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Opening a Chestnut Burr
Opening a Chestnut Burr

Chapter VI

Cover illustration for Opening a Chestnut Burr
Context Illustration Reading 1/31 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
A CONSPIRACY When Miss Walton returned to the parlor her father said, "Annie, I am going to trespass on your patience again."
She answered with a little piquant gesture, and was soon reading in natural, easy tones, without much stumbling, what must have been Greek to her.
Gregory watched her with increasing interest, and another question than the one of finance involved in the article was rising in his mind.
"Is this real?
Is this seeming goodness a fact?"
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Opening a Chestnut Burr

Chapter VI

Reading 1/31 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
A CONSPIRACY When Miss Walton returned to the parlor her father said, "Annie, I am going to trespass on your patience again."
Line 2
She answered with a little piquant gesture, and was soon reading in natural, easy tones, without much stumbling, what must have been Greek to her.
Line 3
Gregory watched her with increasing interest, and another question than the one of finance involved in the article was rising in his mind.
Line 4
"Is this real?
Line 5
Is this seeming goodness a fact?"

Learner Dictionary

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

Again noun US /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A CONSPIRACY When Miss Walton returned to the parlor her father said, "Annie, I am going to trespass on your patience again."”

Another noun US /ˈanother/

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

From this reading “Gregory watched her with increasing interest, and another question than the one of finance involved in the article was rising in his mind.”

Answered noun US /ˈanswered/

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

From this reading “She answered with a little piquant gesture, and was soon reading in natural, easy tones, without much stumbling, what must have been Greek to her.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “She answered with a little piquant gesture, and was soon reading in natural, easy tones, without much stumbling, what must have been Greek to her.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “She answered with a little piquant gesture, and was soon reading in natural, easy tones, without much stumbling, what must have been Greek to her.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “She answered with a little piquant gesture, and was soon reading in natural, easy tones, without much stumbling, what must have been Greek to her.”

Mind noun US /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Gregory watched her with increasing interest, and another question than the one of finance involved in the article was rising in his mind.”

Must modal verb US /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading “She answered with a little piquant gesture, and was soon reading in natural, easy tones, without much stumbling, what must have been Greek to her.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “Gregory watched her with increasing interest, and another question than the one of finance involved in the article was rising in his mind.”

Parlor noun US /ˈpɑːrlər/

an old-fashioned sitting room

From this reading “A CONSPIRACY When Miss Walton returned to the parlor her father said, "Annie, I am going to trespass on your patience again."”

Question noun US /ˈquestion/

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

From this reading “Gregory watched her with increasing interest, and another question than the one of finance involved in the article was rising in his mind.”

Returned noun US /ˈreturned/

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

From this reading “A CONSPIRACY When Miss Walton returned to the parlor her father said, "Annie, I am going to trespass on your patience again."”

Soon noun US /soon/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “She answered with a little piquant gesture, and was soon reading in natural, easy tones, without much stumbling, what must have been Greek to her.”

Without preposition US /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading “She answered with a little piquant gesture, and was soon reading in natural, easy tones, without much stumbling, what must have been Greek to her.”

All words in this reading · 64

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 CONSPIRACY When Miss Walton returned to the parlor her father said, "Annie, I am going to trespass on your patience again."

againnounUS /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A CONSPIRACY When Miss Walton returned to the parlor her father said, "Annie, I am going to trespass on your patience again."

amauxiliary verbUS /æm/

the form of “be” used with “I”

From this reading A CONSPIRACY When Miss Walton returned to the parlor her father said, "Annie, I am going to trespass on your patience again."

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading She answered with a little piquant gesture, and was soon reading in natural, easy tones, without much stumbling, what must have been Greek to her.

Annie

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

From this reading A CONSPIRACY When Miss Walton returned to the parlor her father said, "Annie, I am going to trespass on your patience again."

anothernounUS /ˈanother/

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

From this reading Gregory watched her with increasing interest, and another question than the one of finance involved in the article was rising in his mind.

answerednounUS /ˈanswered/

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

From this reading She answered with a little piquant gesture, and was soon reading in natural, easy tones, without much stumbling, what must have been Greek to her.

article

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

From this reading Gregory watched her with increasing interest, and another question than the one of finance involved in the article was rising in his mind.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading She answered with a little piquant gesture, and was soon reading in natural, easy tones, without much stumbling, what must have been Greek to her.

CONSPIRACY

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

From this reading A CONSPIRACY When Miss Walton returned to the parlor her father said, "Annie, I am going to trespass on your patience again."

easy

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

From this reading She answered with a little piquant gesture, and was soon reading in natural, easy tones, without much stumbling, what must have been Greek to her.

fact

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

From this reading Is this seeming goodness a fact?"

father

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

From this reading A CONSPIRACY When Miss Walton returned to the parlor her father said, "Annie, I am going to trespass on your patience again."

finance

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

From this reading Gregory watched her with increasing interest, and another question than the one of finance involved in the article was rising in his mind.

gesture

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

From this reading She answered with a little piquant gesture, and was soon reading in natural, easy tones, without much stumbling, what must have been Greek to her.

going

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

From this reading A CONSPIRACY When Miss Walton returned to the parlor her father said, "Annie, I am going to trespass on your patience again."

goodness

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

From this reading Is this seeming goodness a fact?"

Greek

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

From this reading She answered with a little piquant gesture, and was soon reading in natural, easy tones, without much stumbling, what must have been Greek to her.

