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Kidnapped at the Altar
Kidnapped at the Altar

Chapter VIII

Cover illustration for Kidnapped at the Altar
Context Illustration Reading 1/16 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
A MOTHER'S DESPERATE SCHEME.
"What makes you think the young architect is in love with Jessie Bain, mother?
I think it is an absurd idea."
"Why do you call it absurd?" returned Mrs. Varrick.
"It is perfectly natural."
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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.

Kidnapped at the Altar

Chapter VIII

Reading 1/16 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
A MOTHER'S DESPERATE SCHEME.
Line 2
"What makes you think the young architect is in love with Jessie Bain, mother?
Line 3
I think it is an absurd idea."
Line 4
"Why do you call it absurd?" returned Mrs. Varrick.
Line 5
"It is perfectly natural."

Learner Dictionary

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

Returned noun US /ˈreturned/

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

From this reading “"Why do you call it absurd?" returned Mrs. Varrick.”

Think noun US /think/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"What makes you think the young architect is in love with Jessie Bain, mother?”

All words in this reading · 31

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 MOTHER'S DESPERATE SCHEME.

absurd

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

From this reading I think it is an absurd idea."

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading I think it is an absurd idea."

architect

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

From this reading "What makes you think the young architect is in love with Jessie Bain, mother?

Bain

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

From this reading "What makes you think the young architect is in love with Jessie Bain, mother?

call

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

From this reading "Why do you call it absurd?" returned Mrs. Varrick.

DESPERATE

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

From this reading A MOTHER'S DESPERATE SCHEME.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading "Why do you call it absurd?" returned Mrs. Varrick.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading I think it is an absurd idea."

idea

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

From this reading I think it is an absurd idea."

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading "What makes you think the young architect is in love with Jessie Bain, mother?

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading "What makes you think the young architect is in love with Jessie Bain, mother?

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading I think it is an absurd idea."

Jessie

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

From this reading "What makes you think the young architect is in love with Jessie Bain, mother?

love

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

From this reading "What makes you think the young architect is in love with Jessie Bain, mother?

makes

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

From this reading "What makes you think the young architect is in love with Jessie Bain, mother?

mother

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

From this reading "What makes you think the young architect is in love with Jessie Bain, mother?

MOTHER'S

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

From this reading A MOTHER'S DESPERATE SCHEME.

Mrs

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

From this reading "Why do you call it absurd?" returned Mrs. Varrick.

natural

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

From this reading "It is perfectly natural."

perfectly

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

From this reading "It is perfectly natural."

returnednounUS /ˈreturned/

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

From this reading "Why do you call it absurd?" returned Mrs. Varrick.

SCHEME

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

From this reading A MOTHER'S DESPERATE SCHEME.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading "What makes you think the young architect is in love with Jessie Bain, mother?

thinknounUS /think/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "What makes you think the young architect is in love with Jessie Bain, mother?

Varrick

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

From this reading "Why do you call it absurd?" returned Mrs. Varrick.

WhatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading "What makes you think the young architect is in love with Jessie Bain, mother?

Why

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

From this reading "Why do you call it absurd?" returned Mrs. Varrick.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading "What makes you think the young architect is in love with Jessie Bain, mother?

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "What makes you think the young architect is in love with Jessie Bain, mother?

young

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

From this reading "What makes you think the young architect is in love with Jessie Bain, mother?