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Melbourne House
Melbourne House

Chapter XXV

Cover illustration for Melbourne House
Context Illustration Reading 1/89 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
DAISY'S SUPPER.
It was some time first, and the rain still did not fall.
It was very black, and flashes from distant lightning with mutterings of the thunder were frequent and threatening; still no rain unless a few ominous drops.
At last voices and fluttering muslins came down the road; the flutter came near, and in poured a stream of gay people at the door of the poor little room.
Gay as to their dress and attire, that is; for gaiety was not to be found at present in their words and behaviour.
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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 XXV

Reading 1/89 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
DAISY'S SUPPER.
Line 2
It was some time first, and the rain still did not fall.
Line 3
It was very black, and flashes from distant lightning with mutterings of the thunder were frequent and threatening; still no rain unless a few ominous drops.
Line 4
At last voices and fluttering muslins came down the road; the flutter came near, and in poured a stream of gay people at the door of the poor little room.
Line 5
Gay as to their dress and attire, that is; for gaiety was not to be found at present in their words and behaviour.

Learner Dictionary

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

Distant adjective US /ˈdɪstənt/

not friendly or close

From this reading “It was very black, and flashes from distant lightning with mutterings of the thunder were frequent and threatening; still no rain unless a few ominous drops.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was some time first, and the rain still did not fall.”

Fluttering verb US /ˈflʌtərɪŋ/

moving with quick light beats or trembles

From this reading “At last voices and fluttering muslins came down the road; the flutter came near, and in poured a stream of gay people at the door of the poor little room.”

Found noun US /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Gay as to their dress and attire, that is; for gaiety was not to be found at present in their words and behaviour.”

Last noun US /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “At last voices and fluttering muslins came down the road; the flutter came near, and in poured a stream of gay people at the door of the poor little room.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “At last voices and fluttering muslins came down the road; the flutter came near, and in poured a stream of gay people at the door of the poor little room.”

Poor noun US /poor/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “At last voices and fluttering muslins came down the road; the flutter came near, and in poured a stream of gay people at the door of the poor little room.”

Still noun US /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was some time first, and the rain still did not fall.”

Thunder noun US /ˈthunder/

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

From this reading “It was very black, and flashes from distant lightning with mutterings of the thunder were frequent and threatening; still no rain unless a few ominous drops.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was some time first, and the rain still did not fall.”

Unless conjunction US /ənˈles/

except if; if not

From this reading “It was very black, and flashes from distant lightning with mutterings of the thunder were frequent and threatening; still no rain unless a few ominous drops.”

All words in this reading · 66

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 It was very black, and flashes from distant lightning with mutterings of the thunder were frequent and threatening; still no rain unless a few ominous drops.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading It was some time first, and the rain still did not fall.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Gay as to their dress and attire, that is; for gaiety was not to be found at present in their words and behaviour.

AtprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading At last voices and fluttering muslins came down the road; the flutter came near, and in poured a stream of gay people at the door of the poor little room.

attire

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

From this reading Gay as to their dress and attire, that is; for gaiety was not to be found at present in their words and behaviour.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading Gay as to their dress and attire, that is; for gaiety was not to be found at present in their words and behaviour.

behaviour

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

From this reading Gay as to their dress and attire, that is; for gaiety was not to be found at present in their words and behaviour.

black

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

From this reading It was very black, and flashes from distant lightning with mutterings of the thunder were frequent and threatening; still no rain unless a few ominous drops.

came

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

From this reading At last voices and fluttering muslins came down the road; the flutter came near, and in poured a stream of gay people at the door of the poor little room.

DAISY'S

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

From this reading DAISY'S SUPPER.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

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

From this reading It was some time first, and the rain still did not fall.

distantadjectiveUS /ˈdɪstənt/

not friendly or close

From this reading It was very black, and flashes from distant lightning with mutterings of the thunder were frequent and threatening; still no rain unless a few ominous drops.

door

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

From this reading At last voices and fluttering muslins came down the road; the flutter came near, and in poured a stream of gay people at the door of the poor little room.

down

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

From this reading At last voices and fluttering muslins came down the road; the flutter came near, and in poured a stream of gay people at the door of the poor little room.

dress

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

From this reading Gay as to their dress and attire, that is; for gaiety was not to be found at present in their words and behaviour.

drops

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

From this reading It was very black, and flashes from distant lightning with mutterings of the thunder were frequent and threatening; still no rain unless a few ominous drops.

fall

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

From this reading It was some time first, and the rain still did not fall.

few

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

From this reading It was very black, and flashes from distant lightning with mutterings of the thunder were frequent and threatening; still no rain unless a few ominous drops.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was some time first, and the rain still did not fall.

flashes

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

From this reading It was very black, and flashes from distant lightning with mutterings of the thunder were frequent and threatening; still no rain unless a few ominous drops.

flutter

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

From this reading At last voices and fluttering muslins came down the road; the flutter came near, and in poured a stream of gay people at the door of the poor little room.

