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Kept in the Dark
Kept in the Dark

Chapter I

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Context Illustration Reading 1/40 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
SIR FRANCIS GERALDINE.
On that same afternoon, at about tea time, Sir Francis came up to the house.
He had said that he would be there if he could get there,--and he got there.
He was shown into the drawing-room, where was sitting Mrs. Holt with her daughter, and began to tell them that he was to leave the Deanery on the following morning and not be back till a day or two before his marriage.
"Where are you going?"
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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.

Kept in the Dark

Chapter I

Reading 1/40 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
SIR FRANCIS GERALDINE.
Line 2
On that same afternoon, at about tea time, Sir Francis came up to the house.
Line 3
He had said that he would be there if he could get there,--and he got there.
Line 4
He was shown into the drawing-room, where was sitting Mrs. Holt with her daughter, and began to tell them that he was to leave the Deanery on the following morning and not be back till a day or two before his marriage.
Line 5
"Where are you going?"

Learner Dictionary

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

About preposition US /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “On that same afternoon, at about tea time, Sir Francis came up to the house.”

Afternoon noun US /ˈafternoon/

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

From this reading “On that same afternoon, at about tea time, Sir Francis came up to the house.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “He was shown into the drawing-room, where was sitting Mrs. Holt with her daughter, and began to tell them that he was to leave the Deanery on the following morning and not be back till a day or two before his marriage.”

Began noun US /began/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He was shown into the drawing-room, where was sitting Mrs. Holt with her daughter, and began to tell them that he was to leave the Deanery on the following morning and not be back till a day or two before his marriage.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “He had said that he would be there if he could get there,--and he got there.”

Morning noun US /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He was shown into the drawing-room, where was sitting Mrs. Holt with her daughter, and began to tell them that he was to leave the Deanery on the following morning and not be back till a day or two before his marriage.”

Same noun US /same/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “On that same afternoon, at about tea time, Sir Francis came up to the house.”

Tell noun US /tell/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He was shown into the drawing-room, where was sitting Mrs. Holt with her daughter, and began to tell them that he was to leave the Deanery on the following morning and not be back till a day or two before his marriage.”

Till preposition US /tɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading “He was shown into the drawing-room, where was sitting Mrs. Holt with her daughter, and began to tell them that he was to leave the Deanery on the following morning and not be back till a day or two before his marriage.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “On that same afternoon, at about tea time, Sir Francis came up to the house.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “He had said that he would be there if he could get there,--and he got there.”

All words in this reading · 58

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 was shown into the drawing-room, where was sitting Mrs. Holt with her daughter, and began to tell them that he was to leave the Deanery on the following morning and not be back till a day or two before his marriage.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading On that same afternoon, at about tea time, Sir Francis came up to the house.

afternoonnounUS /ˈafternoon/

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

From this reading On that same afternoon, at about tea time, Sir Francis came up to the house.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading He had said that he would be there if he could get there,--and he got there.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading "Where are you going?"

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading On that same afternoon, at about tea time, Sir Francis came up to the house.

back

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

From this reading He was shown into the drawing-room, where was sitting Mrs. Holt with her daughter, and began to tell them that he was to leave the Deanery on the following morning and not be back till a day or two before his marriage.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading He had said that he would be there if he could get there,--and he got there.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading He was shown into the drawing-room, where was sitting Mrs. Holt with her daughter, and began to tell them that he was to leave the Deanery on the following morning and not be back till a day or two before his marriage.

begannounUS /began/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He was shown into the drawing-room, where was sitting Mrs. Holt with her daughter, and began to tell them that he was to leave the Deanery on the following morning and not be back till a day or two before his marriage.

came

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

From this reading On that same afternoon, at about tea time, Sir Francis came up to the house.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading He had said that he would be there if he could get there,--and he got there.

daughter

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

From this reading He was shown into the drawing-room, where was sitting Mrs. Holt with her daughter, and began to tell them that he was to leave the Deanery on the following morning and not be back till a day or two before his marriage.

day

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

From this reading He was shown into the drawing-room, where was sitting Mrs. Holt with her daughter, and began to tell them that he was to leave the Deanery on the following morning and not be back till a day or two before his marriage.

Deanery

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

From this reading He was shown into the drawing-room, where was sitting Mrs. Holt with her daughter, and began to tell them that he was to leave the Deanery on the following morning and not be back till a day or two before his marriage.

drawing-room

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

From this reading He was shown into the drawing-room, where was sitting Mrs. Holt with her daughter, and began to tell them that he was to leave the Deanery on the following morning and not be back till a day or two before his marriage.

following

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

From this reading He was shown into the drawing-room, where was sitting Mrs. Holt with her daughter, and began to tell them that he was to leave the Deanery on the following morning and not be back till a day or two before his marriage.

FRANCIS

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

From this reading SIR FRANCIS GERALDINE.

