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Lucinda
Lucinda

Chapter VIII

Cover illustration for Lucinda
Context Illustration Reading 1/49 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE NEEDLEWOMAN ON the way home I made Waldo promise not to tell about our engagement till I agreed.
He did promise, but I think he must have given a pretty strong hint at home.
There was such a wonderful absence of awkward references or questions.
My mother never spoke of Arsenio; Aunt Bertha refrained from comment when it became known that Mr. Frost and his daughter had suddenly gone on a holiday, yachting—at the very beginning of what would have been Nina’s first season!
And Sir Paget, besides petting me more than ever, began to talk to me as if I had a proprietorial interest in Cragsfoot.
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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.

Lucinda

Chapter VIII

Reading 1/49 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE NEEDLEWOMAN ON the way home I made Waldo promise not to tell about our engagement till I agreed.
Line 2
He did promise, but I think he must have given a pretty strong hint at home.
Line 3
There was such a wonderful absence of awkward references or questions.
Line 4
My mother never spoke of Arsenio; Aunt Bertha refrained from comment when it became known that Mr. Frost and his daughter had suddenly gone on a holiday, yachting—at the very beginning of what would have been Nina’s first season!
Line 5
And Sir Paget, besides petting me more than ever, began to talk to me as if I had a proprietorial interest in Cragsfoot.

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 “THE NEEDLEWOMAN ON the way home I made Waldo promise not to tell about our engagement till I agreed.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “My mother never spoke of Arsenio; Aunt Bertha refrained from comment when it became known that Mr. Frost and his daughter had suddenly gone on a holiday, yachting—at the very beginning of what would have been Nina’s first season!”

Began noun US /began/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “And Sir Paget, besides petting me more than ever, began to talk to me as if I had a proprietorial interest in Cragsfoot.”

Beginning noun US /ˈbeginning/

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

From this reading “My mother never spoke of Arsenio; Aunt Bertha refrained from comment when it became known that Mr. Frost and his daughter had suddenly gone on a holiday, yachting—at the very beginning of what would have been Nina’s first season!”

Besides preposition US /bɪˈsaɪdz/

in addition to; as well as

From this reading “And Sir Paget, besides petting me more than ever, began to talk to me as if I had a proprietorial interest in Cragsfoot.”

Ever noun US /ever/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “And Sir Paget, besides petting me more than ever, began to talk to me as if I had a proprietorial interest in Cragsfoot.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “My mother never spoke of Arsenio; Aunt Bertha refrained from comment when it became known that Mr. Frost and his daughter had suddenly gone on a holiday, yachting—at the very beginning of what would have been Nina’s first season!”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “He did promise, but I think he must have given a pretty strong hint at home.”

Must modal verb US /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading “He did promise, but I think he must have given a pretty strong hint at home.”

Never noun US /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “My mother never spoke of Arsenio; Aunt Bertha refrained from comment when it became known that Mr. Frost and his daughter had suddenly gone on a holiday, yachting—at the very beginning of what would have been Nina’s first season!”

Suddenly noun US /ˈsuddenly/

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

From this reading “My mother never spoke of Arsenio; Aunt Bertha refrained from comment when it became known that Mr. Frost and his daughter had suddenly gone on a holiday, yachting—at the very beginning of what would have been Nina’s first season!”

Tell noun US /tell/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “THE NEEDLEWOMAN ON the way home I made Waldo promise not to tell about our engagement till I agreed.”

Think noun US /think/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He did promise, but I think he must have given a pretty strong hint at home.”

Till preposition US /tɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading “THE NEEDLEWOMAN ON the way home I made Waldo promise not to tell about our engagement till I agreed.”

Wonderful noun US /ˈwonderful/

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

From this reading “There was such a wonderful absence of awkward references or questions.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “My mother never spoke of Arsenio; Aunt Bertha refrained from comment when it became known that Mr. Frost and his daughter had suddenly gone on a holiday, yachting—at the very beginning of what would have been Nina’s first season!”

All words in this reading · 88

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 did promise, but I think he must have given a pretty strong hint at home.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading THE NEEDLEWOMAN ON the way home I made Waldo promise not to tell about our engagement till I agreed.

absence

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

From this reading There was such a wonderful absence of awkward references or questions.

agreed

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

From this reading THE NEEDLEWOMAN ON the way home I made Waldo promise not to tell about our engagement till I agreed.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading My mother never spoke of Arsenio; Aunt Bertha refrained from comment when it became known that Mr. Frost and his daughter had suddenly gone on a holiday, yachting—at the very beginning of what would have been Nina’s first season!

