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Penny Plain
Penny Plain

Chapter II

Cover illustration for Penny Plain
Context Illustration Reading 1/49 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
"It is the only set of the kind I ever met with in which you are neither led nor driven, but actually fall, and that imperceptibly into literary topics; and I attribute it to this, that in that house literature is not a treat for company upon invitation days, but is actually the daily bread of the family."--Written of Maria Edgeworth's home.
Pamela Reston stood in Bella Bathgate's parlour and surveyed it disconsolately.
It was papered in a trying shade of terra-cotta and the walls were embellished by enlarged photographs of the Bathgate family--decent, well-living people, but plain-headed to a degree.
Linoleum covered the floor.
A round table with a red-and-green cloth occupied the middle of the room, and two arm-chairs and six small chairs stood about stiffly like sentinels.
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.

Penny Plain

Chapter II

Reading 1/49 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
"It is the only set of the kind I ever met with in which you are neither led nor driven, but actually fall, and that imperceptibly into literary topics; and I attribute it to this, that in that house literature is not a treat for company upon invitation days, but is actually the daily bread of the family."--Written of Maria Edgeworth's home.
Line 2
Pamela Reston stood in Bella Bathgate's parlour and surveyed it disconsolately.
Line 3
It was papered in a trying shade of terra-cotta and the walls were embellished by enlarged photographs of the Bathgate family--decent, well-living people, but plain-headed to a degree.
Line 4
Linoleum covered the floor.
Line 5
A round table with a red-and-green cloth occupied the middle of the room, and two arm-chairs and six small chairs stood about stiffly like sentinels.

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 “A round table with a red-and-green cloth occupied the middle of the room, and two arm-chairs and six small chairs stood about stiffly like sentinels.”

Ever noun US /ever/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"It is the only set of the kind I ever met with in which you are neither led nor driven, but actually fall, and that imperceptibly into literary topics; and I attribute it to this, that in that house literature is not a treat for company upon invitation days, but is actually the daily bread of the family."--Written of Maria Edgeworth's home.”

Neither determiner US /ˈniːðər/

not one and not the other of two

From this reading “"It is the only set of the kind I ever met with in which you are neither led nor driven, but actually fall, and that imperceptibly into literary topics; and I attribute it to this, that in that house literature is not a treat for company upon invitation days, but is actually the daily bread of the family."--Written of Maria Edgeworth's home.”

Stood noun US /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Pamela Reston stood in Bella Bathgate's parlour and surveyed it disconsolately.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “"It is the only set of the kind I ever met with in which you are neither led nor driven, but actually fall, and that imperceptibly into literary topics; and I attribute it to this, that in that house literature is not a treat for company upon invitation days, but is actually the daily bread of the family."--Written of Maria Edgeworth's home.”

All words in this reading · 92

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 is the only set of the kind I ever met with in which you are neither led nor driven, but actually fall, and that imperceptibly into literary topics; and I attribute it to this, that in that house literature is not a treat for company upon invitation days, but is actually the daily bread of the family."--Written of Maria Edgeworth's home.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading A round table with a red-and-green cloth occupied the middle of the room, and two arm-chairs and six small chairs stood about stiffly like sentinels.

actually

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

From this reading "It is the only set of the kind I ever met with in which you are neither led nor driven, but actually fall, and that imperceptibly into literary topics; and I attribute it to this, that in that house literature is not a treat for company upon invitation days, but is actually the daily bread of the family."--Written of Maria Edgeworth's home.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading "It is the only set of the kind I ever met with in which you are neither led nor driven, but actually fall, and that imperceptibly into literary topics; and I attribute it to this, that in that house literature is not a treat for company upon invitation days, but is actually the daily bread of the family."--Written of Maria Edgeworth's home.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading "It is the only set of the kind I ever met with in which you are neither led nor driven, but actually fall, and that imperceptibly into literary topics; and I attribute it to this, that in that house literature is not a treat for company upon invitation days, but is actually the daily bread of the family."--Written of Maria Edgeworth's home.

arm-chairs

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

From this reading A round table with a red-and-green cloth occupied the middle of the room, and two arm-chairs and six small chairs stood about stiffly like sentinels.

attribute

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

From this reading "It is the only set of the kind I ever met with in which you are neither led nor driven, but actually fall, and that imperceptibly into literary topics; and I attribute it to this, that in that house literature is not a treat for company upon invitation days, but is actually the daily bread of the family."--Written of Maria Edgeworth's home.

Bathgate

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

From this reading It was papered in a trying shade of terra-cotta and the walls were embellished by enlarged photographs of the Bathgate family--decent, well-living people, but plain-headed to a degree.