GERALDINE

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

From this reading SIR FRANCIS GERALDINE.

get

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

From this reading He had said that he would be there if he could get there,--and he got there.

going

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

From this reading "Where are you going?"

got

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

From this reading He had said that he would be there if he could get there,--and he got there.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading He had said that he would be there if he could get there,--and he got there.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He had said that he would be there if he could get there,--and he got there.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading He was shown into the drawing-room, where was sitting Mrs. Holt with her daughter, and began to tell them that he was to leave the Deanery on the following morning and not be back till a day or two before his marriage.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading He was shown into the drawing-room, where was sitting Mrs. Holt with her daughter, and began to tell them that he was to leave the Deanery on the following morning and not be back till a day or two before his marriage.

Holt

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

From this reading He was shown into the drawing-room, where was sitting Mrs. Holt with her daughter, and began to tell them that he was to leave the Deanery on the following morning and not be back till a day or two before his marriage.

house

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

From this reading On that same afternoon, at about tea time, Sir Francis came up to the house.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading He had said that he would be there if he could get there,--and he got there.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading He was shown into the drawing-room, where was sitting Mrs. Holt with her daughter, and began to tell them that he was to leave the Deanery on the following morning and not be back till a day or two before his marriage.

leave

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

From this reading He was shown into the drawing-room, where was sitting Mrs. Holt with her daughter, and began to tell them that he was to leave the Deanery on the following morning and not be back till a day or two before his marriage.

marriage

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

From this reading He was shown into the drawing-room, where was sitting Mrs. Holt with her daughter, and began to tell them that he was to leave the Deanery on the following morning and not be back till a day or two before his marriage.

morningnounUS /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He was shown into the drawing-room, where was sitting Mrs. Holt with her daughter, and began to tell them that he was to leave the Deanery on the following morning and not be back till a day or two before his marriage.

Mrs

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

From this reading He was shown into the drawing-room, where was sitting Mrs. Holt with her daughter, and began to tell them that he was to leave the Deanery on the following morning and not be back till a day or two before his marriage.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading He was shown into the drawing-room, where was sitting Mrs. Holt with her daughter, and began to tell them that he was to leave the Deanery on the following morning and not be back till a day or two before his marriage.

OnprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading On that same afternoon, at about tea time, Sir Francis came up to the house.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading He was shown into the drawing-room, where was sitting Mrs. Holt with her daughter, and began to tell them that he was to leave the Deanery on the following morning and not be back till a day or two before his marriage.

said

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

From this reading He had said that he would be there if he could get there,--and he got there.

samenounUS /same/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading On that same afternoon, at about tea time, Sir Francis came up to the house.

shown

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

From this reading He was shown into the drawing-room, where was sitting Mrs. Holt with her daughter, and began to tell them that he was to leave the Deanery on the following morning and not be back till a day or two before his marriage.

SIR

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

From this reading SIR FRANCIS GERALDINE.

sitting

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

From this reading He was shown into the drawing-room, where was sitting Mrs. Holt with her daughter, and began to tell them that he was to leave the Deanery on the following morning and not be back till a day or two before his marriage.

tea

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

From this reading On that same afternoon, at about tea time, Sir Francis came up to the house.

tellnounUS /tell/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He was shown into the drawing-room, where was sitting Mrs. Holt with her daughter, and began to tell them that he was to leave the Deanery on the following morning and not be back till a day or two before his marriage.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading On that same afternoon, at about tea time, Sir Francis came up to the house.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading On that same afternoon, at about tea time, Sir Francis came up to the house.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading He was shown into the drawing-room, where was sitting Mrs. Holt with her daughter, and began to tell them that he was to leave the Deanery on the following morning and not be back till a day or two before his marriage.

there

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

From this reading He had said that he would be there if he could get there,--and he got there.

tillprepositionUS /tɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading He was shown into the drawing-room, where was sitting Mrs. Holt with her daughter, and began to tell them that he was to leave the Deanery on the following morning and not be back till a day or two before his marriage.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading On that same afternoon, at about tea time, Sir Francis came up to the house.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading On that same afternoon, at about tea time, Sir Francis came up to the house.

two

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

From this reading He was shown into the drawing-room, where was sitting Mrs. Holt with her daughter, and began to tell them that he was to leave the Deanery on the following morning and not be back till a day or two before his marriage.

up

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

From this reading On that same afternoon, at about tea time, Sir Francis came up to the house.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading He was shown into the drawing-room, where was sitting Mrs. Holt with her daughter, and began to tell them that he was to leave the Deanery on the following morning and not be back till a day or two before his marriage.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading He was shown into the drawing-room, where was sitting Mrs. Holt with her daughter, and began to tell them that he was to leave the Deanery on the following morning and not be back till a day or two before his marriage.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading He was shown into the drawing-room, where was sitting Mrs. Holt with her daughter, and began to tell them that he was to leave the Deanery on the following morning and not be back till a day or two before his marriage.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading He had said that he would be there if he could get there,--and he got there.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "Where are you going?"