Arsenio

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

From this reading My mother never spoke of Arsenio; Aunt Bertha refrained from comment when it became known that Mr. Frost and his daughter had suddenly gone on a holiday, yachting—at the very beginning of what would have been Nina’s first season!

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading And Sir Paget, besides petting me more than ever, began to talk to me as if I had a proprietorial interest in Cragsfoot.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading He did promise, but I think he must have given a pretty strong hint at home.

Aunt

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

From this reading My mother never spoke of Arsenio; Aunt Bertha refrained from comment when it became known that Mr. Frost and his daughter had suddenly gone on a holiday, yachting—at the very beginning of what would have been Nina’s first season!

awkward

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

From this reading There was such a wonderful absence of awkward references or questions.

became

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

From this reading My mother never spoke of Arsenio; Aunt Bertha refrained from comment when it became known that Mr. Frost and his daughter had suddenly gone on a holiday, yachting—at the very beginning of what would have been Nina’s first season!

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading My mother never spoke of Arsenio; Aunt Bertha refrained from comment when it became known that Mr. Frost and his daughter had suddenly gone on a holiday, yachting—at the very beginning of what would have been Nina’s first season!

begannounUS /began/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading And Sir Paget, besides petting me more than ever, began to talk to me as if I had a proprietorial interest in Cragsfoot.

beginningnounUS /ˈbeginning/

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

From this reading My mother never spoke of Arsenio; Aunt Bertha refrained from comment when it became known that Mr. Frost and his daughter had suddenly gone on a holiday, yachting—at the very beginning of what would have been Nina’s first season!

Bertha

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

From this reading My mother never spoke of Arsenio; Aunt Bertha refrained from comment when it became known that Mr. Frost and his daughter had suddenly gone on a holiday, yachting—at the very beginning of what would have been Nina’s first season!

besidesprepositionUS /bɪˈsaɪdz/

in addition to; as well as

From this reading And Sir Paget, besides petting me more than ever, began to talk to me as if I had a proprietorial interest in Cragsfoot.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading He did promise, but I think he must have given a pretty strong hint at home.

comment

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

From this reading My mother never spoke of Arsenio; Aunt Bertha refrained from comment when it became known that Mr. Frost and his daughter had suddenly gone on a holiday, yachting—at the very beginning of what would have been Nina’s first season!

Cragsfoot

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

From this reading And Sir Paget, besides petting me more than ever, began to talk to me as if I had a proprietorial interest in Cragsfoot.

daughter

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

From this reading My mother never spoke of Arsenio; Aunt Bertha refrained from comment when it became known that Mr. Frost and his daughter had suddenly gone on a holiday, yachting—at the very beginning of what would have been Nina’s first season!

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading He did promise, but I think he must have given a pretty strong hint at home.

engagement

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

From this reading THE NEEDLEWOMAN ON the way home I made Waldo promise not to tell about our engagement till I agreed.

evernounUS /ever/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading And Sir Paget, besides petting me more than ever, began to talk to me as if I had a proprietorial interest in Cragsfoot.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading My mother never spoke of Arsenio; Aunt Bertha refrained from comment when it became known that Mr. Frost and his daughter had suddenly gone on a holiday, yachting—at the very beginning of what would have been Nina’s first season!

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading My mother never spoke of Arsenio; Aunt Bertha refrained from comment when it became known that Mr. Frost and his daughter had suddenly gone on a holiday, yachting—at the very beginning of what would have been Nina’s first season!

Frost

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

From this reading My mother never spoke of Arsenio; Aunt Bertha refrained from comment when it became known that Mr. Frost and his daughter had suddenly gone on a holiday, yachting—at the very beginning of what would have been Nina’s first season!

given

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

From this reading He did promise, but I think he must have given a pretty strong hint at home.

gone

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

From this reading My mother never spoke of Arsenio; Aunt Bertha refrained from comment when it became known that Mr. Frost and his daughter had suddenly gone on a holiday, yachting—at the very beginning of what would have been Nina’s first season!