Bathgate's

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

From this reading Pamela Reston stood in Bella Bathgate's parlour and surveyed it disconsolately.

Bella

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

From this reading Pamela Reston stood in Bella Bathgate's parlour and surveyed it disconsolately.

bread

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

From this reading "It is the only set of the kind I ever met with in which you are neither led nor driven, but actually fall, and that imperceptibly into literary topics; and I attribute it to this, that in that house literature is not a treat for company upon invitation days, but is actually the daily bread of the family."--Written of Maria Edgeworth's home.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading "It is the only set of the kind I ever met with in which you are neither led nor driven, but actually fall, and that imperceptibly into literary topics; and I attribute it to this, that in that house literature is not a treat for company upon invitation days, but is actually the daily bread of the family."--Written of Maria Edgeworth's home.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading It was papered in a trying shade of terra-cotta and the walls were embellished by enlarged photographs of the Bathgate family--decent, well-living people, but plain-headed to a degree.

chairs

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

From this reading A round table with a red-and-green cloth occupied the middle of the room, and two arm-chairs and six small chairs stood about stiffly like sentinels.

cloth

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

From this reading A round table with a red-and-green cloth occupied the middle of the room, and two arm-chairs and six small chairs stood about stiffly like sentinels.

company

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

From this reading "It is the only set of the kind I ever met with in which you are neither led nor driven, but actually fall, and that imperceptibly into literary topics; and I attribute it to this, that in that house literature is not a treat for company upon invitation days, but is actually the daily bread of the family."--Written of Maria Edgeworth's home.

covered

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

From this reading Linoleum covered the floor.

daily

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

From this reading "It is the only set of the kind I ever met with in which you are neither led nor driven, but actually fall, and that imperceptibly into literary topics; and I attribute it to this, that in that house literature is not a treat for company upon invitation days, but is actually the daily bread of the family."--Written of Maria Edgeworth's home.

days

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

From this reading "It is the only set of the kind I ever met with in which you are neither led nor driven, but actually fall, and that imperceptibly into literary topics; and I attribute it to this, that in that house literature is not a treat for company upon invitation days, but is actually the daily bread of the family."--Written of Maria Edgeworth's home.

decent

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

From this reading It was papered in a trying shade of terra-cotta and the walls were embellished by enlarged photographs of the Bathgate family--decent, well-living people, but plain-headed to a degree.

degree

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

From this reading It was papered in a trying shade of terra-cotta and the walls were embellished by enlarged photographs of the Bathgate family--decent, well-living people, but plain-headed to a degree.

disconsolately

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

From this reading Pamela Reston stood in Bella Bathgate's parlour and surveyed it disconsolately.

driven

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

From this reading "It is the only set of the kind I ever met with in which you are neither led nor driven, but actually fall, and that imperceptibly into literary topics; and I attribute it to this, that in that house literature is not a treat for company upon invitation days, but is actually the daily bread of the family."--Written of Maria Edgeworth's home.

Edgeworth's

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

From this reading "It is the only set of the kind I ever met with in which you are neither led nor driven, but actually fall, and that imperceptibly into literary topics; and I attribute it to this, that in that house literature is not a treat for company upon invitation days, but is actually the daily bread of the family."--Written of Maria Edgeworth's home.

embellished

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

From this reading It was papered in a trying shade of terra-cotta and the walls were embellished by enlarged photographs of the Bathgate family--decent, well-living people, but plain-headed to a degree.

enlarged

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

From this reading It was papered in a trying shade of terra-cotta and the walls were embellished by enlarged photographs of the Bathgate family--decent, well-living people, but plain-headed to a degree.

evernounUS /ever/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "It is the only set of the kind I ever met with in which you are neither led nor driven, but actually fall, and that imperceptibly into literary topics; and I attribute it to this, that in that house literature is not a treat for company upon invitation days, but is actually the daily bread of the family."--Written of Maria Edgeworth's home.

fall

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

From this reading "It is the only set of the kind I ever met with in which you are neither led nor driven, but actually fall, and that imperceptibly into literary topics; and I attribute it to this, that in that house literature is not a treat for company upon invitation days, but is actually the daily bread of the family."--Written of Maria Edgeworth's home.

family

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

From this reading "It is the only set of the kind I ever met with in which you are neither led nor driven, but actually fall, and that imperceptibly into literary topics; and I attribute it to this, that in that house literature is not a treat for company upon invitation days, but is actually the daily bread of the family."--Written of Maria Edgeworth's home.