Gregory

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

From this reading Gregory watched her with increasing interest, and another question than the one of finance involved in the article was rising in his mind.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading She answered with a little piquant gesture, and was soon reading in natural, easy tones, without much stumbling, what must have been Greek to her.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading A CONSPIRACY When Miss Walton returned to the parlor her father said, "Annie, I am going to trespass on your patience again."

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Gregory watched her with increasing interest, and another question than the one of finance involved in the article was rising in his mind.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading A CONSPIRACY When Miss Walton returned to the parlor her father said, "Annie, I am going to trespass on your patience again."

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading She answered with a little piquant gesture, and was soon reading in natural, easy tones, without much stumbling, what must have been Greek to her.

increasing

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

From this reading Gregory watched her with increasing interest, and another question than the one of finance involved in the article was rising in his mind.

interest

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

From this reading Gregory watched her with increasing interest, and another question than the one of finance involved in the article was rising in his mind.

involved

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

From this reading Gregory watched her with increasing interest, and another question than the one of finance involved in the article was rising in his mind.

Isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading "Is this real?

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading She answered with a little piquant gesture, and was soon reading in natural, easy tones, without much stumbling, what must have been Greek to her.

mindnounUS /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Gregory watched her with increasing interest, and another question than the one of finance involved in the article was rising in his mind.

Miss

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

From this reading A CONSPIRACY When Miss Walton returned to the parlor her father said, "Annie, I am going to trespass on your patience again."

much

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

From this reading She answered with a little piquant gesture, and was soon reading in natural, easy tones, without much stumbling, what must have been Greek to her.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading She answered with a little piquant gesture, and was soon reading in natural, easy tones, without much stumbling, what must have been Greek to her.

natural

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

From this reading She answered with a little piquant gesture, and was soon reading in natural, easy tones, without much stumbling, what must have been Greek to her.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Gregory watched her with increasing interest, and another question than the one of finance involved in the article was rising in his mind.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading A CONSPIRACY When Miss Walton returned to the parlor her father said, "Annie, I am going to trespass on your patience again."

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Gregory watched her with increasing interest, and another question than the one of finance involved in the article was rising in his mind.

parlornounUS /ˈpɑːrlər/

an old-fashioned sitting room

From this reading A CONSPIRACY When Miss Walton returned to the parlor her father said, "Annie, I am going to trespass on your patience again."

patience

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

From this reading A CONSPIRACY When Miss Walton returned to the parlor her father said, "Annie, I am going to trespass on your patience again."

piquant

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

From this reading She answered with a little piquant gesture, and was soon reading in natural, easy tones, without much stumbling, what must have been Greek to her.

questionnounUS /ˈquestion/

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

From this reading Gregory watched her with increasing interest, and another question than the one of finance involved in the article was rising in his mind.

reading

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

From this reading She answered with a little piquant gesture, and was soon reading in natural, easy tones, without much stumbling, what must have been Greek to her.

real

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

From this reading "Is this real?

returnednounUS /ˈreturned/

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

From this reading A CONSPIRACY When Miss Walton returned to the parlor her father said, "Annie, I am going to trespass on your patience again."

rising

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

From this reading Gregory watched her with increasing interest, and another question than the one of finance involved in the article was rising in his mind.

said

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

From this reading A CONSPIRACY When Miss Walton returned to the parlor her father said, "Annie, I am going to trespass on your patience again."

seeming

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

From this reading Is this seeming goodness a fact?"

ShepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading She answered with a little piquant gesture, and was soon reading in natural, easy tones, without much stumbling, what must have been Greek to her.

soon

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

From this reading She answered with a little piquant gesture, and was soon reading in natural, easy tones, without much stumbling, what must have been Greek to her.

stumbling

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

From this reading She answered with a little piquant gesture, and was soon reading in natural, easy tones, without much stumbling, what must have been Greek to her.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading Gregory watched her with increasing interest, and another question than the one of finance involved in the article was rising in his mind.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading A CONSPIRACY When Miss Walton returned to the parlor her father said, "Annie, I am going to trespass on your patience again."

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading "Is this real?

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading A CONSPIRACY When Miss Walton returned to the parlor her father said, "Annie, I am going to trespass on your patience again."

tones

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

From this reading She answered with a little piquant gesture, and was soon reading in natural, easy tones, without much stumbling, what must have been Greek to her.

trespass

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

From this reading A CONSPIRACY When Miss Walton returned to the parlor her father said, "Annie, I am going to trespass on your patience again."

Walton

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

From this reading A CONSPIRACY When Miss Walton returned to the parlor her father said, "Annie, I am going to trespass on your patience again."

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading She answered with a little piquant gesture, and was soon reading in natural, easy tones, without much stumbling, what must have been Greek to her.

watched

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

From this reading Gregory watched her with increasing interest, and another question than the one of finance involved in the article was rising in his mind.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading She answered with a little piquant gesture, and was soon reading in natural, easy tones, without much stumbling, what must have been Greek to her.

WhenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading A CONSPIRACY When Miss Walton returned to the parlor her father said, "Annie, I am going to trespass on your patience again."

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading She answered with a little piquant gesture, and was soon reading in natural, easy tones, without much stumbling, what must have been Greek to her.

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading She answered with a little piquant gesture, and was soon reading in natural, easy tones, without much stumbling, what must have been Greek to her.

yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading A CONSPIRACY When Miss Walton returned to the parlor her father said, "Annie, I am going to trespass on your patience again."