go and tell your mistress I am here,” and he brushed past him and pushed back the drawing-room door.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading Ben let him in.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading He came as an apparition, the old butler balancing the door in his hand, as if undecided what to do, trying to account for the change in the young man's appearance--the width of shoulders, the rough clothes, and the determined glance of his eye.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading “Yes, Ben--go and tell your mistress I am here,” and he brushed past him and pushed back the drawing-room door.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading He came as an apparition, the old butler balancing the door in his hand, as if undecided what to do, trying to account for the change in the young man's appearance--the width of shoulders, the rough clothes, and the determined glance of his eye.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Ben let him in.

inside

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

From this reading Once inside he crossed to the mantel and stood with his back to the hearth, his sailor's cap in his hand, his eyes fixed on the door he had just closed behind him.

it's

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

From this reading “Fo' Gawd, it's Marse Harry!” was all he said when he could get his mouth open.

just

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

From this reading Once inside he crossed to the mantel and stood with his back to the hearth, his sailor's cap in his hand, his eyes fixed on the door he had just closed behind him.

letauxiliary verbUS /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading Ben let him in.

man's

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

From this reading He came as an apparition, the old butler balancing the door in his hand, as if undecided what to do, trying to account for the change in the young man's appearance--the width of shoulders, the rough clothes, and the determined glance of his eye.

mantel

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

From this reading Once inside he crossed to the mantel and stood with his back to the hearth, his sailor's cap in his hand, his eyes fixed on the door he had just closed behind him.

Marse

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

From this reading “Fo' Gawd, it's Marse Harry!” was all he said when he could get his mouth open.

mistress

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

From this reading “Yes, Ben--go and tell your mistress I am here,” and he brushed past him and pushed back the drawing-room door.

mouth

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

From this reading “Fo' Gawd, it's Marse Harry!” was all he said when he could get his mouth open.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading He came as an apparition, the old butler balancing the door in his hand, as if undecided what to do, trying to account for the change in the young man's appearance--the width of shoulders, the rough clothes, and the determined glance of his eye.

old

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

From this reading He came as an apparition, the old butler balancing the door in his hand, as if undecided what to do, trying to account for the change in the young man's appearance--the width of shoulders, the rough clothes, and the determined glance of his eye.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Once inside he crossed to the mantel and stood with his back to the hearth, his sailor's cap in his hand, his eyes fixed on the door he had just closed behind him.

Once

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

From this reading Once inside he crossed to the mantel and stood with his back to the hearth, his sailor's cap in his hand, his eyes fixed on the door he had just closed behind him.

openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/

To move from a closed position.

From this reading “Fo' Gawd, it's Marse Harry!” was all he said when he could get his mouth open.

past

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

From this reading “Yes, Ben--go and tell your mistress I am here,” and he brushed past him and pushed back the drawing-room door.

pushed

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

From this reading “Yes, Ben--go and tell your mistress I am here,” and he brushed past him and pushed back the drawing-room door.

rough

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

From this reading He came as an apparition, the old butler balancing the door in his hand, as if undecided what to do, trying to account for the change in the young man's appearance--the width of shoulders, the rough clothes, and the determined glance of his eye.

said

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

From this reading “Fo' Gawd, it's Marse Harry!” was all he said when he could get his mouth open.

sailor's

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

From this reading Once inside he crossed to the mantel and stood with his back to the hearth, his sailor's cap in his hand, his eyes fixed on the door he had just closed behind him.

shoulders

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

From this reading He came as an apparition, the old butler balancing the door in his hand, as if undecided what to do, trying to account for the change in the young man's appearance--the width of shoulders, the rough clothes, and the determined glance of his eye.

stoodnounUS /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Once inside he crossed to the mantel and stood with his back to the hearth, his sailor's cap in his hand, his eyes fixed on the door he had just closed behind him.

tellnounUS /tell/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Yes, Ben--go and tell your mistress I am here,” and he brushed past him and pushed back the drawing-room door.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading He came as an apparition, the old butler balancing the door in his hand, as if undecided what to do, trying to account for the change in the young man's appearance--the width of shoulders, the rough clothes, and the determined glance of his eye.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading He came as an apparition, the old butler balancing the door in his hand, as if undecided what to do, trying to account for the change in the young man's appearance--the width of shoulders, the rough clothes, and the determined glance of his eye.

trying

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

From this reading He came as an apparition, the old butler balancing the door in his hand, as if undecided what to do, trying to account for the change in the young man's appearance--the width of shoulders, the rough clothes, and the determined glance of his eye.

undecided

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

From this reading He came as an apparition, the old butler balancing the door in his hand, as if undecided what to do, trying to account for the change in the young man's appearance--the width of shoulders, the rough clothes, and the determined glance of his eye.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading “Fo' Gawd, it's Marse Harry!” was all he said when he could get his mouth open.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading He came as an apparition, the old butler balancing the door in his hand, as if undecided what to do, trying to account for the change in the young man's appearance--the width of shoulders, the rough clothes, and the determined glance of his eye.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading “Fo' Gawd, it's Marse Harry!” was all he said when he could get his mouth open.

width

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

From this reading He came as an apparition, the old butler balancing the door in his hand, as if undecided what to do, trying to account for the change in the young man's appearance--the width of shoulders, the rough clothes, and the determined glance of his eye.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Once inside he crossed to the mantel and stood with his back to the hearth, his sailor's cap in his hand, his eyes fixed on the door he had just closed behind him.

Yes

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

From this reading “Yes, Ben--go and tell your mistress I am here,” and he brushed past him and pushed back the drawing-room door.

young

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

From this reading He came as an apparition, the old butler balancing the door in his hand, as if undecided what to do, trying to account for the change in the young man's appearance--the width of shoulders, the rough clothes, and the determined glance of his eye.

yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “Yes, Ben--go and tell your mistress I am here,” and he brushed past him and pushed back the drawing-room door.