floor

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

From this reading Linoleum covered the floor.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading "It is the only set of the kind I ever met with in which you are neither led nor driven, but actually fall, and that imperceptibly into literary topics; and I attribute it to this, that in that house literature is not a treat for company upon invitation days, but is actually the daily bread of the family."--Written of Maria Edgeworth's home.

home

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

From this reading "It is the only set of the kind I ever met with in which you are neither led nor driven, but actually fall, and that imperceptibly into literary topics; and I attribute it to this, that in that house literature is not a treat for company upon invitation days, but is actually the daily bread of the family."--Written of Maria Edgeworth's home.

house

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

From this reading "It is the only set of the kind I ever met with in which you are neither led nor driven, but actually fall, and that imperceptibly into literary topics; and I attribute it to this, that in that house literature is not a treat for company upon invitation days, but is actually the daily bread of the family."--Written of Maria Edgeworth's home.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading "It is the only set of the kind I ever met with in which you are neither led nor driven, but actually fall, and that imperceptibly into literary topics; and I attribute it to this, that in that house literature is not a treat for company upon invitation days, but is actually the daily bread of the family."--Written of Maria Edgeworth's home.

imperceptibly

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

From this reading "It is the only set of the kind I ever met with in which you are neither led nor driven, but actually fall, and that imperceptibly into literary topics; and I attribute it to this, that in that house literature is not a treat for company upon invitation days, but is actually the daily bread of the family."--Written of Maria Edgeworth's home.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading "It is the only set of the kind I ever met with in which you are neither led nor driven, but actually fall, and that imperceptibly into literary topics; and I attribute it to this, that in that house literature is not a treat for company upon invitation days, but is actually the daily bread of the family."--Written of Maria Edgeworth's home.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading "It is the only set of the kind I ever met with in which you are neither led nor driven, but actually fall, and that imperceptibly into literary topics; and I attribute it to this, that in that house literature is not a treat for company upon invitation days, but is actually the daily bread of the family."--Written of Maria Edgeworth's home.

invitation

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

From this reading "It is the only set of the kind I ever met with in which you are neither led nor driven, but actually fall, and that imperceptibly into literary topics; and I attribute it to this, that in that house literature is not a treat for company upon invitation days, but is actually the daily bread of the family."--Written of Maria Edgeworth's home.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading "It is the only set of the kind I ever met with in which you are neither led nor driven, but actually fall, and that imperceptibly into literary topics; and I attribute it to this, that in that house literature is not a treat for company upon invitation days, but is actually the daily bread of the family."--Written of Maria Edgeworth's home.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading "It is the only set of the kind I ever met with in which you are neither led nor driven, but actually fall, and that imperceptibly into literary topics; and I attribute it to this, that in that house literature is not a treat for company upon invitation days, but is actually the daily bread of the family."--Written of Maria Edgeworth's home.

kind

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

From this reading "It is the only set of the kind I ever met with in which you are neither led nor driven, but actually fall, and that imperceptibly into literary topics; and I attribute it to this, that in that house literature is not a treat for company upon invitation days, but is actually the daily bread of the family."--Written of Maria Edgeworth's home.

led

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

From this reading "It is the only set of the kind I ever met with in which you are neither led nor driven, but actually fall, and that imperceptibly into literary topics; and I attribute it to this, that in that house literature is not a treat for company upon invitation days, but is actually the daily bread of the family."--Written of Maria Edgeworth's home.

like

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

From this reading A round table with a red-and-green cloth occupied the middle of the room, and two arm-chairs and six small chairs stood about stiffly like sentinels.

Linoleum

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

From this reading Linoleum covered the floor.

literary

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

From this reading "It is the only set of the kind I ever met with in which you are neither led nor driven, but actually fall, and that imperceptibly into literary topics; and I attribute it to this, that in that house literature is not a treat for company upon invitation days, but is actually the daily bread of the family."--Written of Maria Edgeworth's home.

literature

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

From this reading "It is the only set of the kind I ever met with in which you are neither led nor driven, but actually fall, and that imperceptibly into literary topics; and I attribute it to this, that in that house literature is not a treat for company upon invitation days, but is actually the daily bread of the family."--Written of Maria Edgeworth's home.

