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Over the Teacups
Over the Teacups

Chapter XVIII

Cover illustration for Over the Teacups
Context Illustration Reading 1/30 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The Mistress keeps a watchful eye on this young girl.
I should not be surprised to find that she was carrying out some ideal, some fancy or whim,--possibly nothing more, but springing from some generous, youthful impulse.
Perhaps she is working for that little sister at the Blind Asylum.
Where did she learn French?
She did certainly blush, and betrayed every sign of understanding the words spoken about her in that language.
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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.

Over the Teacups

Chapter XVIII

Reading 1/30 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The Mistress keeps a watchful eye on this young girl.
Line 2
I should not be surprised to find that she was carrying out some ideal, some fancy or whim,--possibly nothing more, but springing from some generous, youthful impulse.
Line 3
Perhaps she is working for that little sister at the Blind Asylum.
Line 4
Where did she learn French?
Line 5
She did certainly blush, and betrayed every sign of understanding the words spoken about her in that language.

Learner Dictionary

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

About preposition US /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “She did certainly blush, and betrayed every sign of understanding the words spoken about her in that language.”

Every determiner US /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading “She did certainly blush, and betrayed every sign of understanding the words spoken about her in that language.”

Impulse noun US /ˈɪmpʌls/

a sudden strong desire to act

From this reading “I should not be surprised to find that she was carrying out some ideal, some fancy or whim,--possibly nothing more, but springing from some generous, youthful impulse.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Perhaps she is working for that little sister at the Blind Asylum.”

Nothing pronoun US /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading “I should not be surprised to find that she was carrying out some ideal, some fancy or whim,--possibly nothing more, but springing from some generous, youthful impulse.”

Perhaps noun US /perhaps/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Perhaps she is working for that little sister at the Blind Asylum.”

Surprised noun US /surprised/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I should not be surprised to find that she was carrying out some ideal, some fancy or whim,--possibly nothing more, but springing from some generous, youthful impulse.”

All words in this reading · 63

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 The Mistress keeps a watchful eye on this young girl.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading She did certainly blush, and betrayed every sign of understanding the words spoken about her in that language.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading She did certainly blush, and betrayed every sign of understanding the words spoken about her in that language.

Asylum

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

From this reading Perhaps she is working for that little sister at the Blind Asylum.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Perhaps she is working for that little sister at the Blind Asylum.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading I should not be surprised to find that she was carrying out some ideal, some fancy or whim,--possibly nothing more, but springing from some generous, youthful impulse.

betrayed

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

From this reading She did certainly blush, and betrayed every sign of understanding the words spoken about her in that language.

Blind

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

From this reading Perhaps she is working for that little sister at the Blind Asylum.

blush

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

From this reading She did certainly blush, and betrayed every sign of understanding the words spoken about her in that language.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading I should not be surprised to find that she was carrying out some ideal, some fancy or whim,--possibly nothing more, but springing from some generous, youthful impulse.

carrying

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

From this reading I should not be surprised to find that she was carrying out some ideal, some fancy or whim,--possibly nothing more, but springing from some generous, youthful impulse.

certainly

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

From this reading She did certainly blush, and betrayed every sign of understanding the words spoken about her in that language.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

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

From this reading Where did she learn French?

everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading She did certainly blush, and betrayed every sign of understanding the words spoken about her in that language.

eye

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

From this reading The Mistress keeps a watchful eye on this young girl.

fancy

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

From this reading I should not be surprised to find that she was carrying out some ideal, some fancy or whim,--possibly nothing more, but springing from some generous, youthful impulse.

find

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

From this reading I should not be surprised to find that she was carrying out some ideal, some fancy or whim,--possibly nothing more, but springing from some generous, youthful impulse.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Perhaps she is working for that little sister at the Blind Asylum.

French

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

From this reading Where did she learn French?

