Chapter 20 of Over Bemerton's is here in full — 175 sentences across 35 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XX
Chapter 20 of Over Bemerton's is here in full — 175 sentences across 35 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
AN UNEXPECTED CHEQUE LEADS TO PLANS OF TRAVEL, AND NAOMI AND I ACCEPT A RESPONSIBILITY "I don't suppose you've heard the news," I said, as we settled down to our soup. "Do you mean about the Traffic Bill?" said Alderley. "Or Notts and Yorkshire?" said Lionel. "Or the Queen of Spain?" said my sister. "Or John's portrait of Mrs. Grundy?" said Drusilla.
Chapter 20 of Over Bemerton's is here in full — 175 sentences across 35 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/35 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, and audio.
a written order directing a bank to pay money
From this reading “AN UNEXPECTED CHEQUE LEADS TO PLANS OF TRAVEL, AND NAOMI AND I ACCEPT A RESPONSIBILITY "I don't suppose you've heard the news," I said, as we settled down to our soup.”
possessive form of “john” — a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading “"Or John's portrait of Mrs. Grundy?" said Drusilla.”
plural of “lead” — an advantage held by a competitor in a race
From this reading “AN UNEXPECTED CHEQUE LEADS TO PLANS OF TRAVEL, AND NAOMI AND I ACCEPT A RESPONSIBILITY "I don't suppose you've heard the news," I said, as we settled down to our soup.”
the mother-in-law of Ruth whose story is told in the Book of Ruth in the Old Testament
From this reading “AN UNEXPECTED CHEQUE LEADS TO PLANS OF TRAVEL, AND NAOMI AND I ACCEPT A RESPONSIBILITY "I don't suppose you've heard the news," I said, as we settled down to our soup.”
the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force
From this reading “AN UNEXPECTED CHEQUE LEADS TO PLANS OF TRAVEL, AND NAOMI AND I ACCEPT A RESPONSIBILITY "I don't suppose you've heard the news," I said, as we settled down to our soup.”
liquid food especially of meat or fish or vegetable stock often containing pieces of solid food
From this reading “AN UNEXPECTED CHEQUE LEADS TO PLANS OF TRAVEL, AND NAOMI AND I ACCEPT A RESPONSIBILITY "I don't suppose you've heard the news," I said, as we settled down to our soup.”
the aggregation of things (pedestrians or vehicles) coming and going in a particular locality during a specified period of time
From this reading “"Do you mean about the Traffic Bill?" said Alderley.”
a former large county in northern England; in 1974 it was divided into three smaller counties
From this reading “"Or Notts and Yorkshire?" said Lionel.”
English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.
Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.
Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.
Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED CHEQUE LEADS TO PLANS OF TRAVEL, AND NAOMI AND I ACCEPT A RESPONSIBILITY "I don't suppose you've heard the news," I said, as we settled down to our soup.
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading "Do you mean about the Traffic Bill?" said Alderley.
consider or hold as true
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED CHEQUE LEADS TO PLANS OF TRAVEL, AND NAOMI AND I ACCEPT A RESPONSIBILITY "I don't suppose you've heard the news," I said, as we settled down to our soup.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Do you mean about the Traffic Bill?" said Alderley.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED CHEQUE LEADS TO PLANS OF TRAVEL, AND NAOMI AND I ACCEPT A RESPONSIBILITY "I don't suppose you've heard the news," I said, as we settled down to our soup.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED CHEQUE LEADS TO PLANS OF TRAVEL, AND NAOMI AND I ACCEPT A RESPONSIBILITY "I don't suppose you've heard the news," I said, as we settled down to our soup.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED CHEQUE LEADS TO PLANS OF TRAVEL, AND NAOMI AND I ACCEPT A RESPONSIBILITY "I don't suppose you've heard the news," I said, as we settled down to our soup.
a statute in draft before it becomes law
From this reading "Do you mean about the Traffic Bill?" said Alderley.
a written order directing a bank to pay money
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED CHEQUE LEADS TO PLANS OF TRAVEL, AND NAOMI AND I ACCEPT A RESPONSIBILITY "I don't suppose you've heard the news," I said, as we settled down to our soup.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "Do you mean about the Traffic Bill?" said Alderley.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED CHEQUE LEADS TO PLANS OF TRAVEL, AND NAOMI AND I ACCEPT A RESPONSIBILITY "I don't suppose you've heard the news," I said, as we settled down to our soup.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED CHEQUE LEADS TO PLANS OF TRAVEL, AND NAOMI AND I ACCEPT A RESPONSIBILITY "I don't suppose you've heard the news," I said, as we settled down to our soup.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Or John's portrait of Mrs. Grundy?" said Drusilla.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Or John's portrait of Mrs. Grundy?" said Drusilla.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED CHEQUE LEADS TO PLANS OF TRAVEL, AND NAOMI AND I ACCEPT A RESPONSIBILITY "I don't suppose you've heard the news," I said, as we settled down to our soup.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED CHEQUE LEADS TO PLANS OF TRAVEL, AND NAOMI AND I ACCEPT A RESPONSIBILITY "I don't suppose you've heard the news," I said, as we settled down to our soup.
possessive form of “john” — a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading "Or John's portrait of Mrs. Grundy?" said Drusilla.
plural of “lead” — an advantage held by a competitor in a race
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED CHEQUE LEADS TO PLANS OF TRAVEL, AND NAOMI AND I ACCEPT A RESPONSIBILITY "I don't suppose you've heard the news," I said, as we settled down to our soup.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Or Notts and Yorkshire?" said Lionel.
mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading "Do you mean about the Traffic Bill?" said Alderley.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading "Or John's portrait of Mrs. Grundy?" said Drusilla.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "Or the Queen of Spain?" said my sister.
the mother-in-law of Ruth whose story is told in the Book of Ruth in the Old Testament
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED CHEQUE LEADS TO PLANS OF TRAVEL, AND NAOMI AND I ACCEPT A RESPONSIBILITY "I don't suppose you've heard the news," I said, as we settled down to our soup.
information about recent and important events
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED CHEQUE LEADS TO PLANS OF TRAVEL, AND NAOMI AND I ACCEPT A RESPONSIBILITY "I don't suppose you've heard the news," I said, as we settled down to our soup.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Or Notts and Yorkshire?" said Lionel.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED CHEQUE LEADS TO PLANS OF TRAVEL, AND NAOMI AND I ACCEPT A RESPONSIBILITY "I don't suppose you've heard the news," I said, as we settled down to our soup.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading "Or Notts and Yorkshire?" said Lionel.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED CHEQUE LEADS TO PLANS OF TRAVEL, AND NAOMI AND I ACCEPT A RESPONSIBILITY "I don't suppose you've heard the news," I said, as we settled down to our soup.
plural of “plan” — a series of steps to be carried out or goals to be accomplished
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED CHEQUE LEADS TO PLANS OF TRAVEL, AND NAOMI AND I ACCEPT A RESPONSIBILITY "I don't suppose you've heard the news," I said, as we settled down to our soup.
a word picture of a person's appearance and character
From this reading "Or John's portrait of Mrs. Grundy?" said Drusilla.
the only fertile female in a colony of social insects such as bees and ants and termites; its function is to lay eggs
From this reading "Or the Queen of Spain?" said my sister.
the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED CHEQUE LEADS TO PLANS OF TRAVEL, AND NAOMI AND I ACCEPT A RESPONSIBILITY "I don't suppose you've heard the news," I said, as we settled down to our soup.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED CHEQUE LEADS TO PLANS OF TRAVEL, AND NAOMI AND I ACCEPT A RESPONSIBILITY "I don't suppose you've heard the news," I said, as we settled down to our soup.
established or decided beyond dispute or doubt
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED CHEQUE LEADS TO PLANS OF TRAVEL, AND NAOMI AND I ACCEPT A RESPONSIBILITY "I don't suppose you've heard the news," I said, as we settled down to our soup.
a female person who has the same parents as another person
From this reading "Or the Queen of Spain?" said my sister.
liquid food especially of meat or fish or vegetable stock often containing pieces of solid food
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED CHEQUE LEADS TO PLANS OF TRAVEL, AND NAOMI AND I ACCEPT A RESPONSIBILITY "I don't suppose you've heard the news," I said, as we settled down to our soup.
a parliamentary monarchy in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula; a former colonial power
From this reading "Or the Queen of Spain?" said my sister.
express a supposition
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED CHEQUE LEADS TO PLANS OF TRAVEL, AND NAOMI AND I ACCEPT A RESPONSIBILITY "I don't suppose you've heard the news," I said, as we settled down to our soup.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED CHEQUE LEADS TO PLANS OF TRAVEL, AND NAOMI AND I ACCEPT A RESPONSIBILITY "I don't suppose you've heard the news," I said, as we settled down to our soup.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED CHEQUE LEADS TO PLANS OF TRAVEL, AND NAOMI AND I ACCEPT A RESPONSIBILITY "I don't suppose you've heard the news," I said, as we settled down to our soup.
the aggregation of things (pedestrians or vehicles) coming and going in a particular locality during a specified period of time
From this reading "Do you mean about the Traffic Bill?" said Alderley.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED CHEQUE LEADS TO PLANS OF TRAVEL, AND NAOMI AND I ACCEPT A RESPONSIBILITY "I don't suppose you've heard the news," I said, as we settled down to our soup.
not expected or anticipated
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED CHEQUE LEADS TO PLANS OF TRAVEL, AND NAOMI AND I ACCEPT A RESPONSIBILITY "I don't suppose you've heard the news," I said, as we settled down to our soup.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED CHEQUE LEADS TO PLANS OF TRAVEL, AND NAOMI AND I ACCEPT A RESPONSIBILITY "I don't suppose you've heard the news," I said, as we settled down to our soup.
a former large county in northern England; in 1974 it was divided into three smaller counties
From this reading "Or Notts and Yorkshire?" said Lionel.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Do you mean about the Traffic Bill?" said Alderley.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED CHEQUE LEADS TO PLANS OF TRAVEL, AND NAOMI AND I ACCEPT A RESPONSIBILITY "I don't suppose you've heard the news," I said, as we settled down to our soup.
Chapter 20 of Over Bemerton's by E. V. (Edward Verrall) Lucas holds 175 sentences, grouped into 35 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.
Chapter 20 holds 175 sentences of Over Bemerton's, unabridged, divided into 35 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 20 of Over Bemerton's by E. V. (Edward Verrall) Lucas exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 175 sentences, grouped into 35 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.
Work through the 35 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 35 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.
Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 20 can be played aloud in United States English.
Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.
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About 5 minutes of reading across 0 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
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Choose one of the 0 chapters of Over Bemerton's to begin.
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Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.
Words and structures a reader meets early in Over Bemerton's, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