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading My mother never spoke of Arsenio; Aunt Bertha refrained from comment when it became known that Mr. Frost and his daughter had suddenly gone on a holiday, yachting—at the very beginning of what would have been Nina’s first season!

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading He did promise, but I think he must have given a pretty strong hint at home.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He did promise, but I think he must have given a pretty strong hint at home.

hint

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

From this reading He did promise, but I think he must have given a pretty strong hint at home.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading My mother never spoke of Arsenio; Aunt Bertha refrained from comment when it became known that Mr. Frost and his daughter had suddenly gone on a holiday, yachting—at the very beginning of what would have been Nina’s first season!

holiday

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

From this reading My mother never spoke of Arsenio; Aunt Bertha refrained from comment when it became known that Mr. Frost and his daughter had suddenly gone on a holiday, yachting—at the very beginning of what would have been Nina’s first season!

home

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

From this reading THE NEEDLEWOMAN ON the way home I made Waldo promise not to tell about our engagement till I agreed.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading THE NEEDLEWOMAN ON the way home I made Waldo promise not to tell about our engagement till I agreed.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading And Sir Paget, besides petting me more than ever, began to talk to me as if I had a proprietorial interest in Cragsfoot.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading And Sir Paget, besides petting me more than ever, began to talk to me as if I had a proprietorial interest in Cragsfoot.

interest

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

From this reading And Sir Paget, besides petting me more than ever, began to talk to me as if I had a proprietorial interest in Cragsfoot.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading My mother never spoke of Arsenio; Aunt Bertha refrained from comment when it became known that Mr. Frost and his daughter had suddenly gone on a holiday, yachting—at the very beginning of what would have been Nina’s first season!

known

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

From this reading My mother never spoke of Arsenio; Aunt Bertha refrained from comment when it became known that Mr. Frost and his daughter had suddenly gone on a holiday, yachting—at the very beginning of what would have been Nina’s first season!

made

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

From this reading THE NEEDLEWOMAN ON the way home I made Waldo promise not to tell about our engagement till I agreed.

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading And Sir Paget, besides petting me more than ever, began to talk to me as if I had a proprietorial interest in Cragsfoot.

more

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

From this reading And Sir Paget, besides petting me more than ever, began to talk to me as if I had a proprietorial interest in Cragsfoot.

mother

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

From this reading My mother never spoke of Arsenio; Aunt Bertha refrained from comment when it became known that Mr. Frost and his daughter had suddenly gone on a holiday, yachting—at the very beginning of what would have been Nina’s first season!

Mr

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

From this reading My mother never spoke of Arsenio; Aunt Bertha refrained from comment when it became known that Mr. Frost and his daughter had suddenly gone on a holiday, yachting—at the very beginning of what would have been Nina’s first season!

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading He did promise, but I think he must have given a pretty strong hint at home.

MydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading My mother never spoke of Arsenio; Aunt Bertha refrained from comment when it became known that Mr. Frost and his daughter had suddenly gone on a holiday, yachting—at the very beginning of what would have been Nina’s first season!

NEEDLEWOMAN

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

From this reading THE NEEDLEWOMAN ON the way home I made Waldo promise not to tell about our engagement till I agreed.

nevernounUS /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading My mother never spoke of Arsenio; Aunt Bertha refrained from comment when it became known that Mr. Frost and his daughter had suddenly gone on a holiday, yachting—at the very beginning of what would have been Nina’s first season!

Nina's

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

From this reading My mother never spoke of Arsenio; Aunt Bertha refrained from comment when it became known that Mr. Frost and his daughter had suddenly gone on a holiday, yachting—at the very beginning of what would have been Nina’s first season!

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading THE NEEDLEWOMAN ON the way home I made Waldo promise not to tell about our engagement till I agreed.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading There was such a wonderful absence of awkward references or questions.

ONprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading THE NEEDLEWOMAN ON the way home I made Waldo promise not to tell about our engagement till I agreed.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading There was such a wonderful absence of awkward references or questions.

ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading THE NEEDLEWOMAN ON the way home I made Waldo promise not to tell about our engagement till I agreed.

