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Melbourne House
Melbourne House

Chapter XXIV

Cover illustration for Melbourne House
Context Illustration Reading 1/94 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
A SHOWER.
Certainly the sun was very hot that day.
The fishers on the island found it so, notwithstanding that they had sought out every one for himself the shadiest, freshest nook that could be found.
Nothing was fresh; and if the trees did hinder the sunshine from falling on some parts of the ground, they kept off none of it from the water; and the glare from that was said to be unendurable.
Even where there was not much glare strictly speaking; people were not particular in their speech that day.
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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.

Melbourne House

Chapter XXIV

Reading 1/94 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
A SHOWER.
Line 2
Certainly the sun was very hot that day.
Line 3
The fishers on the island found it so, notwithstanding that they had sought out every one for himself the shadiest, freshest nook that could be found.
Line 4
Nothing was fresh; and if the trees did hinder the sunshine from falling on some parts of the ground, they kept off none of it from the water; and the glare from that was said to be unendurable.
Line 5
Even where there was not much glare strictly speaking; people were not particular in their speech that day.

Learner Dictionary

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

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “The fishers on the island found it so, notwithstanding that they had sought out every one for himself the shadiest, freshest nook that could be found.”

Even noun US /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Even where there was not much glare strictly speaking; people were not particular in their speech that day.”

Every determiner US /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading “The fishers on the island found it so, notwithstanding that they had sought out every one for himself the shadiest, freshest nook that could be found.”

Found noun US /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The fishers on the island found it so, notwithstanding that they had sought out every one for himself the shadiest, freshest nook that could be found.”

Glare noun US /glare/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Nothing was fresh; and if the trees did hinder the sunshine from falling on some parts of the ground, they kept off none of it from the water; and the glare from that was said to be unendurable.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading “The fishers on the island found it so, notwithstanding that they had sought out every one for himself the shadiest, freshest nook that could be found.”

None pronoun US /nʌn/

not one, and not any

From this reading “Nothing was fresh; and if the trees did hinder the sunshine from falling on some parts of the ground, they kept off none of it from the water; and the glare from that was said to be unendurable.”

Nothing pronoun US /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading “Nothing was fresh; and if the trees did hinder the sunshine from falling on some parts of the ground, they kept off none of it from the water; and the glare from that was said to be unendurable.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “The fishers on the island found it so, notwithstanding that they had sought out every one for himself the shadiest, freshest nook that could be found.”

All words in this reading · 65

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 SHOWER.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Nothing was fresh; and if the trees did hinder the sunshine from falling on some parts of the ground, they kept off none of it from the water; and the glare from that was said to be unendurable.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading The fishers on the island found it so, notwithstanding that they had sought out every one for himself the shadiest, freshest nook that could be found.

Certainly

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

From this reading Certainly the sun was very hot that day.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading The fishers on the island found it so, notwithstanding that they had sought out every one for himself the shadiest, freshest nook that could be found.

day

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

From this reading Certainly the sun was very hot that day.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

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

From this reading Nothing was fresh; and if the trees did hinder the sunshine from falling on some parts of the ground, they kept off none of it from the water; and the glare from that was said to be unendurable.

EvennounUS /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Even where there was not much glare strictly speaking; people were not particular in their speech that day.

everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading The fishers on the island found it so, notwithstanding that they had sought out every one for himself the shadiest, freshest nook that could be found.

falling

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

From this reading Nothing was fresh; and if the trees did hinder the sunshine from falling on some parts of the ground, they kept off none of it from the water; and the glare from that was said to be unendurable.

fishers

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

From this reading The fishers on the island found it so, notwithstanding that they had sought out every one for himself the shadiest, freshest nook that could be found.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The fishers on the island found it so, notwithstanding that they had sought out every one for himself the shadiest, freshest nook that could be found.

foundnounUS /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The fishers on the island found it so, notwithstanding that they had sought out every one for himself the shadiest, freshest nook that could be found.

fresh

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

From this reading Nothing was fresh; and if the trees did hinder the sunshine from falling on some parts of the ground, they kept off none of it from the water; and the glare from that was said to be unendurable.

freshest

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

From this reading The fishers on the island found it so, notwithstanding that they had sought out every one for himself the shadiest, freshest nook that could be found.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Nothing was fresh; and if the trees did hinder the sunshine from falling on some parts of the ground, they kept off none of it from the water; and the glare from that was said to be unendurable.

glarenounUS /glare/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Nothing was fresh; and if the trees did hinder the sunshine from falling on some parts of the ground, they kept off none of it from the water; and the glare from that was said to be unendurable.

ground

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

From this reading Nothing was fresh; and if the trees did hinder the sunshine from falling on some parts of the ground, they kept off none of it from the water; and the glare from that was said to be unendurable.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading The fishers on the island found it so, notwithstanding that they had sought out every one for himself the shadiest, freshest nook that could be found.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading The fishers on the island found it so, notwithstanding that they had sought out every one for himself the shadiest, freshest nook that could be found.

hinder

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

From this reading Nothing was fresh; and if the trees did hinder the sunshine from falling on some parts of the ground, they kept off none of it from the water; and the glare from that was said to be unendurable.

