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Malcolm Sage, Detective
Malcolm Sage, Detective

Chapter I

Cover illustration for Malcolm Sage, Detective
Context Illustration Reading 1/34 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
"Don't say 'yeh,' say 'yes,' Dorothy dear."
Sir John Dene was interrupted in his apology by a napkin-ring whizzing past his left ear.
"What's wrong?" he enquired, laying aside his paper and picking up the napkin-ring.
"I'm trying to attract your attention," replied Lady Dene, slipping from her place at the breakfast-table and perching herself upon the arm of her husband's chair.
She ran her fingers lightly through his hair.
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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.

Malcolm Sage, Detective

Chapter I

Reading 1/34 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
"Don't say 'yeh,' say 'yes,' Dorothy dear."
Line 2
Sir John Dene was interrupted in his apology by a napkin-ring whizzing past his left ear.
Line 3
"What's wrong?" he enquired, laying aside his paper and picking up the napkin-ring.
Line 4
"I'm trying to attract your attention," replied Lady Dene, slipping from her place at the breakfast-table and perching herself upon the arm of her husband's chair.
Line 5
She ran her fingers lightly through his hair.

Learner Dictionary

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

Herself pronoun US /hərˈself/

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading “"I'm trying to attract your attention," replied Lady Dene, slipping from her place at the breakfast-table and perching herself upon the arm of her husband's chair.”

Interrupted noun US /ˈinterrupted/

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

From this reading “Sir John Dene was interrupted in his apology by a napkin-ring whizzing past his left ear.”

John noun US /john/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Sir John Dene was interrupted in his apology by a napkin-ring whizzing past his left ear.”

Left noun US /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Sir John Dene was interrupted in his apology by a napkin-ring whizzing past his left ear.”

Replied noun US /replied/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"I'm trying to attract your attention," replied Lady Dene, slipping from her place at the breakfast-table and perching herself upon the arm of her husband's chair.”

Through noun US /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading “She ran her fingers lightly through his hair.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “"I'm trying to attract your attention," replied Lady Dene, slipping from her place at the breakfast-table and perching herself upon the arm of her husband's chair.”

All words in this reading · 59

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 Sir John Dene was interrupted in his apology by a napkin-ring whizzing past his left ear.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading "What's wrong?" he enquired, laying aside his paper and picking up the napkin-ring.

apology

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

From this reading Sir John Dene was interrupted in his apology by a napkin-ring whizzing past his left ear.

arm

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

From this reading "I'm trying to attract your attention," replied Lady Dene, slipping from her place at the breakfast-table and perching herself upon the arm of her husband's chair.

aside

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

From this reading "What's wrong?" he enquired, laying aside his paper and picking up the napkin-ring.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading "I'm trying to attract your attention," replied Lady Dene, slipping from her place at the breakfast-table and perching herself upon the arm of her husband's chair.

attention

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

From this reading "I'm trying to attract your attention," replied Lady Dene, slipping from her place at the breakfast-table and perching herself upon the arm of her husband's chair.

attract

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

From this reading "I'm trying to attract your attention," replied Lady Dene, slipping from her place at the breakfast-table and perching herself upon the arm of her husband's chair.

breakfast-table

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

From this reading "I'm trying to attract your attention," replied Lady Dene, slipping from her place at the breakfast-table and perching herself upon the arm of her husband's chair.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Sir John Dene was interrupted in his apology by a napkin-ring whizzing past his left ear.

chair

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

From this reading "I'm trying to attract your attention," replied Lady Dene, slipping from her place at the breakfast-table and perching herself upon the arm of her husband's chair.

dear

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

From this reading "Don't say 'yeh,' say 'yes,' Dorothy dear."

Dene

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

From this reading Sir John Dene was interrupted in his apology by a napkin-ring whizzing past his left ear.

Don't

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

From this reading "Don't say 'yeh,' say 'yes,' Dorothy dear."

Dorothy

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

From this reading "Don't say 'yeh,' say 'yes,' Dorothy dear."

ear

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

From this reading Sir John Dene was interrupted in his apology by a napkin-ring whizzing past his left ear.

enquired

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

From this reading "What's wrong?" he enquired, laying aside his paper and picking up the napkin-ring.

fingers

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

From this reading She ran her fingers lightly through his hair.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading "I'm trying to attract your attention," replied Lady Dene, slipping from her place at the breakfast-table and perching herself upon the arm of her husband's chair.

hair

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

From this reading She ran her fingers lightly through his hair.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading "What's wrong?" he enquired, laying aside his paper and picking up the napkin-ring.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading "I'm trying to attract your attention," replied Lady Dene, slipping from her place at the breakfast-table and perching herself upon the arm of her husband's chair.

herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading "I'm trying to attract your attention," replied Lady Dene, slipping from her place at the breakfast-table and perching herself upon the arm of her husband's chair.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Sir John Dene was interrupted in his apology by a napkin-ring whizzing past his left ear.

husband's

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

From this reading "I'm trying to attract your attention," replied Lady Dene, slipping from her place at the breakfast-table and perching herself upon the arm of her husband's chair.