Maria

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

From this reading "It is the only set of the kind I ever met with in which you are neither led nor driven, but actually fall, and that imperceptibly into literary topics; and I attribute it to this, that in that house literature is not a treat for company upon invitation days, but is actually the daily bread of the family."--Written of Maria Edgeworth's home.

met

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

From this reading "It is the only set of the kind I ever met with in which you are neither led nor driven, but actually fall, and that imperceptibly into literary topics; and I attribute it to this, that in that house literature is not a treat for company upon invitation days, but is actually the daily bread of the family."--Written of Maria Edgeworth's home.

middle

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

From this reading A round table with a red-and-green cloth occupied the middle of the room, and two arm-chairs and six small chairs stood about stiffly like sentinels.

neitherdeterminerUS /ˈniːðər/

not one and not the other of two

From this reading "It is the only set of the kind I ever met with in which you are neither led nor driven, but actually fall, and that imperceptibly into literary topics; and I attribute it to this, that in that house literature is not a treat for company upon invitation days, but is actually the daily bread of the family."--Written of Maria Edgeworth's home.

norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/

and not; used after a negative to add a second negative

From this reading "It is the only set of the kind I ever met with in which you are neither led nor driven, but actually fall, and that imperceptibly into literary topics; and I attribute it to this, that in that house literature is not a treat for company upon invitation days, but is actually the daily bread of the family."--Written of Maria Edgeworth's home.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading "It is the only set of the kind I ever met with in which you are neither led nor driven, but actually fall, and that imperceptibly into literary topics; and I attribute it to this, that in that house literature is not a treat for company upon invitation days, but is actually the daily bread of the family."--Written of Maria Edgeworth's home.

occupied

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

From this reading A round table with a red-and-green cloth occupied the middle of the room, and two arm-chairs and six small chairs stood about stiffly like sentinels.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading "It is the only set of the kind I ever met with in which you are neither led nor driven, but actually fall, and that imperceptibly into literary topics; and I attribute it to this, that in that house literature is not a treat for company upon invitation days, but is actually the daily bread of the family."--Written of Maria Edgeworth's home.

only

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

From this reading "It is the only set of the kind I ever met with in which you are neither led nor driven, but actually fall, and that imperceptibly into literary topics; and I attribute it to this, that in that house literature is not a treat for company upon invitation days, but is actually the daily bread of the family."--Written of Maria Edgeworth's home.

Pamela

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

From this reading Pamela Reston stood in Bella Bathgate's parlour and surveyed it disconsolately.

papered

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

From this reading It was papered in a trying shade of terra-cotta and the walls were embellished by enlarged photographs of the Bathgate family--decent, well-living people, but plain-headed to a degree.

parlour

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

From this reading Pamela Reston stood in Bella Bathgate's parlour and surveyed it disconsolately.

people

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

From this reading It was papered in a trying shade of terra-cotta and the walls were embellished by enlarged photographs of the Bathgate family--decent, well-living people, but plain-headed to a degree.

photographs

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

From this reading It was papered in a trying shade of terra-cotta and the walls were embellished by enlarged photographs of the Bathgate family--decent, well-living people, but plain-headed to a degree.

plain-headed

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

From this reading It was papered in a trying shade of terra-cotta and the walls were embellished by enlarged photographs of the Bathgate family--decent, well-living people, but plain-headed to a degree.

red-and-green

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

From this reading A round table with a red-and-green cloth occupied the middle of the room, and two arm-chairs and six small chairs stood about stiffly like sentinels.

Reston

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

From this reading Pamela Reston stood in Bella Bathgate's parlour and surveyed it disconsolately.

room

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

From this reading A round table with a red-and-green cloth occupied the middle of the room, and two arm-chairs and six small chairs stood about stiffly like sentinels.

round

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

From this reading A round table with a red-and-green cloth occupied the middle of the room, and two arm-chairs and six small chairs stood about stiffly like sentinels.

sentinels

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

From this reading A round table with a red-and-green cloth occupied the middle of the room, and two arm-chairs and six small chairs stood about stiffly like sentinels.

set

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

From this reading "It is the only set of the kind I ever met with in which you are neither led nor driven, but actually fall, and that imperceptibly into literary topics; and I attribute it to this, that in that house literature is not a treat for company upon invitation days, but is actually the daily bread of the family."--Written of Maria Edgeworth's home.

shade

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

From this reading It was papered in a trying shade of terra-cotta and the walls were embellished by enlarged photographs of the Bathgate family--decent, well-living people, but plain-headed to a degree.

six

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

From this reading A round table with a red-and-green cloth occupied the middle of the room, and two arm-chairs and six small chairs stood about stiffly like sentinels.

small

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

From this reading A round table with a red-and-green cloth occupied the middle of the room, and two arm-chairs and six small chairs stood about stiffly like sentinels.

stiffly

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

From this reading A round table with a red-and-green cloth occupied the middle of the room, and two arm-chairs and six small chairs stood about stiffly like sentinels.