hot

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

From this reading Certainly the sun was very hot that day.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading Nothing was fresh; and if the trees did hinder the sunshine from falling on some parts of the ground, they kept off none of it from the water; and the glare from that was said to be unendurable.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Even where there was not much glare strictly speaking; people were not particular in their speech that day.

island

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

From this reading The fishers on the island found it so, notwithstanding that they had sought out every one for himself the shadiest, freshest nook that could be found.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading The fishers on the island found it so, notwithstanding that they had sought out every one for himself the shadiest, freshest nook that could be found.

kept

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

From this reading Nothing was fresh; and if the trees did hinder the sunshine from falling on some parts of the ground, they kept off none of it from the water; and the glare from that was said to be unendurable.

much

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

From this reading Even where there was not much glare strictly speaking; people were not particular in their speech that day.

nonepronounUS /nʌn/

not one, and not any

From this reading Nothing was fresh; and if the trees did hinder the sunshine from falling on some parts of the ground, they kept off none of it from the water; and the glare from that was said to be unendurable.

nook

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

From this reading The fishers on the island found it so, notwithstanding that they had sought out every one for himself the shadiest, freshest nook that could be found.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Even where there was not much glare strictly speaking; people were not particular in their speech that day.

NothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading Nothing was fresh; and if the trees did hinder the sunshine from falling on some parts of the ground, they kept off none of it from the water; and the glare from that was said to be unendurable.

notwithstanding

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

From this reading The fishers on the island found it so, notwithstanding that they had sought out every one for himself the shadiest, freshest nook that could be found.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Nothing was fresh; and if the trees did hinder the sunshine from falling on some parts of the ground, they kept off none of it from the water; and the glare from that was said to be unendurable.

off

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

From this reading Nothing was fresh; and if the trees did hinder the sunshine from falling on some parts of the ground, they kept off none of it from the water; and the glare from that was said to be unendurable.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The fishers on the island found it so, notwithstanding that they had sought out every one for himself the shadiest, freshest nook that could be found.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading The fishers on the island found it so, notwithstanding that they had sought out every one for himself the shadiest, freshest nook that could be found.

out

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

From this reading The fishers on the island found it so, notwithstanding that they had sought out every one for himself the shadiest, freshest nook that could be found.

particular

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

From this reading Even where there was not much glare strictly speaking; people were not particular in their speech that day.

parts

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

From this reading Nothing was fresh; and if the trees did hinder the sunshine from falling on some parts of the ground, they kept off none of it from the water; and the glare from that was said to be unendurable.

people

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

From this reading Even where there was not much glare strictly speaking; people were not particular in their speech that day.

said

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

From this reading Nothing was fresh; and if the trees did hinder the sunshine from falling on some parts of the ground, they kept off none of it from the water; and the glare from that was said to be unendurable.

shadiest

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

From this reading The fishers on the island found it so, notwithstanding that they had sought out every one for himself the shadiest, freshest nook that could be found.

SHOWER

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

From this reading A SHOWER.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading The fishers on the island found it so, notwithstanding that they had sought out every one for himself the shadiest, freshest nook that could be found.

some

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

From this reading Nothing was fresh; and if the trees did hinder the sunshine from falling on some parts of the ground, they kept off none of it from the water; and the glare from that was said to be unendurable.

sought

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

From this reading The fishers on the island found it so, notwithstanding that they had sought out every one for himself the shadiest, freshest nook that could be found.

speaking

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

From this reading Even where there was not much glare strictly speaking; people were not particular in their speech that day.

speech

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

From this reading Even where there was not much glare strictly speaking; people were not particular in their speech that day.

strictly

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

From this reading Even where there was not much glare strictly speaking; people were not particular in their speech that day.

sun

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

From this reading Certainly the sun was very hot that day.

sunshine

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

From this reading Nothing was fresh; and if the trees did hinder the sunshine from falling on some parts of the ground, they kept off none of it from the water; and the glare from that was said to be unendurable.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Certainly the sun was very hot that day.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Certainly the sun was very hot that day.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Even where there was not much glare strictly speaking; people were not particular in their speech that day.

there

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

From this reading Even where there was not much glare strictly speaking; people were not particular in their speech that day.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading The fishers on the island found it so, notwithstanding that they had sought out every one for himself the shadiest, freshest nook that could be found.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Nothing was fresh; and if the trees did hinder the sunshine from falling on some parts of the ground, they kept off none of it from the water; and the glare from that was said to be unendurable.

trees

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

From this reading Nothing was fresh; and if the trees did hinder the sunshine from falling on some parts of the ground, they kept off none of it from the water; and the glare from that was said to be unendurable.

unendurable

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

From this reading Nothing was fresh; and if the trees did hinder the sunshine from falling on some parts of the ground, they kept off none of it from the water; and the glare from that was said to be unendurable.

very

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

From this reading Certainly the sun was very hot that day.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Certainly the sun was very hot that day.

water

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

From this reading Nothing was fresh; and if the trees did hinder the sunshine from falling on some parts of the ground, they kept off none of it from the water; and the glare from that was said to be unendurable.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading Even where there was not much glare strictly speaking; people were not particular in their speech that day.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading Even where there was not much glare strictly speaking; people were not particular in their speech that day.