flutteringverbUS /ˈflʌtərɪŋ/

moving with quick light beats or trembles

From this reading At last voices and fluttering muslins came down the road; the flutter came near, and in poured a stream of gay people at the door of the poor little room.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Gay as to their dress and attire, that is; for gaiety was not to be found at present in their words and behaviour.

foundnounUS /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Gay as to their dress and attire, that is; for gaiety was not to be found at present in their words and behaviour.

frequent

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

From this reading It was very black, and flashes from distant lightning with mutterings of the thunder were frequent and threatening; still no rain unless a few ominous drops.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading It was very black, and flashes from distant lightning with mutterings of the thunder were frequent and threatening; still no rain unless a few ominous drops.

gaiety

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

From this reading Gay as to their dress and attire, that is; for gaiety was not to be found at present in their words and behaviour.

gay

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

From this reading At last voices and fluttering muslins came down the road; the flutter came near, and in poured a stream of gay people at the door of the poor little room.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading At last voices and fluttering muslins came down the road; the flutter came near, and in poured a stream of gay people at the door of the poor little room.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading Gay as to their dress and attire, that is; for gaiety was not to be found at present in their words and behaviour.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was some time first, and the rain still did not fall.

lastnounUS /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading At last voices and fluttering muslins came down the road; the flutter came near, and in poured a stream of gay people at the door of the poor little room.

lightning

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

From this reading It was very black, and flashes from distant lightning with mutterings of the thunder were frequent and threatening; still no rain unless a few ominous drops.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading At last voices and fluttering muslins came down the road; the flutter came near, and in poured a stream of gay people at the door of the poor little room.

muslins

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

From this reading At last voices and fluttering muslins came down the road; the flutter came near, and in poured a stream of gay people at the door of the poor little room.

mutterings

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

From this reading It was very black, and flashes from distant lightning with mutterings of the thunder were frequent and threatening; still no rain unless a few ominous drops.

near

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

From this reading At last voices and fluttering muslins came down the road; the flutter came near, and in poured a stream of gay people at the door of the poor little room.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading It was very black, and flashes from distant lightning with mutterings of the thunder were frequent and threatening; still no rain unless a few ominous drops.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading It was some time first, and the rain still did not fall.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading It was very black, and flashes from distant lightning with mutterings of the thunder were frequent and threatening; still no rain unless a few ominous drops.

ominous

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

From this reading It was very black, and flashes from distant lightning with mutterings of the thunder were frequent and threatening; still no rain unless a few ominous drops.

people

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

From this reading At last voices and fluttering muslins came down the road; the flutter came near, and in poured a stream of gay people at the door of the poor little room.

poornounUS /poor/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading At last voices and fluttering muslins came down the road; the flutter came near, and in poured a stream of gay people at the door of the poor little room.

poured

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

From this reading At last voices and fluttering muslins came down the road; the flutter came near, and in poured a stream of gay people at the door of the poor little room.

present

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

From this reading Gay as to their dress and attire, that is; for gaiety was not to be found at present in their words and behaviour.

rain

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

From this reading It was some time first, and the rain still did not fall.

road

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

From this reading At last voices and fluttering muslins came down the road; the flutter came near, and in poured a stream of gay people at the door of the poor little room.

room

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

From this reading At last voices and fluttering muslins came down the road; the flutter came near, and in poured a stream of gay people at the door of the poor little room.

some

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

From this reading It was some time first, and the rain still did not fall.

stillnounUS /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was some time first, and the rain still did not fall.

stream

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

From this reading At last voices and fluttering muslins came down the road; the flutter came near, and in poured a stream of gay people at the door of the poor little room.

SUPPER

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

From this reading DAISY'S SUPPER.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Gay as to their dress and attire, that is; for gaiety was not to be found at present in their words and behaviour.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading It was some time first, and the rain still did not fall.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Gay as to their dress and attire, that is; for gaiety was not to be found at present in their words and behaviour.

threatening

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

From this reading It was very black, and flashes from distant lightning with mutterings of the thunder were frequent and threatening; still no rain unless a few ominous drops.

thundernounUS /ˈthunder/

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

From this reading It was very black, and flashes from distant lightning with mutterings of the thunder were frequent and threatening; still no rain unless a few ominous drops.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was some time first, and the rain still did not fall.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Gay as to their dress and attire, that is; for gaiety was not to be found at present in their words and behaviour.

unlessconjunctionUS /ənˈles/

except if; if not

From this reading It was very black, and flashes from distant lightning with mutterings of the thunder were frequent and threatening; still no rain unless a few ominous drops.

very

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

From this reading It was very black, and flashes from distant lightning with mutterings of the thunder were frequent and threatening; still no rain unless a few ominous drops.

voices

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

From this reading At last voices and fluttering muslins came down the road; the flutter came near, and in poured a stream of gay people at the door of the poor little room.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading It was some time first, and the rain still did not fall.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading It was very black, and flashes from distant lightning with mutterings of the thunder were frequent and threatening; still no rain unless a few ominous drops.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading It was very black, and flashes from distant lightning with mutterings of the thunder were frequent and threatening; still no rain unless a few ominous drops.

words

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

From this reading Gay as to their dress and attire, that is; for gaiety was not to be found at present in their words and behaviour.