I'm

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

From this reading "I'm trying to attract your attention," replied Lady Dene, slipping from her place at the breakfast-table and perching herself upon the arm of her husband's chair.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Sir John Dene was interrupted in his apology by a napkin-ring whizzing past his left ear.

interruptednounUS /ˈinterrupted/

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

From this reading Sir John Dene was interrupted in his apology by a napkin-ring whizzing past his left ear.

John

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

From this reading Sir John Dene was interrupted in his apology by a napkin-ring whizzing past his left ear.

Lady

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

From this reading "I'm trying to attract your attention," replied Lady Dene, slipping from her place at the breakfast-table and perching herself upon the arm of her husband's chair.

laying

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

From this reading "What's wrong?" he enquired, laying aside his paper and picking up the napkin-ring.

leftnounUS /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Sir John Dene was interrupted in his apology by a napkin-ring whizzing past his left ear.

lightly

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

From this reading She ran her fingers lightly through his hair.

napkin-ring

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

From this reading Sir John Dene was interrupted in his apology by a napkin-ring whizzing past his left ear.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading "I'm trying to attract your attention," replied Lady Dene, slipping from her place at the breakfast-table and perching herself upon the arm of her husband's chair.

paper

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

From this reading "What's wrong?" he enquired, laying aside his paper and picking up the napkin-ring.

past

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

From this reading Sir John Dene was interrupted in his apology by a napkin-ring whizzing past his left ear.

perching

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

From this reading "I'm trying to attract your attention," replied Lady Dene, slipping from her place at the breakfast-table and perching herself upon the arm of her husband's chair.

picking

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

From this reading "What's wrong?" he enquired, laying aside his paper and picking up the napkin-ring.

place

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

From this reading "I'm trying to attract your attention," replied Lady Dene, slipping from her place at the breakfast-table and perching herself upon the arm of her husband's chair.

ran

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

From this reading She ran her fingers lightly through his hair.

repliednounUS /replied/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "I'm trying to attract your attention," replied Lady Dene, slipping from her place at the breakfast-table and perching herself upon the arm of her husband's chair.

say

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

From this reading "Don't say 'yeh,' say 'yes,' Dorothy dear."

ShepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading She ran her fingers lightly through his hair.

Sir

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

From this reading Sir John Dene was interrupted in his apology by a napkin-ring whizzing past his left ear.

slipping

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

From this reading "I'm trying to attract your attention," replied Lady Dene, slipping from her place at the breakfast-table and perching herself upon the arm of her husband's chair.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading "What's wrong?" he enquired, laying aside his paper and picking up the napkin-ring.

throughnounUS /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading She ran her fingers lightly through his hair.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading "I'm trying to attract your attention," replied Lady Dene, slipping from her place at the breakfast-table and perching herself upon the arm of her husband's chair.

trying

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

From this reading "I'm trying to attract your attention," replied Lady Dene, slipping from her place at the breakfast-table and perching herself upon the arm of her husband's chair.

up

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

From this reading "What's wrong?" he enquired, laying aside his paper and picking up the napkin-ring.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading "I'm trying to attract your attention," replied Lady Dene, slipping from her place at the breakfast-table and perching herself upon the arm of her husband's chair.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Sir John Dene was interrupted in his apology by a napkin-ring whizzing past his left ear.

What's

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

From this reading "What's wrong?" he enquired, laying aside his paper and picking up the napkin-ring.

whizzing

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

From this reading Sir John Dene was interrupted in his apology by a napkin-ring whizzing past his left ear.

wrong

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

From this reading "What's wrong?" he enquired, laying aside his paper and picking up the napkin-ring.

yeh

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

From this reading "Don't say 'yeh,' say 'yes,' Dorothy dear."

yes

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

From this reading "Don't say 'yeh,' say 'yes,' Dorothy dear."

yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "I'm trying to attract your attention," replied Lady Dene, slipping from her place at the breakfast-table and perching herself upon the arm of her husband's chair.