stoodnounUS /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Pamela Reston stood in Bella Bathgate's parlour and surveyed it disconsolately.

surveyed

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

From this reading Pamela Reston stood in Bella Bathgate's parlour and surveyed it disconsolately.

table

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

From this reading A round table with a red-and-green cloth occupied the middle of the room, and two arm-chairs and six small chairs stood about stiffly like sentinels.

terra-cotta

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

From this reading It was papered in a trying shade of terra-cotta and the walls were embellished by enlarged photographs of the Bathgate family--decent, well-living people, but plain-headed to a degree.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading "It is the only set of the kind I ever met with in which you are neither led nor driven, but actually fall, and that imperceptibly into literary topics; and I attribute it to this, that in that house literature is not a treat for company upon invitation days, but is actually the daily bread of the family."--Written of Maria Edgeworth's home.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading "It is the only set of the kind I ever met with in which you are neither led nor driven, but actually fall, and that imperceptibly into literary topics; and I attribute it to this, that in that house literature is not a treat for company upon invitation days, but is actually the daily bread of the family."--Written of Maria Edgeworth's home.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading "It is the only set of the kind I ever met with in which you are neither led nor driven, but actually fall, and that imperceptibly into literary topics; and I attribute it to this, that in that house literature is not a treat for company upon invitation days, but is actually the daily bread of the family."--Written of Maria Edgeworth's home.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading "It is the only set of the kind I ever met with in which you are neither led nor driven, but actually fall, and that imperceptibly into literary topics; and I attribute it to this, that in that house literature is not a treat for company upon invitation days, but is actually the daily bread of the family."--Written of Maria Edgeworth's home.

topics

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

From this reading "It is the only set of the kind I ever met with in which you are neither led nor driven, but actually fall, and that imperceptibly into literary topics; and I attribute it to this, that in that house literature is not a treat for company upon invitation days, but is actually the daily bread of the family."--Written of Maria Edgeworth's home.

treat

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

From this reading "It is the only set of the kind I ever met with in which you are neither led nor driven, but actually fall, and that imperceptibly into literary topics; and I attribute it to this, that in that house literature is not a treat for company upon invitation days, but is actually the daily bread of the family."--Written of Maria Edgeworth's home.

trying

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

From this reading It was papered in a trying shade of terra-cotta and the walls were embellished by enlarged photographs of the Bathgate family--decent, well-living people, but plain-headed to a degree.

two

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

From this reading A round table with a red-and-green cloth occupied the middle of the room, and two arm-chairs and six small chairs stood about stiffly like sentinels.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading "It is the only set of the kind I ever met with in which you are neither led nor driven, but actually fall, and that imperceptibly into literary topics; and I attribute it to this, that in that house literature is not a treat for company upon invitation days, but is actually the daily bread of the family."--Written of Maria Edgeworth's home.

walls

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

From this reading It was papered in a trying shade of terra-cotta and the walls were embellished by enlarged photographs of the Bathgate family--decent, well-living people, but plain-headed to a degree.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading It was papered in a trying shade of terra-cotta and the walls were embellished by enlarged photographs of the Bathgate family--decent, well-living people, but plain-headed to a degree.

well-living

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

From this reading It was papered in a trying shade of terra-cotta and the walls were embellished by enlarged photographs of the Bathgate family--decent, well-living people, but plain-headed to a degree.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading It was papered in a trying shade of terra-cotta and the walls were embellished by enlarged photographs of the Bathgate family--decent, well-living people, but plain-headed to a degree.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading "It is the only set of the kind I ever met with in which you are neither led nor driven, but actually fall, and that imperceptibly into literary topics; and I attribute it to this, that in that house literature is not a treat for company upon invitation days, but is actually the daily bread of the family."--Written of Maria Edgeworth's home.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading "It is the only set of the kind I ever met with in which you are neither led nor driven, but actually fall, and that imperceptibly into literary topics; and I attribute it to this, that in that house literature is not a treat for company upon invitation days, but is actually the daily bread of the family."--Written of Maria Edgeworth's home.

Written

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

From this reading "It is the only set of the kind I ever met with in which you are neither led nor driven, but actually fall, and that imperceptibly into literary topics; and I attribute it to this, that in that house literature is not a treat for company upon invitation days, but is actually the daily bread of the family."--Written of Maria Edgeworth's home.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "It is the only set of the kind I ever met with in which you are neither led nor driven, but actually fall, and that imperceptibly into literary topics; and I attribute it to this, that in that house literature is not a treat for company upon invitation days, but is actually the daily bread of the family."--Written of Maria Edgeworth's home.