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading I should not be surprised to find that she was carrying out some ideal, some fancy or whim,--possibly nothing more, but springing from some generous, youthful impulse.

generous

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

From this reading I should not be surprised to find that she was carrying out some ideal, some fancy or whim,--possibly nothing more, but springing from some generous, youthful impulse.

girl

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

From this reading The Mistress keeps a watchful eye on this young girl.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading She did certainly blush, and betrayed every sign of understanding the words spoken about her in that language.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading I should not be surprised to find that she was carrying out some ideal, some fancy or whim,--possibly nothing more, but springing from some generous, youthful impulse.

ideal

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

From this reading I should not be surprised to find that she was carrying out some ideal, some fancy or whim,--possibly nothing more, but springing from some generous, youthful impulse.

impulsenounUS /ˈɪmpʌls/

a sudden strong desire to act

From this reading I should not be surprised to find that she was carrying out some ideal, some fancy or whim,--possibly nothing more, but springing from some generous, youthful impulse.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading She did certainly blush, and betrayed every sign of understanding the words spoken about her in that language.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading Perhaps she is working for that little sister at the Blind Asylum.

keeps

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

From this reading The Mistress keeps a watchful eye on this young girl.

language

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

From this reading She did certainly blush, and betrayed every sign of understanding the words spoken about her in that language.

learn

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

From this reading Where did she learn French?

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Perhaps she is working for that little sister at the Blind Asylum.

Mistress

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

From this reading The Mistress keeps a watchful eye on this young girl.

more

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

From this reading I should not be surprised to find that she was carrying out some ideal, some fancy or whim,--possibly nothing more, but springing from some generous, youthful impulse.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading I should not be surprised to find that she was carrying out some ideal, some fancy or whim,--possibly nothing more, but springing from some generous, youthful impulse.

nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading I should not be surprised to find that she was carrying out some ideal, some fancy or whim,--possibly nothing more, but springing from some generous, youthful impulse.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading She did certainly blush, and betrayed every sign of understanding the words spoken about her in that language.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The Mistress keeps a watchful eye on this young girl.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading I should not be surprised to find that she was carrying out some ideal, some fancy or whim,--possibly nothing more, but springing from some generous, youthful impulse.

out

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

From this reading I should not be surprised to find that she was carrying out some ideal, some fancy or whim,--possibly nothing more, but springing from some generous, youthful impulse.

Perhaps

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

From this reading Perhaps she is working for that little sister at the Blind Asylum.

possibly

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

From this reading I should not be surprised to find that she was carrying out some ideal, some fancy or whim,--possibly nothing more, but springing from some generous, youthful impulse.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading I should not be surprised to find that she was carrying out some ideal, some fancy or whim,--possibly nothing more, but springing from some generous, youthful impulse.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading I should not be surprised to find that she was carrying out some ideal, some fancy or whim,--possibly nothing more, but springing from some generous, youthful impulse.

sign

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

From this reading She did certainly blush, and betrayed every sign of understanding the words spoken about her in that language.

sister

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

From this reading Perhaps she is working for that little sister at the Blind Asylum.

some

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

From this reading I should not be surprised to find that she was carrying out some ideal, some fancy or whim,--possibly nothing more, but springing from some generous, youthful impulse.

spoken

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

From this reading She did certainly blush, and betrayed every sign of understanding the words spoken about her in that language.

springing

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

From this reading I should not be surprised to find that she was carrying out some ideal, some fancy or whim,--possibly nothing more, but springing from some generous, youthful impulse.

surprisednounUS /surprised/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading I should not be surprised to find that she was carrying out some ideal, some fancy or whim,--possibly nothing more, but springing from some generous, youthful impulse.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading I should not be surprised to find that she was carrying out some ideal, some fancy or whim,--possibly nothing more, but springing from some generous, youthful impulse.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The Mistress keeps a watchful eye on this young girl.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading The Mistress keeps a watchful eye on this young girl.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading I should not be surprised to find that she was carrying out some ideal, some fancy or whim,--possibly nothing more, but springing from some generous, youthful impulse.

understanding

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

From this reading She did certainly blush, and betrayed every sign of understanding the words spoken about her in that language.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading I should not be surprised to find that she was carrying out some ideal, some fancy or whim,--possibly nothing more, but springing from some generous, youthful impulse.

watchful

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

From this reading The Mistress keeps a watchful eye on this young girl.

WhereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading Where did she learn French?

whim

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

From this reading I should not be surprised to find that she was carrying out some ideal, some fancy or whim,--possibly nothing more, but springing from some generous, youthful impulse.

words

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

From this reading She did certainly blush, and betrayed every sign of understanding the words spoken about her in that language.

working

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

From this reading Perhaps she is working for that little sister at the Blind Asylum.

young

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

From this reading The Mistress keeps a watchful eye on this young girl.

youthful

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

From this reading I should not be surprised to find that she was carrying out some ideal, some fancy or whim,--possibly nothing more, but springing from some generous, youthful impulse.