Paget

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

From this reading And Sir Paget, besides petting me more than ever, began to talk to me as if I had a proprietorial interest in Cragsfoot.

petting

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

From this reading And Sir Paget, besides petting me more than ever, began to talk to me as if I had a proprietorial interest in Cragsfoot.

pretty

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

From this reading He did promise, but I think he must have given a pretty strong hint at home.

promise

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

From this reading THE NEEDLEWOMAN ON the way home I made Waldo promise not to tell about our engagement till I agreed.

proprietorial

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

From this reading And Sir Paget, besides petting me more than ever, began to talk to me as if I had a proprietorial interest in Cragsfoot.

questions

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

From this reading There was such a wonderful absence of awkward references or questions.

references

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

From this reading There was such a wonderful absence of awkward references or questions.

refrained

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

From this reading My mother never spoke of Arsenio; Aunt Bertha refrained from comment when it became known that Mr. Frost and his daughter had suddenly gone on a holiday, yachting—at the very beginning of what would have been Nina’s first season!

season

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

From this reading My mother never spoke of Arsenio; Aunt Bertha refrained from comment when it became known that Mr. Frost and his daughter had suddenly gone on a holiday, yachting—at the very beginning of what would have been Nina’s first season!

Sir

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

From this reading And Sir Paget, besides petting me more than ever, began to talk to me as if I had a proprietorial interest in Cragsfoot.

spoke

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

From this reading My mother never spoke of Arsenio; Aunt Bertha refrained from comment when it became known that Mr. Frost and his daughter had suddenly gone on a holiday, yachting—at the very beginning of what would have been Nina’s first season!

strong

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

From this reading He did promise, but I think he must have given a pretty strong hint at home.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading There was such a wonderful absence of awkward references or questions.

suddenlynounUS /ˈsuddenly/

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

From this reading My mother never spoke of Arsenio; Aunt Bertha refrained from comment when it became known that Mr. Frost and his daughter had suddenly gone on a holiday, yachting—at the very beginning of what would have been Nina’s first season!

talk

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

From this reading And Sir Paget, besides petting me more than ever, began to talk to me as if I had a proprietorial interest in Cragsfoot.

tellnounUS /tell/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading THE NEEDLEWOMAN ON the way home I made Waldo promise not to tell about our engagement till I agreed.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading And Sir Paget, besides petting me more than ever, began to talk to me as if I had a proprietorial interest in Cragsfoot.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading My mother never spoke of Arsenio; Aunt Bertha refrained from comment when it became known that Mr. Frost and his daughter had suddenly gone on a holiday, yachting—at the very beginning of what would have been Nina’s first season!

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE NEEDLEWOMAN ON the way home I made Waldo promise not to tell about our engagement till I agreed.

There

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

From this reading There was such a wonderful absence of awkward references or questions.

thinknounUS /think/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He did promise, but I think he must have given a pretty strong hint at home.

tillprepositionUS /tɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading THE NEEDLEWOMAN ON the way home I made Waldo promise not to tell about our engagement till I agreed.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading THE NEEDLEWOMAN ON the way home I made Waldo promise not to tell about our engagement till I agreed.

very

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

From this reading My mother never spoke of Arsenio; Aunt Bertha refrained from comment when it became known that Mr. Frost and his daughter had suddenly gone on a holiday, yachting—at the very beginning of what would have been Nina’s first season!

Waldo

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

From this reading THE NEEDLEWOMAN ON the way home I made Waldo promise not to tell about our engagement till I agreed.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading There was such a wonderful absence of awkward references or questions.

way

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

From this reading THE NEEDLEWOMAN ON the way home I made Waldo promise not to tell about our engagement till I agreed.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading My mother never spoke of Arsenio; Aunt Bertha refrained from comment when it became known that Mr. Frost and his daughter had suddenly gone on a holiday, yachting—at the very beginning of what would have been Nina’s first season!

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading My mother never spoke of Arsenio; Aunt Bertha refrained from comment when it became known that Mr. Frost and his daughter had suddenly gone on a holiday, yachting—at the very beginning of what would have been Nina’s first season!

wonderfulnounUS /ˈwonderful/

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

From this reading There was such a wonderful absence of awkward references or questions.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading My mother never spoke of Arsenio; Aunt Bertha refrained from comment when it became known that Mr. Frost and his daughter had suddenly gone on a holiday, yachting—at the very beginning of what would have been Nina’s first season!

yachting

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

From this reading My mother never spoke of Arsenio; Aunt Bertha refrained from comment when it became known that Mr. Frost and his daughter had suddenly gone on a holiday, yachting—at the very beginning of what would have been Nina’s first season!